Happy Birthday to Our September Celebrants!

We thank God for the gift of your life.

May His love surround you,

His joy fill your hearts,

and His peace guide you in the year ahead.

Blessings on your special day!

September

3 – Ken Junck

14 – Ellen Luthy

14 – Marta Zaliznyak

14 – Halen Storm

16 - Yuriy Zaliznyak

21 – Gerry Hilton

23 – Marcia Meyer

30 – Madeline Storm

With the start of a new school year, we are once again holding a Backpack Drive. Please drop off new backpacks in the bin across from the church office. The backpacks will be blessed at our outdoor service later in September. They will then be donated to theVancouver Neighborhood House where they will be distributed to children in need. 

A Message to the ELCIC From ELCJHL Bishop-Elect Rev. Imad Haddad

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Bishop-elect Rev. Imad Haddad shares a message of thanks to members of the ELCIC for their prayers and financial support through the ELCJHL Appeal.

Watch that video message here.

Recently, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), the ELCIC National Office and Eastern Synod launched an appeal to raise $50,000. Thank you to everyone who has generously donated to this appeal.

We have not yet reached our goal of $50,000 though. Please consider how you can contribute to this important effort to support the vital work of the ELCJHL that embodies faith, resilience and hope of a just peace.  You can make your donation directly to the ELCIC by clicking on this link.

Despite everything, the ELCJHL has remained steadfast in its mission.

• Congregations continue to gather in prayer and fellowship.
• The schools of the ELCJHL have successfully completed their 2024-25 academic year.
• Diaconal ministry is providing food, rent assistance, medical care and school tuition support to hundreds of families across the West Bank.
• Gender justice and environmental ministries are still working towards a more just and sustainable future.

Your donation to the ELCJHL Appeal will help support this important ministry.
 

Mark the Date!  Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer will be installed as the fifth national biship of the ELCIC on September 27 in Winnipeg. The service will be livestreamed. 

Larry Kochendorfer served as Bishop of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories (2012-24). Most recently he served as interim pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Penticton, British Columbia, as well as assistant to Bishop Kathy in our own BC  Synod. You can learn more about Bishop Larry and the gifts and vision he brings to the church by reading his very comprehnsive bio at this link.  

I Wake Close to Morning

Why do people keep asking to see

God's identity papers

when the darkness opening into morning

is enough?

Certainly, any god might turn away in disgust.

Think of Sheba approaching

the kingdom of Solomon.

Do you think she had to ask, 

"Is this the place?"

Image by Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons