News!

September 29, 2021

Session has agreed that Proof of Full Vaccination is required of everyone older than age 12 who wishes to attend worship on Sundays.

If you make a reservation online, you'll be asked if you are fully vaccinated. This is effective immediately. When you enter the building for the first time, your Vaccination Receipt and ID will be checked. On future Sundays you will still indicate on your reservation form that you are fully vaccinated. If you make your reservation by phone, please include your vaccination status in your message.

We will continue to follow the advice of Toronto Public Health and exercise precautions inside the building. That includes opening windows and doors to achieve the best ventilation possible. We know that means the sanctuary may be chilly. Please bring a jacket or sweater.

This news may be a little confusing. You may have heard that churches have been exempted from the provincial requirement for Proof of Full Vaccination at gathering places. We are joining with churches and temples around the province in choosing to impose this requirement. The Province of Ontario's decision to exempt places of worship does not reflect the fact that religious gatherings without restrictions have proven to be sources of infection.

We delayed opening for services because we believe, "Because we can doesn't mean we must." At this time we are saying, "Because we don't have to doesn't mean we won't."

COMMUNION ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3

We will observe World Communion Day with a celebration of Holy Communion on Sunday, October 3, on Zoom, at 11:30 a.m.

Session has decided that we are not prepared, yet, to have a Communion service in the sanctuary. Toronto Public Health guidelines still discourage communion services with more than a very few people. Our communion plates and trays are still in storage, and our kitchen isn't ready for prep or cleanup. More important are our ongoing concerns for spreading infection, even with greatly altered methods of serving the bread and cups.

The 10:00 service will proceed as usual. It will be like an old-fashioned Preparatory Service before the Communion Service. The service will be cut a little short to allow time for those who wish to participate to get home, get some bread and juice ready, and sign in to Zoom. The Zoom link will be our usual Coffee Hour link.

Thank you for your continued co-operation and patience as we navigate our way through COVID-time.

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

In conjunction with the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, we will enter a Glenview team in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Our goal will be to raise funds for our Special Fund and the ministries it supports: ARISE, Boarding Homes Ministry, Cariboo (BC) Ministry, Evangel Hall, Native Child and Family Services Toronto, and Portland Place.

“Team Glenview” has 11 team members who run or walk a Marathon, 10K and 5K, either virtually on their own terms or at the in-person event.

If you are interested in supporting Glenview’s team with a donation, please go to Glenview’s fundraising page:

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/48139/2021-scotiabank-toronto-waterfront-marathon/fundraising-organization/31692. If you wish to donate to a Glenview team member, please scroll down to "Teams" and click on "Glenview Presbyterian Church".

Glenview will be issuing all donation receipts. For those who have a Glenview envelope number, the Scotiabank Marathon donation will be included on the year-end charitable receipt issued by Glenview. For those who don't have a Glenview number, Glenview will issue and send a receipt. 

If you have any questions, please contact Natalie. 

Honouring the Children: A new Presbyterian Church Fund

In response to the devastating confirmation of unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools, and in honour of the children who were lost and all people living with the consequences of that legacy, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has established the Honouring the Children: Reconciliation and Residential Schools Fund. This fund will support initiatives associated with searches for unmarked burial sites in communities where schools were operated by The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

This work begins with listening. We continue to live out the covenants made in the 1994 Confession, be led by the principles articulated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and seek the guidance of Indigenous people and affected communities. Responses may include searching for graves, responding to trauma and supporting healing initiatives. All work will complement efforts to address systemic racism against Indigenous people, both in the church and Canadian society, and the ongoing healing and reconciliation work being done in the ministries of the National Indigenous Ministries Council.

To begin, the church has committed $1 million from national funds and invites congregations and individuals to make additional contributions to this important work.

Donate directly to the fund online through the button below. If you wish to make a contribution through Glenview, please clearly designate your gift as “Honouring the Children PCC”. Thank you!

THE HUNT IS ON!

Scavenger Hunt on Glenview’s lawn!

