Toronto,
December 8, 2011
Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto
supports Accepting Schools Act, 2011
Welcome to our new Executive Pastor, Rev. Elder Don Eastman
Coping
With Anxiety
Religious Statistics
MCC Toronto is
proud to have Rev. Brent Hawkes
invited to officiate Jack Layton's funeral accompanied
by the Choir of MCC Toronto
"My friends, love
is better than anger.
Hope is better than fear.
Optimism is better than despair.
So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.
And we'll change the world."
Jack Layton from his letter to all Canadians - August 20, 2011
MCC Toronto joins communities and people all over Canada in mourning the
passing of John Gilbert (Jack) Layton. For many people, Jack Layton is
best known as a brash and outspoken fighter for the underdog… the little
guy… everyday people like you and me. His passion, commitment and drive
for the causes he believed in earned him the nickname of the "Energizer
Bunny". As a social activist, a Toronto City Councillor, our local
Member of Parliament and the National Leader of the NDP Party of Canada,
Jack has left behind a legacy of strength and courage and the memory of
a political life well spent. In the arena of the Canadian political
landscape, he will be greatly missed. At MCC Toronto, we will always
remember him as a friend and someone who supported and fought for the
rights of the LGBTQ community, embracing the ideals of equality for
everyone. Jack Layton and his wife and partner Olivia Chow believed in
the same visions held by MCC Toronto of reaching out and building
community through social justice work and an unwavering belief in the
power of hope, optimism and love. The senior pastor of our church, Rev.
Dr. Brent Hawkes, C.M. said, "Whatever our political stripe, I think we
can all mourn the passing of Jack Layton, and carry his family, friends
and colleagues in our prayers. I know I will miss his warm friendship,
his statesmanlike leadership, and his passion for justice." At the
personal request of Jack and Olivia, Rev. Dr. Hawkes will be presiding
over the State Funeral Service on Saturday, August 27th at Roy Thomson
Hall in Toronto. The Choir of MCC Toronto was honoured to be invited to
sing at the service as well.
View clips of Jack Layton's Funeral Service
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawke's Eulogy
MCC Toronto Choir
Stephen Lewis
Mike & Sarah Layton
Video Tribute to Jack Layton
ICM Espana:
Letter from
Carmen Llanos
and letter of thanks from ICM Espana,
Brian Christinakis.
Pride
Letter of Support from Mel Lastman
Building Bridges of
Hope & Freedom for Refugees
Over the past five years MCC Toronto volunteers have been supporting
GLBT refugees in a variety of ways. We have supported inland GLBT
refugees (those claiming refugee status once having landed in Canada)
by hosting monthly peer support groups, providing one-on-one support
to refugees and facilitating financial sponsorship of individual
refugees.
Now, thanks to the generous donation from Margaret and Wallace McCain,
this program will be strengthened and expanded over the next three
years. The new Refugee & Immigration Project will include five
key program features:
+ GLBT Refugee Peer Support Group: This provides a
monthly opportunity for refugees to share their concerns and
experiences and helps the newer refugees navigate the immigration,
social services, legal and financial matters of living in Canada. It
also provides one-on-one support to each refugee in preparation for an
immigration hearing.
+ Refugee and Immigrant Individual Support:
One-on-one support is provided to inland refugees and immigrants who
do not or cannot attend the refugee peer support group.
+ GLBT Refugee Sponsorship Support: Financial support
is provided for up to one year to help with the settlement of MCC
Toronto and Government approved refugees once they arrive in Canada.
Along with the financial support of an individual refugee emotional,
social and spiritual support is offered.
+
Refugee and Immigrant Spiritual Support: A curriculum will be
developed to offer affirming information and spiritual support for
GLBT refugees and immigrants in a small group setting. Qualified
facilitators from various faith traditions will be recruited to lead
these small groups.
+ Advocacy for Justice in Refugee and Immigration Policy:
Conversations on just and effective public policies will be conducted
in collaboration with other organizations, governmental leaders and
agencies, and denominations and faith communities working on matters
related to refugees and immigration.
We are pleased to announce that Brian Brenie will serve as the new
Coordinator of Refugee Programs. In this new staff role Brian will
continue providing leadership for this expanded program to which he
has devoted his passion and skills since the inception of our work
with refugees and immigrants five years ago.
The Refugee & Immigration Project Charter ...ways in which you can
contribute and participate.
MCC Toronto Pays
Tribute to Wallace McCain
MCC Toronto joins communities all over Canada in mourning the passing of
Wallace McCain. For many people, Wallace McCain is best known as an
outstanding businessman, an entrepreneur and philanthropist. At MCC
Toronto, we will always remember him as someone who attended with his
family, and for an amazing gift. In January of 2011, we announced that
the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain and Wallace McCain made a very
generous donation of $1 million to our church. Wallace and Margie
believe in the vision of MCC Toronto, and wanted to help our work
through their gift. The donation is being used to expand our social
justice work, stabilize our finances, and position the church for
growth, both locally and globally, through the internet. The senior
pastor of our church, Rev. Brent Hawkes, said that “This
transformational gift, and the confidence it shows in our work, will
enable us to impact more lives here and around the world. We will be
forever grateful for Wallace & Margie’s generosity.” The McCain family
have asked Rev. Hawkes to be involved in the funeral service on Friday,
May 20, at 1:00 pm, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, at Bloor & Jarvis.
Address of the Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes
Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto
To the Divinity Convocation of Trinity College
May 10, 2011
Letter
from Rev. Brent Hawkes to the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust
Education Center in response to their concerns.
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is
delighted to report on a very positive development following the
response to the
Community Alert issued by our office re the Toronto Gay
Pride parade earlier this week. FSWC was pleased to meet with Reverend
Brent Hawkes, a leader in the gay community, to clarify his position and
is happy to print the following letter by the Reverend.
Letter to the Editor of the Toronto Sun re CAP recommendations
40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY [INFO]
Tearing Down Walls, Building Up Hope
Lead the Way!
Holistic Stewardship invites us to partner with God and take an
active role in our
church, our relationships, our community and our world, in our words and
more
significantly, in our deeds. You're in a position to make a difference
today. R. Marston
We are called to “shared responsibility” as good stewards and we invite
you to prayerfully consider your annual commitment to the work of MCC
Toronto and the work God has called us all to do.
Commit Today!
Your prayerful gifts of time, talents and treasure make the difference
you long to see. Commit today and join us as we continue to Tear Down
Walls and Build Up Hope within and beyond the walls of our church. Your
annual pledge plays a very important part in assisting MCC Toronto to
manage its budget throughout the year.
And Change the
World Forever!
Your pledge today will assist us in planning for the upcoming year of
ministry. To complete your pledge, prayerfully identify your commitment
of time, talent and financial support on the pledge card below and
return it to MCC Toronto.
Our goal is every congregant pledging in fulfillment of our vision of
spirituality, community and social justice for all.
DOWNLOAD OUR CAMPAIGN BROCHURE
DOWNLOAD OUR
Q & A on FINANCIAL GIVING
GIFTS FOR GOD
Our
Heartfelt Thanks to Margaret and Wallace McCain
2010 Celebrati
