Church News: November 2005 [PDF]

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

06. November
3rd Last Sunday of the Church Year
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf

13. November
2nd Last Sunday of the Church Year
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf
With the Celebration of Holy Communion

Wednesday 16. November
Prayer and Repentance Day
German 7:00 p.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf
With the Celebration of Holy Communion

20. November
Eternity Sunday (Rememering the Deceased)
English 9:45 a.m.
German 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Stefan Wolf

27. November
1st Advent Special Service on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Church
Joint Service
English & German 10.00 Uhr !!!
Bishop Michael Pryse & Pastor Stefan Wolf
With Church choir

Followed by a Luncheon

04. December
2nd Advent
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

The Literary Circle takes place on Thursday(!), November 3^rd. We meet at the Parsonage at 12:30 p.m., and drive together to Hamilton to “Books in Bloom”, a book exhibition in the Botanical Gardens. Entrance fee: $6.

Confirmation Instruction takes place on Monday, November 7^th and 21^st, at 7:00 p.m. at the parsonage.

The Board of Directors  of  the Nursery meets on Tuesday, November 8^th, 6:.00 p.m. at the Church.

The Ladies’ Group invites on Wednesday, November 9^th, at 7.00 p.m. at the Church.

The Church Council  meets also on Wednesday November 9^th,  at  7:00 p.m. at the Church.

The English Bible Discussion Group  meets on Tuesday, November 15^th, at 7:00 p.m. at Pastor Wolf’s, 3203 Gatliff Ave., Mississauga, Tel. 905-629-1841. Please let us know if you need transportation.

The Visiting Service Circle meets on Wednesday, November 16^th, after the Prayer and Repentance Service, about 8:00 p.m. in the church.

The German Bible Discussion Group  meets on Wednesday, November 30^th, at 1:30 p.m., at the Church.

The Seniors’ Circle  meets for the last time this year on Turesday, November 22^nd, at 11:00 a.m. It would be nice if you brought Advent poems, something humorous and cookies! Please do not forget your lunch!

The Contact Circle of the German speaking Lutheran Congregations takes place on Thursday, December 8^th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Epiphany Church in Scarborough.

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 plan ahead!

Send us an e-mail, if you want to receive our printed newsletter by mail regularly.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1. Thessalonians 5, 23)

Devotion on the Verse for the Month of November 2005

Dear Congregation,
now the time is finally here: our 50^th Anniversary is approaching. Months of planning are now behind us. It will become evident, whether we have thought of everything, and hopefully, it will be an unforgettable event in a positive sense in the life of our congregation. 50 years are a long time. At times it was our task to look through photos and documents. It was interesting to see how much has happened and how many people had participated in the work of the congregation during these five decades. In the beginning, it was only a small group which gathered around Pastor Wulf and founded this congregation. Because of the immigration waves during the 50s and 60s, however, it grew quickly in numbers. It is hard to believe how many children and families passed through Martin Luther Church! Some people may become nostalgic at this thought. Yet, the congregation has never ceased to be a place of devotion and caring. Church Services, festivities, trips, additions to the building, anniversaries, groups and circles, baptisms, funerals and confirmations, in short, events which have left many memories, and after 1961 are also connected to our Church on Lake Shore Blvd. In this context, the question came up: What turns a congregation into a congregation? – I believe that the answers may differ. Most people will probably say: God calls people together. This is correct, but other answers are possible too: Faith makes a congregation from a group of people; community is also important and the Church Service. For others there are the various offers, Bible study or mission circle, which create a close connection to the congregation. Camp Lutherlyn, many of the middle generation have a lot of memories particularly of the camp. – What turns a congregation into a congregation? – It is, according to my understanding, the blessing of God, which holds everything together like a brace. It is a blessing, without question, that people in 1955 and also still today, take part in congregational life and can be invited to the Church Service. It is the blessing of God, which has accompanied us in all the tasks and the work in the congregation. It is a blessing that again and again people can be won anew to work with us and that God gave us challenges, which we had to tackle. It is the blessing at the end of the Church Service, that means so much to many congregational members, because it is the tangible expression of God’s accompaniment in every day life. It is the blessing of God, without which we do not achieve anything and, ultimately, can also not do anything meaningful in a congregation. It is his blessing meant for everyone and which creates community of so many different people. Therefore, I have been happy that the verse for the month of November is the oldest blessing of the New Testament, with which Paul greets the congregation in Thessaloniki. It is a blessing that speaks of keeping. It is a blessing that speaks of healing, through which it becomes clear, that God indeed accepts us as we are, but he does not want us to remain as we are. He wants us to grow in faith with his help and become a living expression of his word. It is a blessing that speaks of expectation. Quite concretely of the expectation that Jesus returns. In our time, this is only preached as the end of the world. However, something quite different is meant here; namely, that God will let his kingdom become reality. Herein is the hope, that we need not become discouraged, even though we are not always successful or large in numbers. We shall be people with hope, full of expectation and anticipation, and therefore do our work in a spirit of moving forward. Our Church is a building of living stones, where every one of us should contribute. God blesses us because he has plans for us and we can take part in building his kingdom. What a blessing! – Our anniversary, therefore, is not a celebration, where we celebrate ourselves, but a celebration, where we thank God for having us blessed so richly – and ask him to also continue doing this.
With best wishes for November,
I remain with kind regards your Pastor
Stefan Wolf

