“The Adoration of the Magi” (ca. 1515) by Netherlandish painter Gerard David (ca. 1450/1460–1523); from the collection of the National Gallery, London; taken from the Wikimedia Commons.
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to you and your family!
As we bid farewell to 2024, we open our hearts to embrace the new opportunities and challenges that 2025 will bring. May this year be a time of renewal, growth, and joy for each of you.
May God grant us the strength to let go of the burdens and regrets that no longer serve us, and the wisdom to cherish and nurture the relationships, dreams, hopes, and moments that truly matter.
Wishing you a year filled with peace, love, courage, and laughter.
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, January 4, 2025, edition of Tidbits.
Christmas is near. In a capitalistic society, we often act as consumers, and every event tends to become a transaction of buying and selling. We are aware of how the Christmas season has become commercialized. Yet, the true spirit of the season is to remember the birth of Jesus and the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love that God has blessed us with, despite the hopelessness, violence, darkness, and suffering we witness in the world.
Christmas is a season that reminds us—and each other—that we are not alone and that God has not given up on us. Christ invites us to be followers, pilgrims, and disciples, pursuing and seeking the ways of God’s love and compassion. During this season, let us pause and reflect on who we are and what we do.
I am fully aware of the challenges many of us are facing, but may we never lose the gifts of courage, love, resilience, hope, and kindness that God has planted in our hearts. We are God’s people. During this Christmas season, may we celebrate who we are in the eyes of God.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. May God’s peace dwell in our hearts and in the world.
Some events in December to help deepen our connection with Christ:
Sun., Dec. 15
3rd Advent Sunday (Celebrating the Gift of Joy)
Wed., Dec. 18
Caregiver Support Group at 10 AM
Wed., Dec. 18
Grief Support Group at 7 PM
Sat., Dec. 21
Longest Night Service, 7:30 PM
Sun., Dec. 22
Lessons & Carols with Sunday School Participation
Tues., Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Celebration (Choir, Bells, Prayers, Scriptures, and Candles), 7 PM
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, December 14, 2024, edition of Tidbits.
In the summer of 2020, Maggie Donnelly was looking for possible opportunities for community service. The Session granted permission for her to create a Heart Garden, a project that could be carried out within the restrictions of pandemic times.
The concept of the Heart Garden came from The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society. It encourages people of all ages to plant Heart Gardens in memory of children lost to the residential school system, to honour residential school survivors and their families, and to support the legacy of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Many Heart Gardens have popped up all over Canada. Some are as simple as paper hearts on popsicle sticks inserted into soil in a flower pot. Maggie wanted something a little more permanent.
The Heart Garden in December in 2024 with the painted stones in the foreground
First Maggie did her research on the residential schools run by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. She compiled a list of names of children who had died at the schools. With help from her sister Miriam, she collected rocks and they painted them, writing the name of a child who had died on each one. Elders Sandra Robertson and Kay Galbraith weeded and prepared the soil. With the help of Elder Cindy Similas, Maggie planted white sage, bee balm, bleeding hearts and other native plants. Steve Lynette built two signs so the neighbourhood would know what the garden was about. Each rock was carefully placed in the garden. Maggie also gave a reflection in worship on working on the garden and wrote an article about it for Presbyterian Connection.
In 2022–23, the Youth Class gave the garden a touch up, repainting some of the rocks that had faded, and rewriting the names which Maggie had carefully recorded. This year Otto Pallek created a new sign to replace the originals which had deteriorated.
The Heart Garden is on your left as you approach the Guildwood Parkway main doors of the church. We hope you will visit it and remember the children.
Sometimes, in our busyness of “being church”, we forget to nurture our spiritual hunger and desire for growth. Small groups within a church offer numerous benefits, fostering deeper relationships, spiritual growth, and community engagement. We invite you to join one of these monthly groups our church offers. If you are interested, please speak to Rev. Chuck Moon or email [email protected].
Group
Monthly Date* & Time
Description
Mind and Heart Bible Study
2nd Wednesday 7–8 PM Dec 11, Mar 12, Apr 9, May 14, June 11
A study of the Gospel of John for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the Bible
Caregiver Support Group
3rd Wednesday 10–11 AM Dec 18, Jan 15, Mar 19, May 21, Jun 18
A support group for those on the caregiving journey
Grief Support Group
3rd Wednesday 7–8 PM Dec 18, Jan 15, Mar 19, May 21, Jun 18
A support group for those who have lost loved ones
Read and Pray Book study & sharing on prayer
3rd Friday 1–2 PM Mar 21, May 16, Jun 20
A study group for those who wish to deepen their understanding of prayer
Read and Discuss Virtual book study
3rd Sunday 1:30–2:30 PM Jan 19, Feb 16, Mar 16, Apr 20, May 18, Jun 15
An online book study for those interested in exploring different spiritual approaches (Leaders: Cindy & Maureen)
Listen and Listen Contemplative Prayer and Communion Service
Last Wednesday 7:30–8:10 PM Joining The Longest Night Service on Sat. Dec 21, Mar 26, Apr 30, May 28, Jun 25
A quiet prayer service for those to deepen their listening and silence in prayer
*Dates are subject to change due to inclement weather/other reasons. Please check with Rev. Chuck or the church office if you have a question.
