All Saints'

for all ages, for all times, for everyone. See yourself here.

Bazaar 2025

Donations, Donations, Donations!!
Cleaning out the garage or basement? Looking to rehome some of your favorite items? Too many craft supplies? Collection of items for our 2025 Bazaar is underway. We are currently looking for wool, craft supplies, jewelry, books and puzzles. Please place the items in the designated area on the stage in the hall. Please label your items according to the categories we are collecting:

  • Christmas & Crafts: Looking for decorations, Christmas items or craft items that could be repurposed for Christmas decor.
  • Wool: Our knitters and crocheters are hard at work and would gladly accept donations of wool. Can you knit or crochet? Consider assisting us with your talent. Dish Cloths, Hats, Headbands, and Gloves have topped the list of favourites!
  • Books & Puzzles: Seeking puzzles and books! Looking for books published from 2007-present.
  • Jewelry: Costume Jewelry, Accessories and supplies gladly accepted. For pieces that may have value, please reach out to Shauna van Hoof directly.

Please remember to return your empty Preserving Jars to the church. There is a black basket in the breezeway, just waiting to be filled. Every dozen returned jars saves the environment, as well as cutting costs by $18. You did an amazing job last year. Let’s do it again this year.

Summer Small-Group Studies

Our newest small-group studies continue throughout the summer. Choose from any of these short three- and four-night Bible studies, each with its own unique theme and style to suit your interests or needs. It’s not too late to join any one of these!

Gracious Presence and Letter Writing
Stop to appreciate yourself, set some goals, and reflect on your experience, in the form of three letters you will write to the younger you, the current you, and the future you.
June 21, July 21 and August 12 @ 7pm
Men’s Bible Study
A relaxed and welcoming men’s Bible study series that dives into scripture, builds faith, and fosters honest conversation and brotherhood.
June 17, July 8, July 22, August 5, August 19 @ 7pm 
Widows of Faith: A Deep Dive into the Book of Ruth
 A look at Ruth’s place in the history of God’s people, and the significance of this story for God’s plan. 
June 24, July 15, August 5 @ 7pm
Practising Your Faith:  Young Adults
Exploring faith, real-life questions, & community through scripture, conversation & shared experience.
July 10, August 7, September 4 @ 7:30pm
Strength & Faith Together
For those with cancer and their caregivers – come and pray and study the scriptures with others on a cancer journey. (Max. 8 participants)
August 7, 14 & 21 @ 7pm
Note: this group meets at an off-site location; contact us at office@nullallsaintswhitby.org  or 905- 668-5101 to register and get the address
Prayer and Adult Colouring
Learn how even something simple like colouring can be an act of prayer.  
June 25, July 8, August 13 @ 7pm
Note: this group meets at an off-site location; contact us at office@nullallsaintswhitby.org  or 905- 668-5101 to register and get the address

Jesus in the Great Outdoors (online)
From the deck, dock, campsite or cottage, meet Arleane online for a discussion group celebrating the joys of creation in summer and delving into Jesus’ experience of outdoor ministry.
August 13, 14 & 15 @ 7pm
Note: this group will meet online only at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86738553724
Meeting ID: 867 3855 3724

Questions and comments can be directed to the Christian Education team at christianed@nullallsaintswhitby.org

 

 

Deacon Joanne’s Thought and Prayer

Thought and Prayer of the Day
by Deacon Joanne Warman

July 17, 2025

How many of you know someone who was born on this date? The list of people born on this date is really quite extensive. I googled “people born on July 17” and got a list of 100 names – Phyllis Diller, Queen Camilla, David Hasselhoff and Angela Merkel to name a few.

Today is July 17th and for me personally it is a day to reflect on individuals in my life who share one thing in common with this date – it is or was their birthday – a cousin, a long-time friend, my late brother-in-law, and another friend who has since died.

The word birthday simply means the day that you are born. We may be born on different days (and years) but we all have a birthday. We all celebrate our birthdays in different ways depending on where we are in life. The excitement a child feels for the week leading up to finally turning double digits is not same feeling an adult might be feeling as they are looking to enter into a new decade. One thing is for certain you can not change what the number on the cake will be each year. Birthdays need to be embraced, a time to take stock of where we are at and to give thanks to God for all He has done in the year leading up to your birthday. As you pause and reflect on those people you know who were born today or around this day stop and give thanks for what they mean to you. Reach out and connect with them if they are still on earth.

