January 2026 A Quieter Start to a New Year

 And so a new year begins...

January was a fairly quiet month for me.

I was able to attend our LAMP staff meetings online. We gather each week for a devotion, a book study, some personal sharing and updates, and some prayer time. Very thankful to see my coworkers as we are spread out all over western Canada and points in the United States. 

I also connected with the Sabbath conference planning committee and the LCC West Region Mission and Ministry Council for online meetings. We're making plans for the Sabbath conference in late April. I've been serving on the LCC WRMMC for a few years now and my term expires in June. I've been nominated to return to this position for the next four year term so we'll see what happens at our church's synod convention in Winnipeg. I've been selected to attend as a representative of LCC deacons in our region so I'll be there in person.

It was fun to do a LAMP presentation at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Vancouver this month. The congregation has sold their property and now meet at a few places. We met at St. Peter's Estonian Lutheran Church and it was fun to visit with Pastor Fred R and the people of that congregation. Here's a few pics of me, Pastor Fred, and the church building. Beautiful wooden carvings!

I also enjoyed attending the Men's Breakfast here in Abbotsford with some men from our church and the Greater Vancouver Circuit meeting with some local pastors at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in New Westminster. Here's a picture of the church sanctuary there. As you can see, this A frame construction was a popular style for the Lutheran churches in this area at a certain point.

In my work with LAMP, I have the opportunity to meet with and connect with different church leaders who are working in northern Saskatchewan and northern Manitoba. Here's a link to an article about the new Roman Catholic archbishop who was installed in The Pas, Manitoba. He is originally from India (as are a number of priests in that area) and it will be good to get to know him as I serve in those areas. Here's the link... 

From southern India to Canada's far north: New archbishop serves Indigenous Catholics

I'm getting ready to fly out later today to Winnipeg, Manitoba. I'll be doing some visits in northern Manitoba and also hosting a LAMP exhibit booth at Missionfest. 

Here's the link... 

Missionfest Manitoba - Home

After Missionfest, I'll be flying to Arizona to meet up with the other LAMP staff for a retreat and a chance to attend and host an exhibit booth for LAMP at Best Practices, a ministry conference by Church Church Lutheran in Phoenix.

Here's the link...

Best Practices Ministry - Christ Church Lutheran

On a more personal note, January was also a special month as we celebrated my wife's birthday with family. We also enjoyed a visit with some church friends from our last church in Alberta for a few days. My wife headed out to Halifax to visit our son and his family for almost two weeks at the end of January. She had lots of fun reading books, playing games, working on puzzles, going to church, and enjoying the cold temperatures and snow (I had originally hoped to go along on the trip but needed to change my plans at the last minute...sad not to be able to go) Here's some pictures of her trip. Fun times!!

***Our son Matt is playing the drums for his church in the above photo.

As this new year begins, I'm thankful for Lynne, for family, for friends, and for times to connect and share about the work of LAMP. I'm also thankful for you. Thanks for reading this!!