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, November 30, 2024, edition of Tidbits.
Each year, as we observe Remembrance Sunday, we reflect on how the lives of our people have been changed, influenced, and impacted by those who served. This Sunday, Al Harris shares his story and leads the children’s time during the service. As we listen and reflect, may we pray for peace in the world.
Please send us a photo of a loved one, i.e. parent, grandparent, or another family member who served in the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) or in a civilian organization that supported the Armed Forces such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross, or the St. John Ambulance. Please send those photos to us this week and they will be included in the service.
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Friday, November 8, 2024, edition of Tidbits.
“Pillar of Love” (1990) by Barbara Eichner-Shaw; located in Hermitage Park, Edmonton; taken from the Art in the Christian Tradition project at Vanderbilt University; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Dear Friends,
Each year, as we observe Remembrance Sunday, we reflect on how the lives of our people have been changed, influenced, and impacted by those who served. This year on Sunday, November 3, Don MacOdrum will share his personal story during the children’s time. Then, on Sunday, November 10 (Remembrance Sunday), Al Harris will also share his story and lead the children’s time during the service. As we listen and reflect, may we pray for peace in the world.
Please, send us a photo of a loved one, i.e. parent, grandparent, or another family member who served in the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) or in a civilian organization that supported the Armed Forces such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and St. John Ambulance. Please send those photos to us this week and they will be included in the service.
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Saturday, November 2, 2024, edition of Tidbits.
We welcome Rev. Dr. Bob Smith to the pulpit this Sunday as I have been assigned to visit another congregation on behalf of the Presbytery of Pickering. During the fellowship hour, we will take a moment to celebrate with Rev. Gordon Beaton, who will be relocating to be closer to his family.
On Wednesday, October 30 from 7:30 to 8:00 PM, we will hold Listen and Listen, a quiet prayer and communion service at the church. The service is open to all who wish to deepen their awareness of God’s grace and cultivate a greater sense of peace. We live in a busy world, and we are often expected to stay busy. We constantly think, “What’s next? What do I need to buy next?” This quiet prayer and communion service aims to help us silence the demanding voices of the world. Come and deepen your prayers for peace.
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Sunday, October 27, 2024, edition of Tidbits.
“Christ and Mary Magdalene, a Finnish Legend” (1890), based on “Noli me tangere” (‘touch me not’) in John 20:17, by Finnish painter Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905); from the collection of the Ateneum, Helsinki; taken from the Wikimedia Commons.
Dear Friends,
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:4–7
May we embrace this peace daily, especially in moments of uncertainty or worry. Let us live in the assurance that God’s peace will continue to guard our hearts and minds as we place our trust in God.
Sun. Oct. 20 (11 AM–12 PM): Memorial service; Bells of Guildwood
Sun. Oct. 20 (1:30–2:30 PM): Read and Discuss, the online book study led by Cindy Similas/Maureen Monk
Wed. Oct. 30 (7:30–8 PM): Listen and Listen quiet prayer service
Sun. Nov. 10 (11 AM–12 PM): Remembrance Day Service
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Sunday, October 20, 2024, edition of Tidbits.
On Wednesday, October 16 we will start a grief group, a time for sharing and listening. We have all experienced the loss of someone or something sacred to us, yet there are not enough spaces for us to share, process, and pray together. Our culture often approaches grief as a problem to be quickly fixed or solved. In contrast, we aim to create a safe space for sharing, listening, praying, and reflecting on our life journey. We believe in the power of our stories. Many of us, including me, have experienced the transformative power of listening to one another. Our prayer is that by sharing our own stories of loss, we will help each other discover healing, joy, encouragement, and renewal. Attendees do not need to be church members. Rev. Chuck Moon plans to facilitate each meeting prayerfully. If you have questions, please speak to Rev. Chuck Moon or at [email protected].
Upcoming events
Sun. Oct. 6 Communion
Wed. Oct. 9 (7-8 PM): Mind and Heart Bible Study (Gospel of John)
Wed. Oct. 16 (10-11 AM): The Caregiver Support Group
Wed. Oct. 16 (7-8 PM): Grief Support Group information meeting
Fri. Oct. 18 (1-2 PM): Read and Pray, the faith and prayer group
Sun. Oct. 20 (11 AM-12 PM): Memorial service; Bells of Guildwood
Sun. Oct. 20 (1:30-2:30 PM): Read and Discuss, the online book study led by Cindy Similas/Maureen Monk
Wed. Oct. 30 (7:30-8 PM): Listen and Listen quiet prayer service
—Rev. Chuck Moon
A version of this message appeared in the Friday, October 5, 2024, edition of Tidbits.
