We all need our hope renewed.
You are invited to join us for Holy Week and Easter at St. Paul’s, as we journey together through the week that changed the world. Retrace the last week in the life of Jesus, from death to resurrection, as we prepare to have our hope renewed. Journey with us from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, enjoy our Palm Sunday Organ Concert and Easter Lessons and Carols. Kids and teens are also invited to participate in special programs like Discover Good Friday, and our fabulous Easter Egg Hunt!
Visit our website below to find out more about this season at St. Paul's.
We would love to welcome you because Easter is for everyone.
On Easter Sunday we will now be allowed, thanks to permission from the Bishop of Toronto, to take the bread and the wine at Holy Communion. In the past two years we have become accustomed to receiving communion in one kind only and – while not preferable – we have experienced first hand how Christ is fully present to us in the consecrated bread alone. Those who wish to still only receive the bread may, of course, continue to do so, others may wish to touch the base of the cup with their hands, and still others will want to receive the wine. Those who are comfortable and eager to return to making their communion in both kinds can be reassured by the science referenced in this article written by an epidemiologist and priest of the Diocese of Ottawa.
|
|
|
|
Last Saturday morning, families came together at St. Paul's to make Resurrection Garden.
It was a great way to get ready for Easter and start a new tradition together.
Now to watch the gardens grow in anticipation of Jesus' resurrection!
|
|
|
|
Palm Cross making day is coming up!
If you are crafty, hands on, and would like to join our Easter preparations then this is the place for you.
Palm Cross making will take place in Cody Hall on April 8, 10am. If you'd like to join us, all you have to do is show up.
Then join us on Palm Sunday, April 10th!
|
|
|
|
Ben Tshin: Assistant Curate
Thanks to a generous grant from the Diocese of Toronto, Ben Tshin will soon be joining our clergy team.
Prior to pursuing a vocation to ordained ministry, Benjamin Tshin (pronounced “chin” like the chin on your face) worked 10+ years in international development and humanitarian relief, most recently with World Vision Canada. He had the opportunity to visit or live and work in countries as diverse as Haiti, Pakistan, South Sudan, Malawi & Mongolia. In 2021, Ben completed his Master of Divinity at Wycliffe College, which was an unexpected change for a Systems Design Engineer from University of Waterloo!
Ben and his wife Julia, a medical doctor, both grew up in the Toronto area, and deeply love the city. Ben enjoys playing guitar and learning the bass, mountain biking and learning a bit of fearlessness, travelling and all things aviation (yes, airports and tiny airline seats, too!), and geeking out on maths and Excel worksheets.
Ben is excited to work with all the different volunteer and ministry teams at SPBS, and to learn the breadth and depth of how God is using SPBS to bring the good news of Christ into the city. Ben will be ordained by Bishop Asbil on May 1st and join our Clergy Team on June 1st.”
|
|
|
|
Mark Hemingway is stepping down as a Trustee of St. Paul’s Bloor Street as he has the honor of now serving as one of the Vice-Chancellors of the Diocese of Toronto.
Mark was installed in this role by Bishop Asbil this past Sunday at the Cathedral and we know that he will bless the Diocese with his love for the Church and his incisive legal mind.
We are very grateful for Mark’s service on our Board of Trustees and give thanks to God for Mark’s servant heart.
|
|
Congratulations, Jillian! |
|
|
|
Long time parishioner, member of our youth ministry team and member of the Rector Selection Committee, Jillian Ruch, is being ordained as a transitional deacon (the step before being ordained as a Priest) by Bishop Asbil on Sunday, May 1st at the Cathedral. Bishop Jenny will be in attendance as one of Jill’s sponsors and Jill has been given the gift of a cassock from the parish. We give great thanks to God for how God has raised up Jill to be ordained and she will be serving her Curacy at St.Bride’s Clarkson in Mississauga.
Read a bit about Jillian below:
|
|
I officially began attending SPBS in 1998. 2 classes into the Adult Confirmation session and I knew that I had found my church home that I didn't even know I was looking for. In March 1998, I was confirmed and my days of serving in different ministries: Nursery, Sunday School and Youth ministry, being a member of a small group, being a host at Alpha, leading the prayers at the Bridge service and also serving on the parish selection committee, helped me to feel very much a part of this church community, meeting so many wonderful people along the way.
Throughout these opportunities, my discernment about ordained ministry was stirring, and all the clergy, helped me to discern where God was calling me to serve in the Church. With that support, I felt ready to apply to the Diocese of Toronto for their postulancy program, leading towards the Priesthood. I received concurrence from the Postulancy committee in January 2022, which means that they feel that I am ready to be ordained as a Transitional Deacon. God willing, I will then be accepted into the Priesthood within the year following.
It is the truth to say that SPBS has always, and will always hold a very special place in my spiritual journey and in my heart.I have so many friends in this church and I have learned so very much from the role models, the community and of course the amazingly talented youth group, with who I volunteered with, for about 10 years.
I am forever grateful to God for blessing me with such a strong foundational beginning in my church life and for my first church home. Thank you for all the support over the last 22 years - I really grew up within these walls and the lessons will be brought forward with me wherever God takes me!
Blessings to you all,
Jillian
|
|
Alpha Spring 2022
Alpha at St. Paul’s will run on Wednesdays from April 20 through June 29, 7:00-8:15pm. All sessions will be held online via Zoom.
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions where you can explore life and the Christian faith, ask hard questions, and engage with others who are on a similar spiritual journey.
|
|
|
Alpha has benefited people at every stage of their spiritual journey, but is intended primarily for those who are spiritual searching. If you’re a committed Christian, consider inviting a friend who’s spiritually seeking to take Alpha with you.
Visit our website below to find out more, watch some testimonial videos, and access great resources.
|
|
We have so many reasons to celebrate and give thanks to God. Our gospel ministry at St. Paul’s Bloor Street has continued throughout the pandemic and even expanded to include the new online ministry. New ministry staff have been hired to enhance our worship services.
Now as restrictions lessen, we turn our eyes to reopening the facility for event rentals. Event rentals and catering have been a very important revenue stream for us. This year’s budget was based on an anticipated rental income of $315,714 through event rentals and catering. Due to the ongoing pandemic, to date we have only earned $7,008. Before the pandemic St. Paul’s averaged just over $585,000 per year in revenue from events and catering. When the lockdown started in March 2020, this revenue stream was immediately impacted and continues to be so.
|
|
The loss of this income may affect our ministry moving forward. Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to continue to support the ongoing ministry. How will you respond? An extra donation through CanadaHelps or mailing a cheque? Signing up or increasing your pre-authorized giving? Please contact Ingrid Suld at isuld@stpaulsbloor.org if you would like to sign up for Pre-Authorised Giving or make a special donation this Easter.
As we rebuild our congregational life together, open our facility for more ministry opportunities and event rentals, we ask for your continued prayers and financial support. May we continue together to serve God and minister to the community.
|
|
Contact Us
St. Paul's Bloor Street
227 Bloor Street East
Toronto, ON M4W 1C8
416-961-8116
|
|
|
Sundays
In-person services: 8:15am, 9:30am and 11am.
Livestreamed services: 9:30am and 11am
|
|
We envision a church made alive, a city made new, and a people made whole. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
