317 Franklin Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2A 1Y9 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 PASTOR S MUSINGS

Transcription

1 317 Franklin Street, Kitchener, Ontario N2A 1Y9 Mission Statement To share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all people through the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the Sacraments and through service in Christ s name. NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 PASTOR S MUSINGS Dear people of St. Luke s, My name is Olavi Hepomaki. I will be serving you as an interim pastor until a new pastor has been called. Some people may find it hard to pronounce my first name, so maybe we ll start from that. Olavi is a Finnicized version of a Scandinavian name Olaf. O is pronounced with a closed O as in Top, and A as the vowel in cup. I is pronounced as the I in fit. Consonants are pronounced the same as in English. But usually I heed anything that begins with an O, so really you don t need to worry about the right pronunciation. As you may already guess, I was born in Finland. My childhood home was on the west coast in a rural municipality called Pedersöre. This part of Finland has dense Swedish speaking population and Swedish is my second language. My parents were farmers and for as long as I can remember I participated in various farm chores. I must admit that I didn t appreciate the fact then as much as I do now. After finishing the comprehensive school, I studied at a vocational school to become an electrician, and for a couple of years, I worked as an electrician in a local paper and pulp mill. After that, I continued to study in the field of electricity and graduated as an electrical engineer in In the same year, I was accepted to the faculty of theology at the University of Helsinki, from where I graduated with a Master of Theology degree in I was ordained on January 11, 1998, in Lapua Diocese. In 2003 we moved to Canada, Sudbury, Ontario. Our first plan was to stay here for about five years, but we liked working here, and as of today, our stay has been fifteen years. My wife, Riitta is also a pastor. She works as an assistant to the Bishop in the Eastern Synod. Two of our children live with us in Canada. Martta studies history at the U of T, Aaron is his first year in Conestoga College. Two older sons Samuel and Paulus (wife Minna) and our grandchildren Touko, Louna, and Aamos all live in Finland. I have served in six different ELCIC congregations, in the last four of them as an interim pastor. Unintentionally interimships have become my particular trade. I have learned in all interim congregations a lot. At this point, I m starting to know my strengths and weaknesses as a temporary leader. I have also learned that despite the congregations are different, there are lots of similarities in the dynamics when a pastor retires or follows a call to another congregation. Especially when pastors have served an extended period of time as pastor Jim did, lots of emotions are involved in the process. There is sadness and mourning, sometimes also confusion and hopelessness of the fact that people have lost a person that has been their support, leader and a friend. Suddenly the future of the congregation seems murkier and more unstable. Without downplaying these feelings, I can assure you that it will be all right. It will not be all right because of me, but because of how the body of Christ seems to be working. And I have no doubt that St. Luke s would make an exception here. We all need just a bit more extra calmness and patience than usual. The congregational council and I have made an agreement that I will be a part-time (80%) pastor. This means that I will have three days off per week 2018 November/December Newsletter St. Luke s Lutheran Church, Kitchener Page 1

2 instead of two. Preliminarily I have set my days off to be Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I will make exceptions, as needed and move around the days off. I have found that flexibility works for both mine and congregation s interest. In case of any pastoral emergencies, I will most likely answer my phone ( ), whether on a day off or not. You can also me at pastor.olavi@gmail.com. Whenever we meet, please introduce yourself, and I will try to remember your name. I hope you do not feel offended if I must ask your name twice, sometimes even three times! I have learned that the more often we meet, and the less there are others around us, the easier it is to remember your name. Looking forward to meeting you at St. Luke s. Pastor Olavi CONTACT INFORMATION Church Office: (519) Pastor s Cell: (519) Pastor s pastor.olvai@gmail.com Church stlukes@rogers.com Secretary: Daisy Puttock Organist: Gloria Berg CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS Cathy Dowsling Joy Montgomery Donna Finch Kathy Thomsen Debbie Gastmeier Tim Wilke Susan Hennig Aaron Wilke Vic Lytle Maryann Lang Darlene Hilborn Those who are shut-in: Mildred Kaminska & Laurie O Brien Those who are at: Lanark Place: John Schmidt & Cliff Schneider The Westmount: Audrey Parker Winston Park: Les & Marie Kipfer Briarfield Gardens: Ruth Debus, Geri Leis, Irleen Karn, Ralph & Joanne Roth Those who are out of town: Alymer: Mary Hendel Elmira: Ed & Lola Ware Guelph: Ruth Rudy Listowel: Norm Lewis New Hamburg: Anna Picard BAPTISM 19 August Jacobi Rose Ward Child of Richie Ward & Natalie Wilke FUNERAL 12 September Dennis Querengesser ANNUAL CHURCH BAZAAR Saturday, November 3rd 8:00 AM 1:00 PM As always, we welcome your help: Donations are needed for the raffle table, new & in the original box baking workshops will be posted on our bulletin board donations of baking, candy, preserves & canning welcomed help is needed with phone calling for baking goods meat pie workshops will be posted on our bulletin board donations of knitted items welcome - mitts, hats, cloths, etc. house cleaning? gentle used Christmas items are needed for the Nearly New Table we need help setting up on Fri Nov 2nd help is needed to prepare goodies for the tea room we need help to man all the tables at the bazaar Saturday, Nov. 3rd help is needed to clean up after the event We will be at the church during the day on Friday to accept all donations. Thank you so much! For specific questions on any of the above, please contact: Baking - Anita Gerstenkorn Tea Room - Sharon Eggleston Meat Pies - Jeanette Wyatt Raffle - Betty Eichholz November/December Newsletter St. Luke s Lutheran Church, Kitchener Page 2

