TrilliumChurch22WillowWaterloo

09/07/2026

Looking forward to seeing folks back for Gathering Sunday and the Worship Band this coming weekend!

In the meantime, here are some highlights from Sundays over the summer, including a beautiful baptism!

Thank you to everyone who keeps our community worshiping together during busy summer schedules: readers, altar care, ushers, tech, musical leaders (Lys, Bill, Ralph, Emmanuel, Cailey) Pastor Hans and Pastor Claudine, and of course Lilla and Pastor Leanne!

09/02/2026

On our final day of Peacemakers Camp, we brought all our learning together with Jesus’ parable about the wise builder (Matthew 7:24-29). We reflected on how all the teachings we learned from our neighbours and scripture can help us take steps toward ‘building strong community’ that supports everyone through good times and hard times.

Campers experimented with building their own stable structures and gave them a stress test using a shake table. They practiced encouraging one another with affirmations in the back of their nature journals.

And, we had a special guest! Kelly Fran Davis and her team from Two Row Educational Services shared teachings from the Thanksgiving Address and helped us pray with our feet with a circle dance. We are grateful for Kelly’s generous leadership and how it helps us and our children better understand community as encompassing more than just human beings!

Junior leaders surprised campers with a handmade piñata and a terrarium they made for Trillium. A huge shout out to Sara for her work with them all week!

We ended the day by celebrating with the larger community, camper guardians, and church folks. There was music and round dance and food!

A final thank you to Nathan & Lisa (the Trillium staff who make this program possible), Anna for her gift of music, Monica for her support in the office, counsellors, junior leaders, and community & Trillium volunteers who share their teachings, make snacks, host the BBQ, write programming, join the band, run sessions … and so much more!!!

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

09/01/2026

Poet, Writer, and Farmer Wendell Berry died yesterday at the age of 92.

The song "What We Need Is Here," which Trillium has used at different points along our journey to guide us through discernment, is a line from one of his poems.

Learn more about his life, love for creation, and faith here: https://www.christiancentury.org/features/wendell-berry-s-vision-sacred-world?fbclid=IwY2xjawUD3mRwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUlzRHJURGJHQ1BlNzNIMmZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedkVScmBrZlQ8ZoU0Mteu5GFr5Zj0WroEJLbXkkbViGHemcqoua79pWOO36E_aem_dxGT5lg02PSeOxXmRstFgQ

Experience, reading, and the daily rounds of farm work taught Wendell that scripture is correct: Every creature and every inch of earth is made and approved by...

09/01/2026

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/

08/30/2026

On Thursday at Peacemakers Camp, we explored the theme “Do Not Worry” and “Do Not Judge” (from Matt. 6:25 - 7:5).

We were honoured by a visit from the Venerable Zhi Guan of Fo Guang Shan Temple who used stories to help us to understand the 3 G’s of Buddhism and how we can all practice non-judgement. Older campers walked to visit our neighbours at the Buddha’s Light Centre for their learning time and a surprise snack! Thank you for your teaching and hospitality!

The Good Earth Community Garden volunteers helped us appreciate the gifts of Creation, which Jesus uses to teach us about letting go of our worries, through a garden scavenger hunt and some craft time.

And counselors challenged their campers to some team-building activities to practice sharing and listening to one another without judgement.

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

08/29/2026

On Wednesday at Peacemakers Camp, Matthew 5:43-6:4 inspired us to 'pray with our feet' by giving to our neighbours and loving our enemies.

We are grateful for special guests Harjot Singh and Komal Kaur from Golden Triangle Sikh Association who shared about living in a good way in their tradition and helped us better understand what it means to give to our neighbours. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us!

We practiced getting to know and appreciate the parts of creation we sometimes think of as enemies (bugs!).

And we learned about Community Ministry at Trillium while preparing care packages for the program. Thank you to all the campers and staff who brought in donations to contribute!

During our 'choice time' activities, volunteer Carol has been teaching the practice of 'zentangle.' Check out the campers' drawings!

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Golden Triangle Sikh Association

08/28/2026

Footpaths After-School Camp registration is open!

Footpaths includes:
- Wednesday after-school care from 3:30 to 5:45 for elementary school kids featuring, games, snacks, music, land-based learning, music and spiritual exploration.
- Transportation from Sandowne Public School and École L’Harmonie is included.
- Dynamic camp counsellor staff (1:8 staff to camper ratio; screened with a vulnerable sector police check and receive child safe training)
- Free community supper option provided for camper families, staff and volunteers.

Trillium Lutheran Church has offered Wednesday programming for kids and teens since 2020. Our community cares about inclusivity, hospitality, and care of creation.

Register Here:

Register for after-school care at Trillium.

08/27/2026

On Tuesday at Peacemakers Camp, we reflected on restoring relationships as a way to 'pray with our feet,' inspired by Matt. 5:23-26.

Thank you to Mary Ann Mooney, Chaplain at Grand Valley Institution for Women, who led activities with campers about restorative justice. We all learned a lot!

Reflecting on how we can work towards restoring our Two Row treaty relationship, campers wrote letters to the Canadian government about protecting the rights and lives of Indigenous children; they will be sent in February for the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada's "Have a Heart Day" Campaign.

We took a step towards restoring our relationship with creation by planting native flower species along the Spurline Trail and learning to identify native flowers. Campers sure took colouring their flower ID cards seriously!

And, of course, much fun was had during our Water Day Activities!

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

08/25/2026

Grateful to have Anna with us this week forming campers in the tradition of singing resistance