Five United Church camps operate in Toronto Conference, serving 2300 children annually. Council supports the camps through the provision of property (for four of the camps) and through fundraising efforts that help send kids to camp (600 children are assisted annually) and maintain the camps' facilities. The camps' programs help children and youth develop healthy lifestyles, self-esteem, independence, leadership skills and environmental awareness. Immersion in the natural environment opens young minds to dream the impossible and contemplate life’s big questions. Know a young person who would benefit from a camping experience? Visit the camps' websites to learn more and register: Camp Big Canoe, Camp Simpresca, Camp Scugog, Sparrow Lake Camp, Ryde Lake Camp for Girls.

The Living Presence Ministry is the name that has been given to a new initiative of Living Waters Presbytery and the congregations in and close to the Queensville area. The project, led by a local steering group and facilitated by staff from Council’s Centre for Church Development & Leadership, is designed to strengthen the existing congregations and to establish a new form of ‘pioneer’ ministry in what will eventually be a new town of 30,000 people. Visit the Living Presence Ministry website or listen to their podcasts to learn more.

The Vincent Alfano Fund is accepting applications. Congregations, mission units or individuals can now apply for internship or other project funding that meets the Fund’s focus on learning opportunities for future church leaders.  Up to $10,000 per annum will be available, plus an amount for training programs. Click here for application guidelines and forms.

Council is now accepting donations on our website! Click here to visit our donation page and make a gift to the fund of your choice (online donations will still be processed by Canada Helps).

Council's annual Heart & Vision Awards Concert will take place on Monday October 15 2018, 7:30 pm, at Metropolitan United Church. Award recipients are Senator Murray Sinclair and husband and wife team Rev. Dr. Grafton Antone and Dr. Eileen Antone. Musical entertainment will be provided by Jackie Richardson and the Young Creek Performers, First Nations singers and dancers. Drew Hayden Taylor will host. Tickets are $25 for the performance only or $150 including a post-performance reception. Purchase your ticket here or call 905-771-5124 to order. For more information download a Save the Date card here. You can watch the 2017 recap video here.

Toronto United Church Council is strongly committed to working with the Camps of Toronto Conference to renew their infrastructure and to continue to develop capital reserve funds for each camp to draw on. Since 2008, Council and the camps have participated in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s Charity Challenge. Each camp sends a contingent of walkers and runners who take pride in giving back to their camp and enjoy a day of physical activity with one another. The cumulative fundraising from the marathon has reached more than $165,000. This year's marathon will take place on Sunday, October 21 2018. Events include the full marathon, half-marathon and 5k walk. If you would like to join the "Pass It On" marathon team and walk or run to raise funds for the camp of your choice (or for all of the camps), please contact Ali Hayes at (905) 771-5124 or ali@tucc.ca for information on how to register.  

Sign up for Council's Connecting Resources with Ministry Newsletter or watch a new video about Council's work here.

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