Activities

Serving the Pickering Community:

Social Programmes:

Our congregation plays an active role in the direct support of some of the less fortunate members of the local community:

Pickering Food Bank

Our congregation was instrumental in the formation of the local Food Bank, and continues to support this program through regular food drives.

Winter Clothing Co-op

In early autumn, members of the congregation and surrounding community are encouraged to donate winter clothing that they will no longer use, so that it can be re-distributed to others that are in need. The donations (coats, boots, hats, mittens, gloves, and other warm clothing for children) are dropped off at the church, where they are regularly sorted by volunteers from the congregation, and prepared for distribution through one of the following programmes:

Winter Clothing Exchange

A co-operative program for all congregation members and residents of the community. Participants may choose items from a selection of adult's and children's clothing, in exchange for clothing that no longer meets their current needs.

Operation Chill-Out

A project which provides clothing directly to homeless people on the streets. A portion of the clothing gathered through the Winter Clothing Co-op is utilized to fill this need.

Motel Project

A program for sheltering homeless people/families in Toronto. Some of the clothing from the Winter Clothing Co-op is directed to this project.

Operation Backpack

In addition to the obvious need for food and clothing, school-age children in some of the disadvantaged families have the need for school supplies. Operation Backpack accepts donations of these items, and then distributes complete backpacks to needy students. Items needed for donation include pencils, erasers, rulers, pens, pencil crayons, washable markers, crayons, highlighters, pencil cases, duo-tangs, dividers, math sets, reusable drinking boxes, 3-holed paper (plain and lined), graph paper and binders. Cash donations and fund-raising proceeds are used to purchase needed items where the demand exceeds the supply from donations.

Use of Church Facilities:

We also support a variety of community groups through their use of the Church building at a variety of times during the day and evening. Some of the groups and organizations that are regular users of our facilities include:

Fellowship

The following are just a few of the activities that our congregation members participate in, and that might also interest you:

Musical Groups

Senior Choir

A choral group open to all youth and adults. This choir participates in most regular and special worship services throughout the year, typically presenting one anthem per service. In addition, there is occasionally a special seasonal performance during the Easter or Christmas period.

The Senior Choir also presents an annual "Cabaret", as a fund-raising event for the Music programme. This performance features a mix of secular and non-secular musical selections by the choir, and a variety of solos, duets and ensembles, complemented by a Hymn Sing.

Practices are Wednesday evenings from 7:00 ro 8:30 pm in the sanctuary.

Groups

United Church Women (UCW)

This group is open to any and all women of the congregation, with activities that range from social and fund raising events through engaging guest speakers about various topics of interest. There are two "units" of the UCW, the Afternoon Unit, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 12:30 pm, and the Evening Unit, which meets on the first Sunday of each month at 7:30 pm.

Youth Group

This enthusiastic and active group meets monthly for fun and community outreach. Youth in grades 7 through 12 are invited to come along, and bring a friend. Planned activities include skating, tobogganing, bowling, rock climbing, hiking, and much, much more.

Mid-Week Groups

These three groups all meet (separately) at the church on Tuesday nights starting a 7:00 pm, and are referred to collectively as the Mid-week Groups. They do a variety of activities including crafts, events, outings and studies suited to the age of the group.

Craft Class

A "working" session that provides an opportunity for socializing, as well as to partake in handiwork for selling at the annual "Deck Your Halls" Christmas Bazaar. Meetings are held on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 AM in the church Board Room.

Crafty Ladies

Crafty people are invited to join this social group whose primary focus  is to produce items for the Sewing Table and the Card Table for the  annual Deck Your Halls Bazaar and Craft Show.  They meet throughout the  year on Thursdays at 9:30 AM at the church.

Religious Study

Adult Social Activities