East East District News District News - Lutheran … Sherry Ruth and Ryan Schultz, joined in holy matrimony on July 20, 2009. Ryan’s mother, Marilyn, is a past president of LWMLC

�0 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2011

East District NewsOntario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor

� The Canadian Lutheran MarchéApril 2011


GUELPH, Ont. - It began in early 2010 with just a few people gathering at a mission not yet organized—a “daughter” of Bethel Lutheran Church in Kitchener. Now Word of Life Lutheran Church has become a recognized mission of LCC’s East District, with Bethel still its nurturing “mother” church. Word of Life grew from five people to 30 official members by the end of the year.

Some highlights of the year:• Celebrating Jesus’ resurrection,

with great joy, on Easter Sunday with worship followed by an Easter breakfast. Word of Life continues to have fellowship with refreshments after every service as members get to know each other better.

• Rejoicing on April 18, 2010 at the baptism of Madeline Rose Stevenson, and receiving Madeline and her mother, Kathleen, as members of the congregation. Baptism sponsors Martin and Mai Pederson, from Hope Lutheran

Baptism of Madeline Rose Stevenson, with her mother, Kathleen Stevenson.

Word of Life’s f i r s t wedding: Sherry Ruth and Ryan Schultz, joined in holy matrimony on July 20, 2009. Ryan’s mother, Marilyn, is a past president of LWMLC. The couple now resides in Africa.

Members, friends and neighbours enjoyed fellowship during the 2010 summer BBQ at Word of Life.

Word of Life pastors (l-r): Revs. Jim Keller, Walter Hambrock, Aaron Rubach, William Gillissie, vicar Jeremy Richert and Rev. Earl Allsopp.

A year in the Word of LifeC h u rc h i n Coquit lam, B . C . , h a d p rev i o u s l y s p o n s o r e d K a t h l e e n , w h o w a s b a p t i z e d by H o p e ’ s R e v . R o n Toewriss.

• At the May 30 service, becoming a re c o g n i z e d LCC mission. East District President Rev. Paul Zabel brought greetings and officially received Word of Life into the district’s family of congregations.

• Inducting summer vicar Jeremy Richert (Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St . Catharines) a week later, on June 6. Members distributed a thousand welcoming brochures on the east side of Guelph.

• Rev. Aaron and Edna Rubach celebrating their 60th

wedding anniversary on August 7. The women of both Faith Lutheran and Bethel Lutheran in Kitchener worked together to make the celebration a wonderful success. Guests could, if they wished, make a financial gift to Word of Life mission. Together with a $1000 grant from FaithLife, the gifts came to $7300.

• Concluding vicar Jeremy’s work with the mission in mid-August with a congregational barbecue and picnic.

• Kicking off Advent celebrations, hosting a beautiful and motivating concert by Rev. Ron and Karen Mohr from Tillsonburg on November 27. The following day, the first Sunday in Advent, the congregation gave praise to God for sending His Son into the world to be our Saviour. Thirty-seven people enjoyed an Advent and Christmas carol service with circuit counsellor, Rev. Andy Schroth, as preacher. Final services of the year were held on Christmas Eve and December 26.Word of Life’s pastoral team—

Revs. Earl Allsopp, William Gillissie, Jim Keller and Aaron Rubach—work together, sharing much joy delivering the Gospel message to the people God leads into their midst. They invite all to come and worship some Sunday morning, at Trillium Waldorf School, 540 Victoria Road North. Bible study and Sunday school take place at 9:30 a.m., with worship at 10:30 a.m.

Rev. Aaron Rubach, Word of Life, Guelph

Visit the East District website atwww.lcceastdistrict.ca

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2011 �1


The Canadian Lutheran MarchéApril 2011 �


KITCHENER, Ont. - On the weekend of October 2-3, 2010, approximately 800 people with an ocean voyage in their background filled Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church to capacity. Post–World War II passengers (along with their families and friends) who immigrated to Canada on the Canadian Pacific ship Beaverbrae came from as far away as California and Alberta, exchanging reminiscences, listening to open-mike stories and viewing displays of shipboard memorabilia.

