Why is Youth Ministry so important?                                       

    Or a more important question - where are our youth and how are they putting their faith into action?

    Originally I sat down to write this article and thought I was going to write about myself. A few months ago I was asked by Connor at Luther Village to come to camp and help in the kitchen – head cook actually. Now in a former life I actually went to cooking school and was working in that industry. Exactly 20 years ago – almost to the day of that phone call – I had loaded my truck with Cody and Byron (who were 1 year old at the time) and headed to Luther Village to work as the head cook for the 1997 season. As I headed out this summer I was a bit nervous. Can I still do this job? will I get along with the staff? and many more thoughts. As I drove up to the office, Emma saw me and came running up with a huge hug and all my fears just went away. Luther Village makes me feel at home, and at that moment I realized that this was actually a very different story.

    Usually over the summer (especially the years there is not a gathering) youth programs slow down and almost take a break. Attendance at Sunday church services for youth is almost nonexistent and people are always asking “where are the youth?” The easy answer is holidays, sports, cabins and summer jobs.

    What I saw this summer was a very different answer. Yes, all those things are still happening. But as I helped with grades 4-6 camp & 7-10 camp another thing was happening. Alongside the camps was the LIT (leader in training) program. The program leader was Lauren (a former youth at SPLC), and several LIT’s are youth in our shared ministry program with Abundant Life and St. Luke’s Zion. They were there learning, training and growing in their faith while also helping to lead the younger kids. Then there are the staff and volunteers at camp this summer. Many of our youth and leaders (myself included) were helping as summer staff, kitchen volunteers, maintenance volunteers, and a few volunteers who even ended up as paid staff. Emma, Lucas, Wyatt, Eden, Melissa, Alyvia, Byron, and Laura were all there representing our shared youth ministry. Their love of Luther Village, doing good, and helping others, is such an example of putting faith into action.

    Another opportunity to put our faith into action is work weekend. Many of our dads, youth, young adults and pastor have been doing this for approx. 10 years. They head up every Mother’s day weekend to help get the camp ready for the upcoming season. Every year is a new mix of volunteers and many come every single year. This year we had a family friend – with no connection to the Lutheran Church at all – come out to help again. We had a father and son there who are not members of our congregation, but participated in our youth ministry a few years ago. We had a former youth take part – a member who joined our congregation because of our youth ministry and the relationships formed through it.

    The opportunity to do so many good things for the camp as well as the friendships and fellowship that comes with the weekend is a great way to share their faith.

    This summer, our youth and leaders were blessed to be able to spend a weekend camping at Luther Village. We swam, hiked, sat around the bonfire sharing stories and had an opportunity to lead Sunday morning worship on the beach for all the campers. Each youth and leader had a role in sharing the story of baptism. Even some first time youth joined the adventure!

    Luther Village is just one example of the many ways I see our youth, young adults and leaders giving, sharing, and growing in their faith journey. Through their involvement in youth ministry, our youth have developed close relationships, grown in faith, and have been sent out to serve the world that God made.

    So to those who say “where are our youth and young adults?”

LUTHER VILLAGE is CALLING and I MUST GO!

– Submitted by Lisa van Dijk

BAPTISMS FOR SEPTEMBER:         

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 September in previous years: 

Jessica P.

Landon C.

Lisa G.

Hannah G.

Emersyn K.

Shasta E.                                         

Tiara E.

Taven F.E.

Richard J.

Aubrie S.W.

Charlie H.

Aria T.

Mia P.S.
                       

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 

LADIES GROUP:  

We will be providing the September birthday party at Luther Home in the evening of Tues., Sept. 26th , 2017. Please watch for our planning meeting announcement, which will need to be in early Sept.

Thank you very much.

Linda K.

B2CS:

October is Back to Church Month.  Who has God been preparing in your life?  Who will you invite to come with you to church? 

Keep praying!

ANNUAL CORN & WEINER ROAST:

We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 10th for our Annual Corn & Wiener Roast following worship.

We will also have great entertainment for the kids!

'Rockin' Rainforest Bouncer/Slide Combo'

All are welcome! Bring your family and friends!!!

