Our Congregation
We are one half of "two congregations under one roof". We gather on Sundays with the people of St. John’s Lutheran Latvian Church to worship together, our respective congregations taking it in turn to lead worship and associated activities. Feast days, e.g. Christmas and Easter, are jointly led. The services offered by the St. Andrews congregation at St. John’s are bilingual, Latvian-English. No matter which congregation you belong to, everyone is warmly welcome to participate in our activities.
Sidrabene
In Sidrabene, St. Andrew’s "heart in the country", we meet on the first Sunday in the month from October through June. Our summer calendar begins in June.
Music Ministry
Music plays a significant and integral role at St. Andrew's — in Church services, Camp Sidrabene events, concerts, and various other events. For Latvians, singing is an act that is almost synonymous with being "Latvian." Music moves us, transforms us, and at St. Andrew's — draws us into a closer experience of God — which is a pretty awesome fact when we really think about it! There are many ways to participate in this experience — for example, by listening to and contemplating the sounds of music, by singing along to hymns or worship songs with other Church members, by using creative and learned talents to make music — either by playing an instrument or complementing with clapping, moving our bodies or visual expressions, by joining the choir in leading worship and by offering our talents to "make joyful noise unto the Lord." (Psalm 98, Psalm 100).
Congregational Leadership
To contact the council, email padome@standrewslatvian.org vai admin@standrewslatvian.org.
Officers
Liga Miklasevics
I am honoured to be the chair of St. Andrew’s Ev. Lutheran Latvian Church that has been a part of my life for the past 62 years. I started Sunday school at St. Andrew’s and still hold in my heart my beloved Sunday school teachers Mrs. A. Cēbers and Mrs. B. Kūla, (now B. Kūla-Bredovskis). Upon the invitation of Pastor Ilze 19 years ago, I began working with the confirmation class and loved my time with them. I was also elected to the church council where for the past 18 years I have held the positions of vice chair, secretary, and now am chair.
I am forever grateful to our forefathers and church leaders for their vision and outstanding work in creating our church community and Sidrabene. I feel a great responsibility to honour their labours and vision to continue to collaboratively preserve this precious heritage and work together to move forward into the future with Pastor Dag. I pray that the Lord will guide all of us to meet this mandate.
In my working life I was an educator both at Latvian Saturday school, Toronto Montessori School, Toronto District School Board and I retired as a school principal. I had the honour of working with outstanding educators and creating joyous and high-level learning environments to meet the demands of the 21st century.
I have been blessed with a loving and supportive family and friends. My husband Vilis is my right arm, and my two children Paul and Erika and Paul’s wife Agnese and his daughter Stella are my greatest blessings. Please feel free to contact me and offer your suggestions. I welcome your input to forge our common future.
Arnis Kalnins
Arnis Kalnins
I have been a Church Council member since 2018. I was baptized, confirmed and married in St. Andrew’s congregation. I was a long-time Sidrabene camper and counselor. I graduated from the Toronto Latvian primary school and high school. I have been a Boy Scout, Scout, Rover and Leader within the Riga 72nd Boy Scout troop. I offer experience in business and management.
Agris Robeznieks
Agris Robeznieks
I’m grateful to pastor Ilze that she convinced me to join St. Andrew’s Council. I hope to continue working and contributing positively to the future of the congregation.
Indra Mertens (nee Broks)
Happily married mother of 3 adult children, I have participated at St. Andrew’s since my marriage in 1986. Having made several international moves with my family, I became a member of the St. Andrew’s congregation in 2011 after returning to Canada. Shortly thereafter I joined the Church Council and have been a member ever since, serving five of those years as Council Chair. My Latvian heritage means very much to me and I look forward to continuing as an active member of the St. Andrew’s Church community.
Andy Starasts
Other council members
Marisa Zubans
I was raised in Latvian and English Lutheran churches on the USA west coast, where I was baptized and confirmed. St. Andrew's is my husband's family's home congregation, and he spent many summers at Camp Sid. My husband and our two daughters were baptized and confirmed at St. Andrew's. I teach the Latvian instrument “kokle” playing to students at the Latvian Saturday school and help manage a local community orchestra.
Voldemars Innus
My three main talents: Thinking through key aspects of issues, thinking outside of the box, and striving for consensus and focusing on outcomes.
My association with St. Andrew's congregation spans seven decades. I was a summer camp participant as well as a camp counselor. I have served on the Church Council both as a member and chair for many years. I have also served on Sidrabene's Management committee both as a member and Chair.
I was both confirmed and married at St. Andrew's. I have a cottage in Sidrabene and thoroughly enjoy my time there. The St. Andrew's congregation has gone through significant changes over the past 70 years. It is important that we continue on that journey of change to remain vibrant and relevant to our congregants.
Indra Liepins
My upbringing was focused on the Latvian community in Toronto including active membership in the St. Andrew’s congregation and Sidrabene. Raised to be community focused I have made career choices (not even always realizing it) working in the non-profit sector on national and community based projects and more recently, working as an educator in a community school in downtown Toronto. I am committed in honouring my heritage and understanding multi-generational viewpoints about the needs and interests of our congregation members moving forward.
Mara Zalcmanis
I grew up attending St. Andrew's and my fondest memories are listening to Pastor A. Čops and then Pastor J. Cālītis. My father served on the Church Council for a number of years when it was male dominated. I thought that it would be nice if council opened up to include more women. I was happy to see the change finally occurring, especially when we had a female pastor. During the 2000’s, Pastor Ilze convinced me that I could bring in a different perspective to council discussions. After several terms, I took a break and then recently felt that I was ready to rejoin and serve on council. I am currently endeavouring to work with Indra Mertens on revamping our congregation's constitution to better reflect the current times and changes to our demographics.
Anita Bredovskis
Astrida Kalnins
Karlis Siksna
Administrator
Sarma Gaide
admin@standrewslatvian.org
Director of Music
David Smits
dsmits@transmessenger.com
Sidrabene Property Manager
camp_sidrabene@yahoo.ca
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