Tuesday, February 16, 2010

1)  Reception of New Members and Sacrament of Baptism- this Sunday

This Sunday, we will be welcoming a number of new members into our congregation, and celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism with a number of them.  Please make a special effort to be here for this important time in the life of our community of faith.

2) Jazz Concert:  The Music of Mardi Gras - report

A huge thanks is extended to everyone who participated in last Sunday night's Jazz Concert celebrating the Music of Mardi Gras.  It was a fantastic evening of eating (great pancakes!), music (great band!) and raising money for Haiti and the 88 Keys (final numbers will be known soon!)

The concert was recorded both for CD and DVD release -- more details will be forwarded as it is available.

3)  TONIGHT  - "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 today, 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)  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".

5)  Fazioli Piano at St. Andrew's - February 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  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 !

6) "24 Hours that Changed the World" - Lenten Midweek Meditations - Wednesdays from February 17 - March 31, 2010

Please plan to join us on Wednesdays at noon during the season of Lent for our annual Lenten Midweek Meditation series.  A number of powerful guest preachers will be joining us to help us to reflect on the important events in the last 24 hours of Jesus' life. 

Our weekly meditations begin at 12:00 pm with a short organ recital; the presentations are offered from 12:15 - 12:45 pm, and everyone is invited to share together in a light lunch following the meditations.

All are welcome!

7)  SAGA Meeting - Friday, February 26th

SAGA will hold its monthly pot luck dinner on Friday, February 26.   The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., and the program starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall.  This month Peter Iveson will provide a travelogue presentation, entitled "The Three Burgs", with slides from his 2005 trip to Germany.    The Three Burgs are Coburg, home of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg, consort of Queen Victoria; Bamburg, the Cathedral City, home of the famed Bamburg Rider; and Wurzburg, with its palaces and gardens of the Prince-Bishops.   You are invited to bring food that is associated with Germany--hamburgers don't count!  Everyone is welcome!

8) 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.

9) "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.

10)  News from Out of the Cold

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

 A new record last night 265 people came in for a meal.  It was quiet and orderly, but very busy.  The only incident we had was before the doors even opened.  A guest approached me to tell me of someone drinking on church property.  I assured him the person would not be allowed in and went out to identify him and a full scale argument was in progress.  Without getting in the middle of the situation, I tried to calm things down.  The next moment I felt a presence just behind me and turned to look and there was Andy, who went up to the drunk and quietly talked to him as he walked him off the premises. I turned my attention to the young man who was in the lineup and calmed him down.  He later apologized to the people around him and to me for aggravating the situation.  He apparently came from an abusive home, where his father used alcohol as an excuse to use his fists.  Thank you, Andy, I really appreciated your support.

 

Our OUT OF THE FREEZER meal consisted of:  Chicken Noodle Soup, Lasagna, Salad and Garlic Herb bread.  The Vegetarian was:  Lemon/lentil Soup, Mac & Cheese, Salad and Herb Bread, Dessert- Tiramisu and pastries

 

There was no boutique.

 

Everyone went away very happy and satisfied with a lot of guests saying "thank you", "God Bless", "I'm stuffed" etc. One guest stopped and said, "Thank you for a very nice meal.  You and your group are to be commended". Another guest thinks we are one of the better OOTC programs, even if we don't do overnights.  And last but not least, I heard "Good night sister - say hi to your family for me."  So - Hi, family!

 

Now it's confession time.  Last week I told you we were through 13 weeks, when actually we were through 15 week, now it is 16 weeks, with 8 weeks to go.

 

I'll see some of you next week, and others in 2 weeks time.

 

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.

11) 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! 

12)  Presbyterians Sharing... - CANADA: Presbytery of Brampton

Our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing support Mississauga Chinese Presbyterian Church. The congregation was formed fifteen years ago and has grown into a bustling church which ministers to new Chinese Canadians and the second generation. Leonard Yeung, an elder at the church, says “We realize that God put us here for a purpose, and our purpose is to service this community, and also to spread the gospel within this community and among the Chinese population.” This vibrant community continues to grow, and the church will shortly be self-sufficient. Let us pray for Mississauga Chinese Presbyterian Church as it reaches out to its community and gives people an opportunity to worship in their own language.

13)  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!