Friday November 6, 2009

(Picture of Poppy here?)

1)  Remembrance Day Service Sunday, November 8th

On Sunday we will have our annual Service of Remembrance.  A bugler and piper from the 48th Highlanders Regiment of Canada will participate in this touching service. 

2) Congregational Photo Album - November 19 - 22, 2009

Plans for the 180th Anniversary Congregational Photo Album are underway!  The organizers for our congregational photo directory have made arrangements with a professional photography company to be at the church from November 19 - 21, 2009. 

Please visit www.standrewstoronto.org/photo.htm in order to book your sitting for our 'Congregational Photo Directory'.  

There is absolutely no cost for having your photo taken.  Copies of the photos -- if you choose -- can be ordered at that time and will be ready before Christmas. 

3)  Out of the Cold Dinner - New Season began Monday November 2, 2009

At 6:00 p.m. on, Monday, November 2nd, our Out of the Cold program began its 18th year of service in the heart of the city of Toronto!  We served 143 guests, compared to only 90 at last year's opening night.  There were a lot of new faces coming in, and one young man, on departing, said:  "Wow, it's everything you guys said it would be...and MORE!"  The exit comments ranged from "delicious" to "very good."  The vegetarian main dish, spinach lasagna, was especially well received.

Thanks to the many volunteers who made our 2009 opening night such a big success.  The response from people interested in volunteering has been tremendous, which means there should now be no shortage of willing hands.

Financial donations to support the program are always welcome, and can be sent to the church office.  Please make cheques payable to "St. Andrew's Church" and show "Out of the Cold" in the notation line.   St. Andrew’s covers all administration costs and all financial donations go directly toward the purchase of food and supplies for the program.  

For information about corporate participation please speak to the "Out of the Cold" Coordinator Lorraine Irvine.    Please feel free to share information about the Out of the Cold programme in your workplaces if there are requests for suggestions about corporate charity donations.

If you would like to donate new or used warm winter clothing, books (not romance novels, please) or magazines, please bring the items to the church or contact Judy Neal in the church office.

4)  New date for "A Moveable Feast" Silent Auction for Out of the Cold
Due to a necessary change of location, the date for the silent auction has been changed to December 8th.  We'll have more information soon.

5)  Wine, Cheeses & Jesus

The Wine, Cheeses & Jesus fellowship group will meet on Thursday, November 19th in the Board Room at 7:00 p.m.  This month's speaker will be Irene Faiz.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

6) St. Andrew's Book Club - Thursday December 3, 2009 - "Through Black Spruce" by Joseph Boyden

The next meeting of the St. Andrew's Book Club will take place on Thursday December 3, 2009 at 7:00 pm.  The book for discussion will be Joseph Boyden's recent novel "Through Black Spruce", which won the 2008 Giller Prize.  The book is set in Northern Ontario, the streets of Toronto and the streets of Montreal. 

This will be the fifth meeting of the Book Club, which first met in the early part of 2009.  Since then, we have enjoyed a number of thoughtful, engaged and wonderful conversations.  All are welcome!

7) Portland Place

Portland Place is a Presbyterian Church residence for hard to house people with disabilities. A fund raising party is being held at the Edward Day Gallery on Wednesday, November 18. There will be wine, hors d’oeuvres, music and a silent auction – all proceeds to Portland Place.  Speak to David Wishart or Stevie Cameron for more details.

8)  St. Andrew's Church 175th Anniversary Bursary

The St. Andrew’s Church 175^th Anniversary Bursary is available in each year to a student or students enrolled in or embarking on a full-time or part-time course of post-secondary education at a recognized college, community college, university or trade school. The total amount of the bursary is $1,000 which may be allocated to one student or divided equally among two or more. The Bursary may my not be awarded in any year, at the discretion of the committee. Please refer to the Bursary Terms of Reference for a complete list of the criteria that will be considered and a description of the selection procedure.

If you would are interested in applying for the bursary, please contact Judy Neal in the church office for the application and terms of reference.  The deadline for applications is November 23, 2009.

9) Group Discount Rates for the ROM Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit

Please remember that we have arranged for group discounts for tickets to the ROM's Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.  This very special exhibit runs until January 3, 2010.  You may obtain the discount price for 1-10 tickets by purchasing online with your credit card.  For details click here, please see the following:

1) Go to: http://www.rom.on.ca/visit/group/index.php

2) Click on the button for "Buy your tickets online"

3) In the "Corporate Clients" box, click "Buy Now"

4) Select "Dead Sea Scrolls + General Admission"

5) Choose your date and time

6) For the "promo code", enter STANDREWS and hit submit

7) At the next screen (which should display the discount prices), select your tickets

8) Submit your credit card information, and print your tickets

Enjoy the show!

10) Online Donations

We are pleased to announce that donations to the Church, and to ministries such as the 'Out of the Cold' programme, can be made online.  To learn more, please click on the button below!