Bishop's Office Message for February, 2005

Dear Partners in Ministry,

On February 9, about 14 people from across the synod will travel to Colombia for a visit to our Companion Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia (IELCO). We will participate in a project to renovate the school associated with Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Paz de Ariporo, visit some of the displaced persons camps to which IELCO congregations minister, and visit some of the congregations of IELCO in Bogotáá. Connecting with our sisters and brothers in this way helps us to understand better the circumstances other churches face in our world. Living in Canada is easy to take for granted. We do not have to deal with guerilla and paramilitary groups who routinely remove people from their homes. Please pray for our group as we make this visit. Please remember to pray for the congregations of IELCO, their pastors and their Bishop, Sigifredo Buitrago.

My hope and prayer is that as we make connections with our fellow Christians in other parts of the world, we will have a better understanding of the ways in which we might all work together more effectively to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people all around the world. Thank you for your participation in the world wide effort to provide relief for the victims of the tsunami in Asia. Our Lutheran organizations have been actively involved in this massive mobilization of resources, and you can continue to send your donations to the synod office marked Tsunami Relief, or you can give on line at www.elcic.ca/ghda. May this Lenten season provide us time for reflection on how God might use us to serve God's people worldwide in the name of Jesus, who gave himself for us.

+Stephen P. Kristenson,
Bishop Synod of Alberta and the Territories
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
10014 - 81 Ave. Edmonton, AB
T6E 1W8
Phone 780-439-2636
Fax 780-433-6623
Email: SKristenson@elcic.ca
http://www.albertasynod.ca