*Back to School, Back to Church, Back to Sunday School - Sunday, September 24
Pancake Breakfast, The Pans, The Choir, U4(ia), Canon Kim Beard Preaching.
Invite your family. Invite your friends. Welcome back!
*Walk-a-Thon 2023 - a great day yesterday and $10,000 raised so far. Thanksgiving (October 8) is the deadline for individual walkers, to submit pledge sheets and donations. Thanks again for your constant help and support of our many outreach projects. This is our Main fundraiser.
*Announcements
Over the spring and summer we marked the changes for Annette Brownlee and Fr. Ajit John and their stepping down at St. Paul’s.
I am pleased to announce that we now look forward to having Fr. Arthur Boers celebrating at 8.00 a.m. and preaching occasionally at all three services. Canon Kim Beard will be celebrating at 11.15 a.m. and preaching occasionally at all three services. He will be preaching on Back to Sunday School and Back to Church Sunday, September 24, 2023.
Additionally, I am pleased to announce and welcome Fr. Pierre Niyongere. Fr. Pierre is a student at Trinity College, University of Toronto, and will offer part-time assistance here with our outreach to the African Community in Scarborough as a pastor to new friends and in the organization of the Immigrant Support Program and special events like the services of African Praise. Fr. Pierre has served as a priest in Burundi and Uganda.
*Looking ahead
There is a full and exciting fall ahead of us.
1) The St. Paul’s Steel Orchestra has resumed. New players warmly welcomed.
2) The Youth String Ensemble has now resumed - Saturdays at 4.30 pm. Registration at practice.
3) UPDATE - The resumption date for the parish and community Children’s Choir has been postponed, likely in the new year. We will keep everyone posted.
4) The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a concert at St. Paul’s on September 30, and one worth circling the date for. "FUN AND FANCIFUL", the concert features the Oden Quartet. Tickets and information available at www.spo.ca. Then, keep an eye open for their next concert at St. Paul’s on February 10, 2024, when the "Anansi tale" composition by Ted Runcie will be premiered. NOTE: There are 10 complimentary tickets available, first come, first serve. Call the office or sign up in the entrance.
5) Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday, October 8, and the awarding of the Berthebel Moo and St. Paul’s Memorial academic bursaries.
6) October 21 - the annual Tamil evangelistic mission and fundraiser for the Bridge of Hope palliative care program in northern Sri Lanka.
7) October 28 - the parish mission has been confirmed with Fr. Arthur as our speaker and the thrilling news that accompanying him will be the Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley duet, Gemini and Maple Blues Award winning musicians. They are acclaimed artists who perform Blues and Gospel music and are new friends of Fr. Arthur. Ancestors of Diana fled to Canada on the underground railroad, an experience which features in their music. More about them is available here: www.hotblues.ca
Here’s a note from Fr. Arthur:
What could our Mission have in common with Saturday Night Live and CBC’s "Vinyl Café"? We too will feature premier Canadian musician and performer, Chris Whiteley. He is coming with his spouse and musical partner, Diana Braithwaite, an incredible singer. She descended from slaves who escaped here via the Underground Railroad, a history which features in their music. Whiteley and Braithwaite (www.hotblues.ca) won numerous awards for performances and songwriting. They will bring several musicians to celebrate an evening of gospel music. Speaker: our own Fr. Arthur Boers (who probably won’t ever be on Saturday Night Live).
8) Anniversary Sunday on November 19, marking 183 years of service in the community and the 182nd anniversary of the dedication of the parish by Bishop John Strachan.
9) Renovations of SS room, youth room, and middle office and Library Reorganization
A big thanks to Sarah, and to the Sunday School teachers, for a plan to paint and renovate the Sunday School room, the Youth Room, and the middle room in the main office which will serve the counters on Sundays, and for clergy and students during the week. Similar thanks to Keith Ferrell for his dedicated work re-organizing the library.
Look back a year - look ahead one year - it’s exciting and encouraging. We do our best and say our prayers - for the glory of God.
