St. Nicholas, Birch Cliff Anglican Church, Toronto

Sunday May 20 - The Seventh Sunday of Easter / Sunday after Ascension
- 8:30 Said Eucharist
- 10:30am Sung Eucharist
All are welcome at St. Nick's!
Details about services at St Nick's here »
Centennial Dinner Gala & Dance June 9 / 100th Anniversary service June 10 with Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and parish lunch - details »
Celebrations - events list here » / movie & slideshow from 15 Jan service & champagne luncheon launch - here »
In preparation for the arrival of our new incumbent (no, we don’t know who it is yet!) We are going to produce a photo directory for the parish. This directory will help the new incumbent as he or she gets to know each of us. Dennis Newman has agreed to take the pictures following each of the remaining services in May (Sundays after the 8:30 and 10:30 services, and Wednesday after the 10:00 service). If none of these times work for you, please contact Dennis to arrange an alternate time. Please plan to have your picture taken as it’s important to obtain as many parishioners’ photos as possible.
Sunday Events Upcoming

Sunday, June 10 – Homecoming Service

An overview of parish life at St. Nick's
is posted online here »

See the latest update (25 Apr) on the Parish Selection Committee Schedule here »

Nick's News Easter Edition is now online »
Congratulations to Archdeacon Michael Pollesel, who is now Bishop-Elect of Uruguay. We are thankful that Michael will remain with us until we have a new incumbent. Please uphold Michael and the Uruguay Diocese in your prayers.

Our Annual Plant Sale will be Saturday May 26 from 8am – 1pm. Marcia Parum will have plants etc. for sale at her home – 115 Cornell Ave. Please gather up your extra pots and anything pertaining to gardening, flowers, etc., even jewellery, books, vases… Pot up any extra plants, and they will be gratefully accepted. You can call Marcia at 416-694-0451 and she will pick it up. Save the day and join us. Happy Gardening! If anyone could give an hour or two to help Marcia do some potting up, please give her a call at the above phone number. This year, the proceeds from the Plant Sale will go to Haiti via the Primates World Relief and Development Fund - website ». This is a good way to help out, you can add to your garden with healthy reasonably priced plants and help the needy people in Haiti at the same time.

Saturday, May 26, 9:30am–3:30pm - Reflect on “Merton’s Messages for Us Today” with Bunny Stewart, St. Nick’s parishioner, at St. John’s Convent (The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine is a monastic community within the Anglican Church of Canada). Fee: $25 if you bring a bag lunch ($15 for Associates and Oblates). A hot meal is available for an additional $15. Registration forms can be downloaded from www.ssjd.ca or requested from the Guest House 416-226-2201 ext. 305 or email guesthouse@ssjd.ca. Bunny has attended several Thomas Merton conferences, facilitated reflective workshops on Merton, and is co-ordinator of the Toronto Merton Group. St John's Convent website »

The Centennial Gala - Dinner and Dance

Dinner & Dance - Come and Celebrate with us June 9th, 2012. The Gala will be at Ellas Banquet Hall at Danforth Ave and Danforth Rd. Tickets are available at coffee hour or after the 8:30 service, and must be purchased by May 27th. There will be no tickets at the door. They are $40.00 each. Table Wine kindly sponsored by Dave Morgan; Royal LePage Realty, Kingston Road & Victoria Park office.

Flowers, decorations, DJ - If you are interested in helping to cover some of the costs please contact either Doreen Moffat at 416-691-2917 or Jane Roberts at 416-691-1332.

100th Anniversary Services: June 10, 2012 /8:30 & 10:30

Guest Preacher : the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz - website » This is the big celebration of our 100th anniversary, and we’ll have a parish lunch following the 10:30am service.

Floral Display The Atlar Guild is planning a floral/plant display to be part of our 100th anniversary service on June 10. We are getting donations of flowers from some local florists/garden clubs. If a church group or individual would like to participate by creating or sponsoring a floral display, please contactBetsy Jones at 416-694-3633 or email » .

