News

On Thursday April 23, 2020 the Eastern Synod Council issued calls to the Rev. Christie Morrow and the Rev. Adam Snook to serve as Assistants to the Bishop of the Eastern Synod. Pastor Morrow will be serving the synod on a 50% basis with primary responsibilities in the areas of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Stewardship (Generosity) and Public Policy and Service Ministries. The latter two of these portfolios had been staffed by Mr. Jeff Pym and the Rev. Katherine Gohm, who had each announced their intention to conclude their service earlier this year.

Pastor Snook will provide leadership in the synod’s Missional Leadership initiative while providing oversight in the Communication portfolio. With Bishop Pryse and the Rev. Doug Reble, he will also share the vital and ongoing work of providing support to congregations and rostered leaders.

Rev Christie Morrow

Ordained in 2003, Christie has served in ministry together with the people of St. Peter’s, Milverton (2003-2008), and the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Owen Sound (2009-2017). Christie has served on what was once the Synod’s Parish Life Committee, the Synod’s Youth Ministry Committee, she has been a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Chairperson of the National Planning Committee for CLAY 2010, and also served on the National (ELCIC) Youth Ministry Coordinating Committee, the planning Committee for the LWF Assembly held in Winnipeg, MB in 2004, and the Eastern Synod’s Candidacy Committee. She is currently the Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries in the Eastern Synod.

Christie has always taken a relational approach to ministry and seeks to connect with people and build relationships between people, between people and the church, and between people and God. Christie also most readily experiences God on the edge of things. For her, God’s Spirit dwells in this liminal space of great creativity, calling, coaxing and sometimes pulling the church forward to reach out and to keep reforming – to embrace our roots while remaining relevant. These are the very hopes and dreams she has for our Synod and our Church as a whole as she embraces this new role within the Eastern Synod.

Christie is married to her favourite Presbyterian, the Rev. Mark Wolfe. They live in Stratford, ON with their two daughters, Caroline (age 5), and Lauren (age 3).

Rev. Adam Snook

Rev. Adam Snook is a graduate of both St. Francis Xavier University (B.A.) and Martin Luther University College (MDiv). Ordained in 2011, he has served the Maynooth & Raglan Parish, Maynooth/Schutt; Mt. Calvary, Upper Northfield and St. John’s, Mahone Bay. As a tireless advocate for community partnerships, he has served on the Synod Council, Anglican/Lutheran Vital & Healthy Parish Consultation, Rural Ministry Symposium, Royal Canadian Legion, Kairos Atlantic, Restructuring Task Force; as well as on the Board of Directors for the VON, Lutherlyn Camp & Conference Centre, Lutheran Camp Mush-Mush, and a number of other local grassroot foundations. Adam is also the co-editor of Living Justice: A Gospel Response to Poverty from CPJ.

In response to this appointment, Adam said, “I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to hear the stories, and walk with communities, who make up our Synod family. God has gifted us with a beautifully vast and vibrant expression of God’s grace, and I look forward to exploring and supporting new and ongoing mission opportunities throughout the Eastern Synod. I am overwhelmingly privileged to work with Bishop Michael Pryse, Pastor Douglas Reble, Synod Officers & Staff, as well as the many lay, clergy and congregations who devote themselves tirelessly to God’s mission that we share. I feel deeply called to serve in this new role, and appreciate your prayers as my family and I make this transition.”

Adam and his wife Holly are the parents of Nathaniel and will be relocating from Nova Scotia to Kitchener, ON.

Bishop Pryse concludes, “I am absolutely delighted that Pastor Christie and Pastor Adam will be taking on these new responsibilities in the life of our synod. They are each very gifted spiritual leaders who will bring much needed new perspectives and gifts to our work. Please join me in praying for them as they take on these new responsibilities. May God grant them joy in their service!

The days are getting warmer. The sun is out more frequently. Seedlings are growing. It’s almost summer!

And yet, we are in an extraordinary time. The other day I saw a sign in someone’s window and it said:
I have hope

• Because the trees are still standing tall
• Because the birds are still singing
• Because the gardens are waking up
• Because the people are still smiling and waving to each other

We want to share the following Camp Lutherlyn news with you.

JULY CHILDREN’S CAMP

• Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Camp Lutherlyn has made some decisions for the 2020 Summer Camp
season. We know that this is difficult for our campers, parents, staff and camp alumni, but we feel it is the
right thing to do.
o The four weeks of children’s camp in July have been cancelled
o We are hopeful that we may be able to run a children’s camp in August, but will make decisions on
this in the upcoming months

• There are many factors affecting our decision, particularly how long the precautionary measures currently
in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 will last. As much of the planning for the 2020 summer season
happens in the next few months, these decisions could not wait. Our Camp Lutherlyn Leadership team will
be monitoring the situation and looking for opportunities as we move through the next few months to
create Camp memories, just a little differently than we have done for the past 55 years.

