Latest News – St Giles Presbyterian Church

- Thanksgiving LetterThanksgiving letter is ready for pickup. Due to the recent postal strike, we are asking members and adherents of St. Giles to pick their annual Thanksgiving Letter (organized by last name alphabetically) after today’s worship service. The letter contains an address by the minister, as inspired by Psalm 136, on the nature of giving thanks. It also contains an offering envelop encouraging generous giving towards the mission and ministries of St. Giles. Those letters not picked up today, efforts will be made to deliver them to your mailbox in the following days. Email version of the same letter will also be sent to those with updated email address in our record. Happy Thanksgiving!
- Talk Film, Talk Faith (2025/10/05)An opportunity for folks of the downtown Presbyterian community (Knox, St Giles, St Andrew’s) to view and discuss a film together. This month, ‘Colours of Time’ (La Venue de l’Avenir), exploring family dynamics through the story of cousins who inherit an old house in rural Normandy and explore the lives of their ancestors in 19th century Paris. French language with English subtitles. https://www.bytowne.ca/movies/colours-of-time-la-venue-de-lavenir/ Sunday October 19, 5:45 p.m. at the Bytowne Cinema on Rideau Street. Discussion will follow in the home of Andrew Johnston, a ten minute walk from the Bytowne. For further information, speak to Stan Currie or email Andrew. RSVP requested by Friday October 17 to Andrew at talkfilmtalkfaith@gmail.com
- Do You Know of A New Space for House to Home? (CCSAC) (2025/09/28)The organization ‘House to Home: Furnishing Homes for Refugees’ is on the lookout for a new space for their warehouse. They are currently in Westgate Mall which has been sold so this charity needs a new place from which to operate. They will have to leave by October 31st and are desperately in search of another space. Does anyone in our member churches know of a suitable space for this organization?If anyone knows any possible warehouse space that can be used, that would be very helpful too. The lady in charge is Suzi Shore Sauve and the email for the organization is fromhousetohomeottawa@gmail.com
- Ottawa School of Theology & Spirituality (2025/09/07)
  The Ottawa School of Theology & Spirituality are offering courses for the Fall and Winter Term 2025. Most courses are offered by Zoom but a few are in person at All Saints in Westboro, Ottawa. Courses start September 22 till October 27 for the 1^st session and November 3^rd to December 1 for the 2^nd session. Their home page is https://www.osts.ca. For further details please see poster and brochures at the side door entrance of St Giles.

- CCSAC in support of Centretown Community Food Centre Walk (2025/09/07)
  The Food Centre served over 15,000 hungry neighbours in 2024, a 54% increase over 2023. We are fundraising for the 10th annual Walk for the Centre, October 5, 2025, from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. We are hoping for the support of our parishioners, youth groups and choirs for church teams as we raise much needed funds for the Food Centre. We will meet in person in Canadian Martyrs church (100 Main St.) for our 10th annual festivities of music, guests and a Piper band to walk the Western Rideau River Pathway.We will enjoy the music and song of a Banjo performer at 1:40 pm, Guest Speakers followed by the Son’s of Scotland Piper Band to lead us into the Walk at 2:20 pm. We welcome you and our parishioners to join us in our event and to remember us in prayer for our success. Thank you. www.centretownchurches.org/walkathon

- Youth Leaders Summit Announcement: (2025/08/31)
  All youth pastors, workers and volunteers are invited to an evening of dinner, learning, prayer and encouragement hosted by the Presbytery Ministry Animator. This event will take place on Friday September 5, 2025, at 7 pm at St. Paul’s Church, 971 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa. Please email prezminanimator@gmail.com or RSVP with the Animator using the following link: https://forms.gle/HHxhKjLtyJxpDMUq5

- Presbytery Bible Study (2025/08/31)
  Presbytery Bible Study: Our weekly Bible study will resume on Monday, September 8th at 12 noon on Zoom. We will begin by studying the book of Hebrews. E-mail Presbytery Ministry Animator Sunjay Henry at prezminanimator@gmail.com

- Fall Youth Retreat – Grounded (2025/08/31)
  The Presbyteries of Ottawa and Seaway-Glengarry are delighted to share the return of the Fall Youth Retreat, taking place Friday October 3-Sunday, October 5 at Gracefield Christian Camp and Retreat Centre. This event is for youth aged 11-17. This year’s theme is Grounded: how do we stay grounded in Jesus as the core of our faith in the midst of everything else life throws our way? The weekend will include worship, learning, and camp activities like archery, hiking, crafts, and wide games (games that take place across the property). Cost is only $40/youth. Leaders are free if they sleep in a cabin with youth or $25 to stay in White Pine (maybe sharing a room with another leader). A bus will leave St. Paul’s Church, 971 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa at 6:30 pm on Friday and return to St. Paul’s for 4:30 on Sunday. Leaders are responsible for making sure there is at least 1 leader per 5 youth attending but are welcome to work with other congregations to share leaders. RSVP with number of youths, preferred cabin assignment (male or female), and food restrictions by September 26. Questions and RSVP to the Presbytery Animator, Sunjay Henry: prezminanimator@gmail.com

- Helpers Wanted (2025/08/31)
  St. Giles has been asked to send a total of 18 care packages to soldiers of the Cameron Highlander Regiment who are currently posted oversea. We are looking for additional volunteers who are able and willing to prepare backed goodies (for the end of August and October). For more information, please contact Kate Ferguson (tartanterriers@sympatico.ca).