In Matthew 6:34 we read the familiar words “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things”. Birthdays happen – let’s all be like that 9 year old and be filled with excitement about our birthday coming. Don’t worry that maybe your memory isn’t as good as it was or the fact you are now toting around reading glasses and making your computer font another size bigger. Let us rejoice in the new year God as given us!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, as we embark on a new year of life, grant us the wisdom to make decisions that honour You. Illuminate our paths with Your light, and help us to trust in Your plans for our lives. Amen.

Jacky’s Thought and Prayer

July 10, 2025

Weeds in a Weary World

If you have ever tended a garden, you will know only too well about pulling weeds. The first challenge is to identify what the weeds look like, and this is not always easy. As we know, “weeds” are simply plants that you do not wish to have in your garden. Dandelions, for example are the scourge of people who wish to cultivate pristine lawns, while others may harvest the leaves for salads, or make wine with the plants. A field of yellow dandelions is also a sight to behold, and who doesn’t remember as a child “telling the time”, by blowing on a dandelion flower which has gone to seed? The main problem with weeds is that they tend to become invasive and crowd out other desirable plants.

One of the most satisfying parts of weeding is extracting the bothersome plant by the roots, but this can be difficult. Weeds tend to have deep roots to ensure their survival during times of drought. If the root doesn’t come out, the weed will simply grow back.
The Jewish people in Jesus’ time would have been very familiar with the rigours of agriculture. When Jesus told the story of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-29), the weeds, planted by “an enemy”, are allowed to grow among the wheat, but are removed and burned at harvest time. Sowing darnel, a weed that is hard to distinguish from wheat until the head matures, was a way for enemies to destroy someone’s livelihood with catastrophic consequences. Today, I am always on the lookout for the pesky dog-strangling vine in my garden. It looks like almost any other plant at first, but sprouts up quickly and can easily choke out everything around it. I was once on a hiking trail that was completely covered in it, making the path impassable. The name is well-deserved!
In the parable, weeds represent the things which separate us from God. They can take many forms, such as the worries of life, negative thoughts, obsession with wealth and possessions and a thirst for power. At this time especially, when the world is so broken and full of terrible news, it is easy to lose sight of God’s presence. There is a collective angst which threatens to bring us down if we don’t find ways to eradicate it (eradicate: from the Latin eradicare, to tear up by the roots).
I ask myself what things keep me at arm’s length from God? It’s not always obvious, and is often a matter of balance. God created us to enjoy life to the full, both in work and play, but I realize that if I allow one pursuit to crowd out everything else (like that dog-strangling vine!) I feel out of sorts. My prayer life suffers when I allow myself to become too preoccupied by other matters. Do I spend too much time fretting over the horrors of world events which are beyond my control, instead of looking for ways to help people in my community? Do I spend more time following online posts than actually communicating with other people? How do I share my wealth? Do I allow myself to be seduced by ads in the media which urge me to spend on an item “because you deserve it”?

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to “Seek first God’s kingdom” (6:33). The Message puts it this way, “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”  I know I’ll never get it completely right, but even the process of taking stock is a good first step.

PRAYER of Saint Augustine of Hippo
You have made us for yourself, O Lord,
And our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.

Visit Us

All Saints’ Anglican Church
300 Dundas Street West
Whitby, Ontario
L1N 2M5
Canada

Deacon’s Cupboard (Food Bank)
Tues & Fri 10am-1pm

 

Summer Sunday Services

(June 29-September 7 inclusive)

8:00 a.m.
Quiet and Contemplative Communion
Service Using Historic Language

10:00 a.m.
Shorter Communion Service Blending Contemporary and Classical Anglican Liturgy
(also joinable by Zoom)

See Upcoming Services for more information

We acknowledge that this church is built on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Iroquoian-speaking Wendat, and 1923 Williams Treaties First Nations. We recognize the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples on this land.

Office Hours:

Tuesday to Friday:
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Tel: (905) 668-5101
office@nullallsaintswhitby.org

All Saints’ is a 2SLGBTQQIA+ affirming parish.