St. Paul's LeaskdaleA congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Canada

Next Saturday, September 4th 8:30am at St. Paul's.  Bring your appetite, bring a friend!

Last year's parenting study for young moms was such a success that we've decided to keep it going with some bible studies this fall.  A weekday morning bible study with childcare as well as an evening bible study are being planned.  Please stay tuned for the details!  Contacts:  Donna Geissberger or Chirstina Baranieski

A Bible study/support group is now available for post-abortive women in the fall of 2010.  It will consist of a two day retreat, running two Saturdays and one short evening session in a private country setting.  Minimal cost, confidential.  Please call Evelyn Shelton 416-573-4490 or Sunrise 905-852-4192.

Did you know that...our gifts to Presbyerians Sharing send people to the Middle East to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in their non-violent efforts to work for peace.  Participants like the Rev. Noel Gordon spend three months monitoring and reporting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, offering protection through non-violent presence, engaging in public policy advocacy and standing is solidarity with churches.  Let us pray together for a peaceful resolution to conflict in the Middle East.

There is one spot available for a high school student to join the team going to the Dominican Republic December 27-January 3.  For further information email Nancy Loraine, ntloraine@ruralwave.ca or pick up an information package/application from the harvest table.

Applications must be received by September 6th

Our annual kitchen inventory is underway.  Soon we will display items to claim, as well as items free to families who can use them.  Thanks for helping us clean up!

Thanks to everyone who brought their little ones out to the park playdates this summer.  It was a great way for parents and cargivers to keep in touch over the summer and make some new connections with others.  And the kids loved it too!  Looking forward to doing it again next summer!

The Vision Team from St. Paul's (Karen Rennie, Nancy Loraine, and Larry Inglis) who went to Lavoute, Haiti from August 11-17th have safely returned home.  They are excited to share with us their experiences and observations on how God might best have us come alongside our brothers and sisters in this rural community.

Welcome Richard Piet (pronounced "Pete") to the St. Paul's pastoral team as an Associate in the position of Administrative Pastor. Richard, wife Carolyn, and daughters Deenia & Jenai have been serving as missionaries with Interserve in Thailand.  Pray for the Piet's as they make this transition to Canada and as Richard begins on staff here.

Are you thinking about getting baptized or becoming a member here at St. Paul’s this September? If so, it’s a great time to have a conversation with Liz. You can contact her at liz@saintpauls.ca

GriefShare, a weekly support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one, will be launched at St. Paul’s on Thursday, Sept. 23rd.  This Christ centered ministry will reach beyond St. Paul’s to surrounding communities.  Perhaps God has a place for you on the Support Team. God may be speaking to you, who have walked this lonely journey, encouraging you to share what you have learned.  Please talk with us. Phil Whitney 905-476-5640 or Karen Rennie 705-357-1108.

This group is presently on a summer break.  A weekly program will start again in late September. Contact Jim Honeyford for details 905-852-9765.

September 17-19 at Silver Eagle Cottage Resort.  Details to follow.  You won't want to miss it!

Sunday, September 26th is planned as a St. Paul's church family day with worship, baptisms, membership, and lunch together. Mark your calendar and plan to be here! In preparation for that, we believe God is stirring in some of us to make a public profession of faith and to be baptized that day. Others may already be baptized, but feeling convinced that it is time to take another step in obedience to God by becoming a member of St. Paul's (basically, a commitment that this is the church where you are choosing to be engaged and involved). If this is you...wondering about baptism and/or membership, contact Liz Honeyford at liz@saintpauls.ca.

We are looking for adult (and youth) volunteers for the nursery to help during the summer.  So if you know your vacation schedule, book a week to help out at either the 9:00 or 11:00 service.  You can also check when you come to church - if no one is signed up - we would still love it if you can help! Questions? Please call Dana Greenly at 905-852-9837.  Otherwise, unfortunately there will be some Sundays when there is no nursery help available.

Our church library volunteers have been hard at work making changes to the library.  Pop in and see the new kids' reading corner!  While you're there, why not pick up a book, CD, or DVD to enjoy over the long weekend or during your summer vacation.

During the first week of August, in the warm sunshine, the St. Paul’s crop of wheat was harvested for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. It was a plentiful crop! Results of the yield and more details about this amazing annual project will follow. 

Presbyterians Sharing is the national church fund that supports the overall mission and ministry of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.  Presbyterians Sharing supports mission work in Canada through Canada Ministries and around the world through International Ministries. In the coming weeks we’ll be highlighting some of their work through ‘Mission Capsules’.

For more than 60 years, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, has been actively working to support people around the world affected by poverty, emergencies and injustice through Presbyterian World Service &  Development (PWS&D). You can learn more about this developmental and relief agency by picking up a copy of their recent bulletin insert from our foyer harvest table.

