BAPTISMS FOR APRIL:         

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 April in previous years: 

Christina Faith K.

Madison Marie N.

Haley Michelle N.

Candace Leanne K.

Piper Rayne S.

Isaak W. W.

Aidan Anthony Stefan J.

Lucas Adam Z.

Reese Olivia H.

Nathan Allan Phillip S.

Richard Gary Leonard P.

Karrie-Lee Josephine P.

IN OUR PRAYERS:

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

Helen B. – Holy Family Nursing Home

Laura G. - Red River Place, Selkirk

Albert J. – Middlechurch Home

Agnes J. – Middlechurch Home

Irene K. - River Park Gardens

Anna M. – Fred Douglas Lodge

Mary M. – Luther Home

Elfrieda S. - Luther Home 

YOUTH:

Mar. 26th - Youth Service with the band at SPLC

Apr. 2nd – 7:00 p.m. - Prairie Fire Service

Apr. 15th -16th – Easter Vigil Sleepover @ SPLC

Apr. 21-22 – Youth Yard Sale / Bake Sale / BBQ

                    @ SPLC

CLAY 2018 - Save the Date! 

The planning team is happy to announce the dates for CLAY 2018 in Thunder Bay, ON. Lutheran and Anglican youth from across Canada are invited to meet in Thunder Bay from August 15th – 19th.

It is sure to be an amazing time! Watch for more details over the new few months.

NEWS FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: 

Please hand in any Items for the May newsletter by April 26th to Joanne Janzen or email to the church stluzi@mymts.net or joannejanzen007@mymts.net Thank You!

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who donated food, cash donation, silent auction prizes, talent and support to our Annual SLZ’s Got Talent Fundraiser that was held on March 19th. Your support is very much appreciated. This year we had some new talent and some returning talent to our stage which was fantastic:  Elizabeth Wilkins sang a song, Peter Kostiuk read a story, Tayla  Appler danced, Madison Johnson sang & played guitar to songs she has written herself,  Thera Goertzen sang a song, our Choir sang songs, Diane Iwanicki  told us a story about her grandchildren, & Emma Bazylewski showed us how she bows her head in prayer.

It is amazing to see the talent that springs up at this kind of event. The kids (big kids included) love to perform and it certainly boosts their confidence. This has always been a great opportunity for anyone to get up on stage and share their talent with us. 

Thank you all and we look forward to another successful event next year.

TODDLER SESSIONS: 

The second 8 week toddler session began on

Feb. 12th and will run until Apr. 9th, 2017. Toddlers can attend more than one session. Let the Sunday School Staff know you are planning to have your toddler attend. This is an 8 week program and as well the toddlers will have a part in the Easter Play on April 23rd during worship. Thank You

EASTER PLAY:

Will be on April 23rd during Worship with Luncheon following. Hosted by the Sunday School. Watch for details

SLZ JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

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

All training is provided:

*Ministers of Transportation (People need rides to church!)   *NEST Board Member   *Choir Members  

*Sunday Servants

Let Pastor Lynne know if you are able to help

NEST:       

There has been no word on the expected arrival of the family of 10 originally from Sudan.

The volunteer care-giving team have started up to be ready for the family and be ready to meet their immediate needs and follow ups. NEST has made arrangements through Luther Home, for the use of their currently undeveloped group home on Leila and Powers Street. There are a large number of bedrooms and bathrooms. NEST has it for 1 year.

Up-Ccoming Events:

*NEST Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 25th, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. at Abundant Life Lutheran Church, 3486 Raleigh St. Bird’s Hill / East St. Paul

All are welcome to attend! Refreshments to follow.            - Dorothy Handkamer

CLWR:Global Encounter to Jordan and Holy Land - Young Adult Bursary
Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) has invited the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) to nominate two youth (young adult) representatives to attend the upcoming CLWR Global Encounter to Jordan and the Holy Land, which takes place January 18 to February 1st, 2018.

-One rep is to be a young adult under the age of 25.  
-The other rep is to be a rostered minister under the age of 35 years. Consideration will be given to those who are in their first call; others are invited to apply.

CLWR will subsidize 50% of their costs through the Ruth Jensen Fund. The nominee will be responsible for the balance of $2500.
Eligible members of the ELCIC who wish to be considered for this opportunity are asked to submit a letter of application that includes: Name, email, phone number, mailing address, congregational membership, and synod. A response, of approximately 200 words, to the question:  

“Why I would like to participate in the 2018 CLWR Global Encounter.”

The deadline for applications is May 15th, 2017. Nominations to CLWR will be made by National Bishop Susan Johnson.
Applications shall be forwarded to
Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the Bishop, Justice and Leadership
pgehrs@elcic.ca  

Additional information about the CLWR Global Encounter is available at: http://www.clwr.org/News/news-brief.cfm?news_id=503
For questions regarding the ELCIC nomination process, please contact Rev. Paul Gehrs   pgehrs@elcic.ca     204-984-9156

GIFTS FROM THE HEART:

are meaningful and tangible gifts that will share God's love with the world. 
There is something to inspire and delight your friends and family members on any special occasion. 
No matter which you choose, the gifts you give are saving and changing lives.