The church collected a freewill offering of $2500 for Canadian Lutheran World Relief.

Built in 1936 by Blohm & Voss Shipyards in Hamburg, Germany, the Beaverbrae sailed under the name Huascaran between Hamburg and South American ports. From 1940 to 1945, it served as a U-boat supply ship for the German navy. After the war the ship went to Canada as part of war reparations.

In 1947 Canadian Paci f ic Steamship Lines bought the ship and, together with the Canadian government, refitted it for passengers. Partnered with the Canadian Christian Council for Refugee Resettlement (CCCRR), it sailed every 28 days with 773 passengers, making 52 crossings between 1948 and 1954. CCCRR—founded by Canadian Lutheran World Relief with the help of Mennonite, Baptist a n d C a t h o l i c agencies—had a s i t s m a i n purpose bringing ethnic-German d i s p l a c e d persons to Canada, people who’d been dislocated by war from their Eastern European homelands. In total the Beaverbrae transported 33,259 people between Bremen, Germany and the Canadian ports of Halifax, St. John, Montreal and Quebec City. Depending on passenger circumstances, the ship also made stops in Rotterdam and Antwerp.

Beaverbrae reunion: great success

Some of the many people responsible for organizing the Beaverbrae reunion last October.

The Beaverbrae as it appeared during its 52 Atlantic crossings between 1948 and 1954.

T. O. F. H e r z e r, t h e L u t h e ra n h e a d o f t h e C a n a d i a n P a c i f i c R a i l w a y ’ s Canadian Colonization Association, and Louis St. Laurent, then Minister of External Affairs and later Prime Minister of Canada, were instrumental in removing roadblocks so German refugees, even without relatives in Canada to sponsor them, could come to Canada. When Herzer discovered that St. Laurent was travelling across western Canada in a private coach attached to the train he was on, he managed to get an invitation to plead his case. It was a matter of being at the right place at the right time in 1947 that opened the way

for refugees from Romania, Russia, Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia to come to Canada.

A t t e n d e e s at the reunion enjoyed snacks and refreshments, including the mandatory Kaffee und Kuchen—coffee and homemade baked goods. A PowerPoint presentation of pictures, scenes and statistics ran continuously. Displays of travel documents, passports, tickets and personal belongings drew lots of attention.

Bethel’s Revs. Wally Hambrock

and Joe Das, themselves both immigrants to Canada at a later date, held divine services in German and English on Sunday morning. In prayers and sermons, they emphasized the strong faith of the immigrants who had to live though the horrors and consequences of the Second World War and then face the challenges of settling into a new country.

A special treat at the reunion: hearing the memories of Clint Page of St. Catharines, a steward on the Beaverbrae between 1948 and 1954. He reminisced about how eagerly the immigrants dug into the cakelike white bread the ship offered them. However, after a few days, the novelty wore off and they went back to eating their traditional rye breads. One common recollection related by all was how seasick the passengers were. However, those who weren’t seasick ate extremely well!

Visit www.bethelkitchener.ca to view more pictures of the reunion.

Harry Drung, Bethel Lutheran Church, Kitchener

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�2 THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2011




WELLESLEY, Ont. - With an old-fashioned garden party on a beautiful evening in June, the Mary-Martha Society of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church celebrated the society’s 60th

anniversary of joining LWMLC. T we n t y - t h re e wo m e n —asked to wear dresses, hats and gloves—enjoyed a menu filled with fancy sandwiches, deviled eggs, veggies, fruit, and cupcakes with the inscription “1950–2010, Thanks be to God.”

Each woman brought a special teacup and described why it was special to her. Flower-filled teapots served as centerpieces, and even the devotion was tea-themed: how a woman of faith can

SEEBACH’S HILL, Ont. - The year 2010 marked the 175th anniversary of First St. John’s Lutheran Church, with celebrations beginning on New Years Eve 2009. At a social evening and midnight service, the church bell literally rang in the anniversary year, themed “Lift High the Cross.”

