Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

Spotlight

An Easter Greeting from Bishop Michael

Posted: | Filed Under: Spotlight

Dear friends in Christ,

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Risen Savior Jesus Christ!

The Lord is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!

I am so grateful for this opportunity to offer an Easter greeting to you! And I do so with a heart that is bursting with gratitude.

I am so very thankful for our rostered ministers, musicians and videographers for all that they have done to proclaim God’s word and strengthen the bonds that unite us over these long months of isolation.

I am so thankful for congregational leaders who have faced the challenges of this pandemic with great courage, creativity and generosity.

And I am so grateful to you, dear disciples, for your faithfulness in ensuring that the vital work of Christ’s church has continued and in many ways grown over the course of what has felt like a year-long season of lent.

Dear church, God has blessed and equipped us to be God’s faithful people in ways none of us would have thought imaginable and I have never been prouder to be counted among your number!

May God grant you, and those dear to you, a full and rich experience of the story of Easter, not a story that we Christians explain, so much as it is a story that explains we Christians!

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again!

https://youtu.be/acyxGVm64hs

Music is “Alleluia” by PianoDay on Audio Jungle.

Video recorded in the Schultz Chapel at the Eastern Synod Office. #myELCIC#easter2021

Luther Board Appoints Rev. Dr. Kristine Lund As New Principal-Dean

Posted: | Filed Under: News, Spotlight

Dear Friends, 

I am absolutely delighted to announce that The Rev. Dr. Kristine Lund has been chosen to lead Martin Luther University College as our Principal-Dean; the first ever woman to serve in this position! While fulfilling this role in an interim capacity for the past year, she has shown herself to be an extremely perceptive and adaptive leader! These gifts will be much needed as Luther transitions into a post-pandemic future and I have every confidence that the Luther Board of Governors has chosen the right leader for this time in the life of our beloved school!

Official AnnouncementDownload

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Lund into this new role, and carrying the entire Luther community in prayer as they continue their outstanding ministry. 

Bishop Michael Pryse

What Has COVID-19 Taught Us?

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice, Spotlight, Uncategorised

You are invited to attend the following Zoom event:

What has COVID-19 taught us about the determinants of health for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and how are we called to respond?

Date:  Saturday March 27, 2021

Time:  10:00 – 11:45 am EDT

In this event we explore our call to walk with justice, mercy and humility in our relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

The event is co-sponsored by the Circle for Reconciliation and Justice of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College in Waterloo.

REGISTER NOW
Read more →

Eastern Synod & Luther Celebrate Major Gift

Posted: | Filed Under: News, Spotlight

The Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Martin Luther University College (Luther) are pleased to announce the gift of a Synod-owned, century old home in Waterloo, Ont., to Luther.

“We are deeply grateful to the Synod for this generous gift,” said Rev. Dr. Kristine Lund, the school’s interim principal-dean. “The home, which houses the Delton Glebe Counselling Centre, is an instrumental part of our work to provide mental health services to students and the broader Waterloo Region community.”

The centre, named after the late Rev. Dr. Delton Glebe, an esteemed former principal-dean, delivered more than 9,700 client sessions in 2020.

Rev. Michael Pryse, bishop of the Eastern Synod, said that he and the Synod Council are delighted to help strengthen Luther’s community service through this gift.

“The Glebe Centre, in addition to providing important training for students in Luther’s Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy programmes, has also become a vital service ministry to the community,” said Bishop Pryse who, in his role as bishop, serves as a non-voting (ex-officio) member of Luther’s Board of Governors. “By making this gift, the synod is helping to ensure the longer-term growth and stability of this wonderful educational and service ministry.”

While Luther is governed by its own board, the school is an arm of the Eastern Synod.  Launched in 1911, Luther is the founding institution of Wilfrid Laurier University. Through its academic programs, Luther helps form rostered and lay ministers for service in the church and prepares citizens to serve their communities as psychotherapists, spiritual care workers and in numerous other vocations.

Contact:

Rev. Adam Snook, Assistant to the Bishop, Eastern Synod, asnook@elcic.ca

Mirko Petricevic, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Martin Luther University College, mpetricevic@luther.wlu.ca

The View From Here

Posted: | Filed Under: Spotlight

The View From Here: Songs and stories of Black resilience, triumph and innovation. 

Description 

Multidisciplinary artist Andrew Craig presents a program of music and stories chronicling the past, present and future of the Black experience in Canada. Followed by Q&A. For artist details, visit www.culchahworks.ca 

Presented by:  

  • Martin Luther University College 
  • The Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 
  • St. John’s-Kilmarnock School 
  • Culchahworks Arts Collective 

Time/Day 

7 pm. Friday, Feb. 26 

Free, but registration required 

Zoom registration link:  

bit.ly/LutherAHM 

or 

https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aJBIYD30RLCW4vdC63YeUw

Ash Wednesday

Posted: | Filed Under: Spotlight

On Ash Wednesday, Bishop Michael and his Assistants invite you to gather for a Synod-Wide Live-Streamed Worship Service at 6:30pm EST (7:30pm AST).

Those gathered for this unique Synod-Wide worship opportunity will be invited to impose their own ashes (if ashes have been provided by their local congregation), or make a sign of the cross using water or simply their finger.

All worship materials (including a copy of Bishop Michael’s sermon), live-stream links, and other resources will be available on this page one week in advance. Resources may be reproduced and shared with those who do not have access or ability to participate in mediated worship.

Bishop Michael and Pastors Christie, Doug and Adam look forward to gathering with you as we begin the season of Lent.  

LIVESTREAM LINK

Ash Wednesday Worship will be livestreamed on Facebook.

PRINT MATERIALS

Ash Wednesday Worship Guide & SermonDownload