1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

CHRIST CALLING
Summer Edition – June 28, 2015
LVAP CLOSES: The End of an Era
June has been a difficult month for our Lincoln
Village Weekday Activities Program. In late May,
we received word from the Ministry of Education
that we needed to be licensed under Ontario’s Day
Nurseries Act in order to continue with the number
of children we needed for the program to be
sustainable. Church Council, reluctant to give up on
what has been a very significant ministry of
outreach in our community, pursued both the
possibility of having the program become licensed
and having the program taken over by another
agency, similar to how the YWCA began the
program at Christ Church in 2002. Unfortunately,
after completing the required research into both
options, we had to give notice to both our LVAP
families and staff that June 25, the last day of school,
would also be the last day for our program.
Christ Church took over the program in September
2006. The previous spring, the YWCA determined
that the Lincoln Village site (Christ Church) was not
financially viable with its registration of 13 children.
The church consulted with parents and Shannon
Pollard, the team leader of the YW program, and
recognized that there was a need for the program for
the students at Sandowne and Lexington schools.
Shannon was given the green light by the church to
try to develop the program on a one-year trial basis.
At the end of 2007, registration was still growing: at
its height, the program had a capacity registration of
30 children per day and a waiting list.
Registration dipped significantly three years ago
when the Waterloo Region District School Board
began in-school daycare. We accommodated the
decreased registration in order to keep the program
viable. This year, however, we lost children to the
Sandowne program mid-year. Although Shannon
and her staff were quite successful in getting new
registrations for the fall of 2015, the costs associated
with having the program licensed and the amount of
time it would take to do so would not have allowed
us to begin in September with more than five
children under 10 years of age.
Clearly, the need that gave rise to our offering an
after-school (and later a before-school) program is
diminishing significantly because of in-school
programs at both Sandowne (and now) Lexington
schools. Closing the LVAP was a difficult-butnecessary decision.
We do not come to this point without thanking the
many from our congregation who have given
support to the program over the past 9 years,
especially the past and present members of our
LVAP Management Committee, our Mutual
Ministry Committee, and Church Council.
We say a special thank-you to Shannon Pollard
whose enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to the
program resulted in so much goodwill and good
care of the children in our community.
SUMMER AT CHRIST CHURCH
Worship continues on Sundays at 10 a.m.
throughout July and August. Although Pastor James
is away for most of the summer in Scotland (at St.
John’s) and then on holiday, the parish is in good
hands with both our professional staff and a
succession of excellent supply preachers. Please
consult the July and August 2015 parish planners for
details.
When pastoral care needs arise over July and
August, please call the church office for a referral to
our on-call clergy. Here is the schedule.
Michael Hackbusch, June 24-28
Bonnie Cole Arnal, June 28-July 3
Glenn Chestnutt, July 3-July 19
André Lavergne, July 19-July 26
Tim Hegedus, July 26-August 23
James Brown, August 23-September 1
Our church office hours change slightly in July and
August. With the exception of July 17, 27, and Civic
Holiday (August 3), the church office will be open
each week on
Monday, Tuesday, and Friday – 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Wednesday and Thursday – 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
From August 4-7, we’ll have a receptionist-secretary
replacing our church administrator.
SACRAMENTS AND SEASONS
Funerals
To say that this has been a spring of highs and lows
for our congregation is an understatement. As we
have celebrated with our families many new
beginnings, so we have grieved the untimely death
of very dear members of our congregational family.
We pray God’s presence in the grace of the Holy
Spirit for all of these passages.
A large congregation filled the Chapel of the Erb and
Good Family Funeral Home on April 11 to
remember before God and one another our beloved
Florence (Flo) Binkley ( 7 April 2015). Flo and her
husband Jerry have been so present and active in
our congregation and the wider community over the
years, our sense of loss is significant.
Baptisms
We received word from Halifax on June 13 of the
death of one of our charter members, Ken
Tuckwood (12 June 2015). Ken, the father of Kelly
Wildfang, Karen Falkenstern, and Steve Tuckwood,
moved to Halifax 20 years ago with his second wife,
Margy. All three children were in Halifax with Ken
and Margy on June 12. Ken had been seriously ill
for under a week.
On Easter 6/Mother’s Day/May 10, we welcomed
Elizabeth Rose Stewart McCoy (b. 27 January 2015)
into the Body of Christ. Elizabeth is the daughter of
Jessica and Brian McCoy of our congregation, and
baby sister to Gavin.
On Pentecost 2, June 7, Ingrid Frances Zwiers (b. 8
May 2015), daughter of Ruth Lavergne and Ian
Zwiers, baby sister of Calum, and Mason Robert
Oldfield (b. 13 April 2014), son of Stephanie and
Travis Oldfield, were baptized in the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
New Members
Mason’s baptism also provided the opportunity for
Mason’s parents, Stephanie and Travis Oldfield to
join our congregation through Affirmation of
Baptism. Elsabe Coetzer, who has been very much
part of our parish life for over a year, also joined the
congregation of Christ, Waterloo on June 7 through
Affirmation of Holy Baptism.
Confirmations
Three of our youth also affirmed the baptismal vows
made on their behalf by parents and sponsors on the
day of their baptism.
On the Feast of the Holy Trinity, May 31, Pastor
James, Youth Minister Alicia Becker, and Seminarian
Leena Jensen, led the Affirmation rite and laying on
of hands for Daniel Zeller, Julie Gerber, and Julie’s
brother Jake Gerber. All three confirmands
completed two years of classes studying the Bible
and Christian doctrine with Alicia and Pastor James.
