Parish
News 
Publisher:
From the Rector’s
Desk
Well, here we are again! Advent starts the day after tomorrow, and it hardly feels like we have passed a day since last Christmas. Where does the time go? In this parish it goes into hard work, lots of fun, and true fellowship and service.
Since the last newsletter in the fall, much has happened. The excitement of our Annual Bazaar, put on by the women of the Anglican Church Women is a highlight… there are lots of wonderful handmade crafts, lots of bargains, and amazing home baking and souper soup. Even the Youth group was out, raising a bit of money for their Youth programme, which in the year coming will be very exciting! However, more about that later! I’d like to say thanks to all the women and men who worked hard to make this year’s Bazaar another success. I understand that the final figure was the highest ever, and that, indeed, is an accomplishment.
It has been a joy to welcome our dear friend, Bishop Arthur Brown back to preach at the All Saints festival. St. Giles, my old parish, managed to steal him for Remembrance this year. Arthur is a great friend of this parish, and your rector. His sermon was terrific as always… and it is great to chat with him over a coffee, and renew our friendship. Art, we love you!
Remembrance Day is a very special time for our parish, and this year was no different. We always rejoice to welcome our vets for a wonderful service, where our Veterans are highlighted and honoured. The world would be a very different place without their service and commitment. This year, we welcomed the children of some of the veterans, as they carried on the traditions, reading lessons, and bearing the flags with dignity. As ever, Edna Ludlow recited “In Flanders Fields” with wonderful, solemn skill and grace, and Bill O’Brien did the same with “High Flight.” We will always do our best to Honour our Veterans, and celebrate their gifts to us. I hope that everyone with children particularly will continue make a big event out of remembering, so that our children will grow up with the same respect and value for the sacrifice and courage of our veterans that we have.
Soup Sunday has again been a big event in our after church fellowship and life… And we have raised a bit of money for various charities, as we have hd great fun, great conversation, and amazing soup!. Thanks to Mary McDonough, for organizing things, and to the many soup chefs, and others who make these Sunday events possible. YUM!
This fall, we have been blessed with the musical leadership of our own Dr. Lori-Anne Dolloff, who has agreed to fill in for Jane Clemens, who has taken a leave of absence. Sadly, Jane announced recently, that she will not be returning after Christmas, with a change in her full-time employment, that now takes her away many Sundays, and Thursdays. (She is a travel consultant and guide extrordinaire.) This is a great disappointment to us, as Jane has been a member of our parish family for so many years, providing superb musical leadership for our Choir, and wonderful organist skills to enrich our parish worship. Everyone will soon be receiving an invitation to a special Sunday service, where we get to say thanks Jane for her amazing service to us. I hope everyone will make a point of being there.
Also noteworthy in our Choir at this time, is the news that our lovely and talented Vivian Ducharme, from the soprano section will be moving away in the New Year. Vivian is retiring from her work at CNIB, and going to move out west, nearer to family. We will also miss Vivian and her great voice every week, from our choir. We will be saying good-bye to her officially after church at the Carol Service, December 16th, at the 7:00 p.m service… though we’re not sure just when her final Sunday will be, but
On that note, I do hope that everyone will put the Lessons and Carols Service on their calendars, 7:00 p.m. December 16th. The choir works very hard each fall to bring us a spectacular celebration of Advent and Christmas Music and Scripture. It’s definitely a “No-miss” event in our parish life. For me, it is always when I “get ready” officially for Christmas.
We welcome to our parish, Hsien-Mei Ko, our new Sunday School teacher. Hsien-Mei comes to us, as a qualified teacher, and musician. You will find her to be very, very energetic! The kids all seem to love her, and are having a terrific time! They sound happy down there… and I wonder how many adults wish the grown-ups could have as much fun upstairs. Our Children’s Pageant is also a great event in our parish life. It will take place on December the 23rd at the 10 a.m. service. This pageant is always a great time, where the kids take over and share the gospel with us.
The Youth Group is now doing lots of fun activities! Recently they went out for a costume party at Hallowe’en. Their really big news, is that they are planning to try and raise money to help kids in other parts of the world through World Vision. Cameron LeLiever inspired us all with his very professional announcement last Sunday. We will all want to watch for further news!
I hope it’s not too early to announce things for Lent… This Lent, we will be holding a study Wednesday evenings after the 7:30 p.m. service. This study will be six weeks long, and finish by 9:00 p.m. It will look at our beliefs and theologies in the BCP and BAS prayer books. It should prove interesting, and help us understand why we believe what we do as Anglicans.
As we enter into the seasons of Advent and Christmas, I hope that you will all take the chance to prepare your hearts to receive the Saviour anew. This is the season where we open our hearts to God, the Season of peace on earth and goodwill to all people. Of course, we encourage you to make the very special services of worship,a part of your Christmas preparations, both on Sunday mornings, and at our other special services over the Christmas season.
These are, as follows:
December 2nd, Advent 1, 8:30 and 10 a.m.
December 9th, Advent 2, 8:30 and 10 a.m.
December 16th, Advent 3, 8:30 and 10 a.m., and The Festival of Lessons and Carols, 7:00 p.m. (Come, and Bring friends!)
December 23rd, Advent 4, 8:30 and 10 a.m. Children’s Pageant at the 10 a.m. bring friends this service too… and your Video Cameras , parents!
December 24th, Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m. Family Service, 11:00 p.m. Traditional Midnight mass.
