Dive into the Summer of 2025 at Martin Luther Church
Some things may be a little different over the summer at Martin Luther Church and other things remain consistent.
Please join us for Sunday worship. In July and August 2025 we offer a bilingual service in German and English at 11:00 am, except for the last Sunday of the month (July 27 and August 31), when we offer an English devotion with fellowship at 9:45 am and a German service at 11:00 am. There will be Holy Communion on July 6, 27, August 3 and 31. We will celebrate a Baptism during the service on August 17, 2025. All are welcome to gather in the foyer after the service. Sign up to help with hospitality. You can bring food (dessert, fruit/cheese tray, etc), supplies (coffee, tea, milk, cream) and/or help with set up, serving and clean up.
We will not have a service at our church on Sunday July 13, 2025. Instead we are invited to a musical service, followed by a concert by the German choir Junges Vokalensemble Hannover e.V. at St. George’s Lutheran Church, 410 College St (near Bathurst St). Read more in this blog post.
We continue to offer German radio devotions on our website and Sundays at 9:30 am on AM 530.
Our Bowls and Blessings outdoor food program takes place Tuesdays and Fridays, 12-1 pm.
Our raised garden beds in front of 5 Superior Ave are maintained by volunteers with the Gardens Project South Etobicoke. We are always looking for help to improve and maintain our other outdoor spaces. Please contact office@martinluther.ca.
On the heels of an informative and fun Dinner Church around a campfire on June 25, we plan to meet outside again in the church backyard on Wednesday July 23, 2025!
Pastoral Care:
Vicar Alice Rothgordt (German- and English-speaking) can be reached at 416-567-2487, vicarrothgordt@martinluther.ca. Her office hours are usually Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm. Please contact her to request an appointment or a visit.
Pastor Ralph Carl Wushke is also available for emergency pastoral care until August 4, 2025). He can be contacted at 416 532 8591, rwushke@yahoo.ca.
We welcome Pastor Annika Klappert back from maternity leave during the service on August 10, 2025!
Out of Office: Marlena will be on vacation July 7-11, 2025. Contact Church Council President Jocelyn Sommerfeld, president@martinluther.ca, for urgent questions and concerns.
Church council, web team, and rental team continue to meet over the summer. Our maintenance volunteers are overseeing repairs to the church roof, improvements to front entrance at 5 Superior Ave, etc.
Martin Luther Child Care is offering summer camp, in addition to the year-round toddler and preschool programs. We wish them a safe summer (and no flood in the basement this year)!
Recent 2025 summer events:
35 people attended a BBQ at the Wienecke farm on Wednesday June 18, 2025. There was lots of food to share and good weather. Everyone had a great time. Carpool rides got everyone there and back safely. We thank Daina and Ernie Wienecke for inviting our church members for many decades. This was their last time hosting. We look forward to future outings with willing hosts and participants.
Thank you to Pastor Adam McComb for inviting our Martin Luther Church congregation to Thornhill Lutheran Church for a bilingual German-English Sunday service and subsequent potluck-BBQ luncheon on June 22, 2025, together with St. George’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Toronto and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Richmond Hill. With a total of 20 MLC members and over two dozen from the other congregations in attendance, it was a fun and interactive service! Highlights include an artful re-telling of Genesis via cake decoration by Pastor McComb, lively hymn singing led by Karin Schemeit, as well as readings by our Vicar Alice Rothgordt and Iris Schweiger. Although the planned “outdoor” picnic was moved indoors due to the sweltering heat, everyone enjoyed a scrumptious potluck lunch of grilled sausages plus a generous helping of assorted salads and desserts!
