Shining Waters

Seniors Social
2024-06-11 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | St. Matthew’s United Church, Toronto, 729 St. Clair Ave W., Toronto, Ontario, M6C 1B3, Canada
Come for a visit, play cards or games, make something by hand, catch up on old friends or make new ones in the St. Matthew’s Parlour from 1-3 pm. Contact Betsy Anderson (andersonbetsy528@gmail.com) if you have questions. All are welcome!

Queer Youth United
2024-06-11 16:00 - 20:00, 2024-07-09 16:00 - 20:00 | Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M4E 2T4, Canada
Please join us on Tuesdays from 4 pm – 8pm every week – you may drop in at any time between those hours!
Queer Youth United (QYU) is a 2SLGBTQ+ youth group for ages 15-29, where you can come and engage with others in a safe space within the community, while sharing meals, finding support and resources.
We will have more information and photos on our Instagram account over at https://instagram.com/queeryouthunited

Jazz in the Courtyard
2024-06-14, 2024-06-21 | St. Andrew’s United Church, Toronto, 117 Bloor St. East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 1A9, Canada
St. Andrew’s United Church, Toronto invites you to Jazz in the Courtyard featuring the Tom Reynolds Trio and refreshments.

Godly Play Core Training
2024-06-14 18:00 - 21:00 | Toronto Chinese United Church, 3300 Kennedy Rd., Scarborough, ON, M1V 3S8, Canada
Over two weekends, you will experience and tell Godly Play stories, and learn how to set up and manage a Godly Play space and session. You will deepen your understanding of the spirituality of children. You will achieve greater clarity about the foundations of Godly Play, and leave spiritually refreshed. Whether you practice Godly Play or not, you will learn ways to creatively share the stories of the Christian faith and help children learn a religious language that will last a lifetime.

Queer Forum in Celebrating Pride Month
2024-06-15 17:00 - 19:00 | GoodTree Korean United Church, 255 Finch west, Toronto, ON, M4Y 1R6, Canada
It is a queer forum event for Korean-speaking people, that will be hosted by Good Tree Korean UC in celebrating Pride Month.
Theme: “Building a hospitable community of faith with Queers”
Panelists: Hyerim Park and Yeseullyn Lee
Date and time: Saturday, June 15 at 5:00pm
Place: Good Tree Korean United Church
255 Finch Ave W, North York, ON M2R 1M8 (parking available)
Language: This event will be held in the Korean language.

Blessing of the Pets Service
2024-06-16 10:30 - 23:30 | Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M4E 2T4, Canada
Join us at Beach United Church (140 Wineva Ave.) for our Blessing of the Pets outdoor service on Sunday, June 16th at 10:30am. All pets are welcome – from cats to cockatiels and hamsters to hares!
–
In church tradition, the Day of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, has become known as a day to bless animals. The link to St. Francis and blessing animals flows from his theological stance regarding the care of creation and a belief of the interconnectedness of all things.

Ross and Friends Concert 2024
2024-06-16 15:00 - 17:00 | Knox United Church Agincourt, 2569 Midland Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M1S 1R3, Canada
Ross and Friends is a gathering of musicians to celebrate music.
Tickets are $30 and are available at the door.

Queer Forum in Celebrating Pride Month
2024-06-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Ontario
Invitation to Queer Forum in Celebrating Pride Month
Theme: “Building a hospitable community of faith with Queers”
Panelists: Hyerim Park and Yeseullyn Lee
Date and time: June 15, Saturday at 5:00 p.m
Place: Good Tree Korean United Church
255 Finch Ave W, North York, ON M2R 1M8 (parking available)
Language: This event will be held in Korean language.

