Council

COVID Update – May 8, 2022

May 22, 2022

The Ontario government announced that the masking requirement for vulnerable settings would be extended to June 11th. Listening to many concerns in our congregation as well as this extension of the masking requirements, we want to assure you that we are extending our own masking requirement for worship and singing as well.

Please note that our expanded distancing section is also still in place. We encourage you to sit in the part of the sanctuary where every other pew is roped off if you wish to distance – and not to sit near anyone else who is seated in this section.

Thank You!

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COVID Update – May 8, 2022Read More »

Come and Have Breakfast – Sunday May 1st, 2022

May 5, 2022

Join us this Morning for some or all of our Community Breakfast, Worship, and Annual General Meeting!

10:00 – Community Breakfast (church lawn and Zoom)
10:45 – Worship (in-person, Zoom, and YouTube)
11:30 – Congregational Meeting (in-person and Zoom)
11:45 – Desserts and Conversation (church lawn)

10am Community Breakfast – In addition to breakfast, we will have cards for the congregation to sign, chalk to decorate our church sidewalks, and an opportunity to discuss and offer feedback on church priorities and a Leaside Community Prayer (more information below). All ages very welcome – come to the church lawn or Zoom, even if you cannot stay for worship.

10:45am Worship – We’ll hear a story of Jesus sharing a meal with the disciples, as we think about what our Mission is as a church. Our music includes the beautiful anthem “For the Beauty of the Earth” and the hymn “Now the Green Blade Rises.” We will also mark Mental Health Sunday with a Litany of Naming and another Small Spiritual Practice.


AGM – Directly following worship we will hold our AGM. Those participating on Zoom will be able to relay questions or comments. You are also welcome to send us any ahead of time (emily@leasideuc.com)


Dessert – Following the Meeting join us on the Church lawn once again for continued conversation and a sweet end to the morning!

Looking Ahead
Sunday, May 8 will be our first Story Time at 9:30am on the church lawn. There are some beautiful picture books that can be enjoyed for both their art and their message by all ages. Come for this all ages gathering before our 10:30am Mother’s Day service, featuring our Junior Choir as well as our Chancel Choir!

Community Breakfast, Worship and Annual General Meeting – Sunday May 1st at 10am

May 5, 2022
bacon sandwich on plate

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST, WORSHIP AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

On Sunday, May 1st we will be having a short annual meeting for the congregation, but before the service starts we will have a Community Breakfast outside on the lawn for all ages. Whether or not you plan to attend the service, you are invited to come for 10am have your (likely second) breakfast and take part in activities that will range from signing cards for people in the congregation to drawing all over the sidewalks with sidewalk chalk (the more artists of all ages the better!) We’ll also invite those who are interested to share thoughts (with stickies) about our faith (creating a community prayer together) and where we are going as a church. For those who decide to stay for the worship service and short meeting, there will be a second opportunity to share food together outside at the end.

For more information contact Rev. Emily.

A Message from the COVID-19 Response Team

March 20, 2022

The Covid response team held its final meeting on Thursday, March 17 – just over two years after it was first formed by Council. We know that many people in our congregation are in different places with covid. Some are ready for no restrictions, others wish restrictions would ease out more gradually, while others still remain very cautious. As a community of faith we are invited to care for one another, and to make our physical space as welcoming to everyone as possible at the same time that we recognize we are entering a new phase of this pandemic.

NEW SUNDAY MARCH 20TH:
Singing during worship begins
Distancing encouraged but no longer required – we will have a distancing section
Signing in no longer required

Continued guidance:
Vaccination and boosting encouraged
Distancing encouraged
Please worship from home if you feel unwell
We encourage individual responsibility: do what is needed to feel safe

Masking Update:
Masking required in the building until April 4th (2 weeks after March Break ends)
Masking required for worship and singing indoors until April 27th (when all mask requirements are lifted)
Once requirements are lifted, masks are strongly recommended

Church Building Hours:
The church building will be open from 9-11am on Tuesdays and Fridays
Once our internet is more reliable, we will increase the hours

Here is a little more on what it will be like attending worship in-person in the coming weeks:

When you arrive, you will not need to show proof of vaccination or sign in when you enter – but please remember to don your mask before stepping into the building. You can choose to hang up your coat or to keep it with you – we will continue to try to keep some windows open to increase air circulation.

For those who want to continue distancing, you will see a section of the sanctuary has pews with ribbons marking off every other pew. If you sit in this section, you will signal that you would like to continue distancing and will not have to repeat this to anyone. If you have been looking forward to sitting near friends, please sit in pews that do not have ribbons marking off every other pew.

During our worship service, you are invited to stand (as you are able) and sing for our hymns.

Following the service, you are invited to move around and chat with people in the pews while remaining masked, or to exit and chat outside the church, with or without masks.

A note for choir members and those who look forward to hearing our choir in person: our choir is also looking forward to returning to church. At present, choir members are invited to sit with the congregation for hymns, and then after the Easter anthems are recorded, the choir will begin rehearsing for live congregational singing in mid-April.

Thank You for your support!

Any questions? Please ask Emily Gordon if you would like more details about the decisions of the final Covid response team meeting.