Copyright: © 1998 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. This material may be
freely reproduced or adapted for non-commercial purposes with acknowledgment and mention
of the Lift Up Your Hearts web site
http://www.worship.ca/ as the source.
The following 18 items were prepared as bulletin inserts in connection with
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's 1998-1999 ELCIC Bulletin Series.
First Sunday in Advent
God's People at Worship
November 29, 1998
Insights from the Evangelical Declaration
"God calls us, through Word and Sacrament, to be disciples and to make disciples." --Evangelical Declaration
Advent is a time of new beginnings. A new church year and a new bulletin series begin today. Over the next twelve months bulletin inserts such as this one will look at the Evangelical Declaration, embraced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada at its 1997 National Convention in Toronto.
The Evangelical Declaration is a living document, renewing the church in its call to discipleship and service. In worship we hear the Word read and boldly proclaimed, and we joyfully celebrate the Sacraments together.
Worship is a priority in the ELCIC. As we are fed and strengthened by Word and Sacrament, we are able to reach out to others. The Evangelical Declaration further states: "Our discipleship is defined by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Our mission is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people in Canada and around the world through the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the Sacraments, and through service in Christ's name."
When we conclude today's worship service saying, "Go in peace. Serve the Lord," our call to be disciples and make disciples is just beginning.
James R. Garey
James R. Garey is pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He is editor of this bulletin insert series.
Fourth Sunday in Advent
God's People at Worship
December 20, 1998
Insights into the Incarnation from the Evangelical Declaration
"We believe, teach and confess that God is revealed in the incarnation, the scandal of the cross, and in the wonder of the resurrection of Jesus Christ not in human power and glory." --Evangelical Declaration
"I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him." --Luther's Catechism
"...they shall name him Emmanuel...God is with us..." --Matthew 1:23
In the movie Schindler's List, one scene shows children being gathered up by concentration camp officials, to be murdered. One young boy seeks a hiding place. Looking everywhere, he finds refuge in the lower half of an outhouse! In the midst of human waste, that boy found a life-saving sanctuary. For us who bear the name of Christ, this is perhaps not so unusual or distasteful a notion. Our Lord was born in a barn, amid mucky animal stalls! We shouldn't be surprised, because that was the promise - God would be with us. We understand, hope, preach and teach that God is in the "stuff" of human life. Jesus lived as a flesh and blood human being from dirtying his diapers to death on a cross, Jesus was human...fully human. Although we cannot by our own efforts understand it, out of Jesus' fully human experience, he accomplished our salvation in the resurrection. Thanks be to God.
Kevin Baglole
Kevin Baglole is pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Ridgeway, Ontario.
Second Sunday after Christmas
God's People at Worship
January 3, 1999
Insights into Grace from the Evangelical Declaration
I love the passage from John's gospel assigned for this day! The Christmas gospel from Luke seems to fit perfectly into the storied and picturesque days immediately surrounding Christmas Day, but after the din has subsided, the gifts have all been opened, and the New Year's party has passed, it is still Christmas. It is at this time that we can be still and ponder the mystery of God's Word made flesh: a mystery so beautifully swaddled in John's words: "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth... From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:14,16).
The Evangelical Declaration proclaims: "We believe, teach and confess that people find their true worth, meaning and purpose in life through the free gift of God's grace in Christ alone - not through their own accomplishments and efforts." In effect, these words encourage us to receive God's gift of grace, and to live in and with it, rather than trying to manufacture a second-rate righteousness built upon the hollow foundation of our own works. What a wonderful gift at Christmas, and throughout the year!
Paul Hartig
Paul Hartig is pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Brantford, Ontario.
The Baptism of Our Lord
God's People at Worship
January 10, 1999
Insights into Discipleship from the Evangelical Declaration
Today, as we remember the Baptism of Our Lord, I am reminded of a six year old in my congregation. One day he came home from Sunday school and told his Mom about John the Baptist. Then he asked, "Mom, am I baptized?" The answer was, "No." He persisted, "Why not?" Not long after that, his Sunday school class stood at the baptismal font with him as he was baptized.
I can imagine those children going to school the next day and talking about the baptism they had witnessed. If anyone asked them what baptism was, I know they would say the same thing that they often tell me during the children's sermon, "Pastor, it means that we're all children of God."
