Camp in Session - Day 3

Campers now feel at home; the energy level is high and friendships form as they get to know one another. They continued to learn new songs and movement routines under music leader Kim’ s direction.

Story leader Viola told us about Joseph’s dream:

A highlight at snack time was a gingerbread cartouche. These cookies that mirror yesterday’s craft assignment received expert help from camper Lara.

And with the return of good weather, campers followed an indoor game with one or two outside - though dumping the water from a bird bath wasn’t included in the rules . . .

In the afternoon we visited the ROM. The children’s room was a great place for dressing up.

Camp in Session - Day 2

The camp routines are falling in place - first games and colouring followed by assembling with leader Adam. Then the shoes come off for music and dance with Kim.

Yesterday’s Welcome Song and dance is remembered and starting to make sense.

Then it’s time to hear more about the story of Joseph - some of it carefully edited for young ears - and then time for snack billed as an Egyptian Feast served on gold bordered plates. Both olives and dates were surprisingly popular.

It was too wet to go outside, but we had a visit from our historian, Martha, who told us about Egypt, while our newest camper looked on - still recovering from an international flight. Meanwhile the collars made yesterday were on display and showed the talents of artists of all ages. Today’s craft project involved making a cartouche and Mother Johanna, our new curate,dropped by to observe.

And it seemed a great day to visit the Gardiner Museum in the afternoon and work with clay. After brief instruction, the campers get to work and produce some amazing results.

Summer Camp Begins - Day 1

Camp began with a flourish as children arrived to travel to Egypt and the land of the Pharaohs - or at least as our converted church hall imagines it to be.- to learn about Joseph and his amazing adventures as dreamer, prisoner and viceroy to the Pharaoh. It’s also a story about brothers and how they reconcile. We started the morning adventure with 17 eager campers and another expected tomorrow. It’s our fifth consecutive camp and for each one we welcome children who return and those who attend for the first time.

Those who arrive early have a chance to get acquainted while the story lady checks the topic. When the drum sounds, the shoes come off and everyone follows the music lady in a lively procession; and then has a chance to learn everyone’s name through an active game where each camper invents a special move and the others follow and try to remember it.

Designer snacks are a camp tradition. The kitchen crew outdid themselves yet again by creating small one eyed mummified bananas as well as vegetables and pretzels.

Then it was time to get organized into two groups. Campers ranged from four to eleven in age and headed off to games and crafts appropriate to their ages and abilities.

Our Fifth Parish Fun Day

The block between Manning and Euclid on Ulster Street sported barricades and nearby Healey Willan Park had an additional permit as we loaded tables, awnings, games and craft supplies once more for our annual celebration of our Festival Weekend. It’s a great way to share the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene with our neighbours. It wasn’t long before families started to arrive on the morning of July 20th..

The first place to visit is the Bouncy Castle much loved by local children - and even adults!

Games of many kinds come out every year challenging both kids and their parents. For the first time our new curate, Mtr. Johanna Pak, was called into action. Bubble wand and dice- throwing proficiency grow with practice and Jenga blocks find a new use..

On a hot day face painting and crafts under a shady tree are good options.

The kitchen crew arrived on the lawn at 12:00 after preparations in the kitchen and many took advantage of a free lunch.

And even on a hot day, traditional church picnic races provide the right ending for the day. Age didn’t disqualify some of the winners, and marshmallow on a spoon was a suitable reward. A three legged race gave showed that being a twin meant you had more experience in working together.

And then the drama of the grand finale event before a dip in the wading pool. There is nothing quite like throwing a wet sponge into a basketball net mounted on a hat. Thanks especially to the Children and Youth Team - Adam, Melisa and Alice for their leadership and initiative.

Master Gardener Talk on Pollinator Gardens - 1 June, 1.00-3.00 pm

Join us on Saturday, 1 June, from 1.00-3.00 pm for a talk on Pollinator Gardens by Toronto Master Gardener Joyce Tan.

As our church community begins to ‘green’ our yard by creating a native plant garden, we are keen to reach out to the greater community to let them know what we are doing with our space, and why. Joyce is very knowledgeable and passionate about this issue, and there is much that those of us who live in cities can do to help and support wild bees, butterflies, and other insects that keep our gardens alive.

Learn how to identify native pollinators and why they are important to the environment, what sort of plants are best to attract native pollinators, and how to make your garden more attractive and friendly to these helpful and beneficial insects.

The talk will take place in the church itself and there will be time for Q&A. Come yourself, and tell your gardener friends!

Rotary AIDS Walk

This coming Saturday, the St. Mary Magdalene Marchers are walking a very important 5k in support and alongside our friends from Latinos Positivos.  This year will be our 9th year of participation and our 8th year supporting Latinos Positivos! 

Some important facts about Latinos Positivos:

·  They are an organization that is 100% volunteer run.  They count St. Mary Magdalene as one of their main sponsors (meaning they rely heavily on the money we raise at this walk).

·  They provide services to the Spanish-speaking HIV/AIDS community in Toronto.

·  These services include counselling, translations, interpretation, settlement support, positive prevention, office services, the registration process (intake) and more.  

·  Currently, Latinos Positivos receives an average of one new HIV+ client a day!

Learn more about their mission in this presentation.

The attached presentation has more information about this life-saving and hope-bringing organization. Take a look through it to learn more.  

Some very exciting news is that Latinos Positivos has been named as the walk's residual beneficiary!!!  This means that in addition to the money we raise, a portion of all money raised by all walkers will go to Latinos Positivos.  

Please consider making a donation and/or join the team and walk with us! Our goal is to raise a minimum of $2,000, and we have currently reached just over 10% of our goal. 

Make a donation: 

Thank you in advance for your support!