SUNDAY SCHOOL & TODDLER SESSIONS: 

We look forward to another upcoming year with NEW adventures. If you have a toddler who will be 18 months old by September 2017, and you would like to register him/her for the next session please join us at our annual Corn & Weiner Roast and Sunday School registration on Sept.10th, 2017 following worship.  Thank You

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

To celebrate the 500th Anniversary commemorating the Reformation,

the Sunday School will be collecting 500 cans of food to help the poor.

We have named this challenge

‘St. Luke’s Zion Community Chest’

We will be collecting cans of food from Sept.10th until Reformation Sunday, Oct. 29th, 2017. If you would prefer to make a monetary donation please feel free to include it in your Sunday offering marked ‘Community Chest’. Thank You!    

YOUTH:

*Abundant Life/ Sherwood Park / St. Luke’s Zion

will be collecting We CARE BAGS for Canadian Lutheran World Relief ( CLWR)

We will have the bags available in September and will let you know once we have them.

(if you do not get a bag please just put into a grocery bag or another reusable bag). We will be collecting bags until Sun. Oct.22nd, Confirmation Sunday at Sherwood Park.If you have any questions please speak to Lisa

Learning and Living Kit: 

3 lined notebooks; 10 unsharpened pencils with erasers; 1 metric ruler (30 centimeters), 1 pencil sharpener and 1 eraser; 1 pack of crayons (or pencil crayons); 1 small and simple toy (new and not requiring batteries); 1 bar of soap and 1 toothbrush (new and wrapped); 1 tube of toothpaste (expiration date no earlier than one year)

*GREY CUP scratch off  RAFFLE  tickets are in:

Anybody that is willing to sell over the summer - please let me know and we can make arrangements to get to you. Let Lisa van Dijk know how many you want  25- 50-100. We have 2 series of 900 tickets - so 1800 available ($2.00each)

*Prairie Fire is looking for guitarists! To apply and audition, contact Pastor Tyler: tgingrich@elcic.ca

*SAVE THE DATES:

*THANKSGIVING YOUTH RETREAT

at Luther Village Fri., Oct. 6th until Mon., Oct. 9th, 2017.

*Reformation 500 Social: Sat. Oct. 14th, 2017

Transcona Country Club, 2070 Dugald Road (hosts:  St. Luke's Zion, Abundant Life, Sherwood Park and Prince of Peace) Come celebrate Luther's 500th anniversary of the Reformation! Win some great prizes, dance the polka, raise a pint to Luther, get together with some really awesome LUTHERANS.  The Oompah Band, Live Band starting 8:30p.m., DJ Evan Irwin (Wavelength sound and Light)  Proceeds will go to Reformation 500 challenge - LWF endowment fund. Sponsored by Faithlife Financial

Tickets Contact: Lisa van Dijk: splc-youth@live.ca / (204) 293-6357

Anyone wishing to donate a prize for the Silent Auction Contact Kim Gerbinski kim.gerbinsk@gmail.com, cell 204-799-5324 Donations will be acknowledged.

*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, 2018.

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

LUTHER VILLAGE NEWS:

2017 Labour Day Classic: 

From Fri, Sep 1st @ 3:00 p.m. to  Mon, Sept. 4th, 4:00 p.m.

Come celebrate Luther Village with us on Labour Day weekend. This is the perfect ending for your summer and will make you wish you never had to leave. Sunday morning worship at 10:30 am. Join us for weekend BBQ. Discount rates (20% off) for all!

2017 Weekend in the Wild:

Foraging and Bushcraft

From Fri., Sept. 15th  at 3:00 p.m. to Sun., Sept. 17th, at 4:00 p.m.

Spend a weekend exploring nature in the Canadian Shield with your camera in hand. Learn with a professional photographer all about taking photos - how to, camera basics, and composition all while exploring your creative side in the woods surrounded by beautiful fall colours. All inclusive cost: $154 + HST

2017 Photography in the Woods: 

From Fri., Sept.15th, at 3:30 p.m. to Sun., Sept. 17th, at 4:30 p.m.

