Last updated on November 7th, 2025
Pastor Annika Klappert, (August 15, 2021-) (German- and English-speaking), 416-567-2487, pastor@martinluther.ca
Annika Klappert is the pastor of Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church. Born in Heidelberg (Germany), she studied in Muenster and Berlin before receiving pastoral training in Hamm/ Westphalia. She then joined us after 2.5 years as a student pastor in Muenster. Her ministry with us includes pastoral care, worship services for all ages and stages, finding relevant ways to talk about faith – the Bible and our Christian tradition – in everyday conversations, visits, and events. Her calling stems from a deep conviction that our purpose in life is to be connected to God and to each other. She also feels that at times, a song can be the better sermon and that training/mentoring volunteers in all fields of ministry lies at the heart of pastoral service today. When not busy at church, she stays in touch with family and friends around the globe, while enjoying the diverse culinary treats that Torontonian cuisine and her very own chef, husband Tim, have to offer.
“What I love about my work is meeting so many people in different life situations and stages. Sharing both joy and sorrow and encouraging each other in faith greatly enriches my own life. I also really enjoy working with others on new ideas and projects — to be the Church that God needs today– to serve the people in our congregation, neighbourhood and beyond.” – Pastor Annika Klappert, August 15, 2021
Office Staff
Marlena Muller, Office Manager 416-251-8293 office@martinluther.ca
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 5 pm
Church Council in 2025-2026
Jocelyn Sommerfeld, President/Chair, president@martinluther.ca
Monika Schmidt, Vice-President and Sonja Schweiger, Vice-President/Vice-Chair, vicepresident@martinluther.ca
Kai Herrmann, Treasurer, treasurer@martinluther.ca
Tanya Zielke, Secretary via office@martinluther.ca
plus 4 Councillors-at-large. Positions are open to be filled on Church Council.
President/Chair Jocelyn Sommerfeld: “Martin Luther Church has been my second home since I was a child. I was baptized, attended Sunday School, and was confirmed here. Some of my favourite church experiences when I was young included attending Easter Sunrise services, visiting Camp Lutherlyn, and being in the Christmas Play. More recently, I have enjoyed coordinating events such as our Easter Sunrise breakfast and the annual Christmas Bazaar/Market. It is a privilege to have made so many wonderful connections with members of our congregation and community, and I continue to be inspired by the work of our staff and volunteers who are dedicated to making our church a pillar of Mimico-by-the-Lake. All are welcome!”
Treasurer: Kai Herrmann. “My family joined Martin Luther Church when we were looking for a congregation to baptize our first child. I moved here from Germany in 2005 and this congregation is my connection to my home country and reconnecting to the values of Lutherans. As a family we enjoy the services and the leisure activities in our congregation, and I am happy to be part of maintaining and growing the community”
Our lay preachers are Tanya Zielke, Katja Brittain, and Iris Schweiger, all three having completed a lay preacher training program at the Evangelische Kirche Deutschland (EKD) in Germany.
Katja Brittain is a lay preacher (Prädikantin) at Martin Luther Church in Toronto. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology. In her reflections, she connects biblical texts with everyday experiences and invites listeners to discover faith as a living force in daily life. Professionally, she works with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and is committed to supporting the future of congregations and their church buildings.
Lay preacher Iris Schweiger: “In 2017, I completed a lay preacher training program at the EKD in Germany and have been leading worship on occasional Sundays in English and German at MLC, First Lutheran and St. Georg’s Lutheran Church. My passion is inspiring people to live in and work with the love of Christ. I am always seeking to establish new ways to open the church doors to help neighbours, friends and congregation members find their programming needs.”
Council Secretary and Lay preacher: Tanya Zielke. “I am one of the Council members again this year. I enjoy being part of a team that promotes the building of the church. When I am not on the Council, I am active in the choir, helping where I am needed, and, from time to time, preaching a worship service. My favorite thing is when there is singing in worship. When I sing hymns, I feel close to God and the Holy Spirit. When I am not at church, I work as a preschool teacher (I teach in the French kindergarten) or I work for the City of Toronto at the Olympic indoor swimming pool. I love reaching out to neighborhood groups and looking for ways to bridge the gap between the church and the community. I look forward to seeing you at our church.”