GRACE ANGLICAN CHURCH MILTON

Transcription

1 GRACE ANGLICAN CHURCH MILTON The Anglican Church of Canada Parish Profile November 9, Prepared by: Grace Church Parochial Committee 1

2 Table of Contents 1 When We Look into God s Blue Sky, What Does the Grace Church Community See? History of Grace Anglican Church: Perseverance in Ministry Worship at Grace Clergy and Laity Sunday Worship The Healing Prayer Team Morning Prayer Thursday Morning Eucharist Pastoral Visits Special Services Property The Church The Roof The Altar and Reredos The Font The Sacristy The Stained Glass Windows The Altar Cushions The Historical Plaques The War Memorials The Bell Tower The Shields (high above the altar) The Church Organ The Memorial Handbell Cabinet (Located in the Nave inside the Narthex door) The Parish Hall The Link Building The Narthex (The entrance from the parking lot) The Upper Room The Nursery (On the upper level) The Living Stones Garden Restoration Community Partnerships Programs & Committees at Grace Church Grace Church Organizational Chart Justice and Servant Ministries (Formerly Outreach) Local Outreach (Funded by the Parish, Gift Jug and Special Gifts/Events) Our People and Our Place Attendance Grace Church Attendance Statistics Early Sunday Service Main Sunday Service Parish Statistics Envelope Secretary s Report Grace Church Operating Account Appendix 1: Supporting Documents

3 1 When We Look into God s Blue Sky, What Does Grace Church Community See? Grace Church At the physical and spiritual heart of the Milton community; ready to serve in the Lord s name. As Grace Church parishioners what do we see when we look up at the blue sky? What do we envision for the future? Grace Church figures prominently in the history of Milton and we want to have a place in Milton s future. We want a vibrant place of worship where parishioners can continue serving, praying and glorifying God. We also feel that God is calling us to be active participants in the growing, diverse community of Milton, to serve and help, using Christ s teachings as our guide and light. When our church is focused on what goes on outside our doors, giving food and nourishment to our neighbours, and facing the world and its problems squarely, that is when we are at our best. Whether it is Grace Church giving money to local or outside Canada charities, advocating on behalf of those in need, our parishioners giving time and volunteering for those who need help, we pray that we find innovative and effective methods to achieve God s goals of justice and equity for all of God s children. We see in the God s blue sky, opportunities to grow participation and activities for children and youth. In Milton, we have seen that time and time again: if children are attracted to a place, then their parents will probably be willing to spend their time and energies there as well. In our blue sky, we want adults to feel that Grace is the place that they can rely upon to help educate their children spiritually. This can be achieved by experimenting in more contemporary forms of Anglican worship, looking at our service times to make it easier for busy families with varied work shifts and numerous child activity times to come to church. Grace can serve as a place to find Christian companionship and fellowship for children, young single adults, adults with children and seniors. We see ourselves facing and dealing with the demographic and social changes confronting us. We do not fear it. We embrace it. We see in God s blue sky, the continued blessing and grace of giving us a beautiful church building. We dream about an improved church hall at the back of our property. We dream that God will let us wisely discern how to design, finance and execute such a project. Making the building, the church and the church hall more accessible and adhering to government regulations, helps us to serve the wider Milton community by being a community hub where young and old, parishioners and non-parishioners, Christians and non-christians, of every creed and station in life can carry out their daily community activities and place Grace at the heart of Milton. We have a dream to make our walkways and entrances easier for the elderly and disabled, who are increasingly having a difficult time entering the building to worship. We want to make it easy for all to enter God s house. At the same time, we pray that we are able to maintain our existing buildings and keep tending our beautiful garden flowers and bountiful community garden. We see in God s blue sky, a continued focus on our music programs, adding to the rich, meaningful liturgy and music which we have been blessed to have. Can we dream of a bigger chancel choir? Can we dream of a new organ or even another form and variation of a choir or band? Can we be a center to develop new musical talent? We dream of having alternative type music and prayer services from time to time. Let God s music lift us up and give glory to our maker. Let the children of Grace Church continue marching and dancing around the church, singing and praising God and making a joyful noise. In our wondrous blue sky, we see our liturgical and pastoral leaders, our team of ordained clergy and lay people having a mix of traditional and contemporary Anglican liturgy using the Book of Alternative Services as our primary guide. At Grace Anglican we have been blessed with a legacy of old style Anglican liturgy but with an infusion of newer contemporary service styles. We pray that this productive mixture continues. We have faith that our Priests, Deacons, Honorary Clergy, and people who have been trained to deliver pastoral care, can continue in our strong Grace tradition of looking out for the ill and dying. We pray that 3

