Dear Members and Friends of the Martin Luther Church!
For one week, I was able to take
part in the EKD-Conference for Foreign and Ecumenical Affairs in
Berlin (financed by the EKD-Evangelical Church in Germany). About 90
Pastors met here with representatives from the church, politics and
economy; on the one side to introduce this worldwide work of the EKD, on
the other side to jointly discuss the current mission and challenges.
We were accommodated in the
Evangelical Johannisstift in
Spandau,
the conference itself took place in the
French
Dome at the Gendarmenmarkt. The closing church service, however, we
celebrated in the Saint Peter and Paul Church in Nikolskoe, whose
wonderful altar room can be seen on the photo. On our concluding boat
roundtrip on the Wannsee, we became conscious of the difficult history of
Berlin. On the one hand, the joyous holiday atmosphere of the large scale
swimming area. On the other hand, however, the sad memories of the divided
Germany.
This was particularly depressing
at the Heilandskirche (Saviour’s Church). It was built in
1844 in the Romanesque-Italian style,
commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. The interior decoration was
influenced similarly as the Saint Peter and Paul Church by a
pious-sensitive spirit. But in 1961, the wall was built straight through
the church grounds; the beautiful campanile was made a part of the
dividing wall, by attaching the high concrete slabs to the bell tower. The
church building stood now in “no-man’s land” in the direction towards
West-Berlin. In spite of these circumstances, church services were held
here regularly until Christmas Eve
1961. A few days later, the interior of the
Heilandskirche, which stood in an area closely guarded by GDR (German
Democratic Republic) border troops, was destroyed by border troops, and so
any further use was made impossible.
Or at another place, the villa
of Max Lieber-mann (1847-1937). Here, the well-regarded artist, who was
the President of the Prussian Academy of Arts for many years, had painted
more than 200 magnificent pictures of gardens, of which a few are
exhibited here since the completion of the renovation in April 2006. Just
a few hundred meters further along is the Villa Minoux, where in January
1942 the Nazis made the horrible decision to annihilate the European Jews.
How closely together everything is around this Wannsee! – Relaxation so
near, and state terror, glamour and beauty, but also an abyss of crime and
a heavy historical burden and responsibility.
For one week we discussed what
the mission and direction of German Congregations all around the world
were, in this field of tension of German heritage and of a new
home-country in different cultural surroundings, of Evangelical faith and
ecumenical partnerships.
One pastor reported from
Melbourne, a traditionally German congregation in the change of opening to
many new members. Another reported from South Africa, where she works
within two Black-African congregations. One colleague has been waiting for
starting at his new position in Peking for a complete year, having been
refused the visa all along this time. A new congregation is being
established in Dubai where nowadays some thousands of Germans work and
live as expatriats. There is a small evangelical congregation meeting in a
classroom in
Hong Kong, and it becomes apparent how marginalized Christian
congregations can still be in Asian countries.
The conference was mainly led by
Martin Schindehuette (Bishop of Foreign and Ecumenical Affairs of the
EKD). On Saturday, Bishop Dr. Wolfgang Huber (Chairman of the Council of
the EKD) was able to join us. Prior to this, he had attended an
International Religious Leaders’ Conference, preparing statements for the
G8- Summit in
Japan. In his lecture he said concerning the mission of the church:
“For it is God who said, “Let
light shine out of darkness” who has shone in our hearts to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2.
Corinthians 4, 6).
I take the watchword from the
New Testament for
July 5th, 2008, as a guidepost for the orientation of the
intention to reflect together on the mission of the ecumenical and foreign
work of the EKD. (…)
Here we turn first of all to the
constituent fundamental events of the church, everything
issues forth from them and everything returns to them. The church is a
listening church. In order to be this, it must, at the same time, be a
preaching and teaching church. The fact that faith happens through
listening, places for us, as we are in a special way commissioned to
preach, the theological work in the centre. It is and will be the
foundation of the interpretation of the Biblical word, and through the
power of this word also the fountain of the shaping of the present and in
the light of the Gospel of God’s loving care of mankind. Only when we
grant to this theological proceeding strength and time, joint discussion
and personal reflection, will profundity and trustworthiness be able to
grow, so that people can be approached and changed. (…)
The question concerning the
meaning of spiritual life through the power of the Holy Spirit is part
of the great challenges, by which we are confronted through our own
experiences as well as through the experiences of ecumenical brothers and
sisters. (…)
Finally, accepting our
responsibility. Listening to God’s word in theological reflection and
the personal as well as the spirituality in church services, sets us free
for responsibility. In the face of the manifold endangering and dilemma of
human existence, the inevitable question is posed concerning the ethical
consequences of Christian faith. This is true for congregations in
Germany as well as for our congregations all around the world.”
