In his 2022 Easter Message, Bishop Michael Pryse reflects on the fact that the post-resurrected Christ still bore the marks of his crucifixion. Just as Jesus’ wounds did not define the totality of his resurrected being, neither will our pandemic wounds define the totality of the church’s post-pandemic experience.
Spotlight
Ukraine Emergency Appeal CLWR
| Canadian Lutheran World Relief is calling on Canadians to pray for peace in Ukraine, and to give generously in support of the urgent humanitarian needs of all those affected. CLWR joins its partners and millions around the world in calling for an immediate end to violence in Ukraine. Early estimates are that millions of people could be rapidly displaced, leading to a widespread humanitarian crisis. Our partners in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries are closely monitoring the situation and are preparing to respond to immediate humanitarian needs with food, shelter, emergency supplies and trauma support. With your help, we can act quickly to protect families and communities threatened by this violence, keeping borders open and creating safe pathways, and providing refuge for those fleeing the conflict. Please give what you can by donating at clwr.org/ukraine or by calling 1-800-661-2597 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm CST) and pray for all those who are affected by this turn of events. May God bless you and keep you safe. |
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| Karin AchtelstetterExecutive Director, Canadian Lutheran World Relief |
January “Close-Of-Books”
Perseverance seems to be a good word to sum-up the year, 2021. A great
amount of perseverance has been needed as we continue to live in and with the Covid-
19 pandemic and the disruption it is causing in the lives of many, including the
congregations of the Eastern Synod. Thank you for your willingness to serve as
Treasurer over the past year(s). Thank you for your ongoing perseverance and
commitment. You play a vital role and represent a key link between your congregation
and the Synod. As the New Year dawns, we will continue to walk this road together in
steadfast hope and faith in the love of God, and we pray, onwards to brighter days
ahead.
Back in October, you should have received a letter from Bishop Michael and
Synod Treasurer, Keith Myra, asking your congregation to remember the Synod in the
development of your 2022 budgets, and in the making of your annual benevolence
commitment. Thank you for taking this request seriously and for your continued effort to
remit your benevolence offerings in a consistent and timely manner. This has been so
appreciated. Some of you have also gone above and beyond your commitment goal
and the Synod is humbled and deeply grateful for the ongoing partnership with the
people of God who make up the family that is the Eastern Synod. Thank you for being
such generous givers and for supporting the ministry of the wider church.
This letter is meant to provide a gentle reminder to you to remit your 2021
benevolence offerings as soon as possible. The Synod will be closing its financial
books on January 21 st , 2022 and it is critical that we are able to include all offerings in
the 2021 totals. Observing this deadline is good and important for everyone as it keeps
your records in sync with the Synod’s records. There is also a tremendous amount of
work that takes place once the books are closed to prepare the Synod for its annual
financial audit. The timely remittance of your year-end offerings is key to the smooth
operation of these Synod processes. Again, the Synod is so grateful for your
attentiveness to these details and deadlines.
If you receive this letter having already put your final remittance cheque in the
mail, please accept our deepest thanks for your ongoing diligence. If you haven’t
already written and mailed the cheque, we would be most grateful if you could please
post it no later than January 14th, 2022 so that it can be received by the Synod Office in
Kitchener no later than January 21st .
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
We wish you God’s richest blessings for a safe, happy and healthy New Year!
Sincerely,
Rev. Christie Morrow-Wolfe
Assistant to the Bishop
PS – If you are not the treasurer of your congregation, you are receiving this because
we don’t have an email address in the ELCIC database for the treasurer. Would you
pass on this message to the treasurer and send their name and email address, plus
your congregation name and city/town, to ezehr@elcic.ca so Liz can update our records?
Thank you for your help with this!
A Christmas Story & Greeting
“The world was about to change forever. And it almost went by unnoticed…”
In this special recording, Bishop Michael is joined by Pastors Christie, Doug and Adam (as well as the Morrow-Wolfe & Snook kiddos) in a reading of “Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story” by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Allison Jay.
Bishop Michael also brings Christmas Greetings as he reflects on, “the hopes and fears of all the years.” Bishop’s Christmas Greeting begins at 4:47.
Multiple versions of this resource (video and print) can be accessed through our Eastern Synod Resource Library. The full video is also available on our YouTube Channel, and linked to our website and social media accounts.
PERMISSIONS
HarperCollins Christian Publishing grants permission to the Eastern Synod for the reproduction of this story and its artwork for the purpose of supporting churches during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by user: Markbodino is used with permission. Licensed through AudioJungle.
Our Ministry Together – Public Policy & Service
Our Ministry Together is a series of short videos intended to highlight and celebrate areas of our common mission across the Eastern Synod.
This month Rev. Christie Morrow-Wolfe, Assistant to the Bishop tells us about the important Public Policy & Service work of the Synod. She highlights the role of the Racial Justice Advisory Committee, Circle for Reconciliation and Justice, as well as the newly forming environmental committee.
We encourage you to share these videos on social media and during mediated worship.
Thank you for your gifts of prayer and financial support! This is, indeed, Our Ministry Together!
To donate, please visit: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/6472
For more information about this project, please contact Rev. Adam Snook (asnook@elcic.ca). www.easternsynod.org https://rjaceastern.wixsite.com/home
Our Ministry Together – Mission
Our Ministry Together is a series of short videos intended to highlight and celebrate areas of our common mission across the Eastern Synod.
Did you know…in the last 10 years over $2,500,000 has been granted to Eastern Synod congregations to support creative, innovative, and unique ideas for mission in God’s world! Such support is made possible through the Church Extension and Capital Fund of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, as well as through generous gifts of bequest.
This month Rev. Adam Snook, Assistant to the Bishop welcomes some of our most recent Mission Grant recipients, who share with us how they’re using these financial gifts to build relationship, strengthen partnerships, address challenges, and further the mission of God’s church.
We encourage you to share these videos on social media and during mediated worship.
For more information about this project, please contact Rev. Adam Snook (asnook@elcic.ca).