Other highlights of the historic year:• A pancake supper on Shrove

Tuesday for members and community.

• A fashion show in May, “Dress Me in Memory,” produced by Marion Kernahan and presented to a full house, stirred memories of “the way we were” in clothes and music. Sunday school children released balloons with messages about the anniversary.

• S u n d ay, J u n e 2 0 s aw a congregational talent show and—the year’s true highlight—the anniversary worship service. [See The Canadian Lutheran,September/October 2010 issue.]

Seebach’s Hill celebrates 175th

Participating in the historic anniversary service (front, l-r): Revs. Paul Pollex (emeritus) and Will Kramer (Seebach’s Hill); (back, l-r): Rev. Paul Zabel (East District president), lay minister Stan Diehl and Rev. John Obeda (emeritus).

Rev. Will Kramer, 23rd

pastor to serve the congregation, received assistance from Rev. Paul Pollex, Rev. John Obeda and lay minister Stan Diehl. Special guests included 100-year-old Florence Peppler, the oldest living person to be baptized, confirmed and married at the church. First St. John’s also dedicated new organ and published a history book chronicling its “175 years of blessings.” District President Paul Zabel, as well as Perth Wellington MP Gary Schellenberger and MPP John Wilkinson, also attended.

• October saw a pork-roast dinner and a Reformation service with Rev. Paul Zabel as guest speaker.

• On November 19 Angus Sinclair t reated congregat ion and community to an organ concert.

• The choir presented a Christmas cantata on December 12. On Christmas Eve Sunday school students told the Christmas story in song and dialogue “in a way our ancestors would have heard it.” The year ended with a church service December 31.

Lillian Kreis, First St. John’s,

Seebach’s Hil

Tea in the garden

LWMLC GardenParty

be compared to a teapot. Society members reminisced about years gone by and enjoyed the garden setting and fellowship.

Dianne Dietz,First St. Paul’s, Wellesley

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2011 ��




ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - It’s in the freezer now, but will soon be heading home with students from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary. Rev. Kurt Reinhardt and his minivan delivered 500 pounds of grass-fed beef donated by a member of Trinity ( G o w a n s t o w n , O n t a r i o ) — t h e member’s second such g i f t to the s e m i n a r y f o o d pantry.

From a report in Concordia e-news

SIMCOE, Ont. - In the past year or so, this town of 15,000 has become home to the Norfolk Pregnancy Centre, a facility providing confidential counselling to women of any age struggling with a pregnancy or dealing with an abortion. Rev. Dan Abraham, pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, has played a big role in its development.

As Lutherans we are called to be “confessional”—to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). “That means saying what we believe to other Lutherans and to everyone else,” says Rev. Abraham, adding: “We Lutherans don’t usually mind talking about what we believe to other Lutherans, but if those are the only people I interact with…pretty soon I’m talking to myself.”

Through his work with the centre, Rev. Abraham has the opportunity to go into schools and teach abstinence. “Teens are not exactly breaking down our church door,” he notes wryly. “What kind of life issue might cause them to seek a pastor or

Where’s the beef?

Seminarians Jeremy Richert (l) and Tyler Martin add donated beef to the food-pantry freezer.

Seminarians Jeff Swords (l) and Dereck Pilloy unload the 500 pounds of grass-fed beef.

“Speaking the truth in love” supports lifelook for God’s help? An unplanned pregnancy? Marriage problems?” Now teens in the community “will actually get a chance to meet a clergyman.”

Rev. Abraham has always attended the local ministerial, a gathering of clergy and interested people from town and community. (While Lutherans do not share everything with other denominations, we can share our faith. For example, Rev. Abraham conducts regular “family-type devotions” at area retirement and nursing homes.)

The need for a pregnancy care centre came up at one of the ministerial meetings, and it seemed a perfect fit. Involvement in the project would give Lutherans the opportunity to confess what we believe and influence lives, yet stay free of the pitfalls of ecumenical worship. Rev. Abraham brought the opportunity to St. Peter’s elders, who sanctioned it and gave it their support. He provides pastoral guidance to the organization, and other members

have worked hard with the centre’s steering committee at finding a suitable location, getting word out in the community, and setting up.

