W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F B L O O R S T R E E T U N I T E D C H U R C H AN INCLUSIVE CONGREGATION MINISTERING TO MULTICULTURAL TORONTO I n s i d e The Healing Lodge page 3 New Antependium page 4 Talent Auction Photos page 5 Christmas Party page 6 Quick Sketches page 7 Sanctuary decorations: Advent wreath, Christmas tree & angel on balcony pillar Auction Alchemy by Laurie Gordon How do you turn a glass vase into a week at the cottage? Bloor Street auction alchemy, that s how! Here s just one of the stories of how Bloor Streeters will be sharing time and talents with each other over the coming weeks and months. Our lively and entertaining talent auction was held on November 5. The food was overseen by Maure and Ron Kentner, and Nancy, Laurie and Emily Gordon. It was a locavore feast, featuring foods grown in Ontario, from organic free-range turkey, to Ontario wheat, to wild mushrooms, to cherries from the backyard. Tom McCauley procured Ontario vintages for our enjoyment. Ellen Schwartzel, Dawn Lee and Velma Davis graced the tables with brand new tablecloths and fall-themed centre pieces. David Passmore, Linda Moon, Pat Janes and Damien Villeneuve set the mood with background piano. Bridget Hough donated a vase to the auction. In turn, she bought opera tickets that Anne and Bob Farquharson had donated. Anne and Bob bought places in Mary Sanderson s art therapy session. Mary procured the computer skills of Nikhil Joshi to speed up her PC, and Nikhil won the D.J. services of Evan Smith, our Community Builder. Evan picked up a dollhouse donated by Emily and Jennifer Gordon. Emily and Jennifer pooled their Bloor Bucks to win an outing on Andy Spears and John Tinker s yacht. Andy Spears got seats on the Credit Valley Explorer Snow Train from Nancy and Laurie Gordon. Nancy and Laurie won a house concert by singer-songwriter, and former Bloor Streeter, Bri-anne Swann. And Bri-anne Swann and her partner won a wonderful week at Martha ter Kuile s cottage on Christian Island. And that s how Bloor Street auction alchemy works! Add in some fantastic cabaret entertainment, tasty refreshments, stylish decorations, and it was a magical evening all round. Many thanks to all who contributed to the event in so many ways! See photos from the Talent Auction on page 5.
bloor people Welcome to Douglas Helliker who joined our congregation on November 13. Born in Toronto, he grew up attending Humber Valley United. He has also lived in Windsor, Edmonton and Quebec City. Douglas enjoys baking, stand-up comedy and writing. He has published over 300 letters in various newspapers about social and political issues. He and his wife Diane enjoy living with their cat Molly. Heather Hilliard is organizing a fundraising Arts Cabaret and Bazaar for Third Culture Theatre. Heather co-founded Third Culture Theatre in 2004 with a mandate to view the classics through a multi-cultural lens. The fundraiser will be at El Mocambo on March 28. Contact Heather for more details: hrhilliard50@gmail.com. Welcome to Greg Powell our new Youth Coordinator. Greg recently moved from Calgary to study his Master of Divinity full-time at Emmanuel College. In 2008, Greg co-led a three-week youth exposure tour to Zambia with Calgary Presbytery. That trip simultaneously confirmed and denied romantic perceptions of Africa and reminded Greg of the joys and challenges of exploring the world through the eyes of youth. Adventures in alpine touring, canoe tripping, triathlon, and travel have shaped Greg s world view as much as his background in engineering and the four years he worked for the Pembina Institute, an environmental thinktank that focuses on climate change, the tar sands, renewable energy, and transportation. Greg is really looking forward to the trip with our youth to visit the Dene region this summer and engaging the youth of Bathurst, Trinity-St.Paul s and Bloor Street Churches on theological, environmental, colonial, justice, and other relevant issues. Feel free to contact Greg at greg.a.powell@gmail.com. Congratulations to Martha ter Kuile who successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis in December at Saint Paul University/University of Ottawa. Martha s Ph.D. is in Theology (Ethics). The thesis title is: The Virtues of a Christian Realist: Toward a Niebuhrian Virtue Ethics in Conversation with Martha Nussbaum. And a second milestone for Martha occurred on January 3 when she welcomed her first grandchild. Daisy May McCuaig was born to Paula and Scott McCuaig. The Oma, Martha, says she is besotted. Martha ter Kuile with flowers from congregation after her thesis defence. Rebeca Rosales Venegas is the new Nanny for our nursery. Rebeca has raised two children and has extensive experience with children in church schools. An active member of the congregation, she has assisted with the Information Table in McClure Hall and also helped plan several South American lunches as part of the monthly lunch after the service. Welcome Rebeca. Welcome to Aaron Zhang who joined our congregation on January 8. Aaron grew up in northwest China in the city of Urumqi. He studied civil engineering and economics in China before journeying to the University of Toronto where he received his Master of Applied Science degree in 2009. He now works at the Bank of Montreal as a senior financial risk analyst and serves on the board of directors of the LGBT Affinity group for the bank, helping to create a diverse friendly work environment. He came to Bloor St. shortly after his arrival in Toronto four years ago. Aaron s been active in church activities including being on our Finance & Administration Committee. 2