As God's children we are called to a "life of discipleship in which we are to be persons for others." But how do we prepare for such a task? In worship: our gathering together for prayer and praise, hearing the Word, celebrating the sacraments, and by witnessing the baptism of a six year old who responded in faith to the Word of God and the witness of his classmates.
Vivian Roberts
Vivian Roberts is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Neudorf, Saskatchewan.
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
God's People at Worship
February 7, 1999
Insights into The Future From The Evangelical Declaration
"We believe, teach and confess that in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we face the future with a hope and confidence that is based on Christ alone." --Evangelical Declaration
"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven." --Matthew 5:20.
I attended a Bible study a few months ago with the young adults of a local protestant congregation. The text for study was today's gospel, specifically verse 20: "...unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of God." I was struck, as the study went on, by the number of downcast faces around the room. Why the faces? The discussion revealed their fear of facing Jesus with the sins they'd committed, and the fear that they could never exceed the Pharisees' righteousness.
The Evangelical Declaration - literally, our statement of good news! - was perhaps never more needed than in that room that evening. The Declaration reminds us that our hope, our confidence, even our righteousness, comes from God and not from us. When we try to rely on our own, deceitful self-righteousness, we cannot please God. But God's gift of the presence of the resurrected Christ in our lives gives us a new righteousness that far exceeds anything that we, or even the Pharisees, could achieve. We need no longer fear; we need only trust and believe. We are true salt and light to the world when, in our worship and our lives, we let this good news of Christ's freeing presence among us be known!
Charles St-Onge
Charles St-Onge is a former member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Kingston, Ontario, now working in the Washington, DC area. He is currently a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fairfax, Virginia, and serves on the Singles Ministry Committee of the Metro DC Synod of the ELCA.
First Sunday in Lent
God's People at Worship
February 21, 1999
Insights into Stewardship from the Evangelical Declaration
believe, teach and confess that everything we have is a gift from God entrusted to our nurture and care, and that the Christian life is a life of stewardship." Evangelical Declaration
In our worship we speak often of gifts. In one prayer before communion we pray, "Blessed are you, O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness, you have blessed us with these gifts" (Lutheran Book of Worship p. 68). After we have received communion, we may pray, "We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life" (LBW p. 74).
Our worship makes us deeply conscious that all we have is a gift from God. Our worship challenges us to use those gifts wisely, to be good stewards of that which we have received. Stewardship, of course, speaks of our wise use of all that we have, not only our treasures, but also our time and our talents.
The Christian lifestyle is integrated and holistic. It doesn't have compartments labelled "church" and "everything else." Worship does not happen in a vacuum, isolated from the rest of life. Our worship service today speaks directly to and informs our work, study, and leisure tomorrow.
James R. Garey
James R. Garey is pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Third Sunday in Lent
God's People at Worship
March 7, 1999
Insights into Reality from the Evangelical Declaration
"We believe, teach and confess that the Holy Spirit calls and gathers the whole church into the mission of God, which takes seriously both the reality of the world and the reality of Christ, with equal care." --Evangelical Declaration
Worship is where the reality of our world meeting the reality of Christ is taken seriously. Our gospel today relates Christ's chance encounter with the Samaritan woman. Much of Jesus' ministry was in this ordinary person-to-person contact in public places. A momentary point of contact, where one sees how one's life could change forever. This story reminds us that any encounter with Christ, God with us, opens new and real options for living, along with the freedom and power to choose.
In Word and Sacrament, the presence of the Spirit recalls Jesus' desires for us, and the options which Christ offers. Through the lively participation of the community at prayer, the Spirit draws us into God's presence, where God listens attentively to the desires of our hearts and the needs of our world. As God hears, God speaks and, through the praying community, opens new possibilities. Through bread, wine and promise, the living Christ blesses us with the opportunity to be empowered to live out our worship the way Christ did so many years ago, so that each of our ordinary encounters become points of contact with Christ, filled with the possibilities and promise of a new life.
Norman Hennig
Pastor Norman Hennig serves St. Paul's Lutheran Church, St-Laurent, Qu‚bec.
Second Sunday of Easter
God's People at Worship
April 11, 1999
Insights into Change from the Evangelical Declaration
"We understand that the present reality of the world involves significant changes in our society, economy and culture." --Evangelical Declaration
D.H. Lawrence once said, "The world doesn't fear a new idea. What it fears is a new experience." Change is difficult, especially when we don't know where the change will take us. We get comfortable in our lives and we look at change as an intrusion a disruption to our securely ordered lives. But change is a necessary consequence of an evolving society. Certainly this does not mean that our fears are unjustified. But we can use our fears to become critical of the changes that are occurring in our society, economy, and culture.
