top of page

Mid-Year Moments: July Recap

Jul 06, 2024

Church on the Greens

by Roshawn Nunes



In conversation with Pastor Carl Cunningham, he posed this idea of church in the park! Getting out in nature and taking the opportunity to worship God for all he has done in the atmosphere he created for us. Allowing for the church to rest and enjoy a service outside four walls. As an outreach-focused church, this allowed for our surrounding community to get a glimpse of what Toronto West is all about. The AY Team of twest was in charge of the program coordinating for this service. The theme/focus for this service was simply to connect to our community and let them know we are here for them, ready to serve. Piggybacking of our Year theme: U.N.I.T.Y we came up with the theme Engage our Community, Nurture through Unity. This theme set the tone for our congregation to connect with passing individuals from the community and invite them to sit in to our service and enjoy the worship experience. Witnessing community members from balconies taking interest in the service as well was a blessing!



A litany written by Meagan Bennett quoted

1 Chronicles 23-29 tells us,

"Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations,    his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him.


Pastor Carl Cunningham was the keynote speaker, his sermon title being "Help is on the Way." During the service, we had a special moment to allow members from our community as well as our congregation to write down prayer requests on sheets that were prayed over during our Community Prayer Segment! The music that was incorporated brought heavenly praise and joyful worship to this outdoor experience!


Many individuals expressed gratitude for this experience and requested it happen more frequently. Overall, this was a very blessed service, and we look forward to future events like this. Thank you to Pastor Carl Cunningham for his dedication to the church and for sparking this event. Thank you to the AY/YA team for your commitment to bringing this beautiful service to light. Thank you to the AV team for making this happen. The hard work put in to set everything up was greatly appreciated. Uncle Curtis, thank you for loaning the equipment that made this possible and efficient. Thank you to all deacons, departments, and the helping hands that ensured this program ran smoothly and that our members and community were well cared for. Thank you to our Twest Praise and Worship team and choir for their ministry and bringing life to this service through music!


The AY/YA team plans to make this outdoor service an annual program, so look forward to the 2025 Church Outside!


 

Jul 06, 2024

When He Speaks, I Write - Book Launch

by Greg Birkett



This event was the official launch for author and educator Greg Birkett’s book titled When He Speaks, I Write. The host/MC of the event was Nathaniel Fray-Smith, and the event coordinators were Yashyka Broomes, Chanelle Flash, and Nathifa Birkett. Maria McClean started the event with a creative spoken word prayer. MC Nathaniel Fray-Smith, the band led by Dennis Hall, and DJ Craig Brooklyn engaged the audience and set an energetic and welcoming tone for the evening! They were followed by a spoken word piece about legacy performed by book author Greg Birkett and his children, Nalia and Isaiah Birkett.


Recording artist Andrea McIntyre sang and performed an original spoken word piece about the power of words, which included highlights from Greg’s writing career, such as play and poem titles, and his contributions to education through teaching and textbook and curriculum writing. Poetic Stylz, Jamie Jarvis and Shoshana Cadogan, Reverne Hazelwood, Dennis Hall, Deon Flash, Charmaine Jamieson, David Seale, and Coleen Birkett all contributed amazing, powerful performances. Musicians Roshawn Nunes, Zola Felix, Rianna Birkett-Phillips, Dennis Hall, Jamie Jarvis, David Seale, and Richard Burrell, along with DJ Craig Brooklyn, provided a smooth, relaxing vibe and beautiful musical backdrop for the evening.



Darnell James conducted the evening’s first interview with the author. Darnell’s quick humour and pointed questions made for an entertaining and honest conversation that allowed the audience to understand the author’s background and journey to becoming a writer. Chanelle Flash conducted the second interview. Her wit and engaging presence steered the conversation to a place that enabled the audience to learn about the inspiration behind the book and the author’s next publication, which will be released in September 2024. She even put Greg on the spot and had him make up a freestyle poem/rap about his wife!

The extensive thank yous and book signing allowed the audience to see and meet some of Greg’s supporters and mentors, hear about what they do, and then meet and network with the author afterward. The event concluded with a powerful prayer of consecration and blessing by Pastor Georgiana Jean-Pierre Johnson. This was preceded by a poem by Greg’s sister, Coleen Birkett, about the family’s connection to God, and His impact on their lives and legacy. This was a full circle moment as the program started with a piece performed by Greg’s children about carrying on the legacy and ended with his sister explaining the family’s roots and its dedication to keeping God at the centre of everything they do. Chanelle, Yashyka, and Nathaniel ended the evening with giveaways and humour audience interaction.



