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- Children: During Sunday worship services, children can enjoy an area with books, tables containing activity bags, and some toys and chairs at the back of the sanctuary. Children may take an activity bag to the pew and return it at the end of the service. The children will be invited to participate in Children’s Time, a short lesson on the steps at the front of the sanctuary.
Most Sunday services throughout the school year, after Children’s Time, trained adult leaders will lead the children who wish to participate to the Children’s Worship Centre. This beautiful, sacred space on the second floor allows the children to sing together, listen to the word of God, and have the opportunity to respond with stories, art, prayer, and a “feast”. There are now 15 children included in the families of our membership at Calvin and Deer Park.
- Children’s Arts Club: The club meets on most Thursdays from 5 – 6 pm and is open for children ages 4 to 12. This fun, engaging, and professionally directed group is full of opportunities for kids to gain confidence, learn music, embody stories, engage in meaningful conversations about themes such as honesty, wonder, courage, and belonging. The children also learn to know one another as Christian friends.
- Women of the Way (WOW): The WOW continue to be a vibrant group within the life of Calvin/Deer Park. These women, ages 20-40 something, are engaged in a variety of vocations and studies. They are bright, competent, fun women who seek both Christian friendship and opportunities to explore how faith impacts and intersects with other parts of their lives. In 2021, the WOW hosted a Travelling Tea Party and delivered baskets filled with a Calvin/Deer Park mug and two kinds of tea, 7 different homemade baked goods and handmade table decorations to over 40 people. A lovely virtual afternoon tea party, complete with fancy tea services, hats and pearls, was enjoyed on Zoom. It was full of fun with a dollop of community and all in support of these vital ministries: The Toronto Urban Native Ministry (TUNM), an ecumenical shared ministry of The United Church of Canada and The Anglican Church of Canada, and Kenora Anamiewigummig Fellowship Centre (meaning “House of Prayer” in Ojibway), a mission of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. A combination of education, fellowship and pastoral care, the group is open to other women who seek these same things in their journey of life and faith.
- The Library: Library books are catalogued on shelves in the main lobby, with a shelf of resource materials in the Geneva Room. The shelves are all labelled, clearly marking the categories of the library: red for Deer Park and blue for Calvin. All are welcome to use both libraries and we invite you to do so. The children’s books are available to borrow in the children’s corner of the Geneva Room, the back of the sanctuary, and in the Worship Centre.
- Seasonal evening study programs: Throughout the year there are occasional evening study groups for adults such as an introduction to Islam, Lenten studies, varieties of prayer, and end-of-life considerations. These meetings will be highlighted in the calendar.
