Our Associate Priest moves to new parish

Mother Jennifer - seen here with the newest member of the Sunday School

On February 25,  Father David made the following announcement:

It is with deeply mixed feelings that I announce that Mother Jennifer has been appointed the full-time priest-in-charge of the parish of St. Bede’s in Scarborough and will be concluding her ministry here at SMM on Sunday April 8th. I say with mixed feelings because Jennifer has made a profound and, I hope, lasting impact on the life of this parish over the last four years here, enhancing and enriching our ministries for children and youth, sharing in the priestly ministry of liturgical leadership, preaching and pastoral care. She has challenged us and shown us how to engage in new ways in our community. We will miss her deeply. But, at the same time, I have thought over the whole time she was with us, and have often said to her, that Jennifer has all the gifts and skills to be a wonderful and effective leader in a parish, and I know that now is the right time, and this is the right opportunity, for her to exercise those gifts. I hope you will join me in congratulating Jennifer on her new appointment.

Willan 50 a Resounding Success

Friday 16 February 1968 marked the death of its long term organist and choir master Healey Willan. His musical legacy to the parish continues to this day. Yet his significance as a teacher and composer of more than 800 works is an even greater one, and the parish decided to mark the larger contribution with an appropriate programmatic tribute.  The wider community responded magnificently much to our delight.

Three outstanding organists - two excellent choirs singing the choral repertoire, another singing Gregorian chant - excellent introductions by Master of Ceremonies Giles Bryant - greetings from parishioner, the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and Mary Willan Mason, read by the rector, who also introduced family members of the Willan family - all these made for an unforgettable evening.  A screen off to the side allowed the audience a rare privilege to observe the three organists as they played these demanding works.

And there was more.  Former ritual choir cantor Albert Mahon returned on Sunday afternoon along with other former and current choristers to sing Evensong and Benediction.  Giles Bryant was back conducting the rehearsal in his own inimitable style, bringing wit and wisdom with every instruction for a beautiful and reverential Evensong and Benediction.  Choristers and friends gathered afterwards for wine and cheese and enjoyed hearing stories of "The Doc" from Trish Moffat, Albert and Giles bringing the weekend to a warm and satisfying end.

Pancakes were a Hit

We had an excellent turnout of neighborhood families to enjoy a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper - complete with sausages, crispy bacon and even a pink sauce as an alternative to maple syrup.  We then departed to the back yard for a traditional burning of last year's palms to make this year's ashes for Ash Wednesday.  Some of the same kids returned the next morning for a special program to begin the season of Lent.  Ashes to Go were distributed to neightbours in the early morning in front of the church - and down the street at Euclid and College to a wider public.

A Feast of Light

We celebrate Candlemass 40 days after Christmas which marks the the presentation of Christ in the temple in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke. We also bless the 22 different kinds of candles used in the church throughout the year and pass lighted ones to one another before processing.  It was lovely this year to see several young children taking part.

A new ministry

SMM now has a shawl ministry and for the second time finished shawls were blessed last Sunday.. The benefits are twofold. Knitters pray while knitting. The finished shawls are distributed to those who are sick. As well as providing warmth and comfort, the receiver gains a sense that someone has thought of their need while knitting and piecing the shawl together- though giver and recipient may never meet.  It's most worthwhile.

Fun and Games!

Our second annual games night had great attendance and lots of fun.  This year we invited not only families - but all generations and they came out and participated enthusiastically.  One of the joys was meeting the young family who have recently arrived as refugees for the first time. We are helping them adjust to life in a new country - and in spite of the lack of a common language we communicated well with gestures and smiles. There was no shortage of games and many were tried along with pizza, veggies, and cupcakes for the kids.