3 Preserves - Donna Berscht Knitting - Barb Raddatz Nearly New - Gay Anderson We also have vendor tables available for rental. Please contact Jeanette Wyatt. Spaces fill up fast! If you have a spot to put a poster, extra posters will be available on our bulletin board for you to take. Inquiries to Gay Anderson. LADIES NIGHT OUT TUES. NOV 13 TH AT 6:30 PM at Golf s Steak House (598 Lancaster St W, Kitchener) Come and enjoy the company of other ladies from St. Luke s for an evening of friendship and conversation. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the courtyard bulletin board or you can call the church office and let us know you re coming. THE MITTEN TREE During November the Christmas tree in the church narthex can be decorated with your gifts of mittens, scarves, socks, slippers, etc. in support of the Salvation Army Tree of Hope. The last day for donations is Sun. Nov. 25 th Thank you for your ongoing support of this program. CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Once again members will be invited to make a donation toward the purchase of poinsettias to adorn the chancel during the Christmas season. A special envelope will be included in the worship bulletin in the coming weeks (or you may call the church office). All donations will be noted in the Christmas Eve bulletin. CANTATA SUNDAY Sunday, December 2nd 10:00 AM IMAGES OF ADORATION (Pepper Choplin) Reflections of Christ in Symbols of the Season We all enjoy the beauty of Christmas the music and candles, the greenery and crimson flowers, the holy symbols of the manger, and the star. These symbols are not merely decorations of the season. Their presence draws us into the story of Christmas each year, reminding us of the power, simplicity and awesome significance of the birth of the Christ Child. Come and join in this year s Cantata Sunday! CHRISTMAS CAROLLING TO OUR SHUT-INS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 th Join us for an afternoon of carolling to some of our shutin members. We will meet at the church at 12:30 pm with our first stop scheduled for 1:00 pm. If you play an instrument, bring it along. Everyone is welcome to join in. Don't miss out on a wonderful Christmas memory. Contact Gloria Berg if you plan to come. ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER Sun., December 16 th Following morning worship $10 per person $30 per family of four Tickets will be available on Sunday, November 25 th November/December Newsletter St. Luke s Lutheran Church, Kitchener Page 3

