This year Gloria Dei Church celebrates it’s 65th anniversary! 

A church service and luncheon celebration is being planned for October, and the planning committee needs your help in finding previous members to invite to the celebration.  If you have kept in contact with any “old” members please let the committee know by contacting either Sue E. or Lorraine McL. 

We hope to have invitations out very soon so that we have an idea of how many people to plan for.  This is going to be a wonderful event so please help us to get the word out!

--Lin P. for the Planning Committee

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. The bishops would like us to do this on May 31st so that on that day all Lutheran will be united in service.  They've created a nifty video to tell us all about it. You can watch it here. Where is God at work in our community? Where are we being asked to serve? You can read more about this on the ELCIC website.  Watch for more information in the coming weeks – stay tuned!

We have received a lovely thank-you gift from "Help Us Help."

Following the ecumenical prayer service for Ukraine held on March 1, many members of the North Shore community gathered to pray and generously contributed donations. These funds were sent to Help Us Help to support children's therapeutic camps held in the Carpathian Mountains and rehab programs for returning veterans from the front lines. 

In response, "Help Us Help" sent us a meaningful gift: a limited-edition photography book titled The Hutsuls by renowned French photographer and long-time volunteer, Youry Bilak. The book beautifully captures the rich history and traditions of the Hutsul people, an ethnographic group from the Carpathian Mountains in Western Ukraine.

We invite you to take a look at this special book during coffee time after the service this Sunday. It will be available to circulate and enjoy.

Don’t say anything that will hurt others but only say what is helpful to make others meet their needs.

Then what you say will do good [give grace; be a gift] to those who listen to you.

~ Ephesians 4:29 (Expanded Bible) 

Have you ever noticed how we use the most violent phrases to describe situations that have nothing to do with violence? “shoot the bull” “hit the fan” “bombshell” “magic bullet.” Do you ever use these phrases? Most of us do without even realizing what we are actually saying.

The use of such language is often automatic and habitual, so much so,  that we no longer realize their original violent meanings. We unconsciously use violent words and phrases thinking they are harmless and inconsequential. This desensitization—perhaps even apathy—is part of the outcome of our overexposure to violence.  

10 Violent Phrases Used in Everyday Conversations:

1. When push comes to shove
2. Get away with murder
3. Punch line
4. Shoot from the hip
5. Twist your arm
6. Take a shot at it
7. Slap in the face
8. Adding insult to injury
9. Take a stab at it
10. Roll with the punches

Language influences culture. Language is also contagious. It has the the ability to harm or heal with every sentence.

"Let’s stop spreading violence through language. Let’s pause and reframe the lazy metaphors into meaningful sentences that don’t keep normalizing violence."

For more suggestions on inclusive and nonviolent alternatives to commonly used words and phrases that can be harmful click on this link.

This blog post was adapted from an article by Christy Heiskala on LinkedIn

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 

Canada Summer Jobs Position

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented student for a 10-week summer position (June 15 – August 21, 30 hours/week) as a Project Archivist.

The student will assist in gathering, organizing, and exploring historical records and artifacts
related to the church’s 65th anniversary.

A key focus of the role will be contributing to the
creation of a small historical display (exhibit) to be shared with the congregation and community.

The successful candidate will work with a designated staff member or volunteer for general
guidance and support. The role will involve a significant degree of independent work and
initiative, with opportunities to learn and apply basic archival and research practices in a
practical setting.

Please apply by email to pastor@gloriadei.ca or by phone at 604-988-5838.

Thank you!