edn0511.pdf

Looking at Higher Things
MOUNT FOREST, Ont. - “There’s
no dodging the law,” said Rev.
George Borghardt at Canada’s first
Higher Things Day Retreat, “but
the righteousness of God manifests
itself apart from the law,” coming to
us by grace.
Rev. Borghardt told the youthful
crowd not to use the law to figure out
the rest of their lives, but instead to
focus on their freedom in Christ.
Presented by Ontario’s Hanover
circuit, the March 18 event drew 91
people to St. John’s Lutheran Church.
“The Law, the Gospel…and the Rest
of Your Life!” provided the theme.
“I like how he [Rev. Borghardt]
brought things down to a
youth point of view,” said
Jake Bromhall, a high-school
student from St. Catharines
who attended the retreat.
Nigel Prozenko and his
sister Hannah travelled all
the way to Mount Forest
from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
(where they attend Faith
Lutheran Church) for the
retreat. Both were encouraged
to see other Lutheran youth
and hear the message. “It
helped me tie up loose ends; it
gave me hope,” said Nigel.
Rev. Borghardt, who hosts
a Higher Things radio show
and pastors a congregation
in McHenry,
I l l i n o i s ,
cherishes the
opportunity to
“impact young
people’s lives
with Christ.”
His aim is to
“ g i v e t h e m
comfort that
will last.”
H i g h e r
T h i n g s , a n
o rg a n i z a t i o n
serving the youth
of The Lutheran
C h u r c h –
Missouri Synod
(and now LCC),
32 The Canadian Lutheran May/June THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2011 2011
East District News
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor
holds national summer conferences,
publishes a quarterly magazine, runs a
college campus ministry and sponsors
weekend retreats. Its mission: “to
assist parents, congregations and
pastors in cultivating and promoting a
Lutheran identity among youth.” For
more information, check out www.
higherthings.org. Rev. Borghardt is
its conferences executive and host.
In his morning session on law
and gospel, Borghardt used the
first three chapters of Romans as
examples of the law, how it reveals
to Christians their sinful nature
and the consequences of sin. In the
afternoon session he focused on how
Getting to know youth: an activity led by Nancy Mattys of St.
John’s, Mount Forest.
Rev. George Borghardt leads the winter retreat—a first in Canada for the LCMS youth
organization Higher Things.
God’s grace shows us the way from
sin through the new life received
in baptism and Christ’s death and
resurrection.
At breakaway sessions during
the day, Rev. Ken Maher (Christ
Our Hope, Collingwood) discussed
“Seeing Christ in the Cinema”;
Rev. David Gallas (St. Peter’s, New
Hamburg) gave insight into the
parable of the prodigal son. Rev.
Mark Koehler (First St. Matthew’s,
Hanover) intertwined Lutheran
history in Canada with the gospel;
Rev. Marvin Bublitz (Redeemer,
Monkton/First, Logan) offered
words of hope from St. Peter to
Christians finding it difficult
to fit into the society around
them.
The youth also had the
opportunity to get better
acquainted with each other
through a fun activity led by
Nancy Mattys, a local teacher
and member of St. John’s,
Mount Forest.
The day began with
Matins led by St. John’s
Rev. David Saar, a sermon
from Rev. Jody Rinas (St.
John, Clifford) and musical
accompaniment by organist
Mark Veenman (Messiah,
Waterloo). It concluded with
Vespers led by Rev. Saar
and a sermon
from Rev. Kurt
R e i n h a r d t
( T r i n i t y ,
K u r t z v i l l e ) .
Re v. Ro b e r t
Clifford (Grace,
Kincardine and
Southampton),
provided musical
s u p p o r t o n
the trumpet to
organist Michael
N i e m i n e n
( G r a c e ,
Kitchener).
Rev. David Saar,
St. John’s,
Mount Forest

KANATA, Ont. - On Sunday, April
3, Christ Risen Lutheran Church
celebrated three joyous events:
• Receiving into membership 16
new members—a significant
growth in servants for the Lord's
work.
• Recognizing the work of four
members: Eloise Schaan, for
her several decades of work
as organist and choir director;
Jennifer Voelker, daughter of
East District News
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor
A celebration of service and servants
Christ Risen receives new members.