December 25th, Christmas Day 10 a.m. Family Service.
Remember, if you are driving during this fun season, stick to the hot chocolate!
Lori and I do hope that you all have a very safe, blessed and fun Advent and Christmas.
Yours in Christ, Dennis Dolloff, Incumbent
Words from the Rector’s Warden
As I sit down to write this, it is a georgeous Remembrance Day, A day that we give thanks to the Vets, and those who are still
serving overseas so we can live in freedom and safety. At this year’s service we had 6 Veterans who took part in the service, and
also we had the children of Vets who also participated in the service, as they are the next generation, that the Vets hand the torch to.
During the service, we dedicated a Norwegian Maple tree in memory of Jack Cooper, one of our Vets. The children of the Sunday
school stayed in Church during the Act of remembrance.
This year the Church was beautifully decorated for Thanksgiving, with the Altar Frontal removed, and all the fruits and vegetables
put in, under, and in front of the Altar… a first for our church. Everyone thought it brought Thanksgiving a little closer to the real
meaning, with an example of the wonderful things that we are thankful for, grown from God’s bounty in our land.
This year, our Church School has a new teacher. Her name is Hsien-Mei Ko. Hsien-Mei brings the word of the Lord to the younger
Folks of the parish. I know from what I have heard, the children are really enjoying their lessons, and Hsien-Mei is havng a great
time teaching them.
On Sunday December 9th, we will again be having a Soup Sunday. I wish to thank the soup makers for all their hard work, and an
enjoyable meal, at a price where you can’t go wrong!
It is hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner, and we will be rushing around as we usually do, getting ready for the
Festive Season to make you really feel in the Christmas Spirit, on Sunday December 16th at 7:00 p.m., we will be having our annual
Festival of Lessons and Carols. Come hear our choir, and join in some of the Carols.
Upcoming Events:
January 25th, 2008: Robbie Burns Dinner
February 23rd, 2008: Italian Night Dinner
March 15th, 2008: St. Patrick’s Dinner
I wish everyone in the parish,
Season’s Greetings, and God Bless!
Susan Rowe, (Rector’s Warden)
A.C.W. Report:
Once again, Christmas is almost upon us. We have our Christmas Bazaar behind us, which was a huge success, thanks to Jenny
Pasquill, and her helpers. Plans are now in the making for our Annual Christmas Dinner. This too is made possible of our members,
who will make sure that everything is just right. All through the year, members have worked tirelessly, volunteering to help out at
game nights, Soup Lunches, Baby Bundles, just to name a few. I’m always amazed at the terrific work that our members do. To
quote Erma Bombeck, “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth, who reflect this nation’s compassion,
patience, and just plain love for one another.” I think the volunteers at the Church of Our Saviour truly measure up to this sentiment.
There is something about Christmas that makes you want to be there for every good cause. The choir sings super… the altar looks
brighter. It seems as if you can see the Lord Jesus on every face. I would like to take the time to thank each and every one of you for
your patience with me throughout the year, and I truly look forward to working with you all for another year. “He came to serve, not
to be served.”
Sincerely, Evelyn Bishop
Report on Bazaar, Nov 2007
We held an extremely successful Bazaar this year, and everyone should give themselves a pat on the back for a job well done.
We raised over $5600.00 on the day and another $400.00 came in on the Sunday, so I think this has been the best ever.
Many thanks to all who donated items, whether it be baked goods, knitted goods, soups, new-to-you items, the raffle or whatever.
Also, thank-you to the people who helped on the Sunday before the Bazaar, and the ones who moved pews, set up tables, priced the
items, and displayed them so nicely on the tables, and our two faithful gentlemen who went out early on Saturday morning to place
the signs to show the people the way in from the main roads. Thanks also to the people who helped to clear up, which is always a
tedious job, and the dismantling of the tables, etc..
We received quite a few comments from outsider, saying how lovely everything looked this year, so thank-you again.
Respectfully Submitted, Jenny Pasquill, Bazaar Convenor for St. Brigit’s.
Remembrance Day 2007
The Church of Our Saviour annual service was held at 10 a.m., November 11th. There were 6 Veterans, and family members adding
to the congregation for the Act of Remembrance. The readers for the readings were a son and daughter of those who had served in
the Canadian or British Armed Forces during WWII.
At the conclusion of the service, Rev. Dolloff invited the congregation to attend the dedication of a Maple tree in memory of Jack
Cooper, on the North side of the Church. Following the service, we returned inside for the recessional hymn. Tea and Coffee were
served in the Guild Room, and a sing-a-long of wartime favourites, led by Earl Nelham, followed. A special thank-you to our flag-
bearers.
L.W.Rowe, Remembrance Day Coordinator.
This may be of interest to all:
The Furniture Bank is a registered charity - they will pick up any household items, furniture, etc. that you no longer need or want.
They charge $100. to pick up, but they send you a Charitable Receipt for the amount, and give the furniture to those who need it.
They were recommended to me by Salvation Army and Scott Mission, who no longer pick up furniture.
If you take the items to them there is no charge. They are at 200 Madison Avenue, Toronto, M4V 2W6 Telephone 416-934-1229
They give to many from Abused Women's Shelters to Yonge Street Mission. It is based on the model of the Daily Bread Food Bank.
They state that "we try to give new hope to those making a fresh start by passing on to them a few furnishings received and given
with a blessing".
Barbara Heathcote