Spend a weekend exploring nature in the Canadian Shield with your camera in hand. Learn with a professional photographer all about taking photos - how to, camera basics, and composition all while exploring your creative side in the woods surrounded by beautiful fall colours. All inclusive cost: $154 + HST

2017 Breton und Brauen:

(German for ‘Pray and Brew”)

From Fri., Sept. 22nd, at 3:30 p.m. to Sun., Sept. 24th, at 4:30 p.m.

Join us for a fun and spirit-filled weekend as we relive aspects of Martin Luther’s life. It is part spiritual retreat (praying a version of the ‘Liturgy of the Hours’ or ‘Daily Office’ as Luther did when he was an Augustinian monk) and part hobby weekend (brewing beer from scratch like Luther’s wife, Katharina von Bora would have brewed for them). No experience is necessary, just a willingness to try something you might not have tried before. All equipment and materials will be supplied, and we will meet again at a later date to sample the fruits of our labours. Must be 19+ to attend. All inclusive Cost $154+HST

Email:       lv@luthervillage.ca   

Website:   www.luthervillage.ca

Mailing Address
Summer - Box 2040 Kenora, ON P9N 3X8
Winter - 560 Arlington St. Winnipeg, MB R3G 1Z5

LUM: 

On September 30th, St. Luke's Zion is invited to ride with us to support the Lutheran Urban Ministry - or run, or walk, skip, or jump - and fundraise for the Urban.  The route is in North Kildonan. 

Ride for Refuge is a great fundraiser that supports charities who provide refuge and hope for displaced, vulnerable and exploited poeple everywhere.

A team from St. Luke's Zion can consist of all ages and participants on a team can choose to walk or bike ride. 

A team captain for your team would be required (I'm the team captain for the Urban board). 

We're really hoping for at least eight teams!

To sign up as a team for the Urban: https://rideforrefuge.org/charity/theurban

Frequently Asked Questions: https://rideforrefuge.org/faq

Location:  https://rideforrefuge.org/location/winnipeg 

Please contact me if you have any questions or need assistance in signing up as a team.

Kind regards,

Rhonda Gorham

Ministry Manager

LUTHER HOME:

Corporation Membership:

Luther Home is endeavouring to grow its membership number.  If you are interested in getting information on becoming a member please contact Linda Kostiuk (204-633-8635). We are seeking people interested in furthering the Vision and Mission of Luther Home as a private, not-for-profit, faith-based organization. The corporation manages a personal care home, 2 apartment buildings which include some mobility suites and an adult day program.  As a corporate member you would receive communications and information on the annual general meeting, which will be held in the afternoon of October 22/17.  To become a Corporation Member you must be of legal age and not be a staff member of Luther Home.  There is no membership fee.

MNO SYNOD NEWS:

MNO Synod News pages in the Canada Lutheran

We would love to hear stories from around the synod! If you have stories and or pictures to share, please send them in by September 5th to mnoeditor@gmail.com

Thank you, Joanne Janzen (Synod section editor)

Reformation Commemoration 2017:

Special Guest Lectures in November

*Dr. Timothy Wengert will be giving a lecture on

Nov. 18th, at St Mary's Academy

(550 Wellington Cres.) from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

*Dr. Dirk Lange will be giving a lecture on

Nov. 25th at Lutheran Church of the Cross

(560 Arlington) from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

NEST:   .

Upcoming NEST Events:

*September 24th, 2017 – Potluck supper at Kildonan United Church, at 5:00 p.m. Tickets available.         Poster to follow.

*September 26th, 2017 - Next General Meeting

At 7:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. Everyone is welcome to attend. Refreshments following.

*November 24th, 2017 - Ten Thousand Villages Fundraiser from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at #10-936 Henderson (at the store), in support of NEST. 

FAIR TRADE COFFEE and SNACKS SERVED

PALLIATIVE MANITOBA 

GRIEF SEMINARS:

Palliative Manitoba offers monthly grief seminars which are free and are open to the general public.

Cropo Funeral Chapel: 1442 Main St.
September 12, 2017 - People Just Don’t Understand
October 10, 2017 - Family Dynamics
November 14, 2017 - Using Rituals in Loss and Grief
December 12, 2017 - I’m Not in the “Holiday” Mood

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home: 4000 Portage Ave.
September 26, 2017 - Hope During Grief
December 5, 2017 - The Holidays Can Be a Difficult Season