BAPTISMS FOR JANUARY:                           

Inspired by the congregational pledge made in the service of Holy Baptism (see page 228, EvLW), we will be including names of those baptized at St. Luke's Zion in our monthly newsletters.  We hope this will be a reminder to lift them up in prayer, wherever they may be in their faith-walk.  The following were baptized in the month of January in previous years: 

David Alexander                    Mercedes Rebecca

Destiny Rae                           Mary Bremfowaa

Alison Lydia                           Sara Amoakowaa

Elle Amelia                            Elizabeth Seinsia

Garrett Joseph                       Kate Elizabeth

Charlee Julianna Penelope

IN OUR PRAYERS:

Please remember in your prayers our shut-in’s in long term care:

Helen  – Holy Family Nursing Home

Irene - River Park Gardens

Elfrieda  - Luther Home 

Anna – Fred Douglas Lodge

Laura  - Red River Place, Selkirk

Mary  – Luther Home

WORSHIP DURING THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:

Jan. 3rd – 10:30 am – Second Sunday of Christmas

SUNDAY SCHOOL: 

The Sunday School Christmas Program will be held on Sunday, January 3rd during Worship. Everyone is encouraged to attend to hear the message from the Children.  Lunch will be provided following Worship – anyone who would like to help out with the lunch is most welcome J  We have a list of what will be required; please speak to Joanne Janzen, Sharon Appler or Betty Gunn. Everyone is Welcome to Attend – come on out and support our Sunday School Children J Thank You!

CAMEROON UPDATES:  

Pastor Lynne, Peter Kostiuk, and Pastor Katharine Bergbusch will be leaving for Cameroon on Jan. 4th (returning Jan. 26th). If you would like to receive e-mail updates during this mission trip, please send a message to hutch19.lh@gmail.com.

ALPHA COURSE: An Alpha Course will begin on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at the Sunova Centre in West St. Paul.  Invitation cards on the table in the narthex have all the details.

SLZ - HELP WANTED:

The following opportunities for service continue to be available.  Can you help?

*Ministers of Transportation (People need rides to church!)

*Banner steward (changes the banners as the church seasons change – must be able to climb a ladder – minor banner repairs as needed)

*NEST Board Member

*Choir Members

*Sunday Servants

NEWS FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: 

Thank you to those who have submitted their items for the January newsletter. Please hand in any Items for the February newsletter by January 24th to Joanne Janzen or email to the church @ stluzi@mymts.net or to joannejanzen007@mymts.net Thank You!

THE URBAN FUNDRAISER:  GREAT NEWS!!!

These products are still available…*CHILI-BEAN SOUP-$10.00 makes 10-12 servings in your crock-pot  *HEMP-SEED BANNOCK-2 BAGS FOR $6.00  *HEMP-HEARTS-2 LBS. $15.00 (includes recipe for our fabulous cookies)  *GIFT PACKAGE-includes-1 soup, 1 bannock and 1-28oz can of tomatoes for $15.00  See Beverley Holmes at St. Luke’s Zion J or Contact Pastor Deb at either deb@theurban.ca or phone the office and leave a message to make arrangements for pick up. 204-774-3143 

Thanks to everyone in advance for helping us out. 

Rev. Deborah V Kerr BTh

Ministry Manager - Lutheran Urban Ministry

#25-560 Arlington St. Winnipeg, MB R3G 1Z5

www.theurban.ca  Phone (204) 774-3143 

LUTHER VILLAGE:

The Luther Village Camp Annual 2016 Brochures are now available to create your family, child, grandchild or individual camping plans for next year. Please pick one up and see what’s happening during our 52nd year of outdoor ministry.  Come home to Luther Village!

N.E.S.T. NEWS: 

Upcoming Fundraisers:

*Potluck Dinner – Sunday, February 21st 2016 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church of Narol, 5635 Henderson Hwy. (Esther Juice). Tickets $5.00, plus a dish.

*Pancake Breakfast - Applebee’s on Regent Ave. on Saturday, March 26th, 2016. Please watch for the Posters and Tickets in the New Year!

The next general meeting is at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Grace Lutheran Church

Thank You for your prayers and support.

 -Blessings always!  Dorothy Handkamer

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN BROADCAST:

Tune in each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. (CST) to:
CKBI 900 AM       MAX TV 824
www.lutheranbroadcast.ca   Our website makes us heard around the world. Please take time to check us out.  Mailing Address: Box 1717, Prince Albert, SK S6V 5T3    All donations, large and small, are most gratefully and prayerfully received and acknowledged with receipt at Year End.
"Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to may path."   Psalm 119:105 NSRV

MNO Synod Nominating Committee Search:
The 2016 MNO Synod Nominating Committee is searching for individuals who wish to serve in the synod in the following areas:
MNO Synod Council Member                        
MNO Synod Council Program Committees:
Candidacy, Mission, and Youth Ministry
Rostered Member on Lutheran Theological Seminary Board of Governors.
If you or someone you know is willing to serve in any of these areas, please go to www.mnosynod.org to receive position descriptions, and a Biographical Data form to be completed and sent it to the synod office by Feb 1, 2016.
All individuals who submit a biographical data form will be informed as to whether or not their name will be presented for election or appointment.
Questions?   Contact any member on the Nominating Committee:
Rev. Matthew Diegel – Chair (Member on MNO Synod Council)   osimm@tbaytel.net
Randall Klaprat        rklaprat@mymts.net
Teri-Lynn Skakum   teriskakum@gmail.com

Debbie Beyer, Executive Assistant
Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
935 Nesbitt Bay, Winnipeg MB   R3T 1W6
Phone:     204.889.3760      Fax:  204.896.0272
Website:  www.mnosynod.org
 

SONG WRITING CONTEST: 

New for 2016:

A song-writing contest - We need a theme song for “CLAY 2016: Not For Sale,” and we want you to write it. So get into your music dungeon, your piano niche, your clarinet chamber, your accordion chair, your rented rehearsal hall, or your shower (wherever suits you best to compose), and start writing.

There are very few boundaries, but here are some themes from which you may want to start thinking:  *The enslavement and emancipation of the Israelites in Egypt 

*John 2:13-16 (Jesus drives out the sellers from the temple) 

*Genesis 1:26 (humanity will have dominion over the created things) 

We will choose one or two of the best submissions to be featured at CLAY 2016 and incorporated into CLAY repertoire.

The winning submission(s) will be analyzed based on singability, musicality, theological content (as it resonates with ELCIC and ACC ideas and practices), and originality. We would love to mix it up at CLAY with time signatures and questionable chord progressions, if you’ve got the guts to write it. Oh yeah, and if it can sound good. Consider that the CLAY band is almost always comprised of two vocalists, a guitarist, a bassist, a keyboardist, and a drummer.

The contest is open to Canadian Lutherans and Anglicans, which, when I last asked an Anglican priest, might include all humanity. Submissions may be from individuals or from groups. Please mark clearly if one person is the lyricist and one person is the composer or arranger, etc.  Contest closes Sat. Jan. 16, 2016. Submissions received after this day will only be considered if your song is either really good, or it is handed to Peter Reinhardt or Kate Langrell in person by a messenger of The LORD

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something;

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times;

during those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes,

they will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary

because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are

also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles

and they can become your blessings.

                                                    ~Author Unknown

Another Chance

A bright, shiny new year, empty, neat, pristine,

waiting, ready for us to get it right.

Another chance to love and forgive.

Another chance to make a real effort

to give more than we get.

Another chance to make a difference.

A good new year.  A Happy New Year!

                                                       ~by Joanna Fuchs