|
The Doors of St. Paul’s Re-open on Sunday, September 13.
In a series of careful steps, the doors are re-opening and services and programs are being resumed - starting with Sunday Services. We are working toward the resumption of other services and programs over the next few weeks. However, because the virus remains active, safety guidelines are in effect and all the online services will continue for the foreseeable future. Beginning on Sunday, September 13, five services will be offered. Ninety (90) people, which is 30% of capacity, are allowed in the church proper at any one time. The hall and kitchen and rooms downstairs will be locked. Sunday Schedule: 8.00 a.m. 10.00 a.m. 1.00 p.m. (Chinese) 3.45 p.m. (Tamil) 6.00 p.m. - Evening Prayer - beginning in October. It will continue on Zoom. Morning Prayer will continue to be offered on Zoom, Monday through Saturday, as of September 13th. The Sunday recording will continue to be offered and will be available by early afternoon. Safety Guidelines As required, St. Paul’s is following the safety guidelines issued by the Diocese of Toronto. Anyone is welcome to read the detailed guidelines available on the Diocesan website, but the following Ten Commandments are offered as a working summary: 1. Please do not enter the church if you have a temperature, feel ill or have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual over the past two weeks. 2. Reserve a seat - online ([http://www.stpl.ca)/]www.stpl.ca) or by calling the church office (416-499-1545). Maximum attendance is 60 on the main floor and 30 in the balcony. 3. Wear a mask. 4. On Sundays, enter and sign-in at Entrance A (the main church door). During the week, sign-in at Entrance C. 5. Wash your hands. 6. Keep your distance (six feet, except with your family or members of your "bubble"). 7. No singing. 8. No eating (snacks for children may be brought, but not shared with other children). And BYOW - "bring your own water". 9. Communion is in one kind (bread only) and in procession. 10. One at a time in washrooms and the elevator (with the exception of parents/guardians with children). Before and After General cleaning by cleaning staff resumes as before, and between services trained volunteers will ensure that high-touch areas will be cleaned: door handles, bannisters, the top of chairs, etc.. Seat Reservations Due to a seating limitation of 30% capacity for group gatherings in the Diocesan safety guidelines, we request that you reserve a seat for Sundays. Registration is now open and available by calling the church office (416-499-1545) or by registering online here: https://stpl.ca/services.html Choose and click on the service you wish to attend and complete the registration. Kindly pass the word along to those you know who may wish to attend but do not have internet access. Other Services, Programs and Meetings Gradually, we plan to resume other services, programs and meetings, but safely and carefully. Watch for updates and announcements. Summary Due to broad cooperation across the country, the safety guidelines ensure that it is relatively safe to come back to church in the same way that it is now relatively safe to go to the grocery store, drug store, or hardware store. We are grateful to the Bishops and Diocese for their guidance. Small steps, but all in the right direction. And, as has been true all along, the situation remains dynamic. We’ll do our best to keep everyone updated. Sunday Prayers The parish of St. Paul's is called to prayer tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.. A short video and handout will be available tomorrow morning for those who wish to follow along: www.stpl.ca/services.html. A service is also conducted in Tamil. Please contact Fr. Milton Solomon directly: (solomon.milton@ymail.com). A Bible study and prayer meeting in Chinese is organized by Pastor Andrew and Kevin Zhang, Saturday evenings at 8.00 pm. To participate, contact Pastor Andrew: shenxunhong@gmail.com Sunday School every Sunday morning at 10 am - on Break until September 13. Information about how to connect is available on the Church Calendar: www.stpl.ca/events.html Evening Prayer on Sundays via Zoom Evening Prayer is said every Sunday at 6 pm. Information about how to connect is available on the Church Calendar: www.stpl.ca/events.html Or, directly here: Computer link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/729301821?pwd=N29KK1JtTXp0RzVvcHZBMzN0ZXpDZz09 Telephone: 647-374-4685, OR 647-558-0588 Meeting ID: 729 301 821 Password: 010558 Backpacks for School Ivy Matthews has a supply of backpacks for kids headed back to school. If interested, call her at: 905-947-4635. Thank