11460 60 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB. T6H 1J5 Canada. 780-434-1671
Next Church Service Sunday March 8, 2026@ 10:30am
Holy Communion 3rd Sundays of the month
Holy Communion 3rd Sundays
Martin Luther's Morning/Evening Prayer
Make the sign of the Holy Cross and say:
Morning Prayer
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Evening Prayer
In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.
2026 LCC Synod Convention June 12-15, 2026
2026 LCC Synod Convention June 12-15, 2026
2026 LCC Synod Convention - Lutheran Church–Canada
2026 Convention Updates - The Canadian Lutheran
Welcome to the 2026 LCC Synod Convention Info-page
Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s 13th Regular Convention will be held in Winnipeg from June 12-15, 2026, gathering under the theme “Together One: One Lord, One Faith, One Body” (Ephesians 4:4-6). The Convention was last held in the Central Region in 2008 under the theme “Give Jesus Glory – His Calling, Our Praise.”
The start of business related to this synod convention will begin on March 20, 2025, with the first meeting of the Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE). The CNE manages the nomination process for elected positions at the synodical and regional levels, monitors the vetting process of nominees, and supervises the election of candidates to various positions at conventions of LCC.
News pertaining to LCC’s Synod Convention will be released on an ongoing basis in The Canadian Lutheran and on CanadianLutheran.ca; as well as in LCC’s weekly e-newsletter InfoDigest.
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
(8 March 2026)
Exodus 17:1–7
Romans 5:1–8
John 4:5–26 (27–30, 39–42)
We Worship the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit and Truth of His Gospel
Though the Lord had brought them out of Egypt, “all the congregation of the people of Israel” grumbled against Him because “there was no water for the people to drink” (Ex. 17:1). Despite their quarreling, the Lord graciously provided for them. He did not strike the people for their sins, but by the hand of Moses He struck the rock instead and brought forth water for the people. In the same way, living water flows from the pierced side of Christ at “about the sixth hour” (John 4:6; 19:14), when He is lifted up on the cross for the sins of the world. He is “the gift of God” (John 4:10), the well from which the Holy Spirit is poured out and becomes in His people “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). By this grace in which we stand, being at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we “worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God” because “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:2, LCMS Summaries.
Introit (Psalm 84)
P: People are happy when You are their strength.
C: When their heart desires Jerusalem.
P: Your home is beautiful,
C: Lord of Angel Armies!
P: My soul desires the Lord’s house.
C: My heart and body sing with joy to the living God.
P: The birds find a home for their babies
C: Near Your altars, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
P: Happy are people living in Your house,
C: Always singing praises to You!
All: Glory give to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, the same as it was in the beginning, is now, and will continue forever. Amen.
Prayer for God’s Word
P: O God, when You show mercy, that is Your glory. Show mercy to all people leaving Your ways. Bring them again with sorry hearts and strong faith, for them to always trust Your true word. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (copy) Amen.
What Is a Lutheran?
While there are a variety of ways one could answer this question, one very important answer is simply this, “A Lutheran is a person who believes, teaches and confesses the truths of God’s Word as they are summarized and confessed in the Book of Concord.” The Book of Concord contains the Lutheran confessions of faith.
Perhaps you have attended an ordination of a pastor and heard him promise that he will perform the duties of his office in accord with the Lutheran Confessions. When people are received into membership into a Lutheran congregation through confirmation they are asked if they confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as they have learned to know it from the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true.
These solemn promises indicate to us just how important the Lutheran Confessions are for our church. Let’s take a look at the various items contained in the Book of Concord and then we will talk about why the Lutheran Confessions are so important for being a Lutheran.
What are the Ecumenical Creeds?
The three ecumenical creeds in the Book of Concord are the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. They are described as “ecumenical” [universal] because they are accepted by Christians worldwide as correct expressions of what God’s Word teaches.
What is the Augsburg Confession and Apology of the Augsburg Confession?
In the year 1530, the Lutherans were required to present their confession of faith before the emperor in Augsburg, Germany. Philip Melanchthon wrote the Augsburg Confession and it was read before the imperial court on June 30, 1530. One year later, the Lutherans presented their defense of the Augsburg Confession, which is what “apology” here means. It too was written by Philip Melanchthon. The largest document in the Book of Concord, its longest chapter, is devoted to the most important truth of the Christian faith: the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
What are the Small and Large Catechisms?
