A Note
-Fr. Dean I'm away this weekend, so weekend notes are a little early with a couple of changes to be aware of. *First, we now have an alternate Zoom link for Sunday Services for occasions such as this. Meeting ID: 416 985 1369 Passcode: 222222 The phone numbers are the same as usual: 647-374-4685; 647-558-0588 The computer link can be found here: https://stpl.ca/services.html It will be needed this week and weekend for Morning Prayer, Thursday to Saturday and Monday (7.30 a.m.) and for Evening Prayer, Sunday at 6.00 p.m.. *Secondly, there is no Bible study on Zoom this Friday, resuming next Friday, June 9 - Lesson 13, Acts 13. *Thirdly, the recording of the 8.00 a.m. service be not be available this weekend. Pentecost Weekend Sincere thanks to all those who contributed to Saturday evening's tribute to Annette Brownlee, and Sunday's Pentecost celebration: the dancers, the young dramatic readers, the pans and U4(ia) - the next generation! With delicious receptions on both occasions and wonderful music from the Agincourt Salvation Army Brass and Children's Choir. And to top it off, proceeds from Saturday evening helped us surpass our promised support of $5000 in our Refugee Sponsorship Program. A beautiful tribute to Annette on Saturday evening by Anne Burnett is reprinted below at the conclusion of these weekend notes. 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 info@arthurboers.com. 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. An Evening With Fr. Arthur Boers Join us on Friday evening, June 17 for a presentation by Fr. Arthur Boers about his new book, hosted by the Family Ministries Program. Swing into Summer Concert - Saturday, June 24, with the St. Paul's Steel Pan Orchestra and Gemini Pan Groove. Grad Sunday - Sunday, June 25 - a combined service of the English, Tamil and Chinese congregations when we honor our high school, training school, college, and university graduates. Summer Hours for the English Sunday Services - 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., Sunday, June 25, through Sunday, September 3. The International Food Fair is Back! After a 3 year hiatus, the International Food Fair is returning on Saturday, July 15. This is a wonderful opportunity to taste foods of the world, prepared and presented by our own members. Please share the news with friends and relatives. Countries already participating are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Zimbabwe. If you would like to participate in this exciting event, please contact either Anne Burnett or Keith Morris. All funds raised support activities within the Outreach program. 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. The next meeting is Saturday, June 10. 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 stpl@stpl.ca 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: Bible study is cancelled on Friday, June 2, resuming on Friday, June 9. 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) Office Hours: Tuesday - 10.00 am to 12.30 noon Wednesday to Friday - 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 noon Steel Pan Practice - Saturdays, 12.30 noon. St. Paul's Teen Basketball Clinic - Mondays, 6.00 p.m., L'Amoreaux Collegiate Institute - back in the double gym St. Paul's Children's Basketball Clinic - Tuesdays, 6.00 p.m., L'Amoreaux Collegiate Institute Congratulations to St. Paul's Steel Orchestra and Gemini Pan Groove A great performance last Saturday at the Praise on Steel city-wide pan concert at the Malvern Christian Assembly, with nearly a dozen bands and solo performances. St. Paul's Steel Orchestra and Gemini Pan Groove made us proud in front of a very happy crowd. You won't want to miss the Spring into Summer Steel Concert on June 24. Congratulations to Youth String Program Thanks to all our young musicians and director Hayley Kim for another great season which featured performances at Anniversary Sunday, playing with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra at the Holiday Concert, a performance on Black History and Easter Sunday, and last Saturday's performance at Maytime Melodies. The program resumes in the Fall. Adult Choir - practices, Saturdays, 4.00 p.m. 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 splcyouthministry@gmail.com 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. Mission Trip & Safari to Tanzania: July 2023 - Fr. Kim Beard, leader. July 4-22, 2023. 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 beard3300@rogers.com. 