Our daily routines depend on many different things to run smoothly. Even a small glitch can cause complications. At the moment, here in Winnipeg, potholes are wreaking havoc in our transportation system. It happens every year at this time but we never seem quite prepared for it.
At some point during the past two years or so, most of us have come to realize that one needs to be prepared to expect to encounter unexpected potholes in our paths, almost every day. The COVID pandemic and its aftermath have caused a lot of disruption. Dealing with all those challenges can be exhausting.
Martin Luther warned of the danger of giving in to despair and urged us to rely on God’s grace working through the Holy Spirit among us. It’s vital to keep hope alive. I’ve been making that a priority in what you read in Canada Lutheran.
As I worked with each item in this issue, watching for signs of hope, I encountered many ways that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control continue to be alive in and among us.
We hit a major pothole with the planned feature for this issue. We had expected to provide a preview of a National Convention that would be held as part of an assembly with our partners in the Anglican Church of Canada. The possibilities it would present were full of hope and promise. However the pandemic and its aftermath disrupted our plans. The event was cancelled.
Our leadership responded quickly with plans for an online convention to deal with important decisions that cannot be delayed while beginning plans for a special 2023 National Convention. Our first feature article provides basic information about what will be happening at the 2022 convention.
This also left us with a pothole in the magazine to fill. I thought about what has helped me to get through this pandemic and I realized that I have continued to work at preserving a sense of shalom. I’ve found the inventory tool that I provide useful in reflecting on how the most important things in life are going for me. That in turn helps to understand what may need some attention. I hope it may do the same for you.
GLIMPSES
While the hoped-for assembly with the Anglicans will not take place this year, our companionship in faith continues. Learning from each other about worship practices is part of that (p. 6).
Worship, this time hybrid worship and what’s involved for relationships in worship, is also considered in Q&A, p. 15.
Once again our synod sections are full of ideas to celebrate and perhaps emulate. You will read about such things as care for creation (p. 16, 19), building community (p. 17, 25, 26) and how our advocacy is playing out in people’s lives (p. 20, 22, 26). Of course our bishops have a lot of wisdom to share as usual.
Kenn Ward
Editor
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