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2� THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2011

Central District NewsSaskatchewan, Manitoba, NW Ontario Elaine Stanfel, editor


� The Canadian Lutheran July/August 2011


SASKATOON - A group of 18 Canadian Lutherans, led by hosts Michelle and Rev. Mark Dressler (St. Paul’s) and including Rev. Gary Heintz (Redeemer, Kakabeka Falls), toured the Holy Land this February.

Political unrest in Egypt caused a slight change in plans—Cairo and the pyramids were taken off the itinerary, which allowed for extra time in Israel and Jordan.

After deplaning at Tel Aviv, the group took a bus to Jerusalem where their education in ancient history and the life of Jesus began in earnest.

First stop was the Mount of Olives to see sites significant to the life of Christ: Dominus Flevit Church, the Church of Ascension, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of the Pater Noster and the Church of All Nations. Next the group visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, built on the site of Jesus’ birth.

At each stop, Rev. Dressler read the related account in the Bible.

From Jerusalem the group headed to Amman, Jordan. At the ancient Greco-Roman city of Gadara, they heard the story of the Gadarene swine (Matthew 8:28-34) in its original setting, next to the Sea of Galilee where the demon-possessed swine drowned. A local guide took

A walk through the Holy Land

Checking out the local transportation.

the group into the desert (an area known as Wadi Rum) and on to Petra to see the beautiful buildings carved out of the canyon walls.

The group saw Bethany beyond the Jordan, the place of Christ’s baptism; Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found; the Jordan River, where many still go to be baptized; and Masada, a fortress important in Jewish history. They also visited the Dead Sea, stopped in Jericho and saw the Mount of

Temptation where Satan tempted Jesus. They took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, visited the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth and saw ruins in Caesarea.

Back in Jerusalem the group spent a day at the Temple Mount, which is holy ground for three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Walking along the Via Dolorosa, the travellers found the 14 Stations of the Cross in the winding streets of Jerusalem. They ended at the Place of the Skull (Golgotha) and the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Celebrating communion in the Garden of Gethsemane was a highlight of the tour.

“One cannot travel the roads this group did and not be affected by where we were and what we saw,” said Diane Koroll. “As the Bible lessons are read each Sunday at worship, names of places where we actually stood will forever bring back the memories of this trip.”

Read the full daily blog of the 14-day trip, with photos and videos, at nobodystrikethestone.blogspot.com.

With notes from Diane KorollPastor Dressler leads a worship service following a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane.

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2011 2�



The Canadian Lutheran July/August 2011 �


PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. - More than one local Lutheran family is counting its blessings after government officials breached a dike mid-May to avert a larger crisis. Manitoba’s Assiniboine River experienced the worst flooding in 300 years, and the provincial government believed a controlled breach would flood only 150 properties and 250 square kilometers of land compared to a much larger disaster that would impact 850 homes on 500 square kilometers of land.

Eva Korfman, a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, said water from the breached dike at the Assiniboine River’s Hoop and Holler Bend had reached her family’s land but did not come close to her home.

“It’s more promising than we anticipated,” said Korfman, noting she feels divine help in the matter. “That’s totally God’s hand.”

Korfman anticipated the water to get closer to the house but not enter it. The house was protected by an Aqua Dam, a sandbagged-braced, one-metre-tall, one-metre-wide, water-filled, sausage-like tube. It is also built on one of three small hills on the Korfmans’ 8.5-hectare parcel of land. The property is located less than a kilometre from the breach.

Other members of the congregation were on “pins and needles,” hours before the provincial government breached the dike and flooded their properties, maybe even their homes.

“I guess you could call it pins and needles because it’s the unknown,” said Redeemer member Simon Bueckert, when asked earlier about a potential breach. “It’s fear of the unknown. I can’t do anything about it, so I have to leave it in God’s hands.” Simon, his wife Sheila, and daughters Alicia and Kiersten, live on 28 hectares of land about 0.8 kilometres from the dike and about 1.2 kilometres from the breach. The

Leaving it in God’s hands

Emergency officials erected sandbagged-braced, one-metre-tall, one-metre-wide, water-filled, sausage-like tubes around homes to protect them from damage.

high water table had already pushed water into their basement.

