Category Archives: Blog

Jesus Is Coming!

Advent is a time of waiting. Or, at least it’s supposed to be.

For many of us the simple act of waiting is frequently lost in the midst of the busyness of the season; there’s shopping and baking to be done, family visits and decorating that needs to happen, and the regular activities of our lives at school, at work and at home that need to carry on. In the midst of all of this there is also the desire to undertake a few Advent family activities that we can do at home such as special Advent devotions, Advent calendars, and Advent candle lighting. We know it is a good thing to do these things, but even the act of simply remembering to do them, and failing to do so some of the time, leaves us feeling more burdened then blessed during these days. How do we capture the season of waiting and anticipation for the birth of Jesus in the midst of all of this without feeling worse than when we started?

This year, instead of providing a family Advent devotional booklet for families to follow, I have instead created a booklet that keeps in mind the many obligations and commitments of families at this time. This year our Advent booklet instead focuses on the wonderful family activities we already do and enjoy. Each week there is one bible story to read together, using either the Spark Story Bible or scripture, followed by three suggested picture story books that are easily found at your local library, your church library, or Chapters/Indigo, and one family movie for your family to enjoy together. Each of the weekly stories from the bible come from the lectionary readings for that week and connect with the traditional themes of Advent, Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The suggested story books also reflect the weekly themes as does each of the family movies.

It is my hope that rather than feeling overwhelmed during Advent that your family will instead delight in the opportunity to read the stories at bedtime, or watch a family movie with a bowl of popcorn and some hot chocolate. Don’t feel obliged to do it all or find all of the story books; just do what fits in, is easily available, and allows your family to experience and talk about what it is you are waiting for.

For families who would like to print out this booklet, you will find it attached below through a dropbox link. When you open the link it will look a bit mixed up, as it is laid out ready to be printed and assembled into a booklet. Print out the document two-sided, with the short edge binding, and when it comes off your printer assemble the three pages together and then fold it in half. Now it will make sense and flow correctly through the weeks of Advent and Christmas.

For churches who would like to print out multiple copies of this booklet for distribution print out each page separately so you can put it through your church photocopier easily. Print the pages as a two-sided document, assemble the pages together, fold in half, and staple down the fold.

Churches may also want to plan ahead and purchase some of the books recommended for your church library, or plan a movie night featuring one of the movies suggested one evening during Advent. Perhaps one or two of the books could be used for your children’s message during worship allowing everyone to reflect on the theme for that week. Don’t worry that you will be taking the story away from families to read at home; reading the story over and over again at home is still a wonderful family activity and helps us all remember the wonder of each story.

Please, also feel free to email or call me if you want to know about any of the stories, movies, or ideas for family Advent celebrations your church may wish undertake. You can get a hold of me at torismit@gmail.com or by calling 647-348-0879.

Jesus is indeed coming! As we wait and anticipate this glorious day, may we all find precious time to contemplate what this means to each of us and to our world. Blessings, Tori

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/afurmvshrhw0qrg/AADfcKWF_cqjy1YDHoMxXdkia?dl=0

A Children’s Book for Remembrance Day

When we gather to worship on the Sunday before Remembrance Day, we will also gather to honour and remember those people who gave their lives in the Great War, more than 65,000 of them, and those that were added to their number during the Second World War. We will also remember those that served in the Korean War,and Afghanistan.

In worship we will have special prayers, poppies will be worn and wreaths may be laid, the names of those who fought and died in the wars may be read out loud, we will stand for two minutes of silence and we will experience the mourning and rising of Last Post and Reville. All of these visible and solemn ways of honouring those who gave their lives in service to our country also help our children to see and hear about a time before they were born. Through these activities we keep the memory of loved ones and our commitment to peace alive. For children who may only rarely hear these meaningful stories the act of remembrance can be profound.

We wonder how to tell the stories of war and the desire for peace in ways that are appropriate for our children. When we come to the children’s time it becomes a challenge. How much do we say? What should we say? And what shouldn’t we say. How do we find the right balance between too little and too much for our children to take in. In speaking with the children we need to be honest and use words that are clearly understood. Children do need to hear something of the cost of war without focusing on the gory details. It is appropriate to use the words ‘dead’ and ‘died’, rather than using words like ‘passed on’, ‘gone to sleep’, or ‘have gone to the other side’ which only cause confusion and unintended fears in our children. They need to have their honest questions answered sensitively and not ignored. What will you say? The age of the children in your church will help decide how much detail you want to go into, and what the focus of your message might be.

