BC Synod

Please see below for a video and accompanying text regarding an important announcement from Bishop Greg Mohr. You are encouraged to share this announcement with those in your congregation. Letter (Transcript of Video) https://elcic.app.box.com/s/uv4rv12p6i1epd71dby7mu2on6loascq Video https://elcic.app.box.com/s/qq4rgipthm5y4eankk15r5pebj9q7dbz

In a letter to the church in advance of Canada Day 2021, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada National Bishop Susan C. Johnson invites ELCIC members to join he...r in reflection, "on how we got here as a country and what we need to do to move towards reconciliation." The letter includes suggestions for marking the day in a different way, including devoting time to "land/water-based learning about where you live" in relation to the Indigenous people who lived here before us and live here now, and also spending time, "in prayer for healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada." Read the full letter here: https://elcic.ca/news.cfm?article=602

"It has been devastating and heartbreaking to hear in the news that the remains of 215 children buried in unmarked graves have been found on the Kamloops Indian Residential School grounds, say ELCIC National and Synod Bishops in a letter to the church released today. The letter invites ELCIC members to join in prayer for the families of those children, for the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, for the City of Kamloops and for First Nations Communities across Canada as they grieve this loss. As well as a renewed call to re-engage in the work of reconciliation. Read the full letter here: https://elcic.ca/d/20210601Arenewedcalltoreconciliation.pdf

From the organiser: May is AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islander) Heritage Month. Come join us on May 23 in "HEAR ME OUT: Anti-Asian Racism & Identity" as our panel guests share a little bit about what it means to be Lutheran & Canadian of Chinese/Japanese ancestry, and the long-term impact of living in normalized racial prejudice. Pastor Nathan Fong from Grace Lutheran, Burnaby will be one of the panelists.

Rev. Lyndon Sayers is a member of the Journey Towards Reconciliation Facilitation Team and invites you to check out today’s letter from Lutheran + Anglican leaders supporting the Mi’kmaw: October 21, 2020 The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P....Continue reading

Refugees, COVID-19 and The Church Saturday, June 20 1:00PM - 2:00PM (CST) 11 AM - 12 NOON (PST)... Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/refugees-covid-19-and-the-churc What does quarantine mean for displaced people around the world, and for churches in Canada who want to help? Join us for a virtual gathering on World Refugee Day to hear about the big picture facing refugees today, meet a former refugee who is now working on the frontlines of COVID-19 in Canada, and explore how your church can continue walking with refugees in the COVID-19 era. Featuring: Fikre Tsehai, Senior Policy Advisor at Canadian Lutheran World Relief Meredith Cherland, Chair of the Regina Lutheran Refugee Committee, sponsors of Abdulnaser Alkhatib (featured on CBC's The National) Robel Sereke, Registered Nurse and former refugee Rev. Susan Johnson, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Rev. Timothy Teuscher, President of the Lutheran ChurchCanada Cheryl Bauer Hyde, President of the Board at Canadian Lutheran World Relief

In a letter to the church, ELCIC National and Synod Bishops acknowledge that, "racism is within us and within our communities." The leaders call on all congrega...tions and members to commit to doing the hard work to commit to changing our ways of thinking and our actions that demean and hurt, "We need to listen, learn, hear the stories, stand alongside of, speak up, speak out, and stand up against injustice." Read the full letter here: https://www.elcic.ca/news.cfm?article=570

The Truth and Reconciliation Committee of Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria, recently wrote an open letter in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en and sent it to BC and federal government leaders. To read the letter, click on the link below. https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/news/wetsuweten-letter-trc

Hearts and minds from across The Anglican Church of Canada and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada will gather on Sunday, in worship, prayer and song, with the Holy Spirit and Giver of Life. Join us as we celebrate this Pentecost Sunday. https://anglicanlutheran.ca/pentecost/