Weekly Announcements
For the week of April 28th, 2024
News & Events
NEWS
PARKING LOT REPAVING
As mentioned during Vestry, there are a number of significant capital projects that we need to undertake over the next few years in order to protect the integrity and safety of our church property. The first of these will be a repaving of the front parking lot, entranceway, and a repair of a section of the rear parking lot. This paving project is scheduled to start on Monday, April 29, and is expected to take between 2-3 days.
More detailed information about parking restrictions and church access during this time will be made available soon. The cost of this paving project will be covered by existing Building Reserve funds. Moving forward, we will be launching a capital campaign to replenish these funds in order to meet future building needs.
SAVE THE DATE – SUMMER VBS!
Mark your calendars for the Christ Church summer Vacation Bible School for kids 3-12y/o happening the mornings of July 8 – 12. The theme is “Scuba: Diving into Friendship with God”! The cost will be $25 per child for the week. Registration details TBA!
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION MINISTRY – RED DRESS DAY
"The Lord is righteous, he loves justice." (Psalm 11:7)
May 5th is a birth date. Across Canada there are many beautiful Indigenous women and girls who have never returned home to their families. One such person was, Lisa Marie Young, a 21-year-old Tia-o-qui-aht woman (born on May 5, 1981) who disappeared under suspicious circumstances from Nanaimo, BC on Canada Day 2002. Despite hundreds of tips from the public, RCMP investigators never made an arrest in this case.
The Red Dress Days began to be held across the country to honour the loss of women like Lisa Marie, and to draw attention to their disturbing fate while encouraging us to ask why Indigenous women and girls had such an increased vulnerability.
Over time the REDress Project, and subsequent REDress Days, engaged and empowered citizens to put pressure on the Canadian parliament to set up the National Inquiry into MMIWG. This inquiry began early in 2016 and included testimony from 1484 family members and survivors. A full report can be accessed through the KAIROS website. (kairoscanada.org)
As a side note: The T & R committee is looking for donations to enhance their projects: awarding an Indigenous student from the OCAD University an honorarium to create a wood sculpture for the garden in the front of the church, and hiring an Indigenous leader to help facilitate a process of defining the reflections plaques in the garden.
CONFIRMATION CLASSES
This spring we will be offering classes for those interested in renewing their commitment to Christ through Confirmation. Any youth or adults interested or curious about Confirmation are invited to speak with Canon Lisa or Jane Smith to learn more. Dates and time for classes will be shared in a few weeks but will involve weekly gatherings giving the confirmands an opportunity to grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with Jesus. Confirmation will take place on Sunday June 9, 2024 at the 10 am service with Bishop Andrew Asbil presiding.
RECEPTION INTO THE ANGLICAN CHURCH AND/OR REAFFERIMATION OF FAITH
Anyone who attends an Anglican parish is considered a member of the Anglican Church of Canada. For some who were baptized in another denomination, there may be a desire to be formally received into the Anglican Church or to make a public profession of their faith at a service when the bishop is present. Someone who has already been confirmed or is a long time member may also desire to reaffirm their faith publically. If this is something you are considering or would like to know more about, please reach out to Canon Lisa with any inquiries. Reception and or Reaffirmation will take place on Sunday June 9, 2024 as part of the Confirmation service.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
A reminder that access to the daycare area is not permitted during their operating hours, 6:00 am to 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday. This includes using the daycare entrances as access to the Church areas. If the front door to the Church is locked, there is an intercom on the right side that will enable you to speak with the office, letting them know that you are there. Office hours are 9:00 to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday. With a building full of children, it is vital that access to the building is being controlled. Thank you for your cooperation.
ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE DAYCARE
We are pleased to announce that the enrolment at the Christ Church Child Care is near capacity. In order to keep our young guests safe and secure, we need to take a moment to remind everyone that all of the spaces used by the daycare are off limits during the hours that the daycare is operating, which are Monday to Friday, 6:00 am to 6:15 pm. This includes the Great Hall, plus all washrooms except for the one across from the Nailer Room. This also means that there can be no space rentals or public gatherings in any of the daycare areas, Monday to Friday, 6:00 am to 6:15 pm.
