Archive
Working with our Neighbours!
After the Annual Vestry in February, we put together a small working group to answer the question asked by our Diocese: “What unmet needs exist in our local community, and how might we help?”
We realised that we really did not know the answer, and that we would have to take some time to explore it. We listed many possible options, among which there was an idea to talk to Shanty Bay Public School. Initially we thought that perhaps they could help us find some answers to our question, but as our discussions with them progressed, a very exciting thing happened. We found that they were already engaged in a program designed to help kids discover areas of real need in which they felt passionate about helping. We went to an event in the school gym and had the chance to visit about twenty different booths where the students were presenting their projects, displaying what they had achieved in the year. It was more than exciting. It was inspiring! Here were kids in our community making a difference in the community and in the world on important issues. Among these inspiring children was Debi and Scott’s grand daughter, Maeve, who had chosen to work on recycling of plastics from pens that currently end up in our landfill sites. You may remember that we asked her to talk to us one Sunday this summer about her project and the Change Agent Program.
As we talked with the school staff, a wonderful thing happened. They told us that the program had had such an impact that the number of students was exploding so fast that they did not have enough staff to work with the students, guiding them on their projects. It seemed that we had found the answer to our question. We had found a very important place in our community where some vital unmet needs existed, and our Working Group enthusiastically responded to this opportunity.
And so, if you were to wander in to Shanty Bay Public School on the appropriate day each week, you might find Michael and Debi, perhaps sitting on the floor in a downstairs corridor, surrounded by their teams of students, asking questions and making suggestions and challenges. Along the corridor a little way you might find Shari and myself similarly engaged. In the school gym, you might find the rest of the seventy odd students who have been challenged and inspired by an amazing staff team to make their difference in the world. At the other end of the school, Sharren was meeting with a group of grade seven and eights who have committed to be part of the Out of the Cold program, where we provide a hot dinner to fourty of the homeless people that are part of the Busby Center community. On November 10 Sharren will be working with them in the school kitchen to cook a dinner of grilled sausages, mashed potatoes, and roasted Fall vegetables, and later on in February Davina will work with them similarly. In one of our other areas of ministry, Sandwich Sunday, Jan is exploring how a team of students might help there.
There are even more ideas where we might be of help. Ted has suggested that the O’Brian House might be somewhere that students could make a real difference in people’s lives, and he is exploring that idea.
It is hard to be involved in this program and not to come away at the end of the afternoon feeling that we are indeed helping a little, not only in working on important needs today, but also in helping children discover how they can impact their world both now and in years to come.
Shanty Bay School is a place where it is easy to see and to feel Love, and it is our privilege to be included in their circle. Michael and Norm were the first ones to explore this partnership. They came back to us to report, and finished this way: “Where were teachers like this when we were at school?”
Glyn Morris
Out Of Cold Program
For many years St Thomas has been a part of the Out of the Cold program. Barrie Out of the Cold provides safe, respectful and welcoming overnight accommodation and meals to the homeless from November to April.
The Vestries (annual parish meetings) in 2016 all throughout the Diocese of Toronto of the Anglican Church of Canada responded to the "Calls to Action" issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by accepting a motion to commit ourselves to implementing the recommendations and policies for reconciliation. The congregation of St. Thomas also accepted this particular challenge and a small group took upon themselves to bring together a 4 part series of events in 2017 in order to raise awareness about and honour the rich cultural heritage of the Indigenous People of Canada.
This report above - written by one of the organizers, Susan Woods - recalls and describes the well-attended events between February and May, and it names some of the "measurable fruits" of this very successful project.
A huge THANK YOU goes to the organizers, speakers, facilitators and all the participants who turned out to support the continuing process of finding out the truth (even if it hurts) and finding a way forward to reconcile the indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of Canada.
Rev. Sándor Borbély
Click here for the Fall issue St.Thomas Times 2016
Edited by Susan Woods
Click here for the Spring issue St.Thomas Times 2016
Edited by Susan Woods
Interfaith Dialogue and the Golden Rule
by Rev. Sandor
by Rev. Sandor
Christmas 2015
by Rev. Sandor
Click here for the Winter issue St.Thomas Times 2015
Edited by Susan Woods
Soul Training For Christmas
by Rev. Sandor
Visioning Exercise And Follow Up
by Rev. Sandor
22nd Annual Oro-Medonte 2015 Art And Craft Tour
by Rev. Sandor
Reminder For Somersett Concert
by Rev. Sandor
Concert In The Village
by Rev. Sandor
Back to Church Sunday, Sept. 27th at St. Thomas' Shanty Bay
by Rev. Sandor
Back to regular service times and Announcements
by Rev. Sandor
Click here for the Fall issue St.Thomas Times 2015
Edited by Susan Woods
Click here for the Spring issue St.Thomas Times 2015
Edited by Susan Woods
Summer Service Time and Announcements
by Rev. Sandor
St Thomas Times Spring 2012