While Simon was not convinced a breach would impact his home, he evacuated his family and removed personal effects and his professional photography equipment. He said there was just too much stress on his wife and eldest daughter: access was restricted to the home and family members required a pass to enter it, a detour added 16 kilometres to his trip into town, news stories were rampant and emergency workers were constantly passing by.

The church rallied around his family. Simon and Sheila stayed with the congregation’s chairman, Glenn Hauser. Alicia and Kiersten stayed with its pastor, John Blum. Others called and offered to sandbag his home.

Eva Korfman said she also received support from Redeemer members. She knows of Lutherans in Canada,

the United States, Mexico and even Thailand who were praying for her, and she is definitely counting her blessings. “There are blessings going on that we don’t even know about,” she said. “You’ve got to count your blessings.”

Rev. John Blum, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, said his congregation offered space to families who need

to store equipment. He also held a special prayer meeting. “The families are certainly affected,” he said.

He thanked Lutheran Church–Canada for i ts support , too. Meantime, Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee, LCC president, called for prayers. “Whether you live near the flooded areas, as I do, or are in some region that right now seems pleasant, high and dry, I hope you’ll spend time in the coming days to pray the Lord’s blessing on your beleaguered fellow Canadians threatened by the flooding,” he said. “Ask God to stand by them. Ask Him to bless the efforts of those trying to help them. Ask Him, too, to give opportunities to His children to give witness to Christ and the peace He shares with people, even in their darkest hours.”

with notes from Keven DrewsAdditional sources: Winnipeg Free Press,

Globe and Mail, Canadian Press

KAMSACK, Sask.- The basement at Peace Lutheran Church sustained two cracks in the floor, each about one foot long. The ground in the area was saturated the previous spring, summer and fall and then experienced heavy snow this past winter.

More spring flooding

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�0 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2011





THUNDER BAY, Ont. and WINNIPEG - The Central District Theological Lay School has played a role in educating lay people for decades. One thing it hadn’t done was visit the eastern half of the Central District. This year the lay school extended its reach to Thunder Bay and Winnipeg, giving more people an opportunity to attend the school for the first time.

The school offers lay persons an opportunity to better their understanding of church doctrine and practices. It fills the education gap between local Bible studies and the curricula offered by LCC’s post-secondary institutions.

Said Rev. Mark Dressler (St. Paul’s, Saskatoon), dean of the lay school: “I know personally there is quite a gap between what is taught in our congregations and what would

New format proves positive for lay school

Rev. Garry Heintz and students in Thunder Bay.

The Winnipeg group seated at Beautiful Savior Lutheran School.

Rev. Cameron Schnarr leads evening Compline.

be expected from if students were to take a course at Concordia University College of Alberta or one of our seminaries.”

F o r g r e a t e r accessibility, the lay school schedules its classes for evenings and weekends so s tudent s do no t have to take time off work to attend. “The typical student used to be someone who was retired, but under this new format we have been able to accommodate those who are still in the working sector,” commented Rev. Dressler. “This has given the school a real boost.”

This past May, ten students attended lay school sessions at

Epiphany Lutheran Church in Thunder Bay, and 16 students gathered at Beautiful Savior Lutheran School in Winnipeg. Rev. Garry Heintz ( R e d e e m e r , Kakabeka Fa l l s , Ont.) and Cameron Schnarr (Beautiful Savior, Winnipeg) taught the doctrinal courses from the new

publication Lutheranism 101, and Rev. Dressler led the practical ones, which included a class on Christian vocation and a class that explained the purpose and function of the historical liturgy in the Divine Service.

