11460 60 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB. T6H 1J5 Canada. 780-434-1671
Next Church Service Sunday March 22, 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.
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
(22 March 2026)
Ezekiel 37:1–14
Romans 8:1–11
John 11:1–45 (46–53) or John 11:17–27, 38–53
Jesus Christ Is the Resurrection and the Life
The illness and death of Lazarus happened “that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). Jesus’ miracle of raising Lazarus prompted His arrest and crucifixion, whereby He would die “for the nation” and gather “into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:51–52). As He called Lazarus from the tomb and commanded others to “unbind him, and let him go” (John 11:44), Jesus also calls us and releases us from the bondage of sin and death. We would not “submit to God’s law,” nor could we “please God” (Rom. 8:7–8), but “he condemned sin” in His own flesh so “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” (Rom. 8:3–4). Now through the Gospel, “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells” in us (Rom. 8:11). His Word breathes His Spirit into our mortal flesh, animating us with His own life. As His ministers preach according to His divine command, the Lord Jesus calls us from the grave into the good land that He gives us (Ezek. 37:12, 14). LCMS Summaries.
Introit (Psalm 116)
P: The Lord thinks serious
C: About His holy people dying.
P: I love the Lord! He heard me.
C: He heard me cry-out for mercy.
P: The Lord paid-attention to me.
C: I will call-to Him all my life.
P: Death threatened me. The pain of death grabbed me.
C: I suffered worry and grief.
P: Then I called-on the Lord’s name.
C: Lord, save me!
P: Lord, You saved my soul from death.
C: You saved me from crying and falling.
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: Almighty God, look at us with Your great goodness and mercy. Always lead us and protect us in body and soul. 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 22, 2026 (ASL Format)
March 22,2026
The Old Testament lesson is from Ezekiel chapter 37.
The Lord’s hand touched me and the Spirit carried me and put me in the middle of a valley. That place was full with bones. He led me walking among those bones. Many bones were lying in the valley and the bones were very dry. The Lord asked me, “Son of ADAM, can these bones become alive?”
I answered, “Lord God, You know.”
The Lord told me, “Preach to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, attend to the Word of the Lord!’ The Lord God tells these bones: I will make breath enter you and you will live. I will make TENDONS and muscles grow, and I will cover you with skin. I will put breath in you and make you alive. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
I preached the same as God commanded me. While I preached, I heard a noise, the bones joining together. I watched and saw TENDONS and muscles grow, and skin covered them. But they had no breath.
Then the Lord told me, “Preach to the breath. Son of ADAM, preach and tell the breath, ‘The Lord God says this, breath, you come from the four winds and breathe on these dead people, then they can become alive.’”
I preached the same-as God commanded me. The breath came into them and they became alive and stood up, a very large army.
Then God said to me: “Son of ADAM, these bones are all the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dry. Our hope is gone. We are cut-off from God.’
“Preach and tell them, 'The Lord God says this: I will open your graves and raise you, My people. I will lead you into the land of Israel. Then when I open your graves and I raise you alive, My people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live. I will give you a home in your-own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I announced this and I will do it.”
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
The New Testament lesson from Romans chapter 8.
Now those people belonging to Christ Jesus, God doesn’t judge them guilty. The Holy Spirit gives life in Christ Jesus. The law brings sin and death, but the Holy Spirit made you free. Sin made the law weak and that couldn’t save us.
But God saved us because He sent His Son as a man for our sin. God punished sin in Jesus’ body. Then the law’s good and right work succeeds for us. Now we don’t follow sinful desires, but the Holy Spirit leads us. Those people having their sinful hearts reigning in them always think about sinful things. But when the Holy Spirit leads people, they always think about things from the Holy Spirit.
The thoughts of the sinful heart lead us to death. But the thoughts of the Holy Spirit lead us to life and peace. The sinful heart hates God. The sinful heart refuses to obey God’s laws and can’t obey His law. People with sinful hearts can’t please God.
But you don’t live in sinful desires. You live in the Holy Spirit, if God’s Spirit lives in you. If you don’t have the Spirit of Christ, then you don’t belong to Christ. And if you belong to Christ, doesn’t-matter that your bodies are dead because you sin, your soul is alive because you are righteous. The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead, and He lives in you. He raised Christ Jesus from death, and He will also give life for your dying bodies. How? His Spirit lives in you.
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
You have three choices for the Gospel lesson, all long readings from John 11. Choose one.
This reading is John 11:17-27, 38-53.
The Gospel lesson is from John chapter 11.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus went to the town named BETHANY and found that LAZARUS was dead and buried four days ago. BETHANY was near JERUSALEM, about 2 miles away. Many Jews came from JERUSALEM to comfort LAZARUS’ sisters, MARTHA and MARY. MARTHA heard that Jesus was coming. She went to meet Jesus, but MARY stayed at home.
