the oriole - june 2010

8/9/2019 The Oriole - June 2010

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THE ORIOLE

Our Pastors MessageKeeping Your Word

I did an Internet search of the phraseKeeping your word. Here are a fewquotations I discovered:

From that iconic 20th-century humorist WillRogers: There's no trick to being ahumorist when you have the wholegovernment working for you.

Nikita Khrushchev, known more for banginghis shoe on the podium at the United

Nations than for his humour, noted:Politicians are the same all over. Theypromise to build bridges even when thereare no rivers.

Then from the Broadway play My Fair Lady:

Eliza Doolittle is courted by Freddy whowrites her love letters every day. ButEliza's response to all of his writtenpromises is frustration: Words! Words! I'mso sick of words! Don't talk of stars burningabove! If you're in love, show me! Don't

talk of love lasting through time. Make noundying vow. If you love me, show menow!

Oriole-York Mills United Church Newsletter June 2010

In this issue:

Our Pastors Message:Keeping Your Word ...1

Welcome and Thanks ...4

Council News ..4

Shop and Harvest Summer

Produce for Lansing FoodBank .........6

Kids M&S Art Contest 2010 Lets See Some OYM ArtWork ...7

I am the Good ShepherdWord Search ....8

Re-awakening the Spirit ..9

Lorne Rides Again ...........11

They Took My Home ButThey Cant Take My

Future .......11Thanks to Contributors ..13

New Way to Save Treesand Money .......13

Contributions and

Suggestions .....13Warm and Crafty...........14

Your OYM Calendar ....14

Contact OYM ......14


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If we admire people who keep their word, then we will resonate withElizas If you love me, show me now. Let me express her attitudeanother way. When we keep our word, we may mean many things butwe will mean at least the following:

1. We will do what we say we will do.Whether in business or in our personal lives, we want to be withpeople who do what they say. I dont remember my parents

making empty promises to me or to my brother and sister. I doremember they kept their word to me when they said I would begetting a bicycle for my birthday not a three-wheeler but my firsttwo-wheeler. That was a promise kept that I will never forget!Getting that bike meant I could trust my parents to keep their wordif they ever said they were going to do something.

2. When we keep our word, we show we are trustworthy anddependable.A father was playing with his little boy, repeatedly throwing him inthe air and catching him. The child was obviously relaxed andhaving a great time. Do it again! Do it again! he said.

A man who was watching asked the father: Can you explain whyhe's so relaxed, even when he's out of control?

It's very simple, the father said. We have a history together.We've played this game before, and I've never dropped him. Theson found his father to be dependable and worthy of his trust.

3. When we keep our word, we are showing respect and even lovetoward the other person. We are showing we value the integrity ofour relationships.

A student was looking for summer employment. She had two job

possibilities. One she wanted very much and the other she reallydidn't want but would take as a second choice.

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As you can guess, the second-choice job was offered first. Shewanted to hold out for her first choice but she didn't know if it would beoffered to her or to someone else. So she accepted her second-choice. A few days later, as you also could expect, the job she hadhoped for was offered to her. She wanted to quit the job she hadalready accepted and take the job she really wanted. So she went toher father.

Dad, I have a problem. She told him the situation.

He looked her straight in the eye:Did you take the first job offered to you? Yes.

Did you promise you would work there this summer? Yes.

Her father then said, Why are we having this conversation?

All of us want to associate with people who do what they say they will do,who are trustworthy and dependable, and who value our relationship withthem.

Let me commend Jesus Christ to you. Today, Jesus is the presence ofGod through his Holy Spirit for each one of us when we love and obeyhim. God is approachable through Jesus who keeps his word through hisHoly Spirit. When Jesus keeps his word, he means at least the following:

First, Jesus wants to do in our lives what he said he would do. Hewill do this in the midst of the personal situations in which we findourselves through his Holy Spirit within us.

Second, while he was on Earth, Jesus always showed his followershe was dependable and worthy of their trust. He is worthy of ourtrust too, even as we face anxious and troubled times. Again, for us,he expresses his trustworthiness through the Holy Spirit.