Martin Luther realized early on how desperately ignorant the laity and clergy of his day were when it came to even the most basic truths of the Christian faith. Around 1530, he produced two small handbooks to help pastors and the heads of families teach the faith.
The Small Catechism and the Large Catechism are organized around six topics: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. So universally accepted were these magnificent doctrinal summaries by Luther, that they were included as part of the Book of Concord.
What are the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope?
In 1537, Martin Luther was asked to prepare a statement of Lutheran belief for use at a church council, if it was called. Luther’s bold and vigorous confession of faith was later incorporated into the Book of Concord. It was presented to a group of Lutheran rulers meeting in the town of Smalcald. Philip Melanchthon was asked to expand on the subject of the Roman pope and did so in his treatise, which also was included in the Book of Concord.
What is the Formula of Concord?
After Luther’s death in 1546, significant controversies broke out in the Lutheran Church. After much debate and struggle, the Formula of Concord in 1577 put an end to these doctrinal controversies and the Lutheran Church was able to move ahead united in what it believed, taught and confessed. In 1580, all the confessional writings mentioned here were gathered into a single volume, the Book of Concord. Concord is a word that means, “harmony.” The Formula of Concord was summarized in a version known as the “Epitome” of the Formula of Concord. This document too is included in the Book of Concord.
What is the connection between the Bible and the Confessions?
We confess that, “The Word of God is and should remain the sole rule and norm of all doctrine” (FC SD, Rule and Norm, 9). What the Bible asserts, God asserts. What the Bible commands, God commands. The authority of the Scriptures is complete, certain and final. The Scriptures are accepted by the Lutheran Confessions as the actual Word of God. The Lutheran Confessions urge us to believe the Scriptures for “they will not lie to you” (LC, V, 76) and cannot be “false and deceitful” (FC SD, VII, 96). The Bible is God’s “pure, infallible, and unalterable Word” (Preface to the BOC).
The Lutheran Confessions are the “basis, rule, and norm indicating how all doctrines should be judged in conformity with the Word of God” (FC SD RN). Because the Confessions are in complete doctrinal agreement with the written Word of God, they serve as the standard in the Lutheran Church to determine what is faithful Biblical teaching, insofar as that teaching is addressed in the Confessions.
Now may:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and show grace to you.
The Lord look on you and give you peace.
Be safe, keep each other in prayer and, God willing, we will all see each other next Sunday!
Pastor Ken
Scripture Readings March 8 2026 (ASL Format)
March 8, 2026
The Old Testament lesson is from Exodus chapter 17.
All the people of Israel left the desert named SIN, the same-as the Lord commanded them to leave. They camped in REPHIDIM. There was no water to drink.
The people argued with MOSES and said, “Give us water to drink!”
MOSES said, “Why argue with me? Why do you test the Lord?”
But the people were thirsty for water. They complained against MOSES and said, “You brought us out of EGYPT, why? You want to kill us and our children and animals with no water?”
MOSES called out to the Lord and said, “What should I do with these people. They are angry and ready to stone me to death.”
The Lord told MOSES, “Walk in front of the people. Take some leaders from Israel with you. The staff you used to make the NILE River become blood, bring that with you. Go! I will stand in-front-of you on the rock at HOREB. You will hit the rock and water will come out and the people will drink.”
MOSES did that and the leaders of Israel saw that happen. He named that place, “MASSAH” and “MERIBAH” because the people of Israel argued and tested the Lord. They asked, “Is the Lord with us or not?”
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
The New Testament lesson from Romans chapter 5.
God makes us holy through faith. Now we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way for us, with faith, that we live in God’s grace. His grace makes us stand strong. We rejoice and have hope in God’s glory.
More than that, we rejoice in our suffering. We know suffering makes us strong to continue and not give-up. And that continuing gives us good character. Good character gives us hope. And this hope will never disappoint us. Why? Because God gave us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love.
While we were helpless, Christ died for us. At the correct time Christ died for sinners. Very few people will die to save a righteous person’s life. Maybe you are willing to die for a very good person. But God showed His love for us this way: while we were sinners, Christ died for us.
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
You have two choices for the Gospel lesson, a shorter reading from John 4 and a longer reading from John 4. Choose one.
This is the shorter reading.
