Birthday Blessings for July!

We joyfully celebrate those in our church family who have birthdays this month. May God bless you with health, happiness, and peace in the year ahead.

July

6 – Connie Barth

13 – Maureen Kerfoot

16 - Jim Berger

21 – Trudi Bareiss

21 – Tilly Sorenson

26 – Pat Shaw

31 – LaDonna Miller

31 – Dorothy Sanders

Canadian Lutheran World Relief and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are calling on Lutherans and friends across Canada to pray for those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, and to give generously to support urgent humanitarian needs.

On June 24, a rare sequence of two major earthquakes struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart, causing devastation across one of the country's most densely populated regions, including Caracas and surrounding states. 

With your support, we will help provide: 

• Emergency shelter, blankets and bedding 
• Clean water, hygiene and sanitation supplies 
• Essential household items 

Please donate now at www.clwr.org/venezuela or call 1-800-661-2597 (Mon–Fri, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST). Your gift will help provide life-saving assistance to families whose lives have been changed in an instant. You can also donate through Gloria Dei by cheque or e-transfer to office@gloriadei.ca Simply mark your donation "Venezuela Earthquake."  

Loving God, strengthen all impacted by the earthquakes in Venezuela.

accompany all who grieve, who suffer, who are in pain.

Support all who seek to provide care, 

who sit with the grieving, who search for the living. 

In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. 

~ from the ELCIC Faceook post. 

As National Indigenous History Month comes to a close, our opportunity to learn from our Indigenous neighbours continues..

Earlier this month, our congregation celebrated the dedication of our Reconciliation Quilt, giving thanks for the gifts of Indigenous artists and reflecting on our shared commitment to truth, healing, and reconciliation. That celebration was not an ending, but another step in our journey together.

Summer offers many opportunities to continue learning about the cultures, languages, and traditions of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, whose traditional territories we are privileged to share.

Attend the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow

One of the best ways to experience Indigenous culture is simply to accept an invitation. This year's Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow welcomes visitors to enjoy traditional drumming, dancing, regalia, food, and community.

Before attending, take a few minutes to watch the welcome video from Simon Baker, Squamish youth Pow Wow President, who explains the significance of the gathering and extends a warm invitation to the wider community.

Learn a Few Words of the Squamish Language

Language is one of the greatest treasures of any culture. Why not learn a simple greeting such as Ha7lh Skwáyel ("Good day") and learn about the ongoing revitalization of the Squamish language?

https://youtu.be/5tpbi8ObLB0?si=ti9s4NCzGaf6c2ci

Take a Book to the Beach

I’m reading Our Home and Treaty Land, by Rev. Dr. Ray Aldred (whom we hosted last Fall) and Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson (an ELCIC pastor and scholar) and found it to be one of the most thoughtful and hopeful books I've encountered on the relationship between Indigenous and Christian ways of understanding creation, community, and faith. 

Two more books  that offer thoughtful introductions to Indigenous history, spirituality, culture, and Christian faith:

• Buffalo Shout, Salmon Cry — Roy Henry Vickers & Robert Budd
• One Church, Many Tribes — Richard Twiss

May this summer be an opportunity not only for rest and renewal, but also for listening, learning, and discovering more about the rich Indigenous cultures that continue to shape the place we are privileged to call home.

On May 23, 2026, former National Bishop Susan Johnson was presented with an honourary doctorate of divinity from the United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) in Pennsylvania.  We join the ELCIC in celebrating this well-deserved honour.

The seminary celebrated her legacy as the longest-serving National Bishop in the history of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). She was commended for guiding the church through 18 years of ministry with a unique balance of courage and faith. Particular emphasis was placed on her leadership in truth and reconciliation efforts and her dedication to making the church a kinder, more outward-looking, and inclusive space. The citation recognized how the ELCIC and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) grew significantly in mutual ministry, global mission, and supportive friendship under her tenure. Beyond North America, she was honored for her widely respected judgment, eloquence, and service within the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation, where her guidance was frequently trusted to navigate complex issues. 

This article is based on information published by the ELCIC National Church and supplemented with information from publicly available sources.

Image Credit: from United Lutheran Seminary’s Instagram page.

As summer arrives, our monthly newsletter will be taking a short hiatus during July and August.

While the newsletter is on pause, important congregational news, upcoming events, and worship information will continue to be shared through our weekly email, which is distributed each Friday along with the Sunday bulletin.

We encourage you to watch for those weekly emails so you don't miss any announcements or opportunities to participate in the life of our congregation.

We wish everyone a safe, restful, and joy-filled summer, and look forward to resuming the newsletter this fall!

A Summer Blessing

May God bless you with moments of quiet,
with time to notice the beauty of creation,
the laughter of children,
the song of birds,
the shade of old trees,
and the company of good friends.

May Christ walk beside you
on every path you travel,
and may the Holy Spirit renew your heart
with hope, joy, and peace.

Wherever this summer finds you,
may you know that you are loved by God
and held in God's grace.

Have a wonderful summer!

Photo by mos design on Unsplash