Pick up your copy of ‘Gifts From The Heart’ catalogue today (SLZ) or you can give a Gift from the Heart online today at www.clwr.org/gfth

LUTHER HOME:

Are you interested in offering God’s love and compassion to others by your supportive presence?  Luther Home, a faith-based Personal Care Home in West Kildonan, has a one day per week Spiritual Care Associate position available.  To inquire for more information contact the Director of Spiritual Care at: spiritualcare @lutherhome.mb.ca

ELCIC:

National Convention Registration reminder:
Please be reminded that registration for visitors and delegates is due by April 14th, 2017.

Volunteer Opportunities: The Local Arrangements Committee for the 2017 ELCIC Convention, chaired by Norm Coull, is recruiting volunteers to assist during the convention. If you live in Winnipeg & would like to be involved as a volunteer, please ngcoull@mts.net.

Volunteer opportunities include: Registration desk; Information desk; Transportation; Usher; Steward; Office

JOB OPPORTUNITY:

ELCIC is seeking a part-time Office Assistant. This is a .8 FTE position which includes pension, health and dental benefits, as well as contributions to a continuing education plan. This position will remain posted until it is filled. A link to the posting can be found here: http://elcic.ca/Leadership/Employment-Opportunities/Job-Postings.cfm

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

Offered for Free  Explores the Work of Martin Luther

A new Northwestern University Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is now available for free on the internet. The course is called "Luther and the West" and offers an educational resource for this year's celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The course is taught by Christine Helmer, who is an internationally known Luther scholar, and Professor of Religious Studies and German at Northwestern University in Evanston, USA. Dr. Helmer is an ELCA member in addition to being a Canadian citizen.

This course is about the impact that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, had on major ideas in the history of the west. You will encounter ideas such as freedom and slavery, biblical interpretation and anti-Judaism, politics and economics. In addition to Luther, you will meet important thinkers, such as Baruch Spinoza, Immanuel Kant, and Martin Luther King Jr. The course includes 36 video lectures by Professor Helmer, in addition to many texts by Luther and others that you can download for free. You can connect with other learners in discussing the course material.

If you are interested in this course, please visit: https://vimeo.com/183541655. The course link is found at: https://www.coursera.org/learn/luther-and-the-west - follow the instructions and sign up for free.

***Course start date is April 17th, 2017

LUM:  

The Urban community has weathered the extreme cold for another year! Many people walk a long way to get here.

So many busy hands in Manitoba have knitted scarves, toques and mitts and dropped them off or sent them along with emergency food donations.  Everyone going out the door of the Urban has left with warm hand, neck and head coverings if needed!  Such an abundance of children’s mitts were received that we bundled up the excess and took them to Pinkham School, an inner city school with a great need for mitts.

We have given out quite a few donated and slightly used sleeping bags this winter.  All who have asked me if we happen to have a sleeping bag were asking for one of three reasons: sleeping outside; couch surfing; or were without a bed.  The requests for a sleeping bag have been exactly proportional to the number received since the fall!!

Following the final report of the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Urban Ministry recognize the full scope of the impact of residential schools and the 60s Scoop on the lives of the First Nations and Metis members of our Urban community.  The first residential schools were opened in the 1870s and the last school closed in 1996.  If not directly experienced, most have a parent or relative whose life was impacted by this.

Some of those who attend the Urban are homeless, live in rooming houses or couch surf.  Some are struggling families with many strikes against them for meaningful or sustained employment.  Some struggle with addictions, physical disabilities or mental illness.  Despair and loss of hope are visible in many who attend.  That said, the Urban is also a place of:
A lot of smiles; good humoured bantering and conversation at the tables; children asking for a colouring book and crayons; Sunday worship service; sharing; cribbage playing; coffee/tea drinking and cookie eating; spiritual care; guitar playing; prayer; laughter and sometimes tears; and good food (thanks to the wonderful meal teams)! 

Kind regards,

Ministry Manager

Lutheran Urban Ministry

LUTHER VILLAGE UPDATE:

Camp:

Early Bird Registration - SAVE $25 for week long youth camps if registered with a deposit by March 31st, 2017.

*SAVE $100 for first time youth or family campers if registered with deposit by March 31st, 2017.

*Payment plan options available.

Check out the Luther Village 2016 Guide available on the table in the narthex.

Reservations Have Begun for 2017
Call in order to book your week at Family Camp or other cabin or campground rental. 
See what's available  Call our line: 204.783.3337 to book your time at LV for 2017.

JOB OPPORTUNITY:

Need a Summer job? Looking to spend a few months in a beautiful setting? Luther Village is hiring, and accepting applications for Summer positions, now! See their website for job descriptions: https://www.luthervillage.ca/staff/

Work Weekend:

Fri., May 12th, 2017, 8:00 p.m. - Sun., May 14th, 2017, 6:00 p.m.

Extra hands & lots of energy are always appreciated to help with special projects or general clean up and opening. Meals and lodging are provided for volunteers in exchange for work and skills. Consider bringing your family to work alongside you. Weekend begins Friday evening with snack at 8:00 pm and ends Sunday mid-afternoon. Contact the camp office to register.

