Dear Fellow Christians !
When worries and fears hold us captive, how can we
experience liberation from it? What power in the world
is strong enough to get us out of these black holes?
In
Mark 5, the story is told of the woman
who has been
suffering from hemorrhages.
She has one great
concern in her life, for several years now she has had
very heavy bleeding. In the crowd that surrounds Jesus,
she does everything possible to get close to him.
Finally, she manages to touch his cloak. And the miracle
she hoped for happens: She feels Jesus' healing power,
she feels she is cured of this long-standing nuisance.
Jesus noticed that.
He stops and asks into
the crowd, who touched me? Now the woman reports what
happened to her. And Jesus says to her:
Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and
be healed of your disease.
What happened here? How has this woman experienced help
and liberation? The whole thing reminds me of an
incident that I found in an older book, a true, dramatic
story.
A crippled
woman left her crutches and ran up a flight of stairs to
rescue her three-year-old daughter when fire threatened
to trap the child in an upstairs bedroom. The mother,
injured in a car crash two years previously, hab been
unable to walk without crutches ever since the accident.
She was in the kitchen when she suddenly discovered that
the house was on fire. Realising that the life of her
little daughter was at stake, she momentarily forgot her
own physical handicap. She rushed to the upper floor,
grabbed the sleeping child and carried her to safety.
How has this woman experienced relief of her concern? Up
to this moment, certainly their greatest concern had
been the physical disability, which weakened and
restricted her. Now she
saw a bigger problem. And because of the bigger
problem, she forgot about the smaller problem. When it
was most urgent that she immediately ran to her child,
this woman completely forgot her own problem.
With the woman in Mark 5, it was different: She did not
see a bigger problem.
She saw the greater God. The woman who suffered
from hemorrhage experienced relief from her illness by
the discovery of Jesus, by the discovery that Jesus is
the Son of God, and God is greater than all my worries
and troubles. This freed them from fear, this cured her
of their disease. In
Deuteronomy 30, it says:
When you return to the Lord your God, then the Lord your
God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion
on you. God will save us from
captivity in worries and fears.
In a reflective text, it says:
I asked God for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for help that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I was given nothing that I asked for;
But everything that I had hoped for.
Despite myself, my prayers were answered;
I am among all men most richly blessed.
The crucial point is
to discover God, God is greater than our problems,
greater than our lives, greater than this world. Through
this trust we will experience liberation.
Kind regards and blessings,
Your Pastor Alexander Mielke
A warm welcome to
the Mother's Day Luncheon !
Please note that on Mothers Day (May
9)
the men of the council and additional helpers will prepare,
like always, a Mothersday Luncheon, starting right after the
Joint
Family Service
which is starting at
11.00
a.m.
On May 13,
Thursday, First Lutheran Church invites us us a
Celebration of Ascension at 7:30 p.m. Here we can enjoy
a beautiful concert given by the
Concordia College
Choir from New York.
On Pentecost
Sunday, May 23, we celebrate the Confirmation of:
Rhys Buceta, Tonya
Horn, Christine Rabey, Ben & Nicole Schwarz und Sonja
Schweiger.
The festive Joint
Service will start at 11:00 a.m.
On
Friday, June 4, 6:30 p.m., we will have a
confirmation class reunion in the church.
This is an opportunity for
looking back at the class and the celebration together.
Tanya & Marlena are going to present photos of their
gigantic Asian trip. Other interested youth are very
welcome too!
For
Saturday, May 29, we invite you to a lantern workshop.
This crafting workshop will
be held from 11.00 a.m. bis 2:00 p.m. in our church. Melissa
from Lake Shore Arts (straight across from our church) will
conduct this workshop, which also serves to prepare for the
opening ceremony of the new Mimico Square, which will take
place on June 5 at 8:00 p.m. We very cordially
invite children and families for this!
As
a starter for the 40th Anniversary of
our nursery, we can look forward to a reading event
with Jasmine D'Costa. On Tuesday, June 1,
she will read from her book "Curry Is Thicker Than
Water". Jasmine D'Costa is a board member of the
Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) and from India. In her
short stories, she gives a wonderful impression of today's
life in this great Asian country.
