A Christmas Story of Hope from Ukraine

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – there is even a song written about that!  While we look forward all year to this special holiday, imagine having Christmas repeated two weeks later!  That’s how it is in Ukraine. Part of the Christian church in Ukraine celebrates Christian holidays according to the Gregorian calendar and part of the church uses the Julian calendar.  This split even exists within SELCU (Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine) so most congregations celebrate Christmas twice, on December 25th and again January 7th.   While this increases the number of services and the work for the pastors, there is greater opportunity to minister to a larger segment of the population, to both those who attend regularly and those who do not.

In the fall of 2019, Rev. Navrotskky’s congregation in Nikolaev announced the year 2020 as “The Year of Mission”, taking the Great Commission from Mathew 28:19-20 as their motto.  Their plans were to reach extended family members and neighbours with the Gospel.  

Last Christmas season the Nikloaev congregation began with a potluck supper on December 25th, inviting church members’ extended families and friends.  Everyone attending heard about Jesus, born in a manger and come to be our Saviour. On January 6th the Candlelight Service was mainly attended by church members. On January 7th a Christmas Concert was held with a meal, with personal invitations again made to non-church members.  The Sunday School presented a great program with the Youth Team singing and a Christmas video was shown.  The congregation joined in singing Christmas carols.

More than fifteen new people came to this service.  Three of these started coming to Sunday services.  Two ladies asked Rev. Navrotskyy for a Bible, which he gave them along with Small Catechisms.

SELCU Head office initiated the “Christmas Gifts for Orphans” program in 2019.  With money received from LCC and from mission partners in Germany, more than 1000 Christmas gifts of food and other necessities were packed and delivered to the orphanages, hospitals, retirement houses, prisons and homes of poor people during this Christmas season. These gifts were given because Jesus gave Himself for us all!  All SELCU pastors and congregations were involved in this mission program.

Candles are lit because Jesus, the Babe in the manger, came to be the Light of the world.  Ukraine continues to have dark times (Russia looms just across the border) with many suffering from poverty and now having the added stress and  hardships of the Covid-19 virus.

The year 2020 did not turn out as the Ukraine congregations had planned, but they continue to do what they can to alleviate peoples’ day-to-day suffering and to bring the hope of the Gospel. During the Covid lockdown, church services were presented on-line.  Most services are back to being held in-person with care to be social-distanced and following safety precautions.

Yes, the candles are lit at Christmas, and throughout the year, to remind us all that Jesus’ message still shines out to the darkest corners, bringing hope to all hearts that welcome Him.

CLMS Annual General Meeting

Due to Canada experiencing the second wave of the coronavirus, the CLMS 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held via Zoom on Sunday afternoon, November 22, 2020 at 3:00 PM Mountain Standard Time (2pm PST, 4pm CST, 5pm EST).

Those wishing to attend should e-mail to receive the Zoom meeting link.

Ukraine Prison Ministry during Pandemic

When the CoVid-19 lockdown occurred in Canada and across the world this past March, many felt they were prisoners in their own home.  Children could not attend school and many parents had to work from home, if they still had a job to do, that is.  Visitors were no longer allowed in hospitals and care facilities, leaving our elderly and ill without the comfort of family and friends.  Yet despite our hardships we are reminded there are others who live in lockdown too.  And of course, they are in prison for a reason, and not sent there for their health!

Bishop Sasha Yurchenko has for a number of years been a faithful visitor to the prison near Nikoleav, Ukraine.  The men he visits are a tough group, as you can see in the picture.  Despite their history, these men are open to the Bible studies and catechism classes offered by the Bishop.  Through his persistent efforts and the working of the Holy Spirit, he has seen lives transformed in this darkest of places.  Jesus truly is the Light of the World, even in a cold, bare prison.

Ukraine Youth – Who Knew?