MARTHA said to Jesus, “Lord, if You were here earlier, then my brother would not die. But I also know that anything You ask God, He will give to You.”
Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”
MARTHA answered, “I know on the last day, when everyone rises, then my brother will rise.”
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The person believing in Me, if he dies, he will live. And everyone living and believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
MARTHA said to Jesus, “Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One coming into the world.”
Then Jesus went to the tomb, and He was upset. The tomb was a CAVE, and a stone covered the entrance.
Jesus said, “Move the stone.”
MARTHA, the dead man’s sister, said to Jesus, “Lord, he is dead four days. The tomb will smell bad.”
Jesus said, “Remember I told you, if you believe, you will see God’s glory?”
Then they moved the stone. Jesus looked-up and said, “Father, I thank You that You already heard Me. I know you always hear Me. But I say this for the people standing here, then they can believe that You sent Me.” After Jesus said this, He called-out with a loud voice, “LAZARUS, come out!”
LAZARUS came out, the cloths still tied-around his hands, feet and face. Jesus said, “Free him and let him go.”
Many of the Jews who came with MARY saw what Jesus did, and they believed in Him. But some Jews went to the PHARISEES and told them what Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the PHARISEES met together. They said, “What should we do? Jesus is doing many wonderful works. If we let Him continue doing this, everyone will believe in Him. Then the Romans will come and take-away our power and our nation.”
One man named CAIAPHAS was high priest that year. He said, “You know nothing. You should know that it is better for you if one man dies for all the people. That is better than the whole nation dying.”
CAIAPHAS didn’t think of that himself. He was the high priest that year, so he prophesied that Jesus will die for the nation of Israel. Jesus will die not only for the nation, but also for all God’s children every place, then He can gather them together. Then the Jewish leaders began planned together to kill Jesus.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: (copy) Praise to You, O Christ.
This reading is John 11:1-45.
The Gospel lesson is from John chapter 11.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
A man named LAZARUS lived in the town of BETHANY, and he was sick. The sisters MARY and MARTHA lived in that town. MARY later anointed the Lord and used her hair to dry Jesus’ feet. LAZARUS was her brother. The sisters sent a message to Jesus and said, “Lord, the one You love, he is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness doesn’t lead to death. Through his sickness, God will show His glory. Then the Son of God will get glory.”
Jesus loved MARTHA and her sister and LAZARUS. After Jesus heard that LAZARUS was sick, Jesus stayed two more days in that place. Then Jesus told His disciples, “Let’s go to JUDEA again.”
The disciples said, “Teacher, the Jews want to stone You and kill You. You will go there again?”
Jesus said, “There are twelve hours in a day, right? If a person walks during the day, he doesn’t fall, because he sees the light in the world. But if he walks at night, then he falls, because there is no light in him.” Then Jesus said, “Our friend LAZARUS fell asleep. I go to wake him up.”
The disciples said, “Lord, if LAZARUS sleeps, then he will get better.”
Jesus meant that LAZARUS died, but they thought he was only sleeping. Then Jesus said clearly, “LAZARUS died. It is good for you that I wasn’t there. Then you can believe. Let’s go to him.”
THOMAS, also named the TWIN, said to the other disciples, “We should also go. Then we can die with Jesus.”
Jesus went to the town named BETHANY and found that LAZARUS was dead and buried four days ago. BETHANY was near JERUSALEM, about 2 miles away. Many Jews came from JERUSALEM to comfort LAZARUS’ sisters, MARTHA and MARY. MARTHA heard that Jesus was coming. She went to meet Jesus, but MARY stayed at home.
MARTHA said to Jesus, “Lord, if You were here earlier, then my brother would not die. But I also know that anything You ask God, He will give to You.”
Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”
MARTHA answered, “I know on the last day, when everyone rises, then my brother will rise.”
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The person believing in Me, if he dies, he will live. And everyone living and believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
MARTHA said to Jesus, “Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One coming into the world.”
Then MARTHA went to her sister MARY. MARTHA privately told her, “The Teacher is here and wants you to come.” Then MARY quickly stood up and went to Jesus. Jesus was not-yet in the town. He was still in the place where MARTHA met Him. There were Jews in the house with MARY to comfort her. When she stood up quickly and went out, they followed her. They thought she was going to the tomb to cry.
MARY went to Jesus. When she saw Jesus, she bowed-down at His feet and said, “Lord, if You came earlier, my brother would not die.”
Jesus saw her crying and the Jews with her crying. Jesus was upset. He asked, “Where did you lay him?”
They said, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus cried. Then the Jews said, “Look how much Jesus loved him!” But some of them said, “Jesus can make a blind man see again. He could also stop this man from dying.”
Then Jesus went to the tomb, and He was upset. The tomb was a CAVE, and a stone covered the entrance.
Jesus said, “Move the stone.”
MARTHA, the dead man’s sister, said to Jesus, “Lord, he is dead four days. The tomb will smell bad.”
