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Church News: July and August 2001 |
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Our Church Services in July and August 2001: July 1st - 3rd Sunday after Trinity July 8th - 4th Sunday after Trinity July 15th - 5th Sunday after Trinity July 22nd- 6th Sunday after Trinity July 29th- 7th Sunday after Trinity August 5th- 8th Sunday after Trinity August 12th- 9th Sunday after Trinity August 19th- 10th Sunday after Trinity August 26th- 11th Sunday after Trinity
Our Groups and Circles All groups meet again in September!!! The following dates have been set: The Ladies' Group The Church Council The Youth Group Confirmation Instruction Bible Study Church Choir
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Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but
also to the interests of others. Meditation on the Verse for the Month Dear Congregational Members, would like to point out to you here, in which context the Apostle Paul wrote this sentence in the letter to the Philippians. I write this in a way, so that you can see exactly where in Paul's writing the counterparts are. Please read the left column first and then the right. And then just compare what is intended by putting them in opposing columns. (for instance: So if there is any encouragement in Christ … complete my joy by being of the same mind.) If there is (among you)
complete my joy by being:
Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus. Did you notice? With Paul, things are on an even scale. Admonion must not endanger the unity of the congregation. Consoling love exists only then in a congregation, when love is not divided and one-sided according to sympathies, and when harmony is the uppermost commandment. Communion, as God intends it, can only be where self-interest and arrogance have no chances. Love and compassion are fulfilled, whenever one's own interest is less important than that which serves everyone. admonition, comfort, community, love and compassion, these are the marks of a congregation that follows Christ. It is all about these values of Christian Life. Is one of these marks missing, then faith no longer influences our togetherness, but is influenced by the warnings in the right column. Paul hands us something like a congregation-test after the motto:" Test, how Christian your congregation is!" But at the same time. also a personality test. Can we pass it? Is this our most important action: Let each of you not look only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others? With kind regards Looking Back Up to now, June seems to have been the most diversified month. It started with the Confirmation. Yes, the Service was a bit too long. Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion - perhaps, in future one will have to curtail the sequence somewhat. I really wanted that the connection between Baptism and Confirmation were made clear and visible, and also that the confirmands were able to take part in Holy Communion. I was very happy about the participation of our confirmands. They have, I think, given us all important impulses for reflection. Furthermore, we have experienced that Confirmation is a day of festive joy, when the confirmands are fully accepted as members into our church. Unfortunately, my family and I were unable to attend all four celebrations, it was a pity, but it is a fact, that one has to make decisions! Once again, I express my thanks to all four families and to the confirmands, of course, for the Polar Bear carved of stone, which is now on my desk. I hope, your apple trees are doing well? Let me know sometime! We had our Picnic at Camp Edgewood. 150 Church Service participants. It was a joy to see young and old together. Just everything was right: the happiness of being together, the weather, the opportunity to see each other again. Everything was (once again) perfectly prepared. Coffee, cold drinks, games for the children, a puppet show …and…and…and. The sale of the handiwork has brought in $380 for the Mission treasury, which will be used for the benefit of the needy. Isn't that great? Thanks also go to the ladies of the sewing circle for their preparations. I may, besides all others, mention Mrs. Weigelin by name, who has, on this day, helped everywhere. Mrs. Weigelin, how do you really do it, to be everywhere at the same time? To all a big Thank-You, who contributed to the success of this day! A thank you also to those who came. At the moment, a blue bruise on my leg reminds me of this day; it was to be had free on the soccer field. What sore muscles I had! I did not know what rough and tough soccer players we have in our congregation - my full respect. But 0 : 0 - that has to improve next year. Perhaps then we may have more battle-loiterers. There was the Youth Church Service. During the retreat, the youth group had spoken about growing up in faith. The scope of what was discussed, was then already exciting. The result was a Church Service, solely planned by the young people. They have chosen the songs, a short play and the readings. I just needed to preach. It became clear that we have to sing more often in this group. Perhaps this is a way to learn new hymns a little easier. Through the