We are an affirming, "open-table" congregration and all are welcome.
I have heard other Pastors talk about how Jesus has become a moral stranger. In other words, what was deeply important to Jesus is too often of little importance to many of us Christians. And what matters to many of us was of little importance to Jesus.
If there is one thing Christian leaders need to concern themselves with in 2024, discipleship regarding Jesus’ vision of a good life is at the top of our list. In other words, what was important to Jesus? What mattered?
And in what ways might we focus on and cultivate a life of habits and loves toward what matters most? It has been shared with me that many of us want to have this conversation.
A survey of university students, said that one of the biggest struggles they had was, “What is the larger meaning of my life?”
We may need help and guidance to describe a vision of the life worth living that could sustain us on every kind of day.
We can do this by posing big, important questions like “What is the place of suffering in a good life?” and cultivating dynamic conversation about the questions in a community. Together, we can reflect on how we answer and live out the answers to these questions in light of the religious and philosophical traditions we ascribe to.
Lately I have wondered, what if discipleship in our churches was centered on these big, important questions? What if discipleship was more about helping us articulate what kind of life is worth wanting for ourselves, our community, the world, and future generations?
When I look at how Jesus taught, it seems to me that he was always more interested in questions than answers.
In fact, as he did in the Good Samaritan story, Jesus often answered people’s questions with a question: “What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” (Luke 10:36)
As we think about our own discipleship approaches, it is worth considering how Jesus taught.
In all four of the gospels, upon meeting his closest disciples, Jesus said “follow me.” (In fact, this is one of Jesus’ most often repeated sentences in the gospels.) It was not immediately apparent where the disciples were being asked to go. But it was evident that they were being asked to go somewhere. For contemporary Christian educators, this point is of utmost importance. Christian religious education is not about offering ready-made answers. It is a quest. It is about making decisions, choosing, visioning, practicing—living with Jesus.
And even the earliest followers of Jesus were people of the way. It is a way of life that Jesus invited people into. Following Jesus is a pilgrimage! The journey and the destination are important for us.
The disciples’ quest with Jesus makes them witnesses to his life and teaching. They watch him. They participate in embodied activities like eating together. They hear Jesus teach—but his teaching is not easily outlined. He shares parables, and speaks in metaphors and hyperbole.
As he interacted with people, healed them, taught, prayed, Jesus pointed again and again to the good, to what makes for a meaningful, true life.
Let’s keep these questions on our fridge so that we can remind ourselves each day how to follow Jesus by pondering these questions on our pilgrimage on earth.
A kind of discipleship marked by compelling questions and interactive, conversation enlivens our Christian community. It would be a kind of discipleship that invites people to hear the words and reflect on the actions of Jesus in new ways.
It is a kind of discipleship that addresses the deepest longings of people while inviting us to truly reflect on Jesus’s life and what matters most. It inspires us to more closely align our desires, our goals, our habits, and our loves with the life and teachings of Jesus.
Reference: Rev. Dr. Angela Williams Gorrell
In Peace
Rev Heather Parrott-Howdle
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Council met on Monday, March 25,2024 at 7:00 p.m. in Erickson Lutheran Church Lower Hall. Cathy Hackenschmidt, Benita Nylen, Earl Wickdahl and Raymond Rossnagel were present. Regrets: Shaun Oakley and Pastor Heather Parrott-Howdle. Benita shared highlights of their trip to Victoria including flight delays going and , today, coming home. Cathy lead Opening Prayer.
The minutes of the February 15th meeting approved as distributed.
Cathy reviewed the reports and stated that Council will be monitoring expenses closely on a monthly basis. Reports accepted as presented.
April, May and June service schedule of 1st , 2nd and 3rd Sundays by Pastor Heather and 4th Sundays by Cathy or alternate. Cathy will contact Micheal Kvern regarding his availability for any Lay services. June 30th is the 5th Sunday and will be Gospel Sunday. Suggestion made that Communion Sunday in June be moved to Father’s Day Sunday since more people attend this service
No report.
Since February 14th meeting: In the office: 4 days per week Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless at a funeral, clergy meeting, pastoral visits or Clinical Pastoral Experience: Online classes on Mondays, Tuesdays at BRHC and weekly visits at Erickson and Sandy Lake Care Homes. ON CALL Spiritual Care at Brandon Regional Health Center weekend of March 23 – 24. Pastoral Care Visits: 4 in person, 4 by phone. Palliative Care: none. Services: See Calendar including March 10 service with P.I.E Day videos to promote us being and inclusive and affirming church, March 14 Sandy Lake Care Home service. Outreach Activities: attended a Historical Society presentation re: possibility of a Museum in Erickson to portray the multi-cultural history of the area. Housing: Sun Certified Building Co-op did a presentation to the Erickson Housing Committee via Zoom on March 13. Food Security: Erickson & Area Food Bank, 46 Main Street, PO Box 86, Erickson, MB, Phone: 1-431-399-0399, Website:www.ericksonfoodbank.ca , for e-transfer use the following email: ericksonfoodbankcoordinator@gmail.com. Hours: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hamper Day is Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m.
Annual Meeting: Finalized financial reports and prepared Annual Report for the AGM. Worship: Continue to learn the different templates for the weekly bulletins. Healthy Baby Program: They will pay January & February and quarterly thereafter. Requested return of signed lease. Membership: prepared the 2024 Responsibility List and now will have to contact those who have not had Communion this past year. Will review and update the Telephone Directory and the list of those receiving mailouts of the weekly services and newsletter with Pastor Heather. Financial: Monthly: reconciliations done for January & February. Yearend: believe we can file the 2023 Charity Return based on the financial statements prepared for the AGM. Usual monthly duties in office, Newsletter, calendar, mail outs. bulletin formatting and printing (also enlarged bulletin for Gunnar), coded and uploaded webpage updates, updating communion, funeral and burial records, cleaning and garbage collection completed. Also got business cards done and printed more communion cards. THANK YOU, Sylvia-Linda!
