The Church of The Messiah

Daycare Celebrates 30th Anniversary
Wednesday, December 09, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

This year the Daycare of the Church of The Messiah celebrated it's 30th year of excellence in early education with a party and special blessing on Sunday, November 29th. The Daycare was founded as a ministry of the Church of The Messiah to the surrounding neighbourhood, and we are proud that it has continued to thrive in this capacity. In the photo, Daycare Board President Dr. Diana Heath stands with Father Tay and Daycare Manager Jennifer Adams.

Argo Game-The Real Deal
Monday, November 23, 2009

posted by Kerrie

Labels: The Real Deal

Women's Bible Study

posted by Kerrie

Tuesday evenings 7 p.m. in the Childrens Chapel, we are studying Ephesians, Encounters with God, all welcome

Labels: Women's Bible Study

Theological Intern Doug Clark Joins COTM
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

Douglas Clark, a student at Wycliffe Seminary, has joined the staff at Church of The Messiah for the academic year beginning this fall. Doug is a cradle Anglican born in Woodstock, Ontario, and raised mostly in the rural Southwestern Ontario. Before pursuing his call to ordained ministry, Doug served in the OPP and the Air Force. He has served Methodist congregations in Kentucky and is currently finishing his final year of the Masters of Divinity Programme at Wycliffe College. Doug has come to the Church of The Messiah as a field-education placement, and looks forward to partaking in a variety of ministry opportunities here.

Eric Osborne Hired as New Minister of Music
Thursday, September 03, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

The Wardens and Rector of the Church of The Messiah are pleased to announce that they have hired Mr. Eric Osborne to be the new Minister of Music. The search for a new person to lead musical aspects of worship at the church drew many fine applications, and the committee was nearly overwhelmed by the quality of many of those expressing interest. However, Eric stood out as the best choice based on his qualifications, skill, and vocational discernment.

A native of St. Mary's, Ontario, Eric's first exposure to the organ and Anglican church music was as a boy chorister at his home parish, St. James. Since then he has studied organ with eminent Canadian, American, and English organists, and possesses a Bachelor of Music Performance degree in organ and church music from the University of Toronto, and an Associateship Diploma of the American Guild of Organists.

Between 1997 and 2000 he was the Organ Scholar at Trinity College and the Healey Willan Organ Scholar at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto. He has served at Anglican/Episcopal Churches in New York State, Alberta and Ontario.

Besides his duties as a parish musician, Eric finds time to lead workshops in church music. For six years he was the musician in residence at the Finger Lakes Conference in upstate New York. He has taught courses in hymnody, modern Anglican music, and singing. His interests in Anglican music include modern Anglican music and liturgy, psalmody, and organ performance especially the English organ tradition and North German organ traditions that influenced J.S. Bach. He has published several articles on organ history in Canada, psalmody, and enriching a music ministry. His written
works also include several anthem settings, hymn tunes, and a complete cycle of psalms for the lectionary. He has also recorded a compact disc of organ music, "The voice of prayer" featuring an 1888 Walter Spencer tracker instrument and 1919 Casavant in Owen Sound, Ontario.

His non-musical interests include cooking, iconography, gardening and English murder mysteries. He has taught courses on iconography and "writes" icons in his spare time. He is married (Sarah) and has two daughters (Clara and Sophie) and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bella.

This appointment marks the beginning of a new time at Church of The Messiah, and the staff and leadership of the parish are very excited to welcome him aboard!

Hiring New Minister of Music
Friday, July 10, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

The Church of The Messiah, an Anglican parish on corner of Dupont and Avenue Road in the Annex, is looking for a part-time Minister of Music to enrich our worship and expand our horizons by heading up our music programmes. Although small (less than 100 on a typical Sunday) we have been experiencing renewal in the last two years thanks to new clergy leadership and a renewed emphasis on mission to neighbourhood families. We are a truly diverse lot with Anglo, Caribbean, Asian, and African roots. We have a disproportionately high number of kids and have embraced the opportunity they represent.

Musically the parish enjoys an eclectic repertoire as diverse as gospel, rock, traditional Anglican hymns, chant, and African music. We have even been known to do congregational liturgical dance from time-to-time! Our Rector, Administrator, Director of Children's and Youth Ministry, and you will work in a highly collaborative way to create liturgies that are at once relaxed and deeply meaningful. This is a congregation that loves creativity and trusts our leadership. It's a warm place that will welcome your creativity and follow your lead.

We are looking for someone with a strong background in congregational singing and a keen sense of vocational music ministry. You have a heart for mission and believe that you can show people God's love through music. You can play our pipe organ, but may prefer to use our grand piano, a djembe drum, your voice, or talented parishioners. We have a small volunteer choir that has traditionally rehearsed once a week in addition to a paid Cantor whom you will supervise. There is money in the budget for guest musicians for special feasts of the church year. In the past we have used our excellent acoustics to put on concerts for the neighbourhood, and expect that music will continue to be an important tool for evangelism. The position would commence on September 1st.

We are a funky church in the heart of Toronto eager to explore God's love and mission through music. If you would like to join our team, please e-mail or snail-mail your résumé by August 10 to

Rev'd Tay Moss
240 Avenue Road
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2J4
taymoss@churchofthemessiah.ca
http://www.churchofthemessiah.ca
(t) 416.922.4371
For more information and a full job description:
http://www.churchofthemessiah.ca/mofm.html

Spring Fling 2009 Adds Flowers and Fun
Sunday, June 14, 2009

posted by Tay Moss

Every year the church holds a "Spring Fling" to plant the landscaping around the church. Like last year, this event was well attended by adults and children alike. After a day of beautifying the church and talking with neighbours passing by, the COTM crew headed over to the always-popular BBQ and Pool Party hosted by one of our families. The Rev'd Tay Moss continued the tradition of being the first one to dive into the pool with a massive cannonball. Every year this event provides an opportunity to enjoy each other's company and make a positive impact on our surrounding neighbourhood.