BAPTISMS FOR JULY:  

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 July in previous years: 

Jaidyn K. K.

Rylen G. G. D. B.

Carlyn R. J. B.

Jack M. M. S. 

Jett J. M. S.

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  

VACATION TIME:

Pastor Lynne will be taking vacation time from 

July 18th to August 9th inclusive.

A phone number for pastoral emergencies will be given on the church answering machine.

COVID COVENANT:

At this point in time, most of our St. Luke’s Zion Covid Covenant is still in effect. 

COVID PROTOCOLS:

Each month, church council is evaluating the protocols that we have in place. 

Details for this month:

-At this point in time, wearing masks while at worship is at your own discretion.

-Every other pew is no longer roped off.

-Coffee can be served after worship whenever volunteers are able and willing to do so. There is a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board.

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:

-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.

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. 

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!

YOUTH:

Emma Kushnier from Abundant Life will be the new interim youth leader until such time as a new person is hired. Our junior leaders will be Colin and Jill.

Contact Emma at:  emmakushnier@hotmail.com

Luther village Summer Youth Retreat

When: Friday, August 26th - Sunday August 28th

. . . .more details to follow

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 11th for our Annual Corn & Wiener Roast following worship.

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

SUNDAY SCHOOL: 

We look forward to another upcoming year in September. Please join us at our annual Corn & Weiner Roast and Sunday School registration on Sept.11th, 2022 following worship.

Thank You

ELCIC:

Help us Care for Children in Cameroon

Gifts From The Heart

Within this program, 60 children suffering from extreme poverty receive support with school tuition, supplementary food for their diets and emergency medical care.

Donations can be made through any MNO Synod congregation by marking “Kids in Cameroon” on your offering envelope.

Booklets are available on the table in the narthex.

NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATE:  

This year the ELCIC National  convention will be held online July 15-16. Pastor Lynne is attending as a rostered delegate.

2022 ELCIC NATIONAL CONVENTION ONLINE:

Following prayerful consideration at its March 2022 meeting, the ELCIC’s National Church Council (NCC) made the decision to hold the 2022 ELCIC National Convention as a virtual online gathering to conduct essential business of the church and to hold a special in-person convention in 2023 to allow time for a fuller gathering experience. 

While many places across the country are starting to open up, NCC members expressed concern for planning requirements and overall comfort-level of delegates who may be anxious about travel and large-group gatherings.

“The final decision was made in the best interest of the health and safety for all who would be part of our upcoming convention – delegates, staff, volunteers and visitors,” said ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson. 

The ELCIC is required to have a convention every three years, with the time and place determined by NCC. 

“Holding convention online this year and a special convention next year allows us to ensure that we meet this year to conduct the business of the church,” explained Bishop Johnson. “This decision also allows for what we hope will be an opportunity to meet together next year and fully enjoy all the various components of convention that really make us feel like we are coming together as church, such as in-person worship, singing, and fellowship. This feels like the right decision for this moment.”

Further details will be available in the coming weeks as planning progresses. Delegates are asked to hold July 15-16, 2022 in their calendars for the online gathering. As per Part VII, Section 20 of the ELCIC Administrative Bylaws, delegates to the regular convention will also be delegates to the special convention in 2023. 

Earlier this year a decision was made to postpone Assembly 2022, which was intended to be a gathering of both the ELCIC and the Anglican Church of Canada’s governing bodies. Discussions are continuing to look for an opportunity to come together and lift up the 20th anniversary of the Waterloo Declaration and celebrate our full communion relationship.

A Delegate FAQ for National Convention is available here: https://elcic.ca/national-convention/

LUM (Lutheran Urban Ministry):                   

The Urban is closed for holidays for the month of July

June 2022 News from your Ministry Manager

A wonderfully inviting picnic table was donated to Church of the Cross by Arms of the Cross Housing Inc. Under a tree by the sidewalk, it’s a really welcome spot for people in our Urban community, who primarily live here in the West End, to sit down for a bit when they walk over! It’s being well used!

Sunshine and warmth! What a relief after a particularly cold, icy, and windy winter - and a windy, cool, and wet spring. Warm weather and clear sidewalks are especially welcomed by all of those who primarily walk to all of their destinations.

So much gratitude every week to my Urban volunteers, Maureen, Monica, Connie, Janet, and Rosemary who help me - downstairs and at the door- in so many ways; and we are also so very grateful to the meal teams, to the individuals, and congregations who keep the Urban existing.

2022 Walk/Ride Fundraiser for the Urban! Saturday, September 10, 2022 (rain date: Oct. 1), 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. kick-off location at Abundant Life Lutheran Church, Birds Hill. If you’d like to form a team or join a team, please contact me. Info will be on the website shortly. Fun for all ages - and there will be walk and ride distances to suit everyone from 3 years old to the 90s! BBQ lunch outside Abundant Life, provided by the Urban afterward. Going the Distance for the Urban is our only fundraiser and replaces our participation in the annual Ride for Refuge.

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.

Our website: www.theurban.ca. Check out our new video on our website, “Urban Gratitude”! 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.