The Healing Lodge by Mary Sanderson Ispent most of December working at The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan. This was my fifth visit to the medium security federal penitentiary for aboriginal women made possible by a generous grant from The Donner Foundation. I do Art Therapy with the women during the day and read aboriginal stories to them around the fire in the Spiritual Lodge in the evenings. Mid-way through my visit, there was an institutional search. All 44 women were held for eight hours in a medium sized room while sniffer dogs searched every corner of the institution for drugs and cigarettes. All the women were frisked. Some women played cards; some tried to sleep on the floor, others chatted. Around noon, two staff members made salmon sandwiches. Women were escorted to the washroom by guards, known as Older Sisters. Nothing was found. However, the search and the demeaning treatment of the women, just days before Christmas, demoralized everyone. The Parole Board met while I was there and saw eight women over the course of two days. One woman who had done a lot of Art Therapy with me was granted parole. She is in her early thirties with five children in five foster families. She had had a childhood of abuse and alcohol and a condition of her release is that she abstain from using alcohol or drugs. The woman s mother, at 32, and her grandmother had both died of cirrhosis as a result of alcohol. She is determined to break the cycle. For the next six months she will live in a halfway house in Edmonton. A few days before Christmas, at 3:00 am on a cold, dark morning a staff member drove this woman about 40 km north to the trans-canada highway to catch the bus to Edmonton, via Calgary. I pray for her. Just before I left to fly home for Christmas, there was a potluck luncheon for staff and residents. Each bungalow has a small kitchen but the inmates have limited resources and few cooking skills most of them brought bannock to the meal. Because of some money I was given for the women, I was able to buy a large grass-fed roast of beef (this is ranch country!) and twelve pies from the Maple Creek bakery. It added a new dimension to the meal and was greatly appreciated by everyone. I am very aware of the support of the congregation for my work at The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge. I like to think what I am doing is an extension of Bloor Street s ministry and that I am there on your behalf. Thank you for your support. Nurse s Corner by Nancy Gordon A Little Help in This Season This is the season with short and frequently cloudy days. These conditions often have the effect of making people feel blue and it is not always easy to find enjoyment. There is an interesting fact, though, that I would like to pass it on to you. I have learned that contrary to popular belief, attitudes often follow behaviour. Now, what does that mean? you ask. It means this: Since attitudes follow behaviour, if you make an effort to act happy and see the funny side of things, you will actually feel happier. Fritz Strack, a German psychologist, demonstrated this with an interesting experiment. He found that if people held a pen with their teeth while watching cartoons, they found the cartoons funnier than if they watched them while holding the pen with their lips. You may have to try it yourself to see what I mean. Holding the pen with the teeth uses smiling muscles, while holding it with the lips uses muscles incompatible with smiling. If our face is physically smiling, our feelings go along with the behaviour and we feel happier. So even when it is dark and cloudy, smile, and the world will smile with you as the saying goes. It sounds silly, but try it you ll feel better! 3
New Festival Antependium by Bridget Hough The new white antependium for festivals such as Christmas, Easter and Baptism is made almost entirely of recycled fabrics in shades of white, cream, gold, silver and beige. The quilters contributed scraps from their projects, or from family collections such as wedding dresses, bridal veils, and lace curtains. Robert Thoen gave a stack of discarded upholstery fabric samples which he rescued. The design features the universal Christian symbol of the cross which divides the antependium panel into four. Each panel represents a different domain of the environment. The left upper panel is the sky with stars, clouds, rain and snow. The right upper panel is the forest, featuring the branches and leaves of a tree. The right lower panel is the water domain, with waves, New White Festival Antependium Photo by Don Payne fishes and shellfish, and the left lower panel hexagons are based on the basalt of the Giant s Causeway, topped by man-made stone or concrete buildings. Construction