good_news_2012_02 - Bloor Street United Church

W I N T E R 2 0 1 2
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F B L O O R S T R E E T U N I T E D C H U R C H
AN INCLUSIVE
CONGREGATION
MINISTERING TO
MULTICULTURAL TORONTO
I n s i d e
The Healing Lodge
page 3
New Antependium
page 4
Talent Auction Photos
page 5
Christmas Party
page 6
Quick Sketches
page 7
Sanctuary decorations: Advent wreath,
Christmas tree & angel on balcony pillar
Photo by Harold Durnford
Auction Alchemy
by Laurie Gordon
How do you turn a glass vase into a week at the cottage Bloor Street
auction alchemy, that’s how! Here’s just one of the stories of how
Bloor Streeters will be sharing time and talents with each other over the
coming weeks and months. Our lively and entertaining talent auction was
held on November 5.
The food was overseen by Maure and Ron Kentner, and Nancy, Laurie
and Emily Gordon. It was a locavore feast, featuring foods grown in Ontario,
from organic free-range turkey, to Ontario wheat, to wild mushrooms, to
cherries from the backyard. Tom McCauley procured Ontario vintages for
our enjoyment. Ellen Schwartzel, Dawn Lee and Velma Davis graced the
tables with brand new tablecloths and fall-themed centre pieces. David
Passmore, Linda Moon, Pat Janes and Damien Villeneuve set the mood with
background piano.
Bridget Hough donated a vase to the auction. In turn, she bought opera
tickets that Anne and Bob Farquharson had donated. Anne and Bob bought
places in Mary Sanderson’s art therapy session. Mary procured the computer
skills of Nikhil Joshi to speed up her PC, and Nikhil won the D.J. services of
Evan Smith, our Community Builder. Evan picked up a dollhouse donated
by Emily and Jennifer Gordon. Emily and Jennifer pooled their Bloor Bucks
to win an outing on Andy Spears’ and John Tinker’s yacht. Andy Spears got
seats on the Credit Valley Explorer “Snow Train” from Nancy and Laurie
Gordon. Nancy and Laurie won a house concert by singer-songwriter, and
former Bloor Streeter, Bri-anne Swann. And Bri-anne Swann and her partner
won a wonderful week at Martha ter Kuile’s cottage on Christian Island.
And that’s how Bloor Street auction alchemy works! Add in some fantastic
cabaret entertainment, tasty refreshments, stylish decorations, and it was a
magical evening all round. Many thanks to all who contributed to the event
in so many ways!
See photos from the Talent Auction on page 5.

loor people
Welcome to Douglas Helliker who joined our
congregation on November 13. Born in Toronto, he grew
up attending Humber Valley United. He has also lived in
Windsor, Edmonton and Quebec City. Douglas enjoys
baking, stand-up comedy and writing. He has published
over 300 letters in various newspapers about social and
political issues. He and his wife Diane enjoy living with
their cat Molly.
Heather Hilliard is organizing a fundraising Arts Cabaret
and Bazaar for Third Culture Theatre. Heather co-founded
Third Culture Theatre in 2004 with a mandate to “view the
classics through a multi-cultural lens”. The fundraiser will
be at El Mocambo on March 28. Contact Heather for more
details: hrhilliard50@gmail.com.
Welcome to Greg Powell our new Youth Coordinator.
