upcoming services, events and social justice initiatives
ESG Community News May 5, 2022
Read on to learn more about upcoming services, events, online gatherings and outreach initiatives at ESG.
COVID Response Team Update
ESG will no longer check for proof of vaccination as people enter for worship. Our practice of checking for proof of vaccination was welcomed when introduced back in September 2021, and provided a sense of safety for all attending worship services. However, this virus has changed and dual vaccination no longer provides as much protection against the virus spread. We ask individuals to continue to assess their own risk factors when deciding whether or not to attend church in person and we strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated, including booster doses, as they become eligible.
Toronto Public Health reminds us that masks "protect ourselves and one another." Our Covid response team asks that we maintain masks/ face coverings requirements upon entry for worship, weddings, and funerals. This requirement will be reviewed monthly and updated information sent out as the public health situation shifts. The province has extended the mask mandate for specific locations such as public transit, long term care homes and hospital settings. We are keeping a close eye on hospitalizations and ICU admissions to inform our decisions.
Our commitment is to balance creating enriching in-person worship experiences with our duty of care for all – our seniors, parents, grandparents, children, and young people.
What to expect for in-person worship?
We choose to continue to require the now well-understood, recommended practice of wearing masks.
While we strongly encourage everyone eligible to become fully vaccinated, you will no longer be required to present proof of vaccination to attend worship services.
Our Greeters will welcome you, help you find a spot in the Sanctuary, and answer any questions you have.
If you enjoy having the music with you during the service, there will be hymn books available.
Online live-streamed church is still a great option.
We are grateful to offer this alternative to those who may not yet be vaccinated, may not yet feel ready to return, preferring to 'go to church' whenever and wherever they wish or have become comfortable with the virtual alternative. Thanks to our talented Ministerial team, musicians, volunteer members, and producer, Bryan Estabrooks, make this possible each week.
We look forward to being together in person and online, to gather for events like the annual picnic and the Town Hall in June as the ESG community!
In the spirit of community,
Maggie
Sunday Worship: May 8 at 10:30 am
This Sunday we celebrate Baptism with two families; the dads are brothers, and all the kids are first cousins. Join us in worship on this exciting morning!
In our scripture reading this Sunday, Paul and Silas are in jail. The door opens and although the prisoners could escape they stay. The guard wakes up and is afraid that he will be punished for his failure to maintain the integrity of the jail cell and its prisoners. Paul calls out to him, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all still here.”
In CMHA's Mental Health Week that declaration of presence changes the world for people. Who has been there for you? Who are you there for?
Paul is preaching and Don is our liturgist.
The service will be available to watch at 10:30 am or anytime after using the following links:
watch on Esgunited.org/live
watch on Facebook
listen by phone at 416-619-4717 (after 12 pm)
Coffee Hour at 11:30 am
After the service, enjoy conversation with friends on Zoom, beginning at 11:30 am, with breakout rooms opening at 11:40 am.
listen by phone 647-558-0588 (use meeting ID 915 093 5461 and password: 976881 )
Children's Ministry at ESG
Children's Ministry In-Person Program at 10:30 am
Join Kate in the gym for a story, crafts and games. For more information, please contact Kate Littler, our Children’s Ministry Coordinator,
Online Sunday school lesson will also continue each week with a story and craft. You can watch and share with your family on ESG’s Facebook page. Episodes are available at 9 am on Sundays.
Youth Ministry
Connect with friends each week to enjoy fun, food, and conversation with the ESG United Church youth group! Aidan Legault, ESG’s Youth Leader, hosts a gathering for youth every Sunday from 11 am to 12 pm. This is a safe space where all are welcome to share in the learning and the laughs. The group is returning to meeting in-person at the church, while maintaining flexibility in case a temporary switch to Zoom is required – to receive weekly instructions for how to connect and to hear regular updates about the youth group’s plans, please get in touch with Aidan.
This year the youth group will also be joining ESG's Children's Ministry on a regular basis for special outdoor gatherings - these are sure to be a blast and a great way to safely stay connected to the congregation! Reach out to Aidan for more information!
Staff News - introducing Ashley Abdul
We are thrilled to introduce to ESG, Ashley Abdul, who started this month in the role of Social Media Communications Coordinator. Ashley is highly skilled communications coordinator and marketing expert with an abundance of experience in the area of community engagement through Social Media. Ashley is excited to get to know the ESG community and help promote and share the great things that the church is up to with the wider community.
Ashley can be reached by email at social@esgunited.org
Welcome Ashley!
Welcome Baskets Volunteer Opportunity
We are collecting items for our Welcome Baskets initiative this month. We are in need of sets of cutlery (4 place settings) for each basket. We have 6 baskets that still need cutlery. We are also looking for gently used towel sets (2 sets per basket) bath, hand and facecloth. Please refer to our list of needed items as we are in need of a supply of all the items listed for present and future Welcome Basket commitments.