4 more parishioners use their talents and serve God in this worthy, valuable ministry. In the past, the present and the future, loving pastoral care is a hallmark of Grace Church. Let it continue and grow. When we dream, we wish to communicate interactively with the outside world by becoming more adept as a parish in using social media, the internet, and other electronic and digital means to tell and invite the wider Milton community to our many events and activities of a religious and non-religious nature. Finally, our parishioners have in the past and present built, maintained and continue faithfully the Anglican tradition of Christian worship in Milton and the wider area. In God s blue sky we look up and we praise God for their continued support. We praise God for their continued financial, moral and emotional support. We praise them for their faithfulness and their willingness to go against the societal tide and be faithful to a church, attending Sunday after Sunday. We praise them for the legacy that they are leaving to the next generation of Grace Church parishioners so that they too can have a rock to seek refuge during rough times and place to praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit during the good times. We pray that we be good stewards, managers and administrators of our resources and talents given to us in God s grace. Grace Church is not an island. We have the Diocese of Niagara and other Anglican parishes in the Diocese of Niagara that we can collaborate with to achieve our Christian mission together. We pray for wisdom. Wisdom shows us that we can learn from others. We look to the blue sky and dream of these things at Grace Church, a church at the heart of the Milton community where we minister in the name of the Lord our God. 2 History of Grace Anglican Church: Perseverance in Ministry Grace Anglican Church in Milton Ontario is certainly a church with an interesting history. We as a church and as individuals have persevered through hard times from the very beginning always offering our best. There has been compiled a booklet, The Story of Grace Church: Milton Ontario, One Hundred Years for Christ, which was published in 1944 to celebrate the 100 th Anniversary of Anglican ministry in Milton and much of the information given in this paper comes from that booklet. 1 Information has also been collected from our church archivist, Susan Davis and the binder of our church historian, Kaye Hogg. The physical plant of Grace Church is a testimony to the Glory of God and the dedication and hard work of many parishioners. [See Appendix Section for more detail.] 3 Worship at Grace 3.1 Clergy and Laity The Ordained Leadership at Grace Church consists of the Rector, two Honorary Assistants, the Rev. Fr. Mark Curtis and the Rev. Dr. Mark McDermott (former Rector ) and a vocational Deacon, the Rev. Deacon Nina Page. The Deacon fulfills the traditional roles of a Deacon in the church and community, assisting the Rector in leading worship, pastoral care and palliative support in Seniors residences, Allendale the local Nursing home and the Milton Hospital. The Deacon also assists in organising the Annual Retreat for the Women in Grace (See Deacon s Job Description for full details). There are currently two paid lay employees. The Music and Choir Director Richard Birney-Smith is a recent hire and has an Interim contract thru October 2017, with the possibility of an extensions. There is also a Church Administrator, Lorrette Shermet who works Tues-Friday from 9am to 1pm. In addition to her other duties, Lorrette produces the Weekly Service Bulletins, a PowerPoint Presentation of hymn lyrics and she is also deeply involved in servant ministries. The volunteer Laity play a significant role in worship at Grace and the average Chancel choir of about 12 persons robes for the 10am service as well as special services such as Funerals. There is also a faithful 1 The Story of Grace Church, Milton, Ontario One Hundred Years for Christ,

5 Altar Guild who ensure that the Liturgical colours of the hangings are correct each week and that the altar is set up correctly with linens, sufficient water, red wine, regular and gluten-free wafers for each service. The Altar Guild is also responsible for decorating the church for Harvest, Christmas and Easter and ordering candles, wine, palms and other liturgical supplies. They also ensure that other supplies such as water and towels for Baptism and Foot washing are available when required. There are also laypersons designated in the roles of Sidespersons, Readers, Server, Acolytes, Crucifer, Children s and Youth Ministries. Members of the choir and acolytes getting ready for worship. 3.2 Sunday Worship The principal weekly worship services at Grace Church are the 8am and 10am Sunday services of Holy Eucharist. The 8am service follows the form that begins on p. 230 of the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and for many years has an average attendance of 35 worshippers, many of whom are long-term parishioners. Worship is preceded by prayer led by the Celebrant in the Sacristy and additional prayers are offered by the Celebrant following the service. Once a month on the first Sunday, following the Grace and Announcements, birthdays are celebrated. Using the Birthday Pig, donations are collected for the SHARE Agricultural Foundation (Sending Help and Resources Everywhere). The Eucharistic Prayer alternates on a weekly basis between Eucharistic Prayer A and B. The Prayers of the People are typically prepared and led by the Deacon who also assists the Celebrant in preparing the Altar, administering the bread or wine, and the ablutions. A Clergy Schedule is prepared by the Rector which allows all three priests to be afforded the opportunity to be Celebrant and the preaching schedule includes the Deacon, thereby giving all four clergy an opportunity to be the Homilist. While it is mainly a spoken service, the Music Director arrives in time to play an Offertory hymn which the congregation enjoys. The 10am service usually follows the form that begins on p. 185 of the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) although occasionally other forms may be used. Typically, attendance over the year is seasonally affected, but the average has fluctuated in recent years, with an average of 74 in In the first 20 weeks of 2017, the average attendance has risen to 98. Major festivals are well attended and over the 5

6 last four years average attendance on Easter Day has been 247 and on Christmas Eve, 440 souls. Worship is preceded by prayer led by the Celebrant in the Sacristy and additional prayers are offered by the Celebrant following the service. Worship begins with a Processional Hymn with the procession led by the Crucifer and Acolytes, followed by the choir, deacon and priest(s). Parishioners worshipping at a 10 AM service. The Rector greets the Congregation with the Grace, followed by Announcements, after which there is a Children s Focus Talk, usually based on that week s Gospel. The children then go to Sunday School and return in time for Holy Communion. The service is a blend of traditional and contemporary worship utilizing hymns from Common Praise and older Hymn Books typically played on the organ, as well as praise songs played on the piano (occasionally guitar) during and following Holy Eucharist, led by the choir. The psalm is typically sung by the choir with a congregational response and the choir often sings an anthem following the Creed. The Eucharistic Prayer varies between number 1 and 5 although #6 has only rarely been used in the past and the Lord s Prayer is always a sung version. The last praise song, which is sung following the ablutions, is always an upbeat Children s Celebration Song. Children are invited to come forward to choose an Instrument, often a shaker or tambourine, and the children then parade around the church playing their instruments, accompanied by the singing of the congregation. Words to the hymns and praise songs are projected onto screens at the front of the church that are only visible to the congregation, but in future, monitors may be installed for the choir. The Doxology is sung using the Tadman arrangement, again with the children parading. Following the Blessing, the Crucifer leads the choir and clergy out to a Recessional hymn, with the Dismissal given by the Deacon. 3.3 The Healing Prayer Team For many years Grace has made people available in the Sacristy to pray with, and for, parishioners on Sundays during Holy Eucharist. This is made available at 8am on alternate weeks except July and August and every week at 10am except July and August. Several people come for prayer each week. 6

