1. THE ORIOLE
Message from Rev. Cindy
Dear Friends of OYM,
“Do not wait until some deed of
greatness you may do
Do not wait to shed your light afar;
To the many duties ever near you now
be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Refrain:
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbour you may
guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!”
… by Charles H. Gabriel
This hymn was the favourite hymn of
Dave Johnson’s mother Ada who passed
away on Sunday April 14th
at the grand
age of 109. I often wonder what enables
some people to live to such an incredible
age and I believe one reason is having a
positive outlook on life. And when I read
the words of the hymn, I knew this was
one reason for Ada’s long life.
Oriole-York Mills United Church Newsletter April 2013
In this issue:
Message from Rev. Cindy
..………………….…..…....……. 1
Report from Council .………. 2
Membership Relations ........ 4
The Power of Silence – a
book review …….…….......... 6
Thanks to Contributors ….... 7
Ways to Save Trees
and Money …………..…...... 7
Contributions and
Suggestions …..….….…….. 7
Job posting ……………….……7
Your OYM Calendar .…....… 8
Contact OYM .……..…..…..… 8
2
What a beautiful motto to live by: “Brighten the corner where you are!”
Our world would be a better place if everyone sought to live this way.
Is this not what Jesus called us to do when he gave us the New
Commandment, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another.” (John 13:34)
It is so simple and yet we can make it so difficult. Ultimately it is a
choice of how we live each day. Every morning when you first wake
up I encourage you to say, “God help me to live this day in a spirit of
joy and love!” If you say this prayer several times a day, you will have
a glorious day and ultimately you will brighten the corner not only in
your life, but also in the lives of the people around you.
As you celebrate your 51st
Anniversary as a congregation, please
know you have brightened not only the lives of each other, but also the
community around your church.
God Bless you all in the year ahead!
With Joy and Love,
Rev. Cindy Cooper
_____________________________________________________________________
Report from Council
In this joyful Easter season, we look forward with hope as we begin to
explore a new future at OYM.
At the annual congregational meeting on March 4th
, a recommendation
from council to invite the congregation of CJUC to explore
amalgamation between our congregations was presented and
approved by the congregation. In response, CJUC held a
congregational meeting held on March 17 accepted our invitation to
form an exploratory team (ET) that would meet and prepare a final
recommendation in the next 8 to 12 months.

2. 3
The exploratory team members are Dianne Domelle, Bob Graham,
Jack Bennett and Carol MacLean from OYM. From CJUC, the
members are Linda Fujita, Mike Kitagawa, Kaz Shikaze and Henry
Ichiyen. Rev. Cindy Cooper is also a member of the ET who will chair
and guide the initial discussions of this group. The first meeting was
held on April 18. This team will meet monthly and council will be
updated following each meeting.
A joint congregational gathering on April 20th
with a potluck dinner
followed by a sing along, square dancing and games for all ages was a
lively, fun evening for everyone.
The process to discuss and explore amalgamation is meant to be
inclusive of everyone in the congregation. All members are
encouraged to attend the service on Sunday June 9th for a joint
congregational opportunity to join a conversation to explore who we
are and the pros and cons of amalgamation.
Our finances year to date remain strong. We are very grateful for the
generous donation received earlier this year from Les James’ estate.
At our annual congregational meeting, a change in trustees was
approved by the congregation. The resignations of Betty Emms and
Jack Junkin were accepted. Ruth Graham and Dave Pelton were
appointed to join Don Worth and Brian Domelle on the board of
trustees. The congregation expressed their thanks to Jack for his long
service as chair of the board of trustees.
A number of members have stepped forward to join committees
including Sophia Hu on Worship and Elaine Turnbull as an envoy. We
are grateful for their participation.
Carol Maclean
Chair of Council
____________________________________________________________________
4
Ongoing Membership News
In our most recent issue of The Oriole we reminisced on the passing of
Jean Aston*, Leone Junkin and Margaret Moore and highlighted their
contributions to the vitality of OYM. Since then we have felt the loss of
another trio of fine ladies; namely, Gertrude Nymark in February and
Catherine DeVos and Helen Stewart within days of each other in
March.
Gertrude and her husband Ed, who pre-deceased her, spent their last
years comfortably at Glynwood in the company of several other
OYMers. They had joined the newly-formed OYM in 1960. Gertrude
was a hostess for the Canvass Organisation that helped to raise
money to build 2609 as it is today. With Ed, Gertrude was a faithful
supporter of OYM and she also enjoyed playing bridge with her
OYM friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marilyn and
Sandy and their families. News of a memorial service for Gertrude
will follow.
Cathie and husband Norm (deceased) were staunch supporters of
OYM. Cathie chaired our Official Board in the early 80's and over the
years was a very active participant in the work of the UCW. For
example, she took on the job of sending get-well and sympathy cards
as appropriate to OYM households. And then, who can forget the
many years she organized the annual Christmas cookie campaign?
Reverends Cindy and Chris collaborated to conduct Cathie Devos'
funeral service at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Visitation Center. Our
thoughts and prayers go out to sons Chris and Stephen and their
families.
* Jean Aston was incorrectly described as the last remaining Charter
Member. Any distress experienced by other Charter Members of OYM as
a result of this error is regretted.

