upcoming services, events and social justice initiatives
ESG Community News September 22, 2022
Read on to learn more about upcoming services, events, online gatherings and outreach initiatives at ESG.
We are OPEN!
The church building is available for groups to use for meetings, gatherings, projects, etc… and of course, for Sunday worship. On Sundays, the church doors will be unlocked – and the coffee will be on at 10:00 am!
To access the building Monday through Friday, all you need to do is enter a code or ring the Welcome Doorbell on the keypad by the main entrance. We look forward to seeing lots of activity in the building, to reviving the Welcome Desk, and to returning to being the busy hub we love to be.
September Highlights
Sept 11 - Welcome Back BBQ ; Coffee Time is Back with New Coffee Station!
ESG is offering a complimentary interactive online workshop is for anyone ages 19-35 who wants to build their confidence in their career and personal life. Vicki Thompson, a Professional Certified Coach, will lead this session. We'll look at fear and self-doubt head on and discuss five practical strategies to build a more confident and resilient mindset.
Enjoy a cup of Fair Trade Coffee or Tea and conversation with friends old and new. Coffee Hour returns in a new format, both before and after the service at ESG. Come early and come often!
Sunday Worship
September 25 at 10:30 am
We look forward to sharing worship with you either in person or online at 10:30 a.m. Paul Hutchison will be preaching this Sunday with Sarah Chapman and Don Parsons sharing in worship leadership. Music with Emily Taub (soloist), our Choir and Claire Harris (pianist) will enhance the service.
During the service there will be an opportunity to trace your hand on orange construction paper to write prayer thoughts for honouring Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
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
Forget Me Project
Displayed at Sandbanks Music Festival
Artist and Flourish House resident, Suendrini (Suen) Goonesekera, provided the backdrop for the Sandbanks Music Festival, on September 17, 2022, with her 215 heart Forget Me Project, in commemoration of the 215 unmarked graves of Indigenous children found in Kamloops, B.C., last May.
Our Children’s Ministry Program has resumed in-person at ESG. Our nursery caregiver, Lita, welcomes little ones to play and sing in the nursery. Children in kindergarten to grade 6 start their Sunday in the Sanctuary. After the welcoming greeting, children will gather at back of the Sanctuary with Kate and head downstairs together to the Children's Ministry Room.
25th September- Orange Shirt Day
Learn about the history of Orange Shirt Day. Listen to the Seneca creation story of Turtle Island and play an animal matching game.
Mark your calendars for Waffle Church on 23 October!
Youth Program
Sundays at 10:30 am
Connect with friends in a small group each week. Miranda Crabtree, ESG’s Youth Leader, hosts a weekly gathering on Sundays at 10:30 am. It’s a safe space for discussion, questions, and learning with lots of time for laughs and sharing some fun. Contact Miranda for information.
Fall Jumble (Rummage) Sale
Saturday, October 15th from 10 am to 1 pm
Three weeks to go! The rummage continues to collect. Thank you to our caretakers who are diligently moving the rummage from the drop off area outside to the gym kitchen.
Please continue to drop off items that are no longer bringing you joy, in the hopes that someone will give those items a new home. A reminder, this sale we are not selling books, electronics or sporting goods; they will be back in the spring. Read more here.
Thank you to all who have already offered to volunteer. If you have not yet volunteered and can spare some time October 11-15, please connect with Heather Parker who can find the perfect job for you,. There is a time and space for everyone!!
ESG Little Free Pantry: Fall Food Drive
The ESG Little Free Pantry is a volunteer led and community supported initiative to alleviate food insecurity in our area. There is an ongoing need for donations of food for the pantry.
This summer, Aidan and the Grow Team organized two successful food drives. The bounty that we received is quickly being distributed in our Pantry and our shelves downstairs are looking empty again.
ESG Outreach is making an appeal to you for food donations for the pantry. As Thanksgiving approaches, it is a time to reflect on all that we are blessed with. There are many in our city however, who are finding each day a struggle to make ends meet and to find enough food for one day let alone a week’s worth. Please help us stock the shelves that enable us to provide a daily bag of groceries in the Little Free Pantry. Items most needed include: peanut butter, pasta sauce, chunky soups, canned pasta meals and tinned meats (tuna, sardines, ham or chicken).
Food Donations may be brought to the church and dropped in the box near the Welcome Desk. We hope to fill our shelves again with your generous donations.
Volunteers needed for flower arranging - join our team!
If you love flowers come join the Flower Group!
It is not necessary to have experience with flower arranging as one of our group members can show you the ropes. Or perhaps we can learn from you. Each week one of our arrangers purchase the flowers and arrange them on Friday in the Flower Room at the church for the following Sunday.
For information please call Sheila Kappele 416-487-3025.
Stay up to date with church event photos, recaps, program and event announcements, and more by following ESG social media pages. Click on the links below to check it out.