The also participated in the annual Confirmation
Camp at Camp Edgewood in Eden Mills. Leena
team-taught, this past year, as Daniel, Julie, Kayla
Schenk, and Joel Henkel completed their Bible-study
year. All are involved in our youth program and
supporting our Sunday School.
Ken was cremated in Halifax, but a memorial service
took place at Christ Church, Waterloo on June 16.
Margy did not travel to Waterloo for the service, but
received a video recording on-line, using the same
technology that allows our distant and shut-in
members to join us for Sunday worship.
The next day, our Sanctuary was the site of the
funeral for another of our Christ Church saints. A
full church of members, family, and friends gathered
to mourn the death and give thanks for the life of
Shirley Freeman ( 11 June 2015) and commend her
to the greater care of Almighty God. Referring to her
stewardship of our Community Garden and her
deep involvement in so many of our church events,
especially the Christmas Craft and Bake Sale, Pastor
James described Shirley’s contribution to the life of
our congregation as legendary. We shall miss greatly
her dedication, her service, and the joy she brought
to every project in which she participated.
It was almost too much to bear, but news of the
death of Ralph Elsaesser ( 16 June 2015) was given
to Pastor James by GRH Director of Spiritual Care
John Lougheed, as Pastor James entered the
hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after Ken Tuckwood’s
memorial. Ralph had had an accident in uptown
Waterloo on June 13 that resulted in a severe head
injury. Like Shirley, Ralph was amazingly active in
our congregation, present every Sunday for worship
and then lunch out at the Dearborn; part of our new
Thursday morning men’s breakfast; present and
involved in every book and Bible study. His death
and the lack of information surrounding his injury
has been extremely difficult for family and friends.
A public visitation took place on June 26 at the
Lounsbury Funeral Home in Cambridge. Family and
close friends then gathered on Saturday, June 27 at
Parkview Cemetery for the service of committal. A
public memorial is tentatively planned for the early
fall.
Ralph was Professor of Piano at the Faculty of
Music, WLU for most of his professional career. The
presence, on June 26, of former students and
colleagues as well as longtime friends of Ralph and
Helen’s, and many members of Christ Church
offered an outpouring of gratitude for his
contribution to their lives and the K-W musical
community.
CHRISTWATCH
In our Sunday prayers and our prayers at home
throughout the week, please remember –
 the ELCIC meeting in convention, July 9-12 in
Edmonton, Alberta. Our lay delegate is Alison
Burkett; Pastor André Lavergne will attend as
Assistant to National Bishop, Susan Johnson;
 the families and staff of the Lincoln Village
Activities Program as they make new beginnings
and plans for September;
 all who travel at this time of the year, including
the Chestnutt and Brown families;
 Jerry Binkley (now living at St. Jacob’s Place,
Water Street, St. Jacob’s);
 and Alexander, Robert Bailey, Heidy Banderob,
Peter Bender, David Beskau, Sylvia Brightwell and
Pam Hill, Margaret Colby and Kevin Rogers, Paul,
Wayne Drew, Ellen, Lynn Emptage, Marlene
Falcioni, Helm Filipowitsch, Faye Fisher, Silke
Force, Aaron Gagnon, Bill Gillespie, Eleanor
Grant, Aiyana Hackbusch, Tim Hegedus, , Richard
Huth, August Knabenschuh, Kathleen Kroeger,
John and Kera, Marlene Leeman, Laura and
Matthew MacGregor, Robert McCallum, Ken,
Helga and Helmut Niemann, Gini Nolan, Pat,
Royal Quehl, Earl and June Rader, Teagan Sauder,
Pat Schertzer, Carley Scott, Alison, Jeff, and Kira
Senior, Adam Sokolowski, Barbara Strang, Terry,
Judy Thomas, Carl and Joan Totzke, Joseph
Treusch, Marta Wagler, Al Wahl, Monica Walsh,
Heinz-Wilhelm and Hildegard Weltner, Monica
Wilk, and Wendy.
ON www.christwaterloo.ca
 the latest edition of The Eastern Synod Lutheran. If
you would like a paper copy of TESL, please call
Valerie in the church office.
 a tribute to Helen and Ralph Elsaesser in the form
of a nomination by Alice Croft for the 1996
Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association
Special Teacher Award.
 updated July and August calendars.
 Kelly, Karen, Steve, Margy, and their families as
they mourn the death of father and husband, Ken
Tuckwood;
COMMUNITY BARBECUE
Our Third Annual!
Thursday, September 17, 5 – 8 p.m.
 Bob and Rose Freeman, Shirley’s son and
daughter-in-law; and Jeanette Nelson, Shirley’s
dear friend;
Circle this date on your calendar, invite your friends,
whet your appetite for the great free food we’ll be
rustling up for all our neighbours and friends.
 Ann and Tom Elsaesser as they mourn the death
of their father, Ralph;
But first…
 consider helping with this whole-communit/whole
church event by serving on the organizing
committee (see Alicia Becker or Conrad
Knabenschuh);
 Heather Motz, as she mourns the death on June 23
of her sister, Jo-Anne Grant;
 Bonnie and Oz Cole-Arnal as they mourn Mike
Curtis (Bonnie’s cousin), Wayne Ednie, and
Richard Elkin (Oz’s friends);
 Frances Ahara (Bonnie’s aunt) mourning the death
of her son, Mike Curtis;
 those recovering from cancer treatment, including
Sonja Granskou, Susan Howard, and Peggy Jarvie;
 offer to distribute flyers and signs;
 make a monetary contribution to offset our costs
(we broke even last year because one of our
neighbours made a donation);
 be a cook, a musician, a set-up/clean-up person;
help in the kitchen; help with the partner fair, etc.,
etc…