Signs of Hope
by Fr. Dean Signs of hope in the air: *Heading home on Friday evening after Bible study with nearly thirty adults together on Zoom and in-person at St. Paul’s with The Rev’d Chris Miller, checking in on our youth group and thrilled to see a great and growing group back together. *Walking to the Saturday afternoon ESL class, with the sounds of the strings and the voices of the choir in my ear, so happy to have music in the church again. *A great evening last night for the Adzua Fellowship: The Immigrant Support Program of St. Paul’s, with one of the great characteristics of Canada on display, namely, the accessibility of our public officials. Our MPP Aris Babikian spoke movingly about his move to Canada as a refugee and the opportunity afforded here in Canada. *This morning (November 20, 2022), prayers for Sarah Mair and the Sunday School Teachers as we seeking God’s blessing of her and an expanded vision of ministry to our children, youth and families. *And excitement as plans take shape for Sunday next weekend and the combined (9.15 & 11.15 a.m.) Anniversary service at 10.00 a.m.: the adult, Tamil and Chinese choirs, the youth quartet, the strings, the pans, the African dancers, our guest preacher - The Rev’d Dr. Ephraim Radner - our parish together again. Tamil Evangelical Festival Raises Now More than $5000 for Bridge of Hope It was a wonderful evening on 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, 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. Today special prayers will be said for our Director and the Sunday School teachers. Honoring Leila Knetsch On Anniversary Sunday, November 27, we will honor and thank Leila Knetsch for her dedicated service directing our Sunday School through Covid. 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 We are now in our Stewardship Emphasis. 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. 2023 Church Calendars Now available for pickup in the office. Regular 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) Please note - the 9.15 & 11.15 am services are combined next Sunday, November 27, for the Anniversary Service. Office Hours: Tuesday - 10.00 am to 12.30 noon Wednesday to Friday - 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 noon Looking Ahead *181st Parish Anniversary Sunday - 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 Lessons and Carols - Sunday, December 4, 6.00 p.m. *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 Brunch (sponsored by the English & Chinese congregations) 1.00 p.m. - Chinese Christmas Service 3.00 p.m. - Tamil Christmas Service 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 Altar Guild Members who attend the 11:15am service and are interested in joining the Altar Guild, please contact Valerie W. St. Paul’s Ladies Group - Attention all members - there will be a very important meeting on November 22, 2022, at 7 pm at the church. Please make an effort to attend. Thank you. Venetta S. 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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