Wednesday, November 11, 2009

1) Just for interest's sake...

As many of you know, it was announced last night that Linden MacIntyre is the winner of the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize.  A few weeks ago, a pre-show interview with Mr. MacIntyre was filmed at St. Andrew's.  To see a portion of the clip, please visit:

http://watch.ctv.ca/the-scotiabank-giller-prize/2009/2009-scotiabank-giller-prize---ctvca-exclusive-interviews/clip233631#clip233650

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 - Update on attendance?

Joe-Anne Roberts, who serves at the front door of the 'Out of the Cold' programme and sends out a weekly summary each week, writes about last Monday night's dinner,

First of all a confession.  In my last e-mail, I said that we had 90 guests on or first week 2008/9.  I was incorrect, we actually had 106 which increased to 143 in 2009/10.  Now that is off my mind I can go on with last night.  We had 192 guests as compared to 157 the previous year.  As you all know, it was a lovely night and I suggested we change the name of the program to Out Of The Warm. 

 

The comments about the meal were all very good ranging from great to excellent and "Oh I'm full".

 

We had another first timer who stopped to say he had been told on a number of occasions to come to St. Andrew's because the food was so good.  He said he couldn't believe the meal and the banana cream pie "with real bananas".

 

Another gentleman, again a first timer, stopped to ask who he could write to as he wanted to say "you guys are good and I want to tell you so".  So watch the bulletin board for his note of thanks.

 

And then there is Liz....her chef was in the house AGAIN!  She thinks "he" has cloned himself so that "he" can prepare all the meals.  She said she was sitting beside Joe and as he ate he kept saying "oh, this is good", "oh, this is good".  The chicken was incredible and the banana cream pie outstanding.  She admitted to having 4 pieces of pie, while Joe only had 3 (I had 1). Colleen was very happy enjoying the mac & cheese.

 

We had only one incident to spoil the evening and it became very serious. A young woman shoved her way out of the dining room, knocking down one of the Health Bus nurses and then starting a fight outside which was quite violent and shouting racial comments.  She and the two men involved have been banned for the balance of the year from both our facility and the health bus.

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!

Irene will share artwork done by the students that she teaches in a multicultural community school in Scarborough.  The art will provide insight into the experience of new Canadian teens.  The group will also participate in a drawing activity in response to the art in our nativity stained glass window.   We will modernize the nativity story to tell it from our perspective as Christians living in a diverse community in the heart of Toronto.

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!