Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

News

Life at the Eastern Synod

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Last week, four lay preachers of three Toronto congregations participated in a workshop on preaching at the German language evangelical Lutheran church in Bogota, Columbia – San Mateo.

Friedrich Brunzema (First Evangelical Lutheran Church) https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=first%20evangelical%20lutheran%20church%20toronto

Tanya Zielke (Marting Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church (MLEC) https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=martin%20luther%20church%20toronto

Valerie Ebert-Schewe. (Institut for Worship, Bavarian Evangelical-Lutheran Synod)

Karin Schemeit (St George’s Evangelical Evangelical Lutheran Church) https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=st%20george%27s%20lutheran%20church

Pastor Annika Klappert (MLEC)

Katja Brittain (MLEC)

Christhild Grave (St Mateo Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bogota, Columbia) https://www.icsm-bogota-co.de/

St. Paul’s, Listowel Digital Archive Request

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Plans for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Listowel’s 150th Anniversary as a congregation are now underway, and a committee is being formed to share ideas and begin the planning process for this special time (2024-2025) in the history of the congregation

We Need Your Help! 

Our 150th anniversary plans include building a digital archive of events and special moments in the history of Listowel’s congregation. To do this, we need members past and present to help by providing us with photos of weddings, baptisms, confirmations, church meetings, picnics and any other events hosted by St. Paul’s Listowel. Other items that would be appreciated would be copies of certificates for our records especially baptism and confirmation and certificates. If you have scanned copies of these items, please send them to stpaul150listowel@yahoo.com 

We ask that you share the above request and information to family, friends, neighbours or others who may have been a member or associated with St. Paul’s Listowel over the years so we can gather as much information and documentation as possible to share as part of our 150th celebrations.

In Memory of Rev. Dr. & Bishop (Retired) William David Huras

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Service Livestream via Erb & Good Family Funeral Home

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of the Rev. Dr. and Bishop (retired) William (Bill) David Huras peacefully at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener on Sunday February 26, 2023 in his 90th year.  Devoted and beloved husband of Barbara Elizabeth (Lotz) for 65 years.  Loving father of David (Christina) Huras, Matthew (Theresa) Huras, and Andrea (Barry) Wolfe; his grandchildren Jenelle and Jason Huras, Kristyn Richards, Adam and Katie Huras, Krystal Wolfe, Cassie (Johnny) Fulford, and Courtney Wolfe; and his great grandchildren, Jack and Liam Pearce, and Theo Fulford.  Predeceased by his parents, William Adam and Frieda Dorothea (Rose) Huras, brothers Elmer and Rev. Ralph, and sister Ruth (Leyes). 

Bill was born in Kitchener, Ontario on September 22, 1932.  At a young age he showed an affinity for hard work, as evidenced through his Kitchener Daily Record paper route, and later, his summer jobs at Carling Brewery.  As he grew older, his other numerous gifts became clear: as a scholar, mission developer, counsellor, mentor and leader.  In the early 1950s, Bill was headed to the University of Western Ontario with a Math scholarship, when he was offered (and accepted) a competing award at Waterloo College (now Wilfred Laurier University (WLU)).  It was an investment that paid off as he later served on the Board of Governors of the university and seminary for more than 35 years, and was named one of WLU’s most influential 100 graduates in 2011.  As a student at Waterloo College, he participated in many clubs and activities.  After graduation, his scholarship continued for decades and included Master’s degrees in both theology and divinity, certification as a Pastoral Counsellor and Associate Supervisor from the Toronto Institute of Human Relations, and two honorary Doctorate degrees in divinity. 

Bill was mission developer for two Lutheran congregations – St James in Renfrew (1957-62) and Advent in Toronto (1962-78).  He led the creation of these parishes, including the construction and dedication of the associated church buildings.  In 1978, he was elected President of the Eastern Canada Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, the largest synod of Lutheran churches in Canada.  Through actively building bridges with other ecumenical churches, and serving on the Lutheran Merger Commission, he helped create the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), uniting many Lutherans across the country into one church.  He was then elected Bishop of the new Eastern Synod of the ELCIC, and ultimately became one of the longest serving Lutheran synodical bishops in North America, serving from 1978 to 1998 when he retired. His contribution to the church has been truly extraordinary. 

Bill was adored by his friends and family.  He loved curling and playing ‘Solo’ (a Waterloo County card game) with his buddies.  His yearly chess tournaments with Rev. Dr. R. Binhammer were legendary on Papineau Lake.  He popularized ‘Square’ – a baseball-like game played on Papineau beaches by generations, including the family dog! 