Jesus said, “Remember I told you, if you believe, you will see God’s glory?”
Then they moved the stone. Jesus looked-up and said, “Father, I thank You that You already heard Me. I know you always hear Me. But I say this for the people standing here, then they can believe that You sent Me.” After Jesus said this, He called-out with a loud voice, “LAZARUS, come out!”
LAZARUS came out, the cloths still tied-around his hands, feet and face. Jesus said, “Free him and let him go.”
Many of the Jews who came with MARY saw what Jesus did, and they believed in Him.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: (copy) Praise to You, O Christ.
This reading is John 11:1-53.
The Gospel lesson is from John chapter 11.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
A man named LAZARUS lived in the town of BETHANY, and he was sick. The sisters MARY and MARTHA lived in that town. MARY later anointed the Lord and used her hair to dry Jesus’ feet. LAZARUS was her brother. The sisters sent a message to Jesus and said, “Lord, the one You love, he is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness doesn’t lead to death. Through his sickness, God will show His glory. Then the Son of God will get glory.”
Jesus loved MARTHA and her sister and LAZARUS. After Jesus heard that LAZARUS was sick, Jesus stayed two more days in that place. Then Jesus told His disciples, “Let’s go to JUDEA again.”
The disciples said, “Teacher, the Jews want to stone You and kill You. You will go there again?”
Jesus said, “There are twelve hours in a day, right? If a person walks during the day, he doesn’t fall, because he sees the light in the world. But if he walks at night, then he falls, because there is no light in him.” Then Jesus said, “Our friend LAZARUS fell asleep. I go to wake him up.”
The disciples said, “Lord, if LAZARUS sleeps, then he will get better.”
Jesus meant that LAZARUS died, but they thought he was only sleeping. Then Jesus said clearly, “LAZARUS died. It is good for you that I wasn’t there. Then you can believe. Let’s go to him.”
THOMAS, also named the TWIN, said to the other disciples, “We should also go. Then we can die with Jesus.”
Jesus went to the town named BETHANY and found that LAZARUS was dead and buried four days ago. BETHANY was near JERUSALEM, about 2 miles away. Many Jews came from JERUSALEM to comfort LAZARUS’ sisters, MARTHA and MARY. MARTHA heard that Jesus was coming. She went to meet Jesus, but MARY stayed at home.
MARTHA said to Jesus, “Lord, if You were here earlier, then my brother would not die. But I also know that anything You ask God, He will give to You.”
Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”
MARTHA answered, “I know on the last day, when everyone rises, then my brother will rise.”
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The person believing in Me, if he dies, he will live. And everyone living and believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
MARTHA said to Jesus, “Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One coming into the world.”
Then MARTHA went to her sister MARY. MARTHA privately told her, “The Teacher is here and wants you to come.” Then MARY quickly stood up and went to Jesus. Jesus was not-yet in the town. He was still in the place where MARTHA met Him. There were Jews in the house with MARY to comfort her. When she stood up quickly and went out, they followed her. They thought she was going to the tomb to cry.
MARY went to Jesus. When she saw Jesus, she bowed-down at His feet and said, “Lord, if You came earlier, my brother would not die.”
Jesus saw her crying and the Jews with her crying. Jesus was upset. He asked, “Where did you lay him?”
They said, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus cried. Then the Jews said, “Look how much Jesus loved him!” But some of them said, “Jesus can make a blind man see again. He could also stop this man from dying.”
Then Jesus went to the tomb, and He was upset. The tomb was a CAVE, and a stone covered the entrance.
Jesus said, “Move the stone.”
MARTHA, the dead man’s sister, said to Jesus, “Lord, he is dead four days. The tomb will smell bad.”
Jesus said, “Remember I told you, if you believe, you will see God’s glory?”
Then they moved the stone. Jesus looked-up and said, “Father, I thank You that You already heard Me. I know you always hear Me. But I say this for the people standing here, then they can believe that You sent Me.” After Jesus said this, He called-out with a loud voice, “LAZARUS, come out!”
LAZARUS came out, the cloths still tied-around his hands, feet and face. Jesus said, “Free him and let him go.”
Many of the Jews who came with MARY saw what Jesus did, and they believed in Him. But some Jews went to the PHARISEES and told them what Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the PHARISEES met together. They said, “What should we do? Jesus is doing many wonderful works. If we let Him continue doing this, everyone will believe in Him. Then the Romans will come and take-away our power and our nation.”
One man named CAIAPHAS was high priest that year. He said, “You know nothing. You should know that it is better for you if one man dies for all the people. That is better than the whole nation dying.”
CAIAPHAS didn’t think of that himself. He was the high priest that year, so he prophesied that Jesus will die for the nation of Israel. Jesus will die not only for the nation, but also for all God’s children every place, then He can gather them together. Then the Jewish leaders began planned together to kill Jesus.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: (copy) Praise to You, O Christ.