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Bulletin Board

Bulletin Board March 8

Bulletin Board is the Diocese’s bi-weekly e-bulletin for clergy and lay leaders. To subscribe to Bulletin Board, email your name, parish and email address to editor@toronto.anglican.ca or sign up online.

Clergy invited to town hall meetings
Archbishop Colin Johnson is inviting clergy to join him for a time of conversation on the future of the Diocese. He would like to hear feedback on the possibility of reconfiguring the episcopal areas and reducing the number of suffragan bishops, along with any other topics of concern that clergy would like to raise. Five town hall meetings have been scheduled:

  • April 11 at Grace Church in Scarborough
  • April 21 at St. John the Baptist (Dixie)
  • May 2 at St. George, Allandale
  • May 9 at St. Luke, Peterborough
  • May 16 at the Cathedral Centre

These meetings are not mandatory. Clergy may choose to attend any meeting that is convenient for them. Register online.

Deadline for refugee grants approaching
Applications for the first round of matching grants for parish refugee sponsorship are due March 15. For more information and to download the application form, read the related article.

Tickets on sale for Bishop’s Company Dinner
Tickets are now available for the 2016 Bishop’s Company Dinner on April 21. The evening begins with a reception at Holy Trinity, Trinity Square at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at the Toronto Marriott, Eaton Centre at 7 p.m. Bishop Mark MacDonald, the national indigenous Anglican bishop, will be the guest speaker.

Funds raised from the dinner support the bishop’s emergency fund, which supports clergy and their families in crisis. The fund also helps with travel emergencies, school support for the children of clergy, bursaries for religious scholarships, curacy training for the newly ordained and emergency medical expenses.

Tickets are $175 for individuals and $1,550 for parish tables until March 31, or $200 for individuals and $1,750 for parish tables after March 31. Buy your tickets online.

Good Friday walk to focus on water
This year’s Ecumenical Good Friday Walk for Justice on March 25 will focus on the issue of water, reflecting on Jesus’ cry from the cross, “I am thirsty.” Walkers will gather at Harbour Square Park (at the foot of Bay Street, just west of the ferry docks) at 2 p.m. and will proceed north along Bay, stopping at stations along the way to decry the unjust use of the divine gift of water. The walk will end at Holy Trinity, Trinity Square with a brief worship service and a message from Jennifer Henry, executive director of KAIROS. A simple supper will be served after the service. For more information, visit the Good Friday Walk for Justice website.

Wycliffe College holds open house
Wycliffe College is holding an open house for prospective students on March 19 at 2:30 p.m. Participants will hear from faculty, staff and current students and learn about the college’s history, programs, student life, resources and worship. Register by email at admissions@wycliffe.utoronto.ca by March 15 to receive dinner at Wycliffe and a free ticket to a panel discussion event that evening. For those outside of Toronto, a virtual open house will be held at noon EST. For more information, visit the Wycliffe College website.

York-Credit Valley churchwardens invited to evensong
Bishop Philip Poole invites churchwardens and deputy churchwardens of the parishes of York-Credit Valley to a special commissioning service to recognize and affirm their valuable ministry. Evensong will be held at 4 p.m. on April 17 at St. Peter, Erindale, followed by a wine and cheese reception in the parish hall. All clergy, churchwardens and their guests must register online by April 9.

T4 slips mailed to clergy
T4 slips were mailed to clergy in mid-February. If you did not receive yours, contact Claire Wilton at 416-363-6021 (1-800-668-8932), ext. 239 or cwilton@toronto.anglican.ca.

Danforth churches join in Good Friday walk
Five churches on the Danforth are inviting people from the wider community to take part in an ecumenical Good Friday walk from church to church, following the stations of the cross. The walk begins at 10 a.m. at Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 662 Pape Ave., and ends at Eastminster United Church, where refreshments will be served. For details, visit the St. Barnabas, Chester website.

