St. James Town, Toronto is a racially diverse but economically impoverished neighbourhood a ravine and a city block away from Rosedale, Toronto, one of Canada's wealthier enclaves. An ecumenical coalition, including Rosedale Presbyterian (celebrating its centenary this year) has joined hands to provide an after school homework program for St. James Town students in grades 2 to 7. Nurturing self esteem is a key goal; achieved through doing homework, playing games, laughing and getting to know each other in a safe environment. Volunteers come from within St. James, along with the partner churches. The program is currently seeking funding to provide basic salaries for the program leader and assistant.

Every Thursday morning, residents of Portland Place go grocery shopping. Portland Place Non-Profit Housing is a Presbyterian mission in downtown Toronto operating since 1991. It provides 46 units to men, women and families suffering from various challenges that makes finding and keeping housing elsewhere extremely difficult. Life skills are taught, community is developed, and tenants receive the care they need to stabilize their lives. To learn more, call 416-703-0652.

The Grand Hall of the Museum of Civilization, in Ottawa, is in the shape of a canoe passing by native villages along the coast line. The location was not only stunningly beautiful but also proved prophetic for the commissioners' dinner on Monday, June 2.

The Moderator of the 133rd General Assembly preaching at Rosedale, Toronto in December.

Sybil Mosley, student at Presbyterian College, Montreal, and George Yen, elder at Vancouver Taiwanese, join in a traditional Scottish Gaelic melody.

Rev. Derek Macleod listens to a dinner guest at Evangel Hall in February.When thou makest a feast,call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.Luke 14:14-15

Stitched Glass, a three-part knitted stained glass 'window,' was created by Kirk Dunn. Pictured is the 5.5 ft by 8.5 ft completed Christian window. (The Judaic and Muslim windows are still to come.) The window tells the story of what Dunn says is the “schism between what Jesus Christ said and did and what the organized church throughout history has done.”

Church World Services is a Geneva-based non-governmental agency with offices in many countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. Last year, the Record's Andrew Faiz and PWS&D's Guy Smagghe were hosted in both countries by CWS. The agency, working with Action By Churches Together (ACT) and through its support network (which includes the PCC) provides a variety of services throughout Pakistan. These include a refugee camp for those displaced by the October 2005 earthquake (seen here).

Lux Nova, a 40-foot wind tower at Regent College, a non-denominational graduate school of theology at the University of British Columbia, is a new stained glass marvel with solar cells. Woven into its 144-square-feet of photovoltaic glass is The Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic. Energy produced by this decorative “luminous column” lights the surrounding park. Sarah Hall, familiar to Record readers as a stained-glass artist, designed this art work that produces its own light.

Cover art by Ama Ampofa, age 9, Gateway Community, Toronto.

The first service, attended by more than a thousand people, started at 6:30 a.m. After the service, three hours later, Rev. Hans Kouwenberg baptized 11 children. The second service was just as long, included communion, and the induction of Rev. Glen Inglis as Synod Development Commission Projects Secretary, as an assistant at St. Columba. And then, Kouwenberg dedicated a new school building.

Bible wisely, a sense of purpose for themselves and their church, a willingness to get to know and serve the people—with character traits of integrity, empathy, care and grace, as well as some knowledge of the Book of Forms and the ability to work well in a team and to uphold the decisions of the majority.The Calvin, Abbotsford, B.C. session: back, Ted Bryde, Derrick Dick, Grant Allan, Rev. Dr. Hans Kouwenberg, Susan Swanney, Stan Weismiller, Bill Village. Front, Cathy Thomson, Anne Friesen, Margaret Rowley, Joan Grant, Beverley Albon, Alan Rowley.

Rev. Stephen Kendall, Principal Clerk, accentuates the positive at General Assembly.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take […]

Richmond Hill, Ont., church tours the Easter story.

Photographs by Abel Pandy.