An Introduction to the Christian Faith & Life
Join us for our annual parish mission on Saturday, November 5, at 7.00 p.m. with guest speaker Fr. Theadore Hunt. Fr. Theadore is the Incumbent at St. Stephen’s, Downsview, and was an associate priest at St. Paul’s from 2012 - 2017. The annual mission is an opportunity for every member to invite friends and family for a simple introduction to the Christian faith and life. Pray that the Lord might place someone on your mind who would be well served by the Mission. Everyone is welcome. The Pans will perform. A reception will follow the evening service. Tamil Evangelical Festival Raises $4000 for Bridge of Hope It was a wonderful evening last Saturday (October 22) for the Tamil Mission with wonderful music, guest speakers, a video presentation about the Bridge of Hope Palliative Care program in northern Sri Lanka, and $4000 raised for its support. The Bridge of Hope is the only one of its kind in northern Sri Lanka, started by our Tamil congregation. New Director of Family Ministry With great pleasure we announce, effective November 1, the creation of the new position of Director of Family Ministry and our first director, Sarah Mair. In one respect, this is to merge the positions of youth and Sunday School directors, but done so in order to: *Strengthen our ministry to families; *Coordinate our service to children, youth and their families and; *Enhance the recent success of our outreach to children and youth in the community. One or two assistants will be recruited especially for Sunday School as well as a parent’s Advisory Committee to support the Director. In all of this, we seek to do our best to serve our children, young people and families through the seasons of life. Watch and pray. We have only just begun. Honoring Leila Knetsch On Anniversary Sunday, November 27, we will honor and thank Leila Knetsch for her dedicated service directing our Sunday School. She leaves a strong program and team of teachers in place. It’s a great team and we are always recruiting new teachers. If you are interested, contact Sarah. Stewardship Emphasis Next week begins a three week Stewardship Emphasis, done every year at this time. Its purpose is threefold: 1) To give an account of how the gifts received by the parish are applied. 2) To highlight the fundamental areas in the Christian mission of the parish. 3) And to emphasize the central place and grateful obligation of stewardship in the life of every Christian. St. Paul’s has seven fundamental areas of ministry and service - Christian Worship, Outreach, Pastoral Care, Education, Evangelism, Fellowship and Administration - which our Christian giving makes possible. Regular giving according to the standard of the Biblical tithe is one of the fundamental practices of a Christian. It is the offering to God of our first and best gift. It is the support of the body of which Christ has made us a part. For his sake, it is our hand extended in service to those in need and in invitation to those drawing near to Christ. The ideal is and will remain the gift given on Sunday while attending Sunday services, another of our fundamental practices. But with Covid in the air and regular attendance often interrupted, we appeal to everyone to consider alternatives. Those recommended are Pre-Authorized Giving or E-transfers. Both are secure, the P.A.G. is regular, an E-transfer can easily be made regular, and both are cost efficient, in most cases less expensive than writing a cheque. And thirdly, in our annual Stewardship Emphasis three requests are made: 1) To make a pledge for the coming year that helps us plan ahead. 2) To consider a pre-authorized gift (described above) that provides regular support for the regular expenses that the parish faces. 3) And thirdly, every member is challenged to give at least 2% on the way toward the Christian ideal of the 10% tithe. Anniversary Food Drive - in thanksgiving and preparation for our anniversary celebrations on the 181st anniversary of the parish, Sunday, November 27, we are encouraging every member to make a monetary donation to the Agincourt Community Services Food Bank. St. Paul’s played a key role in the launch of ACSA, a proud part of our heritage. We recommend that this be done using a church envelope. Simply indicate "ACSA Food Bank" on your envelope. Walk-a-Thon 2022 - a great day, great walks, and over $13,000 raised so far! Kindly hand in any outstanding pledge sheets and donations. Thanks again for your constant help and support of our many outreach projects. This is our main fundraiser. Catechism Class has begun on Saturdays at 10 am in the Boundy Room. It is for those considering baptism. That said, it also serves as a very good introduction to the faith and life and any who are inquiring about the faith or about the faith in the Anglican tradition are welcome and encouraged to join. For more information, please contact Fr. Dean. SPLC Presentation to Seniors - Programs and Services - Sunday, November 13, 12.30-1.30 pm - lunch provided. SPLC provides an array of services for seniors in the community. They are for any eligible senior in the community. Topics will include care management, caregiver support, friendly visiting services, assisted living services, meals on wheels, transportation services, and more. The speaker is Elsa Uy, SPLC Health Promotion Coordinator. Those interested are asked to sign up (or call the office). For more information, call Elsa at 416-493-3333, ext. 305, or [email protected]. 