Calendar of Events:

Wednesday, February 15

2:00 p.m. Community Café – McClure Hall

5:00 p.m. Lectionary Group – Board Room

7:00 p.m. Bread & Justice Service – Sanctuary

Thursday, February 16

8:15 a.m. Lectionary – Board Room

7:30 p.m. Choir – Music Room

Monday, February 20

Building Closed – Family Day

Tuesday, February 21

6:00 p.m. Community Pancake Supper – McClure Hall

Saturday, February 25

10:00 a.m. Pastoral Care Workshop – Upper Club Room

Tuesday, February 28th

6:00 p.m. Congregational Pot-luck – McClure Hall

7:00 p.m. Annual General Meeting (Finance & Admin.) - McClure Hall

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Congregational Meeting A congregational meeting (Part 1: Finance & Administration 2011) takes place on Tuesday, February 28th in McClure Hall. A pot-luck supper starts off the evening at 6:00 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7:00 p.m. (refer to legend for dishes to bring - goes by first letter of surname):  A-H: Main Dish; I-P:Salad; Q-Z: Dessert.  Copies of the annual report will be available at the information table in McClure Hall following the service starting February 19th, and will also be available at the meeting.

Congregational Directory Update  - Last Call The congregational church directory contains contact information and photos of those who are involved in the life and work of Bloor Street United Church and have given permission for their contact information to be included.  If you would like to be included in the next update, please visit the information table in McClure Hall after the worship service to update your contact information or add your contact information.  If you have a picture of yourself (head shots please) that you would like to be included, please email it (jpg file) to susan@bloorstreetunited.org

Bread and Justice With the blessings of Council and the Worship Committee, Bloor Street is holding a second service on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.  This is an opportunity to worship with contemporary music, break bread together and reflect on what it means to be followers of Jesus.  Are you interested in helping to provide leadership at the service?  We are currently inviting people who are interested in forming a ministry team, a worship band, and drama team to share their talents in the community.  Contact Evan Smith, Community Builder, at evan@bloorstreetunited.org if you are interested.  www.bloorstreetunited.org/breadandjustice.html

Lectionary Group.  The word lectionary refers to the prescribed readings of scripture that many churches follow week by week.  Ministers and music directors base their sermons and plan their worship around those passages.  The passages are chosen to fit the church year.  The use of the lectionary tries to ensure that favourite passages do not reoccur and the variety of texts broadens the perspective within scripture and thus in worship.  It has become a Bloor Street tradition to have our ministers meet with lay people to gather insights concerning what a particular passage may be saying to a cross section of the congregation.  In the process those who meet find they learn quite a bit about the context in which the passage is written from both the perspective of events of the time and the purposes of the writer.    

 You may feel that this sounds like hard work without any payoff.  As one who has attended with enthusiasm, Bill Davis says there are several payoffs.  First of all, you appreciate the worship service much more (and can be pleased to see your modest input find its way into the service).  Secondly you learn not only from Martha who facilitates the discussion but also from others who share in the discussion.  Best of all, the groups has developed a great enjoyment of each other's insight and wit and, contrary to what one might expect, it is an hour and a half of fun and personal enrichment.  Our Thursday morning group is having so much fun that we want a few more lively people to join in.  We start at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday morning and are done by 9:45 a.m. - in time for students or persons with regular commitments to be somewhere at 10:00 a.m.  We would love to see YOU (Board Room) and if you find it worthwile, to have you attend regularly.  Why not give it a try?  Another lectionary groups also meets on Wednsesday at 5:00 p.m. in the Board Room as well.  All are welcome.

Pancake Supper (with real maple syrup!)  - Gluten free pancakes will also be available  Tuesday, February 21st is our community pancake supper (starting at 6:00 p.m., latecomers welcome).  Invite your friends.  Invite your neighbours.  Come and celebrate before Lent begins.  This year we will also have activities and discussions on the theme of Lent for anyone who is interested in participating.  Tickets will be for sale starting this Sunday in McClure Hall and at the door (adults $5, children $2, students/unwaged free) - advance sales help us with numbers, and are much appreciated!

Pastoral Care Workshop/Discussion Saturday, February 25th at 10:00 a.m. in Upper Club Room.  Please bring your questions concerning pastoral care and visiting.  Don Matheson will be ready to facilitate a discussion about ways to deal with problems and become more effective in our pastoral care ministry.  All interested persons are welcome along with our regular team of pastoral visitors.  For more information, speak with Anne Farquharson.

Social Justice

THE COMMUNITY CAFÉ

The Community Café runs every Wednesday, rain or shine, in the Narthex of Bloor Street. Our doors open at 2:00 p.m. and close at 4:00 p.m. As a volunteer, we ask that you arrive 5 minutes early and stay 15-20 minutes after 4:00 p.m., if possible, to straighten up.

Amnesty International Group 63 - Jayyus Action FileAccording to the official website of Canada's Foreign Affairs and International Trade Department, Canada does not recognize permanent Israeli control over territories occupied in 1967 (the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip).  In addition, consistent with UN Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465, Canada's official position is that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.  Canada's policy also reflects that the settlements constitute a serious obstacle to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

 This month AI Group 63 is requesting that letters be sent to Prime Minister Harper, Foreign Affairs Minister Baird and local MPs requesting that Canada use its influence to encourage Israel to stop constructing settlements in the West Bank and to remove existing illegal settlements.  Please come to the Amnesty International table in the Coffee Hour for a copy of Canada's Policy and for sample letters. 

Harper's Tough on Crime Bill The Senate vote for Bill C10 is coming up late this month.  There is still time to write and indicate your opposition.  Sample letters and list of senators will be available in the Coffee Hour.  No postage is necessary when writing a senator.

Living With Grief  Wednesdays - February 15, 22, 29, March 28 and April 4:  Under the auspices of Trinity-St. Paul's United Church Pastoral Care Team a Living with Grief support group will be offered in 2012.  The grief journey is not about forgetting and assigning it to the past.  Rather, it is about remembering, honouring and hopefully integrating the richness of the relationship without denying the pain of the loss.  Taking place from 7 - 9 p.m. in the Memorial Room at Trinity-St. Paul's (427 Bloor St. W.), the group - open to all - is intended to offer a confidential and safe space to share with peers the uniqueness and the commonality of one's grief.  If you are considering attending, please contact either Mary Simpson (b_msimpson@sympatico.ca) or Elaine Gort (elaine.gort@sympatico.ca)

Faure Requiem in Memory of Clay Graves Sunday, February 26th at 4:30 p.m.  As part of a special music service, the Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist, with orchestra, will present Faure's famous Requiem.  Clay led the Bass section here at Bloor Street United for over a decade, and died a year and a half ago.  His partner, Martin Houtman, who is sponsoring this memorial performance, is now the tenor lead at Yorkminster Park.  Also as part of the service, you will hear Faure's Tantum ergo and an organ concerto by Rheinberger.