Hereby are the tasks named which
we, in our
Martin Luther Church,
must also face, and for which we must pray for the guidance and help
through God’s Spirit.
With kind regards,
your Pastor Alexander Mielke
____________
Anna
Lisa Wienecke and Iris Schweiger want to start a small
German library in our
church.
As buying
German books often proves to be difficult and expensive, we ask members
and friends of the Martin Luther Church to provide us with German book
s.
Please note that the books
should be in good condition and that Anna Lisa and Iris are going to
decide which books are suitable as the storing facilities in the church are
limited. It is possible to have a dedication with the donator's name
within the book.
Welcome to
contact these two for getting more information or sharing ideas and books:
Anna Lisa Wienecke
annalisahille@web.de / (905) 939-7441; Iris Schweiger (905) 625 9174.
____________
Announcements:
Family Mielke first will be at the Summer Camp, later be on vacation for
two weeks. During this time Pastor Katharina Moeller and Pastor
Christian Schweter are available. If you are in need of pastoral
assistance, please contact first our church president
Ernie Wienecke, phone
416-505-4246 or 905-939-2601.
Andrea
Wienecke looks forward
to a very special celebration. On Saturday,
August 16,
2008, 2:00 p.m., she is going to marry John Anthony Schmidt in our
Martin Luther Church.
The
Reading Circle
will meet again: Monday,
September 8,
2:00 p.m. in the parsonage. Welcome! Please contact Mrs. Kaethe Kleinau or
Pastor Mielke if you are interested.
After summer vacations we will organize Youth Meetings. Youth are
invited to funny and exciting evening meetings or excursions. We are going
to have a first meeting Saturday, September 27, 5:00 p.m., in the
church. Whoever is interested, welcome to contact
Tanya Zielke or Pastor Mielke.
The first Confirmation Class after summer vacations will be on
Friday, September 26, 6:30 p.m., in the church.
Please remember the Special Collection for our church! This
Special
Collection is very important for our congregation during the summer
months. Until now unfortunately this summer's income is far away from that
of last year. We thank you for all the support which you give to the
Martin Luther Church!
____________
EKD-Conference of Ministries Abroad in Berlin
EKD Department for Foreign and
Ecumenical Affairs.
First row left: Bishop Martin Schindehuette. Last row left:
Paul Oppenheim, responsible for North America and Asia
First row second on the right: Wolfgang Kahl who has just retired.
Bishop Wolfgang Huber, Chairman of
the Council of the EKD
The German
Federal President Horst Koehler (centre
together with Bishop Erich Hertel from Namibia (front) and
Pastor Armin Ihle from Uruguay (left)
__________
Biannual
Assembly of Eastern Synod in London / Ontario
Everything was filmed, the
presentations of the team "Taking It Home" too.
In the St. Paul Anglican Cathedral
/ London, Ontario Bishop
Michael Pryse ordained three female and one male theologians.
__________
Short
Report on the Eastern Synod, London / Ontario, July 9 – 13, 2008
1. After on
April 20, 2008, Holy Cross Church in Newmarket voted to issue a call to a
candidate who had not been approved for ordination through the candidacy
processes of the ELCIC, Bishop Michael Pryse publicly censured and
admonished Holy Cross congregation and emphasized that this rite was
irregular and that Lionel Ketola is not a rostered minister of the Eastern
Synod or ELCIC.
2. Bishop
Pryse also announced that he is going to appoint an investigative
committee. The Synod found this to be a necessary step and decided that as
soon as possible the Bishop and the Eastern Synod Counsel publish in the
"Eastern Synod Lutheran" the appointment, mandate and guidelines for this
investigating committee.
3. The Synod
also recommended that the Bishop – with regard to the investigating
committee – refrain from further disciplinary measures. The Synod stressed
the necessity that church institutions as well as the National Assembly go
on dealing with the question of how Christians of different sexual
orientation can live their faith within the church.
4. Generally
the authority of each local church was affirmed, which means that e.g.
Martin Luther Church is completely free to handle this problem according
to her own convictions and regulations.