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 Alternate Church Service Zoom Link? (Used on occasions when the primary link is not available.) https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4169851369?pwd=TUhNYm5CenNhTDNrM1FybTMxdWlQUT09 By Phone: Meeting ID: 416 985 1369 Passcode: 222222 647-374-4685 647-558-0588 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: splcyouthministry@gmail.com. Thank you for your Faithful Gifts and Offerings - St. Paul's is a strong parish and remained so throughout 2022 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: stpl@stpl.ca; Fr. Dean Mercer: deanmercer@hotmail.com; Rectory phone: 416-497-6352. ***** Tribute to The Rev'd Dr. Annette Brownlee by Anne Burnett Delivered at the Tribute Concert, Saturday, May 27 Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is a bitter sweet moment as we bid farewell to our pastor and friend Rev'd. Dr. Annette Brownlee. What an incredible journey it has been for her here at St. Paul's, for almost fifteen years. It has truly been an honour for our congregation to witness Annette's faith, dedication, and strong commitment in sharing her love of Christ with others in an exemplary fashion. These are just a few of her exceptional highlights. Her journey started with us in (2008) as an Associate Priest, our Pastor and friend. On Sunday mornings our congregation had the pleasure of hearing Annette preach. She has graced us with her ability to communicate the Gospel message in a unique and exuberant style that is all her own – with uplifting sermons that encourage and motivate us to use the word of God to guide us in our daily lives. In addition to this duty, she supported the pastoral care visitation. I can personally attest to her sincere and authentic nature in providing pastoral care and reaching out in friendship. I recall a time when I had knee surgery and while hospitalized Annette visited me. What touched me deeply was she not only prayed for my healing, but included my roommate in the prayer session, for someone whom she had never met. You're awesome Annette. Annette has served as the Chaplain of Wycliffe College, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Director of Field Education. She has a genuine warmth, compassion, and positive attitude that extends beyond the doors of St. Paul's. Our church has been blessed by wonderful students sent our way via Rev. Annette. These include Fr. Theadore and Donethia Hunt and we at St. Paul's are very much aware and appreciative of their contributions to our church. Currently Fr. Theadore is the Incumbent at St. Stephen's Downsview. And most recently we've enjoyed the additions of Carol Shih and Rajini Lyman. Carol has recently been ordained as Deacon and will be serving at St. Timothy's Anglican Church, North Toronto effective June 1. And Rajini has recently been accepted as a Postulant (an applicant for holy orders) in the Diocese of Toronto. I reached out to Fr. Theadore, Carol and Rajini and here are their reflections on their time with Annette. Fr. Theadore Hunt: "I felt very welcomed here at St. Paul's and do appreciate Rev'd. Annette's pastoral sensitivity and keen instincts in what Donethia and I needed at the time, and we have maintained a beautiful friendship over the years". The Rev'd Carol Shih: "Rev'd. Annette Brownlee was my supervisor as Chaplain in the Wycliffe Founders' Chapel and, more importantly, my precious friend. She gave me much support and guidance not only for the Chapel but also for living and life. She listened to, encouraged, comforted, navigated, and loved me. She also taught me English slang. I cherished our time together. I cannot say it in just a few words but want you to know you are my very precious friend and a remarkable person in my life. Annette, in the way God leads, may you continue blessing others as you have always done". Rajini Lyman: "Rev'd. Annette is one of the professors who helped me the most in my theological studies at Wycliffe and in my spiritual discernment. She is a great blessing not only to me but to many students. She goes over and beyond to assist her students. She encouraged me to focus on my Master of Divinity in place of Master of Theological Studies. Under her direction I learned how to do pastoral care in the proper manner. Now that I have been chosen as a Postulant, I am looking at her as someone whom God sent to fulfill His will in my life. She is loving, caring and very helpful to all the students at Wycliffe. I wish her well." In conclusion, we have been truly blessed to have Annette serve as our pastor, priest, and friend for almost 15 wonderful years. She has been a bright and effervescent light that has shined so brightly, along with her radiant and beautiful smile!! She has left an indelible mark. We are genuinely sorry to see her go. She is truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed. On behalf of St. Paul's, we wish her all the very best in her retirement and future endeavours. May God continue to bless you, Annette. 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