7 3.4 Morning Prayer Tuesday thru Friday each week at 8:15am, Morning Prayer is read in the Chancel using the Book of Common prayer (BCP). Morning Prayer is usually led by the deacon with 3 or 4 in attendance. 3.5 Thursday Morning Eucharist Each Thursday a small group of about 10 gather in the Chancel for Holy Communion using the Book of Alternative Services (BAS p.230). This service is usually led by Rev. Dr. Mark McDermott and from September to June, a Bible Study follows this service. 3.6 Pastoral Visits Holy Eucharist is taken into hospitals, Nursing Homes and private homes using reserved sacrament and following the form for Ministry to the Sick that begins on p. 556 of the BAS. 3.7 Special Services Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals are usually conducted following the forms described in the BAS. Requests for Baptism are frequent, as often as one Sunday per month. Confirmation is offered once per year by the Bishop at the Cathedral and Catechumens are prepared by the Rector. Rehearsals are held for Baptisms and Weddings. Throughout Holy Week, services of Holy Eucharist are held Monday thru Thursday at 7:30pm. There is a Maundy Thursday Gethsemane Vigil in the church that begins following the Stripping of the Altar and lasts through until the Passion of Christ and Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday at 10am. This is followed by a Children s Stations of the Cross at 12noon. Attempts were made to establish Messy Church, a Family Service and a Youth Service which started off well but then dropped off. There is a Youth Group called Tigers who meet for activities on a regular basis and also attend an Annual Retreat. Currently there are attempts to establish a Social Group for Young Adults aged 20-30yrs. 4 Property In 1844, Grace Anglican Church in Milton had its early start as a mission church when a missionary travelling on horseback was first sent to the small community here by the Church Society of the Diocese of Toronto. Over the next eight years, several other travelling missionaries followed, also attending to the enlarging and devout congregation of this new mission church in Milton, holding services wherever and whenever possible, in private homes and at the first schoolhouse. Around 1850, it was decided that a church building was necessary with already about 300 souls in the congregation residing in the vicinity of the new, young town of Milton. The land on which the current church buildings stand described in early writings as a very beautiful site, was donated in 1850 by Joseph Martin, the second son of Jasper and Sarah Martin, the founders of the Town of Milton. The founding families of Grace Church and generations that have followed have been true to the spirit upon which Grace was built and have continued to maintain the buildings and grounds as well as was financially possible. The physical property of the parish consists of the church itself, a parish hall and a link building constructed in to connect the two buildings and to provide badly needed offices, meeting space and washrooms. 7

8 4.1 The Church The building of the first Grace Anglican Church was started in 1851 and finished and opened in It was a one storey, white wooden frame building with clapboard siding, gothic shaped windows and a steeple, and was built with its length running parallel to the main street of the town. This original church building, which is now a two-storey structure, (the old church was raised up and a basement was added in 1954) is now used as our Parish Hall. The current grey stone church, the second church to occupy the site, was built in 1895 of limestone from a local quarry. This church is of the English Gothic style, with a Norman tower rather than a steeple, giving it a somewhat castle-like appearance. The peak of the building is 40 feet or 4 stories high. One of the striking features of the exterior is the many buttresses which add visual interest and are fully supporting structures. 4.2 The Roof The original 1895 roof of Pennsylvania slate lasted until 1999 when it was replaced by slate from Newfoundland. At that time, new roof boards, a 4-inch layer of Styrofoam insulation and copper eaves and flashings were also installed. The new roof was built to last another 100 years. 4.3 The Altar and Reredos Our beautiful oak altar and reredos were presented to the church in November 1943 in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Martin by their children, the grandchildren of Joseph Martin, who donated the land on which the church was built. The altar and reredos were made by the Globe Furniture Company of Waterloo, Ontario which made beautiful church furnishings from The design of the top of the reredos was specifically made to match the castle-like design at the gothic top of the stained glass windows it sits in front of. The altar and reredos were presented to the congregation to honour the 100 th Anniversary of Grace Church from Initially the altar was attached to the reredos and the minister stood with his back to the congregation during most of the service. In 1967, under the insistence of Rev. Dr. Tom Dustan, the altar was moved forward so the minister could stand behind the altar and face the congregation during the service. 4.4 The Font The origin of our font is unknown. It is made of cement and may have been made for the original Grace Church. The wooden top of the font was crafted by a parishioner in the 1920 s. The font was always situated at the back of the church between the two back pews. Baptisms were initially conducted on Sunday afternoons after the service was finished with just the involved families and friends present. Some time in the late 1970 s to early 1980 s, baptisms became part of the Sunday morning service and the font was moved to the front of the chancel where the Lay Readers Chair and Lectern used to sit. 4.5 The Sacristy This room is located to the south of the chancel (to the right as one faces the altar) and was originally built as two rooms, one as the rector s office and the other for choir and clergy robing and the preparation of communion vessels. In the mid 1960 s, the room was partly converted into a new office for the rector. His former office, the room to the north of the chancel and currently used as a counting room by the sides persons, was given to the church secretary. In 1980, the two offices were moved again to the new Narthex area, and the wall was removed, making one larger room once again. The stain glass window in the Sacristy of Christ blessing the children was installed in The Altar Guild currently use the Sacristy to prepare for worship services, for prayers for healing during the service, and as a small chapel when required. 8