Then thirdly, through his Holy Spirit, Jesus shows his love andrespect for us even as we express our doubts and questions.

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He values our relationship with him and with his Father who is ourFather as well. Whats more he wants his relationship with us todeepen and to mature, whatever it takes.

Let me commend Jesus to you he is dependable, worthy of your trustand is Gods life of love for you as you seek to know God in your life. Youwill find him in the Bible, especially the four Gospels. If you would likefurther information, Id be delighted to help. Call me at 416-447-5941 or

check the churchs website at www.oymunitedchurch.net.

Blessings on your summer journey,

Chris Miller______________________________________________________________________

Welcome and Thanks

Welcome to recent new members of OYM: Heather and Peter Hall, Andyand Tom Noakes, and Rebecca and Quinn Sondermeyer. Our thanks goto the Adult Mentors of these recent confirmands: Ron Bloor, JohnBrooker, Jeff Noakes, Elda Scott, Lynn Watt, and Don Worth.

____________________________________________________________________

Council News

The first of a series of quarterly OYM financial reports was presented inthree successive Sunday service bulletins in May. On balance, we areholding our own with some encouraging signs of brighter times ahead.

Our local givings to March 31, 2010 amounted to $22,808 which is up 7%over the same period in 2009. Recalling that our 2010 goal is a 10%increase, I encourage one and all to augment your local givings in thecoming months to put us on track before the summer season begins.

OYM's operating deficit as of March 31st stood at $8,202 which is down

21% from the year-ago deficit of $10,460. Our cash on hand was$45,926 which is about two months of our average expenses. We also

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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have, however, some $8,000 in current liabilities which we need to clearin May.

Our attendance at OYM totaled 831 in the first four months of Sundays,compared to 829 a year ago. But it would be much better to seeeveryone attending more often on Sundays to share in the joy of worshipwhich Pastor Chris, Rev. Val, Derrick, John, and Carol are dedicated tomaking possible for us all.

Turning to maintenance and housekeeping and with Pedro's help, we arealso continuing in the coming months some essential repairs andrenovations to our facilities. A new and more robust tile floor has beeninstalled in the washroom on the northwest wall downstairs. Furtherimprovements are in the works for the walls of that washroom. Improved

security in the Middle Room has been made with the addition of newdoors and key-entry door knobs. Under Pedro's management, wecompleted a major clear out of the storage areas that we and our tenantsuse. We thereby reduced a number of fire hazards that had beencreated, among other benefits. Work is also about to begin on repaintingthe plaster walls and steel girders in Fellowship Hall.

Later this summer, we plan to replace some broken and cracked panes ofglass in the Sanctuary windows. Bearing in mind their historicalsignificance, we are trying to find a supplier who can provide similartextured glass. We are also going to obtain quotes for installing thermalpane glass in front of the stained glass windows to both improve thermal

efficiency and to protect the stained glass panes from damage.The Fellowship Hall, Middle Room, and washroom repairs andrenovations then lead to news of a new tenant. We are in the process ofwelcoming the North Toronto Learning and Playing Centre to OYM.Under the leadership of Marta Posada, who has extensive experience inrunning such centres, OYM's Fellowship Hall will become a beehive ofactivity for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. As of July 1st, this willinitially be in the mornings from Monday to Friday. At the same time, the

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program will provide mothers and nannies with respite and networkingopportunities in a quieter setting in the Middle Room. For more detailson the programs to be offered, please see the poster on the mainentrance bulletin board at OYM.

We are refreshing OYM's web site (www.oymunitedchurch.net) byintroducing a new series of blogs by Pastor Chris, based on hisexcellent sermons. Do take a look and join the discussion arising from

Miller's Musings. Also the web site now has available the Reflections onGod's Creation theme that was featured in our Advent services, excerptsfrom our magnificent Easter Cantata, and soon, highlights from this May'scelebration of the confirmation of faith of six of our youth.

