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An Announcement and Looking Ahead
by Fr. Dean Mercer *Announcement With Annette Brownlee’s retirement, Wycliffe College was in search of a new chaplain. This past week it was announced that Fr. Ajit John will take up this role, at least through the Fall term. However, he will also have to step back from his responsibilities here, effective the end of August. We will look for an occasion to properly thank him for his faithful service at St. Paul's since July, 2017. To that end, I am pleased to announce that while there’s still another announcement to come, effective September 10, Fr. Arthur Boers will be returning to serve on a regular basis. *Looking ahead There is a full and exciting fall ahead of us. 1) The restart of the youth choral program. I’m delighted to announce the re-start of our children’s parish and community choir this September. This year we’ll follow the successful example of our friends at Agincourt Salvation Army with a single choir, ages 6-12. And the exciting news that our new director is Delicia Raveenthrarajan - much-loved, much-talented and already much-experienced - five years conducting for the acclaimed Sistema after-school music program - www.sistema-toronto.ca - and several years at Timothy Eaton United Church. 2) Back to Church and Back to Sunday School Sunday on September 24, 2023, with a great year to look back on and another great one in view. Special prayers will be said throughout September for our scholars young and old as they return to school. 3) The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a concert at St. Paul’s on September 30, and one worth circling the date for. 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. 4) October 21 - the annual Tamil evangelistic mission and fundraiser for the Bridge of Hope palliative care program in northern Sri Lanka. 5) 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 local 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 6) 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. 7) In the works for this fall, the Chinese congregation is planning on offering a Chinese Alpha course. This well known program used around the world and across the Christian denominations is designed especially for those new to the faith and inquiring about it. Recently, a new version of the program was produced in Mandarin and with Chinese actors. It has served as a good general introduction to the faith. The heart of the program is a meal together, a video presentation, then followed by small group discussion. 8) Renovations of SS room, youth room, and middle office 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. Most of the work is now complete. 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. ******** 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 [email protected]. 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. Summer Hours for the English Sunday Services - 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., Sunday, June 25, through Sunday, September 3. 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: [email protected] 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 Now on summer recess, resuming on September 13. 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 in September. 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 [email protected] 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 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 Please note: we’re now in recess, resuming in September. Summer Sunday Hours (June 25 to September 3) 8.00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist 10.00 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) Summer Office Hours: Wednesday to Friday - 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon Community Basketball for Youth & Children – Resumes in the Fall. Dates to be announced. Adult Choir - practices, Saturdays, 4.00 p.m.. Resumes in the fall. Parish and Community Youth Music Program - Children’s Choir, Strings, Pans - all restart this fall. African Caribbean Dance & Movement Program - Saturday Mornings 10:30 - 11:45 am. Come and move your bodies in worship to the Lord. All ages welcome. For more information, contact Sarah at [email protected]. Resumes in the fall. S.P.Y Network. - Friday Night Gathering for Youths - Resumes in the Fall. Dates to be announced. For more information, contact Sarah at [email protected] Adult ESL - now on break until the Fall. 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. 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: [email protected] Fr. Dean Mercer: [email protected] Rectory phone: 416-497-6352. |
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December 2023
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