LIBRARY HIGHLIGHT: OUR OWN AUTHORS
Please take a look at the Christ Church adult library as we have two books of poetry authored by Larry Hopperton, who’s a member of our choir, and one book, "Grant us Tomorrow", a medical memoir which the stories of the Health Team missions to Northern Ghana with GRID and NEA, authored by Dr. Jennifer Wilson who is a GP from Uxbridge.
York Region Food Network's Good Food Box
York Region Food Network is a non-profit community organization based in Aurora and serves the Region. The Good Food Box program offers fresh, quality fruits and vegetables from local farmers at 19th Avenue Farmer's Market and sell them at wholesale pricing. They've recently added a pick-up location in Stouffville. The program is open to everyone and The Good Food Box is available for pick-up on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. The contents of each box are different and will change based on seasonal availability. Each Good Food Box contains 6-8 types of fruits and vegetables and cost $18 (plus PayPal fees). The boxes are packed in Aurora by YRFN staff and a team of volunteers. For more information, check out their website (here).
EVENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!
Welcome to Frinton Manor, a place of suspense and excitement. On Saturday, April 27th, the Christ Church Players are bringing you their brand new, never before seen, murder mystery experience. Tickets are on sale now! They are available through Eventbrite.ca (no fees this time, we promise), the church office, or at the door. Tickets are $25 and include light refreshments. (Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/murder-at-frinton-manor-a-murder-mystery-tickets-862148378007?aff=oddtdtcreator)
TEA WITH THE BISHOP - TURNING YOUR LEGACY INTO A LASTING GIFT
Everyone is invited on Tuesday, May 14th at 1:00 p.m. to an enlightening afternoon at Grace Anglican Church in Markham, Ontario, as we delve into the importance of estate planning and legacy giving from a biblical perspective. Hosted by Reverend Canon Nicola Skinner, with a special appearance by Bishop Andrew Asbil, this seminar will provide valuable insights and information on how you can leave a lasting impact through your legacy.
Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. and a light Luncheon will be provided at 1:30 p.m. Space is Limited to the First 100 Registrants. This is an exclusive event for the York-Central Deanery. Please RSVP by May 10th to reserve your seat. To reserve your spot please visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/879496857777?aff=oddtdtcreator
We look forward to seeing you there!
WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE PRAYER BREAKFAST
Tickets are now available for the Whitchurch-Stouffville Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 16th at 7am. Come out and start your day with faith and fellowship at Oakview Terrace (13256 Leslie St., Richmond Hill). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Candlelight and Memories in Stouffville or online at wsprayerbreakfast.com.
THE TORONTO WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR
Save the date May 4th at 3pm for a concert put on by the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir at St. Philip’s On-The-Hill (9400 Kennedy Rd.) Proceeds will be shared with 360 Kids in aid of their efforts to support children in need. Tickets are $35.00 in advance, $40.00 at the door, and $15.00 for youth 12-18 years old. For tickets call 905-477-1991.
SPRING GOSPEL MUSIC CONCERT
Save the date for a spring Gospel Music concert on May 4th at 6:30pm at the Markham Bible Chapel (50 Cairns Dr., Markham.) The concert features The Watchmen Quartet from Kitchener and the Vessels of Honour from Peterborough. Refreshments will be provided after the concert and it is a Free Will Offering event.
2024 CHRIST CHURCH GOLF CLASSIC
This year’s tournament, and supper following the golf, will again be held at Mill Run Golf Club, Highland Course, but a couple of weeks later than last year’s date. We were unable to get a Saturday date due to other tournaments and weddings, so the event will be on Sunday, September 22nd. We will hold the number of golfers to 48 (twelve foursomes) with sequential tee-times starting around 12:30pm. Prices will be the same (or very close) to last year, and non-golfers are cordially invited to join the group for supper in the main ballroom at the clubhouse starting around 6:00pm. Please email Jim or Eleanor Winters for more details: (jamewint@hotmail.com OR eleanorc22@hotmail.ca) Thank you!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please fill out our prayer request form. We ask that you seek permission from the person you wish us to pray for before submitting the form. Only first names will be read out during the service to help preserve privacy.