AUGUST FAMILY CAMP

• Family Camp from August 2 to 7 has not been cancelled; we will be monitoring the public health
restrictions as the date approaches.
• Arrangements to keep people safe are being made. For example, each family would have their own living
space (cabin or bedroom at Four Seasons); meals could be done as take-away; additional sanitization
procedures will be in place; and appropriate physical distancing maintained during all group activities.
• The family camp brochure and registration forms can be found here:
http://www.lutherlyncamp.ca/uploads/2/3/1/1/23118378/2020_lutherlyn_-_camp_brochure.pdf

RENTALS
• Camp Lutherlyn – Four Seasons and the Main Camp – remains open for rentals allowed by Public Health
rules. Additional sanitization will be done by our professional cleaners.
• Please email us at info@lutherlyncamp.ca with your booking request.

WORK AT CAMP

• The planned May 9 spring workday has been cancelled.
• Our fall workday is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, early enough to hopefully miss fall
congregational activities. We are expecting it will be held; let’s see if we can get a great turnout again this
year.
• In the meantime, we plan to have some work done at the camp – installation of new cabin decks and steps
(4 cabins) by small groups of volunteers. We are modifying our Canada Summer Student Grant application
for 2 student positions to support this property work.

ONTARIO CAMPS ASSOCIATION

• We are thrilled that Camp Lutherlyn has achieved provisional one status in our journey towards Ontario
Camps Association accreditation!

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM): Saturday, June 20

• This year’s AGM will be held virtually at 10 a.m. There will be options for both video conferencing and
telephoning in.
• We welcome anyone who is interested in the camp to attend. Besides the regular business of the annual
members meeting, this is an opportunity for the Board to share highlights of the past year and plans for
the upcoming year with you.
• Be sure to obtain your corporate membership in advance so you can vote at the AGM. No registration will
take place on the day of the meeting.
http://www.lutherlyncamp.ca/downloads.html at the bottom left-hand side.
• We will send out formal notice of the AGM and the agenda for the meeting to anyone who has registered
by May 20th. Membership fee ($20) must be received by June 19th:
– e-transferred to Lutherlyn.fin@gmail.com with a note Corporate Membership, or
– mailed to P.O. Box 531, Pembroke, ON K8A 6X7
• At least one position on the Board of Directors is available. If you feel called to share your time and talents
with us, the Board’s Nominating Committee would like to hear from you. You must be a corporate member
in order to be a Board member. Please email us at info@lutherlyncamp.ca with your interest as soon as
possible.

Stay well. Take care of others. Find the silver linings in this time together.

As churches in full communion, we share a deep concern for the care of creation and for addressing the climate crisis. We are now delighted to partner with other churches and faith-based organizations to mobilize Canada-wide education, reflection, action and advocacy for climate justice, under the banner For the Love of Creation. Over the years of our full communion relationship we have learned so much about the value of working together and how it maximizes our ability to make an impact in our churches and the world. We look forward to working with partners, both existing and new, in this broader coalition to proclaim God’s love of the whole world.

Find out more about the national initiative, For the Love of Creation, from this statement by the coordinating committee (PDF).

The Rev. Susan Johnson
National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The Most Reverend Linda Nicholls
Archbishop and Primate, Anglican Church of Canada

The Most Rev. Mark MacDonald
National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, Anglican Church of Canada

On April 14th Trinity Village Care Centre was declared on outbreak due to Covid-19. Like many other long-term care homes, we are faced with the difficult task of managing resident care, distressed families, and scared staff. We had several staff leave due to fear, choosing another workplace under the 1 workplace rule, or personal medical problems. Several of our staff are also being tested, and 8 are positive so far – we anticipate more. Those that are positive will be off work for a minimum of 3 weeks. I’m thankful that unlike many other homes, we have not had a mass exodus and many staff have chosen to stay… for now. However, this virus is fast moving and we don’t know how many staff will end up with it. This would leave healthy staff who are working short and under stress. I cannot risk burning them out.

We are looking for people willing to come and assist in this staffing crisis under the direction of qualified staff where we can. The work would entail anything from cleaning, food preparation, food service, laundry, maintenance, and some resident care (helping assist them with eating, keeping them company, etc.). These emergency employees would be equipped with and trained use the proper PPE, and compensated $20.94/hour.

If you are willing to come as an Emergency Worker to Trinity Village, please complete this Emergency Worker Form: https://forms.gle/EgJwqcyEfwWhM7cs7

History teaches us that people of integrity and courage always show up in times of crisis!