Rev. Gerald Scholz, retiring as
Sunday school coordinator after
14 years; Art and Lillian Saar,
long-standing servants of the
Lord.
• Celebrating the work of Lutheran
Bible Translators, with Rev.
Dr. Glenn Schaeffer, ABC
district mission executive, in
attendance.
Rev. Louie Natzke, Christ Risen, Kanata
Members flip for pastor’s pancakes
Rev. Jack Hetzel (far right) helps members prepare for the Shrove Tuesday supper.
OSHAWA, Ont. - Members of
Grace Lutheran Church celebrated
Shrove Tuesday on March 8 with a
traditional pancake supper. Fortytwo
people came out to enjoy potato
and buttermilk pancakes, sausage
and fruit.
Rev. Jack Hetzel once again
treated the congregation to his
“world-famous” potato pancakes.
A free-will offering went to the
church’s kitchen fund and will help
defray the cost of monthly birthday
celebrations. On the last Sunday
of each month, Grace remembers
birthdays and baptismal birthdays
with a sandwiches-and-dessert
potluck.
Carolyn McLeod, Grace, Oshawa
Board of directors
advises: read your
Catechism!
KITCHENER, Ont. - Meeting this
January and March, the East District
board of directors named a new
mission executive and adopted its
2011-12 budget of $1,457,480.
The board also adopted a motion
encouraging church members to read
and study Luther’s Large and Small
Catechisms, in preparation for the
500th anniversary of the Reformation
in 2017.
Rev. Larry Gajdos assumes his
duties as district mission executive
on May 1. A service of installation
will take place May 29 at 3 p.m. at
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
in Burlington, Ontario. The district
had been seeking someone for the
position since its 2009 convention.
Rev. Gajdos graduated from
Concordia Lutheran Theological
Seminary, St. Catharines, in 1992.
He served Redeemer (Victoria, B.C.)
and Good Shepherd (Calgary) before
accepting a call to Prince of Peace
(Burlington) in 2005. Pastor Larry
and Debbie have six sons between
the ages of five and 17.
Members of the board will attempt
to visit many congregations over the
next few months, attending worship
services and listening to concerns
and issues.
Reg Tiegs, district secretary,
East District Board of Directors
Rev. Jack Hetzel waits tables.
The THE Canadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN May/June 2011 2011 33

The whole truth
In John 5:6, Jesus asks:
“Do you want to be made
whole?”
Whole—it’s a great word.
Jesus makes us whole through
His death and resurrection. None of us are whole
until the Holy Spirit comes to us through the means
of grace and creates faith in our hearts.
A congregation is whole when pastor and people
work in harmony, serving together the Lord Who
gathers His people into a church family. He forms a
group of people from many different backgrounds
and with a variety of gifts into a strong, functioning
Body that witnesses to Christ, its Head.
The Body of Christ that is Lutheran Church–
Canada (and each congregation as we walk
together, making up our beloved synod) is not
whole while worship attendance falls, while we
have children who are not baptized, while we have
inactive members not receiving the Lord’s Supper or
worshipping their Saviour, while people fail to use
in His service the gifts God has given them. There
are holes in what should be whole.
In the congregation where I serve as pastor, a
great deal of excitement and anticipation surrounds
34 The THE Canadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN May/June 2011 2011
East District News
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor
Kingston mission continues as Our Saviour
KINGSTON, Ont. - Since this
Kingston-area mission began in
the mid-90s—and despite its move
from location to location—it has
continued to worship with a strong
core of support from members,
church workers and congregations
of the Ottawa circuit.
The district approached retired
district president Rev. Al Maleske in
September 2009 about serving there
part-time. In March 2010 the East
District board of directors extended
a call and he accepted, becoming
missionary-at-large for Kingston and
area on August 29, 2010.
Now known as Our Saviour
Lutheran Mission, it gained
Recognized Mission status from
the board, with Rev. Maleske as
supervising pastor. Attendance
ranges between 11 and 20, with
From the vice-president
a baptized membership of 28 and
communicant membership of 22.
Worship services continue at the
Conservatory Pond Retirement
Residence, as they have since 2007.
Our Saviour’s immediate goals
include developing a strategic plan
and finding a more visible location.