- Thank You (2025/08/24)
  During the summer, two children from St. Giles attended the Trailblazer camp of Gracefield (and they had a blast). We wish to acknowledge and give thanks to those who provided fundings, including the Mission Committee and the Worship & Witness Committee of the Presbytery of Ottawa, Gracefield itself, and the congregations of St. Andrew’s Church in Kars and the Osgoode Church in Vernon. We pray that your generosity will be infectious and spread, so many more children would be blessed with the experience of Christian camping.

- North American Festival of Wales (NAFOW) (2025/08/24)
  The festival will take place in Ottawa, August 27-31, 2025. This year it is Ottawa’s turn to enjoy this wonderful celebration of Welsh music and culture. Events on offer throughout are:
  1. Welshfest street party on Sparks Thursday, Aug. 28, a free event featuring musicians from Wales,
  2. and a concert on Saturday evening by the Penrhyn Male Voice Choir with soloist Meinir Wyn Roberts (ticket required)
  3. *St Giles is invited to participate in two amazing participatory hymn singing sessions, known in Welsh as a “Gymanfa Ganu”, in which favourite hymns are sung by the congregation in four-part harmony. These sessions will take place at Christ Church Cathedral,
  414 Sparks St on Sunday afternoon, August 31, 2- 3.30 p.m. and 4.30-6 p.m. (free will offering).Please contact me if you need more information or you can visit our website at http://www.festivalofwales.org.

Youth Leaders Summit Announcement: (2025/08/17)
All youth pastors, workers and volunteers are invited to an evening of dinner, learning, prayer and encouragement hosted by the Presbytery Ministry Animator. This event will take place on Friday September 5, 2025, at 7 pm at St. Paul’s Church, 971 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa. Please email prezminanimator@gmail.com or RSVP with the Animator using the following link: https://forms.gle/HHxhKjLtyJxpDMUq5

New and Easy Way to Donate! (2025/07/13)
We’re excited to announce a simpler way to donate to St. Giles Presbyterian Church! You can now use our new donation form powered by WPForms and Stripe.

How it works:

Fill out the donation form on our website.
Securely complete your donation through Stripe.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Session News (2025/06/27)

The Session of St. Giles has accepted with thanks the resignation of Janice Fourney from active duty. Jan has faithfully served on the Session for many years. Her contribution to the congregational life of St. Giles is very much appreciated. May God bless her and remember her.

Monday Coffee Hour (2025/06/27)

The Session has decided to bring the Monday Coffee Hour via Teleconference to an end. It was started as a COVID ministry in 2020 when people were unable to gather after worship. It continued after the pandemic as a way to connect with those who are unable to physically attend worship. We thank God for all who participated in this ministry.

Helpers Wanted (2025/06/27)

St. Giles has been asked to send a total of 18 care packages to soldiers of the Cameron Highlander Regiment who are currently posted oversea. We are looking for additional volunteers who are able and willing to prepare baked goodies (for the end of August and October). For more information, please contact Kate Ferguson (tartanterriers@sympatico.ca).

Sunday School Help Needed (2025/06/20)

The Children Sunday School is growing. Praise God for blessing us with increasing number of new pupils, many of them French speaking. We are looking for new teachers and helpers to join this ministry. Training will be provided as long as you have a willing heart. Those interested, please contact Daisy Tsai (daisyt43@hotmail.com) for more details.

Exciting News! We’ve Launched Our Official Instagram Account!

We’re thrilled to announce that we are now on Instagram!

Our mission is to connect with each and every one of you, share inspiring content, and create a community that celebrates the power of togetherness. Every single person matters—and we believe that by sharing ideas, stories, and moments, we can make a real impact.
While we’re excited about our new Instagram account, we want to remind you that our YouTube and Facebook pages are still going strong! You can continue to find us there for more content, updates, and ways to stay connected with the St. Giles Presbyterian Church community.

And remember—every donation matters.

As a nonprofit, we rely on the generous support of people like YOU to continue our mission. Every contribution, big or small, helps us do more to serve our community and grow in faith.

We truly appreciate your ongoing support, whether it’s through following us, sharing our posts, or donating. Every little bit makes a difference!