Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Directory   Search  
 

Who was Rasmus?

This project is named after Rasmus Jensen, the first Lutheran pastor in North America.

Pastor Jensen was the chaplain of an expedition sent in the spring of 1619 by King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway to search for the Northwest Passage to India. The expedition landed on the shore of Hudson Bay at the present day site of Churchill Manitoba in the fall of 1619.

His commemoration date is February 20.

Rasmouse Tales

We welcome Rasmouse, a new "assistant" to the National Office. He is a mouse of the millennium who enjoys and appreciates the potential of Project Rasmus. Just as Rasmus Jensen braved the frontiers of North America back in 1619, Rasmouse will dare to go where only some of us in the church have gone before—into the electronic age. While he cannot deny that electronic advances are a challenge, Rasmouse would like to remind us all that we have faced similar changes before.

 Rasmouse

Think back about the array of machines that have been used in your church since the 1980s. "Typewriter, mimeograph machine, Gestettner duplicating machine, filmstrip projector, overhead projector, 16-mm movie projector, desktop computers, printer, copiers, modems, email, fax machines, pagers, cell phones, database programs, CDs, web sites, Internet, PowerPoint. … The changes that have already taken place are laying the groundwork for greater ones."1

Rasmouse welcomes those "greater changes" and hopes to have a hand in their adaptation for the church. Since you are the church, he would like to initiate an on-going conversation about the adventure ahead. He is determined to face the rather contentious issues of changing technology with good humour and Christian love.

Rasmouse Tales will appear regularly at www.elcic.ca and may find their way into your mailbox, too. What topics would you like addressed? At any time you may also read background information on ELCIC’s Project RASMUS (and Rasmouse’s ancestor, Rasmus Jensen) at www.elcic.ca/rasmus

Rasmouse invites you to reply, share ideas or send gifts of sweet-smelling cheeses to:
communique@elcic.ca (subject line "Rasmouse")
204.984.9185 (fax attn: Rasmouse)
toll-free 1.888.786.6707 ext. 153, or 204.984.9153

1. Ian Evison, The Digital Revolution, Congregations magazine © 2001 Alban Institute, Inc., 20-21.
In full communion with The Anglican Church of Canada
© Copyright 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada