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 A. C.   

Mercedes R. W.

Destiny R. M.            

Mary B. M.

Sara A. M.

Elizabeth S. M.

Alison L. W.

Charlee J. P. C.    

Elle A. N.  

Kate E. M.

Garrett J. H.        

IN OUR PRAYERS: 

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

Phyllis A. - Concordia Place  

Doreen S. - Luther Home 

Alfred T. - Red River Place, Selkirk   

Melita T. - Luther Home  

Alice V. - Middlechurch Home   

IN MEMORIAM 2021

These days, people from our family of faith pass away without many knowing.  Often there is no service, and sometimes there is no obituary published either.  Those who pay attention to the bulletins that are emailed out might be aware, but those who can’t come in person and don’t have email may not know.  Hence, we remember here some of those who have left us during 2021:

George Curle - July 6, 2021

Ed Sebastyanko - July 13, 2021

Jack Rupert - August 31, 2021

Elsie Donetz - September 3, 2021       

Dianne Stark - November 14, 2021

Henry Machel - December 10, 2021

Bernie Domes - December 15, 2021

Laura Genyk - December 31, 2021

Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

The Sunday School will be presenting their pre-recorded Christmas message  

‘Twas the Night of Jesus’ Birth on January 2nd, during worship. The video will also be available to view on the St. Luke’s Zion Facebook page.

YOUTH:

There was a youth event planned at SLZ for Jan 9th - Lisa is checking to see if anything can/ should be happening right now; Also a young adult event on Jan 9th for MNO - waiting to hear on that as well
Something I do know…Grades 3-6 junior youth
Movie day “The Star” celebrating Epiphany
Sunday January 16th 2:00 pm on Zoom
Contact Lisa to for more info  
Future events: Sunday Feb 13th  details to come
Contact Lisa if you have/ know someone in grades 3-6 who would like to be included and added to email invites.

CONFIRMATION:

Our shared confirmation classes begin again on Tuesday, January 11th at 6:30 pm.  We will most likely be meeting over Zoom for our winter classes.  If this changes, the location of each class will be communicated.

BIBLE CONVERSATIONS:

We will be meeting on Wednesdays at noon. 

Bring your own bag lunch – coffee and tea provided.  We will wear masks and practice physical distancing except when eating and drinking and reading.  As at a restaurant, please ensure that you have been vaccinated.  All are welcome! Bible conversations start again Wed. Jan. 5th at 12:00 p.m.

ANNUAL REPORTS:

This year, we will again try to email the annual report wherever possible.  If you were involved in some ministry during the year that you think the congregation needs to know about, please consider writing a report.  Reports can be emailed to the church office or to Joanne Johnson at

joanne.johnson@adm.com Please submit any reports by the end of January.

ONLINE WORSHIP:

For those who would like to join in our online worship, here's how to do it:

1. If you have a Facebook account, sign into Facebook and search for @stlukeszion.  The video will not appear until the live stream begins, which is usually a few minutes before 10:30 am.  You can also view it any time after that.

2. With no Facebook account, go to Facebook.com/stlukeszion.  Click on "Not now" when it asks you to sign in or to sign up.  You should be able to view the service any time after 10:30 on the same day as it is recorded.

LUTHER VILLAGE:

Registration for all programs - retreats, youth camps, family camps, cabin and campground bookings - opens January 24th at 9:00 a.m. CST

www.luthervillage.ca 

WORSHIPING IN PERSON:

While we do continue to livestream our Sunday worship, here are a few things you might want to know about coming in person:

-The first time you come, you will be asked for proof of vaccination if you are 12 or older.

-Our Covid Covenant is in effect, available in the previous newsletter or on the St. Luke’s Zion website.

-Every other pew is roped off so that nobody is sitting directly behind you.

-You may wish to bring your own elements for communion, especially if you a) have allergies, or b) are concerned about plastic waste.  Otherwise, prefilled cups containing a wafer and red grape juice are available.

-Most of the service can be followed on the screen, but a small number of printed bulletins are available for those who require them.

OPTIONS FOR OFFERINGS DURING COVID:

1. Sign up for PAR.  This is an automatic debit on the 20th of each month.  It costs 50 cents a month. 

2. Give through the MNO synod website (mnosynod.org).  However, Canada Helps receives 4% of each donation.

3. E-transfers are now available by contacting  Sharon Appler.

4. Send in the mail.

5. Drop them off at the church.  Thank you!

LUM (Lutheran Urban Ministry):

December 2021 News from your Ministry Manager

Christmas is in the air at the Urban!

Please check out our new video on our website, “Urban Gratitude” (many thanks to Rick Scherger). This video represents a microcosm of the caring hearts of those who stop by. I love it because it demonstrates the reality of pandemic challenges of having our Urban interactions outside our door – traffic noise and having to speak a little louder; and brief times for conversation because of the lineup on the sidewalk. We recognize the smiling eyes above the masks of all of our regular attendees!

There are sure a lot of elves knitting up a storm! The doorbell at the side door of Lutheran Church of the Cross has been ringing on Wednesdays more than usual - with kindly folk laden with winter jackets, quilts, pantry items, and wonderful things to tuck into the Urban Christmas gift bags.

This pandemic has created challenges in the lives of everyone worldwide. In Manitoba, our MNO congregations have responded with new ways of worship and connection. In the same way, our Lutheran Urban Ministry community has also responded to this pandemic with perseverance and faith that “this too will pass”. Our Urban connections have been on the church sidewalk and parking lot for the past 20 months!

We are so very grateful for the so many different ways that the Urban is supported. I always worry that I’m forgetting to thank someone.

To our Urban community from all of us who are “the boots on the ground” outside at the Urban: We are blessed to have your fellowship and kindness. We are fed by you in other ways than with food – our hearts are full. We look forward to the time when we can sit together in worship and in our sharing circles once again.

Pandemic Notes: Pandemic worries are not yet over in Winnipeg and the Urban continues with the following: Until Further Notice: the Urban is continuing the suspension of all regular programming (coffee hours, sharing circles, men’s group, worship services, etc.) in the lower level of Lutheran Church of the Cross, due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Struggling and vulnerable single people and families (in the same numbers as pre-pandemic times when we were open downstairs) are continuing to come to the Urban - bagged lunches 4x/week are distributed outside (Wednesday men’s lunch, Wednesday & Thursday supper times and Sunday lunch). Our meal teams are happy to help us in this way and we are so very grateful for this. Our website calendar shows available dates for meal teams.

Fellowship is happening briefly in the parking lot as long as weather permits! Worship services and sharing circles will resume when the pandemic is over.

· We have changed our pre-pandemic emergency food bags to an equitable “one food item” (if enough in our pantry) per person (two items if a family) once or twice each week during the distribution of bagged lunches. Gloves, socks, seasonal jackets etc. (and weekly bread/pastries) are also distributed outside.

· Masks and 2 m social distancing continue to be mandatory on the church sidewalk and parking lot. The line sometimes overflows to the city sidewalk if necessary and all current gathering sizes are enforced as per provincial regulations. The Urban provides a disposable mask if needed.

The Lutheran Urban Ministry has so much gratitude for our volunteers and the meal teams; for the pantry donations, for the prayers; and for all those who donate financial support toward our operating expenses.

Our website: www.theurban.ca. Please keep our vulnerable Lutheran Urban Ministry community in your prayers. Please contact me: rhonda@theurban.ca for additional information, or to have your meal team added to the calendar.

Kind regards, Rhonda Gorham

Ministry Manager, Lutheran Urban Ministry Corp.