We can do this by asking a few simple questions. Who benefits most from these changes? Who gets hurt? Are these changes actually necessary, or are they engineered without the needs of vulnerable or hurting people being addressed or even considered? We as the church are called to ask critical questions of the engineers of those changes that dramatically affect the whole of society and the world. And we as the church are called to take action to oppose those changes that cause suffering and pain to many, so that a few can live in comfort. Our prophetic call to follow the crucified and risen Jesus is to help our world see the resurrection when all that surrounds us is death. Then we will see the fulness of our salvation.
Kevin Powell
Kevin Powell is a fourth year student at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
God's People at Worship
April 25, 1999
Insights into Christ's Presence from the Evangelical Declaration
"We believe that the reality of Christ is that God promises to be with us unconditionally in the midst of the changes in our world." --Evangelical Declaration
The changes taking place in the world today are in many ways enormous and terrifying. Our society is becoming more and more greedy with less emphasis on feeding the poor. In many other countries, genocide and war seem to break out at a continuously increasing pace. The world is indeed changing. But the change taking place today is not all bad.
In the midst of many natural and human-caused disasters, Christ's presence is seen, felt, and demonstrated. For example, during last year's Great Ice Storm, Canadians and Americans rallied around their brothers and sisters, giving clothing, food, supplies and themselves. This outpouring of our human spirit is at the heart of Christianity. It is very comforting to know that in this time of great change, the love of God can be felt and experienced through human outreach and concern. Our worship exists not just for this place and time, but directs us into our world of change, that we might proclaim the truth of the gospel and live according to it ourselves.
Rob Smylie
Rob Smylie, a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is a student at Algoma University College.
Seventh Sunday of Easter
God's People at Worship
May 16, 1999
Insights into Our Gifts from the Evangelical Declaration
"We, as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, will celebrate and rejoice in the gifts which God has given us to carry out our mission in the world today." --Evangelical Declaration
Whenever I visit a travel agency, I'm amazed at the thousands of brochures for an exciting array of travel destinations, near home and throughout the world. I love to travel, but I know that I won't ever be able to visit even a fraction of the places available. There are cities and countries, hotels and restaurants, parks and resorts, that I will never see.
I sometimes have the same inadequate feelings about the mission of the church. There are so many people who have not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, even right here in Canada. Our overseas partner churches continue to ask for our help in the daunting tasks they face. I celebrate that my congregation, through the ELCIC, is helping to bring Christ's gospel to those hungering for it in places as diverse as Papua New Guinea and Peru, El Salvador and Cameroon, Argentina and Tanzania. I rejoice that our gifts to the Global Hunger and Development Appeal are supporting relief, development, and self-help programs literally around the world.
James R. Garey
James R. Garey is pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
The Day of Pentecost
God's People at Worship
May 23, 1999
Insights into Needs and Actions from the Evangelical Declaration
"Where we see need, we will take action. We will use our gifts deliberately to be the people of God for others." --Evangelical Declaration
Think about how you will worship today. When all is said and done when the words of dismissal finish ringing through the sanctuary today, will you be ready to minister to the rest of the world on your doorstep? Today's gospel affirms that worship is to equip the people of God to do the work of God. The world around us can be a world of war, famine, violence, poverty and powerlessness. The Evangelical Declaration challenges us, where we see need, we will take action. We will use our gifts deliberately to be the people of God for others. We see those needs all around us in a world to which we are called to be the church. "Peace be with you," we hear Christ tell us, and then we are further challenged to get to work, "As the Father sent me, so I send you." This is something we are able to do with JOY! Christ has set us free to do this work on his behalf. By the peace Christ has given us, we are able to proclaim Christ's peace to the world by word and deed.
Go in the peace of Christ! Serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Neil Thomsen
Neil Thomsen is pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Mildmay, Ontario, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Neustadt, Ontario.
Second Sunday after Pentecost
God's People at Worship
June 6, 1999
Insights into Worship from the Evangelical Declaration
"We commit ourselves as church to worship the Triune God through Word and Sacrament. Our worship will be faithful to scripture and tradition, celebrating diverse forms of worship and speaking to our context." --Evangelical Declaration
The people who make Luther Court in Victoria, BC, their home, gather daily for worship. Though it is an ecumenically diverse community, we are united in worship of the Triune God. A benefit of our common worship is the way in which it builds and creates community among those who gather. Though the content varies from day-to-day, the form of the worship remains fairly constant. There is a rhythm and shape to the liturgy that is well-known and that frees the worshippers to focus on the content and action of the day, rather than scrambling to see what comes next.