4 DONATION Donation for the automatic door system given by Roger & Jeanette s parents George & Emma Weber. With great gratitude we give them many thanks! This was needed tremendously to support our faith community s needs. CANDLELIGHT SERVICES With Holy Communion Sunday, December 24 th 4:00 pm * 7:00 pm * 10:00 pm *services with a children s message. YEAR-END DONATIONS Just a reminder that the last day for offerings and/or donations credited to the 2018 taxation year is Sunday, December 30 th. Monies received after this date will be credited to YEAR-END REPORTS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING In order for the church office to properly prepare the Bulletin of Reports for the Annual Meeting, it is important that all reports from the standing committees and church group reports be in to the church office on or before Sunday, January 6, Financial records are also needed for an internal review. COUNCIL UPDATE: At the time of printing this newsletter, your church council is looking for two people to stand for the following positions: - one member to fill the third year of a second, three year term - one member to fill a three year term If you are willing to serve, please notify any council member or Pastor Olavi PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The prayer shawl ministry is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, comforting those in distress and sharing blessings to all. At St Luke s, prayer shawls are distributed to the shut in, the sick & the bereaved. Baby blankets are given at the time of baptism as a blessing for their faith journey. If you have a need outside our church family, you are welcome to have a prayer shawl to share our blessings. Please contact Elaine Schwartz at "Those who receive these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles." Janet Severi Bristow, co-founder FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN The fellowship of the least coin (FLC) is first and foremost a prayer movement. Pray for justice, peace and reconciliation. FLC asks that the least coin of your country be set aside for the support of all, particularly the children. The least coin is significant because all in any economic context can give equally. Funds are collected and distributed as grants internationally supporting projects, church needs, scholarships and disaster relief. St Luke s Women are supporting this venture. There is a jar on the narthex table to collect our coins. We are asking for your help. Thank you. Funds will be submitted to FLC in April of each year November/December Newsletter St. Luke s Lutheran Church, Kitchener Page 4

5 TO ALL WHO COME TO THIS HAPPY PLACE, WELCOME! My family and I love Walt Disney World. We go all the time. Many people ask us why we would want to go to the same place over and over again. Once I get over the shock of the question, I have a really good conversation with those people. I tell them it is a place that I hold dear because it brings back childhood memories of my family s trips to Walt Disney World while at the same time creating new memories with Neil and Charlotte. It is a place I can go where I know I will have a fantastic vacation because the service is exceptional and I will always experience something new when I am there. Walter Elias Disney wanted a place where families could go and experience theme park attractions together- not just sit on a bench while they watched their children play. And so under his direct supervision, Disneyland was created and opened on July 17, 1955 with this famous quote from Walt s dedication speech, To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Walt also said that, Disneyland would never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. With 75% of Americans living east of the Mississippi, the search was on for land in Florida to build a second park. Under the working title The Florida Project, swamp lands were purchased under a number of proxy companies such as the M.T. Lott Co. Real Estate Investments (say the name really fast and you will get the joke). Eventually, Walt Disney World opened on October 1, The Disney Company has also entered into the Cruising industry. On July 30, 1998 the first Disney Cruise Line voyage set sail on the Magic. Our family has cruised with Disney and met some wonderful people that have become friends for life. Disney is a place with something for everyone. It is a place for children of all ages. It is my happy place that is full of magic. Now, you are probably wondering where I am going with this? I think there are similarities between St. Luke s and Disney. I have had people ask me why I want to go to church week after week- isn t it boring? Once I get over the shock of the question, I have a really good conversation with those people. I tell them it is a place I hold dear because attending church brings back childhood memories of attending with my Mom and Dad as well as creating new memories with Neil and Charlotte. It is a place I can go where I know my spirit will be fed and there is always the possibility of a new experience. I believe God has brought the family of St Luke together for a reason. We have had growth. The first congregation started in a rented house on Christmas Eve in 1939 and then purchased land on King and Delroy. The congregation outgrew this building and on May 1, 1963 the first service was held in our current location. We have had change. Currently, we are welcoming our interim Pastor Olavi Hepomaki and at the same time preparing for the work of the call committee and the direction in which this congregation wants to go forth in mission. All this while continuing with our regular programming. It is a lot of work but it is important and worthwhile work. I believe that if St. Luke wants a future, regardless of what our demographic looks like, we have to find the needs within our community and fill those needs. This is why the surveys you were asked to fill out are so important. I also think that St. Luke s will never be finished. It will continue to grow as long as there is hope, faith, love and a commitment to be in mission for others. If we focus on what God wants us to do, we cannot go wrong. We cannot focus on what other churches are doing. What works for them, may not work for us. For example, a downtown church will minister to their community differently than a church in a suburban setting. We need to find out what sets St Luke s apart from our partner congregations- that which makes us unique- and focus on that. If we have what people want, our future will be bright. St. Luke s is a place where we, the family of God, can gather together to worship and have fun. It is a place where I have met wonderful people who have become friends for life. It is a congregation that strives to have something for everyone. It is a place for God s children of all ages. It is my happy place that is full of magic and miracles. And so to our current members, our new members and our prospective members, I say, To all who come to this happy place, welcome! Kathryn Thomsen Council Chair 2018 November/December Newsletter St. Luke s Lutheran Church, Kitchener Page 5