If you are looking for a good children’s book to read aloud during your children’s time, in the Sunday School, or during a mid-week children’s gathering I would like to suggest the book, A Poppy Is to Remember by Heather Patterson (Scholastic, 2004). In explaining the symbol of the poppy, this thoughtfully written book reminds us of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae who wrote the famous poem, In Flanders Fields, and prompts its listeners to remember those who served in the wars, those who cared for the injured, and those remained at home. The book concludes by highlighting the poppy as a symbol of peace. The book is brief, with helpful pictures, and includes the text of the famous poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae (which you can read along with the book’s text if you wish), and a brief history of Remembrance Day in Canada.

If you would like a copy of A Poppy is To Remember, you can buy it in the children’s section of your local bookstore (Chapters and Indigo).

You’re invited to East Toronto Presbyterial’s Christmas Luncheon

Mark November 23rd on your calendar and come enjoy a wonderful lunch and great speaker. Get all the details below, and then continue to scroll down for a detailed profile of Stephanie Chunoo.

 You are invited to a

Christmas Luncheon

Saturday, November 23, 2019

at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

115 St. Andrew’s Road, Scarborough, ON

9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Featuring 

Stephanie Chunoo

who will speak about her year as a Young Adult Intern

with Kalumba Social Services

a refugee ministry of the Reformed Church of Hungary.

Cost: $15.00

Please RSVP and report any dietary needs 

by November 12, 2019

to Katherine Allen

kathanne5219@gmail.com                                      416-429-5692

(Directions: South of Ellesmere, north of Lawrence ~

St. Andrew’s Road can be entered from either Brimley or McCowan)

Schedule

9:30 – registration

10 a.m. – Carol singing, Welcome & Opening Worship

10:20 a.m. – Speaker

12:00  – Lunch

Hosted by 

East Toronto Presbyterial 

We look forward to seeing you at this event and bring a friend or spouse. 

Whether you are connected with WMS or not, this luncheon is open to everyone.


Update on Refugee Sponsorship within the Presbyterian Church in Canada

Mark Saturday, September 28, 2019 on your calendar and join the Women’s Missionary Society Presbyterials of East and West Toronto at our national offices for an update on refugee sponsorship within the PCC. Our guest speaker, Rob Shropshire (Presbyterian World Service and Development), will help us better understand and participate in this much needed ministry. Please see the attached poster for further details.

Faith Formation Matters-a new, free course for Christian Education Coordinators

Dear friends,

Many of our local congregations have hired a gifted lay person, usually on a part-time basis, to coordinate and lead their Christian education, youth and/or family ministries programmes. While these people are hired with a great deal of commitment to the task, they often have little formal education in their ministry area and wish they had more.

The synod has heard this concern. This fall the synod is inviting anyone serving as a paid Christian education coordinator to sign up and participate in an exciting and interactive basic course on Christian education and faith formation that is designed to assist them in understanding and doing their ministry better. This course, ‘Faith Formation Matters’, will cover the basics of the theology, theory and practice of educational ministry as well as provide an opportunity for participants to get to know others in their field.

‘Faith Formation Matters’ will be taught by Dr. Tori Smit, the synod’s Regional Minister for Faith Formation. Tori holds a Doctor of Educational Ministry Degree from Columbia Theological Seminary, has been a professional Christian educator for over 36 years, has authored numerous curriculum resources for the PCC, PCUSA, Kerygma Bible Studies and Montreat Conference Center, has taught Christian Education courses at Columbia Theological Seminary and Emmanuel College and keynotes regularly across Canada and the US. She is both knowledgable and very practical in her field.

And here is the best news of all – ‘Faith Formation Matters’ is free.

This course will be held between 7 and 9 pm the third Wednesday of each month at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Toronto. Trinity is easily reached from all directions as it is just off of the 401 at Bayview Ave. and has a parking lot available. If your church has a person serving as the CE coordinator, or you are that person, please register by calling Tori at 647-348-0879 or emailing torismit@gmail.com.

See you at Trinity, Tori Smit

The WMS Synodical Annual Meeting, April 26, 27, 2019 at St. Paul’s PC, Port Hope

The WMS Synodical Annual meeting is being held at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Port Hope, Ontario. With guest speakers Rev. Dr. Glynis Williams and WMS leaders Ms. Janet Brewer, Ms. Cathy Reid and Ms. Karen Baron, this is a gathering you won’t want to miss.

Please find all the information you’ll need to get registered attached, along with a poster to share.

See you this spring in Port Hope!

click here to download the event brochure and registration form

click here to download the event poster