learn grow serve President s Message EDMONTON Students are back!

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1 FALL learn grow serve President s Message Students are back! We are excited our mission is to form servants for Jesus sake, and with this batch of full-time, on-campus students, we can fulfill our mission for the sake of the church. EDMONTON 7040 Ada Boulevard Edmonton, AB T5B 4E3 (780) admin@concordiasem.ab.ca Our five returning students are joined by six first year students all willing to submit to God s Word, the faculty and curriculum, and the mentorship from field education pastors. The outcome is that each one might be a servant for Jesus sake serving in mission or ministry. Please look closely at these faces. Each man is a baptized child of God, yielding to the Holy Spirit s nudging in the humbling process of formation to be used by Him. Each man has a family and congregation of origin. Each man has other family and friends who stand behind him to support and encourage him through this journey. God takes normal humans and, through His work in our seminary, forms them for useful service in His kingdom. God be praised. Our theme of the year, God be praised, reminds us that in response to our calling to believe in Christ as Saviour and we share a common unity and belong to the family of faith. These men are responding with their lives of service to Christ and His church. Thus we respond in the words of our -17 theme of the year, in the name of the Messiah, who is God over all, be praised! Amen. back row (l to r): michael mayer, peter knelson, adam chandler middle row: kenneth stadnick, christopher mclean, travis heide, benjamin wandio front row: alex timm, joshua kurtenbach, shiekh lief mauricio, mark rekken Thank you for sending these men, receiving back the candidates and vicars for service among you, and for supporting us, encouraging us, and financially underwriting all that we do to Christ s honour and glory. When your support is received, we also say, in your regard, God over all be praised! Amen. Dr. James Gimbel, President

2 calendar of events October 4, 11, 18, 25 Fall Quest Course October 10 Thanksgiving Office Closed October ABC District All Church Worker Conference Bethel, Sherwood Park, AB November 11 Remembrance Day Office Closed November 28 Guild Meeting December 16 Last Day of Semester I Classes December Final Exams December 24 - January 2 Christmas Break Office Closed January 4 First Day of Short Term II Classes January 18 Timothy Lectures Entrance Scholarship Recipients Congratulations to Adam Chandler, Travis Heide, Peter Knelson, Joshua Kurtenbach, and Mark Rekken who are all recipients of this year s Entrance Scholarships. Each received an award of $1000 toward their tuition for their first year of studies at CLS. The CLS Seminary Guild sponsors this $5000 batch of scholarships to be awarded to Lutheran Church Canada students entering the Master of Divinity program who have completed both the Greek and Hebrew language requirements and hold a minimum grade point average of 2.5. Another $5000 of Entrance Scholarships will be awarded to students who apply for admission for the academic year. All M.Div applicants who meet the criteria will be considered for the scholarships. Wrapping Up the Dig at Hippos There were lots of mixed feelings for Dr. Steve Chambers this summer as he led a sixth group to Israel as part of his sabbatical. There was plenty of joy as he led two CLS students, Michael Mayer and Adam Chandler, in two weeks of archaeological work at the ancient site of Hippos. As part of a bigger team from Concordia University, St. Paul (MN), they uncovered artifacts and buildings from this Christian city s heyday in the 5th 7th centuries AD. Alongside their work on the dig, the trio spent a total of 12 entrance scholarship recipients -17 left to right: mark rekken, joshua kurtenbach, travis heide, peter knelson and adam chandler APPLY TODAY! Students must submit their application to the M.Div. program by February 1, 2017 in order to be considered for the scholarship. No special application form is required. For more information contact Dr. John Hellwege, Director of Financial Aid at: jhellwege@concordiasem.ab.ca Tel: , ext. 230 days touring the whole of the country. From the Negev desert in the south to the springs of Mt. Hermon in the north, and from the Mediterranean to the Golan Heights, they saw it all! Sadly, however, this was the last season for the Hippos excavation. After 15 years, the digging in the city s Northeast Insula is complete. Now it s time to finish the study and publication phase of the project. Dr. Chambers is contributing to this stage of the work, as the team s specialist in Roman-Byzantine glassware. He and the CLS community as a whole will miss the on-site wonders of work, travel, and fellowship that the Hippos project has offered. 2 left to right: adam chandler, michael mayer and dr. steve chambers at beth shean Since 2006, CLS has sponsored six trips to Israel. Each trip has blended work on the Hippos dig and travel to sites of Christian and archaeological interest in the Holy Land. Altogether, 48 students, pastors, deacons, and laypeople have taken part, ranging in age from 15 to 75 years. Geographically, 31 of these volunteers have come from Alberta, 8 from BC, 6 from Ontario, and 3 from Saskatchewan. What a great blessing this project has been, not only to the seminary community but to all of LCC!