Greg recently moved from Calgary to study his Master of
Divinity full-time at Emmanuel College. In 2008, Greg
co-led a three-week youth exposure tour to Zambia with
Calgary Presbytery. That trip simultaneously confirmed and
denied romantic perceptions of Africa and reminded Greg of
the joys and challenges of exploring the world through the
eyes of youth. Adventures in alpine touring, canoe tripping,
triathlon, and travel have shaped Greg’s world view as much
as his background in engineering and the four years he
worked for the Pembina Institute, an environmental thinktank
that focuses on climate change, the tar sands, renewable
energy, and transportation. Greg is really looking forward to
the trip with our youth to visit the Dene region this summer
and engaging the youth of Bathurst, Trinity-St.Paul’s and
Bloor Street Churches on theological, environmental,
colonial, justice, and other relevant issues. Feel free to
contact Greg at greg.a.powell@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Martha ter Kuile who successfully
defended her Ph.D. thesis in December at Saint Paul
University/University of Ottawa. Martha’s Ph.D. is in
Theology (Ethics). The thesis title is: The Virtues of a
Christian Realist: Toward a Niebuhrian Virtue Ethics in
Conversation with Martha Nussbaum.
And a second milestone for Martha occurred on
January 3 when she welcomed her first grandchild. Daisy
May McCuaig was born to Paula and Scott McCuaig.
The Oma, Martha, says she is besotted.
Martha ter Kuile with flowers from congregation after her thesis defence.
Photo by Harold Durnford
Rebeca Rosales Venegas is the new Nanny for our
nursery. Rebeca has raised two children and has extensive
experience with children in church schools. An active
member of the congregation, she has assisted with the
Information Table in McClure Hall and also helped plan
several South American lunches as part of the monthly
lunch after the service. Welcome Rebeca.
Welcome to Aaron Zhang who joined our congregation
on January 8. Aaron grew up in northwest China in the city
of Urumqi. He studied civil engineering and economics
in China before journeying to the University of Toronto
where he received his Master of Applied Science degree in
2009. He now works at the Bank of Montreal as a senior
financial risk analyst and serves on the board of directors of
the LGBT Affinity group for the bank, helping to create a
diverse friendly work environment. He came to Bloor St.
shortly after his arrival in Toronto four years ago. Aaron’s
been active in church activities including being on our
Finance & Administration Committee.
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The Healing Lodge by Mary Sanderson
Ispent most of December working at The Okimaw
Ohci Healing Lodge in the Cypress Hills of southwest
Saskatchewan. This was my fifth visit to the medium security
federal penitentiary for aboriginal women made possible by
a generous grant from The Donner Foundation. I do Art
Therapy with the women during the day and read aboriginal
stories to them around the fire in the Spiritual Lodge in the
evenings.
Mid-way through my visit, there was an ‘institutional
search’. All 44 women were held for eight hours in a medium
sized room while sniffer dogs searched every corner of the
institution for drugs and cigarettes. All the women were
frisked. Some women played cards; some tried to sleep on the
floor, others chatted. Around noon, two staff members made
salmon sandwiches. Women were escorted to the washroom
by guards, known as ‘Older Sisters’. Nothing was found.
However, the search and the demeaning treatment of the
women, just days before Christmas, demoralized everyone.
The Parole Board met while I was there and saw eight
women over the course of two days. One woman who had
done a lot of Art Therapy with me was granted parole. She is
in her early thirties with five children in five foster families.
She had had a childhood of abuse and alcohol and a condition
of her release is that she abstain from using alcohol or drugs.
The woman’s mother, at 32, and her grandmother had both
died of cirrhosis as a result of alcohol. She is determined to
break the cycle. For the next six months she will live in a
halfway house in Edmonton. A few days before Christmas, at
3:00 am on a cold, dark morning a staff member drove this
woman about 40 km north to the trans-Canada highway to
catch the bus to Edmonton, via Calgary. I pray for her.
Just before I left to fly home for Christmas, there was a
potluck luncheon for staff and residents. Each bungalow has a
small kitchen but the inmates have limited resources and few
cooking skills—most of them brought bannock to the meal.
Because of some money I was given for the women, I was able
to buy a large grass-fed roast of beef (this is ranch country!)
and twelve pies from the Maple Creek bakery. It added a
new dimension to the meal and was greatly appreciated by
everyone.
I am very aware of the support of the congregation for my
work at The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge. I like to think
what I am doing is an extension of Bloor Street’s ministry and
that I am there on your behalf. Thank you for your support.
