Wednesday, May 5, 2010

1) The Word on the Street

From time to time, we have been including weekly reflections from John Singh, who sells newspapers on the corner of King and University.  This week's reflection seemed especially appropriate in preparation for Mother's Day.

A good mother loves her family and provides an atmosphere where each member can find acceptance, security, and understanding.  She is there when the children need a listening ear, a comforting word, a warm hug, or a loving touch on a fevered brow.  And for the Christian mother, her greatest joy is in teaching her children to trust and to love Jesus as their Saviour.

That kind of mother deserves to be honoured--not just on one special day a year but every day.  And that recognition should involve more than words; it ought to be shown in respect, thoughtfulness, and loving deeds.

    Of all the earthly things God gives,

    There's one above all others:

    It is the precious, priceless gift

    Of loving Christian mothers.

Godly mothers not only bring you up, they bring you to God.

2)  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

3)   Special Ascension Eve Service - May 12

A special worship service on the evening before Ascension Day will be held on Wednesday, May 12th at 7:30 p.m. at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 

Rev. Ingram will be the guest preacher.  Participants and choirs from churches in the Yonge and St. Clair area will be joining together for this ecumenical service.  Everyone is welcome!

4) Knox College Convocation - May 12

Everyone is also invited to attend the 166th Knox College Convocation ceremony, which will be taking place at Convocation Hall, University of Toronto, on Wednesday May 12 at 7:30 pm.  As well as honouring this year's graduating students, honourary doctorates will be awarded to Ms. Wilma Welsh and the Rev. Ian Wishart.  The convocation speaker will be Mr. Don Posterski.

5)   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.

6)  48th Highlanders Regimental Worship Service - May 16th:

The annual 48th Highlanders Regimental Worship Service will be held on Sunday, May 16th.    Although the regular members of the unit will not be parading to St. Andrew's or attending the service this year, please join us in welcoming the senior regimental officers, the colour party, the military band and a number of Old Comrades and others on this special day.   During the "Act of Remembrance" portion of this moving service we will honour members of the regiment who died in service to their country.  The regiment's Padre, the Rev. Greg Bailey, will participate in the leadership of worship.

7) Mother's Day Flowers for the Communion Table:

Church School students Jessie Cooke, Sarah Klapman and Leslie Maiden will be designing a floral arrangement for the communion table in the chancel to celebrate Mother's Day.

8)  Decision of Congregational Meeting - Sunday, May 2nd:

At the Congregational Meeting held on Sunday, May 2nd, the proposal submitted by the Session "to approve the recruitment of a full-time Associate Minister and direct the Session to take the necessary next steps to achieve this" was approved by the members.

The next steps will be:

    * Communicate with and obtain the concurrence of the Presbytery.

    * Appoint a Search Committee.

    * Follow the appropriate and necessary recruitment procedures.

9) Lay Readers:

Reading the scriptures in worship services is an important way to serve.  If you would like to participate in this way, please contact our Lay Readers Coordinator, Ruth Darling, at jdarling131@cogeco.ca.  We especially wish to invite young people and new members to consider being Lay Readers. 

10)  Catalyst - New Electronic Version

In the interest of environmental stewardship and lowering our production and printing costs, we will now be issuing an electronic version!  Hard copies will still be available for those who prefer them, but we do encourage you to sign up for the new electronic version if possible.  The next issue of the Catalyst will be distributed on May 16th.  To receive your Catalyst by email, please send an email to catalyst@standrewstoronto.org by May 11th.   Please include your name in the body of the email in case your email address doesn't include your name.

11)  CD Recordings of Supper Seminars

The seminars led by the Rev. Dr. Emily Bisset were extremely well received.  CD recordings of the seminars will be placed in the church library (in the Board Room) soon, and are also available for purchase from the church office.  CDs are $5 each or $10 for a set of all 3 seminars.  Order forms will be available at Coffee Hour on Sunday.  You may also place an order by calling Judy Neal in the church office at 416-593-5600 ext. 220.

12)  Volunteer Interest Survey

Be sure to look for the Volunteer Interest Survey form coming in the 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.

13)  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.  We will enclose with Sunday's worship service bulletin a flyer that contains a form on which you may indicate your availability. 

14)  Presbyterians Sharing:  MALAWI

Our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing support the Reverend Glenn Inglis as he serves as the Executive Director of the Blantyre Synod Development Commission. He helps the Commission develop livelihoods in three of the poorest districts in southern Malawi; community based child care programs; an HIV program focusing on prevention and home based care; and human rights, gender and advocacy programs. It also provides food and support in times of emergency. Glenn is working to strengthen the Synod’s relief and development programs, develop sound management and accounting systems, promote leadership development, and strengthen and renew relations with partners and donors.

15)  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!