See centennial page here »

Sunday June 24, at 3:00pm - be sure to attend the benefit concert for our Food Bank. We are fortunate to have The Bach Children’s Chorus [website »] performing as they are celebrating their 25th season and will be going on tour shortly after the concert. This excellent choir is conducted by Linda Beaupré with accompanist Eleanor Daley. Tickets ( $20 each) available shortly. Invite family and friends! We would like to fill the church and raise a substantial amount – all funds will go directly to The Churches by the Bluffs Food Bank - website ».

We’re hoping to expand youth ministry at St. Nick’s and we need your help and input to do so. If you’re between the ages of 11 and 18, please give your contact information (email and phone) to Alison or Janet. Alison will set up a Facebook group and coordinate a meeting time.

August 19–24, 2012. Calling all parishioners 16 and over to take part in Shalom Justice Camp at Trent University, Peterborough. Hosted by the Diocese of Toronto, Justice Camp brings together people from across Canada to learn about justice issues and develop leadership skills for outreach. Issues will include poverty and food, housing, violence, and arts and social change. For more details, see the Manderley bulletin board. To register, visit: http://www.justicecamp.ca. Early registration deadline is May 1, 2012; final deadline is June 1, 2012. There are only 50 spots for Toronto participants, so register early!

The neighbourhood long-term care facility urgently needs volunteers. Can you spare 2-3 hours per week? There are many different tasks to be done. Please call Andrea Macina, Volunteer Co-ordinator at 416-466-2173 x229.

A few of our parishioners are currently volunteers at Chester Village, and they find it a most enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Talk to Betsy Jones, Barb Betts or Jane Roberts.

Chester Village website » 3555 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1L 1E3

Screening in Faith - The Diocese has recently updated its "Responsible Ministry: Screening in Faith" policy to require police checks of those who carry out high-risk ministries once every three years. We are pleased to advise that Pauline Green has agreed to become our Parish Screening Coordinator to assist us in complying with this important policy. Diocese webpage about screening here »



