Our church - the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada - is celebrating its 40th Birthday this year. To help celebrate our bishops are inviting us to a Day of Action on May 31.  The idea is for congregations across all of our Synods to  step out beyond our church walls and engage in acts of service in our communities.  They've created a nifty video to tell us all about it. You can watch it here. You can also Sign up for more information and to connect with other congregations and learn about what they are doing. 

The ELCIC joins with partner Canadian Lutheran World Relief in responding to urgent humanitarian needs across the Middle East.

“No place feels safe. Families are fleeing with little notice. Schools are sheltering displaced families. Children are sleeping in classrooms. Others remain in their homes, hearing bombs fall nearby.” This is what we’re hearing from our partners on the ground.

In Lebanon air strikes have forced families from their homes, taking shelter in schools and community centres. In Syria tens of thousands of people are returning from Lebanon, adding pressure to already fragile communities. And in Palestine, the current conflict is making the severe humanitarian needs even worse. 

Your support can make a meaningful difference. Gifts to this appeal will help provide emergency assistance—such as food, shelter, and essential supplies—to families who have been forced from their homes.

You can make a donation through the church by etransfer or cheque, marking your donation Middle East Appeal or directly to CLWR online 

You Are Invited
We invite you to continue a journey that began last year - a journey of connecting, reflecting, and growing together as we explore the yearnings we share for the future of our church here in BC.

We will gather June 5-7, 2026, at King of Life Lutheran Church, 1198 Falcon Dr., Coquitlam

This gathering is an opportunity to:

Connect deeply with friends in Christ from across the province

Reflect on the initiatives we began last year—celebrating what has flourished and learning from our experiences

Grow new possibilities rooted in the yearnings that call us forward
 

Who Should Attend
Each congregation is invited to send up to four representatives.  Pastor Vida would like for three members to join her for a delegation from Gloria Dei.  

This gathering is for anyone who cares deeply about the future of our church in BC. We especially welcome those who attended last year and those who wanted to come but could not.

Important Notes
This gathering builds on the foundation laid in 2025, but it is not simply a status report. It is an invitation to continue co‑creating the future of our church through Spirit‑led collaboration rooted in genuine passion and shared responsibility. BC Synod will cover the costs of the event (gathering program and on‑site costs).
 
Registration
REGISTER HERE 
Registration deadline is April 24, 2026. We cannot guarantee accommodations after that date. 
Accommodation will be arranged at Executive Plaza in Coquitlam. This includes parking and breakfast. Since we have to confirm our group booking early, other accommodations will not be reimbursed. Travel costs will be covered by the synod. If air travel is required, please book your air fare early. 

The CLWR board has appointed a new executive director to lead the organization in a rapidly changing world. You can read more about Darryl Loewen and the experience and gifts he brings to the role here. 

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings;and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

+ E. E. Cummings

with thanks to the Salt Project