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Announcements
and Information
09. January
1st Sunday after
Epiphany
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf
16. January
Last Sunday after
Epiphany
English 9.45 a.m.
German 11.00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf
With the Celebration of Holy Communion
23. January
Septuagesimae
English 9.45 a.m.
German 11.00 a.m.
Pastor Susanne Hofmann
30.
January
Sexagesima
English 9.45 a.m.
German 11.00 a.m.
Pastor ??
06.
February
Estomihi
English 9.45 a.m.
German 11.00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf
13. February
Invocavit
English 9.45 a.m.
German 11.00 a.m.
Pastor Susanne Hofmann
With the Celebration of Holy Communion
We express our thanks for all donations and for the active attendance of
our Church Services, and
cordially invite you to stay for a while after the Services for a cup of
coffee! |
Our Groups and Circles
Board of Directors of the Nursery meets on Tuesday, January 11, 6:00
p.m.
The Literary Circle takes place on Tuesday, January 18, at 4:00 p.m., at
the Parsonage, 3203 Gatliff Ave. Mississauga (east of Dixie Rd., south of
Bloor St.).
The Church Council meets on Wednesday, January 12, 7:00 p.m., at the
Church.
The Ladies’ Group meets on Wednesday, January 12, at 7:00 p.m. at the
Church.
The Group planning the Congregational Anniversary meets on Wednesday,
January 24, at 7:00 p.m., at the Parsonage.
The Seniors’ Circle meets on Wednesday, January 26, at 1:30 p.m., at the
Church.
The Adult Retreat at Camp Edgewood is from Friday, January 28, to
Sunday, January 30. Please register!
Radio
Dedication
in German
every Sunday 9:30 a.m. Ciao Radio AM 530.
Any donations for this program would be welcome - please indicate your
envelopes "for radio program".
Please
send us an email, if you want to receive our newsletter regularly. |
I have prayed for you that
your faith may not fail.
Luke 22, 32
Meditation on the Bible Verse for the
Year 2005
Dear Congregation,
Do you have
wishes for the New Year 2005 already? Many people wish themselves and others
health, happiness and success. Good intentions are also there at the
beginning of the year: „This year, I want to take better care of my health.
I want to have more time for my family. I want to advance in my profession.
I want, I want, I want...“ It is good to have times like this when we can
begin anew. The new year seems to be such an occasion for many people.
Wishes and good intentions help us in life to get a new lift. For whoever
has no good intentions remains in the same old situation.. And yet, we
experience that our good intentions are often of short duration. As time
goes on, they are forgotten or are buried under the stresses of
circumstances. Many a person then asks sadly: What has become of them, what
is left in life? - I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.
(Luke 22, 32) The Bible Verse for the year 2005 can be found also at the
end of a fulfilled
era – at the end of Jesus' work on earth. Jesus' disciples know that things will
not continue as before. Jesus had intimated that he will be betrayed, taken
prisoner and, in the end, will even be killed. Jesus, however, speaks also
about his death not being final. In spite of his crucifixion, there is hope
in life. In this uncertain situation, Jesus wishes Peter that his faith may
not fail. Jesus knows that much will happen to this disciple. He is the
speaker among Jesus' disciples. After Jesus' death, all the world will doubt the
purpose of his deeds and his hope, yes, even condemn it. He will be weak and
fearful, desperate and sad. His fear will be greater than his former
intention when he promises Jesus: „I am ready to go with you to prison and
to death.“ (Luke 22, 33) Simon Peter will deny Jesus three times and will
cry bitterly afterwards. Perhaps he has also asked himself the question:
What is there left for me in life, after all? Faith must be left. Jesus
prays to God for Simon. He prays that Simon’s faith will not fail in spite
of all temptations. With this, Jesus shows us what is even more important
than good intentions. It is faith, even though it may be very tiny. For
where faith fails, the trust-relationship between God and man dies. Even a
small spark of faith carries us through hard times, after our good
intentions have left us long ago. Whoever has a spark of faith, will not
give up hope that the dark valley will end. Therefore, faith is vital. – I
have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22, 32) Dear
Congregation, God gives us this light of faith. The good news is, that this
promise is not bound to our intentions and wishes. God gives us his love
unconditionally as the Father. He gives us his trust even then, when we
cannot keep our great intentions. We can respond to this trust with our
faith, even when life is disappointing. Of course, on our way through the
year 2005, there will be highs and lows for us all. Some things will happen
differently from what we expect. Still, we need not look to the future
fearfully. For faith assures us that God, with his light, shows us the way
through the new year, and that he is with us.