In both cities the weekend sessions were taught by professors from Concordia Lutheran Seminary. In Thunder Bay Dr. Manfred Zeuch led a course entitled Ethics for Daily Life,and in Winnipeg Dr. Edward Kettner taught The Catechism for Daily Life. The lay school has benefitted greatly by having involvement from seminary professors and the school looks forward to their continued assistance next year.

In the spring of 2012 the Central District Lay School will return to Regina (April 30-May 6) and Saskatoon (May 2-May 8), and then head back again to Thunder Bay and Winnipeg in the spring of 2013. For more information on the school, please contact Rev. Mark Dressler at 306-343-9535 or [email protected].

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WINNIPEG - Students in Grades 2 through 4 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran School performed “The Hockey Song” by Stompin’ Tom Connors on their violins for CBC

WINNIPEG - A new elevator at Immanuel Lutheran Church was dedicated May 1 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a potluck lunch.

This elevator has been on the congregation’s wish list for many years. The congregation moved into a new building at a new location in 1985 after a fire destroyed its

Elevator dedication uplifts church members

(l-r) Doug Kroll, congregational chairman; long-time members Ron Kuxhaus and Ken Burron; Walter Weiss, trustee chairman.

Celebrating the NHL’s return to Winnipeg

Students with strings salute the return of hockey to Winnipeg.

previous church building. The original plans for the new building included an elevator, but at the time the congregation felt it could not afford the expense.

Holding Christmas dinners and other events in the basement, knowing some members could not make it downstairs, was difficult for

the church. A month before the dedication one member admitted never see ing the church basement.

The congregation, now 119 years old, acknowledges that God has b l e s sed Immanuel in so many ways. Now members are blessed to have an elevator so that everyone can join in all the congregational festivities.

Doug Kroll

news June 10. The group, led by instructor Blaine Badiuk, all wore NHL jerseys and gave a great high-energy performance.

Leslie Kolmel

REGINA - The Central District Board of Directors is seeking a gift coordinator to work full time in the district beginning January 1, 2012.

Following a presentation to the board by Allen Schellenberg, executive director of Lutheran Foundation Canada (LFC), it became apparent that the Central District was missing out on potential planned gifts by not having an active, full-time gift coordinator as in the other two districts.

The coordinator will work for LFC, with funding from the Central District. LFC identifies, encourages and assists people in making planned or major gifts for congregations, seminaries, districts, synod and affiliated organizations of Lutheran Church–Canada. On average, 45 percent of all gifts go to either the donor’s home congregation or district. Planned gifts are usually made as a bequest from the estate of the surviving spouse.

If you or someone you know is interested in the position, please e-mail allen.schellenberg@l u t h e r a n f o u n d a t i o n . c a f o r additional information. Find the job description at http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103542707512-205/539.pdf.

The board remains extremely grateful for the part-time assistance provided on behalf of LFC by Tom Brook, development officer for Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) and for travel funding also provided by CLWR.

Michael Maunula, Board Chair

Looking for a gift coordinator

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�2 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2011




Ponderings from the president

Untangling the webIn 1969 a TV game show called

Liar’s Club, hosted by Rod Serling, featured a panel of celebrity guests presented with an unusual object.

Each guest would make up a far-fetched explanation about the object’s use. Contestants were then to decide which panelist was telling the truth. Or, looked at another way, determine who was the best liar.

Compare that with the Jim Carrey movie Liar Liar, portraying not only what happens when a person consistently tells the truth, but does so with blatant honesty and blunt rudeness. We have all told monumental lies. And we’ve all told “little white lies” in order to keep peace in the family (“Do I look fat when I wear this?”).

We would like nothing more than to have certain forms of lying be acceptable. In fact we may even point to certain events in the Bible that prove lying is okay. When Joshua sent spies into the Promised Land, Rahab hid them in her house. She then lied to the king of Jericho saying the spies had been there but had since left. We must remember, though, that Rahab is commended for her faith, not for her lying (Hebrews 11:31).