"A cobra flies in
through an open window. Wives form a pact against their
bigamous, abusive husband. A mother and son battle over
eagles’ eggs. A homeless guest with a secret. An elephant
protests on a highway. A woman marries a pumpkin. Diverse
people - one country! This is the teeming, hectic world of
India. It is also the vivid, startling world that Jasmine
D’s Costa gives us in Curry is Thicker than Water."
A warm welcome to
this Reading Event on Tuesday, 1
June, 7:30 p.m. in our Martin Luther Church.
Admission is free.
Congregational
Picknick in Camp Edgewood
We are looking forward
to a fine day in Camp Edgewood. On June 6, we will
start with a joint family service at 11:00 a.m., followed by
potluck luncheon. And we will have a program suitable for
young and old, suitable for all the family. End will be
around 4:00 p.m. Please bring your lunch, plate, dishes,
cup. Very welcome! If you need help with transportation,
please contact Pastor Alexander Mielke (416-567-2487)
On 13 June, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of
our Martin Luther Church Day Care! This will a
colourful, lively, happy celebration.
In the Joint Service at
11:00 a.m. Bishop Michael Pryse will deliver the
sermon. There will be many fun activities for children
(face painting, henna, painting contest, flower planting,
and much more). A warm welcome to all for the Open House.
We are grateful if you can help as a volunteer
– please have a look at our list, placed in the church!
From June 24th to 27th,
the Biennial Convention of the Eastern Synod takes place
in Toronto (Double Tree Hilton Hotel). The congregations of
Toronto have a special responsibility in preparing for it.
Our congregation, too, is asked for two-fold assistance.
First of all, many volunteers are needed for this
event (Stewards, Ballot Counters, Hosts, Greeters,
Hospitality Desk & Transportation Volunteers). On the other
side, the Synod is asking for sponsorship (for
instance, for 5 breakfasts@ $ 1,000 each). Please assist and
support this meeting of many church delegates from all parts
of the large Eastern Synod! If you are interested, please
contact Pastor Alexander Mielke (416-567-2487) or Keith
Rabey!
GOOD NEWS ABOUT
CAMP LUTHERLYN: WE'VE ADDED A DAY!
Our annual
Summer Camp at beautiful Golden Lake
will begin
Saturday evening
JULY 24th till Friday morning JULY 30th.
Our Camper rate
will be $255. "HST extra"
Qualify for our Group rate with 3 family
members and save $100.
Ask about our
Family rates if you are staying with kids 7 and under, and
save even more! The Family rooms
fill up fast so book early to avoid disappointment. We also offer a
Senior's rate with the best accommodations.
Please pay by June
1st and guarantee your place in our amazing space! BUS
transportation is also available, we like to thank Bruno and
Trott Transit for making this a safe and affordable option.
NOTE:
Final Camp & Bus rates are subject to the implementation of
the HST on July 1, 2010.
We have not yet received information on how the
HST will affect our week at Camp.
We apologize for any inconvenience this might
cause, and endeavor to inform as soon
as this information becomes available.
Contact
Dan Sommerfeld at 905 274-6602
Attention
Parents:
Has your child
attended Camp Lutherlyn and loved it? Is your child at least
15 years old and responsible? Do you believe your child can
be a caring and positive role model? If you think you're
child is qualified to be a Counsellor-in-training, please
call me to discuss his/her role in this years camp!
Flowers
on the altar
make our church beautiful for the Sunday. Flower donations
which can be made in memory of loved ones are very much
appreciated. PLease sign up in the the list which you find
in the entrance hall, for a Sunday which is still free and
convenient for you. For coordination it might be helpful if
you leave your phone number on a card.
Please have a look at the Coffee Duty List – thank
you for your volunteering on a Sunday!
Christine
Couturier reported in the service
of her bearing the Olympic Torch on Sunday, February
7, in Chilliwack, BC. The kids were amazed and thrilled!
A
greeting from Nancy Rahn, who was student of
internship in the MLC from March 5 to April 9:
Hello all!
For
some time now I have been back in Germany. I have
started again with my every day university life. The first
bottle of Maple Syrup is empty, thanks to the help of my
apartment-sharing-community, and I enjoy the warm weather in
Tuebingen.
Above my bed there
is now a giant flag of Canada and a map of Down Town
Toronto.