God’s Light and Blessing in the New
Year,
with heartfelt wishes,
your Pastor Susanne Hofmann
Preview of Dates
-
Meeting of all Group Leaders for setting dates for the year 2005 (see next
Bulletin)
-
Ottawa
Trip: 11th to 13th of February
-
Saying
Good-Bye to Susanne Hofmann and Annual Meeting: February 20th.
Further Dates:
Camp Edgewood: Sun Aug 31st - Sat Aug 6th, 2005
Congregational Picnic: May 29th,
2005
Help for the Victims of the Flood Catastrophe in Asia
Every one of us must have heard of
the terrible natural disaster in Asia. On December 26th, an earth quake
along the coast of Sumatra has caused a tidal wave (Tsunami). This wave,
with a speed of 800 kilometres per hour – this is as fast as a passenger
airplane, flooded the coasts in Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, the
Maldives, Bangladesh and even in the African
 Sudan,
and has claimed many deaths and caused unimaginable destruction. Somewhat
over a week after the tidal wave, the number of the officially confirmed
death victims has risen again. According to the Indonesian Health Ministry’s
statements on Monday, on the Island of Sumatra, which was especially hard
hit, more than 94,000 people lost their lives. These are 14,000 more than
was first known. The United Nations fear that in this catastrophe around the
Indian Ocean, altogether more than 165,000 people were possibly killed. In
the meantime, international help was put into high gear, which has now also
reached more remote crisis locations. Yet, in spite of all efforts, tens of
thousands of people still wait for aid. It will take about three days longer
until all of the 700,000 victims of the flood in Sri Lanka can be provided
with food and clean water, declared the UN-Emergency Aid Co-ordinator Jan
Egeland in New York on Sunday. The World Health Organization (WHO) assumes
that in the crisis area at the Indian Ocean approximately five million
people are cut off from all basic supplies. In spite of the enormous
willingness to help in all parts of the world (the US-Government has made
available $350 million and Canada $80 million), this first aid is not
sufficient. The
 rebuilding
of the destroyed coastal regions will be a long-term
problem. Hardest hit were the poorest of the poor. Among the dead victims
are many children,
which is a terrible tragedy for the
affected parents.
Furthermore, at the same time, many children have become orphans. These, of
course, must be brought together after the first catastrophe aid and must
be cared for in the coming years. Our
Synod has turned to all Lutheran Congregations and asked to help. „Global
Hunger and Development“ a part of the Canadian Lutheran World Relief, now
accepts donations, which will be used 100% for the benefit of the victims.
Our Church Council has decided, after a telephone- and email-conference, to
give $3,000 immediately. We now hope that you will participate in this
donation campaign and that we, together, can come up with this sum. We
therefore ask you to make a donation to Martin Luther Church with the
notation „Flood-disaster Aid Asia“. In case you recommend this aid
organization to others and want to enlist more help, you can find
information either on our website (www.martinluther.ca),
or on the website of CWLR (www.clwr.org).
We thank you already in advance for your help. An official receipt will, of
course, be issued.
Nursery News
Thank You!
First we want to express heartfelt thanks to all who have
supported the Nursery financially in the past months. It was and still is a
great help, for, as already in 2003, we could, in the year 2004 also,
purchase a few necessary items and comply with the changed regulations and
conditions following the inspections. So, for instance, we have had to
remove the mulch around the climber and had to replace it with a certain
kind of sand.
Preschooler
Group will be set up
After we have held a meeting with the Board of the Nursery
and congregational members in December, which was attended by only one
non-council member, we have, nevertheless, received good suggestions in that
conversation, which will contribute to the program taking place without
hindering the other groups. We hope to be able to begin with the Preschooler
Group in February.
Christmas Parade
Even though the wind nearly
blew off the stable of Bethlehem from the float, the children and all
participants from the Sunday School and the Nursery had much fun to be part
of the parade, which went along Lake Shore Boulevard. We were able to wish
many onlookers, in the name of our Church, a merry Christmas. We had already
more support from congregational members, who had come especially to wave to
us. Yet, we would gladly see more familiar faces in the crowd, as this a
motivation for those who take part.
Mimico Treelighting Event
For the
first time, on the afternoon of the 2. Advent Sunday, an official ceremony
took place in the vicinity of the Church, where, with the participation of
residents, a Christmas tree was lit. The event took place in front of
„Storefront Humber“, the former community centre of Mimico. Present were
politicians from the City Council Toronto (Mark Grimes), to MP Jeanne
Augustin, which may be an indication of how important events are considered
which promote the togetherness and the community in Mimico. Together with
the Baptist Church and their Pastor Jim Sanderson, we have sung Christmas
songs with the people and have distributed Christmas cookies with greetings
from our congregation.