J. Budziszewski, author of What We Can’t Not Know, outlines the “seven degrees of descent” when it comes to lying:1. You lie.2. You self-protect. As Budziszewski writes: “Lies are

weaklings; they need bodyguards.” So you lie about having lied.

3. You develop a habit of lying.4. You self-deceive. We begin to believe the lies we

tell others. We may even not feel guilty about lying anymore.

5. You rationalize. You justify your lying as something good. You lie to save your marriage, or the company, etc.

6. You develop your technique. You ignore what was said in other contexts. You tell each person what they want to hear, swearing that each statement, often contradictory, is the truth.

7. You see it as your duty to lie. You keep dark family secrets hidden to protect the family. In an organization, you loathe whistleblowers. Liars at this level “stone the prophets” (Luke 13:34). We could deflect any responsibility for our lying

by pinning the blame on Satan, “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). But that would not change our sinful nature or our propensity for lying. With King David we pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24).

We find our help in Jesus, who proclaimed that He is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). His love for us, conveyed by His death and resurrection, compels us to confess our sin and proclaim the truth. As difficult as it is many times to confess our sin—of lying to God under the Second Commandment, or of lying to our neighbour under the Eighth Commandment—when we do repent, abundant forgiveness comes. As difficult as it can be many times to confess the ugliness of our lying nature, we receive His Absolution that motivates us now to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Telling the truth can be habit- forming. We don’t need to dig ourselves deeper and deeper into some lying pit.

God grant us the courage and love to always speak the truth!

Rev. Thomas Prachar

ROBLIN, Man. - To commemorate the 80th birthday of retired pastor Rev. Paul Borchardt, friends and family gathered for birthday cake and ice cream after morning worship Sunday, April 17. As a surprise, Rev. Borchardt’s brother, Rev. Alvin Borchardt, came in from Neepawa, Manitoba, with his wife Jean to attend the worship service and share fellowship and cake with the congregation.

Surprise celebration marks 80 years

Rev. Paul Borchardt (centre) celebrates with his sister-in-law Jean and brother Rev. Alvin Borchardt.

Rev. Borchardt served as pastor in Roblin for his entire ministry—36 years—beginning with his vicarage. He still resides in Roblin, enjoying gardening and having coffee with his many friends.

Gaylene Ziprick

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN July/August 2011 ��




Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks

prior to publication month.Elaine Stanfel, district editor

Box 4�1, Nipawin, SKS0E 1E0

306-862-3�23E-mail:

[email protected] deadline:

September 16, 2011

Visit the Central Districtwebsite at

www.lcccentral.ca

CHURCHBRIDGE, Sask. - Despite the poor weather, 45 women ventured out March 20 to Trinity Lutheran for Churchbridge LWMLC’s FifthAnnual Quilt Display. The theme—The Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—exemplified what quilting is all about.

On display were 140 large quilts, 66 youth-sized quilts and 34 layettes, all donated to Canadian Lutheran World Relief. The group worked together in six sessions to sew and tie the quilts, including one made entirely of linen luncheon napkins.

Georgina Poier demonstrated mat-making, a craft that uses plastic

“We Care” in 240 ways!

Marilyn Maher demonstrates quilting techniques.

bags and no tools. Special guest Marilyn Maher (Zion, M e l v i l l e ) demonstrated some quilting t e c h n i q u e s a s we l l a s her favourite quilt patches and patterns. Songs, a skit and dessert rounded out the afternoon.

Myrna Jenson, taken from Prairie SonBeam

The fruits of their labour.

Pastor installed in Regina

REGINA - Surrounded by area pastors, Rev. Jeremy Swem is installed by District President Rev. Thomas Prachar in an afternoon service at Grace Lutheran Church, Sunday, July 17.Rev. Swem attended Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana and vicared at Trinity, Abbotsford, B.C. Formerly Lutheran school teachers, Katherine and Rev. Jeremy Swem have two sons, Isak and Levi.

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