       Youth from every SELCU congregation gathered on January 8, 2020 for their four-day Winter Youth Conference. Most of those who attended were male and many came from non-Christian homes.  These 60 young people gathered at the Seminary in Odessa to hear, in a nutshell, “Human life is a great adventure as God the Creator gave each of us the gift of life.  He leads us through life’s challenges, the hills and the valleys.  Yet through all this, God is with each of us and He will meet us at the end of our journey.  Along the way He gives us families, friends, church, and work to do.  Sometimes our journey is joyful and bright, but sometimes it is dangerous and difficult. The Bible provides guidance on all these different areas of life.” 

While the organizers of this conference knew there would be uneven ground ahead for these youth, none of them could have known that they were all about to face one of their greatest challenges, life with CoVid-19, a world-wide pandemic. 

Thank the Lord that these youth were given an opportunity to be together and hear about God’s loving care for them so that they could be encouraged in their faith. Because of the strict and long quarantine there, many people have become angry or depressed and always hungry. 

Join CLMS in our prayer, “Dear Lord, please keep these youth faithful to you, giving them strength to face all that will come their way.  Help them daily to look to You as their strength and stay. Thank you for them, for the facilitators of the conference, and for their desire to serve you. Amen”.

CLMS Annual General Meeting POSTPONED

Concordia Lutheran Mission Society has postponed its 2020 AGM until such time as it is entirely safe to meet together. 

In the meantime CLMS will continue accepting your donations for our mission projects.   This week we forwarded $43,000 (approximately 1/4 of our 2020 goal) for mission projects. Thank you for your help in making this possible! 

Most importantly, we will continue praying for the missionaries, pastors and deaconesses, and all our brothers and sisters, in vulnerable countries. Please join us in praying for them, as many of these countries are poorly equipped to combat the spreading virus.   

We are also praying for our faithful donors, and for all within LCC, as together we adapt to cancelled worship services and social isolation.

Do not forget, our God is the great “I  AM.”

“I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. . .” Isaiah 46:4  

CLMS Annual General Meeting – Saturday, April 4th, 2020 at 11am at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Calgary.

This is a notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society, to be held on Saturday, April 4th, 2020 at 11am at: St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 66 – 7th Street NE, Calgary AB.

Coffee and refreshments will be served.

Agenda

  1. Opening Prayer and call to Order
  2. Minutes from 2019 AGM
  3. 2019 Financial Statements
  4. Election of Directors (confirmation of vote results and board appointments)
  5. Other business
  6. Adjournment and Closing Prayer

For any questions, please contact Joyce Loblitz at .

Computer Training for Deaconesses and Children

This program and its materials and resources, including nearly 200 laptop computers, are largely funded and led by a Canadian volunteer, significantly reducing the overall costs. Your support is needed to help the deaconesses and students reach the Chinandega mission centre and its computer lab, and also to allow volunteers to travel to church communities to provide on-site computer training.


I want to support computer training.

Project 2006 Goal: $2,500

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Children’s Education Program

This valuable ministry, provided at the churches by the deaconesses and pastors, offers tutoring in mathematics, Spanish, science, and, most importantly, lessons from the Word of God. Funding is needed to ensure that the 60 children attending the program in 2020 will have the backpacks, notebooks, and educational resources needed for each child’s scholarship.


I want to support education for children in Nicaragua.

Project 2004 Goal: $9,500

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Outreach to Immigrants and Refugees

WECLO – Windsor/Essex County Lutheran Outreach, supports a multi-cultural ministry in Ontario. Lay missionary Javed Khan and his wife offer hospitality through meals and holiday celebrations for immigrants and refugees. This ministry shares the Word of God and provides opportunities to teach ESL (English as a Second Language) classes and Bible studies, host sporting events for the young at heart, and help newcomers settle into a new life in Canada.


I want to support outreach to immigrants and refugees.

Project 2001 Goal: $7,500

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Deaconess Support

There are currently 27 faithful deaconesses who provide Christian education to women, youth and children, organize feeding programs, and visit their church members and those in need. This project is to provide an additional $20 monthly stipend to assist with transportation and expenses during a time of political turbulence and resulting financial strains.


I want to support the deaconesses.

Project 2008 Goal: $6,000

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