********
Congratulations Archbishop Gregory
Acting on the advice of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, His Excellency the Governor General has conferred the honour of the Order Of Jamaica (OJ) on the Archbishop in recognition for service in the field of Religion, effective August 6, 2023. As a consequence, the Archbishop is now addressed as the Most Rev. Dr. the Hon. Howard Gregory OJ. The Most Rev. Howard Kingsley Ainsworth Gregory was elected as the 13th Archbishop of the Church in the Province of the West Indies on May 27, 2019. The 14th Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, he was enthroned on May 17, 2012. His pastoral journey began in 1973 when he was ordained a Deacon and he was ordained a priest in 1974. President of the United Theological College of the West Indies for 12 years, he was a member of the academic board of the University of the West Indies 1990 – 2002 and president of the Jamaica Council of Churches from 2012 – 2016. As Diocesan Bishop, he is a member or chairman of all Boards and Committees of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. On at least two occasions Archbishop Gregory has preached at St. Paul's annual Black History Service. Archbishop Gregory is the brother of Clive Esty and Michael Gregory.
St Paul’s Family Network: Children and Youth Basketball Programs - Youth Basketball Clinics have resumed: Youth on Mondays, at 6 pm and Children on Tuesdays at 6.00 p.m. - at L’Amoreaux C.I. Register here: linktr.ee/splcyouth
A great start in both programs this year!
A New Book from Arthur Boers: Arthur's coming-of-age and coming-to-faith memoir has just been published! Shattered: A Son Picks Up the Pieces of His Father's Rage (Eerdmans), explores being the child of immigrants and learn English as a second language, a vivid Christian faith already as a child, and his father's dangerous PTSD that eventually focused dangerously on Arthur. If you would like to order one, you can email Arthur at info@arthurboers.com. You can specify whether you'd like it signed or personalized in some way. Arthur is selling the book for the Amazon-busting price of $25.
Pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan. February 16th to 28th, 2024
Join us for an information meeting at St. Paul’s on Saturday, October 14th at 11.00 a.m. to explore joining a group travelling to Israel and Jordan. We will visit Petra, Wadi Rum, Nazareth, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Masada, Bethlehem, and the Mount of Beatitudes. If you would like to visit Israel as a pilgrim with time to visit, pray and reflect in each holy place, you will enjoy our itinerary. We create many special moments such as a visit to the private garden of Gethsemane, a sail on the Sea of Galilee, Eucharist at the Mount of Beatitudes, a healing and prayer time at the Jordan River and a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Everyone is welcome. The Rev. Canon Kim Beard will be the group leader. Our flights will be direct with Air Canada from Toronto to Tel Aviv. If you would like more information, please contact: Canon Kim Beard at beard3300@rogers.com
Church Service Zoom Link
The ordinary Church Service Zoom link is now back in use for all English church services which are streamed on Zoom, for the replay of the Sunday recording, for Evening Prayer on Sundays at 6.00 p.m. and for Morning Prayer, Monday through Saturday:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86566347435?pwd=WnhpMDJQRkxjMEV3d2pMU0FCa0JuUT09
By Phone:
Meeting ID: 865 6634 7435
Passcode: 501805
647-374-4685
647-558-0588
Pray for One Another
On Tuesdays, from 7.30 - 8.30 pm, Rajini Lyman hosts on Zoom a simple service of evening prayer with ample time for participants to pray for each other. In advance, you may wish to send the following to Rajini:
Name:
Prayer request:
Phone Number:
Contact Email Address:
Those interested are invited to send prayer requests to Rajini Lyman in person or by email: rajinilyman@yahoo.com
For this service, the alternate Church Service Zoom Link will be used:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4169851369?pwd=TUhNYm5CenNhTDNrM1FybTMxdWlQUT09
By Phone:
Meeting ID: 416 985 1369
Passcode: 222222
647-374-4685
647-558-0588
Wednesday Morning Eucharist and Bible Study - Wednesday mornings. Eucharist at 10.30 a.m. followed by the Bible Study with Don St. Kitts.
A Note from the Outreach Team: Calling all walkers. It's that time again to get your walking shoes on and get into shape for our annual walk. Like last year we will have an actual walk on September 24, 2023, meeting at the church at 8:30 for a 9:00 start. If you still wish to maintain distance you can do your own walk at your pace in your favourite space. Pledge sheets will be available on line, from the office or on the table outside the office. Your love and support of our Outreach projects is greatly appreciated. Happy walking. Blessings, Kathy and the Outreach team.
