Saturday, September 28, 2013

Community Wednesdays (updated to Tuesdays)

Update:  As we move out of our historic building and settle into a temporary home, we will resume Tuesday programming as of February 4, 2014.


Toronto Congregation is planning to reclaim Wednesday Tuesday nights as a time to share the Blessings of Community together alongside new friends.

1st Wednesday Tuesday of each month: Church Lecture Series
We’ll listen to presentations by scholars on topics including Restoration history, theology, philosophy, world religions, history and literary criticism of the Bible, Restoration scripture, history of Christianity, and more. Began July 3, 2013.  

2nd Wednesday Tuesday of each month: Disciple Formation
We’ll explore old and new spiritual and discipleship formation practices, including prayer, hymn singing, meditation upon the word, testimonies, sharing community exercises, and more. Begins Feb. 12, 2014.  

3rd Wednesday Tuesday of each month: Church Book Club
We’ll vote on a book to read of interest to the participating members of the club each month, then return the next month to discuss the book. Suggestions for first month: Joseph III: Pragmatic Prophet or Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith or The Journey of a People (Vol. 1) or Who Wrote the Gospels? or Q: The Earliest Gospel.  (First book to be decided in church on 9/29).  Begins Nov. 20, 2013.  

4th Wednesday Tuesday of each month: Movies that Matter
We’ll watch a movie together that has at its core a philosophical question, an exploration of ethics, or a philosophical, theological, or religious issue. Afterwards, we’ll share our thoughts on the movie, how the issue was handled, and what we think of the issue.  Begins Oct. 23, 2013. 
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Upcoming Calendar of Events (Sept.–Nov.):

• September 28—Sunday: 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship Service, noon Social Hour.  1443 Bathurst Street church.

• October 2—Wednesday:  CHURCH LECTURE SERIES 7:30pm A Visual History of the Restoration (part 3) 1839–1844. 1443 Bathurst Street church.

• October 6—Sunday: 10am Prayer Circle, 11am Communion Service, noon Social Hour.  1443 Bathurst Street church.

• October 13—Sunday: 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship Service, noon Social Hour.  1443 Bathurst Street church.

• October 20—Sunday: CHURCH IN THE LIBRARY TEST 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship Service, noon Social Hour.  Wychwood Library Program Room at 1431 Bathurst Street.  We will be holding services in the library 3 buildings south of our church as a test of using the library as a temporary location during our move.  No services will be held in the church itself on the test day.

• October 23—Wednesday:  MOVIE NIGHT 6:30pm "Defending Your Life" starring Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep. 1443 Bathurst Street church.

• October 27—Sunday: GTA CONGREGATIONS AT SCARBOROUGH 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship Service, noon Social Hour.  10 Eppleworth Road church in Scarborough.  No meetings at Bathurst Street church.

• November 3—Sunday: 10am Prayer Circle, 11am Communion Service, noon Social Hour.  1443 Bathurst Street church.*

• November 6—Wednesday:  CHURCH LECTURE SERIES 7:30pm A Visual History of the Restoration (part 4) The Succession Crisis. 1443 Bathurst Street church.*

• November 10—Sunday: 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship Service, noon Social Hour.  1443 Bathurst Street church.*

• November 17—Sunday: 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship Service, noon Social Hour.  1443 Bathurst Street church.*

November 20—Wednesday:  CHURCH BOOK CLUB 7:30pm Book TBD. 1443 Bathurst Street church.*  

• November 24—Sunday: 10am Sunday School, 11am Worship Service, noon Social Hour.  1443 Bathurst Street church.*  Update: We will be meeting with the Scarborough Congregation in their building at 10 Eppleworth Road.

November 27—Wednesday:  MOVIE NIGHT 6:30pm Movie TBD. 1443 Bathurst Street church.*  

*Location may be altered, depending on move schedule.

The Rise and Fall of Old Nauvoo

On the first Wednesday of each month, Toronto Congregation hosts a series of lectures and discussions on church history, theology, philosophy, scripture study and the like. Join us Wednesday, October 2, at 7:30 pm, when John Hamer’s visual history of the Restoration will continue with Part 3: The Rise and Fall of Old Nauvoo (1839–44). Combining dozens of original maps and diagrams with historic images, this visual history brings the old story into new perspective. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please bring your friends along. Simple refreshments will be provided.


Painting of Old Nauvoo by David Hyrum Smith, son of Joseph and Emma Smith.

“A Visual History of the Restoration, Part 3: 1839–44”

After the failures of Independence, Kirtland, and Far West, Nauvoo was the final attempt by early church members to gather together and build Zion. While the city grew rapidly, Nauvoo was divided by controversial, secret practices, which led to internal rifts that prefigured the schism in the Restoration. Rumors of polygamy, alongside the practices of block-voting and abuses of the city’s charter antagonized Nauvoo’s neighbors, leading ultimately to the assassination of church founder, Joseph Smith Jr. and the abandonment of Nauvoo.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Toronto Congregation Lecture Series: The First Wednesday of Each Month

Toronto Congregation will be hosting a Lecture Series on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm.  On Wednesday, Sept. 4, John Hamer will be giving a visual presentation on early church history that will include dozens of original maps and diagrams along with historic images and photos, covering the period from 1837–44.


One of the maps from the presentation, illustrating the expulsion of the Saints from Missouri in the winter of 1838–39, following the Missouri War.

John will continue the history of the church up to the present in future months, after which visiting scholars will be invited to present on a range of topics relating to history, theology, philosophy, religious studies, scriptural studies and more.  Please join us and bring your friends!