Thursday, February 11, 2010

1)  IODE Founders Day Service

On Sunday we will welcome members of IODE Toronto and IODE Canada chapters to our worship service.  A national women's charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals through education, support, community service and citizenship programmes, IODE is celebrating 110 years since its founding.  IODE and St. Andrew's have enjoyed a long association, as you can see from the two stained glass windows directly behind the Communion Table.  In 1913, they were endowed by the Elizabeth Chapter IODE of Toronto to commemorate the loving work of Elizabeth Logie and her husband the Rev. D. J. Macdonnell, Minister of St. Andrew's at the time.

2)  Fazioli Piano at St. Andrew's - February 14-21, 2010

Merriam Music has generously placed in our Sanctuary for the next two weekends a Fazioli Concert Grand piano. This is the same instrument played by Angela Hewitt in concert at Roy Thompson Hall on February 12. It is a brilliant instrument, and it provides us with unique opportunities, one of which is to allow our piano students the chance to play such a beautiful piano. After worship service on February 14 and 21, reasonably-advanced students are invited to play one or two pieces each in an informal setting. We may have the successor to Glenn Gould in our midst!

After Coffee hour on the 21st, we are all invited to hear selections by such composers as Oscar Peterson, Franz Liszt, Beethoven, Gershwin, Porter, and Herbie Hancock. Fascinating aspects of the Fazioli piano will be discussed between selections. The artists will be the noted stylist Stu Harrison at the keyboard, and bassist Ross MacIntyre, who is described as "dynamite" by Jordan Klapman.

Please come after you finish coffee and goodies for the best Sunday afternoon you've had for a long time !

3)  "Alpha in the Pub" - an introduction to the Christian faith

The "Alpha" course is a ten-week interactive introduction to the meaning of the Christian faith, and has been very successful in helping those with little or no religious or spiritual background to explore their questions about the meaning of faith.

This particular version of the Alpha course is being intentionally developed for young people between 20 and 40.  The meetings, which begin on February 16th, will take place on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the "Irish Family Room" at Fionn MacCool's Irish Pub on Adelaide just east of University.  For more information, please visit www.alphatoronto.ca/pub

4) Ash Wednesday Service

Please make a special effort to join us next Wednesday at noon for our annual Ash Wednesday service.   Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, and invites us to meditate upon our mortality and upon the promise of immortality that is offered to us in Christ.

The service will begin at 12:00 with a short organ prelude; the worship will begin at 12:15; and a light luncheon will be offered following the service in the Board Room.  All are welcome. 

5) Wine, Cheeses & Jesus - Thursday, February 18th

The Wine, Cheeses & Jesus fellowship group will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18th.  This month's topic will be "St. Andrew's at 180 years".

6) Catalyst & Special Event Notices by Email

In the interest of environmental stewardship and postage costs, we are now making our congregational newsletter, Catalyst, as well as announcements of upcoming educational events, available by email.   Many people have already signed up and have received their first electronic, full-colour issue of Catalyst.

To 'sign up' for this online Catalyst, please send an email to catalyst@standrewstoronto.org and be sure to include your name in the email in case your email address does not include your name! 

To receive electronic notification of Christian Education events such as Supper Seminars, Sunday Forums and seasonal noontime meditation series, please send an email to education@standrewstoronto.org.  Again, please include your name in the body of the email.

7) "Friendly Visitors" Training Workshop

Have you ever wanted to visit an elderly friend or relative in a retirement or nursing home, but have been hesitant out of a fear that you will do or say the wrong thing?

In the coming months, St. Andrew's will be establishing a "Friendly Visitors" programme in order to strengthen our connections as a congregation, particularly with those who cannot regularly join us because of a decline in health or mobility. 

On Wednesday March 3, 2010 at 7:00 pm, the Rev. Don Matheson, Chaplain at the Belmont House Senior's Home, will be joining for an evening workshop which will seek to address and help all of us to better visitors and caregivers for those in troubling times.  There is no cost for attendance at this interactive and informative workshop, and all are welcome.

As the date draws closer, we will be asking people to indicate their intentions to attend so that we can make the necessary provisions for refreshments.

8)  News from Out of the Cold

Our faithful Out of the Cold reporter, Joe-Anne Roberts, reports that:

A somewhat more normal night last night with 246 guests enjoying a  dinner of:  Vegetable Soup, Chicken Stew with biscuits and mashed potatoes, Vegetarian - Frittata with Roasted Vegetables, Ginger bread cake with apples and caramel sauce.

 

Our guests departed with the usual smiles on their faces, and the kind comments of God Bless You, thank you, very good, excellent, etc.  One guest said that he thought the dinner was awesome.  He slept outside and would get up in the morning and come in for breakfast which is also awesome.  Another guest is very happy that we offer a vegetarian choice, because, he says, I am a vegetarian.

 

Jackie reports that she was called over to a table where two men were sitting, the last two at this particular table.  She thought "uh oh" but went and they told her that they had been hearing about St. Andrew’s all over the city.  They decided to come last night to check out what all the fuss was about.  They said not only was the dinner exceptional, but so were the people.  The atmosphere was warm and welcoming and they could tell that all the volunteers put their hearts into the preparation and delivery of dinner. They walk from the Queen and Cawthra area and will be coming again. 

 

Liz, who hasn't been around for a couple of weeks, stopped to say that dinner was excellent.  She had tried a couple of other places but St. Andrew’s was still the best.  She still has minor complaints about the wait staff not being "sensitive" to the guests needs.  I think, however, that she wanted a take away while we were still in full service mode and was refused. There has to be some nice way to advise her that before we can do that we must ensure that we are going to have enough food for all those who come to us.

 

News from the Boutique:  Stewart felt frazzled last night, but Bea was a happy camper as she got a new pair of boots.  Her old ones, as my mother used to say, had the "heart coming away from the sole".

 

I understand there is no prep work next Sunday.  We are cleaning out the freezers and it will be "left over" night.  So a challenge - come up with a name to describe what we are serving.  We've decided left-overs is too dull and gently used too unappetizing, so send in your submissions, there will be a prize...and it will be... a night off on Feb. 22nd.

 

We have just completed week 13.  11 more weeks to go.

 

P.S.  One of our guests points out that next week we will be busy as it is a Holiday (Family Day) and a number of places could be closed. 

 

See you next Monday.

 

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.

9) St. Andrew's 180th Anniversary Dinner - Saturday March 6, 2010

Tickets for our 180th Anniversary Dinner, which is being held on Saturday, March 6th at the Delta Chelsea Hotel, will be available during Coffee Hour after worship until February 28th. 

Our guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Cameron Brett, former Senior Minister at St. Andrew's. 

Tickets are $50 each.  The reception starts at 6:00 p.m., and the dinner begins at 7:30.  Be sure to get your tickets early for this very popular event! 

10)  Presbyterians Sharing... - NATIONAL OFFICE:  Mission Interpretation

Our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing… connect congregations and individuals with long-term mission partners around the world, through mission visits organized by The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Mission Interpretation program.  These trips allow participants to gain first-hand mission experience and build deeper connections with our mission partners.  Jay Brenzil writes of his experience in Guatemala, “I always thought that “doing mission” meant doing work projects.  I have learned that mission is not about doing work for others, but about working with others: forming relationships and bettering ourselves.”  Let us pray for Mission Interpretation staff and for congregations who participate in mission visits that encourage and support our mission partners.

11)  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!