Bill was a loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather.  He loved music and he loved to sing.  The many songs, including original creations, that he sung for his children in that warm baritone voice will carry on through generations.  He cherished family game time.  Whether it was Stock-Ticker, Sequence, Hearts, Crokinole or any other game, his antics and his laugh, always made for fond memories.  He was a master story teller.  To this day, his children and grandchildren, their friends and his nieces and nephews still have vivid memories of the campfire ghost stories he told on the beaches of Papineau.  He was even a great cook – whether it was bean soup, potato pancakes, fried potatoes or his famous popcorn.  

Above all, Bill’s love and devotion to Barbara knew no bounds.  They were inseparable partners, sharing a beautiful love for each other through their 65+ years of marriage. 

Visitation will take place at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Monday March 6, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  The funeral service will be held at Trillium Lutheran Church (formerly St. John’s Lutheran Church), 22 Willow Street, Waterloo, Ontario on Tuesday, March 7 at 11:00 am. A reception will follow in the church hall and interment will take place at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Kitchener. Bill was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 49 Queen St. North, Kitchener, Ontario and as such donations to the church would be appreciated and may be arranged along with condolences for the family at www.erbgood.com

CLAY 2023 Grant Opportunity

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ELFEC is offering a grant of up to $200 per attendee ELCIC congregations to support youths that are attending CLAY 2023. ELFEC hopes that the $200 per attendee will at least partially assist in meeting any financial commitment needed to attend and/or register for CLAY 2023: Ashes & Embers in August 2023 in Waterloo, Ontario. Click here for more information.

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Music Ministry: Pandemic Style

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“Let my spirit always sing, though my heart be wintering…”

2020 we were all thrown for a loop; one Sunday in church singing hymns and the next Sunday…nothing. Church buildings were closed and worship was adapted for an at home congregation. Resurrection, Halifax, went to Facebook live streaming and email church that included recorded hymns and sermons uploaded to the church YouTube channel. The worship team (my household) provided worship for the community. It filled a need, yet, felt empty without congregational responses and singing. I am a musician who experiences God through music. I felt empty and decided that I needed something more.

I started a daily lectionary reading and hymn of the day series (posted in FB group). Monday to Saturday I post the daily lectionary readings and a hymn that I’ve recorded and uploaded to the church YouTube channel. I began this for myself and for my church community. It didn’t take long to realize that other churches, pastors, and worship leaders were using the hymns. Resurrection received thank you emails and messages from worship leaders in Lutheran congregations across the US, Canada, and a few from overseas. I was surprised, humbled, and overjoyed that this small ministry project grew into a well-used resource.

The project fostered new relationships. My two favourite:

A person named Rusty Edwards asked to join Resurrection’s Facebook group. Rusty Edwards is a Baptist minister in Halifax.  Rusty made comments on Facebook appreciating hymn interpretations. I realized that this was not the Baptist minister, but, rather, the prolific hymn composer. Rusty sent me some of his hymns to produce video in my musical style. I use a Yamaha CVP 905 with hundreds of different musical accompaniments. My style varies including: rock, pop, classical, jazz, soul, R&B, Blues, country, and dance music. Based on comments, 99% enjoy church hymns in a unique style, while 1% ask, “Why I’ve ruined such a lovely hymn?”

Resurrection was introduced to the All Creation Sings hymnal, using the hymns as preludes, pew editions to be purchased later. A month into this project we received an e-mail from a retired Lutheran minister in Pennsylvania asking, “how many books for your pews?” Fifty books arrived as a thankyou for being included in the online worshiping community. A wonderful surprise!

It’s been 2 1/2 years of pandemic living.

Regular in-person worship services continue to include live stream. YouTube videos are recorded and support email worship. Churches are offering hybrid worship. There continues to be a need for online church hymns and (by request of users) embedded words for watchers to sing along. The music ministry project has once again grown. I have created a new YouTube channel (Tim McNabb- Lutheran Church musician) that makes it easier to find hymns for the next four Sundays. The channel has playlists of the hymn suggestions from Augsburg Fortress’, Sundays and Seasons.

I am thankful that pandemic living has encouraged me to hone and share the gifts God has given me.  I am thrilled that hope and God’s love has spread and continues to be spread through music!

“…God to whom my days belong, let there always be a song.” – Hymn 1020, All Creation Sings