St. Peter’s itself is an aging congregation, which has held worship services in Simcoe for more than 60 years. The church definitely sees God’s Word at work here despite struggling with problems most Christian churches deal with—declining membership, few active youth, less than half its rostered members regularly attending worship.

The pastor reports that the centre—an offshoot of an organization in a neighbouring county—looks forward to achieving financial independence soon and getting its own charitable number to issue tax receipts for donations. “Speaking the truth in love,” telling of God’s loving plan of salvation in Jesus Christ, continuesto influence lives in the church and in the community,

Laurie Schaeffer, St. Peter’s, Simcoe

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�� THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2011




Little words?

Have you ever noticed how important little words are?

Take, for example, the difference between the words a and the. We call one the

“indefinite article.” When we talk about a picture, we could be referring to any one of hundreds of images. If we talk about the picture, we’re looking at one specific photo or artwork. Perhaps you’re aware how the book known as the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, used by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, incorrectly translates John 1:1 to read: “In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” That little word a drastically changes the meaning—denying that Jesus is the True God, the Eternal Word, one in essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Two other small words also have a dramatic impact: if and but. Consider what St. Paul says about the resurrection: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins…But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:17, 20 ESV).

How sad and hopeless our lives would be ifChrist hadn’t been raised! If, as many people have suggested, the disciples removed Christ’s body…ifChrist had never really died, but simply “came to” in the cool of the tomb…if this is just a story the

church has told to back up its teaching, then we are still in our sins. There is no life after death. There is no heavenly life. We are lost for all eternity.

Thankfully, though, Paul goes on to assure us, using that simple word but. Yes, Christ died—but Christ has been raised! The death He suffered on the cross does not prevent Him from His glorious task of bringing forgiveness and life to sinners like you and me. As Christ said: “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:17-18 ESV).

The devil thought Christ was defeated on the cross, but Christ rose again from the dead. An unbelieving world thinks the cross was the end of the story, but Christ rose and the story goes on. Even now, in our struggles, we have the assurance: Christ died for us, but Christ rose, and we will live in Him.

In Proverbs we read: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (30:5 ESV). There are no small, insignificant or empty words from God. They all have benefit for us. As we read and study the Word, even the smallest words come to life. Treasure that Word, knowing the Spirit is at work in all of God’s Word, leading us to the hope that is ours in Christ—that sure and certain hope of forgiveness and life through the Christ who died and rose for us.

Pastor David Bode, First Vice-President

COBOURG, Ont. - For the past two years at Advent, St. Paul’s has held a soup lunch following worship, offering a hot meal, conversation, coffee, dessert, and finally a donation to Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR). Since the lunches began in 2009, St. Paul’s has raised $3294 for CLWR projects—purchasing flocks of chickens, pairs of goats, and teams of oxen with plows for needy communities.

This Advent, blessed with more than $775 to carry on the tradition, members voted to distribute the offering as follows:• One team of oxen with plow

The power of lunch• Two sets of garden tools• One grove of trees• Two fishing nets• One flock of chickens

In January 2010 the church hosted an emergency campaign for Haiti relief, and donated $2046 with matching government grants to CLWR.

“We have seen the fish and loaves multiplied by God’s grace,” the congregation says, thanking God “for the work being done through CLWR and for the great lunches we get to enjoy!”

From a report in St. Paul’s, Cobourg, Sunday bulletin, January 23

EVANGELFEST 2011 The registration deadline of April 13 is extended for this May 13-15 event! The theme “Inside-Out” is an opportunity to grow in faith and service in the area of “inreach” and “outreach” together with fellow members of our East District. Held at Grace Lutheran Church, St. Catharines, it will feature keynote presentations by Rev. Scott Snow (currently pastor in Wichita, Kansas and formerly Director of Outreach for the LCMS). Registration is $65 including all meals. For more information pick up a copy of the brochure and registration form from your pastor or church office.