you, Ivy. ACSA Food Bank Thanks to Councillor Jim Karygiannis for highlighting the needs of the Agincourt Community Services Food Bank. As always, St. Paul’s is eager to support ACSA. A monetary gift is the most practical and serves the exact needs of the food bank. Gifts can be given online: https://www.agincourtcommunityservices.com/donate S.P.Y. - St. Paul’s Youth - Friday Nights, 7 p.m. - Resuming in September Friday online fellowships carry on, and more soon to come. Information about how to connect is available on the Church Calendar: www.stpl.ca/events.html Morning Prayer - Now Daily The regular schedule of Morning Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer meets Monday to Sunday at 7.30 a.m. (Monday to Saturday as of September 13) and will continue for the foreseeable future. All are welcome and may participate by phone or internet. It's short, simple and quiet, but a proven path and one of the gems in the Anglican tradition. We follow the Book of Common Prayer, beginning on page 6. If you want to look ahead, the lessons from the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Psalm, are taken from The Daily Office Lectionary and can be found here: https://lectionary.anglican.ca/. Here’s the link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/397231088 Here are the phone numbers and ID: 647-374 4685, or 647-558 0588; Meeting ID: 397 231 088 Looking for Work Slowly, businesses are opening and jobs are resuming, and while some of the employment projections are encouraging, we could also be looking at a lot of lost jobs. If you’re looking, or know someone who is, here’s the national job site: www.jobbank.ca Friday Night Bible Study - on Zoom - Resuming September 18. The Friday night Bible studies on. On May 22, we began a study of the Book of Revelation, a book that is often avoided due to its coded language and many symbols. But here’s from the study guide we will follow: "In fact, Revelation offers one of the clearest and sharpest visions of God's ultimate purpose for the whole creation, and of the way in which the powerful forces of evil, at work in a thousand ways, can be and are being overthrown through the victory of Jesus the Messiah and the consequent costly victory of his followers." Paperback copies or electronic versions of the study guides can be purchased online at Amazon. Paperback: Revelation (N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides) - Paperback Kindle: Revelation (N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides) - Kindle For those interested, the commentary is also available: Revelation for Everyone The study resumes September 18 - Revelation, chapter 9. Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/830877703 Telephone: 647-374 4685, or 647-558 0588; Meeting ID: 830 877 703 Church Calendar We have updated the online Church Calendar to list all the events that are available online - www.stpl.ca/events.html - including the information about how to phone in or connect by internet. Brother’s and Sister’s Keepers If you are willing to be your brother’s or sister’s keeper by being in regular contact with one or two other persons from the parish, please contact the office or any of the clergy for more information. Have you moved? If you have moved recently, kindly notify the office of your new address, phone number and e-mail address. We appreciate your help. Gifts and Offerings The emergency measures and suspension of all church services and programs presents a large challenge to churches and charities dependent on regular gatherings and fundraising events. Your faithful support is as important now as it has ever been. Church Envelopes can be sent by mail. Members may wish to sign up for the Pre-Authorized Giving Program (contact the office). Or, gifts can be made online at our website through CanadaHelps here: www.stpl.ca/give.html Members who use online banking may now also make E-transfers (contact the office). Please note - the church office is closed and the deposit of gifts received is usually once every three to four weeks. One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4) Thank You - through envelopes mailed in, through the Pre-Authorized Giving Program, and through CanadaHelps on the website, the parish has remained constant and faithful through the quarantine. Thank you. God bless you. Staying in Touch The clergy of St. Paul’s are all in the vicinity. If any one of us can be of service, don’t hesitate to call or write. Church website: www.stpl.ca Church phone: 416-499-1545 Church email: stpl@stpl.ca Fr. Dean Mercer: deanmercer@hotmail.com Rectory phone: 416-497-6352 Comments are closed.
|
Archives
December 2023
|