Weekly Announcements
Work and Witness of the Church
Sunday, April 11, 2020
Today at Cummer Avenue
Broadview Magazine Renewal: The Cummer Avenue Congregation provides an every-household subscription for Broadview Magazine. If you need to make changes to your subscription information (including registering or cancelling your subscription), please contact Janice Coles no later than Sunday, April 18. If you wish to assist in the cost of providing Broadview, you may make an additional donation as part of your offering, using your regular envelope (write “Broadview” and the amount in the “other” category) or e-transfer (include your envelope number and “for Broadview” in the notation field). CAUC pays $25 for each subscription.
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.
Landscaping Team: Monday, April 19, 2:00 pm.
Broadview Magazine Discussion Group: Monday, April 19, 7:15 pm. We will discuss articles in the April/May issue. The cover page article on ‘Black Jesus: Why Racial Representation matters’, ‘Clowns on Call: Bedside Laughter’ are among the topics for discussion. If you would like to join the discussion and are not already on the list, please phone or email Janice Coles. The zoom link will be emailed to participants the day before the meeting. Broadview magazine also has a weekly e-newsletter and monthly Broadview National Online Reading Club. To join, free of charge, register at www.broadview.org.
Reno Team: Wednesday, April 21, 6:00 pm.
Affirming Team: Friday, April 23, 1:00 pm.
Camping Sunday: Sunday, April 25. Get in the Camping Spirit. Wear your favourite camp hat, t-shirt, or other attire and make s’mores to eat during the gathering time or after worship….
Offering: Even though we cannot gather physically for Sunday worship, you can still support the church financially, through a variety of options:
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Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR): specify a set amount to be deducted from your bank account on a monthly basis. Contact Sally Hogarth to enrol or change your donation amount.
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Interac-email money transfers. You may send transfers through your on line banking to donations@cummeravenueuc.ca . In the comment box please include your envelope# (or other contact info) and where the funds are to be designated (ie. General fund, M&S, Renovations, DVRR, Drop-Inn, etc.).
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Mail your offering (cheque) to the church office. We generally pick up the mail on Wednesday morning. The mailing address is:
Cummer Avenue United Church
c/o Willowdale Emmanuel United Church
349 Kenneth Avenue, Toronto, ON M2N 4V9
The Capital Campaign Committee thanks everyone who has already submitted pledge forms and issues a gentle reminder that commitments to the Building Fund would be appreciated as soon as possible. Remember, all donations will be recognized, please tell us the name(s) to be listed and/or the wording you wish (‘anonymous’, 'in memory of' or ' in honour of'). Thank you all for choosing Kindness, Justice and Hope.
General Council Strategic Planning Process: Guided by the insights of the General Council Executive and the National Indigenous Council, the United Church is developing a three-year Strategic Plan. While this Plan will be more fully developed for the work of the General Council Office, we hope that it will offer a clear understanding of mission, vision, and strategic objectives that the whole church might engage in, offering opportunities for other parts of the church to develop complementary plans along similar themes. Strategic objectives could also provide a lens through which we discern the agenda for proposals coming to General Council 44. Consultations are happening across the church through focus groups, interviews, and surveys. Five Moderator’s Town Hall events are also planned and open to all members, with an emphasis on those in paid and volunteer leadership. All are welcome at these Town Halls. The Town Hall events for Shining Waters Region are scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 12:00 noon or Tuesday, May 4, 6:30 pm. For more information, or to register for one of the town halls, visit https://generalcouncil43.ca/council/strategic-planning-process-2021.
Camping Sunday: Sunday, April 25, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. You are invited to join the Shining Waters Regional Council camps and Jeffrey Dale, Minister for Faith Formation, Youth and Young Adults for an afternoon of camping fun, connection, and community building. As many of you are aware, last summer was a difficult time for the camping ministry in Shining Waters. With the uncertainty this year continuing, we thought we’d take some time to celebrate camping ministry and how it has been an integral part of this region’s youth and children’s ministry. Come and hear about the various camping ministries in Shining Waters Regional Council and how they continue to connect with the children and youth throughout the region! There will be games and prizes (and we invite you to bring your own snacks)! Zoom Link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/92292081317
Opportunities to Reach Out to Others and Work for Social Justice
Seeking Justice Together: May 17 to 20. This virtual conference is hosted by Citizens for Public Justice to explore how we are called to seek justice together through intersectional, interpersonal, and interconnected approaches. Through a variety of keynotes and workshops, participants will explore living examples of what it looks like to seek justice as people connected to one another and to the lands in which we live. We will consider how our identities, histories, systems, and geography shape our experiences of power and privilege, and how this informs the ways in which each of us are called to seek justice together. Speakers and facilitators will address issues of racism, Indigenous/settler reconciliation, 2SLGBTQQIA+ rights, disability rights, poverty in Canada, climate justice, and refugee rights. Register at cpj.ca/seeking-justice-together.
Opportunities in the Wider Community / General Announcements
Happy Birthday to Ken Squires, who turns 100 on Friday, April 23.
Covenanting Service: Sunday, April 25, 1:30 pm. Willowdale Emmanuel Pastoral Charge (Toronto) and Shining Waters Regional Council will be celebrating a covenanting with Rev. YoonOk Shin. The guest preacher will be Rev. Dong-Chun Seo. Rev. Amy Yea Kyong Lee will represent the region. All are welcome. Join via YouTube livestream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwWpZVoXqMuU6kotoLvbQeA
Upcoming Worship
Sunday, April 25: Camping Sunday
Sunday, May 2: Easter 5, Asian Heritage month begins
Sunday, May 9: Eater 6, Guest Speaker: Rev. David Kai
Sunday, May 16: Easter 7
Sunday, May 23: Pentecost. Lay-led worship service
Sunday, May 30: Trinity Sunday, with Communion.