Greg would like to thank God for being his everything! He’d also like to thank the event coordinators Yashyka, Chanelle, and Nathifa, all of the participants in the event, the audio-visual team, Dennis Langley for photos and videos, everyone who attended, and Toronto West SDA members and administration for their love and support over the years, and for the use of the facility. A recording of the event can be found on the Toronto West SDA YouTube channel (When He Speaks, I Write, July 6), and book orders, bookings, or general information about the book can be found by emailing gbwrites@rogers.com or visiting the birketteducation.com website.



Testimonials ~


Event attendees comprised of GTA politicians, Ontario Conference administrators, members of SDA congregations across the city and surrounding areas, as well as several non-Adventist guests all seemed to say the same thing was not what they expected! Many of them mentioned highlights from the evening, including Reverne Hazelwood’s stirring rendition of Superwomen (Alicia Keys), Charmaine Jamieson and Greg Birkett’s creative remake of Lauryn Hill’s Zion, or Dennis Hall’s soulful cover of Jonathan McReynold’s Smile as performances that brought them to their feet. Others have said that the whole evening was “a vibe” and that they would’ve paid big money for the entertaining Spiritual value that they received. The consensus was that the event was a blessing from beginning to end, and many inquired about and requested a part 2! God be praised!


 

Jul 14, 2024

Hoops for Education Fundraiser

by Hoops for Education


I am excited to introduce a heartwarming initiative that started seven years ago in the Jamestown neighbourhood. Our ministry, Story Hour, is a wonderful mix of storytelling, crafts, and fellowship, brought to the children by the dedicated team from the Toronto West Seventh-day Adventist Church at 1621 Albion Road.


Our mission is simple yet profound: to share the love of Jesus with children and their families, offering support and care as needed. We have over 60 children registered, and every Saturday morning, some gather at our church for a time of joy and learning. We also connect with them through personal visits, delivering snacks and crafts, and virtual sessions in the afternoons, fostering a deep sense of empathy and connection.


In 2023, we proudly launched the Community Scholarship Fund, a sustainable financial assistance program for children attending schools operated by the Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists. Thanks to this fund, two deserving children are thriving at Crawford Adventist Academy.


Today, at the Hoops for Education event, we are seeking your generous support to expand this scholarship fund and help even more children achieve their educational dreams. We deeply appreciate your potential financial contributions and ongoing donations, as they will make a significant difference in nurturing the next generation of well-adjusted, productive community members.


Want to see more images from this event?


 

Jul 27, 2024

Farewell to Our Beloved Pastor

by Toronto West SDA Communications Department


With mixed emotions, we announce the departure of our cherished Pastor, who has spent the last six months with us at Toronto West SDA Church. Though his time here was relatively short, his impact has been profound and lasting.


Pastor Cunningham brought a unique blend of warmth, wisdom, and spiritual guidance to our congregation, especially the youth. His service was not just words but a source of inspiration and strength for all of us. His compassionate nature and genuine care for each member of our church family made everyone feel valued and loved.


We are proud to share that Pastor Cunningham is embarking on a new journey as he joins the Music Studies at Burman University. His passion for music and dedication to spiritual growth will undoubtedly lead him to great success in this new endeavour.


While we will miss his presence dearly, we are grateful for our time together. Pastor Cunningham, please know you will always have a family at TWest. Our doors and hearts are open to you and Vennassa, and we wish you and your wife nothing but the best in your future pursuits. May God bless you both and guide you on this new path.


With love and gratitude,

The Toronto West Family



A Message to the Chuch by Pastor Carl Cunningham



Along the journey of life, we are afforded experiences to live, grow, love and tell. To live according to the grace given to us, to grow in the knowledge of the truth, to love like Jesus loved and to unapologetically tell the world about the free gift of salvation. Toronto West has and continues to be a community of faith which adheres to these values. With a deep passion for service, and an urgency for goodwill we continue to shine God’s light to the portion of the vineyard which we have been assigned. It has been my honor during this pastoral tenure to be with you on this journey.

 

Though for a short season, it was very fulfilling.  Thank you for welcoming Vennassa and I into a warm church family, with such a rich legacy of faith and excellence. We will cherish the memories of the time spent in stimulating conversations, enjoying sumptuous cuisine, spirit-filled prayer sessions and inspiring worship experiences. My prayer is that ‘TWest’ will forge forward with even greater earnestness and determination, committed to the mission of sharing Christ in a world where darkness increases.

 

2 Corinthians 13:14

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 

 

With best wishes and prayers,

 

Carl Michael-Angello Cunningham

Associate/Youth Pastor, 2024








For more news check out out events page!





263 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page