The Task Force for the Resumption of In-Person Worship is pleased to announce a follow-up series of ZOOM Info Sessions. The upcoming series of Info Sessions will include a mixture of small and large group discussion as well as an opportunity to ask questions and share resources. Participation is limited to one (1) Rostered Minister and one (1) Council Representative per congregation. Please pre-register by clicking your preferred date below:
Newsletters
ES Newsletter September 2020
Confirmation in a Pandemic

July 12 2020 was a special day for the South Grey Bruce Lutheran parish of Mildmay, Normanby and Neustadt as the congregation witnessed 6 young people affirm their baptism promise. After studying for two years, these young people and their families were not going to let something like a pandemic stop this celebration! Oh, and did I mention that I arrived as their pastor just weeks before Covid isolation began? The final confirmation class was an email assignment.
Following heath guidelines, one family bubble at a time (up to 9 people) gathered in the church each week over 5 weeks to participate in the worship recording for that Sunday, and to celebrate with the young person as faith was professed. The parents or sponsors were invited to ‘lay on hands’ as the pastor spoke the blessing and prayer to “stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit”. It was a powerful moment.
The congregation was represented by a ‘word cloud’ – an idea suggested by Sandra Powell, a friend from Resurrection Halifax. Members of the congregation sent words of welcome, faith and congratulations for each confirmand, so no two clouds were the same. These were put on a card along with a personal verse of scripture, and presented to each person. The family celebrated Holy Communion together and then photographs were taken
Each confirmation was recorded and it is a sign of the connectedness of this community that the families wanted to have all of the individual affirmation events broadcast to the congregation on the same date. Thus followed several hours of learning how to edit and combine videos and the result was shared on July 12 as part of the South Grey Bruce worship broadcast. (www.sweetlutheran.com)A confirmation collage was created from individual photographs for the archives.
We are excited and blessed to have these young people continue to grow in faith as part of this parish.
Rev Pam McNeil
Worship Resources for the Resumption of In-Person Worship

Dear friends,
As congregations continue their preparations for an eventual return to gathering physically together, the Eastern Synod’s Task Force for the Resumption of In-Person Worship is pleased to share a new Worship Resource. This resource includes a number of liturgical suggestions, as well as a timely reflection about the proposed changes to communion which can be used as a devotional tool or included in your upcoming newsletters and/or other communications!
We pray that these resources will further support congregations and congregational leaders during this time of transition.
Read more →ES Newsletter Jul/ Aug 2020
United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Dear Friends,
August 9, 2020 is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, as declared by the United Nations. It also happens to fall on a Sunday this year. For those of you looking for resources to help augment your worship or your online presence in other ways, please see the links below.
https://easternsynod.org/wp-content/uploads/ResourcesNationalIndigenousPeoplesDay2020-1.pdf
https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day
Peace and blessings to you as we continue to learn and walk the journey of understanding and reconciliation.
Christie