Weekly Announcements
Work and Witness of the Church
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Today at Cummer Avenue
World Communion Sunday: As part of the service today (October 4), the community, while physically separated, will still celebrate Communion. Please have bread/cracker and wine/juice available so you can partake.
Opportunities to Grow in Faith and Community
While we cannot be together in body, we can continue to be together in spirit. We encourage you to reach out; call a friend; call a neighbour. Share Kindness, Justice and Hope wherever you can. Below are some ways you can keep in touch with the Cummer Community while we are physically separated:
Daily Coffee Klatsch: Weekdays at 10:00 am. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join the staff and other members of the congregation for a chance to connect and chat. If you can’t access the Zoom platform, you can still dial in for a chat.
Congregational Care Team: Thursday, November 26, 3:00 pm
Choir: Thursday, November 26, 7:30 pm
Communion: As part of the service next Sunday (November 29), the community, while physically separated, will still celebrate Communion. Please have bread/cracker and wine/juice available so you can partake.
Advent Study: Tuesdays, December 1-22, 6:45 – 8:00 pm. We will be using the book Lighted Windows: Advent Reflections for a World in Waiting by Margaret Silf. Cost for the book is $17 (Subsidy available). We still have a few books remaining. To register, please contact Heather in the church office.
Congregational Meeting: Sunday, December 13. Plan to stay on-line after the worship service to receive updates from the Executive Board on items including: renovations, draft financial model, capital campaign and nominations.
Renovation Co-chair Vacancy: Ted Chen has chaired and co-chaired the renovation team since its formation. As of December 31, 2020, Ted will be continuing his faith journey on a different path. We are grateful for all that Ted has shared as a member of Cummer Avenue United Church, Executive Board, and Renovation Committee, and we offer him and his family many blessings. This change does create a renovation team vacancy that the Executive Board and Renovation Team are looking to fill. A copy of the Renovation Co-Chair job description is attached to this email. If this is of interest to you, please contact Angela.
Nominations: We will have a number of vacancies for the upcoming year, including Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Representative(s) to Shining Waters Regional Council. We are looking to form a Nomination Committee to identify and approach potential candidates. This is a short-term commitment, concluding with the Annual Meeting. If you are interested in serving on the Nomination Committee, or in one of the vacancies, please contact Angela.
Year-End Givings Reminder: We would ask that you take this opportunity to bring your givings up to date during the months of November and December. Your contribution must be received in the office on or before Thursday, December 31 in order to receive credit on your 2020 charitable receipt. For those not on Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR), we encourage you to use our new Interac-email money transfer facility. You may send transfers through your on line banking to donations@cummeravenueuc.ca . In the comment box please include your envelope# and where the funds are to be designated (ie. General fund, M&S, Renovations, DVRR, Sharing Fund, Drop-Inn, etc.). Alternately, you may mail your offering (via cheque) to the church office. We generally pick up the mail on Wednesdays. The mailing address is:
Cummer Avenue United Church
c/o Willowdale Emmanuel United Church
349 Kenneth Avenue, Toronto, ON M2N 4V9
Reaching Out to Others
Christmas Food Drive: Saturday and Sunday, November 28 and 29, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon. The current health situation has impacted many people in our neighbourhood, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Just as our congregation has had to suspend the Drop-Inn, many other neighbourhood groups have suspended their outreach programs. But you can help. We will be available to collect your gift of non-perishable food items in the parking lot of 53 Cummer. All food collected will be donated to the North York Harvest Food bank. Particularly needed: rice/pasta/grains, canned tomatoes, canned vegetables cooking oil and canned fish.
Support for the Philippines: The Philippines have been hit by two typhoons in recent weeks. The Filipino Christian Fellowship (FCF) would like to send boxes of needed items to help. They will be outside in front of Lansing United Church on Sunday November 22 and 29 at 11:30 to receive any donations. Particularly needed are canned goods, rice, pasta, dried beans and any clothing suitable for a hot region.
The Bob Dylan Story: November 16-December 7. Toronto Grandmothers Embrace present an online presentation by Dr. Mike Daley, musician, lecturer and musicologist. He will share his fabulous video of The Bob Dylan Story: His Life and His Music. This program will offer unique insights into Dylan's rise to stardom in a simple and engaging performance. The presentation will take place in the comfort of your own Covid-free home environment. The program though free, does require registration to obtain the access link. And any and all donations are greatly appreciated. Tax Receipts will be issued for amounts over $20. For information and the link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/dr-mike-daley-presents-the-life-and-music-of-bob-dylan-tickets-124337961189
Opportunities in the Wider Community / General Announcements
Annual Reports: It’s time for submissions to the 2020 Annual Report. We are looking to highlight our accomplishments in line with our Mission Statement, rather than in-depth reports from each group. We know this has been a different year, so please include your hopes for the return to 53 Cummer. Any photos from your groups or events would be most welcome. Submissions are due in the church office by Thursday, December 31.
Upcoming Worship
Sunday, October 11: Rebuke Scarcity, Celebrate Abundance – Thanksgiving Sunday
Sunday, October 18: Reclaiming Christian Language - Salvation: Healing the Wounds of Existence
Sunday, October 25: Reclaiming Christian Language - Evangelism: Sharing our Story
Sunday, November 1: Reclaiming Christian Language – Reclaiming Spirituality
Sunday, November 8: Whistling in the Dark – Remembrance Sunday
Sunday, November 15: Reclaiming Christian Language - Prayer in a Post-Theistic World
Sunday, November 22: Reclaiming Christian Language - Sabbath: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Advent and Christmas at Cummer
Sunday Morning Worship (9:00 am)
Sunday, November 29: Advent 1: Hope - Not Your Grandmother’s Prince of Peace, with Communion
Sunday, December 6: Advent 2: Peace - I Know This Much Is True, White Ribbon Sunday
Sunday, December 13: Advent 3: Joy - The Revolution Starts Now
Sunday, December 20: Advent 4: Love - Saying “Yes” to God
Sunday, December 27: Christmas 1: The Feast of St. Stephen
Other Services
Monday, December 21, 7:00 pm: The Longest Night: A service of remembrance for those
experiencing loss during this season of joy
Thursday, December 24, 7:00 pm: Christmas Eve: A service of readings and carols, with Communion
Choir Sing-alongs
Sunday, November 29, 4:00 pm Advent Carols
Thursday, December 10, 7:30 pm Christmas Carols 1
Sunday, December 20, 4:00 pm Christmas Carols 2
Thursday, January 7, 7:30 pm Epiphany Hymns