9 4.6 The Stain Glass Windows All of the stain glass windows in the church are memorial gifts except the middle window behind the altar. The oldest windows, the large east (front) and west (back) windows date back to the construction of the church in None of the fifteen smaller north and south stain glass windows were present when the church was built but were gradually added as memorial gifts starting in 1901 until 2013 when the Annunciation window was donated. Presently, both remaining blank north windows have been donated and are in the process of being ordered. The lateral north and south stain glass windows tell the story of the life of Christ. Starting at the rear glass doors and moving counter clockwise around the church (south side), the series starts with the Annunciation, then goes to the Nativity, the presentation of Jesus to Simeon in the temple, his baptism and his ministries of teaching and healing. On the north side, the first five windows deal with the Passion Story, the Garden of Gethsemane, his Crucifixion, his Resurrection, his appearance to Mary Magdalen and the Supper at Emmaus. Presently blank, but recently donated is the Ascension window, followed by the Pentecost window and the King of Kings window, which is a different type of stained glass called Faceted Glass from the 1960 s. The last window again has been donated and is on order. The subject is from the Book of Revelation where Christ is standing at the door knocking. Most of these stain glass windows were made by the Robert McCausland Company. The three large back or west windows are referred to as the Sermon on the Mount windows, and the three large front or east windows are referred to as the Saints Windows, depicting from left to right: St Mark, St. John, Christ as the Good Sheppard, St. Peter, St. Luke and St. Cecelia (the Patron Saint of Church music). All these windows were installed in 1895 when the church was built and were designed and made by the N.T. Lyon Stained Glass Works of Toronto, assisted artistically by Robert McCausland himself. During the restoration of the church in year 2000, all the north and south stain glass windows were removed, cleaned and re-leaded and new protective exterior tempered glass was added to protect the windows from storms and vandalism. In 2007, the large west windows, at the rear of the church, were removed by the Robert McCausland Company and were cleaned, re-leaded and protected by an outer layer of exterior tempered glass for the cost of $30,000. In 2009, the McCausland Company completely restored the front or east windows at a cost of $35, The Altar Cushions In September of 1981, the members of the Altar Guild decided to replace the old Altar Rail kneelers with new ones that were hand crafted. Preliminary investigations showed that needlepoint worked in the basket weave stitch would be the best choice of stitchery and with the guidance of a consultant, they decided to incorporate the history of the church and the town in the overall design. Starting on the left side of the altar, the cushions depict the evolution of the town: the original Mississauga Indians, the early settlers and the missionaries, the original Martin s mill, the original and present churches, the presence of God in the community through Baptism and Holy Communion, the four seasons, and the progress of Milton as an urban community. The actual needlework was done by eight parishioners, 7 women and 1 man. The project was finished and dedicated in The Historical Plaques The wooden plaque beside the front glass entrance doors tells of the Martin family, founders of the Town of Milton, and of their son Joseph who donated the land for the church. The stone Belt family memorial plaque remembers the son of the minister at that time. The other plaques are in memory of founding families of this parish and include organists, wardens, and lay delegates to synod. 4.9 The War Memorials Two plaques at the front of the church list the names of former members of this parish who fought in both World Wars, memorializing their service to the country. The flag of Canada, the Union Jack and the Red Ensign hang above the memorials. 9

10 4.10 The Bell Tower The tower houses a bell carillon and a sound system for playing taped music. The carillon bells are tubular shaped and hang in a frame on the third floor of the tower. They are played by pushing down the levers on the console which is on the tower second floor. The lever pulls the rope which causes a hammer to strike against the bell. The carillon came to Grace Church in 1925 as a gift from St. George s Anglican Church in Guelph. The bells are currently in need of repair and cannot be played. The Canterbury or Maltese cross etched in the glass inside entrance doors remind us of our ties with England. The new outside front doors of the church were installed in October of They are made of mahogany with a glass transom also etched with the Canterbury or Maltese cross The Shields (high above the altar) During the restoration of Grace Church in year 2000, beautiful coloured shields were added to the ends of the hammer beams in the ceiling of the Chancel area of the church. From left to right as you face the altar, the shields bear the coats-of arms of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Diocese of Niagara, the Parish of Grace Church, and the Town of Milton The Church Organ The current organ, also part of the restoration work of year 2000, is the 6 th in this parish. The first pipe organs were pump organs whose bellows were pumped by foot pedals. The next two organs were also pipe organs, but had electric motors to operate the bellows. Our new organ, built by the Makin Organ Company of Oldham, England, is a digital electronic organ and includes, with the flick of a switch, sounds such as bells, trumpets, flutes and voices. It reproduces the digitally recorded sounds of a European pipe organ and is, to the untrained ear, impossible to distinguish from the source organ. The organ loft is located behind the artificial pipes (retained for cosmetic effect) above the choir stalls on the pulpit side and now houses the speakers for this organ The Memorial Hand Bell Cabinet (Located in the Nave inside the Narthex door) In 1981, a children s hand bell choir was started under the direction of Mr. Bob Argall. An adult choir was started in early 1983 and continued until All five octaves of the hand bells were donated as memorial gifts. There is currently no active hand bell choir The Parish Hall The current parish hall building was constructed in , on the site where the stone church now sits, as the first Grace Church. In 1895, in order to make room for the new and larger building, teams of horses literally dragged the building to the back of the lot and turned it 90 degrees, so the front door now faced Main Street and it was used for Church School and other activities. In 1954, it was raised, and a basement was added to provide much needed additional room for the Sunday School. The only truly original part of that first church that is still visible is the wood ceiling, virtually unchanged since Both upper and lower halls are used for rentals for community groups, church functions and Bazaars. During the renovation of the church in year 2000, our worship services were once again held in the upper hall for six months. The lower hall contains a kitchen and many funeral receptions, and community and church dinners are held there. Jack posts were installed in the lower hall in the late 1990 s to lift and support the floor above, providing more usability of the upper hall. 10

11 4.15 The Link Building In 1978, the original church (current parish hall) and the 1895 stone church were joined by the construction of a link building. The steeple and front steps of the original church were removed to make way for the new building which includes three offices, three washrooms, a meeting room and a nursery that has recently been converted to a choir room. In order to bring this link building up to the new accessibility codes, major renovations and the installation of an elevator are necessary in the next few years The Narthex (The entrance from the parking lot) This is the business entry to the parish. It serves as a greeting and meeting place and incudes a ramp for ease of entry into the church. This ramp was ahead of its time in the 1970 s but does not now meet current accessibility codes and needs to be updated. During the construction of the Narthex, and to make way for a new doorway from the narthex to the church, it was necessary to remove one set of three windows from the stone wall of the church The Upper Room This room is used for a variety of parish and community meetings and it also provides a comfortable setting for nervous grooms prior to wedding services. The murals on the walls were designed and painted by our Youth Group and depict the Garden of Eden, Noah and the Ark and the life of Christ The Nursery (On the upper level) This former nursery has now been converted to our new choir room, as the original choir room in the basement of the church is no longer usable due to fire regulations, water seepage and mold issues The Living Stones Garden This garden faces Main Street at the S-E corner of the church. It celebrates the major renovations completed in year Benches provide opportunities for quiet reflection and an iron cross with an 11

