June, 2004 - Nr. 6
Celebration of old Customs in a New World
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
It
was like stepping into the past. May 16th saw a lot of people
flock to the little church on College Street, corner of Lippingcott, which
had not been there for a while, because they had moved away. But on this day
of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the German Canadian
congregation at the church of St. George many parishioners arrived to
celebrate. Already outside it could be seen that something special was
happening.
The
steady flow of arrivals went up the few stairs and entered through the
adorned doors into the inner sanctum, which was festively decorated with
flowers throughout. Each pew had a pretty bouquet attached.
Church
elders advised people as to where to sit, and thought of me just as someone
to take pictures. Little did they know or remember that I too have plenty of
memories that tie me to this church even though I do not belong to this
congregation.
Dr.
Goegginger, who was there from the very beginning in 1952 as an Assistant
Pastor when the first German Canadians congregated together at Sherbourne
and Bloor Street and who took over the congregation in full in January of
1954 as a newly formed and full fledged German Canadian congregation at St.
George the Martyr became much later, when we founded the paper, a close
friend of Echo Germanica. He wrote many an inspiring article of a
philosophical and spiritual nature for this, our community based paper and
spawned many interesting discussions. His wife Erika and some of the family
came that day, too. His first organist, Fekko von Ompteda, a very gifted and
amazingly progressive musician actually recruited me into the ranks of
German-Canadian cultural
activities
for shows at the German Club Harmonie on Sherbourne and later also for
activities in the basement of the church for this congregation, all of which
I have very fond memories of.
It
was also my honour to give eulogies of some prominent congregation members,
including Fekko von Ompteda, Otto Leib, and more recently Werner Graf.
Just like myself there were many who had their special memories of life and people. No matter what life held for all of us, Pastor Katharina Möller, installed as the congregations Pastor on Decemer 1st, 2002, reminded us of what is important in the Christian faith by quoting Psalm 103.2: Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is.
Pastor
Möller led in many other pastors who had come to celebrate, as well as
Bishop Micheal Pryse, who later, at the appropriate time during the festive
service, held a sermon offering his thoughts on the history of the
congregation.
I must say, the organ sounded lovely, the church looked
great - all freshly renovated, painte
d
and decorated, the organ sounded marvellous and inviting to sing along under
the able hands of Elke Eble-Streisslberger a
nd
the additional playing of the Pine Ridge Brass, as well as a solo
performance by Renita Rietz. This truly was a communal service to be
remembered for a long time.
After
the clergy had ended the service and was led out again by Pastor Möller the
congregation moved into the basement. To fit in all those people was not
easy, but somehow it worked out.
A
huge buffet, much of it donated by Ida Brandt, who always has been helpful
and generous to this congregation over many years, was just the right thing
to
stay and reminisce, and perhaps to think about how this congregation can be
revitalized even more into a congregation of all ages.
The English and German concept, as it was presented in the service and whole program of the festivities, was a great idea. It was inviting to those that are not fully able to hold their own in German. Thus anyone could participate in what we as a congregation hold dear, and do not want to see swallowed up by the big city and its hectic activities.
von links nach rechts:
(1. Reihe)
-
Pastor Martin Giebel, Christ the King-Dietrich Bonhoeffer Kirche
-
Pastor Prüfer
-
Pastorin Susanne Hofmann (Für 1 Jahr in der Martin-Luther Kirche)
-
Pastor Eberhard Schwantes
-
Pastor Joachim Knaack
-
Pastor Ralph Wushke, Bathurst United Church
2. Reihe
-
Pastor Swante Olson, Peace Lutheran Church in Square One, Mississauga
-
Pastor Stefan Wolf, Martin-Luther Kirche
-
Pastorin Katharina Möller St. Georgsskirche
-
Pastor Peter Mikelic, Epiphanias Kirche Scarborough
-
Bischof Michael Pryse, Eastern Synod ELCIC
-
Pastor Kevin Flynn, Anglican Church St. Steven in the Fields, College Str.
-
Pastor Hoeppe, Katholische St. Patrickskirche
The church holds copies of a Festschrift with all the historical data in English and German. All those who helped to make this such a wonderful occasion a great Thank You.