and quilting was by Velma Davis, Nancy Gordon, Heather Hilliard, Bridget Hough and Pat McPhee of the Bloor St. Quilters. Designed by Bridget Hough, the white antependium was first hung in the sanctuary for the Christmas Day service. New Stole for Alydia A second quilting project designed and created by quilters Irene Hunter and Dawn Lee was presented to our former minister Alydia Smith on January 8. Alydia s new stole features imagery from the liturgical seasons of the church year, beautifully combined in a very Alydia Smith & her mother special stole. Alydia can wear admire her new stole the stole all year. The stole is reversible as the back is white with an embroidered cross. The white side can be worn for festival Sundays. Alydia has completed the requirements for ordination. Haydn and Hovhaness by Lynda Moon On Sunday evening November 20, the church sanctuary resounded with the music of Haydn and Hovhaness as David Passmore led the Bloor Street Choir and an orchestra in performance of choral works. Featured soloists were: Jennifer Taverner, soprano; Michelle Simmons, mezzo soprano; Damien Villeneuve, tenor; and Matthew Cassils, baritone, who filled in for Geoffrey Keating. Amy Rand played the organ, and several guest choristers, including Martha ter Kuile and Chuck Baker, rounded out the choir. The cantata The Thirtieth Ode of Solomon by the American composer Alan Hovhaness opened the program. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear this evocative mystical work during the 100th anniversary year of the composer s birth. Among the effective features was the sombre sonority created by linking the trombone and baritone solo. Hovhaness was influenced by the musical language of 4 his father s Armenian heritage. After intermission we were treated to a stirring performance of Haydn s Nelson Mass complete with trumpets, timpani and organ. One of six late masses that Haydn composed for his patron Prince Nicolaus, this work became associated with the name of the famous admiral of the British Royal Navy. From the foreboding atmosphere of the opening Kyrie (Lord have mercy), we were led on a journey through the movements of the Mass to the hopeful conclusion Dona nobis pacem (Grant us peace). Following the performance a reception was held in McClure Hall, giving the opportunity for audience members to mingle with the musicians. David Passmore, the Bloor Street Choir, soloists, instrumentalists and concert volunteers are to be congratulated on a very successful evening! Concert Soloists Damien Villeneuve & Jennifer Taverner Photo by Harold Durnford
Terrific Talent Auction on Nov. 5 Our youngest performer, on guitar Photo by Don Payne The talented auction band: Marion, Garnet Ward, Lynda Moon, Tom Cousins & Amy Rand with Bob Hilliard & Damien Villeneuve at the rear Photo by Don Payne Versatile musician: Damien Villeneuve Photo by Don Payne Duet: Jennifer Gordon & Deston Johnson Photo by Don Payne Christmas Decorating The tree decorators: Christine Mosser, Bill Mowat, Anne Hogg & Garnet Ward Photo by Isabel Ward BIll Mowat adding finishing touches to the tree Photo by Garnet Ward 5 Isabel Ward adjusting the balcony wreath Photo by Garnet Ward
Sharing the Spirit of Christmas by Sue Kaiser Toronto s lack of snow in December did not stop Santa s reindeer from delivering their cargo of toys for over 100 kids at the Refugee Outreach Program s Christmas party on December 17! McClure hall was festive with lights and families enjoyed lots of musical entertainment, a Nativity Pageant presented by the kids, an excellent dinner and a bustling craft room. 45 families were part of the Christmas program, including 30 new families all were invited because they are facing challenges of dislocation, loss of work, family breakdown or unresolved refugee claims. This year, about 70 volunteers helped make this event possible Thanks to the planners, craft helpers, errand runners, chef and sous-chef, kitchen helpers, servers, gift packers, set up and clean-up crew, decorators, face painter, MC, musicians and singers and Nativity animators. Toys were donated by members of Bloor Street Church, Eglinton St. George s United Church, the Firefighters Toy Drive and the Salvation Army. Gladys Salazar & Martha ter Kuile Photo by Aaron Zhang Four of the more than 70 volunteers for the Christmas party: Bonnie Reid, Rebeca Rosales Venegas & Claudia Venegas Photo by Aaron Zhang Nora McKay welcomes a new friend who recently arrived from Ethiopia. Her mother and siblings are with her. Photo by Aaron Zhang Chef David & two of his hard working helpers: Maure Kentner, David Estrada & Claudia Sanchez Photo by George Bartlett 6
