Hello everyone,  

A Message from Bishop Greg: Your voice matters! An Opportunity to sign an open letter to the Canadian government addressing Poverty. 

Find the letter and information at this link: https://dignityforall.ca/open-letter-strengthen-canadas-poverty-reduction-bill/?utm_source=justicENEWS&utm_campaign=1ef00db0a5-Nov_2017_G4E_CPJ_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_00b7fceacb-1ef00db0a5-131975913  

Friends, 

I have Signed-on to the letter and I encourage you to do so as well.  Please consider sharing this with your congregational lists as well.  As Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the National Bishop, writes:   "The Church's call to address poverty is long, deep and integral to mission. For the ELCIC, poverty issues are addressed ecumenically through the Canadian Council of Churches, KAIROS, among others, and through Lutheran partnerships in CLWR and LWF. The 2013 Joint Assembly committed to addressing homelessness and affordable housing, recognizing various ways of addressing poverty as one response.  The 2017 Convention adopted a motion supporting a Basic Income Guarantee."  

The Citizens for Public Justices is an organization supported by our ELCIC.    

Peace, +Bishop Greg    

(For those of you on Facebook you can join up to the CPJ Facebook page and get ongoing information.       ____________________________________________________________

Congratulations to Bishop-elect Lynne McNaughton!  

The Rev. Lynne McNaughton has been elected the next Bishop of the Diocese of Kootenay. To thank her for her many years of service to the North Vancouver Region as Archdeacon and a strong supporter of Regional Ministry, the North Vancouver deanery will host a “Thank you and Godspeed” lunch for her at St Catherine’s on Saturday, April 6 from 10:00am to 12:00 noon.

We are also inviting contributions for a gift for Lynne. Episcopal garments are expensive, so we will give her a gift certificate for CM Almy, a clergy supply company.  If you would like to contribute to this gift, please make your cheque out to St John the Evangelist and note in the memo line: gift for Lynne. We need all contributions by Monday, April 1. Please note, as this is a personal gift, we will not be able to give a tax receipt.  Please send your cheque to:   The Rev Patrick Blaney, Regional Dean St John the Evangelist 220 West 8th St. North Vancouver, BC V7M 1N1  

Thank you for your consideration and we hope you will be able to attend the lunch on April 6.

Peace, Patrick _____________________________________________________________

REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK:

Pastor Vida has printed out her sermon on the Apostle’s Creed for anyone who would like a copy. They are on the table at the entrance to the church. ________________________________________________________________  

Our next Potluck Lunch will be held on February 17th. __________________________________________________________________

Reminder of Synod Wide Conversation at First Lutheran Church on February 23rd from 9:30 to 4:00. Refreshments for the day and lunch are included. Please register as soon as possible so the hosting congregation has adequate time to prepare. There is no registration fee.

Follow this link to register: https://form.jotform.com/90075528122250

Link for Synod-Wide Conversations Video

https://youtu.be/wBrLVLV0hqY http://bcsynod.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Synod-Wide-Conversations-Detail-poster-pdf-January.pdf 

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"The world in which we live today and about whose suffering we know so much seems more than ever a world from which Christ has withdrawn himself. How can I believe that in this world we are constantly being prepared to receive the Spirit? Still, I think that this is exactly the message of hope. God has not withdrawn himself. He sent his Son to share our human condition and the Son sent us his Spirit to lead us into the intimacy of his divine life. It is in the midst of the chaotic suffering of humanity that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Love, makes himself visible. But can we recognize his presence?" [THE GENESEE DIARY]

www.henrinouwen.org      

Peace,  

Lin