How to get to St Nick's see map / location here » A word of welcome here » Some words of Thanks to …… Everyone who offered their time and gifts in our celebration of Holy Week and Easter this year: Altar Guild Members, Choir, Servers, Sacristans, Sidespeople, Greeters, Readers, Intercessors, Chalice Bearers, Coffee-Hour Hosts, Staff, and Worshippers! Thank you, St. Nick’s, for helping make my ordination day so wonderful. With your many ministerial gifts, your thoughtful presents, and your supportive presence, you made the body of Christ visible, and filled my heart with joy. I know that in the years to come, I will look back on this day as one of my happiest. With blessings and love, Alison Our lawnmower has died (which makes cutting the grass a problem) so, if anyone has a gas mower in good working order that they no longer want or need, please let us know. We would be very happy to take it off your hands. …and thanks, in advance, for your help. - Sonia H. Parish Selection Committee PSC Timetable here » NICK'S NEWS The Parish Newsletter See here » Parish Council wants you! As its new secretary, that is. Please speak to the Wardens if you’re interested in the position, which Dennis Newman has stepped down from. Thanks to Dennis for his work in this role. The Kitchen! A small committee is being formed to look into, plan, and oversee the renovation of our kitchen. If you would like to be involved in this project, please speak to Sonia Halloran in person or at wardens@stnicholasbirchcliff.com Parish Screening If you have a volunteer position at St. Nicholas that is high or medium risk, and you have not been screened in the past 3 years, please contact our Screening Co-ordinator, Pauline Green, 416 698-9531, to get the application forms. Pauline will collect your completed forms and copies of ID and have the process completed through our chosen security company. ACCESSIBLE St Nicholas, Birch Cliff is an accessible facility: details » ACCESSIBLE TOO There is now a dedicated wardens email box which people can use to contact us with their concerns, complaints, criticisms (and maybe even compliments)... email » See the vestry webpage here » SERVICES DURING THE WEEK - Every week ! SUNDAYS 8:30 & 10:30 am + coffee afterward - Services » MORNING PRAYER every Tuesday at 8:45 am Services » HOLY EUCHARIST every Wednesday at 10 am Services » GIRL GUIDES every Wednesday: Guides » THURSDAY MORNING PRAYER every Thursday at 8:45 am Services » FOOD BANK Our Food Bank is in currently in need of specific items. When you are shopping, please consider buying baby cereal and biscuits, nutritional cold cereals, and toilet paper. If you would like to volunteer at the food bank, there are several openings. Please speak with Deb Chapman, for more information Outreach page » Visit St Nick's YouTube channel here » See St Nick's photo album here » We’re becoming a greener Church! In our efforts to be more environmentally friendly, we’re hoping to do more of our parish correspondence through email. We already have many email addresses, but if we don’t have yours, please send it to the parish office at office@stnicholasbirchcliff.com - Thank you!		EASTER at ST NICHOLAS - Celebrating 100 years: 1912-2012! Sunday May 20 - The Seventh Sunday of Easter / Sunday after Ascension 8:30 Said Eucharist 10:30am Sung Eucharist All are welcome at St. Nick's! Details about services at St Nick's here » Centennial Dinner Gala & Dance June 9 / 100th Anniversary service June 10 with Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and parish lunch - details » Celebrations - events list here » / movie & slideshow from 15 Jan service & champagne luncheon launch - here » In preparation for the arrival of our new incumbent (no, we don’t know who it is yet!) We are going to produce a photo directory for the parish. This directory will help the new incumbent as he or she gets to know each of us. Dennis Newman has agreed to take the pictures following each of the remaining services in May (Sundays after the 8:30 and 10:30 services, and Wednesday after the 10:00 service). If none of these times work for you, please contact Dennis to arrange an alternate time. Please plan to have your picture taken as it’s important to obtain as many parishioners’ photos as possible. Sunday Events Upcoming Sunday, June 10 – Homecoming Service Parish Profile - Celebrating 100 years: 1912-2012! An overview of parish life at St. Nick's is posted online here » See the latest update (25 Apr) on the Parish Selection Committee Schedule here » Nick's News Easter Edition is now online » Congratulations to Archdeacon Michael Pollesel, who is now Bishop-Elect of Uruguay. We are thankful that Michael will remain with us until we have a new incumbent. Please uphold Michael and the Uruguay Diocese in your prayers. Victoria Day Monday, May 21: Office Closed for Victoria Day Holiday Our Annual Plant Sale Our Annual Plant Sale will be Saturday May 26 from 8am – 1pm. Marcia Parum will have plants etc. for sale at her home – 115 Cornell Ave. Please gather up your extra pots and anything pertaining to gardening, flowers, etc., even jewellery, books, vases… Pot up any extra plants, and they will be gratefully accepted. You can call Marcia at 416-694-0451 and she will pick it up. Save the day and join us. Happy Gardening! If anyone could give an hour or two to help Marcia do some potting up, please give her a call at the above phone number. This year, the proceeds from the Plant Sale will go to Haiti via the Primates World Relief and Development Fund - website ». This is a good way to help out, you can add to your garden with healthy reasonably priced plants and help the needy people in Haiti at the same time. Reflect on “Merton’s Messages for Us Today” Saturday, May 26, 