12 antique saw blade symbolizes our connection with God and the pioneers who built the first church here in The Living Stones of this garden are inscribed with the names of many parishioners to memorialize their faith and contributions to the Glorifying Grace restoration project ( ) Restoration In 1990, following a thorough engineering study to identify areas requiring attention, the parish undertook a multi-stage restoration and upgrading project to bring the buildings up to current building, fire and safety codes. Most of this work was completed during the Glorifying Grace project of and included: Re-pointing of exterior stonework Complete re-wiring of the church Upgrading of all lighting systems Installation of a fire alarm system Re-finishing of the original pews and wainscoting Repairing the plaster walls and complete painting, with accents, of the entire church interior Installation of a new sub-floor in the church All new carpeting through out the church, basement, narthex and upper stairways Replacement of the sound system Replacement of the church organ One significant outcome of the Glorifying Grace project was the creation of a Projects Committee which is responsible for all maintenance and repairs more than $1500. The current priorities of this committee are the basement remedial work, accessibility improvements to the upper and lower hall, and kitchen and narthex upgrades. All were very major projects. 12

13 5 Community Partnerships Grace is a community-minded church. When we see a need, we do our best to act on it and meet it. Along with the work that the parish is involved in, many Grace parishioners volunteer with various charity and community groups such as Habitat for Humanity, The Deck, and the Mattamy Cycling Center. Across all activities, Grace and its parishioners always aim to give 150%. The table below lists the current partnerships that Grace has in the community. Partnership Description Duration Major/Minor Joint programs: Hosted community dinner, shared multiple services, volunteered as judges at their music competition, shared priests Fr. Chris went to preach, and we sang in their choir competition) 5 years Major St. Mathew's Mar Thoma Church Food for Life Halton Fresh Food Boxes Salvation Army Due to passing of Fr. Chris, there hasn t been much development between the churches Hope to renew and build the relationship with a new priest Get donations for community dinner Help out at 40 Ontario St. the third Tuesday of the month Give out food to people who live in the apartment building St. Christopher s Church in Burlington runs the program People registered with the program come to Grace once a month to pick up a box of fresh food Supporting other communities through the food boxes People on Ontario Works, children s aid, mental health, community members Donate non-perishable food items Provide facilities for Christmas dinner that s cooked through Milton Christian Church s Working Together Volunteers from Grace for the kettle program Donate gifts to Grace who in turn distributes them through the community Support Secret Santa program 3 years Major 10 years Major 15+ years Major Pack Your Bag Started in Foundation 2016 Minor Samaritan s Purse Christmas shoe box program 3 years Minor Milton Christian Support On the Way to Bethlehem 15+ years Major 13

14 Church s Working Together Knox Presbyterian Church Amma Canada Milton Filipino Community Ahmadi Muslims Children s Aid Halton Women s Place Milton Transitional Housing Nativity walk, through volunteers and fundraising Support Teddy Bears Picnic, Spirit Alive, and other programs throughout the year Co-sponsoring a Refugee Family through the Blended Visa Program Hosted Jazz Vespers Fundraiser and a memorial concert for Father Chris Provided apples for pie making at Yuletide Fayre Will host a community dinner at Grace They would like to run a chili lunch or a community lunch/dinner on a Saturday They provide a lunch to Farmer s Market shoppers in Georgetown Maintain community garden at Grace; 2 years Use parish hall once a month; free of charge; 6 years Hosted a community dinner On-going development of relationship Developing relationship with them Gave them a tour of the church Provide ongoing ad-hoc support On-going ad-hoc support; available to help whenever there is a need Provide foodstuff when there is left over food from dinners Christmas drives for winter clothing and vouchers Have supported them since start of women s place Highly trusted/respected by them Provide Christmas gifts and dinner and food for every residence supported by Milton Transitional Housing Support through Grace s Outreach program Participate in local Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser Gradually increasing support; 2 years Major <1 year Minor 8 years Major 1 year Minor 10 years Minor 10 years Medium 2 years Major 14

15 Milton Hindu Community Alcohol Anonymous, AlAnon, NarcAnon, New Awakenings, New Freedom Allendale Long Term Care Facility Come Cook and Dine Food for Kids Holy Week Services Troy s Diner Seasons Senior Centre Me 2 We World Day of Prayer building a strong relationship with Donna Danielli Use Parish Hall space 1 year Minor Rent our facilities every weekday night Supporting with Christmas gifts Outreach provided an ipad for a resident Special needs as needed Deacon Nina as volunteer chaplain for 10 hours a week Use the kitchen space and receive food boxes Learn to cook a meal to eat and take home Fellowship and friendship between them among senior ladies During the summer Give out extra food boxes for food for kids in the program Pack backpacks for children to take home every weekend Churches in Milton participated in hosting a service each day in Holy Week We would either lead the service as a priest or worship leader Provide refreshments Participated up until 2016; would like to continue Donations for Shrove Tuesday suppers Parking spaces for events, gift cards for Yuletide Fair and golf tournament Deacon Nina takes services there once a week Four youth from Grace went on a Me 2 We trip Outreach and parishioners supported them Once a year Involved with other churches participating Ranges from years Major Major 4 years Major Minor 25 years Major 10 years Major Minor 15

