New to Redeemer
Welcome to our community of faith. If you are looking for a church to call home, we hope this may be the place. People come to the Church of the Redeemer for a variety of reasons – some are students looking to balance their academic studies with their personal life; others have just moved to the area, and finding a church home is one of their first orders of business in a new neighbourhood; still others come hungry for answers to deep questions. Some are raised within the Anglican tradition; others come from other Christian denominations; more and more, we welcome folks who have no church affiliation and are seeking “something” that seems missing from their life.
Whatever your reason for joining us, you are welcome here. If your style is to get to know a place quietly before you make your presence known, please take the time you need. If you like to get involved fairly quickly, the parishioner who welcomes newcomers each Sunday during the announcements can help you connect with the parish leadership.
Below are a few other ways to get connected to the parish and learn more about us and what we do here. This website is also a source of useful information.
Governance
Our community of faith has the benefit of excellent staff and parish leadership. The Incumbent and the chairs and vice-chairs of the two boards meet on a monthly basis to keep the vision of what we are called to be as a parish woven through the agenda of the board meetings. As well they address emerging needs and opportunities.
The Board of Management has oversight of the financial, property, and personnel areas of the parish governance structure. Elected each year at the annual meeting (Vestry), this group of lay members of the parish meets every month except during the summer. They bring fiscal, legal, management, and fundraising expertise to the discussions.
The Advisory Board has oversight of the worship, learning, pastoral care, welcoming and outreach aspects of our governance structure. Some of the members of this board serve as members at large, elected each year at Vestry, while other members are appointees by the committees that nurture each of these ministry areas. They meet monthly except during the summer and join the Board of Management to receive the annual budget that will be recommended to the congregation.
Beyond these boards are a number of committees that report directly to the boards. Depending on the mandate of the committee they may meet monthly, quarterly, or occasionally throughout the year. If you are interested in serving on a committee or would like information about how to be nominated for election to one of the boards, contact the board chairs through the church office.
The calling together of the membership of the parish for meetings takes one of two forms – Vestry meetings or congregational meetings. Vestry meetings are held when decisions of the community need to be made. Our annual Vestry meeting is held in early February when the boards and the Stewardship committee present updates on their work through the reports of the committees. In addition the financial reports and the budget are presented for approval by the parish. On occasion special Vestry meetings will be held when decisions – such as approval of our recent renovation project – need to be made. Congregational meetings are less formal and take the form of an update for members of the parish such as our June congregational meeting where the Financial Advisory and Stewardship committees present year to date financial reports.
To view presentations from our parish meetings over the last few years, please click here.
Parish List
If you would like to be added to our membership list, please fill out the information form found in the pews and give it to one of the clergy, or click here to complete the form online. In addition, we have a computer workstation in the welcome area at the back and a member of the Newcomers’ Committee would be happy to help you complete the form online as well as register for upcoming events in the parish. You can request offering envelopes or find out about pre-authorized giving, and indicate your interest in becoming more involved in the life of the parish. It also allows us to send you information about parish life throughout the year.
Explore: Redeemer
This series is for those who are new to the parish or who would like to deepen their connection to the parish after months or even years of being part of the community. These sessions will give you a road map to what we do here at the Church of the Redeemer, some basics about what it means to be part of a community of faith, and how to live out your faith within this community and within the Anglican Church. For more information on upcoming offerings and to view details of past events, please click here.
Catechesis
Each year during the season of Lent we offer an adult catechesis program. Catechesis is a time of intentional study in the weeks before the Easter Vigil. A youth catechesis program is offered every couple of years. For more information on both programs, please click here.
Twenties and Thirties Group
We have a growing number of university students and young professionals who are making this parish their church home. Recognizing that it isn’t always easy to break into a new community, particularly if they are also new to the city, we have welcomed the emergence of a group that has as part of their mandate to welcome in those who are in their 20s and 30s. A variety of events are scheduled throughout the year: meeting at a local pub prior to the 7 PM Rock Eucharist for a time of fellowship; lunch following the morning services; attending events both within the parish and beyond our walls. A warm welcome both within this cluster of folks and within the wider community awaits!
Links to other areas of Interest on our Website
You may find the information in the following sections of the website helpful as well:
Worship - Information about Sunday services and ways to become involved in worship leadership.
Learn – Information about how children and youth can become connected to the community, and listings of learning opportunities for adults and an archive of past events.
Serve – Details about opportunities to become involved in the committees, groups, and guilds that help to give life to the mission and ministry of this community of faith.
Links to External Websites
You may find the information on these websites helpful as you explore the Church of the Redeemer and the Anglican Church at a diocesan and national level:
www.toronto.anglican.ca - discover all the exciting things that are happening within the Diocese of Toronto and deepen your understanding of the work of the diocese.
www.anglican.ca - the national church website provides you with updates on the work of the church nationally and internationally.