9:30am–3:30pm - Reflect on “Merton’s Messages for Us Today” with Bunny Stewart, St. Nick’s parishioner, at St. John’s Convent (The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine is a monastic community within the Anglican Church of Canada). Fee: $25 if you bring a bag lunch ($15 for Associates and Oblates). A hot meal is available for an additional $15. Registration forms can be downloaded from www.ssjd.ca or requested from the Guest House 416-226-2201 ext. 305 or email guesthouse@ssjd.ca. Bunny has attended several Thomas Merton conferences, facilitated reflective workshops on Merton, and is co-ordinator of the Toronto Merton Group. St John's Convent website » ST NICHOLAS CENTENNIAL GALA & CELEBRATIONS 1912-2012 The Centennial Gala - Dinner and Dance Dinner & Dance - Come and Celebrate with us June 9th, 2012. The Gala will be at Ellas Banquet Hall at Danforth Ave and Danforth Rd. Tickets are available at coffee hour or after the 8:30 service, and must be purchased by May 27th. There will be no tickets at the door. They are $40.00 each. Table Wine kindly sponsored by Dave Morgan; Royal LePage Realty, Kingston Road & Victoria Park office. Flowers, decorations, DJ - If you are interested in helping to cover some of the costs please contact either Doreen Moffat at 416-691-2917 or Jane Roberts at 416-691-1332. 100th Anniversary Services: June 10, 2012 /8:30 & 10:30 Guest Preacher : the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz - website » This is the big celebration of our 100th anniversary, and we’ll have a parish lunch following the 10:30am service. Floral Display The Atlar Guild is planning a floral/plant display to be part of our 100th anniversary service on June 10. We are getting donations of flowers from some local florists/garden clubs. If a church group or individual would like to participate by creating or sponsoring a floral display, please contactBetsy Jones at 416-694-3633 or email » . See centennial page here » The Bach Children’s Chorus Sunday June 24, at 3:00pm - be sure to attend the benefit concert for our Food Bank. We are fortunate to have The Bach Children’s Chorus [website »] performing as they are celebrating their 25th season and will be going on tour shortly after the concert. This excellent choir is conducted by Linda Beaupré with accompanist Eleanor Daley. Tickets ( $20 each) available shortly. Invite family and friends! We would like to fill the church and raise a substantial amount – all funds will go directly to The Churches by the Bluffs Food Bank - website ». Calling all youths aged 11–18! We’re hoping to expand youth ministry at St. Nick’s and we need your help and input to do so. If you’re between the ages of 11 and 18, please give your contact information (email and phone) to Alison or Janet. Alison will set up a Facebook group and coordinate a meeting time. Retreats & Quiet Days, Music & Liturgy The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine (SSJD) is a monastic community within the Anglican Church of Canada located near Yonge & Finch. The sisters welcome visitors for liturgies, quiet days, retreats & workshops, or a place of peace and quiet to rest and refresh - see here » Spring Clean-up 2012 Shalom Justice Camp August 19–24, 2012. Calling all parishioners 16 and over to take part in Shalom Justice Camp at Trent University, Peterborough. Hosted by the Diocese of Toronto, Justice Camp brings together people from across Canada to learn about justice issues and develop leadership skills for outreach. Issues will include poverty and food, housing, violence, and arts and social change. For more details, see the Manderley bulletin board. To register, visit: http://www.justicecamp.ca. Early registration deadline is May 1, 2012; final deadline is June 1, 2012. There are only 50 spots for Toronto participants, so register early! St. Nick's Theatre Trips 2012 The following theatre trips are being organized for this year. They are sold on a first come, first served basis: Shaw Festival October 11 - Ragtime St. Jacobs November 29 - The Love List Please call Joan or Bill Alkerton for more details: 416–691–4387 Natural Church Development (NCD) Our parish is engaging in a process called “Natural Church Development”. This resource will help us to assess the strengths and weaknesses or our parish, based on various proven criteria. NCD is an annual process, so those who have not been chosen for this survey this time around will have an opportunity to participate in the future. NCD website here » CHESTER VILLAGE - Services every month The neighbourhood long-term care facility urgently needs volunteers. Can you spare 2-3 hours per week? There are many different tasks to be done. Please call Andrea Macina, Volunteer Co-ordinator at 416-466-2173 x229. A few of our parishioners are currently volunteers at Chester Village, and they find it a most enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Talk to Betsy Jones, Barb Betts or Jane Roberts. Chester Village website » 3555 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1L 1E3 Screening in Faith - The Diocese has recently updated its "Responsible Ministry: Screening in Faith" policy to require police checks of those who carry out high-risk ministries once every three years. We are pleased to advise that Pauline Green has agreed to become our Parish Screening Coordinator to assist us in complying with this important policy. Diocese webpage about screening here » PROPERTY REPAIRS Diocese of Toronto issues pastoral guidelines for the blessing of same-gender commitments "... All of us need to extend to each the most generous Christian charity that our Redeemer calls us to exercise as we, together, seek to discern and live out God's will." See the full text of the Archbishop's letter here »