May 17, 2015
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
Bake Sale, Silent Auction
and Mother’s Day Photos p2-3
What’s Inside!
Pledges Due!
Toiletry Drive
p4-5
Turning to Jesus
p6
Above and Beyond
p7
Mother’s Day Photos
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
St. Paul’s Bloor Street
227 Bloor Street East
Toronto, ON M4W 1C8
Phone: 416-961-8116
Email: mail@stpaulsbloor.org
Office Hours
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sanctuary Hours
Sundays: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Parking
Parking is free on Sunday
mornings at the Manulife
building located on the north
side of Bloor Street at the top
of Ted Rogers Way. To gain
access to Manulife’s parking,
press the intercom button
and inform the security
attendant you are attending
a service at St. Paul’s.
Charitable Number
119194942RR0001
@stpaulsbloor
stpaulsbloor
Children and youth raised $1,990 at last Sunday’s bake sale and silent
auction! Thank you to everyone who helped make it a great success.
3
Small Acts of Kindness
Until the end of June St. Paul’s is
collecting donations of toiletries
to benefit two Toronto women’s
shelters.
We are providing donations
to the North York Women’s
Shelter, as well as Mary’s Home,
a women’s shelter run by the
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
“We have a responsibility as a church to help the neighbourhood understand that
we’re really there for them,” said David Kirk, Outreach Pastor at St. Paul’s. “It’s not
just about us at St. Paul’s, it’s about making an impact in the larger community that
surrounds the church. It’s important to help others understand they’re loved and cared
for because they are also created in the image of God.”
Mary’s Home is a 38 bed emergency shelter that offers accommodation to women in
crisis.
The North York Women’s Shelter offers 30 beds and is at capacity almost every day of
the year. Many of the women who visit the shelter are survivors of domestic abuse.
“It can be dangerous for women to leave their abusers,” said Abby Wong, Volunteer
and Fundraising Coordinator at the North York Women’s Shelter. “At times we have
women who show up at our doors with nothing more than the clothes on their back.”
Many women and their children arrive at the shelter in a moment of crisis and
counsellors are on site 24 hours a day to offer much needed emotional support.
Upon arrival women are provided with a care package, containing essential toiletries
such as soap and shampoo.
“It can be a very emotional time and we want to make sure she and the counsellor
have the opportunity to work on those issues,” explained Abby. “We don’t want her
worrying about trying to find a toothbrush. That first night is about letting her know
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she made a great choice. It’s a huge step.”
According to Abby, the shelter depends entirely on donations for the contents of their
care packages. It is hard to provide appropriate shelter without these essential items,
and constant use often means great expense.
“Many times they’re leaving their homes with nothing, none of the things that provide
them with comfort,” said David Kirk. “These items help them re-establish a sense of
normalcy.”
Without toiletry donations, the shelter would be forced to divert funding intended
for programs and services. The North York Women’s Shelter offers a variety of
programming for women and children, such as self-defense workshops and children’s
gardening.
“We’re working to support women in becoming more independent and empowered,”
said Abby. “A lot of that happens through their own self-determination. We’re a part of
it but the real strength comes from each of the women.”
According to David Kirk, small acts of kindness are often enough to change someone’s
life. “It’s something that we as a community ought to do to help these women heal”, he
said.
“We can help rebuild lives. It’s a matter of safety and it’s a matter of helping these
women understand who they are and who they are meant to be.”
Women’s Shelter
Toiletry Drive
Place your donations
of new and unopened
moisturizers, shampoos,
conditioners, shower
gels, body lotions, body
powder, cleansers and
more in the outreach
basket in the Atrium.
Resources For Victims Of Abuse
In case of emergency call 911
The Assaulted Women's Hotline
416-863-0511 (24 hours a day)
Victim's Services Toronto
416-808-7066 (24 hours a day)
The ministers at St. Paul's are available
if you need support.
5
The Marriage Preparation Course
5 Thursdays over Supper
May 21 to June 18
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
$150 per couple
To register or for more
information, visit
stpaulsbloor.org/
marriage-preparation
or contact Mark Regis at ext. 230
or mregis@stpaulsbloor.org.