Once you have completed the form, I will call you and we can discuss the needs of the home and next steps.

Again, we are SO thankful you are considering this, and SO hopeful we won’t need you. If you have questions, please e-mail me: bjones@trinityvillage.com

Dear members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada,

We are about to enter into Holy Week, that time when we follow Jesus from his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem through to his betrayal, arrest, crucifixion and death. At this most holy time of the year we are not going to be able to physically gather in worship.

The writer C. S. Lewis once wrote that “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pain.” Certainly, when viewed from that perspective, Holy Week, particularly this Holy Week, might well be described as being God’s megaphone. During these special days, the distance between the lament of Jesus and the lament of humanity is shortened to the point where we can begin to believe that maybe our anguished cries can reach the one who can save us!

We know that these are difficult and challenging times for all of us – our patterns of life have been disrupted and there is much anxiety around us. Please know that we are praying for you. We invite you to pray for each other: for our faith communities, for our government leaders, for those who are medical providers, for those who still work to meet our needs in places like grocery stores and in the transportation industry, for those who are most vulnerable, for those who are alone or afraid.

We invite you to enter fully into Holy Week, through online worship or through your own personal devotions. In these special days of looking backwards through Jesus’ life, we, who must still “live our lives forward”, are given sustenance, power and encouragement for the journey. Remember, that we are Easter people, and that our risen Lord is walking with us in these difficult days. Although we are not able to physically gather in worship, Easter is not postponed. Resurrection is coming! Jesus still comes to each of us into our isolation and says peace be with you!

May God bless you in the solemnity of Holy Week and sustain you always in the joy of Easter.

Your bishops,

The Rev. Susan Johnson
National Bishop, ELCIC

The Rev. Dr. Greg Mohr
British Columbia Synod

The Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer
Synod of Alberta and the Territories

The Rev. Dr. Sid Haugen
Saskatchewan Synod

The Rev. Jason Zinko
Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod

The Rev. Michael Pryse
Eastern Synod

Dear clergy of the ELCIC,

First of all, thank you all for the incredible work you are doing in this time of pandemic. In many and various ways you are being so creative in using new and old technologies to continue to minister to God’s people and provide spiritual nourishment. We know that you are working harder than ever. Well done, good and faithful servants.

We are seeing a wide variety of practices emerge as you respond quickly to the pastoral and spiritual needs of your communities. There is also increased comment on those practices and debate over what is considered correct. Most of this dialogue has remained constructive and respectful. 
We urge you to approach these discussions remembering that we are the body of Christ working together.

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:12-17)

This is a time to celebrate the diversity and variety of gifts that God has given each of us in our call to serve God’s people. This is a time for us to share our resources, to work in collaborative partnerships, and to support each other in our work for the gospel.

One of the most pressing conversations has to do with the practice of Holy Communion online. Some are already incorporating this while many of you are not. With the realization that Holy Week and Easter worship will be different than what we would hope for, questions about celebrating the Lord’s Supper are more urgent.

We are all anxious already. This is not the time for a deep theological debate. When we are past this crisis we will have conversations and make decisions as a whole church about ways to move forward for other times when we cannot gather in person in worship.

Because of this, our recommendation is that you continue with the Holy Communion practices that your community already has in place. We trust you, Christ’s ministers of Word and Sacrament and Word and Service, to steward the mysteries of God that have been entrusted to you with integrity and grace. We know that your decisions will be made in conversation with congregational leaders and in a way that provides the best pastoral leadership to your communities. We know that in our Lutheran theological tradition Holy Communion is not necessary for salvation, but is a means of grace and one of the ways by which and through which Christ is embodied and proclaimed as God’s unconditional love for us.

Whatever decisions you make, we hope that you will respect the decisions that others have made, even if they are different from your own. In everything, we ask you to be supportive of each other and invite conversation to build understanding.

We also feel it is important to say that the Conference of Bishops is not of one mind about the appropriateness of various forms of Communion celebration and distribution. This should not be a surprise; the Conference of Bishops reflects, in many ways, the diversity of the church. However, we assure you that the National Bishop and Synodical Bishops of this church are of one mind in supporting one another, walking together with grace and hope, and working together to accompany and lead the people of God into God’s unfolding future.

Blessings to you all as you prepare to enter Holy Week. You are constantly in our prayers.

Your bishops,

The Rev. Susan Johnson, National Bishop
The Rev. Dr. Greg Mohr, ELCIC British Columbia Synod
The Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer, Synod of Alberta and the Territories
The Rev. Dr. Sid Haugen, Saskatchewan Synod
The Rev. Jason Zinko, Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod
The Rev. Michael Pryse, Eastern Synod