Church News: July 2005

Last updated:  Thursday, August 18, 2011                   49th Year                                                   July 2005

Our Services in July

10. Juli
7. Sunday after Trinity
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf
With the Celebration of Holy Communion  

17. Juni
8. Sunday after Trinity
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf

24. Juli
9. Sunday after Trinity
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf

31. Juli
10. Sunday after Trinity
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf

07. August
11. Sunday after Trinity
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf

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

All Groups and Circles have their well-deserved Summer Break

Further Dates:

• Camp Lutherlyn:
  Sunday July 31st to Saturday Aug 6th, 2005
   

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.

God is not far from each one of us.
Acts of the Apostles 17, 27

Devotion on the Verse for the Month of July 2005

Dear Congregation,
it is actually somewhat paradox, but to many of us God is then closest, when we are furthest away from our daily life. I think, you, too, know the moments, when you have stood somewhere at the sea or on a mountain and thought, God is so close to me here. – I was a Vicar in a small health-resort in Germany, and the Church Services were, in contrast to most Churches, full of people every Sunday. People who, in the mode of vacation and relaxation, of convalescence and healing, went to Church. Some discover their faith again only in an extraordinary situation or in a particular place, but most of the time not in the ordinary daily routine, in their accustomed surroundings, in the perpetual sameness of their Church. Really, why not? – Sometimes we must leave everything behind, everyday life with its tribulations, the home, the house, to find oneself. And then, when we are relaxed, or, when we finally have time, then we suddenly feel something for God. I am glad that God does not do likewise, although I can understand, especially shortly before my own vacation, that sometimes one has to be able to breathe easier and refuel. But still, sometimes I have the feeling that faith is usually looked upon as an added effort in our daily life, which it should actually not be. Faith is really something like a vacation for the soul. Faith in God should indeed help us regain awareness. The visit to a Church Service can be something like a little island in everyday life, where we, for once, do not talk, for once must not do anything, where we let God invite us to pursue ideas, quieten down and feel God’s closeness for an hour. God is not far from each one of us, preaches Paul at that time in the market place in Athens. The people, whom he tells this, are not the tourists who visit Greece in our days. The people of Athens were persons, which were particularly difficult to convince. They were sharp-minded thinkers, philosophers, educated, intelligent. Not all joined Paul and the Christians automatically. Some started to jest. “Why would I need God?” – This, some people ask themselves also today. But I find this the wrong question. I think, the question is not, whether I need God. The question is whether I want a more relaxed life. It is not about doing God a favour when we believe in him, rather that we realize sooner or later that we need a support. We need faith, even though app. 44% of the population in Canada think that one must not necessarily belong to a congregation or a Church for that. – God is not far from each one of us. – Recently, I met Paula Todd. She is moderator on TV Ontario and has written, a find, a remarkable book with the title “A quiet Courage”. 12 persons, ordinary people, have extraordinarily bad experiences in their lives, lose partners, are tortured, have cancer and still tell of the strength which these experiences have given them. Not all are religious, but all have found something that lets them persevere and that has opened their eyes to the good sides of life. – It can be the difficult, the beautiful, everyday life, like a vacation, which turns our attention anew to God. God is not far from each one of us. This is a sentence we must know, find out, experience, in order to make something of our life, to find new courage, to acquire strength for the challenges of our life. Hope is important, says faith and gives it to us, in sentences like this verse for the month, in experiencing God’s closeness in nature, in going through difficulties which let us set out for new shores, during vacation, in everyday life, at Church, in conversation with others who have had similar experiences. God is not far from each one of us. I wish you that you may experience this (once again) – wherever you are in July.
With kind regards for this month,
I remain your Pastor Stefan Wolf

Jennifer Grammenz and Ritchie Theriault
Christa Dunbar and Alfred Grammenz

I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
Joshua 1, 5

Pastor Helmut Pruefer, retired

He who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life.
John 5, 24

On June 23^rd, our Nursery has received an award from LAMP Community Health Centre for the commitment to the work with children. This was a special event, for the award night was like a community festival with food kiosks and plenty of entertainment. There was quite a program on stage for every age-group, which included an African Drummer Group, Chilean Dancers, a Polish Children’s Dance Group, Break Dancers and a Spanish Singer. In between, individual persons or groups – like our Nursery - went on stage and received the awards given out by Alicia Kay Markson (CTV News Toronto). It was truly interesting to experience the many different people from our district. The “United Nations” gathered here. I think, that we, as a congregation, have become known and regarded in the meantime. Through our participation in the Santa Claus Parade along the Lake Shore and the many contacts, time and again, we meet people we know. Politicians were also represented, of course. Laurel Broten (MPP Lakeshore-South Etobicoke), who has become Environment Minister in the meantime, and Mark Grimes (City Council), have taken part in the event.

My family and I will be on vacation from August 8^th to September 5^th. This is a long time. We are planning a trip to the West Coast. During this time, Pastor Moeller and Pastor Knaack will fill in for me in urgent matters.

It was nice that we could already celebrate a smaller anniversary: 35 years Nursery. I have received another beautiful picture from that time when the Nursery was inaugurated, which I do not want to withhold from you. Apart from that, I thank all who participated, who helped that this event became a success, especially the Nursery Team and Mrs. Kleinau, as well as parents and children, who, through their contributions to the Service have turned it into a special event. The brief talk of the mother has probably left a lasting impression on many. Those who have not known until then, how much parents value their children’s placement with us, will have realized it now.

We now have a Fire-Alarm System. It is completely installed and lends more security now in the rooms of our Church. Our insurance has quite naturally assumed that the Church is already equipped with an alarm system – therefore, it is good that it is installed now. The costs will be covered entirely by a grant. We thank Robert Peter and Eugen Pahnke for their help and Dan Sommerfeld for the planning.

On June 10^th and 11^th we have met with 5 EKD-Pastors and their families. These meetings are to be held annually at the request of the EKD, to make exchanges about work and life in North America possible for 5 Pastors and their families sent by the EKD. Pastor Martin Giebel (Toronto), Pastor Christoph Ernst (Ottawa), Pastor Martin Menke (Washington), Pastor Wilfried Wassermann (New York) are the colleagues who presently do service here. It is quite interesting how different the congregations are and consequently also the work. We have dealt with questions of structure and the building of congregations. Next year, the meeting is scheduled to take place near New York during the summer vacation.

We ask you now already to think about whom to invite to our anniversary. There are people who have formerly belonged to the congregation, or family members who do not appear as members on our list. Therefore, we will attach a form to the next Bulletin; please enter the addresses with a brief explanation, why this person or persons should be invited. We want to send out the invitations at the beginning of September.

All Dates at a Glance