Last updated on March 14th, 2023
Dinner Church by the Lake involves a simple meal and service based on the community meals of the early Christians. Held once a month midweek on a Wednesday at 7:00 pm, the first Wednesday of the month from Maundy Thursday (special service, an exception) to September.
To join the Dinner Church planning team, please contact Andrea Dannecker, dinnerchurch@martinluther.ca
Volunteer helpers are welcome for set up and take down.
This year’s Dinner Church 2023 are scheduled for:
Maunday Thursday April 6, 2023 at 7pm
Wednesday May 3, 2023 at 7pm
Wednesday June 7, 2023 at 7pm
Wednesday July 5, 2023 at 7pm
Wednesday August 2, 2023 at 7pm
Wednesday September 6, 2023 at 7pm
In the past Dinner Church, we had an array of guest speakers from the community. If noone was available, then our pastor or vicar/intern held a short devotion.
On Wednesday July 20, 2022 our guest speakers from Friends of Humber Bay Park and Bees for Peace. On June 15, 2022 our guest speaker was Natalie Sharpe from Stonegate Ministry. On May 18, 2022 our guest speaker was Intern Nefeli Xiggos.
April 14, 2022 Maundy Thursday Dinner Church by the Lake
November 17, 2021 Dinner Church by the Lake
On October 20, 2021 our new Pastor Annika Klappert led a devotion and shared her musical talent with us. On September 22, 2021 our guest speaker was Rachel Reesor who informed us about the project of the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment in Etobicoke (https://jeanaugustinecentre.ca/). On July 27, 2021, we held our first in-person Dinner Church by the Lake since 2020 and met outside, in front of our church entrance. On June 23, 2021, our Interim Pastor, Dr. Gerhard Hille, spoke about spirituality – despite dementia. On May 19, 2021, our guest speakers were Carrie Dohe and Anne McArdle who spoke about “Bees for Peace”. This project creates paths of peace between communities of faith through protecting the bees and other creatures that pollinate our flowers and bring nourishment to our bodies.
On April 28 2021 we gathered for a time of sharing in the Word, prayer, and learning with Barbara Sheffield (Islington United Church) who spoke about interfaith and refugee work. On March 24, 2021, Rev. Brian McIntosh (Bloordale United Church) spoke about Indigenous right relations including the TRC process, the 94 Calls to Action in its 2015 report, and the church’s need to recognize the harm we’ve done in Residential Schools. On December 16, 2020 we gathered online for a time of sharing in the Word, prayer, and reflection with our interim Pastor Dr. Gerhard Hille.
On November 4, 2020, our fifth Dinner Church by the Lake online, we gathered online for a time of sharing in the Word, prayer, and reflection with our guest speaker was Rev. Denise Gillard, Senior Leader of Denise Gillard Ministries, Founder and Executive Artistic Director of The HopeWorks Connection, and the Senior Pastor at Kingdom City Church, G.T.A. On October 14, 2020 Vicar Silke Fahl led a reflection on Thanksgiving and gratefulness.
On September 16, 2020 at our third Dinner Church by the Lake online Vicar Jordan Smith led a reflection on “gathering and harvest” and spoke about the “Give Peas a Chance” project and the new Food Bank at Saint Pius X Catholic Parish (2305 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6S 1P1) in Bloor West Village. See Blog: See what grows when you Give Peas a Chance
On June 17, 2020 at our second Dinner Church by the Lake online our guest speaker was Bob Sharkey from Wesley Mimico United Church. He shared how volunteers support people with food deliveries while the Food Bank is closed.
On May 13, 2020, at our first Dinner Church by the Lake online, Rev. Dawn Leger of St. John’s Anglican Church led the reflection and discussion.
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The coronovirus crisis hit in Canada with a nationwide lock down starting March 16, 2020. See our blog “COVID-19 Church Closure” dated March 11, 2020
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On March 4, 2020 Dinner Church by the Lake our guest speaker was Vicar Silke Fahl on the topic of “Confidence! 7 weeks without pessimism“ On February 5, 2020 our guest speaker was Dr. Clarise Chan, Clarity Wellness Chiropractic (www.cwchiro.ca) On January 8, 2020 ou Vicar Silke Fahl led a reflection on the New Year.
On December 4, 2019 Consultant Hannah Johnston led us into the season of Advent. On November 6, 2019 we welcomed Karen MacPherson from the Wesley Mimico United Church Food Ministries as our guest speaker.
On October 9, 2019 our guest speaker was Sandra Van, GARDENS Advisory Council Co Chair, who spoke about the Gardens Pod Project https://www.gardenslakeshore.ca/about-us
On September 4, 2019 guest speaker was Teresa Kurek, Martin Luther Daycare Supervisor. http://martinlutherchildcare.ca/
On June 5, 2019 Dinner Church by the Lake our guest speaker was Emily Slotegraaf, Stonegate Ministry and Great Finds thrift store ( https://www.stonegateministry.ca/). She spoke about things relevant to the community, like poverty and loneliness. All are welcome to donate gently used items to the thrift store at 2358 Lake Shore Blvd West. A donation bin is at the back of the building to drop off items on the weekends. [Great Finds thrift store has since closed]
On May 1, 2019 our guest speaker was Rev John Kim, Coordinator Spiritual & Religious Care, Lakeshore Lodge Long-Term Care Home, 3197 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON M8V 3X5 416-392-9400, ltc-ll@toronto.ca
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/long-term-care-homes/lakeshore-lodge/
On April 3, 2019 our guest speaker was Carla Neto, Community Program Manager, Women’s Habitat (Shelter & Outreach) 140 Islington Ave, Etobicoke, ON M8V 3B6 https://womenshabitat.ca/
On Pancake Tuesday, March 5, 2019 our guest speaker was Tanya Zielke, Early Childhood Educator, John English Public School.
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A video production Being Neighbour: It’s called Dinner Church, produced by Lutherans Toronto, on August 29, 2019 (4.40 minutes) invites their neighbours to mid-week worship, built around conversation and a meal. For some it’s an alternative to Sunday worship and for some it’s a chance to braid the week together at church and enjoy a relaxed time in community.
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In 2019 we were glad to receive a grant from the ELCIC Women of Faith Fund. We look forward to developing this fellowship around food, especially with the help of Hannah Johnston who worked on Dinner Church as community coordinator at St. Lydia’s church in Brooklyn, New York.