16 Ham and Turkey Dinner Hosted it in 2017 Hosted as an event for the community before Fr. Mark Curtis Lenten musical sermon and Thanksgiving and Christmas musical sermons 16

17 6 Programs & Committees at Grace Church Prayer Group & Prayer Chain The Prayer Group meets on Fridays after Morning Prayer at 8:30 a.m. We pray for the needs of our congregation, for friends and family and for the world. Prayer Group is open to all who want to pray. Another Prayer ministry at Grace is our Prayer Chain. Prayer requests may be ed to the prayer group lead, dropped in the Prayer Box, or given in person. The request is then ed to those on the Prayer Chain for prayer. At present there are 16 members in the prayer group. Prayer Shawl Ministry The prayer shawl ministry has been going on quietly behind the scenes for several years with various prayer shawls given at our Grace Women s Weekend and other occasions. This year we have been bringing prayer shawls to be blessed during the Sunday service. These shawls are meant to be for anyone in need of comfort. They could be given to someone going through a stressful period, someone who is ill, someone grieving or caring for another. They can be given simply as an act of love and appreciation. We are hoping in the near future to give baby shawls to infants who are baptized. Healing Team During 2016 our healing team continued to serve our congregation at all Sunday services offering prayers for healing and thanksgiving. We have many faithful participants who come to us every week and many others who come occasionally. Our team has consistently provided a spiritual part of our Eucharist and are honoured to continue to do so. Sides People The sides people consist of twenty-one dedicated individuals divided into four teams consisting of four to five individuals. Each team is assigned one Sunday per month to fulfill their duties. Sides people endeavour to see that all parishioners are warmly welcomed upon entering Grace and are given a bulletin, which allows them to follow the service and be informed of activities within Grace Church. The sides people also ensure that all the parishioners enjoy their worship in a secure and peaceful manner while at Grace Church. Music & Worship Committee Corporation established a music committee in August with the initial mandate to help find an interim and later a permanent replacement for our long-term organist who had moved away in The committee's other mandates are to come up with ideas about the recruitment of new singers, identifying strengths and opportunities to develop the music ministry at Grace Church and finally, discussions about how to finance the music ministry. Newcomers Report Michael Beaver coordinates the Newcomers Committee and is supported by a few other parishioners. When a new person or family has been in attendance on a regular basis, the Committee provides them with a Welcome package, containing information about Grace Anglican and welcoming them to our community. In 2016 & 2017, 12 packages were given out and the Committee gave a group of newcomers a tour of the church which was an activity that had not been performed in some time. 17

18 Projects Committee The Projects Committee is responsible for planning and coordinating property projects at Grace such as the new front doors that were installed in They are currently working on the remediation of the issues with the church basement. Outdoors Committee The Outdoors Committee is responsible for the design & maintenance of the church gardens and landscaping. Grants Committee The Grants Committee was set up to explore various grants available in the community, Diocese and Province. Program Coordinator/Social Convener The Parish Administrator oversees various programs such as the Christmas Vendors Sale, Spring Vendors Sale, and yearly Fashion Show. Communications Committee Members are presently looking into our webpage and how to improve our communication with the congregation and our community. Creative Circle Group This is a group that meets weekly for an afternoon of handicrafts and socializing. It s been an active group for many years and has helped to create many projects ending up at the Yuletide Fayre. Amazing Grace Softball Team The Amazing Grace Softball team represents about 18 families, that were members, relatives, or friends of Grace. Games were played at the Lions Park Diamonds from May to September. This co-ed team is comprised of a broad range of ages (14 minimum), skills and experience; however, a cheerful and supportive attitude was a common bond. Justice and Servant Ministries (Formerly Outreach) Grace Anglican Church has for many years supported outreach at the local, national and international levels, responding to the needs of others when a need has arisen. This has ranged from support of local families in need to major natural disasters such as the magnitude 7 Haitian Earthquake in 2010 and the Asian Tsunami of Women in Grace (WiGs) & Womens Weekend Women in Grace is a women s fellowship group at Grace Church. WiGs organises various events throughout the year such as pot luck dinners and a Christmas lunch. The Grace Women s Weekend Gathering (also known as the Women s Retreat) is held annually and is widely attended and popular event. It s a time dedicated to growing and building relationships along with spiritual reflection and growth. 18

19 Guys in Grace (GiGs) GIGs stands for Guys in Grace, and has been around since It was initially a group that took care of light property and maintenance work on the church property. This was so until 2012 when Fr. Chris Snow suggested that we turn the group into one that focused more on social activities. In the past we've gone lawn bowling, hosted a breakfast but our favourite activity is going to Brydens Pub and grabbing some pub food and a beer. Altar Guild A volunteer group of the parish whose ministry is to care for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the parish. Altar Guild members prepare the sanctuary for services, and clean up afterwards. Altar Guild members frequently supervise the decoration of the sanctuary of the parish with flowers, candles, and any other items required for services. The Altar Guild at Grace is comprised of around 10 members. Teens in Grace Ever Rejoicing (TiGERs) The Grace youth group, TiGERs, comprises teens and from grade 6-12 who attend weekly lessons on Sunday mornings and they are busy living their faith through their actions. Our students are active in fundraising and social events, they encourage the younger kids through their kindness and example and they participate in the service as readers, servers and intercessors. As a special project in 2016, the TiGERs took on the leadership role to put on a Christmas pageant. Using a script written by Flora Johnson, and under her oversight, the teens helped the children with costuming, rehearsals and props, making for a moving and very cute performance. Each year TiGERs has an annual retreat where bible lessons, object talks, and campfire and worship songs are led by some graduate students. Kids Spirit Kids Spirit re-launched in April 2016 to pursue the following: Vision Of young people as faithful worshipping members of the Anglican Communion. Goal For young people to learn spiritual/biblical truth, develop Christian character and values and gain a sense of belonging to the Anglican Communion. Objectives 1. Provide Kids Spirit (KS) classes at the 10 am Eucharist 2. Increase young people's attendance during the Eucharist 3. Encourage intergenerational interactions 4. Develop a quarterly calendar for KS classes 5. Ensure an adequate number of well-oriented instructors regularly cover KS classes 6. Ensure easily accessible curriculum and instructional aides for KS classes 19