3 CLS students Year 3 Scott Brayall Kai Buck Andrew McDonald Will Rose Year 2 Lief Shiekh Mauricio Michael Mayer Christopher McLean Kenneth Stadnick Alex Timm Year 1 Adam Chandler Travis Heide Peter Knelson Joshua Kurtenbach Mark Rekken Benjamin Wandio Did You Know... our CLS student families total 38 people this year, 15 of which are children? Seminary Student in Focus Name: Alex Timm Year: 2nd Home District: Central District I am 22 years old and grew up on the family grain farm outside of Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. My family s church is St. Paul s Lutheran in Saskatoon where I attended from birth until I moved in the fall of 2013 to Edmonton. There I attended Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) after having attended the University of Saskatchewan, not fully knowing what I was doing or was getting myself into. However, God clearly had a plan for me. I moved far away from home and found myself all alone, not realizing until then the comfort and the security of the tightly knit family I had left behind. Soon after arriving at CUE I felt the loving community God had established there, especially in the choir, which made me realize I had a family in Christ wherever I went. One Sunday while I was back home visiting, I felt a deep call from God to go into the seminary to become a pastor. I began dating Marion, a girl I d met in choir, who didn t run screaming when I told her I felt a calling to become a pastor. She even felt more equipped to be a pastor s wife, since she is a pastor s daughter (Rev. Roland Kubke, pastor, St. John s, Beach Corner, AB), than I felt equipped to be a pastor! We both alex and marion timm graduated from CUE in May and were married at the end of June that same year. I finished with a B.A. in Psychology minoring in Pre-Seminary, and she with a B.A. in Music, minoring in Math. I am now in my second year at the seminary and she is in final year of the education after-degree program at CUE. The seminary has been an amazing place to be. I ve learned so much about our theology from our dedicated professors who have a passion for teaching. I also have learned a lot about myself from all of the faculty, staff, and fellow students at the seminary who continue to assist me as I grow in being a servant for Jesus sake. Our first year of these new programs went well and we re excited to be back after a great summer vicarage at All Saints in Edmonton. We are both very excited to continue on our paths to see what God has in store for us in the future, and to hopefully meet some of you if we haven t already! Alex s -17 Field Education congregation is Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Edmonton placements Keith Hoveland, Pastor Zion, Golden Spike, AB Scott Brayall, Vicar Redeemer, Didsbury, AB Kai Buck, Vicar Our Saviour, Dryden, ON Andrew McDonald, Vicar Trinity, Winkler, MB Will Rose, Vicar Good Shepherd, Valleyview, AB Take Wing Program Take Wing is a program that provides a second-year student with an opportunity to travel to a new part of LCC and experience a form of ministry that is unique to him. Congregations can request a student for the weekend of March 12 or 19 (either weekend around Spring Break) when the student normally preaches, teaches a Bible class for youth or adults, and becomes familiar with the unique and distinct components of congregational life, with the local pastor s full involvement and support. The Seminary Guild helps offset the distance travel costs; the local congregation provides housing and meals and ground transportation. Please contact Dr. Gimbel, Director of Field Education and Vicarage by December 1 at jgimbel@concordiasem.ab.ca if you would like a student to take wing your way. Dr. Gimbel will send you the application form (also available on our website). 3

4 Upcoming Quest Courses fall Tuesday Nights October 4, 11, 18 and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm CLS Campus HIS-story: God and His People in the Old Testament Presenters: Dr. Steve Chambers, Rev. Darren Dressler, Dr. Jim Gimbel, Rev. Jonathan Kraemer and Dr. Vern Raaflaub How well do you know the story of the Old Testament? It spreads across time in a way that anticipates everything God eventually did through Christ to redeem the world. Even so, the story of God and his people Israel has value and integrity of its own. His story is the focus of this fall s Quest course, which will be team-taught by a mix of CLS faculty and parish pastors. Designed for laity and pastors, this broad overview unveils God s love as the basis of His story. Quest classes are open to pastors, lay leaders, and all Christians as a service of CLS. This course is also available via web-based audio-video link (to those outside of driving distance of the CLS campus) with the same opportunity to hear and interact online. winter 2017 Tuesday nights: January 31 & February 7, 14 and 21, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm CLS Campus Narnia For Adults: Introduction to the Chronicles of Narnia Consider Adopt-A-Student -17 Concordia Lutheran Seminary is excited about the growing student body and the students potential to be excellent servants for Jesus sake. Of course, having more students also means that the challenge of providing financial aid for them and their families is growing as well. I cannot tell you how much our Adopt-A-Student sponsors mean to our students, not only for material support, but even more so for the prayers and encouragement. If you have sponsored one or more students, on behalf of the Seminary community, thank you. If you have not yet sponsored a student, please prayerfully consider it. In case you are not familiar with it, Adopt-A- Student matches students with sponsors who Presenter: Dr. Joel Heck (Professor of Theology, Concordia University Texas) Although C. S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia for children, the series is better understood by adults. This year s second Quest course explores the Narnia books from a grown-up perspective, covering the series as a whole as well as each of the seven novels within it. It will be taught by Dr. Joel Heck, an internationally recognized specialist on C. S. Lewis who will be serving CLS as a visiting professor during our winter semester. registration Cost: There is no cost to participate, but kindly register for the free course by contacting: admin@concordiasem.ab.ca Tel: , ext. 225 want to directly support them through prayer, correspondence, and especially with financial gifts. Whether the sponsor is an LWMLC group, an entire congregation, or just an interested individual or couple, the students appreciate knowing there are others in the church who are cheering them on through the sometimes challenging years at seminary. Sponsors likewise appreciate getting to know a student who one day may even be called to be their pastor. For more information check us out on the web: adopt_a_student.php Or contact Dr. John Hellwege, Director of Financial Aid at: jhellwege@concordiasem.ab.ca Tel: , ext. 230 FRIENDS OF THE SEMINARY CLS GUILD The Concordia Lutheran Seminary Guild quietly works to support the personal needs of the students and their families. Your contributions to the Guild provide: entrance scholarships for new students, money to stock a student food pantry, student grocery gift cards, help to offset some of the costs of a first alb, a welcome gift to first year students (Pastoral Care Companion), support for the Fall Kickoff picnic, support of the Take Wing program, a graduation gift, and help with Sacred Convocaton costs. Last year, the Guild received a gift of $20,000 and $13,500 in new monies and spent nearly all of it. $35,000 is our target for this year s annual income. Please consider a donation to the Guild. Your donation, marking you as a Friend of the Seminary, helps fund these important projects. 4

