Friday, April 16, 2010

1)  Appreciation and Thanks to the 'Out of the Cold' Volunteers and Stephen Mutavdzija

This Sunday we gratefully acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers in the Out of the Cold Program.  St. Andrew’s provides this program to support the members of our community who require a warm meal, clothing and fellowship during the winter months.  In addition to the dinner served every Monday night from November to April, there is a cooked breakfast provided every Tuesday morning all year round. 

The number of people required to make this program work each year is tremendous.  There are folks who purchase food, raise donations, provide cleaning services, make sandwiches, sort clothes, tidy the pantry and do all kinds of vegetable and meal preparation each week, never mind the devoted kitchen and serving volunteers who are the most visible workers in the program.  We are also blessed to have incredibly dedicated leaders in Robin Young, our Head Cook, and in Joan Matheson, our Volunteer Coordinator.  The effort of these two women and of the dozens of volunteers allows St. Andrew’s to provide a needed and gratefully received program to our community.

Please join us in thanking all the volunteers during the Service this morning and at a thank-you lunch after the service.

As well, we have been greatly blessed by the presence of Stephen Mutavdzija, our ministry student, who has been fulfilling some of the requirements of his seminary training at St. Andrew's over the past eight months. This Sunday will be his last 'official' Sunday with us.  We give thanks for him and pray God's continued blessings to rest upon him and upon his journey towards ordained ministry.

2)  Spring Supper Seminars

The 2010 Spring Supper Seminars, Sunday Morning Words, Monday Morning World, under the leadership of The Rev. Dr. Emily Bisset from Knox Presbyterian Church, began this past Wednesday, and will continue next Wednesday night.  To register for the dinner portion, please visit the table at Coffee Hour on Sunday after worship, register online at www.standrewstoronto.org/world.htm or call Judy Neal in the church office at 416-593-5600 ext. 220.

3)  Clothes for our Tuesday Morning Community Breakfast Guests

Although the Tuesday morning breakfast program doesn't have a formal Clothing Boutique like the Monday Out of the Cold dinner program, we are often asked if we have any clothes or shoes.  People also often come in to the church office during the summer looking for clothes.  The supply of clothes on hand is especially low right now.  We would very much appreciate donations of men's casual shoes and clothing--especially large and extra-large sizes--suitable for use in the spring, summer and fall.  Socks are also in high demand all year round.  Please bring donations to the church office.  Thank you!

4) Catalyst Deadline - this Sunday, April 18th

April 18th is the next Catalyst deadline.  If you have any special announcements, or stories of a trip you've taken, please think about sending it in.  Please send your submissions to Kristen Stout (kwmathewson@rogers.com) and Jane Martin (janemartin@pagemartin.com). 

5) SAGA - Friday, April 23:  "I'm spiritual but not religious."

It is not uncommon, these days, to hear people proudly draw a distinct line between being 'spiritual' and being 'religious'.  But what is meant by this distinction?  What does it mean to be religious?  What does it mean to be spiritual?  How should our religious practices shape our spirituality, and how should our spirituality shape our religious lives?

Our guest speaker will be Rev. Will Ingram, who will lead an interactive discussion of what we mean by the terms 'religious' and 'spiritual--and how Christian spirituality should be defined.  By the end of the evening, some of us might actually be able to proudly state "I'm spiritual--AND I'm religious!"

SAGA will meet in the Great Hall for a pot luck supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by the discussion period that starts at about 7:30 p.m.  For more information, email Robert Sheng at egdown@eol.ca.

6)  April Sunday Forum - April 25th

The Rev. Heather Vais, from Thornhill Presbyterian Church, will be the guest speaker at our April Sunday Forum.  Her presentation, "Changing Faces, Facing Changes:  Learning to be a Multicultural Church in a Multicultural City", will encourage an exploration of ways we can be more welcoming to members of our highly multicultural 'heart of Toronto' community.  The Forum will be held in the Board Room at noon following the worship service.  Everyone is welcome!