Turning to Jesus Starts this Month
Turning to Jesus provides an introduction to
baptism and Christian community. We will focus
on what it means to turn to Jesus and what that
has to do with baptism. Join us on May 31 and
June 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For more information or to register visit
stpaulsbloor.org/turning-to-jesus or
contact Sean Davidson at ext. 252 or
sdavidson@stpaulsbloor.org.
Listen Again Online
All Sunday sermons are posted online at the
beginning of the week.
Visit stpaulsbloor.org/sermons.
6
Volunteers Needed
Every Sunday morning, at three
separate services, many people
in the St. Paul’s community serve
together in the worship services.
It’s an integral part.
There are so many ways to serve;
reader, communion administrant,
prayer leader, greeter/usher,
coordinator and the Concierge
Desk to name a few.
If you would like to be part of
any of the services here, fill out a
Connection Card and drop it in
the office mailbox or speak to a
member of the Ministry Team.
Today is the day!
Have you got your pledge in?
Today is the last day we’re
asking for pledges for
our Above and Beyond
campaign.
If you have forgotten your
pledge card, or can’t find
one in the pews, please
contact Alison Chapman at
achapman@stpaulsbloor.org or ext. 243.
Thank you to all of you that have already pledged.
We are enormously grateful for your commitment
to St. Paul’s and to God’s plan for our church.
This is how we could achieve our goal,
with 398 gifts of varying amounts:
Gift range
$50K
$25K $10K - $2,500
per year
$25K
$10K $2,500 - $500
for 5 years
Donors
6
12
30
150
$500
- $50
200
Where do you fit in?
Remember to pray!
Facility Closed
Please note we will be closed on Monday, May 18
for Victoria Day. We hope you and your family
are enjoying a fun-filled long weekend!
Above and Beyond
Above and Beyond is our
response to God’s call to
move beyond the status quo
in the next five years. It is a
request to give, above and
beyond our regular giving.
Our vision includes:
1) Taking responsibility for
our debt
2) Developing the Ministry
Apprenticeship Program
3) Creating worship space
for tomorrow
4) Giving beyond ourselves
For more information
about how you can help,
visit stpaulsbloor.org/
above-and-beyond
Next Sunday’s
Preaching Passage
Nehemiah 8:8-12; 17-18
7
What’s Happening This Week
Sunday, May 17
Intro to Jesus - 10:30 a.m. | Cody Hall
Monday, May 18 - Victoria Day
Facility Closed
Tuesday, May 19
Winchester Group - 10 a.m. | Library
Holy Communion - 12:10 p.m. | St. Paul’s Chapel
Christian Meditation - 1 p.m. | Room 204
DivorceCare - 7 p.m. | Library
Wednesday, May 20
Wednesday’s With God - 12 p.m. | Dalton Room
ESL Cafe - 7 p.m. | Great Hall
Thursday, May 21
Snack Program - 5:15 p.m. | Atrium
Choir Practice - 6:30 p.m. | Music Room
Marriage Preparation Course - 7 p.m. | Great Hall
Sunday, May 24
Intro to Jesus - 10:30 a.m. | Cody Hall
Chancel Guild Executive - 12:30 p.m. | Leadership Lounge
Adult Confirmation Class - 12:30 p.m. | Office Meeting Room
Small Groups
Our Small Goups meet across the city. For more
information visit stpaulsbloor.org/small-groups.
Every Sunday
Worship Services
8:15 a.m. | Chapel of the Good Shepherd
9:30 a.m. the bridge | Great Hall
11 a.m. | Sanctuary
Nursery
beginning at 9:15 a.m. | 2nd Floor
Children’s Ministry
9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. | 2nd Floor
Youth Group
9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. | Youth Room
Prayer Time
10:20 a.m. | Room 7
Prayer Time
10:50 a.m. | St. Paul’s Chapel
Community Lunch
12:15 p.m. | Great Hall
What’s For Lunch!
Bacon grilled cheese with
caesar salad - $5.