Notices: September 22, 2024

Written By Michael Pirri

Dear St. Aidan’s,
 
We continue to celebrate the Season of Creation over the next few weeks, which is something that many Christian denominations and churches around the world observe in the weeks leading up to St. Francis Day in early October. We celebrate this season at St. Aidan’s in worship through including special prayers and sermons with a creation care focus, as well as organizing activities with a creation care and eco-spirituality focus.
 
On Saturday morning, Deacon Michael is leading a hike at Leslie Street Spit. If you'd like to join the hike, meet at the gatehouse beside the parking lot at the south end of Leslie Street at 9:30 a.m. Be sure to bring water, hat, and sunscreen, as the forecast for the day is warm and sunny. The hike is planned to last about 2 to 2.5 hours, walking slowly out and back. If you wish to come or have questions, contact Deacon Michael.
 
On Saturday afternoon, the Diocese of Toronto is celebrating the Season of Creation with a special service at the Cathedral of St. James, beginning at 2 p.m. This service is intended to bring together parishes from across the Diocese. Accompanied by vibrant contemporary music and youth participation, the liturgy will express the ecumenical theme for Season of Creation 2024, “To Hope and Act with Creation.” All are welcome.
 
This Sunday, as part of this Season of Creation, we welcome Anthony Siegrist, director of A Rocha Ontario, a nonprofit focused on transforming people and places by showing God’s love for all creation, and an affiliate of A Rocha International. He will be our guest speaker for Gather & Grow hour at 9:15 (meeting upstairs this week, in the Nave) and as our preacher for the 10:30 service. Anthony shares that he has long been fascinated by the intertwined root systems of faith and ecology, joining A Rocha after previously serving as a pastor, professor of theology, adventure guide, and farm hand. In addition, he completed a MSc in Environmental Sustainability and a ThD in Christian theology, publishing his research along the way. 
 
Please join us at 9:15 to learn more about how A Rocha encourages churches and individuals in the work of environmental stewardship, and at 10:30 to hear his sermon.
 
And save the date for the Blessing of the Animals on Sat., Oct. 5, 10-12. More details to come!
 
Grace and peace,
Becky+

Notices at a Glance
Scroll down for details on each of these items.

  1. Live Streaming at 10:30 a.m., Order of Service
  Opportunities to Share & Serve
  2. Come sing with the St. Aidan’s Choir
  3. Recruiting new hosts for coffee hour
  4. Calling all readers
  5. We are looking for volunteers to help with gardening tasks
  6. St. Aidan’s Planters
  7. Leslie Street Spit Hike on Saturday, Sept 21
  8. Benefit Your Ears Concert, Sat., Sept. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m.
  9. Orange Shirt Day
  Opportunities to Gather & Grow
 10. Gather & Grow—every Sunday morning, 9:15-10:15 in the Parish Hall
 11. Come celebrate with us in the garden on Sept. 29
 12. A weekly Busy Bees Play Group for children ages 0-3
  Pastoral Notice
 13. Joyce Colleen Murphy
  Other Announcements and How to Give
 14. Joy Horswill celebrates her 90th birthday on October 17
 15. Nursery now available during Sunday worship
 16. Announcements for the Notices
 17. Offerings

Notices for the Week of September 20, 2024 – September 27, 2024

 1. Live Streaming at 10:30 a.m., Order of Service - The service will be livestreamed. Please contact the church office for more details.
Click here to view a PDF of the September 22nd order of service
 
Opportunities to Share & Serve

 2. Come sing with the St. Aidan’s Choir! Are you passionate about singing, or simply love the sound of music? We invite you to become a part of the St. Aidan’s Choir this fall! Our choir is a warm and welcoming community, open to members of all ages and experience levels—whether you’re a seasoned vocalist or just starting out, there’s a place for you here. We’re looking to grow our choir with at least 4 new voices, and we’d love for you to be one of them.
 
We’ll be scheduling brief, informal meetings to chat about your musical interests and conduct a simple vocal assessment—nothing too formal, just a chance to get to know you! Rehearsals are on Sunday mornings, and there are exciting opportunities to travel and perform with the group this season. If you’re interested or want to learn more, please contact Michael at music@staidansinthebeach.com. We can’t wait to sing with you!
 
 3. Recruiting new hosts for coffee hour: Our coffee hour hospitality ministry team is welcoming new hosts. Training is provided. You can sign up as a family or with a couple friends to serve coffee, tea, and treats. You may select a Sunday that works well for you. For this fall, we currently have four open dates remaining: Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Nov. 17, and Dec. 22. Contac the church office for more information.
 