All invited to interfaith series on mercy
Scarboro Missions, a society of Canadian Catholics, is hosting an interfaith series on mercy from the Jewish, Muslim and Christian perspectives. The series will take place on three successive Thursdays:

  • March 8: Dr. Murray Watson, professor of biblical studies and interreligious dialogue at Huron University College.
  • March 15: Rabbi Ed Elkin of the First Narayever Jewish Congregation in Toronto.
  • March 22: Dr. Hamid Slimi, chair and senior lecturer of the Canadian Centre for Deen Studies.

Each session will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Rd., Toronto. There is no registration or admission fee, but a voluntary offering is appreciated. For more information, contact Sister Lucy Thorson at 416-261-7135, ext. 244 or lthorson@scarboromissions.ca, or visit the Scarboro Missions website.

Parish leaders invited to workshops
Are you a leader in your parish or thinking about becoming one? Not sure what to do or what’s involved? Save the date for a parish administration workshop in your episcopal area:

Cottages on Lake Simcoe available to clergy
Anglican clergy (licensed priests and deacons) and their families are invited to rent cottages at a reasonable cost at The Church Camp on Lake Simcoe in July and August. Two- and three-bedroom cottages are fully equipped except for bedding and towels. Rental costs are $963 for a month, $292 for a week or $53 daily. For more information or to book a cottage, contact Kathy Forster at kathymil@cogeco.ca or 905-320-1112.

Wycliffe College hosts panel on religion and science
Wycliffe College is hosting a panel discussion called “What’s Behind it All? A Dialogue on God, Science and the Universe” on March 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The panelists include a theoretical physicist, an advocate for intelligent design and an associate professor of science and religion. The event will take place at Convocation Hall, 31 King’s College Circle. Tickets range from $7 to $18 and are available online from the University of Toronto. Learn more on the Wycliffe College website.

York-Credit Valley confirmands invited to meet bishop
Bishop Philip Poole and Rosemary MacAdam, youth ministry coordinator, invite York-Credit Valley youth confirmands to attend an evening of fellowship on March 29 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit of Peace, 1170 Tynegrove Rd., Mississauga. This informal gathering gives confirmation candidates a chance to meet Bishop Poole before the confirmation services in their parishes. The event is open to young people from about Grade 6 to Grade 12 and those in university. All confirmands should be accompanied by a parent, guardian or priest from their parish. Light refreshments will be served. Register online by March 22.

Webinar examines Christian healing
InterChurch Health Ministries Canada is holding a webinar called “The Church as a Place of Health and Healing” on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. It will examine the theological foundations of Christian healing ministry and survey its biblical origins, historical development, the various forms it has taken and how parish nursing continues to evolve within this framework. Visit the ICHM website for more information, and register by emailing info@ichm.ca.

Parish seeks director of music
Holy Trinity, Thornhill is seeking a part-time director of music to continue and further develop a program facilitating a balance of vibrant traditional and contemporary Anglican worship. The ideal candidate is an excellent musician with experience and knowledge of liturgical, traditional, gospel and contemporary music, the ability to play organ and piano, and skills in leading and teaching choral music. A Bachelor of Music in organ performance, ARCCO or Master of Sacred Music organist qualifications are preferred. The position will be a minimum of 10 hours per week. Remuneration will be commensurate with experience and qualifications according to RCCO guidelines. Apply with a resume and cover letter by March 31 to Holy Trinity Church, 140 Brooke St., Thornhill, ON L4J 1Y9 or search@holytrinity-thornhill.ca. See a full position description on the parish’s website.

Part-time music director wanted
St. Martin, Bay Ridges (Pickering) seeks a creative, flexible and proficient musician for choral and keyboard leadership. The appointee will know and appreciate both traditional and modern church music. With one weekly choir rehearsal and one Sunday service, in addition to monthly meetings with clergy, the position will demand about 10 hours per week. Knowledge of Anglican liturgy is preferred, and the ability to plan for major festivals throughout the church year will be an asset. The applicant should have a music degree, strong playing and conducting skills, leadership and interpersonal skills, and a passion for worship ministry. Remuneration is commensurate with RCCO salary guidelines, and vacation pay is commensurate with the Ontario Employment Standards Act. To apply or inquire, email the Rev. Dr. Alison Falby at alison@stmartinsanglican.ca by April 2. Learn more about the congregation at www.stmartinsanglican.ca.