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Carmel New Church & School |
Carmel New Church, Kitchener
The Carmel New Church has been a place worship in Kitchener for many years. In addition to Sunday worship services, we have weekly Sunday school classes, an elementary school for Junior Kindergarten to grade 8 children, a high school for students in grades 9 and 10, doctrinal class and morning study class for adults, youth instruction and activities, and social groups for young adults and young marrieds. We are hosts to outside community members and groups offering space for their programs, and welcoming them into our school and other programs.
We are located at 40 Chapel Hill Drive, just off of Caryndale Drive on the south side of the city, between Stauffer Drive and Huron Road in the region of Doon. For access from HWY 401 take Homer Watson Road at exit #275 and go north a little and then west. Telephone 519-748-5802, FAX 519-748-5875, or e-mail pastor@carmelnewchurch.org.
History
Earliest roots of the discovery of the New Revelation contained in the Writings of Emmanuel Swedenborg in the Kitchener area (at that time named Berlin) began with Christian Enslin in 1833. From this introduction, gradually followers of Swedenborg's Writings grew in numbers throughout the surrounding communities and the first Church of the New Jerusalem was built in 1870. By September 1891 the first General Church and school in Canada was begun in a rented house by Rev. Frederick Waelchli. A new building went up eight months later with the name "The Carmel Church of the New Jerusalem."
In 1960 the congregation purchased the present day property from society member, John Evens, for the purpose of building a church community where families would be within close proximity to the church and school. This proved to be a worthwhile endeavor with many families building homes as lots were made available. To this day it remains primarily a New Church community and many children are still within walking distance of the school.
In 2002, forty years after the dedication of the Carmel Church building, a large new addition for the school was completed and dedicated to serve the uses of New Church education. Then in 2007, another addition was completed which now houses the Carmel New Church Secondary School.
The congregation is working on a master plan to develop the remaining parcels of undeveloped land. Currently a retirement home for Seniors is in the advanced planning stage and also some new recreational fields. At this point in time the Carmel New Church and School is poised for growth and the spreading of the good news about the Lord's Second Advent.
Worship Services
You are invited to join us for worship every Sunday at 11:00 am. The service begins with a children's talk and then they are invited to go and attend our Sunday School programme. A Nursery is also provided for young children and infants. Next follows the readings for the adult portion of the service, and then a sermon is given to the adults aimed at stimulating thought about the life of religion and seeing how the truths in the Lord's Holy Word apply in our everyday lives. After the service, you are invited to join us for refreshments in the gymnasium.
If you are a seeker who is looking for a spiritual home, we think you will find all that you need and more at the Carmel New Church. We are a new breed of Christianity that has extensive teachings about how the Lord's love works in your life, the laws of His government, the joys of spiritual marriage between husband and wife, what to expect in the life after death, and a new perspective on the Second Coming.
In short, we believe that the Lord wants us to be able to enter into the mysteries of faith with understanding, because you can't really love and form a relationship with a God that you don't know and can't comprehend. Religion should make sense and be able to transform your life in meaningful and practical ways.
As you take the time to explore our Church community, we think you'll find that our motto rings true: "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it!" (Genesis 28:16)
Copyright © 2011 Carmel New Church. All rights reserved. 40 Chapel Hill Drive, Kitchener ON Canada