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Nurse’s Corner by Nancy Gordon
A Little Help in This Season
This is the season with short and frequently cloudy days.
These conditions often have the effect of making people feel
blue and it is not always easy to find enjoyment. There is an
interesting fact, though, that I would like to pass it on to you.
I have learned that contrary to popular belief, attitudes often
follow behaviour.
“Now, what does that mean” you ask. It means this:
Since attitudes follow behaviour, if you make an effort
to act happy and see the funny side of things, you will
actually feel happier. Fritz Strack, a German psychologist,
demonstrated this with an interesting experiment. He found
that if people held a pen with their teeth while watching
cartoons, they found the cartoons funnier than if they
watched them while holding the pen with their lips. You may
have to try it yourself to see what I mean. Holding the pen
with the teeth uses smiling muscles, while holding it with the
lips uses muscles incompatible with smiling.
If our face is physically smiling, our feelings go along with
the behaviour and we feel happier. So even when it is dark
and cloudy, “smile, and the world will smile with you” as the
saying goes. It sounds silly, but try it – you’ll feel better!
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New Festival Antependium by Bridget Hough
The new “white” antependium for festivals such as
Christmas, Easter and Baptism is made almost entirely
of recycled fabrics in shades of white, cream, gold, silver and
beige. The quilters contributed scraps from their projects, or
from family collections such as wedding dresses, bridal veils,
and lace curtains. Robert Thoen gave a stack of discarded
upholstery fabric samples which
he rescued. The design features the
universal Christian symbol of the
cross which divides the antependium
panel into four. Each panel
represents a different domain of the
environment. The left upper panel is
the sky with stars, clouds, rain and
snow. The right upper panel is the
forest, featuring the branches and
leaves of a tree. The right lower panel
is the water domain, with waves,
New White Festival
Antependium
Photo by Don Payne
fishes and shellfish, and the left lower
panel hexagons are based on the basalt
of the Giant’s Causeway, topped
by man-made stone or concrete buildings. Construction
and quilting was by Velma Davis, Nancy Gordon, Heather
Hilliard, Bridget Hough and Pat McPhee of the Bloor St.
Quilters. Designed by Bridget Hough, the white antependium
was first hung in the sanctuary for
the Christmas Day service.
New Stole for Alydia
A second quilting project
designed and created by quilters
Irene Hunter and Dawn Lee was
presented to our former minister
Alydia Smith on January 8.
Alydia’s new stole features
imagery from the liturgical
seasons of the church year,
beautifully combined in a very
Alydia Smith & her mother
special stole. Alydia can wear admire her new stole
Photo by Harold Durnford
the stole all year. The stole is
reversible as the back is white with an embroidered cross.
The white side can be worn for festival Sundays. Alydia has
completed the requirements for ordination.
Haydn and Hovhaness by Lynda Moon
On Sunday evening November 20, the
church sanctuary resounded with the
music of Haydn and Hovhaness as David
Passmore led the Bloor Street Choir and an
orchestra in performance of choral works.
Featured soloists were: Jennifer Taverner,
soprano; Michelle Simmons, mezzo soprano;
Damien Villeneuve, tenor; and Matthew
Cassils, baritone, who filled in for Geoffrey
Keating. Amy Rand played the organ, and
several guest choristers, including Martha
ter Kuile and Chuck Baker, rounded out
the choir. The cantata The Thirtieth Ode of Solomon by the
American composer Alan Hovhaness opened the program. It
was a wonderful opportunity to hear this evocative mystical
work during the 100th anniversary year of the composer’s
birth. Among the effective features was the sombre
sonority created by linking the trombone and baritone
solo. Hovhaness was influenced by the musical language of
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his father’s Armenian heritage. After
intermission we were treated to a
stirring performance of Haydn’s Nelson
Mass complete with trumpets, timpani
and organ. One of six late masses that
Haydn composed for his patron Prince
Nicolaus, this work became associated
with the name of the famous admiral
of the British Royal Navy. From the
foreboding atmosphere of the opening
Kyrie (Lord have mercy), we were led
on a journey through the movements
of the Mass to the hopeful conclusion Dona nobis pacem
(Grant us peace).