Jam Nite - Summer Edition!
2024-06-17 19:00 - 20:15 | Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M4E 2T4, Canada
Jam Nite is back at Beach United Church, kicking off with a special summer jam edition. Beat the heat and come out on June 17 at 7pm to jam with fellow community members on musical favourites old and new.
Bring your voice, your instrument, a song to share, and join us for a fun, relaxed jam session. All skill levels are welcome – even complete beginners; all you need is enthusiasm to make music together. All ages are welcome!
–
If you don’t have an instrument and prefer not to sing, you are still welcome to join us and choose from a wide variety of percussion instruments to shake and groove along. Feel free to bring your own song (with provided chords or sheet music), or choose from a binder selection of songs we have at the church.

Let's Connect: Lay Leaders Webinar - Governance and Living Faith Stories
2024-06-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom, Canada
Leaders: Governance Task Group of Shining Waters Communities of Faith Commission
Many churches are facing stagnation from a lack of volunteers, overworked staff, and lack of vision or mission. There are outdated board structure that require more volunteers than some churches have members, ministers and office administrators end up taking on more work, and no-one’s quite sure where the community is going.
If this sounds like your church, join us on Wednesday, June 19 for a workshop on Governance Structures and Living Faith Stories. Eun-Joo Park will lead us through a review of different governance structures used in the United Church, and Tom MacNeil will refresh us on what a Living Faith Story is and why it’s vital that churches have one (don’t worry, they don’t take much to start).
This is a joint webinar with Canadian Shield and Shining Waters lay leaders. There is no cost for this workshop but pre-registration here is required. We hope you can join us!

The Spark: Tech Free Evening Worship
2024-06-20 18:30 - 19:15 | Glen Rhodes Campus, 1470 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4L 2A3, Canada
A spark to ignite. A spark to pass on.
This Thursday evening worship offering at Glen Rhodes (1470 Gerrard Street East) is meant to nourish those:
-who need a break from screens and technology
-who find it difficult to attend worship on Sunday mornings
-who are interested in a more intimate and informal worship experience
The service lasts between 30 and 45 minutes and is led by Rev. Bri-anne Swan, who provides accompaniment for hymns and music on guitar.
The worship space is accessible to wheelchairs via an elevator. If you plan on attending and require use of the elevator, please email: bswan@eastendunited.ca

Keeping watch: a vigil for Ramiro and Bri-anne
2024-06-26 09:00 - 21:00 | Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M4K 1N6, Canada
On June 26 a prisoner in Texas will be executed for crimes he committed twenty years ago. Rev. Bri-anne Swan of East End United first made contact with Ramiro Gonzales ten years ago as prisoner pen pal. (See Broadview article here) Now that all appeals have been exhausted, she will be with him all day on June 26 as his spiritual advisor. Everyone is invited to pray and keep watch throughout the day for Ramiro, Rev. Bri-anne, others facing the death penalty, those charged with performing the execution, their families and all others involved in capital punishment.
Sign up at robinwardlaw@eastendunited.ca for a half hour of keeping watch at home between 9 a.m. and 4 that day, or if you live nearby, join with others in person at the Eastminster Campus, 310 Danforth Ave. for an hour or two between 4 and 9 p.m. (The execution is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern Time.) Light nourishment provided around 6.

Rimbala Classes for Seniors
2024-06-26 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-07-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Ontario
Rimbala is an evidence-based falls prevention program that uses music as the principle means of intervention. Based on the work of visionary Swiss composer Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, Rimbala enjoys one of the highest falls prevention results in the world, with a 54% reduction in falls for community-dwelling seniors.
Older adults improve their gait (walking style), mobility, cognitive skills and social intelligence in a relaxed but joyous setting. The improvised music brings fresh neuroplastic experiences that improves the connection between the body and brain in ways that conventional exercise cannot. Because music is broadly distributed in the brain, there is a hypothesis that gentle exercise with cognitive components can prevent participants from the ravages of dementia — including Alzheimer’s.
For more information, please visit: www.rimbala.com
Classes are held at:
Rosedale United Church 159 Roxborough Dr, Toronto Wednesdays 11:30 AM-12:30 PM $20.00 per session
and online at various times throughout the week.
Please contact Dr. Daniel Rubinoff: 416.709.8381 doctor.rimbala@gmail.com

Dorothy's Place- Weekly
2024-07-01 11:30 - 14:00 | Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 4P8, Canada
Dorothy’s Place is a weekly drop-in program for 2SLGBTQIA+, questioning, and allied older adults and seniors aged 50+.
We offer homemade meals, workshop and educational programming, and social opportunities.
We are open on Mondays from 11:30am-2pm.