Quick Sketches Redevelopment Information Session. An interesting and informative presentation and discussion session was held after the service on January 8. Michael Hilliard, Chair of our Redevelopment Committee, described the new proposal to redevelop our property. Four representatives from the development firm B + H Architects and also the architect were present for this important meeting. We saw several drawings of the proposed development and heard details of various aspects of the new building. A condo tower will be built to the west of the corner of Bloor and Huron and the historical Bloor St. and Huron St. façades of the current Michael Hilliard chairing the redevelopment session church will be rebuilt at our present location. We will still have a strong presence on Bloor St. rather than the church being located at the rear of the parking lot, which was suggested by earlier developers. Office space will be included in the church wing of the building for the offices of the General Council of the United Church of Canada, if Bloor St. Church is chosen as the location for the new offices. A decision on the relocation of General Council is expected in March. Please see the January issue of The United Church Observer for the article Toronto, after all for more information on the relocation issue. A lively discussion with the developers and architect followed the presentation. Michael also reported that there have been discussions with the local city councillor, Adam Vaughan, as the surrounding community will be very interested in our changes and their possible impact. Generally the new proposed development was positively viewed by the large congregational turnout for the meeting. Bloor Street Book Club. This lively group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm in the Board Room. Everyone who has read the book being discussed is welcome. We have chosen the following books for discussion until the end of June. February 7: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, March 6: The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, April 3: I've Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railway by Karolyn Smardz Frost, May 1: Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan and June 5: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. For more information please contact Bob Farquharson at arfarquhar@sympatico.ca or phone at 416-962-3998. The Book Sales made a record $3396 in 2011. This includes the proceeds from the spring and fall Saturday book sales, two coffee hour sales, one street sale; and money from books sold directly to book dealers and to the Ryerson University library. Many Bloor Streeters donated books; twenty-five volunteers sorted and arranged them, and helped on sale days; and the office and custodial staff provided support throughout the year. Our next book sale will be this spring. If you enjoy books, are not allergic to dust, and would like to help, please speak to Dianne Johnson or Christine Mosser. Margaret Atwood s Craddock lecture to our congregation last October 16 appears in an adapted form in the January issue of The United Church Observer. Look for the article entitled Back to the Garden on page 19. Tea Party. A winter tea party was held at Christie Gardens on a cold and snowy January 19. The winter weather did not dampen the warmth of the party. Hosted by the Pastoral Care Committee, the 22 attendees are all members or adherents of Bloor St. Church.
coming events Wednesdays starting January 25 at 7:00 pm Bread and Justice contemporary service Interested in participating? Contact Evan: evan@bloorstreetunited Sunday, February 5 Congregational lunch following the service Tuesday, February 21 at 6:00 pm Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Wednesday, February 22 Ash Wednesday Joint service at Bathurst Church (in TSP building) Bloor St., Trinity-St.Paul s & Bathurst Churches David & David: Director of Music David Passmore with Minister Emeritus David Allan Sunday, February 26 Speaker event hosted by Social Justice Committee after the service Tuesday, February 28 Annual Meeting Part 1 Pot Luck Dinner 6:00 pm Meeting 7:00 pm Sunday, March 4 Congregational lunch following the service Sunday, March 25 Speaker event hosted by Social Justice Committee after the service Our elegant baptismal font Nov. 6: Anniversary Sunday speaker David Wilson, Editor of The United Church Observer, with Martha ter Kuile Sunday, April 1 Congregational lunch following the service Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 pm Maundy Thursday Joint service at Trinity-St.Paul s Bloor St., Bathurst & Trinity-St.Paul s Churches is edited and published 4 times a year by the Communications Committee of Bloor St. United Church. All articles and photos are copyright and may not be used without permission of the author/photographer. 250 words is the standard length for unsolicited articles. Articles should be single spaced, in 12 point type, without paragraph indentations. All articles may be edited. Photos will only be used if space permits and if suitable for publication. Editor: Isabel Ward: booksleuth28@gmail.com Ministers and Staff may be reached by contacting the Church Office at (416) 924-7439 Deadline for the Spring/Easter Issue: Sunday, March 4 Layout: JANICEKRANGLE (416) 513.1396 Mark Your calendars for Sunday, September 30, 2012 Our Craddock Lecturer will be Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. Dr. Abuelaish is a Palestinian medical doctor, now practising in Canada, who has dedicated his life to peace in the conflict between Israel and Palestine. See his life: http://www.daughtersforlife.com/foundation/ Read his book I Shall Not Hate Visit our website at: www.bloorstreetunited.org