LIT:

Fri, May 26th, 2017, 5:00 p.m. to Sun, May 28th, 2017, 6:00 p.m.

What is an LIT ? If you are between the ages of 15-18 (grades 10 & up) you can find out. The Leaders-In-Training weekend is the first phase of a training period that continues over three weeks in the Summer:

Training week: July 2nd -7th  

Junior Counsellor Rotation: July 9th-14th  

Family Camp Rotation option 1:July 30th-Aug.4th  Family Camp Rotation option 2: Aug. 6th-11th  

Leadership, communication, conflict management, devotion and worship planning, as well as learning about and working in all camp areas - kitchen, maintenance and program - are lifetime skills we teach.

The LIT program is a pre-requisite for volunteers.

Application Deadline April 15th, 2017.

Maximum: 12 people. Cost: $256+HST

MNO SYNOD:

The next MNO Youth and Campus Service is April 2nd, and we look forward to joining with the community of Epiphany Indigenous Anglican Church (730 McPhillips, near Burrows) - an opportunity for us, as Lutherans, to connect with our neighbours who are Anglican and First Nations!

Note that the service begins at 7:00 p.m. on April 2nd.

Young Adults (those who have graduated high school) are invited to a documentary and discussion on the evening of Tuesday, March 28th - hosted by U of W Peer Ministry at St Mark's Lutheran (600 Cambridge).

Our synod is hosting the 2017 National Church convention July 6th - 8th, (Thursday to Saturday) at the University of Manitoba. This is in keeping with the new convention format, fewer delegates, no banquet and delegate departures on Saturday rather than Sunday.

However, volunteers are required to flesh out the Local Arrangement Committee (LAC) and to provide support for the many convention activities. We currently hold the convention every two years and the synods alternate hosting the event. Given the two year rotation, the format for support and running the convention has been established and the volunteers will be well briefed for their chosen activity. 

Volunteer positions for LAC:
Vice-chair                    Secretary         Office  

Head Steward             Head Usher     Registration

Information Desk         Transportation            

Sub-committee chairpersons

Worship Offering Counter

Consider volunteering and meet new acquaintances and possibly old friends. Experience the depth and commitment of your fellow church members as they work to move the church forward.

To volunteer or for further information contact Norman Coull at: Phone: 204.885.1692
Email: ngcoull@mymts.net

TOGETHER IN CHRIST:

Roman Catholic- Lutheran 2017 Study - From Conflict to Communion:  The Diocese of Winnipeg, The Diocese of St. Boniface and the MNO Synod have cooperated to bring about 6 gatherings of Lutherans and Catholics in 2017. We thank the five Winnipeg sites for agreeing to be hosts. You are invited to attend any or all of the following gatherings:

-April 19th  at 7 p.m. - Study at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church

-May 23rd  at 7 p.m. - Study at St. Vital Roman Catholic Parish

-June 20th  at 6 p.m. - BBQ and Study at First Lutheran Church

A poster with full details is on the bulletin board in the narthex.

SEMINARS:

Grief Seminars

Palliative Manitoba offers monthly grief seminars hosted by Chapel Lawn Funeral Home and Cropo Funeral Chapel. Palliative Manitoba recruits experts in the field to speak on relevant topics associated with grief. Staff and experienced bereavement volunteers are available at all grief seminars to provide supplementary support.

The seminars are free and are open to the general public.

Cropo Funeral Chapel:

1442 Main Street, Winnipeg
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Tuesdays

*please note the change to the day of the week

Apr.11th, 2017 - Finding the Resources You Need 
May 9th, 2017 - Grief Can be Complicated 
June 13th, 2017 - Who Am I Now?
Sept.12th, 2017 - People Just Don’t Understand
Oct.10th, 2017 - Family Dynamics
Nov. 14th, 2017 - Using Rituals in Loss and Grief
Dec. 12th, 2017 - I’m Not in the “Holiday” Mood

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home:

4000 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Tuesday

May 23rd, 2017 - Moving On…Isn’t Forgetting
July 25th, 2017 - Grief Doesn’t Take a Vacation
September 26th, 2017 - Hope During Grief
December 5th, 2017 - The Holidays Can Be a Difficult Season

My Easter Message from God:

On Sunday, April 2nd, 2006 my Mom and I attended church at St. Luke’s Zion as we did most Sundays. All seemed normal. It was during the first hymn ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ which is a hymn I feel deep within every time I hear it. I was happy that this was one of the hymns we would be singing today. Today was different however; when we were on the third verse I was starring at the cross on the wall behind the alter singing, and when we got to ‘Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me’ it felt like the cross came right off the wall and burnt itself right into my heart; I immediately broke down in tears and was not able to control myself for quite some time during worship. It was quite an intense experience and one I will never forget.

I believe God was sending me a message telling me that ‘Jesus died and suffered for me included’ which is something I really had not thought about until I received this message. Now I think about it a lot and I feel closer to God since this experience than ever before.                                               ~Joanne Janzen