5 Concordia Lutheran Seminary Honorary Awards The faculty and Board of Regents of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, invite individuals, congregations, and Boards of Lutheran Church Canada to submit the names of persons to be considered for one of the seminary s honorary degrees and awards. The purpose of these honorary degrees and awards is to acknowledge outstanding service to the church, the seminary, and the community. Available degrees are: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.), Doctor of Divinity (D.D.). Available awards are: Faith in Life, Friend of the Seminary, Doulos Dia Iesoun. A description of the awards and degrees and the forms required for each are available at Financial News Desirable qualifications for each position are listed on each nomination form. Completed forms must be received by January 1, 2017, for consideration. Degrees and awards will be presented at the seminary s Sacred Convocation on May 25, For more information, please contact Dr. John Hellwege, Faculty Secretary at: Concordia Lutheran Seminary 7040 Ada Boulevard Edmonton, AB T5B 4E3 jhellwege@concordiasem.ab.ca Tel: , ext. 230 Fax: CLS carefully monitors our revenues and expenses each month. However, our sources of support dropped significantly at the end of the fiscal year. With a new faculty member, less income from LCC and ABC District, losses from CEF, a lower return on our endowments and investments, and less congregational and individual support, our revenues are significantly less this year. God is faithful and we are using some of our reserves that had been set aside for such a time as this. We need your help to sustain our ministry as we face a critical point, to assess our viability into the future. Please consider a regular donation, easily made through electronic bank withdrawals or by traditional cheque. This chart reflects our monthly totals and our expenses showing the unanticipated gap we met this Spring and Summer. Endowment at CLS CLS is supported by current donations that go directly to our operations and, when designated as such, for direct student support (through Financial Aid or the Adopt-a-Student program). Many of our donors support our current operational needs AS WELL AS tucking funds into an endowment. Endowment Funds are often established in honour of a beloved person of faith (many are parents or pastors), where a major portion of the revenue generated by the investments is used each year and the principle continues to earn for future needs. If you are interested in supporting the future ministry of the Seminary through an endowment, please contact us. Income and Expenses by Month (in dollars) HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED A CHURCH WORK VOCATION? Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Is God calling you to serve as a Pastor, a Lutheran Teacher or a Director of Parish Services (DPS)? Or do you know of someone who should consider a vocation as a full-time church-worker? 5 Income ($933,343 Total) Expenses ($1,110,408 Total) 5

6 Your Seminary exists to serve you and your congregation. Out of love for the Lord s church, we invite you to sustain your Seminary with your interest, your prayers, and your gifts. Yes, I want to make a donation to Concordia Lutheran Seminary So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Name: Address: City: Province: Postal Code: Telephone: Did You Know... that providing your address allows us to send your tax receipt electronically? Your Congregation (Name and City): Enclosed is our gift given in support of: (please specify if applicable) Please apply my gift where most needed In memory of: In honour of: To the Endowment Fund Did You Know... that you can make secure donations electronically through bank withdrawals on a regular basis? Friends of the Seminary : $10/person $25/family other: Student Financial Aid Please contact me about pre-authorized bank withdrawals Please make cheque payable to Concordia Lutheran Seminary and send to: 7040 Ada Boulevard, Edmonton, AB T5B 4E3 If you require a tax receipt, please provide all contact information.