Starting from this Friday, June 11th, children and young families are warmly invited to a Scavenger Hunt on Glenview’s lawn.

Please go to the office door (in the driveway behind the building) to find all the necessary information and the first clue. The 10 clues will lead you through the story of Joseph, and will also include simple activities.

You will do the Scavenger Hunt on your own, whenever you like. The clues will be taped to doors, trees etc. Nothing needs to be touched. Basically, you will take a walk around the church!

The clues will be removed at the end of June. If you find any clues missing or damaged, please let Natalie know as soon as possible.

Have fun!

Good Friday Service

The link to the service will be on our homepage, too.

Maundy Thursday Devotions

Maundy Thursday Devotions

Apr 1, 2021 07:00 PM

Join the Gathering

Meeting ID: 860 9059 3199

Passcode: 646722

Dial in:

647 558 0588

647 374 4685

Virtual Easter Egg Colouring Party

Have you already thought about your Easter eggs this year?

Join Glenview’s virtual Easter Egg Colouring Party in the afternoon of Palm Sunday, March 28th,from 4:00-5:30pm!

It will be an online open house

– if you need to come late or leave early, that will be fine.

You may want to boil your eggs first.

Then, we can dye and decorate our Easter eggs together. This will be an event for ALL ages. More information will be shared closer to the date.

If you have any questions, please email Natalie Jahn.

Glenview's Virtual Palm Parade

Join Glenview’s virtual Palm Parade on Palm Sunday, March 28th, at 11:30am! ALL ages are welcome as we sing and wave our palm leaves together.

Starting from 10:45am, a Zoom room will be open for everyone who is interested in making palm leaves together. Just drop in whenever you like.

Alternatively, you can make your own palm leaves

or bring anything else you would like to use instead.

More information will be shared in the next couple of weeks.

If you have any questions, please email Natalie Jahn.

Glenview in the Grey Zone

GLENVIEW IN THE GREY ZONE

Session's COVID Task Force met Tuesday March 9 and draws the following to your attention.

• The Stay at Home Order has been lifted, but there will be little change in Glenview's current practice regarding work on the premises as long as Toronto remains in the Grey Zone. Until further notice all work that can be done at home must be done at home. Come to the building only if a task can't be completed remotely.

• Peter may come to the building alone to record music. No other rehearsal or recording will be allowed.

• Entry and exit protocols will continue, but if there is someone working in the church office when you arrive, please enter by the North Door. There will be a check-in book there for your use on such occasions.

• Continue to inform Laurence in advance when you intend to be on the premises. If you will be there when James is onsite (Sunday - Thursday), inform him also. He can let you know if you need to enter by the North Door and make sure it's open for you.

• Wear a mask at all times inside the building. We will issue an update if there is any adjustment to masking requirements. (Some workplaces now require three-layer masks.)

• If you're eligible, we encourage you to make an appointment to be vaccinated as soon as you can. Note that a vaccine will be available to people aged 60 to 64 in many pharmacies soon. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/select-ontario-rexall-costco-locations-already-booking-appointments-for-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccines-1.5341157. https://www.rexall.ca/covid-19/ontario-vaccine Shoppers Drug Mart requires registration by phone at individual pharmacies. Full list of pharmacies in Toronto: https://www.cp24.com/news/here-is-the-full-list-of-toronto-pharmacies-taking-covid-19-vaccination-appointments-1.5341023

Next Meeting of Task Force April 6.

Flash Fundraiser: Purdys Chocolates for Easter!

Glenview Presbyterian Church Easter Campaign

Show your love for your family, friends and your Church by sharing Purdys Chocolates this Easter!

Orders must be placed by March 18th. Shipments will be delivered to the home of Shannon Wiggan, 48 Blyth Hill Road, on Monday, March 29th.

People can pick their orders up at 48 Blyth Hill Road at pre-arranged, staggered times. If you are unable to pick up your order in person, volunteers will be arranged to deliver your purchase to your home, the days of Mar. 30/31st, or April 1st. All people will be required to wear masks, whether picking up, or delivering.