Toby's Place- Weekly
2024-07-01 15:30 - 20:30 | Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 4P8, Canada
Toby’s Place is a weekly drop-in program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, folks questioning their gender and/or sexuality, and friends and allies, 23-years-old and under. We feature meals from scratch, workshop or entertainment programming, a clothing swap, book swap corner, and more!
We run on Mondays from 3:30pm-8:30pm.
​

The Spark
2024-07-04 18:30 - 19:30 | Glen Rhodes Campus, 1470 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4L 2A3, Canada
A break from screens. A joining of community.
The Spark is a back to basics time in community. We gather around a table as we worship and share a simple meal of soup and bread. We listen to old stories in new ways, and share those things that are on our hearts.

The GO Project Youth Mission Program
2024-07-06 - 2024-07-14 | Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4E 1T1, Canada
A mission trip in your own backyard. Eight days packed with community engagement, spiritual growth, and reaching out to others.
During the program, participants and staff reside at the host church, cook and eat together, serve with local environmental and social justice organizations, and discern how they are being called into action in their own lives and communities through discernment workshops. Youth programs provide the mission trip experience without having to leave Canada, and for a fraction of the cost.
Our hope is that each participant and staff have an ‘aha-moment’ while at GO, serving others, breaking bread together, and having fun with one another, and can leave the program with an action plan on how they can act and serve with their own gifts and skills in their communities. In the past, GO Project participants have created community gardens, meal programs, and resolved to offer their time and gifts in various other ways.
Age of participants: 12-16

QueerSpace
2024-07-07 14:00 - 2024-10-06 16:00 | Cummer Avenue United Church, 53 Cummer Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 2E5, Canada
See attached image
1st and 3rd Sunday every month until summer break

Vacation Bible Camp
2024-07-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Windermere United Church, 356 Windermere Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3L3, Canada
Theme: Olympic-Sized Faith
This weeklong camp will run from 9 a.m. – 12 noon Monday, July 8th to Friday July 12th! The cost is 20$/child or $50/family with bursaries available.
Join us for games, crafts, snacks, and more! Ages 5-12 years.

Roncy Flea
2024-07-13 10:00 - 16:00 | Roncesvalles United Church, 240 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M6R 1M3, Canada
Get ready to indulge in a captivating and refined shopping experience at the highly anticipated Roncy Flea Market. Set to take place in the heart of Roncesvalles, this unique event promises to delight even the most discerning shoppers. Step into a world where vintage charm meets contemporary style, as you wander through a maze of beautifully curated stalls. From retro furniture and rare collectibles to handmade artisanal crafts and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces, Roncy Flea Market offers a wide array of treasures to cater to diverse tastes.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a fashion enthusiast, or simply someone seeking a unique shopping experience, the Roncy Flea Market is the perfect destination
ATTENTION VENDORS: Still accepting applications for August and September. See www.roncesvallesuc.com/events-1 for application links
Please email roncyflea@gmail.com for more info

14th Annual Roncy Book Sale
2024-07-13 10:00 - 16:00 | Roncesvalles United Church, 240 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M6R 1M3, Canada
Please join us July 13th from 10am-4pm for the 14th Annual Roncesvalles United Church Book Sale!
Hundreds of books in all subjects with ongoing new stock
$3/book or 4 for $10
Kids books $2 and up
Come check us out!

Scarborough Vendor and Community Fair
2024-07-13 11:00 - 17:00 | Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 4P8, Canada
Toby’s and Dorothy’s Places present Scarborough Vendor and Community Fair. Support local artisans, meet community members and help make a difference.

