Wednesday, June 9, 2010                   

1)  Church School Recognition Sunday

On Sunday we will recognize the children who attend our Church School and all the dedicated teachers and nursery caregivers.  The children will receive special books in recognition of their attendance and participation.

Primary Class:  Andrew Birdsell, Loretta Bridgemohan, Elisabeth Callan, Neve Clute, Toni Coles, Lexie Durno, Calum Hepburn, Kate Ingram, Madeline Ingram, Isobel Knight, Miya McCann, Jack Matheson,  Brooke Taylor and Joshua Wentges Faiz.

Junior Class:  Owen Clute, Adela Hepburn, Magnus Hepburn, Daniel Klapman, Stephanie Loggie and Evan Phillips.

Senior Class:  Jessie Cooke, Sarah Klapman, Leslie Maiden, Stuart Maiden and Catherine Stratton.

We extend a heartfelt "thank you" to our dedicated teachers and nursery caregivers:

Church School Teachers:  Herbin Barrington, Brian Birdsell, Erica Cooke, Irene Faiz, Claudia Hepburn, Karen Ingram, Tom Kovats, Diane Lee, Debbie Loo, Mary Maiden, Betsy Nieuwland, Noel Ramsey,  Darlene Treen, Maureen Wardell and Michelle Weir.

Nursery Caregivers:  Barbara Sargent, Sarah Birdsell, Jane Durno, Cynthia Humphries, Stellar Shen, Fiona Smith, Kristen Stout, Kim Taylor, Lorraine Wong and Betsy Nieuwland.

A very special "thank you", too, to  Jessie Cooke, Leslie Maiden and Sarah Klapman for their invaluable assistance.

2)  Do You Want to Sing? - An Organizational Meeting for St. Andrew's Singers...

Music has always been an important part of the life and worship of St. Andrew’s Church.  In addition to our incredible choir, we have recently been exploring other avenues for music -- including jazz concerts, Christmas Carol services, a children’s choir, organ recitals and vespers services.  A number of people have also expressed interest in forming a choir for members and friends of the congregation.  This choir will not replace our present choir, but is intended to provide an opportunity for interested individuals to sing choral music together at special events and occasions in the congregation and community.

An organizational meeting for those who might be interested in exploring this possibility will be held following the service on Sunday June 13, 2010 from 12 to 12:15 pm in the Board Room.   Attendance at this short meeting does not obligate participation, but is simply for the purpose of discerning whether there is sufficient interest to proceed with plans for the formation of such a choir in the fall.

If you cannot attend this meeting but would like to be informed of future plans for this choir, please email the church office at info@standrewstoronto.org     

3)  Annual Nightingale Tea - June 13

In honour of nurses everywhere and the nurses in our congregation, the Health Cabinet is presenting its annual elegant Nightingale Tea.  Health Cabinet members, Grant Farrow, will read the scripture and Sally Martin, a retired nurse will be the Greeting Elder.  Our honoured guests this year are Lynn Franklin, our former Parish Nurse and Karen Marks, Ontario Regional Parish Nurse Coordinator of the InterChurch Health Ministries Canada (ICHM).  Please join us for the Bide-a-Wee coffee hour and welcome them.

 St Andrew’s is a partner with ICHM. Its mission is “Fostering healthy communities through Christ’s healing ministry" by providing educational and support services to parish nurses and their partner churches.  The ICHM’s goal is a Parish Nurse in Every Congregation.

4) Church School Barbecue and Pool Party - Sunday June 13, 2010

On Sunday June 13, the annual Church School Barbecue and Pool Party will be held at the home of Bev Reynolds.  All children, parents, grandparents and teachers are welcome.  For more information, please contact Irene Faiz, our Church School Superintendent, at irene.faiz@sympatico.ca

5)  Toonies for Tuesdays

Every Tuesday morning a dedicated group of volunteers from our congregation and community gathers together to make a delicious hot breakfast for "Out of the Cold" guests.  Lately, the number of guests at these breakfasts has ranged from approximately 80 to 130 people.

For the months of June, July and August, the "Mission and Outreach Ministry" at St. Andrew's is inviting us to collect "Toonies for Tuesdays".  Bring your Toonies to help support this worthy and important ministry in our congregation.  Please put your Toonies in the special container on the table at Coffee Hour. 

Last Sunday Toonies for Tuesdays donors contributed $66.00...so we're off to a good start!

If you would like to receive an income tax donation for these contributions, please save your Toonies for a few weeks in order to make a larger contribution!  We will put a supply of the blue visitor donation envelopes near the container.  Please be sure to mark your name--and your St. Andrew's donation envelope number, if you know it--on the envelope.

6)  Volunteer Interest Survey 

There's still time to complete the St. Andrew's Volunteer Interest Survey.  You'll find a paper copy of the survey in the print version of your May Catalyst; if you receive Catalyst electronically, the survey was sent as an attachment with the May issue.  You can pick up a paper copy at Coffee Hour on Sunday, or you can download and print a copy from our website at www.standrewstoronto.org/survey.pdf 

Kristen Stout is standing by ready to key in your checklist of skills, talents and preferred activities.  By returning your completed survey, you are helping to build a valuable resource in support of volunteer programs at St. Andrew's.