This year, too, we want to take part in the parade through Etobicoke during Advent. Last year, the manger could be seen on our float. A banner of our Church has wished all the people at the sides of the street “Merry Christmas”. As before, the children of the nursery and the Sunday School participated. The parade is also broadcast on Television (Rogers TV Channel 10). Only few Church congregations take an active part, therefore, positive attention is attracted when we participate. Apart from that, children and adults are having much fun. The parade takes place probably on December 10^th, from 10:00 a.m., along Lake Shore Blvd. Presently, we try to borrow a large bicycle on which there is room for 12 riders. If we succeed, we also need vigorous (literally!) support! 

Preparations are beginning for our Christmas play on December 18 (Fourth Advent). The play will offer an excellent opportunity for everyone to participate in the miracle of Christ’s birth and the true meaning of Christmas. Everyone is welcome to participate.

We will start by practicing the play at Sunday School on November 13. We will begin assigning parts by then, in order to allow everyone sufficient time to learn their lines. If you can’t come to Church on the November 13, please call Peggy if you would like to take part.

Practices are as follows:

Practices Sundays Nov. 13 + 20 and Dec. 4 + 11, 2005.
There will be a Dress Rehearsal prior to the play.
Play: Sunday Dec. 18th, 2005 (Fourth Advent)!
For more information contact

 Peggy Seifert-Rabey (905) 214-8095

Come to the Open House! Please bring along some cake! We can still use cake donations. Thank you!

At our ‘Open House’ this coming Saturday, October 29^th, we will accept orders for stamps with the motif of the congregation. We can make two offers:

1)       One Sheet of 40 stamps with the motif of the Church (see sample).

2)       One so-called “Keepsake”-Sheet with 20 stamps and one larger picture showing the illuminated

       Church windows at the entrance to the Church.

The costs depend on the number of orders and amount to

app. $ 28 to $32 per 40 stamp sheet;

for the keepsake sheet between app. $18 and $ 20.

The more ordered, the cheaper it will be! You can, as mentioned, receive detailed information at the ‘Open House’ and also take a look at a sheet of stamps..

The official invitation to the Anniversary Church Service will reach you next week. Many thanks for the submitted additional addresses. Another reminder: Look very closely at the envelope!

On Sunday, October 30^th, Pastor Christian Schweter will be inaugurated into his new office as Pastor of the First Lutheran Church. The Church Service begins at 3:00 p.m.. The address is 116 Bond Street.

Mrs. Tatjana Mann

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me. (Psalm 23, 4)

All Dates at a Glance