Let's Stay Connected - 17 April 2020

Post date: Apr 17, 2020 4:22:36 PM

Hello Friends,

Happy Easter! Easter is a season of 50 days to celebrate that the Risen Christ made unexpected appearances to disciples who were locked up in their homes and afraid to go out. We look to God's continuing presence with us in these locked-up times.

Thanks to all who participated in Holy Week. It's been fun making the videos for each of the services - and viewership is high!

    • Special thanks to our music team: Mervin, Michael, Sharron, Laura, and Jamie.

    • Thanks to our wardens - Marc, Dave, and Pete - who reassure us that St. Anne's continues to care and reach out as we have always done.

    • And thanks to our tech experts who prefer to remain anonymous.

Worship with us this Sunday

1. Worship Video. The video will be uploaded by 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning to our YouTube channel: saintannetoronto

2. Worship on Zoom. Sunday, 2:00 p.m.

https://zoom.us/j/92504162827?pwd=dDlmMUVyS3BDSlZxME5LYWE0UlNZZz09

Meeting ID: 925 0416 2827

Password: 006112

Join by Phone: +1 647 558 0588

Thank you for sending in pictures and poems - hope you enjoy these ones! Gary

ANNOUNCEMENTS

> Dufferin Grove Market

St. Anne's has given the Skey Room to host the Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers' Market every Thursday. The market is no longer able to meet in Dufferin Grove Park as all parks are closed; St. Anne's has stepped in to help solve this dilemma. This would be a great time to start supporting our local farmers' market. Here's what to do. Check out vendors and offerings online and put in your order by Tuesday midnight. Pick up your order in the St. Anne's parking lot on Thursday. Remember that our mission statement is "Bringing the Community together for Good." Going forward, the St. Anne's parking lot is the Thursday place to meet neighbours (at a safe distance).

*Check out St. Anne's on CBC News!

> Community Dinner - Sunday, April 19 - 5:15 p.m.

We will continue to hold the Community Dinner as a takeout meal. However, we have made the difficult decision to limit volunteers for the preparation. We are not able to accommodate more than 5 people in the building at any one time, so we can no longer invite all who want to join us. The preparation and serving time continues to be Sunday 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. If you would like to offer your time for future meals, send me an email. Please also encourage anyone who would like a meal to come by.

We have enough food and it's a hot meal - all are welcome. Serving time is 5:15 p.m. Come to the church parking lot and follow the signs.

> Messy Church Playdate - Tuesday - 5:00 p.m.

Messy Church is now every week! Next Tuesday, we are a quiz show on Zoom; send an email if you would like the coordinates to join us online. Please note that for Safe Church requirements, parents/guardians are to be in earshot of Messy Church conversations - with a special request to come on the video all together at the end for the Parents' Check-In.

> Earth Day Social - Wednesday, April 22 - 3:00 p.m.

This year is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! Join us on Zoom for a Social. Bring your favourite Earth books and pictures and artifacts to share Digital Show & Tell!

LEARNING

Thanks to all who came online this week for Explore, Compare & Discover Passover and Easter Together: An Interfaith Study. This shared learning event with City Shul was a great success and we look forward to doing it again. The result is a one-hour video presenting Passover and Easter. Watch the video here.

PHOTOGRAPHS

This week's e-newsletter features photographs by Jared Zhai - from Easter last year (2019) in the church.

SUBMISSIONS

> From Margaret Yanicki - "My Soul Has a Hat" - a poem by Mario de Andrade (1893-1945)

I counted my years

and realized that I have

Less time to live by,

Than I have lived so far.

I feel like a child who won a pack of candies: at first he ate them

with pleasure, But when he realized that there was little left, he began

to taste them intensely.

I have no time for endless meetings where the statutes, rules,

procedures & internal regulations are discussed, knowing that nothing

will be done.

I no longer have the patience

To stand absurd people who,

despite their chronological age,

have not grown up.

My time is too short:

I want the essence,

my spirit is in a hurry.

I do not have much candy

In the package anymore.

I want to live next to humans,

very realistic people who know

How to laugh at their mistakes,

Who are not inflated by their own triumphs and who take

responsibility for their actions.

In this way, human dignity is defended and we live in truth and

honesty.

It is the essentials that make life useful.

I want to surround myself with people who know how to touch the

hearts of those whom hard strokes of life have learned to grow, with

sweet touches of the soul.

Yes, I'm in a hurry.

I'm in a hurry to live with the intensity that only maturity can give.

I do not intend to waste any of the remaining desserts.

I am sure they will be exquisite,

much more than those eaten so far.

My goal is to reach the end satisfied and at peace with my loved

ones and my conscience.

We have two lives

and the second begins when you realize you only have one.

*Listen to the Poem read by Subhash

> From BarBara Harris - Excerpts from C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters.

“There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human's mind against the Enemy [God].

He wants men to be concerned with what they do;

our business is to keep them thinking about what will happen to them.”

***

"“When He [God] talks of their losing their selves,

He means only abandoning the clamour of self-will;

once they have done that,

He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts

(I am afraid, sincerely)

that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves than ever.”

> From Louise Simos - Videos for the stories of Holy Week:

Louise retells the Easter Story for young children in the style known as Godly Play.

> From Nathan Lemphers and Marie-Camille Lalande:

Greetings from Ottawa from MC, Nathan, Jude and Dominic! Life is busy with two young ones but full of laughter and special moments.

We had planned to be in Toronto for (Dr!) Nathan’s convocation in June and visit St. Anne’s but that will have to wait for another time.

We miss our St. Anne’s family dearly and think of you often!

MUSIC

If you're at home with silent walls, maybe they need some sounds of silence? Check out "The Sound of Silence" in 3 versions:

  1. Simon & Garfunkel

  2. Disturbed

  3. Voces8

Rank them in order of your preference... I love mail - hit reply and send me a note... Also tell me how you are doing... Gary

PRAYER

Covid-19 Prayer of Solidarity

(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

For all who have contracted coronavirus,

We pray for care and healing.

For those who are particularly vulnerable,

We pray for safety and protection.

For all who experience fear or anxiety,

We pray for peace of mind and spirit.

For affected families who are facing difficult decisions between food on the table or public safety,

We pray for policies that recognize their plight.

For those who do not have adequate health insurance,

We pray that no family will face financial burdens alone.

For those who are afraid to access care due to immigration status,

We pray for recognition of the God-given dignity of all.

For our brothers and sisters around the world,

We pray for shared solidarity.

For public officials and decisionmakers,

We pray for wisdom and guidance.

Father, during this time may your Church be a sign of hope, comfort and love to all.

Grant peace.

Grant comfort.

Grant healing.

Be with us, Lord.

Amen.

Peace+

Gary

Here are the coordinates:

Thanks, Jared, for all the great pictures! You will mostly see Jared as a server - at least you will when we are back together...