Finally, the OYM Growth Task Force is making steady progress on

developing a plan of action for attracting new members to our midst. Ithas been meeting on a bi-weekly basis since OYMs most recent AnnualMeeting in February. We hope to provide a draft of the proposed plan tothe congregation in the coming month for discussion at a special meetingby early September.

Gerry Cooper_____________________________________________________________________

Shop and Harvest Summer Produce for Lansing Food Bank

Fellow gardeners have their seeds and seedlings planted! Farmers andmarket gardeners are tending growing produce just as many humble

gardeners are. Please shop and harvest fresh produce to donate to theLansing Food Bank again this year.

The best way to deliver this summer produce to the food bank is to deliverit yourself. In the summer Lansing Food Bank is on Thursday morningsat Lansing United Church (just west of Yonge and south of Sheppard).Your donation must be there by 8 am (they start setting up around 7 am).

On Sundays, please leave your summer produce in the fridge at OYM._____________________________________________________________________

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Kids M&S Art Contest 2010 Lets See Some OYM Artwork

Calling all kids 12 years and under in OYMs familyThe 2010 M&S Art contest theme is Helping Kids Around the

World. Sadly, some kids lives are affected by war. Some kids are hungry and suffer malnutrition. Kids still drink contaminated water when there is no

community well. Not all kids go to school. There may be no school. When

there is school it may be too far away. Parents may not be able topay or kids may have time-consuming chores, like fetching water.

How different life is for kids in Canada! A special M&S Fund

(called World Development and Relief) sends money toagencies improving the lives of kids affected by war, hunger,contaminated water, and no school.

Get arty kids and talk to your family about helping otherkids! When youre bored or its raining, think about helping kids

around the world and the M&S Fund rainbow colours. If yourestuck, ask Mom or Dad, or anyone else around, for ideas to getyou started with your artwork.

Winner receives $100 and the winning entry goes on a 2010 bulletin cover.

Top 3 entries will be framed and hung in the United Church of CanadaGeneral Office (UC).

Top 10 entries will be posted on the UC website.

Top 50 entries will be displayed for one week in the UC General Office.

ARTWORK SENT TO UC WILL NOT BE RETURNEDCopies of all OYM entries will be displayed at OYMS Homecoming Lunch on

Sunday September 19th

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Artwork for this M&S Art contest can be in crayon, pencil, pencil crayon,paint, marker and pastel. Maximum size of entries is 12 x 16 inches.

Entry forms are at the OYM office and require parentalrelease. These entry forms must be attached to back ofartwork. Submission by Friday September 24th.

Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents,Great Aunts and Great Uncles, over the summer please encourage all

youngsters 12 years old and under in your family to get their crayons,markers, and paints, or other art materials out for this art contest. Talk tothem about other kids around the world needing help and the M&S Fund.

_____________________________________________________________________

I am The Good Shepherd Word Search Copyright Sermons4Kids, Inc

Find the hidden words down, across, and diagonally.

Q M F Q H K F V L E Y W P L SG G Q N L J B D L T S K O E OO S X Q O I G S I V Y H H L NO H E T O Z S R W A T P E B F

D E F N L U O T W P H L E E JC P V A S H W A E J Q I E N PD H A V T A V S S N T C R I QK E D U A H K D R Y I G U E WN R A Z K C E T Z O W E E O DO D T U A V J R V H V H U X F

W L F T X J Z B I L O V E S LN M T Y C A R E S I H S H S OX A F Y J B K R P F A L H G CS C A T T E R S P E N U Q C KN U R U N S P P W H D O O V E

attacks

authority

away

caresfatherflock

Good

handhired

know

lifelistenloves

pen

runs

scatterssheepShepherd

voice

wolf

OYM is the Church of the Good Shepherd. Read about the GoodShepherd in the Bible (John 10: 11-18) and talk to your family about whatJesus meant when he said, I am the Good Shepherd.