20 Spring Fayre Grace hosts an annual Spring Fayre that is open for external vendors to showcase their products. There were a variety of vendors: Tupperware, Epicure, crafts, coffee, steeped tea to name a few. Grace also sells lunch and snacks from the kitchen. In addition, Grace usually has a bake table and a re-gifted item table. Tea and Fashion Show This was our second year hosting this event. It is now an annual event. Various male parish members volunteer to all dress up in suits and tuxedos and help serve tea and sandwiches and cake to the ladies in attendance. The event attracts women from the parish and local community and is quite popular. Yuletide Fayre: November 8th One of the largest annual events at Grace is the Yuletide Fayre. Many people help in various ways, by contributing and donating to the knitting, sewing, baking, making pies, craft table and also to the silent auction and shoe box raffle. Others come out and help behind the scenes with the set-up and clean up and also working on the day of the event. The Altar Guild assists with serving lunch the day of the Fayre. Non-parishioners also help with the set-up and running parts of the event such as the silent auction and shoe box raffle table. The Yuletide Fayre is Grace Church s largest fundraiser and has been part of parish life for over seventy years. It has become an iconic event in Milton, and people travel from afar to attend this Fayre. This event brings the family of Grace together for a common goal. Annual Turkey Dinner Grace Church has been hosting an annual turkey dinner for the last 14 years. The turkey dinner is usually a huge success and is attended by both Grace parishioners and non-parishioners alike. Keith's Kitchen Keith s Kitchen is food charity that Grace runs that provides people with meals during times of illness, bereavement, time of need, etc. Community Garden In 2016, we joined with The Filipino Elderly Community of Milton. The community planted Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, Kale, Bitter Melon, and other vegetables and herbs. The community also planted signs around the garden, the signs said Bayanihan Garden this is a Filipino value of people helping each other and working together achieving a common goal. Halton Fresh Food Boxes Halton Fresh Food Boxes was established in the Halton Region in 2004 and Grace Church became a drop site for them in June of Essentially, Halton Fresh Food Boxes is a method of getting fresh foods to those who would not ordinarily be able to afford to buy them at the grocery store. This is accomplished in several ways, and benefits other groups of people along the way. Anyone who enjoys fresh, good quality fruits and vegetables is welcome to purchase a food box. There are three sizes one can order large for $20.00, small for $15.00 and a single for $ A large box contains a minimum of 15 different vegetables or fruits. When we purchase a box, we are increasing the buying power of Halton Fresh Food Boxes, enabling them to buy more vegetables and fruits with the money, and keeping the prices of the boxes down. Another group that benefits from this program are the local farmers. Halton Fresh Food Boxes is committed to purchasing from local farmers, 20

21 and if this is not possible, from local wholesalers. This ensure the freshest possible fruits and vegetables will be in your box each month. In the almost seven years that we have been distributing food boxes at Grace Church we have increased our monthly orders from about 24 orders to a little over 100 per month. Out of these orders, there are 3-5 community boxes each month. Community boxes are boxes purchased by others for distribution to those who cannot afford to buy a box. Some of our boxes go to individuals, and others are offered to Children s Aid, The Canadian Mental Health Association, and Halton Women s Place. Our numbers for the less fortunate using these service is growing. We have seen the number of voucher clients grow considerably in Community Dinner 2015 was the first year that we embarked on this new adventure here at Grace. Our very first dinner was held in February 2015 to an extremely small number of people (around 15). It has grown considerably since then. We now average around 70 to 80 people a month. The purpose of starting the community dinner was to feed the less fortunate around Milton but what we have noticed is that the majority of people are seniors, who come out for a good meal and fellowship, we have had one or two families as well. We receive the food from the Food for Life warehouse once a month. Most of the time we do not know what we are cooking until the week of the dinner. We do purchase some of the perishable items. We have also provided some take-outs items. We do have a free will basket, but it is left up to the discretion of the donor, based on what one can afford. The free will offering goes to buy any additional supplies needed for the next meal. Occasionally various community groups will host the dinner at Grace bringing their own unique flair and identity to the dinner. 21

22 7 Grace Church Organizational Chart 22

23 8 Justice and Servant Ministries (Formerly Outreach) Grace Anglican Church has for many years supported outreach at the local, national and international levels, responding to the needs of others when a need has arisen. This has ranged from support of local families in need to major natural disasters such as the magnitude 7 Haitian Earthquake in 2010 and the Asian Tsunami of In Matthew 25:35-40, we read: For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you gave me clothing, I was sick, and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. This is a passage from the Bible that the people of Grace take seriously! Caring our fellow human beings, regardless of their need, is not optional! We have been given a commandment to do so from Jesus Christ. Over the years the parish typically set aside $2,400 from the operating account and this was augmented by special donations and also parish wide appeals when a special need became known. In 2004 the special project Coins for Cuba was created to help provide for the physical needs of Grace s Partner Church in Cuba, the Mission of San Pedro, Jobabo (Pronounced Ho-Ba-Bo). In the winter season of 2005 a group of 8 parishioners, led by John Page, visited Cuba and took with them materials that had been requested by the people of San Pedro. This included church, medical and school supplies. The parish then raised funds through the collection of loose coins, to fund renovations to San Pedro. The funds collected were sent annually to Cuba via our Primate s Office. Hence the name of the project: Coins for Cuba. Between late 2005 and 2017 more than $15,000 has been sent to Cuba for this purpose. In 2009 Outreach was given a major boost with the establishment of a $1 million perpetual endowment, with the first funds from the trust being received in April The Community Foundation of Oakville administer this trust. The total income on this trust (paid to the parish in April 2017) was just over $24,000. Fifty percent of this income goes to the general operating account and fifty percent to outreach. The funds received by outreach are divided equally between domestic projects and needs in countries around the globe. 23

