Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

Spotlight

COVID-19 Best Practices (June 2022)

Posted: | Filed Under: COVID, Spotlight

Grace to you and peace,

With the arrival of warmer weather, many congregations are actively planning for a fulsome schedule of summer activities and events. Some of these cherished programs haven’t occurred since 2019. There is a palpable sense of excitement and renewed energy across our Synod! Thanks be to God!

It seems timely, therefore, to provide an update regarding our suggested best practices intended to ensure a safe and meaningful experience for all.

  1. While we no longer ‘require’ the wearing of masks, we remain strongly supporting of their continued use.
  2. In keeping with current provincial regulations, physical distancing is no longer required.
  3. We encourage you to resume the distribution of wine by way of individual cups. Distribution by intinction or common cup remains discouraged. We highly suggest that the rostered leader continue to wear a mask while presiding at the table to prevent droplets from spreading to the bread and wine.
  4. Indoor and Outdoor social gatherings are permitted, where public health directives regarding the serving of food are followed. Please consult with your local public health unit for the directives in your area.
  5. Children’s and Youth programming, such as Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Youth Group may resume.

My guidance to our synodical community is for good and careful decision making at the local level. There is no one-size-fits-all model, and you are best positioned to gauge the readiness of your community to resume in-person activities and events. And remember, that the rate at which people feel comfortable resuming in-person events may be slower than we hoped. That is OK! I remain grateful for the faithfulness with which you engage the process of due diligence! Thank you for showing love to your congregation and community through these careful actions. 

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, or to my colleagues in the office. We are always happy to help. 

May God bless you in your planning and preparations!

Bishop Michael

Rev. Jennifer Hoover To Serve As Next Congregational Redevelopment Advisor

Posted: | Filed Under: Congregational Redevelopment Services, Spotlight

Bishop Pryse is delighted to announce that the Eastern Synod Officers have issued a Call to Specialized Ministry to the Rev. Jennifer Hoover to serve as our next Congregational Redevelopment Advisor. Pastor Jennifer has provided pastoral leadership in two congregational redevelopment efforts that have been supported by the work of the Eastern Synod; at St. Paul, Bridgeport and Bethany, Woodstock.  She is passionate about the work of congregational renewal and redevelopment and is excited to join our Congregational Redevelopment Services team!

In accepting this position, Pastor Jennifer remarked, “The moments of surprising discovery-when church leaders and community partners gather together around the table to imagine the possibilities for a particular ministry or service, space or property-these moments have been the highlight of my ministry. Our redevelopment projects may begin as a quest for financial viability and sustainability for our congregations, but both the church and the community are transformed in the process. I’m so excited to begin my new role as Congregational Redevelopment Advisor and to help congregations engage in the vital and hopeful work of renewing the church in a way that honours both the devotion of our forebears and the imagination of our children.”

Pastor Hoover succeeds Rev. Dr. Mark Harris who will conclude his term of service on June 30, 2022. I am grateful to Mark for the exceptional leadership he has provided and his willingness to support Pastor Jennifer as she transitions into this role.

If you are ready to explore your options, get in touch with Jennifer Hoover jhoover@elcic.ca

CRJ Book Study – Five Little Indians

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

Circle for Reconciliation and Justice – June book study

The Circle for Reconciliation and Justice will coordinate a Synod-wide book study for the month of June, National Indigenous History Month. 

We have chosen the book Five Little Indians by Michelle Good.  It can be bought in bookstores, ordered online in ebook or paperback, or borrowed from your local library.  It is available through Goodminds, an Indigenous independent outlet.

Michelle Good is a writer of Cree ancestry and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.  Five Little Indians, released in April 2020, is her novel about five young people emerging from a remote residential school where they had been sent as small children. 

The book has been recognized with several honours including the Governor General’s Literary Award. It was chosen by Amnesty International Canada for their Book Club Readers’ Choice of 2021. 

Here are two suggestions for participating in the book study:

  • Form a group from your congregation, Ministry Area or community to get together one or more times in June to discuss the book — and let us know about your experience!

We have made available a jotform with questions that you can answer online, and share with us.  

Stories, thoughts or photos can be sent by email to Rev. Christie Morrow-Wolfe (cmorrow-wolfe@elcic.ca)  

  • Join two Zoom sessions that will be held in June.  Before reading the book, you can attend a kick-off session “Introduction to Five Little Indians Book Study” on June 2, 7 to 8 pm EDT, that will give some background about the book and the author, and why it has been chosen for study. 

The concluding session “Book Study Wrap-up” will be held on June 20, 7 to 9 pm EDT.  In the first part we will ask participants to share what they found to be most meaningful and important about the book. The second part will be devoted to a discussion of the meaning for our congregations as we seek to live into truth and reconciliation moving forward.   

Some suggestions of questions for discussion in the book groups are available from London Public Library and from Amnesty International Canada.

The links to the Zoom Book Study sessions: 

June 2nd, Kick-Off Event, 7-8 pm –

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrd-6srT0vHNPAwvIT1ilof7diKR6eT_3Z

June 20th, Wrap-Up Event, 7-9 pm –

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlcOGoqz8pHt0OdN73AeLoRQ6w06N_JIQ4

Red Dress Day – Resources & Ideas

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

May 5 marks Red Dress day in Canada, a day of remembrance for the 1200+ missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit individuals across the country. Beginning over 12 years ago, the initiative was born out of Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress art installation wherein hundreds of red dresses were displayed in public spaces to raise awareness for the missing women. 

The colour red was chosen based on the traditional knowledge that it is the only colour spirits can see and it is used as a means of calling the spirits of these lost loved ones home. In line with Black’s vision, every year red dresses and ribbons are hung nationwide in remembrance of these women and to symbolize what has been declared an ongoing genocide. 

#WhyWeWearRed #NoMoreStolenSisters

Red Dress Day – Resource ListDownload
Red Dress Day – Eastern Synod PrayerDownload
Red Dress Day – Prayer CardDownload

Ukraine Emergency Appeal CLWR

Posted: | Filed Under: News, Spotlight

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.
Karin AchtelstetterExecutive Director, Canadian Lutheran World Relief