News Briefs: Long-time staff member retires

Following two months of leave for health reasons, Worker Benefit Plans director, Inge Schroeder has retired. She is the longest-serving member of Lutheran Church–Canada’s staff, joining the new synod’s office team in 1989 as administrative support. She soon focused her talents on assisting in the Worker Benefit Plans office under the supervision of Ken Werschler. In 1997, when Mr. Werschler suffered a stroke, Inge became assistant administrator of the plans, assuming the administrator position in 2002.

“We thank God for people like Inge who have such a dedication to serving God’s people,” said LCC President Robert Bugbee. “We pray that God will continue to bless her as she enters into this new phase in her life.”

During her service with Worker Benefit Plans Mrs. Schroeder shepherded through major changes in the health benefits which allowed members the flexibility to choose coverage which better suited their specific situation. She also worked with the Board of Managers to address the 2008 stock market drop which affected pensions around the world.

LCC treasurer, Dwayne Cleave will provide interim leadership to the Worker Benefit Plans.

Christmas Eve webcast
The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Stony Plain, Alberta will be available as a webcast Thursday, December 24 at 6 p.m. (MST)/ 8 p.m. EST. To view the service, go to www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/video.

LCC president wraps up the year on The Lutheran Hour
Rev. Robert Bugbee, president of Lutheran Church–Canada, is guest speaker on The Lutheran Hour, Sunday December 27, 2009. This program, In Christ, A Glad New Year, will be broadcast across Canada and the US.

“When you see Jesus, you’re looking at God’s rescue, love and help,” says President Bugbee in his message based on Luke 2:25-32.

For a list of radio stations that carry The Lutheran Hour call Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada at 1-800-555-6236 or go to www.lutheranhour.ca where you can also listen to the message online or by podcast

Holy Land encounter
For three weeks in January, LCC’s director of communications, Ian Adnams will be in Israel as part of a Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) Global Encounter. While there the participants will see how Canadians Lutherans, through CLWR support Jerusalem’s Augusta Victoria Hospital, a project of Lutheran World Federation and other social ministry projects serving Palestinians. Dr. Adnams plans to post regular updates at www.lccontheroad.ca beginning January 7, 2010.

Seminary course in Southeast Asia
Five second-year MDiv seminarians and seminary professor, Dr. Edward Kettner, will travel to Thailand and Cambodia December 31. Dr. Kettner will teach seminary courses in both countries, while the students incorporate the experience into a Parish Ministry Immersion course. They will return to Edmonton January 21, 2010.

Please pray for a valuable learning and growing experience for these students and professor; and for their safe return as they travel overseas.

READ MORE: http://www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/canluth/edu1209.pdf

Life hotline now available in Canada
Lutherans for Life-Canada and Word of Hope, a life ministry affiliated with The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod have established a partnership to provide a ‘hot-line’ service for women contemplating abortion. The US-based agency’s toll-free number is now linked with Canada and counsellors can refer Canadian callers to Canadian Christian crisis pregnancy centres or LCC contacts. The toll-free number for Word of Hope is 1-888-217-8679. For more information go to www.word-of-hope.org or www.lutheransforlife-canada.ca

Digging up dirt on early church
Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, is gathering a team to continue archeological excavations in Israel in July 2010.

READ MORE: http://www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/canluth/feature21209.pdf

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