2023 Church Calendars Sign up now for the 2023 Church Calendars - $5.25 each - at the church or by calling (416-499-1545) or sending an email to the office ([email protected]). Adzua Fellowship: The Immigrant Support Program of St. Paul’s The next Adzua Fellowship meeting is Saturday, November 19, from 6.30 - 8.30 p.m., featuring a presentation from M.P.P. Aris Babikian, originally a refugee from Lebanon who settled in Canada and now serves as Member of Provincial Parliament. He will talk about his experience and services available for new immigrants. A free meal begins at 6.30 p.m., followed by the presentation, followed by hymn singing and final prayers. Thank you, Leila Knetsch - For the last five years and through the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic Leila Knetsch has overseen our Sunday School program. She will step down, effective October 31st, leaving a strong program in place. Our debt to her is great and we will honor her on Anniversary Sunday, November 20. And coming as it does as we return after Covid, this is an opportunity for us to evaluate the whole of our ministry to children, youth and parents. Some very good things are in the air. Stay tuned. Sunday Hours: 8.00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist 9.15 a.m. - Holy Eucharist & Sunday School 11.00 a.m. - replay on Zoom of 8.00 a.m. service 11.15 a.m. - Holy Eucharist & Sunday School 1.00 p.m. - Chinese service 3.00 p.m. - Tamil service 6.00 p.m. - Evening Prayer (in person and online) Office Hours: Tuesday - 10.00 am to 12.30 noon Wednesday to Friday - 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 noon Looking Ahead *Feast of All Saints (transferred) - Sunday, November 6. *181st Parish Anniversary Sunday - NOTE Change of Date - Now Sunday, November 27, 10.00 a.m. (combined service), The Rev’d Dr. Ephraim Radner, guest preacher. *The SPO Holiday Concert, featuring the St. Paul’s Youth String Players, Saturday, December 3, 7.00 p.m. at the Salvation Army Citadel (check here for directions and ticket information: www.spo.ca). *Advent Memorial Service - Friday, December 16, 7.00 p.m.. *Christmas Steel Concert - Saturday, December 17, 7.00 p.m. (tickets - $20). *Christmas Services: Christmas Eve: 6.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m. Christmas Day: 10.00 a.m. (English) 11.30 a.m. Christmas Day Brunch (sponsored by the English & Chinese congregations) 1.00 p.m. - Chinese Christmas Service 3.00 p.m. - Tamil Christmas Service 6.00 p.m. - Evening Prayer (English) Steel Pan Practice - Saturdays, 12.30 noon! St. Paul’s Teen Basketball Clinic - Mondays, 6.00 p.m., L’Amoreaux Collegiate Institute - as of October 18, back in the double gym St. Paul’s Children’s Basketball Clinic - as of October 17, Tuesdays, 6.00 p.m., L’Amoreaux Collegiate Institute SPARC - Thursdays, 4.00 - 5.45 pm. After School Tutoring Program, in Math and English, at 4 pm on Thursdays for children ages 6-12. Registration is at the Thursday classes. For more information, contact Kathy B. Adult Choir - occasional practices, Saturdays, 4.00 p.m. Youth Music Program Resumes: African Dance Program - Saturdays at 10.30 a.m.. Pan practices - Saturdays at 12.30 noon. A new youth voices program (ages 12+) practice on Saturdays at 4.00 pm. The string program - Saturdays, at 4.30 pm. For more information, contact Sarah M., Sylbert G., or David Mc. Adult ESL - Thursday and Saturday at 4.30 pm. Friday Night Bible - Fridays at 7.00 pm - at the church and online. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/830877703 Telephone: 647-374 4685, or 647-558 0588; Meeting ID: 830 877 703 Mission Trip & Safari to Tanzania: July 2023 - Fr. Kim Beard, leader. For anyone interested (including families) in joining a group traveling to Tanzania from July 4-22nd, 2023, please join us for an information meeting where I will present the itinerary, budget and travel information for this trip. The Tanzania experience will include five days visiting and connecting with Anglicans in Tarime and Zanzibar, the chance to see and participate in a variety of development projects, safaris to the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro National Park, and a week exploring Zanzibar island. If you would like more information please contact: the Reverend Canon Kim Beard at [email protected]. The Zoom Replay of the recording of the 8.00 a.m. Sunday service has restarted. The replay is at the usual time of 11.00 a.m., Sundays, using the "Church Service" Zoom link. A Single "Church Service" Zoom Link for all church services This new link applies to all English church services which are streamed on Zoom, for the replay of the Sunday recording, and 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 Refugee Couple - Sanaz and Alireza More good news. This past we learned that the refugee couple St. Paul’s is co-sponsoring have received their VISA and are waiting on their air tickets. 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. 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. S.P.Y. - St. Paul’s Youth - Friday nights at 7 pm. Contact Sarah for more information: [email protected]. 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 permitted once again to visit in homes. Don’t hesitate to call or write. Website: www.stpl.ca; Church phone: 416-499-1545; Email: [email protected]; Fr. Dean Mercer: [email protected]; Rectory phone: 416-497-6352. Comments are closed.
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December 2023
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