Ottawa Lutherans

09/04/2026

Will you be fasting from AI this Season of Creation? Read the caption to find out why some Lutherans in the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are doing so!

Today is the Feast of Creation, also known as Creation in Christ, the first day of the Season of Creation! Running annually until October 4th, the Season of Creation is a global ecumenical effort to pray for Creation, give thank to the Creator for this bountiful gift, and to act in solidarity with the Earth that God declared to be so good.

The Eastern Synod Climate Justice Committee invites you to check out one of the three following resources:

First of all, the committee has provided a list of worship resources and other activities you can take on with your congregation to incorporate Creation themes into both worship and fellowship.

Secondly, the Season of Creation is also a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how you can take tangible steps to nurture Creation on your church property! The committee has created a resource for congregations looking to develop native pollinator plant gardens.

Finally, the committee is also encouraging all members of the Synod to engage in a fast from artificial intelligence this season. At a time when the technology is unfolding rapidly, an influx of data centres being constructed prompts us to ask questions regarding their environmental footprint, their water usage, and their energy consumption. An AI fast is meant to invite us to slow down, consider the issue from a variety of perspectives, and resolve to take action to protect land, water, energy resources, and above all human dignity as we face the challenges that AI presents.

For all of this and more, see the Climate Justice Committee's webpage here: easternsynod.org/category/climate/

09/04/2026

Tomorrow! Join us for a captivating afternoon piano concert where poetry and music come alive together. Over the course of one inspiring hour, Alexander will fill the church with the timeless music of Beethoven, Chopin, and Ravel.

And as always, admission by donation to support the artist!

RSVP here: https://www.ottawalutherans.org/event-details/st-peters-concert-series-presents-alexander-merpaw

08/08/2026

Mary of Bethany? I don't know her...

08/01/2026

Today we celebrate Emancipation Day, marking 192 years since the Slavery Abolition Act came into affect across the British Empire, including what would later become Canada. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada voted to officially recognise and celebrate the holiday at its National Convention in 2025.

This is an important opportunity to learn and reflect about the history of slavery and systemic racism, both here in Canada and abroad. In total, 12.5 million Africans were taken captive and brought to the Americas as slaves. 2 million are estimated to have died during the perilous trans-Atlantic passages.

In Canada, it is estimated that 4,200 Black and Indigenous people were forced into slavery between 1671 and 1831, according to historian Marcel Trudel.

Emancipation Day is not only about remembering this history, but also committing ourselves to undoing the bonds of systemic racism that persist to this day, as well as celebrating the resilience and perseverance of BIPOC people and communities across Turtle Island.

For educational, liturgical, and Biblical resources to observe and celebrate Emancipation Day, check out this resource from our siblings in the Anglican Church of Canada: https://www.anglican.ca/resources/emancipation-sunday/

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/emancipation-day.html

07/27/2026

05/24/2026

GREAT GLEBE GARAGE SALE ANNUAL PLANT SALE

Great selection of plants from our gardens. This sale supports refugee families in Ottawa and the plants are so good, customers return year after year!

DATE - Saturday, May 23 8 AM -1 PM

LOCATION - corner of Second Ave & Percy St.

Perennial Plants include: hostas, ribbon grass, peonies, seal of solomon, coreopsis, pachysandra, corydalis, irises, lilies, lamb's ears, hens-and-chicks, lady's mantle, and cranesbill geranium

Fruit and edible plants include: rhubarb, jalapenos, cucumber, tomato, spinach, chives, oregano

05/08/2026

"The materials that make up the church are living stones, people like you and me who are rough around the edges, who don’t fit the requirements of perfect and pleasing proportions, who often enough fail to live in ways that are pleasing to God. The good news of the gospel is that God accepts all, and includes all, and wants all people to know they are welcome just as they are. Each one of us brought into the community of believers is a chosen and loved child of God no matter how rough our edges may be. As living stones built together by God into the church, we can appreciate the unique contribution that each member makes toward the community called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light."

Read Bishop Cindy's full sermon here: https://www.ottawalutherans.org/post/may-3-~-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life

04/30/2026

Great to see the Care for Creation Committee and friends back in action this Sunday for the annual spring clean-up at Bronson Park! 🌱 Volunteers were supervised by our resident groundhog-in-chief (last slide), who, though grateful that his subordinates had returned to tidy his domain, was disappointed that they had failed to bring him the almond latte he had specifically requested.

04/24/2026

If we didn’t have doubt, we would never have to make the leap to faith. If we didn’t have doubt, why would we need hope, faith’s close companion? If we never had doubt, the world would never change and improve.

Read the full sermon here: https://www.ottawalutherans.org/post/april-12-~-doubt-pushes-us-to-make-a-leap-of-faith

04/19/2026

Resurrection in Orleans celebrates its 40th anniversary today!! 🎉🎉🎉

Below: Bishop William Huras and Pastor Joanna Malina consecrate the building site and participate in a sod turning ceremony to signal the start of construction of the current building, April 28th 1991.