🌟 Join Us for "7 Minutes with the Spirit" 🌟
2024-07-14 | Ontario
Take a few moments each week to nourish your soul and deepen your faith with “7 Minutes with the Spirit.” A new reflection will be posted every Sunday during the summer, please join us for a brief yet meaningful reflection, scripture reading, and prayer designed to inspire and uplift. Whether you’re at home, at the cottage, or wherever your adventures take you, these reflections offer a peaceful pause to connect with God and embrace the beauty of creation. Subscribe now and let these moments of spiritual reflection bring peace, gratitude, and spiritual growth into your life.
View the most recent episode https://youtu.be/TvHVgefHN4c
And if it catches your interest, you can catch up on the older episodes https://www.youtube.com/@7MinutesWithTheSpirit

The United Church of Canada Foundation’s Fall 2024 grant round is now open!
2024-07-18 | online, 12 Craiglee Drive, Scarborough, Ontario, M1N 2L6, Canada
The United Church of Canada Foundation’s Fall 2024 grant round is now open!
Seeds of Hope grants support unique and innovative ventures that are ready to make an impact in our United Church and beyond. We are excited to learn what you’re up to!
The Joint Grants Committee is now welcoming applications for new, unique projects which are:
• Providing innovative seniors’ ministry
• Celebrating and encouraging children and youth
• Addressing environmental and social justice issues
• Looking at new ways to provide ministry and support during transition periods
• Facilitating experiencing faith and spirituality
Also granting this round are the Rowntree Scholarship, Alvin Dixon Memorial Bursary, Promotion Project Fund, Centennial Granting Fund and United, we.
Seeds of Hope applications are due October 15, 2024; other deadlines vary, so please check the terms before you apply. Learn more: http://unitedchurchfoundation.ca/grants/seeds-of-hope/

Nobleton and Schomberg United Church mid-week potluck services
2024-07-24 17:30 - 20:00, 2024-07-31 17:30 - 20:00 | Ontario
Want to spend some time at the cottage this summer and miss Sunday morning services?
Join us every Wednesday evening for our delightful Summer Potluck Dinner Series, where the heart of our gatherings is sharing in singing hymns, engaging with scripture and reflections, and, most importantly, enjoying a meal in community. Each evening is a time of joyful fellowship, delicious food, and spiritual enrichment, celebrating the blessings of unity and abundance. These weekly dinners offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with one another, deepen our faith, and experience the warmth of God’s love through music, reflection, and the simple act of sharing a meal. Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to creating beautiful memories together in the spirit of hospitality and togetherness.
The dinners will be alternating between Nobleton United Church (6076 King Rd, Nobleton) and Schomberg United Church (116 Church St, Schomberg) each week, and Nobleton will be hosting the dinner on July 24th. Please contact Rev. Gardner (pastor.schomberg.nobleton@gmail.com) to confirm the location.

3 New United Church of Canada Foundation Grant Opportunities
2024-08-01 | online, 12 Craiglee Drive, Scarborough, Ontario, M1N 2L6, Canada
The United Church of Canada Foundation is thrilled to announce 3 exciting new grant programs that will commence this Fall!
Introducing a huge boost to our trust-based granting program: “United, we”, our new dedicated trust-based granting stream!
In each of the next two years (2024 and 2025), up to $100,000 will be available through ‘United, we’ to support impactful existing work at United Church organizations and partners who otherwise would not qualify for funding through current granting programs.
Centennial Granting Fund
As we approach the United Church of Canada Centennial, many communities of faith will be eager to hold services and activities in celebration. This program will provide funding for events marking the milestone, emphasizing the importance of uniting to commemorate this historic achievement.
Communities of faith and other organizations planning special events to commemorate the Centennial can apply for grants of up to $5,000.
Promotion Project Fund
Owing to the generosity and creativity of a Foundation donor, this program will provide grants of up to $10,000 to support congregations in their marketing efforts as they seek to attract members, promote their vital ministries, and retain a strong community presence.
Learn more and apply now: https://unitedchurchfoundation.ca/united-church-of-canada-foundation-new-grant-programs/