3. 5
Helen Stewart also served as President of our Official Board (now
called our Council). Helen and her husband Don came to OYM in
1968 along with son Malcolm and daughters Alexandra and Catherine.
No doubt the strong contingent of Saskatchewanians at OYM made
them feel at home right from the start.
The service for Helen was held at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home by
Rev. Heather Vais. She highlighted some of Helen's achievements as
a teacher and in volunteer activities. At the reception following the
service our Robyn Clare was given the opportunity to say a few words
about her relationship with Helen and Don dating back to their time
together at the University of Saskatchewan. Our thoughts and prayers
go out to Dr. Don and family.
With winter finally behind us our thoughts turn to fiddle heads and
spring. With spring comes OYM's 51st
Anniversary Service, which we
will celebrate on Sunday April 28th
this year. Usually, we invite the
Metropolitan Silver Band to be with us at this special service but this
year they were otherwise engaged. Our problem was solved when
CJUC's versatile trumpeter, John Liddle, volunteered his 40 piece
orchestra. Again, we have another example of “divine intervention”
bringing our two congregations closer together.
In faith,
Don Worth
Membership Relations and Communications
_____________________________________________________________________
The Power of Silence – a book review
Graham Turner, the author of this notable book, journeyed around the
world interviewing a wide variety of religious and non-religious people
who all valued silence in their lives. It is a 2012 publication that I found
serendipitously at the North York Central Public Library.
6
I have read many books since becoming the editor of ‘The Oriole’, but
never thought to review one until now. I am prompted to bring this
book to your attention since I found it such a compelling and
informative book. The author explores the riches that lie within silence
for people from various different cultures and situations. At times I
couldn’t put this book down but at other times I had to stop and reflect
about what I had just read.
Among the chapters of this book, two stood out for me. The first is an
early chapter about people from what can be very noisy India. Against
that background, the author found many people who valued silence
there. As an example of these people, a Hindu businessman
described the aim of his daily prayer for inner silence as:
 A silent body is like a well-kept home – clean, uncluttered and airy.
 A silent mind is free of me and mine, of likes and dislikes, of hates
and hurts, of attractions and aversions.
 A silent heart is full of love, gratitude, generosity, forgiveness and
compassion.
 A silent intellect is free of dogmas, fixations and isms.
A later chapter is a report about Lebanon. Silence has helped to form
a network across opposing groups there. An impressive trust was
forged through silence and their faith.
Picking only two chapters to describe this notable book ignores other
chapters that take a reader to an ancient monastery in Egypt and to a
Trappist monastery. Other interviews are with Jesuits, Quakers,
Franciscans, Zen practitioners, transcendental meditation practitioners,
psychotherapists, mountain guides, musicians, actors, and a prisoner.
Each person or group of people described in this book gave a slightly
different aspect of the very special place for silence in their lives. I
encourage you to read this book to find out more!
Reviewed by Moira Mancer
_____________________________________________________________________

4. 7
Thanks to Contributors
Thanks to the following for contributions for this issue:
Rev. Cyndy Message from Rev. Cindy (page 1)
Carole MacLean Report from Council (page 2)
Don Worth Ongoing Membership News (page 4)
_____________________________________________________________________
Ways to Save Trees and Money
We still need more readers to read ‘The Oriole’ online at OYM’s
website <www.oymunitedchurch.net>, under ‘About OYM’. Another
way to save OYM money is to receive ‘The Oriole’ in pdf format.
For either option to save trees and to save OYM money, please send
an email to ‘The Oriole <oymoriole@gmail.com>' specifying your
choice.
_____________________________________________________________________
Contributions and Suggestions
Contributions and suggestion for future issues of ‘The Oriole’ are
always welcome (perhaps another book review). Please send an
email, leave a message at OYM or talk to Moira Mancer if you have
contributions and suggestions for ‘The Oriole’.
_____________________________________________________________________
Job Posting
Oriole editor required to start in early November 2013 in order to
compile the November and his or her first edition of ‘The Oriole’ for
paper, pdf and OYM website viewing. Editing tips available for any
applicant until early November. Your reward will be the satisfaction of
getting each edition of ‘The Oriole’ out four to five times per year.
Please offer your services to Moira Mancer or Don Worth.
_____________________________________________________________________
8
Your OYM Calendar
Coming Sunday Worship Services and Events
Sundays May 5 Regular worship service at 11 am
Sunday May 12 Mother’s Day service; followed by a hot dog
lunch in Fellowship Hall
After lunch Rev. Chris and Marg Miller will
show slides of their trip to the Holy Land
Sunday May 19 Pentecost Sunday – service led by JT
MacNeil (Rev. Cindy away)
Wednesday May 22 Council Meeting at 7 pm in narthex
Sunday May 26 Regular worship service
Sunday June 2 Communion service; Promotion Sunday
Sunday June 9 Abbreviated worship service; congregational
conversations on amalgamation
Sunday June 16 Service led by Spirit.calm (Rev. Cindy away)
Sunday June 23 Annual Picnic Sunday; worship service and
potluck lunch at Earl Bales Park
Sunday June 30 Canada Day service
Contact OYM: Oriole-York Mills United Church
2609 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M2L 1B5
Phone: 416-447-5941
Email: orioleyorkmills@rogers.com
Website address: www.oymunitedchurch.net