When we are forever in search of something new and different, we would do well to balance that search for experimentation with the beauty of constancy and tradition. Certainly we enjoy and welcome new music and musical idiom and it expands our horizons and enriches our worship, as it should. And we also treasure the forms that musical expression is placed within - forms that have been shaped through countless generations who have found the liturgy of the church to be a helpful tool to support and enable meaningful worship.
Someday each of us may find ourselves at worship with declining eyesight, and with impairment of hearing, with loss of memory and a reduced inner space to adapt. Then we will appreciate anew the worship that has shaped and nurtured our faith throughout the life journey. Then we will continue to have voice and vehicle to express our faith in all its profundity.
Karen Johnson-Lefsrud
Karen Johnson-Lefsrud is Director of Pastoral Care at Luther Society, Victoria, BC, which provides a wide range of services and housing for seniors.
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
God's People at Worship
June 27, 1999
Insights into Faithful Living from the Evangelical Declaration
"We commit ourselves as church, through prayer, study and conversation, to discern what it is for us to live faithfully under the cross in this time and place, seeing the world through the event of the cross." --Evangelical Declaration
Violence, poverty, ownership, gambling, hurts, sickness, homelessness. To live faithfully under the cross today is not to deny the hurts and emptiness of and needs of my neighbours. My neighbours are not just faces or names or bodies, but human beings, God's children, made in God's image. When I look out of my house, car, workplace, or church window, I see....
"We will enter into the lives of people in our local, national or global communities." --Evangelical Declaration
Deliver meals-on-wheels. Befriend someone who lives in a group home. Be a Big Brother or Big Sister. Assist in a community kitchen. Welcome and sit with a stranger in your church. Help an immigrant or refugee family. Eat at the soup kitchen. Visit an elder in a nursing home. Serve breakfast at school. Sit on a street bench. Ride in a police car. Talk to the person in the grocery line. Smile as you walk down the street. I will....
Look. Listen. Pray. Act.
"For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." --I Corinthians 1:18
Marquise Sopher
Marquise Sopher is a speech-language pathologist in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where she is a member of Zion Lutheran Church. She served on the Future Directions Task Force on Mission which prepared the Evangelical Declaration.
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
God's People at Worship
July 18, 1999
Insights: A Commitment to Continuing Education
"We commit ourselves as church to equip all of us to be people in mission and to live as faithful disciples. We will emphasize ongoing learning for both laity and clergy. We will make full use of the resources of the people in our congregations, schools, seminaries and leadership positions in the church. We will also work intentionally with other churches." --Evangelical Declaration
Lutheran immigrants who came to Canada in the early 1900s had a high commitment to education. One of the first corporate acts of these immigrants was to establish schools. Education has always been a priority of Lutherans around the world. Through its educational institutions the church has sowed the good seed of faith. Excellence in teaching and learning has been a hallmark of the church's educational expression.
The educational process is part of the lively dialogue that defines the faith for us, whether it is in an evening bible study, a parish catechism class, or in the proclamation of the Word on a Sunday morning. Neither the church nor its members ever quits learning.
At the heart of our learning is the discovery that within ourselves, we do not have all of the answers. When we gather with other persons of faith, we bring the strength of our learning to that meeting. In the same manner, we learn much from the vigor of other faith traditions. Together we are made stronger and "the good seed flourishes." The parables of Jesus are educational "case studies." They are marvelous illustrations of good teaching. They are early examples of an educational method that continues in the church's schools today.
Richard L. Husfloen
Richard L. Husfloen is President of Augustana University College in Camrose, Alberta.
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
God's People at Worship
August 22, 1999
Insights into Justice from the Evangelical Declaration
"We commit ourselves as church to encourage companionship and advocacy with those who are treated unjustly, whether in our local, national or global communities. We will do this ecumenically in as many ways as possible." --Evangelical Declaration
"Who do you say that I am?" was the question that Jesus posed to Peter, future leader of the church universal. Peter's answer is the beginning of our confession of faith: "I believe that you are the Son of the Living God."