play, the prodigal son has certainly gained in meaning. It became obvious that we all have the need to return home. It is good to know that we have a loving Father in God. A Thank-you to the young people, who have helped me to find the right way, with the gift of the new city map book. Thanks! I was also very pleased that so many congregational members came to this Service. With this, you showed that our young people are close to our hearts! It was an eventful month, it has shown me once again very plainly, how much willingness there is in this congregation to help with the work and how much joy in being together. We can truly thank God with all our heart - and can go with pleasure into our summer break. Visit our Website The congregation has now a Home-page in the Internet: www.martinluther.ca. Many thanks to Mona Frantzke for all the work! What exactly are the Wolves doing? Before we take leave to go on vacation and to Camp Lutherlyn, I want to tell you once again what kinds of news we have. First of all, we are pleased that our children have adapted to the situation much better than expected. All three have achievements worthy of notice, in spite of tremendous adjustments. The report cards are truly excellent. We are very proud and, of course, very happy, that the Three like it so much here. The first school friends have been found, children have visited us. So far, we are satisfied with the schools. All of us have made the adjustments successfully - of course, with the help of many congregational members. For this we wish to express our thanks again. Who would have thought that everything will go so smoothly, and that we get accustomed so quickly and without complications? We have not been homesick, although we were very happy, of course, to have visitors from Germany. Throughout the summer, family and friends will visit us. My wife has certainly played the biggest part in our feeling at home here. She is there for the children and has now house and garden well in hand. She also feels very positive. Mr. Pahnke was active as a painter for innumerable hours at our place - many, many thanks! I hope that you have also become accustomed to your "Pastor family". Often one has the feeling of knowing you for a long time. It is a great joy to work here and to be with you!
Vacation Time In July, I will be on vacation with my family, after that at Camp Lutherlyn. The Supply Preachers are listed on the page of the Church Services. Otherwise, please contact the following people in emergencies: Pastor Eberhard W. Schwantes i.R., 32 Spring Garden Road, Toronto, M8Z 3X1, Telephone 416-239-9529 or: Pastor Wolf-Rüdiger Belzing, 116 Bond Street, Toronto, M5B 1X8 Telephone 416-977-4786, Fax: 416-497-3215 or the following Church Council Members: Mr. Edmund Scholz, 3198 Havenwood Drive, Mississauga, L4X 2M1, Telephone 905-625-0548
Mr. Ernst-August Wienecke, R. R. 2, Tottenham, L0G 1W0, Telephone 905-939-2601 Member Information We have noticed that in some cases our congregation lists are not up-to-date. Therefore, we ask you to fill out the enclosed form and send it back to us. This will be a big help for us - though only when everyone (!) will give us the information. We ask also for the birth dates. It would then be possible to congratulate you on your birthday, if you wish it. The information is, of course, voluntary. Furthermore, we could send you information with email, if you give us your email address. Many thanks for your co-operation! Congregational Assistant My name is Wolfgang Loest, and I am completing a placement at Martin Luther Church from June 24th to July 2nd, 2001. As I came to Church on Sunday for the first time, I saw with astonishment,
how full the church was. Compared to the German situation, it was very full. I
liked it very much that I was able to be present particularly during the first
congregational Youth Service which took place after a long time. I was familiar
with the Liturgy as a visited a Lutheran Congregation a few times, were my
friend Tanja is a member of the Church Council (I myself am reformed). It
surprised me very positively, that many congregational members stayed at the
church after the Service for a cup of coffee or tea, to talk to one another.
This is found rather seldom in Germany, and it really a pity. Furthermore, I had
the feeling, that one is much more pleasant in this congregation. I, as a
new-comer, was immediately greeted and addressed in a friendly manner. During
the coffee hour there was a kind of communication which some congregations in
Germany could really enjoy. We baptized Connor Bourke Michael Christopher Pieckenhagen-Brooks The Last Word Criticize your friend in secret, but praise him in front of
others. |
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cordially invite you to stay for a while
after
the Services for a cup of coffee!|
Martin Luther Church
is a member congregation of the
Toronto Conference of the
Eastern Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Canada, the
DELKINA
(Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische Konferenz
in NordAmerika / German Evangelical Lutheran
Conference in North America), and the
EKD (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland /
Protestant Church of Germany). |