If you would like to make a monetary donation to the Welcome Basket Initiative you may do so by cheque to ESG United Church (Outreach Welcome Baskets on the memo line) or online through Canada Helps (select ESG Outreach Support in the drop down menu).
On Sunday May 15th after church, you’re invited to participate in helping to prepare a Welcome Basket for delivery. We will meet in the Eglinton Room following the service. There will be stations for each welcome basket and pairs of volunteers can work together to put all the items in their basket. Please see the display on Sunday May 8th and sign up with Connie Roden or Marion Axmith to help out on the following Sunday. Or contact Connie Roden via email to volunteers your time. All Covid protocols will be observed. We can accept about 12 volunteers to prepare 6 baskets out of the 10. We are excited to be able to share this activity with you this time around and hope that you will consider joining us for an hour or more next Sunday.
Please join us for: Stories from My Life
Are you looking for an opportunity to unlock cherished memories from your life? Bonnie Joynt has created a user friendly program that gives you tools to awaken thoughts, illuminate images, and articulate feelings. For each of four sessions, you will be given a focus and invited to reflect using photos, symbols, songs, or the written word. This is a wonderful opportunity for self-reflection and to share stories with others in your church community. The program kicks off on June 15th from 2 - 4 pm with an Introduction to Storytelling workshop. You will be given a package of materials that will help you to start the process of crafting your stories over the course of the summer. Join us for a fun, engaging, and perhaps transformative experience.
Dates: September 14, 21, 28 & October 5th
at ESG from 2 - 4 pm
If you are interested, please contact Bonnie Joynt.
ESG Town Hall
Plan to attend our upcoming online Town Hall on June 5th at 1 pm on zoom. More details coming next week.
ESG Spring Concert - Alleluia
The ESG choir will be presenting a choral concert, ‘Alleluia’ on Sunday, May 29th, at 3:00 p.m. After not having sung together in nearly two years, we felt an ‘Alleluia’ or two might be appropriate as we once again share the gift of music at ESG.
The concert will feature Alleluia’s and other works by Beethoven, Hagenberg, Mozart, Peterson, Willan, Cohen and more.
With String Ensemble, pianist Claire Harris and conductor Shawn Grenke.
Donations gratefully accepted. No registration or tickets required.
Syrian Children Education Fund – Momentum Building - Please Donate Now!
In September we gave an update on the status of the two Syrian families that ESG directly sponsored to come to Canada six years ago. (Please click here to read that article in case you missed it). We have taken great pride in watching the nine children continue to flourish, including four who have now graduated from high-school and are attending post-secondary education! Mohammed, the eldest is expected to graduate this spring from Business Administration/Project Mgmt from George Brown College! A remarkable accomplishment! Mohammed had to first pay for an intensive English program at the college in order to get his English to a high-level of proficiency before being admitted to the program. We are so proud of Mohammed for completing his program and for being the first in his family to graduate from a Canadian college!
As we announced last fall, in an effort to further support the educational pursuits of this next generation, the Refugee Steering committee has started a fundraising campaign to raise funds to help support the children’s post-secondary education. The objective of this support will not only help to encourage the children to attend and finish post-secondary education, but will set up these young adults for debt-free independence and future success in Canada. Truly an incredible ESG blessing for them!
However, we need your help! Our goal is to raise the funds in 3 tranches, with the initial goal of $50,000 to be raised in the first tranche. We are grateful that we have raised $32,000 to-date from several donors and we thank them so much for their generosity. Please join us, if you are able, in supporting these families' future by donating to the Syrian Refugee Fund either through the Canada Helps page on the website, (important to select Syrian Family Sponsorship under the fund drop down tab) or directly by cheque to ESG with a clear note for the Refugee Fund. Please email Kristen Ede if you have any questions at all about your donation or would like more information.
Thank you for your continued, generous support of ESG's Refugee work, that allows us to continue to do this work. Over the coming weeks, we hope to be in the position to share some more news of other refugee related initiatives that we are working on.
Kind regards,
Kristen Ede
Co-Chair Refugee Steering Committee
ESG Community of Care
Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am
Feel the support of your ESG friends and meet new ones. All are welcome. Participants have an opportunity to share any prayers (or silently listen) for people or events in our ‘Community of Care’. Sessions are approximately 60 minutes. Come try us out using this link next Wednesday and see if this may appeal to you.
North Toronto Cluster Events
There are so many great online activities happening in our North Toronto Cluster of United Churches. Please take a look at the NTC website (https://www.ntcnow.ca/events) for upcoming opportunities.
