I’ve enjoyed preaching at TEMC this summer perhaps a bit more than senior ministers traditionally have. Our Festival of the Word has brought amazing preachers, as we have had this summer in Paul Scott Wilson and Donyelle McCray from Yale. Thanks for indulging me the chance to preach through Judges with Pastor Dayle and Joanne.
Earlier in the summer I got to preach and teach at Lakeside OH’s Chataqua Institution. This was originally a… Read more
Hello reader friends,
If you or anyone you know is thinking of joining our monthly Cover to Cover book club, I am so happy to give you some overview of some of our next selections.
With book club I have been attempting to introduce the group to a variety of styles, genres and even time periods in hopes there will be something for everyone. While there isn’t always a projected or overt faith or religious tenet to the books, there is always something that will either apply to a faith walk or at least something to inspire a reader to… Read more
If you have been around TEMC for any length of time, you likely know Joanne Leatch. She has served our church as a choir lead, wedding coordinator, as a Sunday School teacher, as a music teacher, and as the point person for our ministry with El Hogar in Honduras. A year or so ago she became our part-time pastoral care minister and only recently did her role expand to full-time. It is difficult to have both your newest, most enthusiastic hire also bring 50 years of experience to an organization! But that is what we have with Joanne… Read more
Our congregation gathered on June 22 to approve the appointment of a new associate minister at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. Dayle Barrett is that minister. You have heard him preach, you have volunteered for his events, you have given thanks for his gifts—now let’s get to know him a little better.
It felt great! I… Read more
Those who were at our 11am Easter service had the joy of seeing some 15 folks join our church. And since four of them are from Ukraine, we included the recitation of the apostles’ creed in both English and in Ukrainian. The gospel has always been extraordinary for its ability to be translated and to become incarnate in every variety of language and culture. Ukraine is, historically, an Orthodox country, so Ukrainian migrants and refugees can find a faith home here in a church in Canada, especially at a church like ours that treasures… Read more
Near where we now live in the Annex is a church building you probably know as the Hare Krishna Church. I was stunned to discover recently that two giants in Canadian church history once preached there. Charles Templeton took over a building abandoned by Avenue Road United Church and converted it into a fast-growing evangelical church, before later losing his own faith. A.W. Tozer pastored it as Avenue Road Alliance Church while becoming one of the Canadian church’s best-selling authors. One could trace the… Read more
By Dr. Elaine Choi
Music Through the Storm: Elaine in Ottawa Choir Festival
On February 26, the eve of my last chemo session, I had the privilege of working with over 120 students from the Ottawa-Gatineau region at a choir festival hosted by the University of Ottawa.
Throughout the day, 6 choirs took turns performing for one another and participated in masterclass-style workshops, where I had the… Read more
It’s a common scam: find the leader of a do-gooder organization. Change your display-name so that an email looks like it’s coming from that executive to their staff. Ask the colleague not to phone, but rather communicate only by email, since the senior minister is 1-in a meeting 2-at prayer or 3-otherwise occupied, and request gift cards. My staff knew to call or email me anyway and ask if this was really me. They prepared a warning for others.
I told one fellow pastor my philosophy, shared more than once from the pulpit: if I were standing in… Read more
Written by Dr. Elaine Choi
A few weeks ago, I cried in front of my adorable two and a half year-old niece, and she sat on my lap, gently dabbing tears off my face, and said, “Don’t cry goo ma, why you crying goo ma* [ 姑媽 ]?” Listening to her sweet voice, I cried more! (How could you not?!).
The next day, the… Read more
I can’t recall a time I’ve been more proud of a ministry supported by Timothy Eaton Memorial Church than after visiting New Circles.
For years I have heard about their work, and I’ve admired Cindy Blakely, the founder and spiritual heart of the organization. Cindy’s journey started as a social worker. There she recognized the challenges of those underserved, living on a limited income with limited access to the necessities of life. So, she did something about it. Her vision birthed… Read more