7)  Notice of Congregational Meeting - Sunday, May 2nd:

Please plan to attend a special Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary immediately following the morning worship service on Sunday, May 2nd.  The meeting has been called to consider a proposal from the Session to search for a full-time Associate Minister. 

A detailed proposal has been prepared by a committee of Session, and will form the basis for our discussions at the congregational meeting.  Please download a copy of the proposal by visiting www.standrewstoronto.org/proposal.pdf

8)  Ontario Prayer Breakfast - May 12th

On Wednesday May 12, 2010, the 41^st Annual Ontario Prayer Breakfast will take place at the Royal York Hotel from 7:15 – 9:00 am.  Each year, this event welcomes over 600 members of the Christian community who work in downtown Toronto, from a wide variety of denominational and theological backgrounds.  As well, the elected representatives from the Ontario Legislature are invited to attend and participate.  In addition to a time of fellowship and music, a keynote speaker is invited to offer reflections on the role that faith has played in their life and work.  This year, the keynote speaker year will be The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Tickets for the breakfast are $45.  Last year, St. Andrew’s arranged to have a table at the breakfast, and we would be interested in making the same arrangement.  If you would like to participate in this event, please contact the church office at info@standrewstoronto.org  If you would like to participate in this event but are not able to pay the full $45, please contact the church office and special arrangements can be made.  All are welcome.

 
For more information, please visit www.ontarioprayerbreakfast.com

9)  New Members' Information Meeting - May 13th

Everyone who is interested in becoming a member of St. Andrew's Church is invited to attend an information meeting on Thursday, May 13th at 7 p.m. in the Board Room.  For more information, please contact Rev. Ingram or Judy Neal in the church office.  New members will be received into the congregation during the worship service on Sunday, May 30th.

10)  News from Out of the Cold: 

We successfully wrapped up the 2009-2010 season on Monday night dinners.  We have three end-of-season reports to share this week:  Joe-Anne Roberts' weekly report, a report from Mike Upton specially thanking the volunteers who work in the "north end of the kitchen", and a report from Darlene Treen, who coordinates the clothing Boutique.

Joe-Anne writes:

It was THE LAST SUPPER and, including the 264 last night, we fed the 5,000 (5,603 to be exact), but not with the miracle of loaves and fishes. How was it accomplished?  With the miracle of hard work and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers.  The Sunday prep crew, the Monday morning cooks and the afternoon and evening crews, who completed and served the meals. This, all under the direction of Robin Young, who multiplies her recipes and somehow comes up with enough food to feed an average of 233 people who arrive weekly at our Church.

In addition we must not forget the great crew running the boutique.  Their important job of collecting, organizing, setting up and distributing clothes was indispensable.

So, what did we serve last night:  We had Cream of Broccoli Soup, Lasagna with rolls and salad.  The vegetarian was Broccoli Quiche and we even had some Shepherd's Pie for our guests who required a Gluten Free menu. Dessert was Squares, Ice Cream and Chocolate sauce.

You have been reading the appreciative comments of our guest all year and last night was no exception.  "God Bless you all."  "Great Meal."  "Thank you, you restore my belief in humanity.  Please convey me thanks to all."  "You guys are doing a great job."  Also, several guests brought a thank you card that will be pinned to the bulletin board, and which, I am sure, Lorraine will draw your attention to this Sunday on Volunteer

Appreciation Day.  For those of you who cannot make it they said "Thank you for the fellowship, respect and dignity that you have generously offered to us all." "Thank you is not enough to say for all you do for us."  "Mondays won't be the same without you."

While we Monday people take the summer off, the breakfast crew labours on. We don't often hear the words of appreciation for their efforts but last night one of our guests stopped to say that we serve the "Best breakfast in town."  Judging from the number of people who ask about the time it starts, we know how popular it is and how much it is appreciated.