Following the performance a reception was held in
McClure Hall, giving the opportunity for audience members
to mingle with the musicians. David Passmore, the Bloor
Street Choir, soloists, instrumentalists and concert volunteers
are to be congratulated on a very successful evening!
Concert Soloists Damien Villeneuve
& Jennifer Taverner Photo by
Harold Durnford

Terrific Talent Auction on Nov. 5
Our youngest performer, on guitar Photo by Don Payne
The talented auction band: Marion, Garnet Ward, Lynda Moon,
Tom Cousins & Amy Rand with Bob Hilliard & Damien Villeneuve
at the rear Photo by Don Payne
Versatile musician: Damien Villeneuve Photo by Don Payne
Duet: Jennifer Gordon & Deston Johnson Photo by Don Payne
Christmas Decorating
The tree decorators: Christine Mosser, Bill Mowat,
Anne Hogg & Garnet Ward Photo by Isabel Ward
BIll Mowat adding finishing touches to the tree
Photo by Garnet Ward
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Isabel Ward adjusting the balcony wreath
Photo by Garnet Ward

Sharing the Spirit of Christmas by Sue Kaiser
Toronto’s lack of snow in December did not stop
Santa’s reindeer from delivering their cargo of toys
for over 100 kids at the Refugee Outreach Program’s
Christmas party on December 17! McClure hall was
festive with lights and families enjoyed lots of musical
entertainment, a Nativity Pageant presented by the
kids, an excellent dinner and a bustling craft room. 45
families were part of the Christmas program, including
30 new families – all were invited because they are facing
challenges of dislocation, loss of work, family breakdown
or unresolved refugee claims. This year, about 70
volunteers helped make this event possible – Thanks to the
planners, craft helpers, errand runners, chef and sous-chef,
kitchen helpers, servers, gift packers, set up and clean-up
crew, decorators, face painter, MC, musicians and singers
and Nativity animators. Toys were donated by members
of Bloor Street Church, Eglinton St. George’s United
Church, the Firefighters Toy Drive and the Salvation Army.
Gladys Salazar & Martha ter Kuile Photo by Aaron Zhang
Four of the more than 70 volunteers for the Christmas party: Bonnie Reid,
Rebeca Rosales Venegas & Claudia Venegas Photo by Aaron Zhang
Nora McKay welcomes a new friend who recently arrived from Ethiopia.
Her mother and siblings are with her. Photo by Aaron Zhang
Chef David & two of his hard working helpers: Maure Kentner,
David Estrada & Claudia Sanchez Photo by George Bartlett
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Quick Sketches
Redevelopment Information Session. An interesting and
informative presentation and discussion session was held
after the service on January 8. Michael Hilliard, Chair of
our Redevelopment Committee, described the new proposal
to redevelop our property. Four representatives from the
development firm B + H Architects and also the architect
were present for this important meeting. We saw several
drawings of the proposed development and heard details
of various aspects of the new building. A condo tower will
be built to the west of the corner of Bloor and Huron and
the historical Bloor St. and Huron St. façades of the current
Michael Hilliard chairing the redevelopment session
Photo by Harold Durnford
church will be rebuilt at our present location. We will still
have a strong presence on Bloor St. rather than the church
being located at the rear of the parking lot, which was
suggested by earlier developers. Office space will be included
in the church wing of the building for the offices of the
General Council of the United Church of Canada, if Bloor
St. Church is chosen as the location for the new offices. A
decision on the relocation of General Council is expected
in March. Please see the January issue of The United
Church Observer for the article “Toronto, after all” for more
information on the relocation issue. A lively discussion
with the developers and architect followed the presentation.