Concert on March 26, 2005, in
the Roy Thompson Hall
The
Toronto Symphony Orchestra will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Matthew
Passion on March 26, at 7:30 p.m. The conductor is Nicholas McGegan.
Besides
the orchestra, the Mendelssohn Singers and the Toronto Children’s Choir will
participate.
The
Soloists are: Dominique Labelle, Soprano; Daniel Taylor, Counter Tenor;
Benjamin Butterfiel, Tenor (Evangelist); John Tessier, Tenor; Nathan Berg,
Bass-Bariton (Jesus); and Eric Owens, Bass.
Hans
Vetter has ordered 60 tickets in advance. In case you are interested in this
truly exceptional musical event on Saturday before Easter, please contact
him and take notice of the announcement in the foyer of the Church.
Adult Retreat in Camp Edgewood
From
Friday, January 28th to Sunday, January 30th, an Adult Retreat
takes place in Camp Edgewood as does every year. Please register
immediately. We will, as always, arrive around 2:00 p.m. on Friday, and on
Sunday, after attending the Church Service together and after lunch, make
our return trip. The topic: „A life for others“.
The
retreat is being prepared by Pastor Hofmann and Pastor Wolf and will deal
with the question of living as a Christian. The retreats are not only a
spiritual enrichment, but foremost also an experience in community. Do come
along this time!
Closing of the Apartment
Dear
Congregation, it is hard to believe that almost a year has passed again, and
soon we must pack our suitcases again. My husband and I want to say a
heartfelt thank you for the support and the willingness to help. With the
furniture and the many pieces of equipment, like kitchen utensils, dishes
etc., which you have provided for us, our apartment became a cozy place. In
February, unfortunately, we have to move back to Germany. That means, of
course, that we close our apartment in Mississauga. We therefore ask all
those who wish to have their items/furniture back, to contact us at the
latest till February 13th (Tel: 905-275-7084) We will take care of the
disposal of all the other things.
Many
greetings, Pastor Susanne Hofmann and Andreas Hofmann
Annual Meeting on February
20th, 2005
Please note, at this time already, the date of the Annual
Meeting. As Easter falls very early this year, the Church Council has
decided to hold the meeting at the same time as last year, and therefore
during the Lent Season. This gives us enough time to finish all
preparations, like the translation of the reports, the budget planning etc.
We hope that the weather is a team player and that many can take part in the
meeting. It is important that you take advantage of this opportunity to
inform yourself regarding further plans, especially during the year of our
Anniversary and to add your opinions. Therefore we ask that you take time
for the reports and read them. Time and again we discover that
congregational members are rather uninformed, which leads again and again to
inquiries and astonishment over long decided plans.
Reason for
Gratitude
Once
again, we can look back on the past year with much gratitude. Some projects
have been begun and some have been completed. Thanks to the faithfulness of
our members, the willingness to donate and the active help, we could take
considerable steps forward. But now as ever, we are dependent on every form
of support and help. A congregation lives by serving and working together.
The more we are, the more we can achieve, also for people in and around our
congregation.
Saying Good-Bye to Pastor Hofmann
On the day of our Annual Meeting,
we also want to say Good-bye to Pastor Hofmann in a joint Service at 11:00
a.m.(!). She has worked with me in the congregation for 13 months and will,
after her return to Germany, take up a position as Pastor. We have the
opportunity to thank her for her work and to let our good wishes accompany
her in the future.
All
Dates at a Glance
Mission Circle
every Wednesday, 9.30 a.m., except, 12.01!
Church Choir
every Friday, 7:30 p.m., Church.
Board of Directors, Nursery
Tuesday, 11.01., 6:00 p.m., Church.
Church Council
Wednesday, 12.01., 7:00 p.m., Church.
Ladies’ Group
Wednesday, 12.01., 7:00 p.m., Church.
Literary Circle
Tuesday, 18.01., 4:00 p.m., Parsonage!
Planning Group for the Anniversary
Monday, 24.01., 7:00 p.m., Parsonage.
Seniors’ Circle
Wednesday, 26.01., 1:30 p.m., Church.
The
Last Word
Tact is the
ability to help someone back on his feet without stepping on his toes.
(Curt Goetz) |