Young Adult Fellowship - Saturday mornings.
A great season of meetings. We’ll resume next Saturday, September 30 at 10.00 a.m.. For more information, contact Fr. Dean.
Interested in Volunteering with St. Paul's? Have a passion for teaching the word of God to children? We're looking for Sunday School teachers. Have great hospitality and organizational skills? We're on the hunt for a Kitchen Coordinator. For more information, please email Sarah at stpl@stpl.ca
2022 Income Tax Receipts Now Available
The 2022 Income Tax Receipts are now available.
2023 Envelopes Now Available
The 2023 church envelopes are now available at the church. A reminder that any envelope will do so long as it is marked with your name and Church Envelope #.
Friday Night Bible Study of the Acts - has resumed - in person and on Zoom. The study is on the Acts of the Apostles, the 2nd half of Luke's Gospel, using the study guide by N. T. Wright. Copies are available from Fr. Dean for $13.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/830877703
Telephone: 647-374 4685, or 647-558 0588; Meeting ID: 830 877 703
This Friday’s study on Zoom: Acts 18 and Lesson 18.
Regular Sunday Hours
8.00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist
9.15 a.m. - Holy Eucharist & Sunday School
11.15 a.m. - Holy Eucharist
1.00 p.m. - Chinese service
3.00 p.m. - Tamil service
6.00 p.m. - Evening Prayer (in person and online)
Regular Office Hours
Tuesday to Friday - 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon
Adult Choir - practices, Saturdays, 4.00 p.m..
African Caribbean Dance & Movement Program - Saturday Mornings 10:30 - 11:45 am, resuming Saturday September 30th, 2023 at 10:30 am.. Come and move your bodies in worship to the Lord. All ages welcome. For more information, contact Sarah at splcyouthministry@gmail.com.
S.P.Y Network. - Friday Night Gathering for Youths. For more information, contact Sarah at splcyouthministry@gmail.com
Adult ESL - Thursdays and Saturdays at 4.30 p.m..
Altar Guild Members who attend the 11:15am service and are interested in joining the Altar Guild, please contact Valerie W.
War in Ukraine
For those wishing to contribute to refugee relief, The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund is now accepting donations to support those displaced by the war in Ukraine, here:
www.toronto.anglican.ca/news/pwrdf-accepts-donations-for-ukrainian-refugees/. Our Outreach Committee donated $2000 to refugee relief program.
History of the Steel Pans at St. Paul’s
Available on Amazon (search for "The Pans of St. Paul’s: A Brief and Affectionate History"). All proceeds go to the Community Youth Music Program.
Online Calendar
The full schedule of in-person and online services and programs can be found on the online church calendar - www.stpl.ca/calendar.html - or here: www.stpl.ca/services.html.
Thank you for your Faithful Gifts and Offerings - St. Paul's is a strong parish and has remained so throughout 2023 due to everyone's faithful support at a time when never has it been more important.
Gifts can be dropped off at the church or sent by mail. Kindly ensure that your name and envelope number is included. Or, members may wish to sign up for the Pre-Authorized Giving Program (contact the office). Members who use online banking can now make E-transfers (instructions here: www.stpl.ca/give.html). Gifts can also be made at our website through CanadaHelps: www.stpl.ca/give.html
NOTE: Of the various means for online giving, we recommend The Pre-Authorized Giving Program. It is regular, matching the regular responsibilities of the parish, and once initiated all it takes is a phone call or quick e-mail note to increase, decrease, or cancel the donation. The monthly amount is withdrawn on the 20th of each month, and the cost to the church is 50 cents per transaction, irrespective of the amount of the gift. This makes the PAG the most economical of all methods of giving.
Contact - The clergy of St. Paul's are permitted once again to visit in homes. Don't hesitate to call or write.
Website: www.stpl.ca; Church phone: 416-499-1545; Email: stpl@stpl.ca
Fr. Dean Mercer: deanmercer@hotmail.com
Rectory phone: 416-497-6352.