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 F. K.

Madison M. N.

Haley M. N.

Candace L. K.

Piper R. S.

Isaak W. W.

Aidan A. S. J.

Lucas A. Z.

Reese O. H.

Nathan A. P. S.

Richard G. L. P.

Karrie-Lee J. P.

AnneMarie B. A.

IN OUR PRAYERS:  

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

Phyllis A. - Concordia Place   

Laura G. - Red River Place, Selkirk  

Doreen S. - Luther Home  

Alfred T. - Red River Place, Selkirk   

Melita T. - Luther Home   

Alice V. - Middlechurch Home    

MAIL / EMAIL:

If you are receiving this newsletter by mail, and actually have an email address, please let us know!  Simply email us at stluzi@mymts.net.  Thanks!

THIS WEEK 

Friday, 3:00 pm – Good Friday Service (livestream)

Saturday, 6:00 pm – MNO Synod Easter Vigil (online)

Sunday, 10:30 am – Easter Worship (livestream)

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 in to 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.

PASTOR LYNNE will be on vacation for one week after Easter, from April 5-12.  For any pastoral emergencies, please contact Pastor Jeremy Langner (204-995-2350) or a pastor whom you know.

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 (mentioned above).  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!

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

We are continuing our weekly lessons through email & Google Classroom until we can meet together.

We will keep you informed of updates as they come up. We miss our time with you on Sunday mornings  and look forward to when we can gather again.

God Bless You All

YOUTH:

There are a couple of youth videos that were shared during Holy Week - a Palm Sunday Procession, and the Passion Reading (both available on the St. Luke's Zion Facebook page)

You can follow us (we love new followers)

Instagram: slawg.jr .youth 

Facebook: slawg.jr. youth 

LUTHER VILLAGE:

Registration is now OPEN for 2021 and the 2021 brochures are now available to pick up or you can view it online on the Luther Village website

www.luthervillage.ca  New This Year! Register Online

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION **SAVE $25 on week long youth camps if registered by May 1, 2021  

S’MORE DISCOUNT * Bring some more people!

SAVE $50 for Youth week long camps! If you are a  returning camper and refer a NEW friend to join you for your week at camp, you and your friend receive $50 off if registered by May 1, 2021.

TRINITY FOOD PANTRY:

The Trinity Food Pantry (TFP) continues to operate in the former Trinity Lutheran Church building.  It was started by Trinity before Winnipeg Harvest started, more than 36 years ago. About 40 hampers are distributed each month for about 150 persons. Pandemic guidelines have been followed protecting both the clients and the volunteers who are all vulnerable persons. The hampers are enhanced beyond what Harvest provides to include fresh produce, high protein foods and personal hygiene products. Due to COVID 19 no Christmas Dinner was held last year. Also, the monthy meals are no longer served.  But, TFP will soon offer refreshments on hamper day to engage with the clients again. The building has been purchased from Aberdeen Mennonite Church by the Archdiocese of Winnipeg. Since January 1, 2021,  the building is the home of Kateri Tekakwitha Roman Catholic Church formerly located at Ellice Avenue and Home Street. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first indigenous saint in North America. The congregation and Father Vijay are supportive of the TFP. See the link below to a Free Press feature on the new home for Kateri Tekakwitha Roman Catholic Church.

Donations are still graciously received especially since no food items have been received from congregations during COVID 19.  Send checks made out to Grace Lutheran Church which is TFP sponsor.  Mark for Trinity Food Pantry.

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/indigenous-parish-finds-new-home-573930442.html

For more information contact Don Engel 204-663-5932 or pastordonengel@gmail.com

LUM (Lutheran Urban Ministry)

March 2021 News from your Ministry Manager

It was a year ago that all of our programs at the Urban were suspended due to the pandemic. At that time we thought “it will only be for a month or two”.

Last spring, summer and fall there was fellowship happening in the church parking lot as many people in our Urban community stayed to chat a bit when they came by to pick up a bagged lunch. We were able to keep in touch with the life happenings but outdoor gathering restrictions and cold weather have really impaired the social connection at the Urban. One evening when I handed a bagged lunch to a gentleman he said that he had just come from a small wake for his father who had passed away. All I had time to do was to extend my condolences to him because there was a line-up behind him and the opportunity for a longer conversation just wasn’t possible. This is a typical example of how spiritual care has been impacted at the Urban because of the pandemic. All congregations, in every denomination and in every faith, have been impacted so much by the limitations of personal connection.

 “When will there be church”? “When will there be sharing circles again”? These are the two questions that I hear most often and the two main things longed for again at the Urban. The Lutheran Urban Ministry is dedicated to providing spiritual care, fellowship and community. During this pandemic we’re doing what we can with our bagged lunch program - but those two questions emphasize the importance of the fellowship, friendship, conversation, connection and the spiritual care that are so important to those for whom the Urban is part of their week, and for those who call the Urban their church.

When this pandemic is over we’ll all have so much to catch up on when our men’s, women’s and co-ed sharing circles resume!!

Pandemic Notes: Until Further Notice: the Urban is continuing the suspension of all regular programming (sit-down community meals, 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 - but for now 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. · Mid-week and Sunday devotionals are emailed to me from Pastor Barry Bence, printed and tucked into lunch bags. · 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 bi-weekly bread/pastries) are also distributed outside. · Masks and 2 m social distancing are mandatory on  the church sidewalk and parking lot. The line sometimes overflows to the city sidewalk if  necessary. 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