The Church of The Messiah

Youth Group Goes on AGO Field Trip
Monday, April 20, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

The Church of The Messiah Youth Group spent a recent Sunday afternoon learning about Christian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The tour, organized as part of their confirmation preparation, highlighted several pieces from the collection including works by Holman Hunt, Rubens, Bernini, and from the Thompson Collection. A member of the congregation who is earning her Ph.D. in Art History at the University of Toronto led the tour. In the first part of the afternoon the youth were asked to reflect on select pieces of work. Later, they were sent in teams on a scavenger hunt through the museum looking for specific pieces. The group enjoyed lunch in the museum cafeteria before heading home. The trip gave the students the chance to learn about how artists have explored issues of faith and how to engage those images.

Easter 2009 Celebrated With Joy
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

This year's Holy Week and Easter Celebrations at Church of The Messiah were joyful, lively, and deeply moving. The community celebrated a solemn Maundy Thursday with a a simple supper followed by Eucharist, foot washing, and the stripping of the Altar. The Confirmation group sat vigil that night and stayed through the Good Friday service the following day. There the Cross was carried into the church and worshippers were asked to asked to contemplate the suffering of the world and the suffering of Christ. Shortly after sunset on Saturday the first Mass of Easter was celebrated with the kindling of the new fire and other ancient Christian Rites. Easter day we danced (literally) and sung joyfully to commemorate our Lord's Resurrection. Afterwards was an Easter Egg hunt. Attendance was up and the energy was abundant as our community celebrated this more important of Christian holidays!

Youth Group Sits Vigil in Church
Saturday, April 11, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

On Maundy Thursday night, the Eve of Good Friday, the Church of The Messiah Youth Group spend the night at the church in immitation of the night Jesus spent with his disciples before his arrest. The group and their teaches prayed, talked, and watched movies. At one point they decided to take a processional cross with them on a long walk up to Casa Loma and back. During their walk in the city they received a number of encouraging comments from passersby. The group stayed the next morning through until the Good Friday service, where they took parts in a dramatic reading of the Passion of the Christ. The evening is one that none are likely to forget!

Our Youth Participate in Annual Evangelist Dinner at Wycliffe
Friday, April 03, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

What a wonderful evening and topic for COTM Youth to be present at. Compliments of our very own Caldwell Family our youth were able to participate in a beautiful dinner at Wycliffe College on Thursday, March 26th, with Nick Brotherwood speaking about Fresh Expressions! Our youth were very well received by everyone present and certainly enjoyed the beautiful meal and fellowship. Thank you to mentors Diana Heath and Charles Waterman for attending and also our Honorary Assistant, Rev'd Marili Moore completing the table. Hopefully next year we can fill two tables with our enterprising youth!