call to prayer - easter sunday - April 17, 2022

CALL TO PRAYER - EASTER SUNDAY - April 17, 2022
Easter Sunday: Changes! A note from Fr. Dean
This year, Easter at St. Paul’s looks a whole lot different and better than it did a year ago, for which we thank God.  There are several changes taking effect this week and next.
*Back to the Pre-Covid Schedule
As of Easter Sunday, Sunday morning services in English will return to the ordinary schedule of 8.00, 9.15 and 11.15 a.m., with Sunday School resuming at 9.15 a.m., effective April 24.
*Safety guidelines
St. Paul’s was given permission by the Bishops to enter the Green Stage of safety guidelines. However, no one is discouraged from either masking or distancing and at the 8.00 a.m. and 11.15 a.m., distancing will remain in effect.
*Recording
As of Palm Sunday, the weekend recording has ended. In its place, the 11.15 a.m. service will be live-streamed on Zoom and a recording of the service posted to the church website. Our hope is that the recording will be available by no later than Sunday evening, but it may take a week or two to iron out the wrinkles.
*A Single "Church Service" Zoom link for all church services
This new link applies to all English church services which are streamed on Zoom, including Evening Prayer on Sundays at 6.00 p.m. and 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
*The Easter Vigil is this evening at 8.00 p.m. - in-person only. Canon Kim Beard is the preacher.
*Sunday School
The children return to St. Paul’s for Sunday School next Sunday, April 24, at 9.15 a.m.. Thank God!
Diocese to Green Stage - Beginning on Easter Eve at St. Paul’s
On March 23, the Bishops announced that the Diocese will move to the Green Stage in all the Diocese, effective April 27. The Bishops gave permission to St. Paul’s to begin on April 16 - Easter Eve. There are three considerations.
The first and largest is that, as was the case before Covid, individuals and families are now responsible for their own health, safety and protection. Outside of exceptional times like Covid, this is as it should be. Parishes are asked to do their best to keep things clean and to support those who mask and distance. As of Easter Sunday, we will return to the three English services on Sundays, advising those who wish to distance to attend at 8.00 am and 11.15 am.
Secondly, several things remain in place. The vaccination mandate for clergy, staff and church volunteers remains. For the time being, the practice of serving the sacrament in one kind (the consecrated bread only) will continue.
But thirdly, the simple praise of God in song can be heard on Easter.
We thank God for the oversight and direction of our bishops and the three levels of government.
We thank God for the relative safety of this time. We thank God for the blessed memory of all those died these last two years - all of whom we were not able to "bid adieu" as we would have wanted. And we thank God for what, by all signs, is the "beginning of the end" of Covid.
Wednesday Bible Study - after the 10.30 a.m. Eucharist - has resumed.
With study leader Don St. Kitts.
Wonderful News - Prayers Answered for Sanaz and Alireza
This past week we were delighted to learn that the refugee couple St. Paul’s is co-sponsoring have had their application and relevant documents approved. We learned this week that their arrival may be still be a while, but we thank God for this wonderful development, for the guidance and wise counsel of AURA, for the members of the co-sponsorship committee at St. Paul’s, and for the faithfulness of the family’s sister in Toronto.
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/. This past week, our Outreach Committee donated $2000 to refugee relief program.
Indigenous Spiritual Centre at St. Paul’s
On Saturday, March 12, a public meeting was held to consider the development of a spiritual centre at St. Paul’s for the indigenous community in Scarborough, serving as a bridge to youth and senior programs. The original impetus was a report to the SPLC Board (Senior Persons Living Connected) identifying a significant community of indigenous seniors in Scarborough. Nineteen attended to hear a presentation from Archbishop Mark MacDonald, bishop for all indigenous Anglicans in Canada. Also attending were Fr. Andrew Wesley, an indigenous leader in Ontario and Toronto, as well as our Member of Parliament, Jean Yip, Aris Babikian, our Member of Provincial Parliament, and Diane Duncan, Executive Director of St. Paul’s Centre, Terrace and SPLC senior services. A fine presentation was followed by a lively discussion and volunteers stepped forward quickly to assist on an ongoing planning committee. The planning committee me for the first time yesterday. If interested, and for more information, contact Fr. Dean.
In Search of Egg Cartons
Egg cartons are being collected for use at the nearby Salvation Army food bank. If you have cartons you could share, please contact Kathy Barnes.
Sarah Mair - new Youth Coordinator for York Scarborough Area
Congratulations to Sarah Mair who has been appointed Youth Co-Coordinator for the York-Scarborough Area. It is a position she will hold alongside serving as Youth Director for St. Paul’s. Congratulations, Sarah. They recruited one of the best.
NOTE: A profile of Sarah appears in the April issue of the Diocesan Anglican.
Community Youth Basketball Program Has Resumed - the long wait is over and we are up and running again! It was a great and enthusiastic re-opening this past Tuesday. For more information, contact Sarah Mair - splcyouthministry@gmail.com.
St. Paul’s Youth Music Program Resumes with the Strings
Our parish and community youth music program has re-started, with string practice at 4.30 pm. A great group. Our largest string group ever. Registration at practice.
Steel Pans Have Returned
Gemini Groove (Tuesday evenings) and The St. Paul’s Steel Pan band (Saturdays, 12.30 noon) have restarted. Hope is in the air.
Morning Prayer on Zoom
Morning Prayer is said Monday to Saturday at 7.30 a.m. on Zoom. Join us.
Computer link - NEW:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86566347435?pwd=WnhpMDJQRkxjMEV3d2pMU0FCa0JuUT09
By Phone:
Meeting ID: 865 6634 7435
Passcode: 501805
647-374-4685
647-558-0588
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.
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.
Mission Trip to Tanzania Rescheduled: July 2023.
Fr. Kim Beard will be leading a work mission trip to Tanzania, now re-scheduled for July 4 - 22, 2023. There are two upcoming information meetings at St. Paul’s:
*Tuesday April 19th at 7:30 p.m. - to introduce interested people to the Tanzania mission, its schedule and budget
*Thursday September 15th - 7:30 p.m. - to introduce interested people to the Tanzania mission.
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 study, following the Bible study guides of Bishop Tom Wright. The study guides are available online (www.amazon.ca or www.parasource.com or www.christianbook.com) or may be ordered through Fr. Dean for $13. We are now studying the Gospel of Luke, resuming Friday, April 29: Luke 2.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/830877703
Telephone: 647-374 4685, or 647-558 0588; Meeting ID: 830 877 703
Looking Ahead
Maytime Melodies - the Roger Lillie Springtime Recital - Saturday, May 14
The Spring-Summer Steel Concert - Saturday, June 25
Grad Sunday - June 26
Annual Walk-a-thon - Saturday, September 24
The Annual Stewardship Letter and 2022 Pledge Card is now available - from the church office or online: https://stpl.ca/give.html
Vestry Report 2022 - The final edition of the 2022 Vestry Report is now available here:
https://stpl.ca/applications-forms--reports.html
The 2022 Offering Envelopes are Now Available for Pickup at the Church
St. Paul’s 2021 Income Tax Receipts - by Mail & E-mail!
Tax receipts for 2021 have been distributed. Contact the office for questions or information - (416) 499-1545; stpl@stpl.ca.
Thank you for your Faithful Gifts and Offerings - St. Paul’s is a strong parish and remains strong 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 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.