Christian Education

THE KNITTING PILGRIM

Plan to attend this unique presentation on February 1st at 7pm with Kirk Dunn here at St. Andrew’s.  Tickets are now on sale in the Great Hall after fellowship on Sundays and through EventBrite.  Adults $10, children, students and seniors $5.  This would make a great stocking stuffer for Christmas for both knitters and pilgrims.

A KNITTING WORKSHOP with Kirk Dunn has now been arranged for the afternoon of February 1st from 1-4pm in the Great Hall of St. Andrew’s Church (enter at 73 Simcoe Street).  The cost for this workshop is $10.

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JOIN THE KNITTING PILGRIM KIRK DUNN

Kirk Dunn will be presenting his one-man play, The Knitting Pilgrim, featuring the Stitched Glass tapestries, at St. Andrew’s Church on Saturday, Feb 1, 2020, at 7pm.

The large knitted panels, designed in the style of stained-glass windows, look at the commonalities and conflicts of the Abrahamic Faiths – and took Kirk an incredible 15 years to knit. The play tells the story of Kirk’s artistic and spiritual journey working on this ambitious project about interfaith empathy, and has been seen across Ontario at theatres, churches, and the Aga Khan Museum.

For info or to buy your tickets ($10, or $5 for youth and seniors), go to www.standrewstoronto.org, www.eventbrite.ca, or call 1.416.593.5600, ext 220.

What the Media is Saying:

“6 out of 5 stars” – CFMU Radio, Hamilton

“5 out of 5 stars” – Mooney on Theatre

“A stunning piece of theatre… glorious and so moving.” – Lynn Slotkin, The Slotkin Letter

“I do not write these words lightly. The Knitting Pilgrim is the most beautiful show

I’ve seen at #ottfringe. My life would be diminished if I hadn’t seen it. It is a 15-year response to 9/11.” – Brian M. Carroll, Reviewer, Apt613

What Audiences are Saying:

“A brilliant show that sticks with you, teaches you how to think, about faith, empathy resilience, and art. When doubt about your talent slips in and dogs your every step keep knitting. The end created a wonderful gasp and the tears begin to flow. This is a brilliant moving piece. Kirk is the Jimmy Carter of knitting.” – Deb K

“I loved this gentle, thoughtful show about faith, doubt, patience and artistic creation. Kirk held my interest through an hour of solo storytelling and his knitted tapestries… are truly beautiful.” – Kate J

“This is a wonderful, compelling, one-of-a-kind show! My favourite at the Fringe thus far. A “from-the-heart” tale of artistic creativity, religious tolerance, and the difficult beauty of finding your path. Went with my teenagers and we haven’t stopped talking about it since! There is a knitting lesson interwoven along the way (wool and needles provided), but knitting becomes a metaphor for some BIG questions. With a HUGE reveal at the end of the show (that moment is worth the ticket price alone). Very moving, inspiring, and thought-provoking! And gorgeous!” – Cynthia S

“I was truly shocked by how MOVING this show is, on many many levels. I couldn’t talk when the tapestries were revealed. They are stunning. I hope this show travels the world, and then comes back to Toronto where I will see it AGAIN.” – Patti L

“Photo in no way does justice to the stunning knitted tapestries created by textile artist and gifted actor @dunn_kirk. “The Knitting Pilgrim” is an absolute must see – a powerfully moving piece of storytelling theatre married with exceptional visual art.”

– Corinne M.

“This is a deceptively simple, carefully constructed meditation and presentation involving multi-media and the most congenial narrator you will ever find. One thing is clear … you should see this work in person at the Fringe while you can. For it is my belief that years from now, after the tapestries have finished touring as part of this show, and then have gone on to tours of major museums across the country … that this work will rank among the great pieces of Canadian art, and indeed one of the great pieces of art in the world.”

– Scott M

“Everybody knows the Chagall windows in Jerusalem. These are going to be bigger.”

– Toronto Fringe-goer

For more info or to book: www.ergoartstheatre.com, or www.kirkdunn.com.

Sunday Forums

Sunday Forums are held at noon following worship and continue throughout the year. We offer speakers who bring us information, insight and their expertise on a variety of topics that, we hope, you will find both interesting and useful.

In 2018 Forums covered such topics as:

• “Evolution in the Works” whereby Toshio Ushiroguchi-Pigott presented a tour of the Don Valley Brick Works as an eco-tourist destination
• A presentation by the members of the group who participated in the congregational exchange visit to Trinidad and the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago.
• Kate McGee, Executive Director and Chaplain of Boarding Homes Ministry, spoke about the legacy of the late Rev. Rodger Hunter and all the new things happening under her leadership.
• Maria Hadzis, the National Volunteer Coordinator of Prison Fellowship Canada (PFC) spoke about PFC’s vision and mission in light of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25.  She also discussed the church’s role in restorative justice and challenged us to examine how we are fulfilling Jesus’ mandate to love “the least of these”.
• Vivian Kwok from the “Our Doors are Open” project at the Ontario College of Art and Design University spoke about what it means to be part of a sacred space that is accessible to all.

Forums continue in 2019 and so far we have been lucky enough to have heard from the following:

• The Rev. Dr. Kristine O’Brien joined us on our 189th anniversary Sunday and brought us up to date on what is happening at Crieff Hills Retreat Centre.
• The Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) was represented by both Susan Viegas and Kristen Winters, who spoke about the life-enhancing work of PWS&D and specifically about their recent Monitoring and Evaluation mission to Ghana.