So, there it is.  Until November 1st, 2010:  c'est fini.

A View from the North End of the Kitchen - by Mike Upton:

Well another OOTC year has ended for the dinner crew and the numbers are in.  A significant increase from last year as we averaged ~235 guests a night.

So what does this mean to the volunteers at the north end of the kitchen. Each Monday night they scraped, washed and put away about 800 pieces of dinner ware, 1,000 pieces of cutlery, 500 cups and glasses and 50-60 serving pieces.  By my estimation about 70-75 trays through the dishwasher.  On top of this was the 50 pots, pans and dessert trays that were hand washed.

Thanks to the many that worked the north end: Stuart, Connor, Jay, Casper, Brian, Bob, Brenda, Isaac, Toshio and Noel amongst others. 

Thanks also to the clean-up crew that makes sure that the kitchen and boardroom are ready for the Tuesday morning breakfast crew.  Leftovers are put away, all the surfaces are wiped and disinfected, the stove top is cleaned, the floor is swept, the rubber mats are moved and the floor is mopped and the dishwasher is cleaned and drained.  Thanks go to Margaret, Barbara, Brian, Jacquie, Joan, Noel and Toshio whose hard work ensures that we are locking up before 9:30.

From the Boutique Lady  (Darlene Treen):

I hadn't intended to write a report, but since so many are, I thought I'd join in.  To begin, a huge hug of thanks to all those who brought us donations, shirts, pants, shoes, shampoo from a business trip, shopping mistakes from a sister, coats from a neighbour, knitted goods from a friend and books and magazines that will be read again! Without you and your donations, the boutique could not happen.  Thank you.

This year, we were able to set up on Sunday afternoon and while I miss sitting with the wonderful Sunday Prep group to chat, they always offered to share their lunch and always made us laugh.  Tables get set up in "the link", upstairs clothes get pulled out of bags and sorted on to shelves or hauled downstairs and laid out for Monday night.

Working in the Boutique is never boring.  At the door we hear all sorts of stories.  "I need to come in because I'm not feeling well", "Someone took my number" and one of our doormen, Mike, even got punched in the face.  But most of the time we get smiles of gratitude and hugs.  What satisfaction there is in finding a pair of boots that fit a pair of cold feet or offering hand lotion to sooth weathered hands!  Sometimes we hear  "Thank you for that coat" for weeks after the item has been found.  Unlike the dinners, the Boutique is a bit of a gamble:  did the guest get a good number?  Were there any razors that night?  Or are the perfect shoes one half size too small?  But even if someone leaves the boutique empty-handed, there's always next week or next season now.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have worked with us this season, for your muscle (boxes of shoes are heavy) and your compassion.  A special thank you to Lorriene, who was there lifting tables, and setting up every Sunday and Monday; to Pat who sent thank you letters for donations received and to my right-hand and the man loved by Liz and many others, Stewart, who kept me organized (no small feat) and sane (although some might argue that he wasn't quite as successful with this task).

If you didn't have a chance to help in the Boutique this season, maybe you'll give us a try in the autumn.  Everyone is welcome!  Over the summer, if you have casual clothes, shoes, bags even plastic shopping bags) or toiletries please think of the Boutique!  Donations can be dropped off at the church.

See you next season!

12)  Presbyterians Sharing:  CANADA: Presbytery of Oak Ridges

Our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing support Keswick Presbyterian Church. After 12 years of worshipping in a rented space at the Georgina Ice Palace in Keswick, Ontario, the congregation is now delighted to have its own building. The Reverends Kirk and Allyson MacLeod write, “Keswick Presbyterian Church is now in a facility. We have a lawn to mow, a driveway to plow, and bathrooms to clean. But they are all ours! We now can hold youth events in our own church. We can now have fundraising events in our building. We can now have meetings and choir and worship team practice in our home. But even more, we can welcome new faces to our very own church.” The congregation is very grateful for the support it has received from Presbyterians Sharing.

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!