The Gospel lesson is from John chapter 4.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus went to a city named SYCHAR in the country named SAMARIA. That was near the field JACOB gave his son JOSEPH. JACOB’S WELL was there. Jesus was tired from His travel and sat-down near the well. The time was about noon. Jesus’ disciples all went to the city to buy food.
Then a woman from SAMARIA came to the well to pull-up some water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”
The woman answered, “You are a Jew and I am a SAMARITAN woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (Jews avoided SAMARITANS and shared nothing with them.)
Jesus answered, “If you only knew God’s gift, and if you knew Me, then you would ask Me for a drink, and I would give you living water.”
The woman said, “This well is deep, and You have no bucket. Where do You get the living water? Our father JACOB gave us this well. He and his sons and all his animals drank from this well. You think You are better than JACOB?”
Jesus answered, “Every person drinking this water will become thirsty again. But every person drinking the water I give will never become thirsty again. The water I give will become same-as a water-spring inside him for eternal life.”
The woman said, “Please! Give me that water! Then I will never become thirsty again, and I don’t need to come here to get water.”
Jesus said, “Go, invite your husband here.”
The woman answered, “I have no husband.”
Jesus said, “Correct! You say you have no husband. But you finished had five husbands! And the man living with you now is not your husband. You spoke the truth.”
The woman said, “I understand You now. You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped God on this mountain, but you Jews say people should worship God in JERUSALEM.”
Jesus answered, “Woman, believe Me. The time will happen, people will worship God the Father, but not on this mountain and not in JERUSALEM. You SAMARITAN people worship, but you don’t-know God. We Jews worship and we know God, because God gives salvation through the Jewish people.
But the time will happen, and is here now, true believers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Because God wants those worshippers. God is spirit. And people worshiping Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know the Savior, named Christ, will come. When He comes, then He will explain everything to us.”
Jesus answered, “I, the Man talking with you, I am the Christ.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: (copy) Praise to You, O Christ.
This is the longer reading.
The Gospel lesson is from John chapter 4.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus went to a city named SYCHAR in the country named SAMARIA. That was near the field JACOB gave his son JOSEPH. JACOB’S WELL was there. Jesus was tired from His travel and sat-down near the well. The time was about noon. Jesus’ disciples all went to the city to buy food.
Then a woman from SAMARIA came to the well to pull-up some water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”
The woman answered, “You are a Jew and I am a SAMARITAN woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (Jews avoided SAMARITANS and shared nothing with them.)
Jesus answered, “If you only knew God’s gift, and if you knew Me, then you would ask Me for a drink, and I would give you living water.”
The woman said, “This well is deep, and You have no bucket. Where do You get the living water? Our father JACOB gave us this well. He and his sons and all his animals drank from this well. You think You are better than JACOB?”
Jesus answered, “Every person drinking this water will become thirsty again. But every person drinking the water I give will never become thirsty again. The water I give will become same-as a water-spring inside him for eternal life.”
The woman said, “Please! Give me that water! Then I will never become thirsty again, and I don’t need to come here to get water.”
Jesus said, “Go, invite your husband here.”
The woman answered, “I have no husband.”
Jesus said, “Correct! You say you have no husband. But you finished had five husbands! And the man living with you now is not your husband. You spoke the truth.”
The woman said, “I understand You now. You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped God on this mountain, but you Jews say people should worship God in JERUSALEM.”
Jesus answered, “Woman, believe Me. The time will happen, people will worship God the Father, but not on this mountain and not in JERUSALEM. You SAMARITAN people worship, but you don’t-know God. We Jews worship and we know God, because God gives salvation through the Jewish people.
But the time will happen, and is here now, true believers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Because God wants those worshippers. God is spirit. And people worshiping Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know the Savior, named Christ, will come. When He comes, then He will explain everything to us.”
Jesus answered, “I, the Man talking with you, I am the Christ.”
That minute, the disciples came from town. They were surprised to see Jesus talking with a woman. But no one asked Jesus, “What do you want,” or “Why are you talking to her?”
The woman left her water jar there. She went to the town and told people, “Come see a Man who knows my whole life. Is He the Savior?” The people went out to Jesus.
Many SAMARITAN people from that town believed in Jesus because the woman said, “He knows my whole life.” When they met Jesus, they asked Him to stay with them. Jesus stayed there two days. Then many more people believed because He taught them. The people told the woman, “First you told us about Jesus and we believed. But now we ourselves heard Jesus, and we know He is the Savior for the world.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: (copy) Praise to You, O Christ.