7)  Wine, Cheeses & Jesus Fellowship Group - June 17

Remmelt Hummelen will speak about "Silk Roads - how Christianity came to China and Asia".  Everyone is welcome to join the group on Thursday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the second floor meeting room.

8)  SAGA Meeting - June 18

SAGA will have a Pot Luck picnic at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 18th on the Simcoe Street patio.    In the event of rain, the picnic will be held in the Great Hall.  Everyone is welcome!

9)  Sunday Forum - June 20

Our next Forum will be held on Sunday, June 20th following the worship service.  The theme will be "Christianity in Asia and its implications for Asian newcomers to Canada."  The presenters will be Maggie Kong, Deborah Loo, Lillian Sun, Annie Wang, Stellar Shen, and Biao and Emma Su.  The presentation will be held in the Board Room from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.  Everyone is welcome.  Plan to attend this informative and interesting presentation.

10)  Special Book Offer -- "The Master Missionaries:  Sermons from Acts" by the Rev. Dr. R. Sheldon MacKenzie

Rev. MacKenzie is a respected minister in the Presbyterian Church, and has recently published a series of sermons on the Book of Acts.  The sermons in this book not only open windows and examine events in the early Church, they also bridge the distance between the early and present day Church, as well as creating in the reader a desire to learn more.

Copies of this very interesting book will be available on Sundays at Coffee Hour, and from the church office on weekdays, for the discount price of $10.00.

11)  G20 Updates

It is our intention to hold our regular worship service on June 27th.  We would encourage you to plan to be here -- and to plan for extra travel time in anticipation of travel delays on the way to church that day.

Councillor Adam Vaughan has arranged to hold another public information meeting concerning G20 plans.   The meeting will be held at St. Andrew's Church in the sanctuary at 6:00 p.m.   Several members of our staff will be attending.

Plans for traffic management and security for Internationally Protected Persons are subject to change at a moment's notice should conditions such as protestor behaviour or credible security threats warrant.  Last-minute changes will be broadcast on radio and television. 

We have been advised that traffic will not be permitted on Emily Street during the summit weekend.  The public parking garage at Wellington Street & University Avenue (the garage the church uses to provide complimentary parking during worship services) will be completely closed during the summit.  Please note that parking will be extremely limited in the downtown core since there will be no parking in areas in the areas bounded by Queen Street, Yonge Street, Lakeshore Boulevard and Spadina Avenue.  In addition, parking near the designated protest area at the north part of Queen's Park will also be extremely limited.

The exits to York, Yonge and Bay Streets eastbound on the Gardiner Highway will be closed on June 25-26.

While the subway system will be running, there may also be frequent disruptions in service.  If you plan to use streetcars or the subway, please be sure to allow extra time as there may be frequent disruptions in service.

The police have been working with the city regarding homeless people. Efforts are underway to meet these residents' needs. During the summit homeless persons are not permitted access inside the security perimeter once it has been secured.  Since St. Andrew's Church is located outside the security perimeter, we currently plan to offer our usual Tuesday Breakfast program on June 22nd and 29th.

12)  Youth Choir Performance at Bonar-Parkdale Presbyterian Church- June 13

The Wesley United Methodist Church Youth Choir from Bloomington, Illinois will be performing at Bonar-Parkdale Presbyterian Church (250 Dunn Ave., Toronto, at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 13th.  They will perform traditional, gospel, contemporary and praise music.  The Celebration Ringers hand bell choir will also perform.  Pay-what-you-can admission.  Proceeds in support of Bonar-Parkdale Presbyterian Church.  For more information please visit www.bonarparkdale.ca. 

13)  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 is:

Many of us have experienced situations that appeared hopeless.  We saw no way out, but we prayed and God opened a way.  He made that "impossible" move.  We can trust Him.  He can never be checkmated.

When problems seem impossible

And we can't face another day,

The Lord extends His helping hand

And shows us He can make a way.

14)  Presbyterians Sharing:   PAKISTAN

Presbyterians Sharing supports Dr. Bill McKelvie, a physician working in various medical ministries with the Diocese of Hyderabad, Church of Pakistan. Bill writes, “There has been a cure for TB for more than 50 years.  Yet, every year, 1.5 million people die of this disease. Millions more are disabled and impoverished. The cure is there, but it requires more than just handing out drugs. It requires getting close to people and finding out what their needs are.” Like those with leprosy, TB patients often feel ashamed of having the disease. For many, it is problematic to take their medication or to complete their treatment once it has begun. The TB program is working to ensure that patients take their medicine and complete their treatment.  Since the program began, cure rates have risen to almost 90%.  Let us pray for Bill as he works to provide hope and healing for people suffering from TB. 

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!