Michael also reported that there have been discussions with
the local city councillor, Adam Vaughan, as the surrounding
community will be very interested in our changes and their
possible impact. Generally the new proposed development
was positively viewed by the large congregational turnout for
the meeting.
Bloor Street Book Club. This lively group meets the
first Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm in the Board Room.
Everyone who has read the book being discussed is welcome.
We have chosen the following books for discussion until
the end of June. February 7: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell,
March 6: The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, April 3: I've
Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground
Railway by Karolyn Smardz Frost, May 1: Half-Blood Blues
by Esi Edugyan and June 5: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr,
Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. For more information please
contact Bob Farquharson at arfarquhar@sympatico.ca or
phone at 416-962-3998.
The Book Sales made a record $3396 in 2011. This
includes the proceeds from the spring and fall Saturday
book sales, two coffee hour sales, one street sale; and money
from books sold directly to book dealers and to the Ryerson
University library. Many Bloor Streeters donated books;
twenty-five volunteers sorted and arranged them, and helped
on sale days; and the office and custodial staff provided
support throughout the year. Our next book sale will be
this spring. If you enjoy books, are not allergic to dust,
and would like to help, please speak to Dianne Johnson or
Christine Mosser.
Margaret Atwood’s Craddock lecture to our
congregation last October 16 appears in an adapted form in
the January issue of The United Church Observer. Look for
the article entitled “Back to the Garden” on page 19.
Tea Party. A winter tea party was held at
Christie Gardens on a cold and snowy
January 19. The winter weather
did not dampen the warmth
of the party. Hosted by the
Pastoral Care Committee, the
22 attendees are all members or
adherents of Bloor St. Church.

coming events
Wednesdays starting January 25 at 7:00 pm
Bread and Justice – contemporary service
Interested in participating
Contact Evan: evan@bloorstreetunited
Sunday, February 5
Congregational lunch following the service
Tuesday, February 21 at 6:00 pm
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Wednesday, February 22
Ash Wednesday – Joint service at Bathurst Church
(in TSP building)
Bloor St., Trinity-St.Paul’s & Bathurst Churches
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David & David: Director of Music David Passmore with
Minister Emeritus David Allan Photo by Harold Durnford
Sunday, February 26
Speaker event hosted by Social Justice Committee
after the service
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Tuesday, February 28
Annual Meeting Part 1
Pot Luck Dinner 6:00 pm
Meeting 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 4
Congregational lunch following the service
✼
Sunday, March 25
Speaker event hosted by Social Justice Committee after
the service
Our elegant baptismal font
Photo by Harold Durnford
Nov. 6: Anniversary Sunday speaker
David Wilson, Editor of The United
Church Observer, with Martha ter Kuile
Photo by Harold Durnford
Sunday, April 1
Congregational lunch following the service
Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 pm
Maundy Thursday – Joint service at Trinity-St.Paul’s
Bloor St., Bathurst & Trinity-St.Paul’s Churches
is edited and published 4 times a year by the
Communications Committee of Bloor St. United Church. All articles
and photos are copyright and may not be used without permission of the
author/photographer. 250 words is the standard length for unsolicited
articles. Articles should be single spaced, in 12 point type, without
paragraph indentations. All articles may be edited. Photos will only be
used if space permits and if suitable for publication.
Editor: Isabel Ward: booksleuth28@gmail.com
Ministers and Staff may be reached by contacting
the Church Office at (416) 924-7439
Deadline for the Spring/Easter Issue: Sunday, March 4
Layout: JANICEKRANGLE (416) 513.1396
Mark Your calendars for
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Our Craddock Lecturer will be Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish.
Dr. Abuelaish is a Palestinian medical doctor, now
practising in Canada, who has dedicated his life
to peace in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
See his life: http://www.daughtersforlife.com/foundation/
Read his book I Shall Not Hate
Visit our website at: www.bloorstreetunited.org