Reflections from LCC/LLL-C’s Summer Internship 2022

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (LLL-C) teamed up again to offer a paid, part-time internship opportunity for the second summer in a row. Here are some reflections from our interns and their supervisors from the summer of 2022:

Lisa Jackson, LLL-C Managing Director

Erika’s skills and interests were a great match to the 2022/2023 goals and objectives of LLL-C, while Andrew’s skills lined up well with Alex’s plans at LCC, so we decided an 80/20 split would create the best experiences for our interns, while allowing them to get exposure from both organizations. 

During the interview process I was pleased to learn that Erika had some experience writing grant applications and she got right to work, combing through our database of prospective partner organizations and reaching out to establish relationships that could lead to greater financial support. 

Erika’s creative development skills were also a big help with our website redesign, collecting and collating the information needed to keep vendors moving forward while we remained focused on our annual audit, conventions, conferences, and day to day work.

Erika helped create the design for our fall Partner Plan letters and the Summer newsletter, rounding out her experiences with us in branding, communications, web design, fund development, and project management. Erika joined in on Team meetings and weekly devotions and she was even close enough to come and work in person at the office in Kitchener.

Erika Schroth-Gajdos, Summer Intern 2022 

This internship provided a really unique opportunity to understand my gifts and see how I can apply them in a non-profit setting. I enjoyed the opportunity to create new relationships, get to know and pray for donors, and hear all of the impact stories supporters had regarding LLL’s work. Lisa and her team demonstrate passion, compassion and tact. It is exciting to be part of an organization with so much life and positive momentum. It was great to learn more about the LLL through Lisa, and LCC’s operations through Alex. If you are a young person who wants to learn more about their gifts, the LLL, LCC, non-profit work, or anything else described, don’t hesitate to apply.

Alex Steinke, LCC Director of Communications

Andrew was eager to further explore Gospel proclamation through God’s gift of music—looking at new ways of supporting and equipping congregations to better understand why Lutherans worship the way we do. Andrew developed the Worship Terminology webpage, which walks you through “Lutheran Buzzwords” you may encounter in a typical Divine Service. All featured photos are from the Stock Photo Catalogue developed by Anna Kraemer, last year’s intern—it was neat to see two intern-developed projects come together!

The Hymn of the Day Project, coordinated by Peter Steinke, LCC Musician, and Andrew Hayes, builds on the framework of the existing Hymn Selection Guide by the LCMS and highlights some of the rich hymnody we have in the Lutheran Church, by providing an example of an organ and acoustic guitar rendition of select ‘hymns of the day.’ We hope this project will provide opportunity for members to reflect on God’s gift of music, through the inclusion of confessional, Christ-focused hymns which can serve as a blessing to our devotional lives.

Andrew Hayes, Summer Intern 2022

My time as an intern was truly a blessing and a very spiritually enriching journey as a young Confessional Lutheran, who is very passionate about the liturgy and church music.

I did research and writing on the different elements in the Divine Service on the Worship Terminology webpage that will hopefully help new people and regular attendees better understand the contents of the Divine Service—what they mean and why we use them.

I put my musical talents to use by helping create audio recordings of the Hymns of the Day on the organ at our seminary in St. Catharines. (Thanks, Dr. Winger, for allowing me to borrow the Zoom Recorder!) 

I was also tasked with collecting #YoungOldLutherans stories for social media. It was great to establish connections with these young adults and read their stories. I hope that this project shows how powerful the Word of God truly is, to bring people to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice, death, and resurrection for our salvation.

All in all, it was great to work with Lisa, Alex, and her husband, Peter, during this internship. It was also great to be in contact with Gerry Steinke from Good Shepherd (Valleyview, Alberta) and LCC Vice-President Michael Schutz. They both provided great insight and very helpful ideas, from a congregational and synodical level, on how congregations have dealt with music-related issues and on the kinds of musical resources we could provide through this internship. It was truly a blessing to be an intern for LCC and LLL-C! Soli Deo Gloria!

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