Earlier in its history, pastors
from the Ottawa circuit travelled to
Kingston every other Sunday to serve
the group. Then—because of time,
distance and cost—services went to
once a month. Later, Chaplain Jason
Kouri (stationed at CFB Kingston)
and Rev. Glenn Stresman (who
worked for the city of Kingston
in the area of development) aided
the mission. Both men have since
relocated.
Financing came generously
from circuit congregations, mission
members, LWMLC’s Laurentian
district, the East District and LCC.
Our Saviour’s mission statement
declares its aim “to receive God’s
gifts of Word and Sacrament and
to witness to God’s love through
service, worship, learning and
spiritual fellowship.” The vision
statement urges members “to grow
as a faithful people, welcoming
and caring for those searching to
know God and supporting outreach,
learning, worship, prayer and
spiritual fellowship.”
If you are aware of contacts in
the Kingston area, please forward
them to Rev. Maleske (abmaleske@
sympatico.ca), and please hold Our
Saviour Lutheran Mission in your
prayers.
From The EDen Report, Rev. Al Maleske
our new church building. We have all been eager
for the day it would be whole. What a great day
of celebration the dedication was, with nearly 500
people gathered together praising our God and
praying for His blessings. Now that the building is
completed there are still a few holes, things that are
not quite finished, little details that need attention.
The building committee feels as if its job will never
be done.
That feeling arises when we keep our focus on
ourselves, on our own sinful flesh. When we fix our
eyes on Jesus, our perspective changes. Instead
of seeing the holes, we see, by faith, what He has
made whole. Jesus didn’t tell the invalid at the pool
of Bethesda that his healing might take a while to
happen. At once he was healed. From the cross He
didn’t say, “It’s a work in progress.” Jesus said, “It
is finished!” In our Baptism God doesn’t begin a
process of salvation. Peter tells us that Baptism now
saves us.
Let’s rejoice in the salvation Christ has worked in
us. Christ has made us whole. Let’s keep our eyes
fixed on the One who has worked this good work in
us and bear witness as the whole people of God in
Christ.
by Rev. Ron Mohr

Praises for a new church building
TILLSONBURG, Ont. - Interpreting
the theme “God’s Word, Our
Foundation” literally, members of
Peace Lutheran Church inscribed
favourite Bible verses directly on the
church’s new concrete floor.
More than 120 members and
friends, young and old, gathered
on Saturday, January 29, for their
first fellowship meeting in the new
church. After a brief devotion by Rev.
Ron Mohr, everyone took a felt-tip
marker and knelt to write his or her
chosen verse onto the concrete. With
carpeting set to be installed the next
week, the church kept a record of all
the verses.
Afterward, attendees toured
the building, with site supervisor
John Puhr and other members of
the building committee on hand to
answer questions, then enjoyed a
time of fellowship and snacks.
From a report by Rev. Ron Mohr,
Peace,Tillsonburg
Rallying for Chrismons
C L I F F O R D , O n t . -
Gathering for their fall
rally last October, women
of LWMLC’s Hanover zone
(Ontario district) used the
day to craft Chrismons
together. The rally at St.
John Lutheran Church
attracted not only current
members but second and
third generations too. See
a how-to photo essay on
their work at http://www.
lutheranwomen.ca/news/
Crismons_lowres.pdf.
From the Latin Christi
monogramma, “monogram
of Christ,” Chrismons
symbolically represent Jesus Christ
or the Christian church. Learn more
about their history at http://www.
East District News
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Ilene Fortin, editor
A b ove : Pe a c e L u t h e ran
Church—nearly complete.
Right: Congregation members
write their favourite Bible verses
onto the new concrete.
Dreaming of Chrismons
lutheranwomen.ca/ne/Crismonshistory.pdf.
From www.lutheranwomen.ca
Visit the East District website at
www.lcceastdistrict.ca
Send news, photos, articles
and announcements six weeks
prior to publication month.
Ilene Fortin, district editor
East District Office
27 Lawrence Avenue,
Kitchener, Ontario N2M 1Y3
E-mail:
ilene@lcceastdistrict.ca
Fax: 19- 78-3369
Next deadline:
July 15, 2010
The THE Canadian CANADIAN Lutheran LUTHERAN May/June 2011 2011 3