Call to Prayer - Advent 2 - December 5, 2021

Help us through the 4th Quarter - St. Paul’s is a strong parish and remains strong due to everyone’s faithful support. Through three quarters of the year, support has been outstanding at a time when never has it been more important. The 4th quarter is always our largest challenge each year. Your faithful and regular gifts are 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 e-mail 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 The monthly amount is withdrawn on the 20th of each month, and the cost to the church is 50 cents per transaction, irrespective of the amount of the gift.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 the online and electronic methods.
The Annual Stewardship Letter and 2022 Pledge Card is now available - from the church office or online: https://stpl.ca/give.html
Christmas Steel Concert - with the steel bands and the musicians of St. Paul’s, Saturday, December 18, at 7.00 p.m.. Tickets: $20. Available from steel pan band members or through the church office. Safety guidelines in place, and a limit of 80 tickets available. Recordings of parish musicians and selections from the live concert will be available.
The 180th Anniversary of the Parish of St. Paul, L’Amoreaux
Dedicated - November 18, 1841, by Bishop John Strachan, 1st Bishop of Toronto
Recorded musical mementoes can now be found on the homepage of the church website: www.stpl.ca
All are encouraged to donate to the Outreach Program of St. Paul’s.
Good News - Safety Guidelines Update
Changes have been made to the safety guidelines:
*The College of Bishops have relaxed their COVID-19 restrictions as of November 24th to allow for congregational singing with masks and appropriate distancing. St. Paul's will proceed in measured fashion.
*Readers, preachers and intercessors may remove their masks while speaking.
*The Bishops now permit as many people in the church who can maintain "physical distancing of 2 metres." Attendance at church services at St. Paul's has now increased to 100.


Advent and Christmas Schedule
Sundays of Advent - the ordinary schedule
Christmas Steel Concert - Saturday, December 18, 7 pm
Christmas Eve - 6 pm and 11 pm.
Christmas Day - 8 am (Tamil); 10 am (English)
First Sunday of Christmas (December 26) - the ordinary schedule
Watchnight Service - 11 pm (December 31)
Each service is limited to 100 people. Seat reservations can be made here:
https://stpl.ca/services.html
The Sacrament by Christmas - A note from Fr. Dean
With the signs pointing in the right direction, Christmas this year should be a lot more like what we expect than what we experienced last year. For that reason, by Christmas this year I would urge everyone to make plans to receive the sacrament - at least once - whether it be by attendance at one of the in-person services or by a request for home communion. Even with the remaining guidelines, that should be more than possible.
The ordinary and grateful obligation of a Christian is to gather on Sundays, to unite in prayer and praise, and to be nourished by both Word and Sacrament. The season of Covid was an exception, not a new normal, and we will work diligently to to re-establish the ordinary habits of our Christian life - which is precisely what we are doing now as opportunity permits.
The 2021 Angel Tree Program - St. Paul's L’Amoreaux will be partnering for an eighth year with Prison Fellowship Canada to provide Christmas gifts for children with a parent that is incarcerated. This year, St. Paul’s will be serving 20 children. Due to the generosity of the parish, we had a surplus of donations from last year that will cover the cost of gifts for this year. A team of volunteers has also signed up to deliver the gifts. Those who ordinarily give to the Angel Tree Program are asked to consider the parish Christmas Hamper Program this year. Thank you St. Paul’s for all your support!!
Christmas Hampers are being prepared this Advent to be distributed to families in need. Monetary donations are being sought to fund this ministry and your generosity is greatly appreciated and much needed during these challenging times. Simply indicate that you would like your gift to go towards Christmas hampers.
Tamil Congregation Service of Carols - Sunday, December 19th at 3:15pm.
The Spiritual Companions Program - is a companionship program to encourage spiritual growth. Open to those who are 22 years or older, companions are placed in groups of two, committing themselves to meet weekly for reflection and prayer. Those couples may include married and dating couples. The materials for reflection are agreed on by the pair and may be a reading or Collect from Morning Prayer, from Our Daily Bread, or from another devotional source. Guided by respect, honesty and confidentiality, pairs will agree to a convenient date and time and may meet in person, over the phone, or on Zoom. For a copy of the manual and application, call the office (416-499-1545) or check online: https://stpl.ca/spiritual-companions-program.html
Questions - contact Carol Shih (Wycliffe student) - carol.shih@mail.utoronto.ca
Church Calendars 2022
Church calendars have arrived. Four orders remain to be picked up at the Sunday sign-in table or from the office.
