Thursday, April 22, 2010

N.B. Please make sure to read the special report on the proposal for future staffing at St. Andrew's Church under section (2) Notice of Congregational Meeting - Sunday May 2, 2010

1)  Road Closures:

It's Road Construction and Fund Raising Runs season again!  We'll do our best to let you know about upcoming road closures.

    * The Don Valley Parkway will be closed all weekend (April 24-26), from highway 401 to the Gardiner Expressway for annual maintenance.

    *  Bloor Street East, from Church Street to Jarvis Street, will be closed on April 25th for a Canadian Forces Regimental Parade.

    * On Sunday, May 2nd there will be rolling street closures on Yonge Street from Castlefield Ave. (north of Eglinton Ave.) to Richmond Street between 7:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. due to the Sporting Life 10K run.  Portions of Richmond Street, Peter Street, Front Street, Bathurst Street and Fort York Blvd. will also be affected.

 For up-to-date information, please visit the city of Toronto website

 www.toronto.ca/transportation/events.htm and click on "street events".  For expressway closures, please visit www.toronto.ca/transportation/road_info/index.htm.

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

Please plan to attend a special Congregational Meeting in the Great Hall 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

3)  Volunteer Interest Survey:

Be sure to look for the Volunteer Interest Survey form coming in your May issue of Catalyst:  You'll have an opportunity to tell us which skills, talents and activities you'd like to contribute to which volunteer programs at St. Andrew's.  The information in your completed survey will become part of a central inventory that organizers can tap when help is needed.  This newly created database will also enrich the experience of volunteering by better matching your preferences with meaningful activities and projects of interest to you.

4)  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, will conclude next Wednesday night.  To register for the dinner portion for next week, 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 by first thing Monday morning.

5)  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 running shoes, shirts, spring jackets and casual pants/jeans--especially large and extra-large sizes--suitable for use in the spring, summer and fall.   We would also welcome baseball caps.  Socks are also in high demand all year round.  Please bring donations to the church office.  Thank you!

6)  Wine, Cheeses & Jesus - Thurs., April 22

Last Thursday evening quite a few people attended the screening of Alison Rose's award-winning documentary film "Love at the Twilight Motel" at the Revue Theatre, after gathering together for dinner at River Restaurant.  This week the Wine, Cheeses & Jesus fellowship group will gather for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the 2nd floor meeting room when members will discuss the film with Alison.  Everyone is welcome!

7)  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.

8)  April Sunday Forum - April 25th - "Changing Faces, Facing Changes"

We live in a society that is rapidly changing.  Within the past decade Canada's ethnic, racial and religious diversity has increased rapidly.  At the turn of the century there were people from more than 200 ethnic origins in Canada, and 50 per cent of Canada's population growth was due to immigration.  This is particularly true for the city of Toronto.  Statistics indicate that nearly 50% of Toronto's population is foreign born, and 33% are Christian.

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!

9)  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

10)   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.

11) Diversity in Oneness - Crossing Cultures Together VI - May 17th:

Brian Stewart, one of Canada's most experienced journalists and a member of our congregation, will be the featured speaker at Knox College - Asian Centre on Monday, May 17th.    Brian will share his wisdom about Canada and what one of the most diverse countries in the world can do to create an even better future.  In addition, four different highly multi-cultural congregations from within the Presbyterian Church in Canada will share their own experiences of becoming a diverse church.   Brochures are available in the Great Hall.  Registration fee is $ 25.00.  You may register online at www.utoronto.ca/knox.  Please RSVP to Knox College by May 13th.

12)  Volunteers needed for 2010 Doors Open - Saturday, May 29th

On Saturday, May 29th, St. Andrew's will participate for the third year in this annual City of Toronto cultural event.  In 2009 approximately 1,300 visitors enjoyed and photographed our beautiful sanctuary.  Some of them had the opportunity to listen to our accomplished Dan Bickle, Director of Music, playing our treasured Karl Wilhelm organ.

If you are available to volunteer for this event, please contact Sue Goodwin at susangoodwin@earthlink.net.  Additional information will be provided in the coming weeks.

13)  Presbyterians Sharing:  CANADA: Presbytery of Westminster

Our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing support Hummingbird Ministries, a ministry of the Presbytery of Westminster that is dedicated to reconciliation and healing between Canada’s Aboriginal People and The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Hummingbird Ministries has started a project called “Peace Through the Arts.” Workshops bring people from different backgrounds together to share the experience of a common art form, such as singing, drumming, dancing, carving or quilting. Every workshop begins with a circle of peace, where participants consider what they have in common, give thanks for what they have, and focus on working together for the common good. Let us pray for Hummingbird Ministries as it works to bring about reconciliation and healing through art.

14)  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!