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Telephone: 519-434-9173
Email: outofthecold@golden.net |
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MINISTRIES AT DUNDAS CENTRE: Church School: Sunday School for children ages 3 -11 years and youth ages 12-16 years, meets during the worship service. Supervised Nursery Care is provided on Sundays for infants. Contact the Sunday School Co-ordinator at 519-453-5432. Senior Choir: An adult ensemble choir of 25 members under the leadership of Mr. Norman D. Abbott provides a ministry of diverse sacred music at regular Sunday Worship and special services such as Good Friday and Christmas Sunday. Two to three times a year the choir stages a fund-raising variety show of secular music in support of the maintenance and upgrading of our Cassavant organ. The choir also collaborates with choirs of other churches in the area in presenting musical events and an out-door ecumenical service. Regular rehearsals are on Thursdays from 7:30 until 9:30 pm. Unified Board: Church activities are managed through the regular meetings of six committees of the Unified Board (Worship, Stewardship, Membership and Visitation, Property, Christian Growth and Development, and Outreach) and several ad hoc committees as required. The Board meets every month on the second Wednesday of the month at 8:30 pm. The Executive of the Board (Chairs of Committees) meets as needed at the call of the Chair. Scholarships and Educational Endowments: With the financial assistance of generous benefactors the congregation of Dundas Centre and its community can access educational opportunities in music and religious studies through the Dundas Centre Choral Scholarship (proceeds of the Lottie Brown Choral Fund and the Alan and Jean Coote Choral Fund administered by the London Community Foundation), the Fulkerson Fund and the Gibson/Warder Foundation for Christian Education at Dundas Street United Church. United Church Women: The UCW celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2002.. They continue to take an active part in the life and work at Dundas Centre in fellowship, worship and study, in community outreach, and in various fundraising projects. Three units meet on a regular basis and once a year, the UCW provides leadership in Sunday Worship. Sunday Breakfasts: Guest speakers address a wide range of topics following church breakfasts. Encounters: The Christian Growth and Development Committee organizes regular discussions open to the congregation. Books, videos and speakers addressing spiritual and social issues and current events are the focus for timely discussion. Church Library: The Taylor Library is open Sundays with a wide variety of religious books, magazines, audio-cassette and videotapes for children and adults. Book Discussion Group - meets after Sunday worship as arranged to discuss current books of a theological and intellectual nature. Friends United: This group of church members organizes diverse, inter-generational social activities which unite people with similar interests --- Travel, Interesting Walks, Natural History, Gardening, etc. Gender Study Group: Guest speakers set the focus for evening discussions open to the entire congregation on various issues relating to diversity in the church and society, homosexuality, racial and gender discrimination, emotional stress and many other social concerns. These informal evenings are staged in the context of potluck suppers or desserts and coffee. Taizé Service: an alternative worship service of scriptures, meditative prayer, silent reflection, simple chants and music in the sanctuary every 4th Friday of the month at 7:30 pm Good Samaritan Cupboard: This is a social outreach program established in the 1950s. Clients are referred to us by Social Service and Health Care agencies in London and surrounding communities. Faithful and diligent volunteers provide clothing and household supplies to adults and children in need. Volunteers meet every Mondayall year round to sort and refurbish donations of clothing, bedding and kitchen supplies and to fill orders for needy referrals. Out-of-the-Cold Hospitality Meal: In collaboration with volunteers from Bishop Cronyn Memorial Anglican Church, Kilworth United Church and interested individuals, including students completing their volunteer hours, a hot meal is provided for the needy on Wednesday evenings starting at 5:30 pm from October to May. Four teams of volunteers with a cook prepare and serve hearty soup, chili or casseroles with bread, fresh vegetables, coffee/tea/milk/juice and dessert. This program is coordinated with similar hot meals provided at other downtown churches in London on other days of the week. St Paul's Daily Bread: Our church collects contributions each Sunday in support of this local relief operated out of St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral for the needy in London. Cash donations are urgently needed. Paper Rollers: Volunteers meets every second Saturday morning in the Sunday School Auditorium to roll newspapers for recycling. This is an excellent time for fellowship and the group uses some of the proceeds of their newspaper recycling to support abandoned and orphaned children at the "Home of Loving Faithfulness" in Hong Kong. The remainder of the proceeds is used in financial support of other outreach activities at Dundas Street Centre United Church. United Church of Canada Mission and Services Programs: Our congregation provides financial support to national and international relief through the London Conference of Middlesex Presbytery. For example, we have contributed aid to the Bluefields Project in Nicaragua, water projects throughout the world, hurricane relief, tsunami relief support in southeast Asia, and earthquake assistance in Pakistan. Lay Visitors: Lay persons co-ordinated by the Membership and Visitation Committee visit our sick and shut-ins bringing newsletters, flowers at Christmas and cookies at Easter, and taped ministry. Quintin Warner House: Our church through personal contact and staff support, addresses the spiritual needs of the residents and graduates of this substance-abuse treatment centre sponsored by Mission and Services of London. The staff and residents of Quintin Warner House routinely volunteer services to our church and participate in Sunday services. We make every effort to welcome them into an extended church family. London Innercity Faith Team (LIFT): Our church is one of eleven downtown churches on this ecumenical team that investigates and addresses the social needs of the core area. It co-ordinates and operates two apartment housing units and is currently building a new home with 30 units and 20 of these will be for individuals with special needs (expected to be ready in March, 2009). We also provide space for the following social outreach groups and interact with them at the church on a regular basis:
Choral scholars for 2009-2010. Our scholars this year are mezzo-soprano Ivy Buttigieg and soprano Caroline Colantonio. Each of these students has excellent credentials and is making a major contribution to the Senior Choir and the ministry of music at our church. Support for the Dundas St. Centre choral scholars is provided by the Lottie Brown Choral Fund and the Jean & Al Coote Choral Fund Voice Scholarships start at $1000 each. Applicants must be able to read music and be registered for voice lessons. This scholarship is open to all voice students. Priority will be given to university, college and high school students. Opportunities for solo performances in addition to choral singing are available during the year. The award is given after submission of a resume, successful audition and recommendation by the selection committee. Award monies are paid directly to the student's voice teacher or educational institution. If you are interested in becoming a choral scholar, please contact the church (519-434-9173 or outofthecold@golden.net Attn. D. Cuppels)
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