 4. Calling all readers: Please join us for a meeting in the chapel on Sun., Sept. 29 following the 10:30 a.m. service (after coffee time). It will be a refresher for our current readers and to update our email list. This is also an opportunity to introduce those folks to our process who may have an interest in reading lessons and are not currently on the readers’ list. We hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please speak to Bob Hutchison or Rev. Becky.
 
 5. We are looking for volunteers to help with gardening tasks as we prepare for our upcoming Garden Tour event. We will be adding compost, mulching shrubs, pruning shrubs, trimming grass, edging garden beds, weeding (throughout the property), and transplanting/planting. Anyone is welcome to come help at the following days and times: Sept. 22, 1-3 p.m.; Sept. 25, 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Sept. 28, 9-11 a.m. Thanks for any time you can spend in the garden! Contact Courtney Ebner if you have any questions.
 
 6. St. Aidan’s Planters: We are looking for someone to manage the planters at the Queen Street entrance (two large) and North Silver Birch entrance (two small).  This would include purchasing and planting plants three times a year - April/May, September/October and November/December.  Some general maintenance is required, but our caretaker can do weekly watering.  If you think this is a way you can offer your gifts and talents to St. Aidan’s please contact Courtney at stadains.warden3@gmail.com for more details including the planter budget.  Thank you for considering!  
 
7. Leslie Street Spit Hike: On Saturday, Sept 21, Deacon Michael is leading a morning hike at Leslie Street Spit. If you’d like to join the hike, meet at the gatehouse beside the parking lot at the south end of Leslie Street at 9:30 a.m. Be sure to bring water, hat, and sunscreen. If you wish to come or have questions, contact Deacon Michael.

 8. Benefit Your Ears Concert, Sat., Sept. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. Join the St. Aidan’s Regrets for an evening of folk, country, rock and gospel here at the church—with special guests! No admission charge. Donations to the Beach Cares are encouraged. The Beach Cares is a coalition of St. Aidan’s, Beach United, and the Beach community that sponsors refugees fleeing from the war in Syria.
 
9. Orange Shirt Day: Remember Orange Shirt Day is coming soon on Mon., Sept. 30 (in church on Sun., Sept. 29).

Opportunities to Gather & Grow

10. Gather & Grow—every Sunday morning, 9:15-10:15 in the Parish Hall. Every Sunday between now and Christmas, we will offer a variety of conversations, speakers, and activities meant to encourage us to gather together as we seek to grow in our faith. All adults and youth are welcome to join us for our weekly Gather & Grow program. Childcare is provided for those ages 0 through grade 5.

❦ September 22: A Rocha: Caring for Creation and Equipping Others to Do Likewise, presented by Anthony Siegrist, director of A Rocha Ontario. Learn more about Christian environmental stewardship taking place around the world through A Rocha International.

❦ September 29: Listening to Indigenous Voices: Commemorating Orange Shirt Day. We will listen to oral history stories of those who experienced the residential schools firsthand, with time for reflection and conversation about how we, as Christians, are called to respond.
 
11. Come celebrate with us in the garden on Sept. 29: We are inviting the entire Beach neighbourhood to stop in to visit our completed West Garden on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 29, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. We will celebrate with live music and popsicles for all! Our area bishop, the Rt. Rev. Kevin Robertson, will join us to offer a special blessing and celebrate with us. We hope you will join us and consider bringing along a neighbour or friend who’s been curious about our garden as it has developed this year. Thank you to the Baker Foundation, the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, the Anglican Foundation, the City of Toronto, and donors to the Strong Roots New Season campaign for making this project possible.
 
12. A weekly Busy Bees Play Group welcomes children ages 0-3 and their caregivers on Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in our Parish Hall. We will offer stories, music, and activities.

Pastoral Notice
 
13. Joyce Colleen Murphy, mother of parishioner Sharen Grieve, died on Sept. 11 at the age of 90. Joyce visited St. Aidan’s many times over the years. Her funeral was Sept. 17 in New Brunswick. A remembrance of her life can be found by clicking here.
 
Other Announcements and How to Give

14. Nursery now available during Sunday worship: We will be offering nursery care for children ages 0-3 during the 10:30 a.m. service. The nursery is located in the Beech Room, adjacent to the main basement hall. For more information, please speak with Erika or Elizabeth.
 
15 Please submit new announcements for the weekly notices to Mary at office@staidansinthebeach.com by Wednesdays at 4 p.m. All notices are subject to incumbent’s approval, and will be edited for clarity and conciseness.

16. Offerings - Thank you for your support. There are a variety of ways to make your donation: 

Michael Pirri
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