This is an important question for us to ask ourselves regularly as the church. Behind this question and in its answer lies a radical call to follow this person we confess as the Son of the Living God. To follow in the footsteps of Christ means to be as Christ to a deeply troubled world, to offer healing and comfort to those who desperately need it. But it also is to challenge the social structures that create suffering and pain. Too often we try to address the symptom rather than the disease. The pain that exists in this world is preventable. When we fail to speak out against the sin of injustice, we are missing the essential thrust of the salvation message. We are called to be with those who are in pain and speak for those who have no voice, just as God came to be with us in the person of Jesus. We are free to speak out against injustice just as Jesus did. We are free to be the church, in our worship and in our lives.
Kevin Powell
Kevin Powell has concluded his fourth year of study at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
God's People at Worship
September 19, 1999
Insights into Sharing from the Evangelical Declaration
"We commit ourselves as church to share our gifts with the whole people of God beyond our specific denominational and national context. We will seek ways of working cooperatively wherever we are able." --Evangelical Declaration
In an earlier age ecumenism meant giving up our denominational identity to form a unified church. But now we see that we don't need to give up our identity to achieve unity. Each tradition has its own unique gifts and strengths to share with the other. The Evangelical Declaration challenges us all to share our gifts.
In less than two years Lutherans and Anglicans will vote on Full Communion, creating a relationship in which Lutherans will naturally share their gifts with Anglicans. In return, Anglicans will share their gifts with Lutherans. Together we will be stronger, rejoicing in the strengths that we have and sharing those gifts with each other. At General Synod 1998, I participated in a group discussing Anglican/Lutheran relations. Lutheran Bishop William Huras spoke of the Queen being an Anglican when she's in England and a Presbyterian in Scotland. I asked if Full Communion meant that I would be a Lutheran when in a Lutheran church, but then I answered my own question: "No, I will still be an Anglican, but I will be at home." We don't give up our identity, but we enter into the sort of relationship that we will be "at home" in each others' churches and assemblies as full partners for the gospel. Our worship already feels "at home." May that feeling extend to all areas of our life together.
Alan T. Perry
Alan T Perry is a priest in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal, in the Parish of Lachute. He has actively participated in Lutheran-Anglican dialogue in Canada.
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
God's People at Worship
October 24, 1999
Insights into Communication from the Evangelical Declaration
"We will listen to the voices of our church and society, and respond to their needs." --Evangelical Declaration
When learning a new language, one of the most difficult things is learning to speak without an accent. The problem is with hearing. Our ears are so used to our own sounds that we unknowingly impose those familiar sounds where they do not belong. When we try to speak, the new language comes out sounding like our own language. That is because we have not really heard the new sounds.
Listening to others' needs is much the same. We listen to their story but often unknowingly impose our own feelings, wants, and needs on the other person. When we respond, it is to our interpretation of what the person needs.
Jesus told us to love each other as we love ourselves. That means that we must understand the other person as thoroughly as we understand ourselves, so that whatever help we give them is truly a response to their needs, rather than to what we think they need. In worship, we bring our hearts and minds into God's presence so that they can be opened to truly listen to our neighbours.
Betty Skonnord
Betty Skonnord is a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, Ontario. She is editor of the ELCIC devotional booklet Eternity for Today.
All Saints' Sunday
God's People at Worship
November 7, 1999
Insights into Response from the Evangelical Declaration
On All Saints Sunday we remember those who have gone before us and now rest in life eternal. Whether your congregation is five years old, or 125, you will find in its parish records that the beginning of your congregation came as a result of people who took their faith seriously, saw an opportunity for mission, and went to work. Or, as the Evangelical Declaration puts it: "We commit ourselves as church to respond faithfully, promptly and flexibly to the many opportunities for mission. We will pursue creative and effective ways for mission and ministry in our local, national and global communities."
With time our society changes. The norms of five or 125 years ago have changed. As a church we need to recognize these changes and make sure we are like the bridesmaids in Matthew's gospel, who are ready to meet the bridegroom. Anchored in the Word, and unapologetically Lutheran following our Confessions, we need to find ways to respond to mission, yet remain true to our liturgical tradition. We need to join the saints whom we remember today in ensuring that the saving grace of our Lord and Savior is proclaimed in our community, locally and globally.
Pastor J. Krister Ulmanis
Pastor J. Krister Ulmanis serves Faith Lutheran Church, in St. Catharines, Ontario