Email invites to support the campaign have been sent out. The fundraiser is being promoted here, in our Friday email. and during "Coffee Hour" on March 14th. Share this campaign with your family and friends! Who doesn’t love chocolate at Easter?

-Glenview supporters go to http://www.fundraising.purdys.com -Click on the "Support" button -Then at the top, enter our Customer Number 59012 in the box that asks for the number associated with the campaign. -You will be asked to enter your email address, and create a password for your Purdy's Account -You will then be asked to “Join A Campaign,” and the Glenview Presbyterian Church Easter Campaign page will pop up. -You click on the menu bars at the centre of the page, and there is a "shop online” option. -You may pick from a number of delicious treats on the order form, or use the Market Place button to view all of the items. Add what you want to your cart, check your order with the “Check Cart” button, and then submit your payment information online in the checkout.

Contact Shannon Wiggan at swigga0860@yahoo.ca to arrange for pick-up of your order on either Tuesday, March 30th, or Wednesday March 31st. We will do our best to arrange for the delivery of your order if you cannot make it to Shannon Wiggan’s home.

Annual Congregational Meeting March 21

Our ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held on Sunday, March 21st , beginning at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be online, on Zoom. Full instructions for participating in the meeting, and important information you will need before the meeting will be distributed next week.

Christmas Eve at Glenview

Christmas Eve Service

December 24, 7:00 p.m.

Our service will be hosted on Zoom and (if technology cooperates) be live on Facebook and YouTube. It will be a combination of live and recorded content. The complete recording will be available on our website and YouTube channel as soon as possible.

Music that our musicians have been busy recording for several weeks will be the highlights of the service.

The service will conclude with lighting the Christ Candle. You are invited to have a white candle-- a fresh one if possible-- so we can all light the candle together to signify Christ's birth.

We can uphold the spirit of our Christmas Eve celebration, though we'll miss the splendour of our traditional service.

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 860 2118 7804

Passcode: 372089

Dial in

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647 558 0588 Local Call

Meeting ID: 860 2118 7804

Passcode: 372089

Santa Claus is Coming to Glenview!

Santa Claus is coming to Glenview!

On Friday, Dec 18 at 5pm, Santa Claus will be zooming in from the North Pole!

Bruce Templeton, author and philanthropist assisted Santa Claus for the past 42 years in more than 1500 visits with children. With his visits, Bruce brings joy and hope to children during the Christmas season. For his volunteer work he was invested in the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in January 2020.

He is very proud of how children are dealing with the current situation of COVID-19, and he’s looking forward to meeting with them virtually this year!

Part of the Zoom conversation will be a Santa Claus lesson. This Zoom conversation will be designed for children, but EVERYONE is invited to attend!

Please share this event with your friends and families – all are welcome!

We will send out the Zoom link in time for the visit!

Bet you didn’t know Santa is Presbyterian! When he’s not ‘way up north he worships at Saint Andrew’s in St. John’s.



Advent Study!

Advent Study!

Plan to participate in our three-session Zoom event.

On Wednesday, December 2 –

There’s Something About Mary

with Natalie

On December 9 –

How do you love a cousin who’s hard to like?

(John the Baptist)

with Laurence

On December 16 –

The REAL Old Saint Nick

with Laurence

All sessions on Wednesday at 7:00.

Watch for the Zoom link.

Photo by Billy Huynh on Unsplash

Update November 25

On November 24 Glenview Session decided that there will be no worship services in the building "until further notice". This means there is no date for resuming services in sight. Some of the current restrictions for gatherings in Toronto will end on or around December 21. At this time it is likely they will be renewed. Others have no end date. For the first time the limits on gatherings apply in full to places of worship. No more than ten people are allowed to gather for religious ceremonies, indoors or outdoors.

If restrictions are lifted in late December it will still be impossible to prepare on site services for Christmas Eve. Preparations are well underway for Christmas worship online. Advent programs are set to begin.