5. This
difficult topic was only one among many. It was discussed in an orderly
and focused way, bringing different opinions and attitudes into an open
dialogue. Moreover we celebrated services of good and lively worship, got
spiritual encouragement through good Bible lectures and speeches on
various topics (basics of Theology of the Reformation, Christian witness
in our daily life e.g. shop or office, reaching out to people in the local
community, hospital work in Jerusalem etc.).
Pastor Alexander Mielke, July 15,
2008
Extract
from Pastor Alexander Mielke's sermon on July 20, 2008
As I was
delegate at the Biannual Assembly of the Eastern Synod in London/Ontario,
I was impressed by the lively celebration of worship. If I compare it with
assemblies which I attended in Germany, I was astonished that celebration
and Bible teaching took such a big part in the daily schedule. Twice a day
we celebrated services, once a day we received the Holy Communion. I was
pleased to see that recently two African pastors joined the Synod, one
from Kongo, the other from Tanzania.
"In Mission
For Others – A People Called" is the motto and vision of the Eastern
Synod. Through Bible teachings we got very good advice how to witness
Jesus Christ, how to be a living and generous congregation, how to make
essential contributions to our local community. Especially I remember
Jackie Nunns who in the Bishop's Office is Director for Learning
Ministries and responsible for Augsburg Fortress. She described her daily
work encouraging us to live our Christian vocation in all these small and
big duties which are related to some kind of office work. Being a witness
to Christ by doing the duty diligently, by having time for people, trying
to understand and help them. There is someone in a hurry – do the work
fast and efficiently; there is someone reluctant, even needing to talk –
take time for him or her, listening, advising, praying with and for this
person. "In Mission For Others – A People Called" – we got much advice
through this assembly how to live this vision.
As you
probably know, once again the Synod had to deal with a very difficult
topic: the same sex question and especially the irregular ordination in
Newmarket. Bishop Michael Pryse publicly censured and admonished the Holy
Cross Congregation and emphasized that Lionel Ketola is not a rostered
minister of the Eastern Synod or ELCIC.
Let me just
say a few words to this. Please let us always remember that here we have
to do with people. Ultimately we do not have to deal with problems or
laws, ultimately we have to deal with humans, with sisters and brothers in
our congregations.
We have to
do with humans who have their special journey through life, who have their
own identities, their sorrows, sufferings and hopes. I am convinced that
this question of different sexual orientation requires us to consider
three big aspects: the understanding of the Bible, our responsiblity in
pastoral care, and the link to human science. And I think, ultimately it
is decisive what Jesus does. How Jesus cares for humans, how Jesus knows
and loves each person with all the strength or weakness, with all the
successes or failures, with all the beauties and peculiarities, he or she
has. Each of us depends on Christ's love and mercy, with all our
shortcomings and guilt. Christ looks at each of us, with a glance of grace
and mercy, restoring our dignity, giving us strength and courage for our
way in this world.
I have
written it in the summary, I underscore it here again: In the assembly,
the authority of each local church was affirmed. So the Martin Luther
Church is completely free to handle this question according to her own
convictions and regulations.
It is
evident that there are different conceptions how to read the Bible
relating to this question. It is a very difficult question, maybe
especially because in the past we in the churches were not used to talk
honestly and frankly about sexuality and its various aspects. It is my
hope that we always remember we all are Christians, sisters and brothers
called by one Lord. We may differ in our positions and attitudes, but let
us listen carefully to each other; let us respect one another.
____________
BAPTISM
Avalon Océane Raine Vogt
July 13, 2008
The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want
Psalm 23
____________
FUNERAL
Christel Helene Luise Dimpflmeier
née Schmidt von Rohrig
July 5, 2008
Christ says, "I am
the bread of life."
Johannes 6:
48
____________
I
cordially invite to a new confirmation course.
It is to begin in the second half of September of this year and lead to
confirmation on Pentecost in 2010. By meeting every second week, the
burden of transport for parents is not as heavy. Children are welcome to
be registered also at a younger age, even shortly before they reach the
age of 12. Please inform me per telephone or e-mail, if your child is
eligible.
____________
Since
December, I am sending out greeting cards for birthdays of congregational
members. Forgive me, in case you have not received a card; our
list is very incomplete. Please inform our church office of your birth
date and let us also know if someone else, who would enjoy a card, did not
receive a greeting!
____________
The
Martin Luther Church participates in the Food Bank of Mimico United
Church. Good, well-wrapped non-perishable foods are needed. They can be
brought to Sunday church service or dropped at the church office during
the week. Money donations also help the Mimico United Church in this
mission. Please support this important service on a continual
basis for the local community and needy people. Many thanks!
