BAPTISMS FOR MARCH:  

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 March in previous years: 

Katelyn F. S.

Alyssa L. T.

Colton D. B. M.

Sydnee J. S.

Owen A. J. Z.

Alyssa H. K.

Levi R. R.

Emily J. 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  

Alice V. - Middlechurch Home   

MIDWEEK SERVICES DURING LENT:

Ash Wednesday will be both in person and online.  The service is at 4:00 p.m. on Wed., Mar. 2nd.  This year, it will include the imposition of ashes, but will not be a Communion service.  For those who wish to join us online for worship, the service will be available live at 4:00 p.m. or at any time later in the day.

Holden Evening Prayer will be online only, each Wednesday (March 9-30) beginning at 6:30 p.m..  You can join in any time after 6:30 p.m..

God willing, we will have a Healing Service on Wednesday, April 6th that will be both in person and online.  Holden Evening Prayer will also be sung. 

This service will be at 7:00 p.m..

BIBLE CONVERSATIONS:

We meet 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!

SUNDAY SCHOOL:

We are currently meeting in-person and will wear masks and practice physical distancing except when eating and drinking and reading. 

YOUTH: MNO SYNOD YOUTH EVENT:

on Sunday March 6th from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

-activities & worship-Prairie Fire at Messiah Lutheran

-meet at Tim Horton's on Headmaster for ride at 3:15. We are planning to go to the PANCAKE HOUSE for supper following the service; since it is the week of shrove Tuesday so seems fitting to have pancakes.

We will be back at Tim's about 7:30 / 7:45 p.m.

Lisa van Dijk
Youth Ministry Coordinator 
Abundant Life -Sherwood Park -St. Luke's Zion
(204) 293-6357   splc-youth@live.ca 

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. 

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!

LUTHER VILLAGE BOARD:

IMPORTANT UPDATE  

The Luther Village Board along with the Co-Executive Team have had to make a very hard decision in regards to the beloved Dining Hall and Kitchen. We have looked into renovating, but with consideration of the deteriorating conditions of the foundation and kitchen the structure is no longer safe to serve guests as well as it is no longer cost effective to keep trying to fix. The decision has been made to begin removing the current structure in the spring of 2022. The property committee under the direction of Trevor Hill and Co-executive director Ad have begun the plans to build the BRAND NEW Luther Village Dining Hall and Kitchen with hopes be ready to welcome guests back in 2023!

The Dining Hall has been a part of Luther Village from the very beginning and a community gathering place for thousands of meals and evening snacks. A special place for staff meetings, kids craft time and over 50 years of Thanksgiving retreat dinners. This place holds very special memories for so many of us, we hope that this new building will also become a central hub in our LV community for future generations to come.

What does this mean for LV Campers in 2022?
We have made the hard decision to cancel Small Fry, Grades 4-6 and 7-10 camps as we will not be able to provide food services. We will not be able to take any group bookings that require food. We will not be able to offer meal plan for families this year during Family Camp, We will still be able to offer the LIT program, teen canoe trip and personal retreat. This will open up a few weeks of cabin rentals for those who would like to spend some time at LV. We are looking into possibilities for women's retreat, bike-a-thon and work weekend and will keep you updated.

After two years of Covid restrictions, I know this was not news you were hoping to hear. Luther Village revenue has been greatly affected by these cancelled camps and groups and this year this will result in more lost revenue. 

Please feel free to reach out to the Executive Directors if you have any questions or concerns-executivedirector@luthervillage.ca

Please keep Luther Village in your Prayers as we begin this major project and maybe consider an extra donation this year.

LUTHER VILLAGE - SILENT AUCTION 2022:

DONATIONS NEEDED

We are getting ready to launch our second ONLINE SILENT AUCTION!

Last year we collected some amazing donations to be bid on by our Luther Village community members and everyone who participated (both those who donated & those who were bidding) had so much fun watching to see who would have the highest bid.

We will be holding an auction again this year and have already collected some fantastic items and are looking to you for donations of items, services, personal experiences and so much more.

Auction items needed by Sunday March 20th 2022
 

If you need ideas for donations or pick-up arrangements  Contact Lisa at executivedirector@luthervillage.ca or (204) 783-3337

Join us for a Luther Village Campfire & Auction Showcase! 

For all who have been missing Luther Village -Join us for an in person campfire evening - featuring some of your favorite Luther Village songs. We will take this time to showcase some of our amazing auction prizes and remind you all about the bidding process! 

When: Friday, April 8th, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Watch for more details!

LUM (Lutheran Urban Ministry):

February 2022 News from your Ministry Manager

The Omicron Variant has infected many in our Urban community in the past month. We have heard that in many cases a whole family has come down with it and often hear reports of someone’s illness from their friends or family members as they stop by to pick up a bagged meal. I’ve had lots of requests for prayers.

This Winter Weather has been exceptionally cold and windy. Treacherous for walking on the sidewalks and quite a few of our regular attendees have various mobility issues that make it so difficult for getting about on slippery and snow[1]covered sidewalks. We’ve given out a lot of great donated winter jackets and boots and there are many people who are warmer in their walking because of this thoughtfulness!

Resources of Wonderful Outreaches and Agencies are located in key locations of Winnipeg and, for some, because of life circumstances more than one outreach is utilized as times and programs differ. However, often an individual is only able to access the assistance of an outreach within walking distance because of age, mobility, or younger children walking with the parent(s). Our Urban community knows that they are precious to us.

Excess Donated Toques and Scarves for the Urban have been dropped off at: John M. King School, Pinkham School, West Central Women’s Resource Centre, Arms of the Cross Housing Inc., Daniel MacIntyre St. Matthews Community Assoc., and Manitoba Multifaith Immigration Council-Welcome Place. So much gratitude to the abundance of knitters who have warmed the heads and necks of so many people here in the inner city. All of our Urban Christmas gift bags contained toques, scarves and mitts and we have given out a lot from the side door during bagged meal pickups.

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. 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.