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Annual General Meeting - March 17Notice to Membership of Annual General Meeting - Sunday, March 17, 2024 To Members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church: Notice is hereby given that Gloria Dei Lutheran Church will hold its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, March 17, 2023 in the Parish Hall immediately following the worship service scheduled for 10:00AM All members of Gloria Dei are invited to attend. The Annual General Meeting will consider the following:
For more infomation visit: http://gloriadei.ca/events/annual-general-meeting-march-17/2024-03-17
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A Song of Prayer for Ukraine
On February 25, our worship service for the second Sunday in Lent took on added solemnity as we dedicated our prayers for the people of Ukraine as their country enters the 3rd year of defending their land from the full scale military invasion from Russia of Febraury 24, 2022. However, Ukrainians have been defending their land since 2014 following Russian occupation of parts of Eastern Ukraine, and the invasion and annexation of Crimea. The vocal ensemble Družba (translated Friendship) helped us unite hearts in prayer for the suffering people of Ukraine through thei soulful rendition of "Prayer for Ukraine" - text: Oleksandr Konysky, 1836-1900; Music: Mykola Lysenko, 1842-1912. If you missed the service you can watch a recording of our livestream on our Facebook page Družba begins their anthem at the 1hr:02min mark (1:02:04). Image: Družba Vocal Ensemble - from left, Lesya, Sue, Natasha, Olha, Marcia, Sonja (GD Music Director at piano) and Olena (far right). Pictured here with Jim (GD choir member) For more infomation visit:
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With Thanks - until Next Year
Thank-you to all who donated to support our team's efforts to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. The funds will go towards the construction of a townhome in a new complex being built in North Vancouver. The seven of us - Marcia, Tanya, Jason, Olivia, Noah, Al and myself had a lovely walk along the 2km circle route from the main Library down to Keith Road. On our way back up along St. George's, a man saw our group, and wondered if we were part of the Coldest Night of the Year Walk. When we said, yes - he took out his wallet and donated $100! He said he had wanted to participate in the walk, but other commitments got in the way. So . . . a big shout out to Julian Finn! When we got back to the finish line, steaming cups of cream of broccoli soup were waiting for us. Yummy! It was great fun - not only because we raised money for a good cause, but also because walking together has a way of fostering good conversation and building bonds of friendship. Before we wished each other safe travels home, we agreed do it again next year.
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Canadian Christians Call for Prayer and Action for Peace in UkrainePastoral Letter on Ukraine, Canada, and the Church As Russia's full scale illegal invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, national representatives of Canada’s churches--across a wide spectrum of denominations--Lutheran, Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Protestant communities--have signed a “Pastoral Letter on Ukraine, Canada, and the Church,” urging Christians to joint prayer and action for peace in Ukraine. Demanding an End to War The Letter's language is unambiguous and direct and calls on Russia’s leaders “to terminate this war, to cease this unjust aggression, end the violence being perpetrated against Ukraine and its people, and recall their military forces from within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine – including Crimea – immediately.” Lamenting the massive human suffering and environmental destruction In their letter, denominational leaders lament the “massive” human suffering caused by the Russian invasion, denouncing especially the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, the violations of human rights and freedoms, and "the forced removal of children from their homes and families.” They also lament the enviromental destruction affecting food security and the impact of the catastrophic destruction of the Kahkovka dam which some have characterized as ecocide. A Call for Prayer and Action The letter letter calls "Christians and all people of good will to prayerfully consider how we are all called, and might contribute to, the achievement of peace in and for Ukraine.” In answer to the question, "What is God calling us as Canadian Christian to do?" the letter gives an unequivocal answer: "Whatever we can, wherever we are," and gives six suggestions. 1. Pray - "First of all we are called to offer our prayers to the Triune God of peace: prayers for the cessation of hostilities, prayers for peace, "prayers for reconciliation, prayers for healing." 2. Support Ukrainian Refugees "The importance of offering them the hand of friendship and helping foster community both with and for them cannot be overestimated. 3. Urge Diplomatic Steps Towards a Just and Sustainable Peace in Ukraine - We cannot "overemphasize the need to continue to lobby our government officials . . . to do all they can diplomatically to achieve a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine . . . and to offer continued humanitarian support." 4. Seek Cooperative Relationships of Humanitarian Support - the letter encourages churches comprised of members of the dominant society to foster cooperative relationships with Ukrainian and Slavic Christian congregations (Easter Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant , Free, Evangelical, Pentecostal or Independent). "These new relationships, forged in the context of suffering, can be nurtured over the long term to the mutual benefit of all." 5. Every Canadian Church is encouraged to bring Ukrainians and their stories into their churches with focused prayer . . and to support Ukrainian civic organizations by bringing prayer into public gatherings on Feb. 24 (and on other occasions of public witness). 6. Hope for Reconciliaton - "The aggression and destruction need to stop. The killing of innocent people--including children--needs to stop. Then we can begin to hope for just restitution. While no human court can bring justice as God does, we need the spiritual hope that comes from repentance, truth telling, empathic listening, making reparation, offering forgiveness, building trust, and making new promises." The leaders end their letter with prayer: "That the sufferings and innocent loss of life caused by this war be brought to a swift end. We pray that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will be with all those who are suffering, and with us, as we wait in hopeful expectation." May truth and mercy meet. May justice and peace kiss. (Psalm 85:10) You can read the full letter below.
For more infomation visit: http://gloriadei.ca/news/canadian-christians-call-for-prayer-and-action-for-peace-in-ukraine
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BC Synod Convention - June 20 - 23
The next triennial convention of the BC Synod will be held June 20-23, 2024 in person at Walter Gage Residence on the UBC campus in Vancouver. The theme of the convention is “One Body, One Spirit, One Hope.” This was the theme of the 2023 LWF Assembly in Krakow, Poland. Pastor Vida will be away on vacation during that time. In order for Gloria Dei to have representation, please prayerfully consider if God may be calling you to be a lay delegate. We will need to elect a lay delegate at our AGM on March 17.
For more infomation visit:
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Thinking of buying an Electric Vehicle?
BC Synod's Climate Justice Action Group presents a free webinar on electric vehicles. If you have considered purchasing one, or have questions about EVs, come and join the event. Our guest will be Michael Stanyer, Program Lead at Plug In BC. Michael specializes in EV education and outreach. He will discuss reliable sources of information and ways of speaking with friends and family about EVs. He has driven a variety of EVs through the province to tap BC communities' vast EV experience. Pre-registration for the webinar is required, you can register here. The webinar will be recorded. |
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Invitation to Silence
This Lent I have been encouraging us to dial down the noise to help us hear and listen to the voices that are crying out needed to be heard and listened to. Sometimes, that voice comes from our own hearts -- our own inner lives that get neglected amid the commotion and clamor of the world. Here is a poem by Gjoko Zdraveski (1985) -- to help us find our way back to our own hearts. Find a quiet spot and enjoy . . . then go back and re-read it again, this time more slowly. the lord is my shepherd 1. Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
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