From the vice-president

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THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2011 ��




LONDON, Ont. - On a lovely September afternoon, candidate Oscar Castillo was ordained and installed as assistant pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in London and the Grace Lutheran congregation of Strathroy.

The newly renovated sanctuary and nave of Faith hosted the ordination on September 12, 2010. Earlier that day the congregation had celebrated a service of rededication, as members returned to worship in the church proper that had been under construction all summer long. What a joy it was to celebrate this special event in the life of the congregation, signifying a new beginning, in the newly remodelled worship area!

Rev. Rober t C . Kres t i ck , supervising pastor during Rev. Castillo’s vicarage, served as guest preacher. District president Rev. Paul Zabel conducted the rite of ordination and installation. Visiting pastors and local circuit pastors participated in the rite and in the laying on of hands, part of installation. Faith’s choir, under the leadership of Joanna Bode, provided special music, which

Castillo ordination follows church rededication

Ordaining and installing a new pastor (front, l-r): Revs. Warren Hamp, Don Schieman, Paul Zabel, Oscar Castillo, Robert Krestick, David Bode, Kenneth Voege, Ron Mohr; (back): Revs. Eric Betsch, Mark Hartburg, Rob Korsch, John Obeda, Gilvan Azevedo, Orland Welke, Siem Manna, George Reinhart, Don Abraham and Paul Pollex.

also included a chime duet by Shirley Mitchell and Lynn Humphrey.

F o l l o w i n g t h e s e r v i c e , presentations welcomed the Castillo family into the congregations. Rev. Castillo, who had received his red stole as a gift from Faith and Grace, also received stoles from his vicarage congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waterloo.

Rev. David Bode,First Vice-President, East District

DARTMOUTH, N.S. - Once again, Faith Lutheran Church, a mission church in Dartmouth (Halifax), Nova Scotia, extends its yearly invitation to pastors of Lutheran Church–Canada (or The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod): Come visit beautiful Nova Scotia to bring encouragement in the Gospel to your Atlantic brothers and sisters in Christ!

Visiting pastors will assist the mission’s supervising pastor, Rev. David Milette (Good Shepherd, Moncton, New Brunswick), by preaching, leading the Lutheran S e r v i c e B o o k l i t u r g y a n d administering the Sacrament. (A Bible study would be great too, but not required, Rev. Milette adds.)

Faith’s small congregation offers a

Invitation to clergy: summer 2011free stay in what’s affectionately called “The Luther Inn”— a furnished, freshly renovated apartment in the church basement, set up specifically as a home away from home for visiting pastors and their families. It includes a large washroom/shower, kitchenette, queen-size bed, two inflatable beds, one sofa, lots of floor space, a TV and DVD player and even a large backyard. For each Sunday service, Faith’s congregation invites the pastor to stay up to a week at a time.

Please contact Rev. Milette at [email protected]; 506-384-9453 (church) or 506-383-3664 (cell) for more information, to ask questions, or to reserve your Sunday(s).

As of this summer, Faith may even be in a position to offer

more assistance with housing for vacationing pastors near the Charlottetown, P.E.I. Preaching Station; in and around Moncton, N.B.; and elsewhere in Atlantic Canada. Just ask! If you’re open to additional opportunities to serve/help out while in the region—or even if you or some members may just be vacationing nearby—we’d love to hear from you!

“As they were scattered, they went about preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4). This is our synod, particularly visible in Atlantic Canada: encouraging one another in the faithful confession of Christ and doing together by God’s grace the things we couldn’t do alone, as we walk together in the Faith.

Rev. David Milette

Send news, photos, articles and announcements six weeks

prior to publication month.Ilene Fortin, district editor

East District Office2�5 Lawrence Avenue,

Kitchener, Ontario N2M 1Y3E-mail:

[email protected]: 519-5�8-3369Next deadline:

May 6, 2010

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Documents

East East District News District News - Lutheran … Sherry Ruth and Ryan Schultz, joined in holy matrimony on July 20, 2009. Ryan’s mother, Marilyn, is a past president of LWMLC