The LAY ACADEMY
Connecting Conversations:
THE ARRIVAL
Our Bishops on Advent
Past Session
Nov. 18th and 25th, 2017
Moderator: Rev. Mark Hedlin, SK
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In November 2017 the Lay Academy presented 2 consecutive sessions on Advent. Advent is the season in the Church where we prepare not just for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but also for the second coming of Christ.
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Our 4 Bishops of the western synods of the ELCIC reflected on the preparation for God to come and invade our space and time, breaking into our weakness during this time of year. There was also discussion of how the Lord comes to us in our daily lives.
Over 45 participants from across the 4 western provinces joined Bishop Greg Mohr of the BC Synod, Bishop Larry Kochendorfer of the ABT Synod, Bishop Elaine Sauer of the MNO Synod and Bishop Sid Haugen of the SK Synod as together with us they explored the Readings of Advent.
The sessions were about 3 hours in length and hosted online as well as at various church sites. Recordings are available on the Lay Academy You Tube Channel (see Playlists).
ATTENDANCE SITES
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British Columbia ​
Trinity Lutheran, Delta
Deo Lutheran, Salmon Arm
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria
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Alberta
Ascension Lutheran, Edmonton
Saskatchewan
Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Regina
Messiah Lutheran, Prince Albert
St. Olaf's Lutheran, Swift Current
Manitoba
St. Paul's Lutheran, Steinbach
Grace Lutheran, Winnipeg
Erickson Lutheran, Erickson
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Bishop Gregory Mohr was ordained in 1983 after attending the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon. He earned his Doctor of Ministry from St. Stephen’s, University of Alberta. He first served at the Lutheran Church of the Master in Airdrie (1983-
1995), Alberta and then King of Life Lutheran in Coquitlam, BC (1995 – 2007), when he became Assistant to the Bishop. He was ordained as Bishop of the BC Synod in July 2010. He is married to LaRee and is the father of Joel and Carmelle.
Advent 1: Advent 2:
"PAIN SEEKING UNDERSTANDING" "COMFORT MY PEOPLE"
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 2 Peter 3:8-15a
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
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Advent 3: Advent 4:
"DO YOU GET THE POINT" "IMMACULATE PERCEPTION?"
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Romans 16:25-27
John 1:6-8, 19-28 Luke 1:26-38 (46b-55)
Psalm 126 Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
The moderator, Rev. Mark Hedlin, graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon with a Master of Divinity in 2001. He went on to pastor Zion Lutheran Church in Leroy, SK until 2007 where upon he became Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Saskatoon. He has served as the SK Synod Chairperson for the Committee for Theological Education and Leadership (CTEL), as Director for the Board of Directors for Luthercare Communities in Saskatoon, and as Chairperson for Lutheran Campus Ministry Board in Saskatoon. He is also certified in Pastoral Chaplaincy Ministry.
Bishop Larry Kochendorfer graduated with a Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon in 1989 and received a Doctor of Worship Studies from the Institute for Worship Studies in Florida in 2008. Prior to his ordination as Bishop of the Alberta and Territories Synod in January 2013 he served as commissary and Assistant to the Bishop for the ABT Synod. He and his wife Cathy have four adult children.
Bishop Sid Haugen was ordained in 1981 after attending the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon. He holds a MA in Biblical Narrative as well as a PhD in Educational Research from the University of Calgary. He served three parishes in 33 years as Pastor (Alberta and Saskatchewan) and was ordained as Bishop of the SK Synod in September 2014. He and his wife Kathy have been blessed with three children and numerous grandchildren.
Bishop Elaine Sauer graduated with a Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1998. She served with Youth and Campus Ministry in the MNO Synod and then as Assistant to the Bishop for Synodical Relations. She was ordained as Bishop for the Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Synod in September 2006. She is married to her high school sweetheart Rick, also a pastor, and they have a family of three sons.