24 8.1 Local Outreach (Funded by the Parish, Gift Jug and Special Gifts/Events) This is a sample of projects supported between May 2016 and July 2017: Rector's Discretionary Fund $250 Halton Fresh Food Box $150 Milton Area Christian Churches Working Together $400 The Deck Milton (Youth for Christ) $400 Habitat for Humanity $400 Beaty Endowment (Inside Canada): Refugee Fund $2,000 Fort MacMurray Fire Appeal $1,700 Milton Community Resource Centre (50% Child Parenting Classes) $300 Community Engagement- Strengthening Our Community-Making a Difference" Conference $475 Inuit Outreach Fund $500 Canadian Red Cross (Flood Relief Appeal Eastern Ontario $1,000 PWRDF Water Project Pikangikum $2,000 Pack a Bag (Milton Christmas Support Project) $500 Food for Life $500 PWDRF Anglican Healing Fund $500 PWDRF BC Wild Fires $1,000 Beaty Endowment (Outside Canada): Refugee Fund $500 Christian Children s Fund $468 Ecuador Earthquake Appeal $1000 Doctors Without Borders, (Famine Relief East Africa) $1,000 PWDRF (Famine Relief East Africa) $1,000 PWDRF (Water Purification Project Cuba) $2,000 Programs and Projects Supported by Grace Outreach SHARE Agricultural Foundation Milton Transitional Housing The Deck Youth Drop in Centre Habitat for Humanity Halton Women s Place Coins for Cuba Primate s World Relief and Development Fund Refugee Sponsorship Child Sponsorship Christian Children s Fund Military Chaplains Partnership with San Pedro Mission, Cuba Mission Grants Salvation Army Halton Fresh Foods Mission to Seafarers St. Michael s Camp Threshold Ministries (Formerly Church Army) Doctors Without Borders Milton Families in Need World Vision 24

25 Diocesan Outreach Projects Samaritan s Purse Gateway Mission, Toronto Food for Life Pack a Bag Canadian Red Cross 8.2 Our People and Our Place Grace Anglican Church sits prominently on a hill overlooking the older downtown are of Milton. An electronic sign invites the public to services and special events. Solar panels on the parish hall roof show our environmental and future spirit. A caring environment is evident when you enter the church with faithful long-term members welcoming a diverse group of newer members. We are a committed, community-minded congregation reaching out to serve the hungry, lonely, seniors, families, youth in providing places to worship and gather to meet, eat and share. Our people enjoy wonderful, varied liturgy styles from traditional and formal with organ and choir to contemporary praise team. We have inherited these from the last two Rectors. A good number of members take part in the church service by serving at the altar, reading the bible, saying the prayers of the people, providing healing and prayers, serving on the Altar Guild, as sides persons, and singing in the choir and on the praise team. As Milton is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, our church wants to explore ways of reaching people in the newer part of Milton, especially the younger population. It also looks to provide increased accessibility, update its older facilities, find better parking facilities, increase communication methods, integrate new people into our congregation, and develop long term plans for renewal and growth. In 2015, a number of home visits with groups of the congregation took place in a Strategic Planning exercise. Out of these were identified priority areas of interest. As a result, the following goals were developed: 1. Reach out and engage the wider community 2. Integrate teens, young adults and families into our Parish Life 3. Enrich the Christian Faith and life of parishioners From these, several objectives were in process of being carried out, when our Rector died a year ago. These now needs to be updated and renewed. Our recent questionnaire has given us more information to work with. With the changing face of Milton from a small farming community of around 25,000 people thirty-five years ago to around 110,000 people, at last count, as a service and distribution area with a bedroom community, our church needed to become more flexible and open to change. This will take renewed effort, enthusiasm, training and planning to bring God to the community. We feel that we are the heart of the community and, as such, an important focal point for initiatives to be undertaken to be hospitable to, to care for, to heal and to increase education of important issues of justice in the community. We have precious gifts of Christ s love to give to others. We need to challenge ourselves to move forward in innovative and faithful ministry. 25

26 9 Attendance 9.1 Grace Church Attendance Statistics Year Early Easter Day Service Early Midsummer Service Early Mid-October Service Early Christmas Eve Service Year Late Easter Day Service Late Midsummer Service Late Mid-October Service Late Christmas Eve Service

27 9.1.1 Early Sunday Service Christmas Eve Early service are the total number of 5pm service congregants Grace Anglican Early Service Attendance ( ) Early Easter Day Service Early Midsummer Service Early Midoctober Service Early Christmas Eve Service The above graph depicts the attendance of the Grace Anglican Church during early services from the time period of 2000 to 2014 during the significant events of the year. These events include Easter Day, Midsummer, Mid-October, as well as Christmas Eve. The early midsummer service during 2014 was not inputted during analysis as the access was unavailable as a whole. As shown the graph s trend stays fairly steady and the attendance has not changed drastically for any of the significant dates. 27

28 9.1.2 Main Sunday Service Grace Anglican Late Service Attendance ( ) Christmas Eve Late service numbers are the Dec. 24th, 7pm and 11pm congregants added together Late Easter Day Service Late Midsummer Service Late Midoctober Service Late Christmas Eve Service The above graph depicts the attendance of the Grace Anglican Church during late services from the time period of 2000 to 2014 during the significant events of the year. The trends have slightly declined in all the significant dates but not drastically, thus, showing no sign of decline for future events in the church. All the data was inputted for the late services as a whole. 28

29 10 Parish Statistics 2016 Statistic Average 8:00 a.m. Sunday Service Average 10:00 a.m. Sunday Service Mid-Week Service Baptisms Weddings Funerals First Communion Confirmed Received into the Anglican Church of Canada Interim priest Fr. Brian performing a baptism. 29