Sunrise Pregnancy Centre is sponsoring Brett Ullman to speak in Uxbridge to area youth this fall about how to live out their faith in a media-saturated culture.  They are asking for a youth contact from each church in the area to direct kids to the event. Please contact Helen Snell in the church office if this interests you.

We had a blast at camp a few weeks ago!  The church was packed with 275 campers and over 160 volunteers.  A HUGE thank you to each of you who prayed, volunteered, and contributed by making donations.  God bless each of you!
Praise Item:   92 campers prayed with Liz to join God's family.

During the summer months your children from newborn to age 3 are invited into the nursery for care.  Children entering grade JK to grade 6 will meet in the gym for KidZone lead by our  Summer Youth Crew.  They have loads of fun planned for your kids with a jungle theme.  Send your monkeys!

Would you be interested to help care for the church flower beds for a few hours this summer? If so, please contact the church office to let us know of your interest. Thanks for considering!

Pick up your copy of the Building for Life story and invitation to St. Paul’s to collect $150,000 over the next 3 months for the church in Hainamosa, Haiti and here in Leaskdale. Copies are available in your church mailbox or, if you don’t have a box, on the foyer harvest table.

DOWNLOAD THE BUIILDING FOR LIFE BOOKLET - PDF

Amazing News...

Thanks for a generous response to our first Building for Life offering Sunday June 20 totalling $71,000. What an amazing move of God and praise to Him for working in us and through us in this way. What this means is that St. Paul's has already been able to fulfill our commitment to New Song Church in Hainamosa with $10,000 to retire the debt on their Sanctuary and we're well on our way to rebuild the village of Lavoute in Haiti this summer. Our target for Building for Life is $150,000 by September 26th. Donations can be made throughout the summer by indicating "Building for Life" on your church envelopes or by using the special envelopes provided on the harvest table. 

We have a box in the library to collect Zehrs grocery tapes. Last year we raised just under $700.00 for the WA by tabulating them and turning them in to Zehrs. Please help make counting easier by keeping your receipts flat with the amount on the outside.

The Region of Durham has revised the garbage pick up schedule. That makes our job of recycling and composting at St. Paul's even more important. Look for SMALLER garbage cans and LARGER recycling and composting bins in all areas with signage to explain what goes where!

Remember all food items in the compost!  Little acts of conservation add up to a better world. You are helping here at St. Paul's, too.  Did you know that most weeks we keep our garbage down to three bags just like a normal household?  

Here are a few tips to help keep our church even greener:
Each classroom is equipped with blue bin, green bin and regular garbage.

Blue Bin Recycling
- throw in all plastic, glass and paper
- do NOT throw in tissues, paper plates, foam drinking cups, candy wrappers

Green Bin Compost
- throw in food waste, tissues, paper towels, paper plates and cups
- do NOT throw in foam drinking cups, paper

Did you also know that almost all our washroom garbage is compostable?  If we work harder to only throw tissues and paper towels in these receptacles we could use compost bags and save on future garbage disposal costs.

Thanks St. Paul's for doing your part!

The thought may have crossed your mind! Or maybe it just did for the first time, nothing like the power of suggestion!

If you are considering membership here at St. Paul's then please do the following:

1. Email Liz Honeyford at liz@saintpauls.ca and begin the conversation with her.
2. Start to write out your own personal story of how you met Jesus Christ and what He has done, is doing in your life.

By the way, we love this time of year as many of you begin to ask the bigger questions of what God is calling you into here at St. Paul's. This is most definitely NOT like joining a club. It is joining what GOD is doing in and through this particular group of people here at St. Paul's. Becoming a member is saying "I love Jesus and want to join in on what He is doing with the rest of you." Is your time now? We hope so!

Our Leading with Care mission statement, ‘Creating an Environment of Compassion & Care for children, youth & vulnerable adults at St.Paul's' involves each of us as we love and serve the people through ministry and events here at St. Paul's Leaskdale. As we continue to develop care and safety practices we are moving ahead with new initiatives:

First Aid/CPR Certification Posting
It would be helpful for us to know if you are First Aid/CPR certified so your name can be posted near our first aid stations to assist in an emergency. Contact Helen Snell.

Life Threatening Allergy Alert!!
Please join us in our efforts to make St. Paul's a safe place for all. Watch for information notices around the building about peanut and nut product allergies.

One of the ways God shows His love is by protecting people who are vulnerable. He has a thing about that. He longs for people to be protected from gossip, judgment, criticism, from spiritual attack and from physical attack. We have a few people here at St. Paul's whose lives are in danger due to an allergy to peanuts and other nuts. To protect them, we ask that you be mindful and not bring ANY baked or bought goods that contain nuts. It will take a bit of getting used to but well worth it in order to keep St. Paul's safe for everyone. Thanks for extending God's kindness in this way!