Still very, very often
I think of the great time with you and so many beautiful and
valuable experiences.
Only gradually I realize what I have
actually experienced. And then I am pleased with how little
flashlights come up every now and again in my mind's eye.
The Easter Sunrise Service, followed by that huge breakfast,
the swimming pool party,presenting Africa photos, Sunday
School, day care, home visits, enjoying delicious food,
meeting nice people and much, much more.
Your love and your hospitality have
impressed me and make me happy when I look back again.
I received a lot
from those five weeks, new impressions and thoughts,
motivation, many beautiful memories and most of all I have
met many people who have become dear to me. I felt much
richer when I climbed off the plane in Frankfurt.
THANK YOU!
I wish you all the best and God's
blessing - for each of you personally and for all
congregational work. You are
great and I would love to come back at any time.
Warm greetings from Tuebingen,
your Nancy
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Nancy Rahn and Gisela Wilhelm who hosted her in her
house for five weeks – thank you so much!
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Together with the youth, Nancy had prepared the play
for the Easter Sunrise Service. |
From April 15 to 23 Pastor Edilson Tetzner from Brazil
was our guest. He told us much about his congregation
Guarulhos / Sao Paulo and its mission in Cabucu.
In the festive service, we
were able to present him as a gift for the church work a
projector, which a church member had donated generously. A
very special thank you to Gunter Gall, who had prepared and
organized this trip. A big thank you to Clécio and
the many other interpreters, who helped out sometimes very
spontaneously. May God bless and guide Edilson, his wife
Denise and daughter Natalie Sophia, and all sisters and
brothers of our Lutheran sister congregation in Guarulhos!
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Pastor Mielke presented to Mr. Gunter Gall a
certificate with which he, on behalf of the Martin
Luther Church, warmly thanked him for his ten years
of commitment and dedication to the partnership with
Guarulhos. |
Pastor Edilson together with our church council (on
the left the brand new members Larissa Mattwich and
Martin Häfele; |
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Pastor Edilson with the English Bible Study group
(right our hostess Florine Nolte, left the Day Care
teacher Amparo, who could help through their
knowledge of Spanish when translating from
Portuguese) |
Edilson and his hostess had a good time together - a
big thanks to Henriette Swistunowicz who hosted
Edilson in her house - and spoiled him with
delicious food! |
I cordially invite
to a new confirmation course. It
leads to confirmation on Pentecost Sunday in 2012, May 27.
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. A first meeting will be on Friday,
September 17, 6:30 p.m. in the church. Please inform me
per telephone (my cell phone 416-567-2487) or e-mail, if
your child is eligible. And please tell others in your
family or among friends about this!
Stay in Germany of
Pastor Alexander Mielke, according to the contract with EKD
This summer we will be in Toronto and
the MLC for three years already. According to the contract
between EKD, MLC and Eastern Synod, the EKD (Evangelical
Church in Germany) finances a stay in Germany for me and my
family (with a length of 8 weeks, following this contract).
So I will be in Germany from June 18 until August 10, and
during this time attend an EKD-Overseas-Conference, as well
as continuing education courses. Furthermore this vacation,
of course, presents a good opportunity to visit family and
friends. I am very pleased that Pastor Gerhard Hille will be
available as substitute pastor for the greater part of this
time. He is the father of Anna Lisa Wienecke and, therefore,
quite familiar with the MLC, and I think it is optimal to
have permanent substitute pastor to turn to in matters of
church services and pastoral care. Through a continuing
education course in preaching, which he has attended in
Chicago for some time now, he is also well acquainted with
the English language. A heartfelt Thank-You to Pastor Hille
for his readiness to help!
Here a first greeting from Pastor
Gerhard Hille:
Dear
members of the Martin-Luther-Church,
Pastor Mielke has asked me to serve as a substitute pastor
during his stay in Germany this summer. I was very pleased
and have accepted this invitation with a thankful heart.
So I'm going to live in the parsonage from July 11
to August 11 and be available for you in all pastoral
matters. May it be a blessed
time!
Herbert Kolewe, at the age
of 77 years
March
15, 2010
I
lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who
made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121
Hugo
Redmann, at the age of 83 years
April
26, 2010
Very
truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him
who sent me has eternal life,
and does not come under
judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 5:24