St. Paul’s Youth Music Program Now On - Pans and Strings
Our parish and community youth music program has re-opened with pan practice on Saturdays at 12.30 pm, and string practice at 4.30. A great group. Our largest string group ever. Registration at practice.
Introduction to Christianity & Simple ESL Class for Adults - Saturdays, 4.30 pm, in the church.
Morning Prayer on Zoom - Password Added
Morning Prayer is said Monday to Saturday at 7.30 a.m.. Tuesday to Friday mornings, it is live-streamed from the church. For that reason there is now a password for those attending Morning Prayer on Zoom. Join us for prayer, Monday to Saturday morning at 7.30 a.m.:
Computer Access Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/397231088?wd=ekhBRm9XcDRmWXo5Z0Via2dyY2tpUT09
Telephone Access - (647) 374 4685, or (647) 558 0588
Meeting ID: 397 231 088; Password: 549300
Schedule
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. This is the quickest and easiest way to get service and program information.
Sunday Services by Phone on Zoom
The weekly Sunday recording can be heard by phone on Zoom. (It can also be viewed on Zoom, but the quality is diminished.)
Zoom Invitation: By Phone: 647 374 4685; 647 558 0588;
Meeting ID: 854 0290 8277; Passcode: 970844
Computer link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85402908277?pwd=Q1RIdkxCZXJNTFJJek5tYWpOTzlFUT09
Ontario COVID-19 Vaccine Booking - You can currently book an appointment at a mass vaccination clinic through the provincial online vaccine booking system (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/) If you prefer to schedule an appointment by phone, call the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). This line is available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Information is available in more than 300 languages. If St. Paul’s can be of any help to you in this process, please let our office know.
IMARA Generation Project Taibu Community Health Centre is conducting a consultation for parents and other concerned adults regarding Black youth and their mental health. For more information or to participate, please contact coladehinde@taibuchc.ca
New Honorary Priest at St. Paul’s
Effective December, 2021, The Rev'd Canon Kim Beard has been appointed by Bishop Robertson as honorary priest at St. Paul’s, L’Amoreaux. Canon Beard is the recently retired priest of St. Paul on the Hill, Pickering. We welcome Canon Beard on Sunday, December 19, when he will be the preacher of the day.
Mission Trip to Tanzania Rescheduled: July 2023.
Our incoming honorary assistant Rev. Canon Kim Beard will be leading a work mission trip to Tanzania, now re-scheduled for 2023. Look for an information session this coming March.
Sunday School Every Sunday at 10.00 on Zoom
Check the church calendar for links and information: www.stpl.ca/calendar.html
S.P.Y. - St. Paul’s Youth - Friday nights at 7 pm.
Contact Sarah for more information: splcyouthministry@gmail.com.
Friday Night Bible Study - join us at the church or online for a study of the Letters of Peter and Jude following the Bible study guide by Bishop Tom Wright. Study guides are available online (www.amazon.ca or www.parasource.com or www.christianbook.com) or may be ordered through Fr. Dean. The study on Friday, December 10 will be Lesson 8: Jude 3. We will take a Christmas break, resuming Friday, January 14, and beginning a study of Ephesians, following the study guide of Bishop Tom Wright.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/830877703
Telephone: 647-374 4685, or 647-558 0588; Meeting ID: 830 877 703
Contact - The clergy of St. Paul’s are all in the vicinity and visiting in homes again, abiding by diocesan safety guidelines. Don’t hesitate to call or write. Website: [http://www.stpl.ca;/]www.stpl.ca; Church phone: 416-499-1545; Email: [mailto:stpl@stpl.ca;]stpl@stpl.ca; Fr. Dean Mercer: [mailto:deanmercer@hotmail.com;]deanmercer@hotmail.com; Rectory phone: 416-497-6352.