Sep 7th “Back to Church” service followed by potluck – Pastor Annika Klappert has resumed her post + Interview by Jocelyn

Our German and English-speaking Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in Toronto is starting a new congregational season after the summer holidays, and we want to celebrate:

Sunday, September 7, 2025, 11:00 a.m. followed by potluck buffet luncheon

We warmly invite everyone who wants to get to know our congregation—come as you are!

After the service, we will enjoy a potluck reception in our church backyard! Salads, side dishes, and desserts for our potluck buffet are welcome, as well as financial donations. We are also looking for people to help with things like set-up and take-down. If you can provide food to share and/or have some time to spare, please contact office@martinluther.ca. We look forward to seeing you!

Pastor Annika Klappert has returned from her maternity leave at the beginning of August!

Our President, Jocelyn Sommerfeld, asked her to describe some of her experiences during her time away and to share any goals or wishes for the church and congregation:

How would you describe your experience of being a new mom?

Tired! Overjoyed! Blessed beyond belief! I honestly had no idea what caring for a newborn 24/7 would be like and the sleep deprivation hit me hard. At the same time, it’s such a privilege to have watched Ellie (Baby Elisabeth) grow from newborn to almost toddler. I can’t wait for the next chapters of our journey as a family to unfold.

What’s your proudest moment of Ellie so far?

It’s hard to choose just one! With her curious, funny and bright personality she makes friends wherever she goes. To see how people react to her smile makes me hopeful for her future – and the world.

What fun things did you experience together as a family during your time away?

Again, so hard to choose from! I think a big one right now is watching Ellie explore different foods. The mess she makes in a matter of minutes is glorious, but to see the joy in her face and her sounds of excitement make up for all the scrubbing.

Initially I had planned to travel much more during mat-leave. But again, I underestimated the reality of living with a baby. I’m glad we we able to bring Ellie home to both Tim’s and my family in Germany for a Blessing in February 2025. It was wonderful for our extended relations to get to know her, and for us too. Being surrounded by family and friends constantly in her care was awesome! In July 2025, we traveled to Tobermory, Ontario to enjoy a couple of days in the sun (and not so much heat!) – including a ferry trip to the Flowerpot Islands and a visit to the Singing Sands Beach. Ellie isn’t fond of car rides yet, but a trooper when it comes to all other aspects of travel, so we had a really good time together!

How do you feel about returning to work? Is there anything specific you hope to accomplish?

I’m excited to get back to work! I’ve missed you all and working together for God’s kingdom. In the past 5 years, our church has been through a lot and inevitably a lot of energy was put into dealing with specific issues. I hope now we can focus more on spiritual growth and our vision for the future. I’m looking forward to finding out what the Lutherans by the Lake feel called to do in the coming years. I also can’t wait to celebrate 70 years of Martin Luther Church – what an accomplishment! It took courage, hard work and grace to get here. So let’s praise the Lord and have a party!

What would you like to tell the congregation upon your return?

I want to express my most sincere gratitude! I truly appreciate being given the time to get to know my daughter and care for her. I felt your prayers coming our direction constantly and had so many beautiful and practical gifts arrive at the parsonage even months after her arrival. When we came back to church for the first time as a family, standing in the circle at communion meant so much to me. Ellie being embraced by the congregation with nothing but joy made my heart smile! I know that a lot of people worked extra hard to offer spiritual care, worship, community and leadership in my absence. I will be eternally thankful to you all!