For any foreseeable future, the church must live online.

Our online worship provisions are evolving. We're learning as we go. Those who participate find it a worthwhile experience.

We rely heavily on Zoom. I know some of you are afraid to use Zoom on your computers or devices. It is proven to be safe. It can be uninstalled after each use and reinstalled for each meeting. If you choose not to participate in a Zoom meeting, or you don't have a camera and microphone on your computer, you can phone in via a local number. You can even do that while you're watching on your computer screen.

I'll say it again: As far as worship, gatherings, and programs are concerned, the church must live online. Our website is now the hub of our congregational life.

Please read the following information carefully, and share it with others you may know are not online.

GLENVIEW CHRISTMAS FAIR will go ahead, online. There will be an online store, through which you can view all items for sale and see how many are available. You can easily purchase online through a secure platform, Shopify. You can pay online. You can also choose to pay by cheque when you pick up your purchases. Or pay by e-transfer to Glenview.

We will announce when the online store is open. It will be linked through our website. Pick-up days will also be announced, when curbside delivery will be available. We can also provide contactless delivery if necessary. Sale dates and times will be announced soon in another email, on our website, by word of mouth, and other advertising. Please support your congregation by participating in the sale and recommending it to your family and friends.

2020 OFFERING ENVELOPES are available now. They will be mailed to regular users who we know can't access other ways to give. Mailing envelopes is a costly endeavour. If you would like to receive your envelopes by mail, please email or call the Church Office. Please consider an extra contribution of $10 to help with the cost of postage.

If you haven't already done so, please consider 1) enrolling in Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) or 2) contributing onIine through Canada Helps or 3) submitting your contribution via Interac e-Transfer. Instructions are on our website, right there on the Home Page. You can, of course, mail cheques to the church or drop a securely sealed envelope through the mail slot in the office door (in the driveway behind the building).

Thank you for your generosity through this strange and troubling time. We've been doing well, though we're well behind meeting our budget. Offerings in October have declined. This may be due to COVID fatigue, or an assumption that Glenview's expenses are down due to the shutdown. Please remember that your church lives on. Bills and salaries must still be paid. Staff work hard to make sure ministry is available to everyone.

ACCESS TO THE BUILDING is restricted to Staff, and they are expected to work at home whenever possible. If you need to come to the building, even if it's just a stop at the door, please arrange a time tin advance. If possible, give 24 hours' notice. Monday through Thursday email or call the Church Office (office@glenviewchurch.ca and copy to james@glenviewchurch.ca). On Friday, access is further limited. Call the office, even if you were in touch on Thursday. If you pass by on Sunday you may notice that James is in the building. He has work to do, including cleaning areas that are occupied by others during the week.

God is with us in this challenging time. Advent begins with words of hope. Our hope isn't dependent on what we can see, or even imagine. It'd not diminished by current circumstance. It springs from the faithfulness of God.

Please remember our Staff in your prayers: Natalie, Jim, Linda, Andrea. James, Peter, Cameron, Parker, Donna, and our new Soprano Section Leader Juiana. They're all at work to sustain Glenview's ministry and mission.

Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

Portland Place Christmas Stockings

One thing we’ll miss this year is our Advent Festival, where we’ve decorated handmade stockings for our friends at Portland Place. Another thing we’ll miss is filling them! This year we’ll fill handmade mini-stockings with Loblaw’s gift cards. There’s a Loblaw’s across the street from Portland Place.

The best way for us to gather the cards is through a bulk order to Fundscrip. Each little sock will hold a $50 gift card. You can contribute by dropping off a cheque, made out to the church, or by e-transfer to bookkeeper@glenviewchurch.ca. Be sure to add a note directing your donation to Gift Cards for Portland Place. (Ordering the cards from Fundscrip means Glenview will receive back 3% of the purchase.)