In closing the Lord’s Prayer was repeated in unison. Adjournment at 8:46 p.m.
Submitted by Benita Nylen, SecretarySpring is here but it remains cold and icy. This must be Manitoba.
On Thursday the 21st of March we had a great presentation on Substance Use and Harm Reduction by the always great SERC. Of all the workshops we’ve had I think this was the most interesting and informative. There is a lot of generalized apathy and misunderstanding around this topic these days however, the terrain of substance use is changing rapidly, both in terms of the drugs being used and the treatments being pursued.
Some of the key points were an emphasis on Harm Reduction as a method of helping people who are suffering with addiction. Harm reduction is based on the principle that people suffering from addiction deserve safety and dignity. Many previous therapeutic approaches often drove people dealing with substance abuse into increasingly dangerous and precarious lifestyles due to the shame associated with their situations. This generally just compounded the problems in ways that have become major public health concerns. .
We were also given a tutorial on how to administer Naloxone. Naloxone is a drug used to pull people out of an Opioid overdose. The drug essentially works by pushing opioids out or the receptors in the brain and then blocking those receptors from absorbing the opioids. Naloxone is also a very safe drug since, if there is no opioid in the system, it is simply metabolized with no effect to the person taking it. .
The Canadian Government has launched an initiative to make Naloxone kits freely and widely available to the public. They save many lives each day. They are being distributed to the public because pharmacies, which are businesses, won’t carry them for free, or charge up to $60 per kit. .
The church is now in possession of 8 such kits. If anyone feels they may need a kit, or would like to learn more about the kits, harm reduction, or substance use don’t hesitate to contact me at parklandyouthhub@gmail.com. I can connect you with the appropriate resources. .
In April, Open Futures is looking to host a workshop from Prairie Mountain Health on the topic of their Mental Health resources provided in our area. .
Things are going well. In recent weeks we’ve made some great snacks including “Korean Corn Dogs”. I’m beginning to think the S’upper Club is the best restaurant in Erickson. I look forward to our snacks each week. This upcoming week we are looking at making Bannock Tacos.
Coralee also brought her Virtual Reality headset one day. That was quite the experience. Very strange but quite fun at the same time.
Last week marked the return of Dominik to ARThub. He’s such a talented little artist, I’m always excited to see what he’s going to make.
Open Gyms is still on hiatus. Many of the students at Onanole Elementary were on extended vacation and there just weren’t enough kids to make it worthwhile. We’re hoping to start something up towards the end of the school year and segue it into a summer athletics program. The idea of a Golf Camp for kids is being considered. It would be great if we could bring some of the local Golf clubs into the fold.
Live Loud was on hiatus as Meg was on vacation for a period. We’re hoping to see it return this month.
We are currently accepting registrations for both a First Aid/CPR course and a Foodsafe course. There are no dates set for the courses yet as we need to make sure enough people are registered before we can set the date. The First Aid course is $95 per person and the Foodsafe course is $90. Each course is roughly 6hrs long. Both are great to have on a resume when looking for work. If you’re interested or know someone who is contact me at parklandyouthhub@gmail.com
We have also received the go ahead to use the church kitchen to prepare food for the public. We’re waiting to receive our certificate but currently Manitoba Health’s Food Safety wing is in a bit of upheaval. But we have received confirmation that once things settle over there we will receive our certificate.
In the financial department, we have finally received our $6000.00 check from the MNO Synod for our successful Compassionate Justice grant application. We’re also waiting to hear back about another major grant from the Synod. The Grant Committee meets in April, so hopefully we will hear soon after that.
We’re also applying for some funding through the Healthy Together Now initiative. I recently had a lengthy conversation with our local rep from the organization, and although I can’t guarantee we would get funding she was very enthusiastic about our programs as they are exactly the types of programs they hope to fund. The application deadline is May 1st.
Submitted by Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline, DirectorThe next Bible study will be on Thursday, APRIL 11TH at 7 pm at Dolores’s house. The topic will be PEACE. Please find meaningful Bible verses to share.
May –“ Joy”
Report Submitted by Dolores Hall
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If you would like to support our outreach, you can make a donation or an online offering A) via etransfer to tres@ericksonlutheranchurch.ca or B) through Canada Helps by clicking the link below.
If you wish to donate to The Bethel Society, please do not use Canada Helps but forward said donation by way of cheque c/o Erickson Lutheran Church. All donations using the Donate Button will go directly to Erickson Lutheran Church.
Sunday worship is conducted with the Lutheran Order of Worship. On the third Sunday of the month, a Hymn Sing is held before worship. On the second Sunday of the month there is a Communion Service.
Located just south of beautiful Riding Mountain National Park on Highway 10, Erickson Lutheran Church holds services every Sunday at 10:00am from May to September, and 11:00am from October to April.
All are welcome to the worship services.
We will be using Facebook, our website and our newsletter as our primary ways of communicating with members and want everyone to be informed in a timely manner.
While we are back into in-person services, our services will be available online on the church's Facebook site for those who are unable to come to our in-person services
Anyone wishing to be more involved with our faith community and advocacy please call us at 1-204-636-2259. May the Peace of Christ be with you!
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