Once again, our ceaselessly energetic and highly talented kitchen team put on our annual Mother’s Day Lunch. As always, we offer our heartfelt thanks to this hard-working team of volunteers who go above and beyond every week to ensure that we have the opportunity for coffee and fellowship after worship. This time, however, we also hosted Archdeacon Amanda Longmoore, who held an informal townhall meeting during lunch in order to address any concerns that may have arisen from her announcement regarding the way forward towards amalgamation. As Archdeacon Amanda pointed out, in order for our new parish to have wardens and a council, we need to have a Special Vestry Meeting and Sunday 25 May has been chosen as the date for that important meeting. Archdeacon Amanda looked forward to answering all of your pressing questions as you feasted on all manner of luncheon fare. Well done, o true and faithful kitchen volunteers!

After countless Saturdays of baking, baking and baking, the day of our much anticipated baked goods sale arrived, and what a tremendous success it was! An enormous crowd had already gathered at the entrance doors by nine o’clock and mobbed our team of volunteer bakers/salesmen once the doors were opened. Sales were brisk with eager buyers gently disputing with each other over their favour confections. There were meat pies, fruit pies, quiche, cookies, squares, muffins and fruit loaves available for purchase, with “personal”-sized pies being a favourite. A great deal of appreciation is offered to our talented co-ordinator, our wonderful kitchen volunteers, and the great many men and women of the All Saints’ congregation who generously gave of their time and effort Saturday after Saturday in preparation for this overwhelmingly successful event. It has been reported that our salesmen went home at the end of the sale completely exhausted. Well done, All Saints’!

Another wonderful workshop on smartphone-ology took place on Wednesday 12 March. This time, the focus was on texting, passwords, safe Internet browsing, and “purchasing” apps from the App Store. A hardy and intrepid group of learners enjoyed tea, coffee and snacks, and then got down to work at becoming masters of their respective smartphones. Many thanks are offered to Kathy and Peter, who dove in in support of the presenter in assisting learners of three different makes of smartphones. Because the material being presented is very much participant-driven, missing one workshop does not mean that the next one cannot be attended, but it also means that the agenda must be fluid in order to respond to the needs of the learners. As was the case with this workshop, any and all, whether of this parish or not, are welcome to attend future workshops. If you were a participant in this first or second workshop and left feeling overwhelmed, do not despair! This sort of learning does take time, patience and perseverance, but, rest assured, you will get there! Until the next time…

This year, All Saints’ was thrilled to support Canon Davis Memorial as we celebrated Shrove Tuesday with them and ravenously devoured their pancake supper, which featured real maple syrup. Some of our members volunteered for clean-up duty after the feast, which was enjoyed by a great many members of All Saints’. A good time was had by all as we prepared ourselves for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Thanks are offered to the good folk of Canon Davis Memorial for putting on this wonderful meal.

Our ham dinner was an absolute success and was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance. Scalloped potatoes, roasted potatoes, carrots and beans accompanied delicious spiral ham. Several different kinds of pie and chocolate-covered strawberries were a perfect end to a fabulous meal, which was washed down with wine. Sincere and well-earned thanks are offered to our hard-working kitchen team and wardens who spent the entire day preparing this feast.

A very well attended Annual Vestry Meeting occurred after our main service on Sunday 9 February. Anticipation was running high as those in attendance were looking forward with high hopes for good news from our wardens and other officers. After various reports from committees were attended to, we finally received the news for which we were all holding our collective breaths: a balanced budget, and our treasurer did not disappoint us. After a few years of red ink, we were presented with a very attainable balanced budget. Raucous cheering could be heard for blocks around as parishioners celebrated this good news. Hearty thanks were offered to our wardens and wardens emerita, to members of Parish Council, and to the treasurer and the members of our Finance Committee as we basked in the glow of a lot of hard work on the part of so many. Congratulations were offered all around as the meeting broke up in jubilation, and one and all left with high spirits, some singing a Te Deum.

Despite the intense cold and the icy conditions, an intrepid group of our parishioners braved the elements in order to attend this month’s ACW meeting — with men being invited this one time — to learn about our website and, in the process, to become more familiar with using web-based technology. All manner of hot beverages and mouth-watering snacks were on offer as this eager crowd dug into their electronic devices and dove into the many pages of our site. At the end of the session, participants left with a greater understanding of the material that is on the site and some mentioned that they would be open to attending a workshop on becoming more familiar with their smartphones and tablets. Stay tuned for an announcement along those lines…

On Sunday, immediately after the main service, we met in Parish Hall for the purpose of discussing future directions that are being considered and, most importantly, to secure the input of the congregation. After discussing our options, guidance was provided to our wardens and committee representatives regarding the preferred way forward. Based on that guidance, our wardens and committee members have already taken next steps in preparation for next week’s Parish Council meeting. This further consideration of our options will used by our wardens and committee members in their work with the overall group that works with our archdeacon. Further information will be provided in a timely fashion.