Christianity living in a complex neighbourhood
First Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. About Us »
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WORSHIP 10:30 AM SUNDAYS
WORSHIP SERVICES
FEBRUARY 2026
Sunday Februray 1th, 2026
10:30 AM
4th Sunday in Epiphany
Holy Communion, welcoming Pastor Emily.
Potluck lunch to follow. All are welcome.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
5th Sunday after Epiphany
Service of the Word
Sunday, February 15, 2026
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Holy Communion
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Ash Wednesday
Fellowship with light snacks at 6pm, and Taizé service at 7pm at the Church.
Sunday, February 22
First Sunday in Lent
NO SERVICE at 10:30am!
3:00 pm Please note change of time!
Installation of Pastor Emily Graff
Holy Communion
Sunday, March 1
Second Sunday in Lent
Holy Communion
Zoom Links for online worshiping: Please use this link for the regular Sunday worship services. You may also contact the pastor to get zoom links for specific events.
WELCOMING PASTOR EMILY
On Sunday, November 23,2025 members of First voted overwhelmingly in favour of extending the call to Pastor Emily Graff, which she has graciously accepted. We are greatly looking forward to welcoming Pastor Emily into our congregation as our new pastor effective February 1, 2026.
Pastor Emily grew up in Illinois, and most recently served as Assistant Pastor at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. She attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained in 2024. In August of 2024, she began her first call at Abiding Presence. Pastor Emily is passionate about everything the community here at First represents and is excited to engage our neighbourhood in urban ministry and to join in the collaborative lay worship we celebrate here.
Emily has moved to Toronto this winter – just in time for the biggest one-day snow fall in living memory – with her wife and their 3-year-old daughter. She be installed at First Lutheran on Sunday, February 22nd, 2026, 3:00 pm. Pastor David Tin, Dean of the Toronto Central Ministry Area will perform the installation.
RECONCILING IN CHRIST
First Lutheran Church adopted this statement of welcome and affirmation to queer and trans people on April 14, 2024:
We appreciate and celebrate the participation of all members of our diverse and multicultural community in the ongoing life of First Lutheran. As an ever-reforming church we recognize this has not always been the case. In light of this, we strive to value and respect people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, to work against racism and colonialism, and to welcome all people. God loves each of us as we are, and all are invited to join us as we try to live into that good news.
By this action First Lutheran joins the Reconciling-In-Christ program, a ministry of Reconciling Works: Lutherans for Full Participation. Reconciling Works advocates for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community.
First Lutheran also adopted a motion to replace its 2005 statement opposing same-sex blessings with the new statement of welcome. First also committed itself to ongoing study and regular renewal of the commitment to this, other forms of inclusion.
HYBRID SERVICES
First Evangelical Lutheran Church offers hybrid (in-person at 116 Bond Street and on Zoom) worship. Unless otherwise noted you can attend in person or online.
The in-person/zoom services will take place Sundays at 10:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
If for any reason you prefer to worship at home, please use the following the Zoom link to join our Sunday service.
LITTLE FREE PANTRY MINISTRY
Click here for more information.