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.

Alison L. W.           Sara A. M.

Elle A. N.               Elizabeth S. M.

Garrett J. H.          Kate E. M.

Charlee J. P. C.

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

Della S. - Donwood Manor

Elfrieda S. - Luther Home 

YOUTH:

Sun. Jan. 8th – 6:30 p.m. - Prairie Fire Youth Service

Winter Youth Retreat

Feb.18-20th 2017 (Louis Reil weekend) in Steinbach.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS:

Save the date!!!

The Sunday School will be presenting their ‘Star Trip - Our Faith Awakens’ Christmas Program during worship on January 8th, 2017.

Followed by a delicious ‘Mac n’ Cheese & Meatballs’ Pot-luck lunch.

Everyone is welcome to attend.  Please join us in supporting our students. Thank You!   

***JAN. 7th  11:00 a.m.   DRESS REHEARSAL

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

SLZ - 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

LUM NEEDS:

Winter Needs
blankets/sheets/pillows, sleeping bags for the homeless, long johns, warm sweaters, mitts/hats/scarves, wool or warm socks, regular socks (men's, women's, children's), underwear (men's, women's, children's), towels, facecloths, coats any size (particularly men's large or extra-large), boots (any kind), slippers (handmade or otherwise), used backpacks (especially for adults - any condition as long as the zippers work) are always welcomed.

Need for Emergency Food at the Urban
Pasta (macaroni, spaghetti, egg noodles, Side Kicks, rice); canned meat (salmon, tuna, ham, Klik or Spam, ravioli, zoodles); instant noodles (beef, chicken, mama noodles); cereal; soups (tomato, vegetable, chicken noodle, mushroom, Campbell's chunky soups); Kraft Dinner; peanut butter; jams; crackers; cookies; jarred baby food; baby formula; diapers (sizes 4 & 5); baby wipes; shampoos; socks (men's, women's & children's); toilet paper; sanitary pads/tampons, and tooth brushes.

Also needed
empty margarine/yogurt containers; plastic grocery bags; and colouring books (can be partially used, we tear out the pages for Urban kids to colour here) and used crayons/pencil crayons. Coffee for the coffee urn and powdered creamer are always welcomed donations as the coffee is always on here for those who attend!

Please contact rhonda@theurban.ca for drop off times.
 

NEWS FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: 

Please hand in any Items for the February newsletter by January 28th  to Joanne Janzen or email to the church stluzi@mymts.net or joannejanzen007@mymts.net Thank You!

NEST:       

Up-Ccoming Events:

*the next NEST General Meeting will be held on Tues., Jan. 24th, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church.

All are welcome to attend! Refreshments to follow.

*FLAPJACK Fundraiser at APPLEBEE’s;

1598 Regent Avenue W., on Sat., Feb. 11th, 2017. Tickets are $10.00. To get your tickets please see Dorothy Handkamer. 60% of the proceeds will be donated to NEST. Please see the poster on the bulletin board.

*NEST General Meeting in February will be held on Tues., Feb. 28th, 2017 at the Grace Lutheran Church. All are welcome to attend. Refreshments to follow.

- Dorothy Handkamer

LUTHER VILLAGE UPDATE:

Reservation Information

Want to create your own genuine outdoor fun? It is almost time to book your summertime fun-time.

Mon., Jan. 23, 2017 is the first day to call, in order to book your week at Family Camp or other cabin or campground rental.

*At 9:00 a.m. sharp, you can call our line: #204-783-3337 to book your time in the Sun at LV for 2017.

*No email reservations on this day. Please be patient as many are phoning in creating their experience too. 

*One call = one booking for family camps (maximum 3 weeks at a time). You can book for another occasion in that same phone call. You cannot book for someone else in addition to your reservation in the same phone call. 

Credit card (VISA or MasterCard) is required for deposit. We will not take any reservations before this, except for group or school bookings. #seeyouatLV 

Seasonal Site Applications Due January 16  

Ever thought about applying for a Seasonal Site at Luther Village?
We have 17 Seasonal sites; 14 in the main campground, 3 in the upper campground and 2 in the ballfield.
Applications for these sites are due on Monday

January 16, 2017. Semi-seasonal sites (passes) are available for May/June and Sept/Oct as well.
Rates for 2017 on our website now and in the 2017 brochure (available December 18).

Sites will be selected by January 19, then you will be notified.

MNO SYNOD:

MNO Winter Youth Retreat
February 18-20, 2017
St Paul's Lutheran Church, Steinbach, MB

Our theme is “In Another’s Shoes” What would it be like to live in another place? Can you imagine not living in Manitoba or Northwestern Ontario? …or even being from outside Canada? Questions like these will be part of our time together at the retreat.

Our presenters for the weekend will be artists, Andraea Sartison and Caroline Wintoniw. As Artistic Director of One Trunk Theatre, Andraea has been involved in writing and directing dramatic pieces on the Winnipeg artistic scene for several years. Caroline may be known to some of you as a member of the 2012 CLAY drama team; she is a photographer and videographer. Together, Andraea and Caroline have collaborated on a number of projects, and our time with them will include some of a project they’re working on, currently called “Refuge,” – come to the retreat to hear more.