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Re-Awakening the Spirit

Lynn Watt provides news of forthcoming workshops

The United Church seeks to transform its historical legacy to that of anequal and just partnership in healing the church and the world in the Spirit

of Christ, with active partnership of Aboriginal Peoples of the UnitedChurch of Canada.

From the minutes of the meeting of Executive of General Council,Quebec City, November 15-17, 2008

The vision of transformation to a renewed relationship with AboriginalPeoples will be realized through the dedication of Conferences,congregations and individuals across the country. In turn, it is individuals,congregations, the Church and society that will be rewarded by thecultural and spiritual enrichment, honour and dignity a renewedrelationship brings.

Making this goal a reality is a mission that has been entrusted to groupswithin each Conference of the United Church nationwide. TorontoConference is fulfilling its commitment through the work of the Living into

Right Relations Circle, a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoplewho have come together to build bridges of understanding between thetwo cultures.

Recognizing that education is the best tool that we as a society have toovercome misunderstandings and misconceptions about another culture,

the Living into Right Relations Circle is holding a series of educationaland cultural events. These events called, Re-awakening the Spirit, willgive Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people an opportunity to cometogether in a shared learning experience.

Themes for the workshops are the teachings of the Medicine Wheel andthe Sacred Grandfather Teachings and the Impact of Colonialism and the

Residential School System. Workshops will be led by Aboriginal elders.

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The series is made up of three events, with each event consisting ofworkshops extending over a two-day period. Events are open to all.

The schedule for events is as follows:

Sept. 18-19, 2010 Georgina Island, Lake Simcoe, Chippewas ofGeorgina Island Community Centre

Oct. 16-17, 2010 Toronto, Council Fire Native Cultural Centre,439 Dundas Street East

Nov. 13-14, 2010 Toronto, Council Fire Native Cultural Centre,439 Dundas Street East

The Highlights from the Report of the Royal Commission on AboriginalPeoples tells us that we all have a part to play in arriving at a newrelationship so that, we can look forward to a Canada that celebrates

Aboriginal heritage and draws strength from Aboriginal peoples as fullpartners in a renewed federation.

OYM will be holding an appeal in support of this United Church initiativeover three Sundays this fall (September 12th, September 19th andSeptember 26th). Those wishing to do so, should donate to Re-

awakening the Spirit using the regular church envelope. This appealwill lead up to a First Nations worship service on Sunday September 26th.The theme of this worship service will be, The Good Road OurPartnership with First Nations.

As we work together with United Church Conferences across the country,we will realise the vision of our Church and the hope of the leaders of theShuswap people who wrote to Sir Wilfrid Laurier a century ago,

We will make each other good and great.

Chimiigwech Thank You

For further information, including registration, please contact Linda

Parsons at 905 809-7194 or [email protected].___________________________________________________________________

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Lorne Rides Again

Last year the Ride to Conquer Cancer raised $14.5 million. LorneMacLean and his friends were on that ride. With the help of OYM folk,they raised $13,000. Now Lorne and his friends are riding again on theroute from Toronto to Niagara Falls on the weekend of June 12/13.

Money raised from the event will provide funding for cancer research atthe Campbell Family Institute of the Princess Margaret Hospital. In oneway or another cancer has touched or burdened each of our lives. Lornewrites, It will take continued effort and dedication to truly conquer cancer.Thats why Im riding again in 2010!

Lorne continues, Whether you would consider donating to support me, tomemorialise a lost loved one, to create a better future, or for another

personal reason, the end result is the same: to conquer cancer in ourlifetime I hope youll be generous once again I hope youll considerhelping to get us closer to conquering cancer in 2010.

You can make a donation in support of Lornes Ride to Conquer Cancerat http://to10.conquercancer.ca. Go to Donate Now with your credit card, thenFind a Participant and put in Lorne MacLean to proceed. Otherwise, contactLorne!

_____________________________________________________________________

They Took My Home But They Can't Take My Future

World Refugee Day is Sunday June

20

th

in 2010. The United Nations HighCommission for Refugees chose the2010 theme They took my HOME butthey cant take my FUTURE.