Fundscrip for Christmas 2020

Fundscrip is one of Glenview’s most effective fundraisers, contributing more than $27,000 since we began to work with them. We have 39 supporters and more are welcome! In COVID time we can’t order and pick up our cards from Shannon. We can still buy our cards online and have them sent directly to us. Fundscrip will pay the postage on orders of up to five cards, adding up to $200 to $500. We can also pay for them through ETF or online bill payment. That saves the premium charged for credit card purchases.

1. Go to the Fundscrip website.

2. Enter Glenview’s Group Invitation Code: ESSDHX

3. Enter your name and email address, choose a password, add your postal code and telephone number

4. Agree to the Terms and Conditions

5. Click Support a Group

The Fundscrip site is easy to navigate. You can set up a profile that includes arrangements for payment.

You’ll see Current Promotions first. These are businesses that have temporarily increased the rebate to Glenview. For example, the Ultimate Dining Card, good for 16 chain restaurants (including Swiss Chalet!) gives us 7% of the value of each card, rather then the usual 5%. Many businesses offer an eGift option, which you can use yourself or send to a grateful recipient.

Gift cards make great gifts! You can also buy them to use for regular purchases and support your church every time you shop.

Services at Glenview Suspended

We will NOT worship in our building on Sunday

Once again, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will not worship together "live" for some time. The return to what amounts to a modified Phase Two in Toronto doesn't prevent congregations gathering.

We are exercising an over-abundance of caution in response to current circumstances. Toronto's Chief Medical Officer has recommended that we avoid all gathering places and stay at home as much as we can.

We don't believe it is appropriate for us to invite anyone to leave their home on Sunday morning. We don't want to put anyone at risk. We've met or exceeded all precautions in order to worship in our building the past three Sundays. Recent announcements regarding conditions in the city, and especially in Midtown / North Toronto are of grave concern. Session will resume discussion of opening the building for services at its November meeting.

We will concentrate on providing the best resources possible for worship on this website.

Virtual Communion on Sunday

For Worldwide Communion 2020 it's fitting that we remember the first Virtual Communion was Lunar-Terrestrial. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin rested, waiting for the word to leave the Lunar Module, Aldrin radioed Houston and said, “I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, wherever and whomever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his own individual way.”

Then Aldrin unwrapped a package he'd been given permission to carry with him. He brought out bread and wine. He invited Armstrong to join with him, but he declined. He participated by watching as Aldrin read John 15:5 and Psalm 8:3,4. Then Aldrin celebrated the first Virtual Communion, as everyone at the control centre in Houston observed a time of silence.

Buzz Aldrin is a Presbyterian Elder. He got a blessing, and a Communion kit, from his Minister. It was the best way Aldrin could imagine to commemorate the significance of what his colleague called, "One small step for a man. One giant leap for mankind."

For some of us our first Virtual Communion in June was a bit of a leap. Still, we appreciated the experience of community, whether it was live or recorded. On Sunday we will take a few moments at the beginning of Coffee Hour to share in Communion. What does it matter if we are in a church building, at home, or even on the moon? we will be together.

If you would like to participate, please have some bread and a beverage (wine, juice, water, or whatever you like to savour) and follow the service. Laurence will preside from his home.

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 847 4865 0398

Password: 547282

Dial by your location

       647 374 4685

       647 558 0588

Fall Bible Study on Zoom

OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPTS OF GOD

A six-session study on Zoom

beginning Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m.

Led by Natalie and Laurence

How is God named in the Old Testament?

Is the Old Testament God the same as the Christian God?

Is God a Mother AND a Father?

AND MORE!

Zoom Invitation

Glenview Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Old Testament Concepts of God

Time: Sep 30, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

       Every week on Wed, 6 occurrence(s)

       Sep 30, 2020 07:00 PM

       Oct 7, 2020 07:00 PM

       Oct 14, 2020 07:00 PM

       Oct 21, 2020 07:00 PM

       Oct 28, 2020 07:00 PM

       Nov 4, 2020 07:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 872 0840 5486

Passcode: 273918

One tap mobile

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Dial by your location

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Meeting ID: 872 0840 5486

Passcode: 273918