CLWR - 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

Messiah Lutheran Church:

We continue to celebrate as we remember the gifts of the Magi - gold, frankincense and myrrh - brought to celebrate the life they found beneath the star they followed. As wondrous as all those gifts are, at Epiphany we celebrate the gift of greater magnitude and scope. God come among us in Jesus, bringing gifts of grace and mercy.  

We celebrate on Friday, January 6th at 7:30 pm at Messiah Lutheran Church, 400 Rouge Road, Winnipeg. You are invited to join us for warm candlelight, wondrous music from a string quartet, and life giving Word/word. This will be followed by a reception. 

"Blue Christmas"  

An Epiphany Celebration of Light for Those Who Experience Darkness During the Holidays

Friday, January 6, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church. The holiday emphasis on gathering family and friends sometimes accentuates the sense of loss when loved ones are missing. Come, gather with others who also know sorrow and grief. Let us together seek a light in the darkness.A simple service of listening, sharing, honoring and being embraced by Hope. If you have questions, call Pastor Dave at Grace 204-661-2562.

OUR CHRISTMAS STORY 2016:     

     Since I can remember our Christmas tradition has always been that on Christmas Eve we all got together at Mom’s for dinner and gift exchanges. Santa was not a big thing back then when we were kids; as a matter of fact the first time I saw Santa in a mall I was about 12 years old. It really didn’t mean much to us. The gifts also were not the center of our Christmas as there were more kids than there was money. The younger kids always received a gift to open on Christmas Eve and when there was not enough money to go around my older brother and myself received a gift after the New Year. We understood and did not feel deprived at all.    

     When we started our own families the tradition changed a bit…Mom loved Christmas and especially loved having little ones around during this time. My cousin began coming over on Christmas Eve dressed as Santa and the kids all had a chance to talk with Santa and tell him how good they had been all year and what they would like for Christmas. Family pictures were taken with Santa. Since we had our children we have had our own family Christmas on Christmas mornings.    

     We did not attend church regularly growing up, however we did attend Sunday School sometimes. This did not change our beliefs.

     We all knew ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’.

     It was May 28th, 2005 when I said to my daughter that I want to find a Lutheran Church close to here; and I would like to go tomorrow. I said we can find one in the yellow pages…so she found St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church on McPhillips St. – okay that sounded okay. I was not very good finding places for the first time and managed to get lost quite often; so my daughter goes for a drive to find the church. Easy easy she says to me; just go down Leila to McPhillips turn right and the church is on your right, you won’t miss it. I called my Mom and asked her if she would like to go to church tomorrow; without any hesitation she said YES. We did go to church that Sunday morning, there weren’t many people in attendance that Sunday however we were welcomed by many friendly members of the congregation which was fantastic. Mom and I truly enjoyed attending church every Sunday. That is what had been missing in our life. It was not long after that, I think a year or so later that my kids started attending church with us.

Thank God for yellow pages!  

     It was Christmas of 2005 when we attended the Candlelight Service at St. Luke’s Zion for the first time. It was amazing! I felt the peace of Christmas for the first time. My Mom and I loved going to the service on Christmas Eve which has since become a big part of our Christmas tradition. We missed the service a couple of years ago and I really missed it. Something was missing and I really felt it; now I try to make sure we attend this service every Christmas.

     It always brings peace of mind and reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.  

     This year my son & daughter and their families were here on Christmas Eve for dinner. We also had two unexpected guests for dinner which was great. Santa visited briefly after dinner which really excited the little kids. Then we attended the Christmas Eve service; the message always hits home and the hymns are ringing softly in my head for days after.

     As a family we have faced many hardships over the years; we have lost many family members and friends. Attending St. Luke’s Zion has made our hardships more bearable.

     Thank you to Pastor Lynne who has and is always there to help. When I hear the message on Sundays I feel like Pastor Lynne is speaking directly to me, as the message usually relates to things that are currently going on in my life. I usually have a new perspective after hearing or reading the message on Sundays.  

     Thank you to our Church Family who are always welcoming, friendly and even funny. Life is definitely much better with ALL of you at St. Luke’s Zion in it.

Thank You

Annonymous    

Poet’s Corner 

The Lord has Spoken – HOPE

Based on Isaiah 25:6-8

Here on Mount Zion

The Lord Almighty

A banquet will prepare

A banquet of richest food

A banquet of finest wine.

The Lord Almighty

Will remove the cloud of sorrow,

The cloud of sorrow hanging over all nations.

The Lord Almighty

Will remove death forever

Will wipe away the tears of everyone’s eyes

Will take away the disgrace his people have suffered

The disgrace they have suffered throughout the world.

The Lord himself has spoken.

Then everyone will say:

We have put our trust in God.

His is our Lord.

He has saved us.

We are now happy.

We are now joyful.

He is our Lord God Here on Mount Zion.

                       ~ by Anna McDonald

A PRAYER:

Dear God,

I am thankful to God for having my nice family, and my nice friends who take me places and for my house.

I am thankful for my wonderful life God gave me.

I am thankful for my wonderful church family.

I am thankful for the awesome Sundayu School kids at St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church.

Amen

Written by St. Luke’s Sunday School kids & teachers - 2016