Losing one's home can mean losingone's very identity. As refugees flee

persecution and conflict, they lose theirhome and all that this entails - family,

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friends, work, community and culture. But despite the enormous loss,suffering and at times sense of alienation when confronted with an

uncertain future, refugees never give up their dream to rebuild their livesand have a better future. Their hope, courage and perseverance shouldbe an inspiration to all of us.

While most refugees want to go home, some cannot safely return (likeDVRRs Khasim family, originally from Palestine). Wherever they are,

refugees will always strive to pick up the pieces and start over. Thecourage and determination demonstrated during their darkest hours willserve them well in rebuilding a new life. On World Refugee Day (SundayJune 20th), let us honour them for these qualities and recognise therichness and diversity they bring to our societies.

World Refugee Day events in Toronto are shown below.Date Toronto Events VenueFridayJune 11th

Music and Arts Festivities toCelebrate Refugee Artists

Creasians Restaurant3 Gerrard St. East5:30 to 8:30 pm

Saturday/Sunday

June19th-20th

UNHCR Flag Raising Toronto City HallNathan Philip Square

SundayJune 20th

World Refugee Day incollaboration with Luminato -Toronto Festival of Arts, Cultureand Creativity

Reading of World Refugee DayProclamation, Awards

Ceremony for UNHCR COSTIRefugees & Human RightsChildren/Youth Poetry Contest

Winners, World Music Celebration

Queen's Park North, locatedat Queen's Park Cres.East and Wellesley St.Eastfrom noon - 6:00 pm

WednesdayJune 23rd

Turtle House Art/Play CentreConcert

Trinity-St. Paul 's Centre427 Bloor St. W.at 7:00 pm

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Thanks to Contributors

Thanks to the following for contributions for this issue:

Gerry Cooper Council News (page 4)

Lynn Watt Re-awakening the Spirit (page 7)

Lorne MacLean Lorne Rides Again (page 11)__________________________________________________________________

Save Trees and Money

You can save trees and save OYM money at the same time by readingThe Oriole online at OYMs website , underAbout OYM. The older way, but still a good way, to save trees and saveOYM money at the same time is to receive The Oriole in pdf format. For

either option, please send an email specifying your choice toThe Oriole '.

If not going the online or pdf route, you can help to save some trees byleaving Oriole envelopes for re-use for the next edition of The Oriole.Envelopes left from the last Oriole will be used for this edition. Please

leave unwanted envelopes in the box provided in the narthex.

__________________________________________________________________________

Contributions and Suggestions

Contributions and suggestion for future issues of The Oriole are

welcome from all readers.

Please get your contributions and suggestions to The Oriole by one ofthe three following ways:

sending an email (The Oriole ), leaving a message in the slot for The Oriole in the office, or

talking to Moira Mancer.

____________________________________________________________________

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Warm and Crafty

Think warm this summer for the women and children who have to flee toNorth York Womens Shelter. Even while its hot outside, get craftymaking warm toques, mitts, scarves and socks for these women andchildren in preparation for White Gift Sunday in Advent.

Please knit while you natter, crochet in the car (but not when driving), and

sew in solitude, or any combination, to help the women and children atNorth York Womens Shelter.

_____________________________________________________________________

Your OYM Calendar

Coming Sunday Worship Services and Events

Sunday June 20th Worship Service at Lifestyles

(Fathers Day and World Refugee Day)

Sunday June 27th Sundays Cool Closing* July Sundays Rev. Val. leading worship services some

may be outdoors with Cedarhurst residents* August Sundays Pastor Chris leading worship services

Message Theme: PsalmsSunday September 19th Homecoming Sunday combined with

Good-bye to Pedro de Pablo afterWorship Service

Sunday September 26th

First Nations Worship Service* For Pastoral Care during July and August please contact the ministerleading Sunday worship services that month or the church office.

Contact OYM: Oriole-York Mills United Church2609 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M2L 1B5Phone: 416-447-5941 Email: [email protected]

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the oriole - june 2010

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