Talking about Money

During the Church service on Sunday October 20, 2024, Reverend Daniel Benson sat down here with the church Treasurer, Paul Dowling to talk about the financial needs of Beach United Church. While they acknowledged that it can be uncomfortable to talk about money, it is important for people that support the church and its programs to know what the church needs.

Here is some of what the Treasurer said:

Being Treasurer in a United Church in 2024 is a challenging task. Our big, beautiful building was originally built to accommodate hundreds of worshippers every Sunday; while we have a core group of committed people on Sunday morning, we are quite a small congregation. Although this is the current reality for many churches, it means that our offerings are not enough to meet our costs to maintain the building, and to employ staff to support our worship and programs.

This year, the Beach United congregation approved a budget deficit of more than $150,000. We know that any deficit is not sustainable in the long run; our reserves will not last forever.

Our church strategic plan acknowledges that the church is more than a place of worship. We also see our role as providing programs and supports for people in our community. These programs include: our music programs, environmental initiatives, knitting for shivering children, Queer Youth support, and our support for people that are food insecure. These are all important parts of our Ministry, and it costs money to sustain them.

Our church building also provides a resource to the local community – for weddings, children’s programs, dance, music programs, and meeting places for a range of community activities. Fortunately, these parts of our Ministry have the potential to provide income.

Finally, we contribute to the work of the wider church here in Toronto and around the world through our support of the United Church Mission and Service Fund.

The problem is that the numbers aren’t working right. Our expenses are more than our income –  in fact, quite a bit more. The board is committed to trying to change the equation so that we don’t continue to have a big deficit and in time, can become more sustainable. We need to review all our expenses and ask ourselves whether there are areas where we can cut back. We also need to look at all of the ways we bring in money, including our fundraisers, our income from the parking lot, the EV chargers, grants and room rentals, to see if there are ways to increase our revenue and at the same time to enhance our ability to meet the needs of the community.

Rev. Daniel asked what people in the congregation can do to help?

Paul said that people can offer their ideas and their time to help address our financial challenge. We need fresh eyes and people with life experience to share.

As well, we need people to contribute financially so that a greater proportion of our expenses are met by those of us who value Beach United Church as our community. Our annual budget is about $500,000. Offerings, both in the offering plate and through direct Pre-Authorized Remittance (what we call PAR) provide about $140,000. That is a significant contribution; but we need it to be more.

I am asking people to think about what Beach United means to you and how your gratitude supports and nourishes not just our immediate church family, but our whole neighbourhood and the world beyond us.

We are asking people to look at their circumstances and their contributions, and ask themselves whether they need to make a change.

On Sunday, we will be handing out pledge cards as a way for people to say to themselves and to me as Treasurer, how they plan to contribute in the next year. Your pledge will be confidential. It’s not mandatory, of course, but it will help the church board as we begin to budget for next year and to make plans to become more sustainable..

A copy of the pledge card is available here on the Beach United website.   Please take a minute to share your commitment!

Haunted Stops: a Halloween-themed Organ Recital

Beach United Church is excited to present an afternoon of spooktacular organ music on Saturday, October 26th at 4:30pm with local organist, Rashaan Allwood. The program will feature ghostly favourites from Liszt, to Messiaen, Bach and more. You’re in for a thoroughly bone-chilling and goosebump-inducing concert experience just in time for Halloween!

Entry is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested minimum of $10. Tickets are not required for entry; you may show up at our doors on the day of the concert.

RSVP here!

Rashaan Allwood

Rashaan Rori Allwood is a versatile composer, performer, and educator known for his interdisciplinary approach to music. With a background in organ, piano, and clavichord performance, Rashaan merges classical, electronic, and world music in innovative ways. He holds degrees in organ performance from McGill University and piano performance from the University of Toronto, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in composition at Western University, focusing on improvisation, multimedia, and contemporary composition. 

His work spans genres, from medieval music to cutting-edge electronic sounds, and he frequently shares his unique interpretations online, blending historical performance practices with modern technology. An active presence on social media, Rashaan connects with audiences worldwide through educational content and creative performances. His research and artistry reflect a passion for exploring the intersections of tradition, innovation, and global musical cultures.

Concert Program:
Allegro Agitato from Mazeppa, s. 100 – Franz Liszt 
Les Anges – Olivier Messiaen 
Fantasia sopra Von Gott will ich nicht lassen – Bert Matter 
Kyrie from Faenza Codex – 14th Century Anonymous 
Halloween Special – Rashaan Allwood 
Allegro Cantabile from Symphony 5 – Charles Marie Widor 
Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach 

Jazz & Reflection – Fall 2024

We have an exciting lineup for our Jazz & Reflection series this fall! Ticket are pay-what-you-can with suggested pricing of $10/15, and help support our year-round community programs. We will have ticketing information for each concert shortly.

Saturday, October 5th, 2024
David Occhipinti String Trio & Guitar

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024
Larry Bond Trio (Piano, Bass, Drums)

Saturday, December 14th, 2024
Heather Bambrick, Paul Novotny, and Joe Sealy (Vocals, Bass, Piano)

Jazz & Reflection at Beach United

Music for the Soul with Mark Battenberg

Beach United Church is pleased to present Music for the Soul on Saturday, September 14th at 4:30pm with Mark Battenberg’s ‘Seven Aspects of the Cosmic Dancer’, a musical mediation and journey, guided by the wisdom of the Cosmic Dancer, who is the personification of the universal life force. She reveals her presence in the forms of Rain, Wind, Forest, Music, Meadows, Earth and Sun. Each of the seven aspects is followed by its own mystical composition that will immerse the listener into a harmonic river of sound and carry them to a place of peace and tranquility.

Tickets are pay what you can, with suggested prices of $10 or $15. Proceeds go towards supporting Beach United’s year-round community programs.

Performers

Shakuhachi Flute Master: Debbie Danbrook
Cellist: Dr. Dobrochna Zubek
Vioinist: Oleksandra Fedyshyn 
Narrator: DeAnn DeGruijter
Guitarist: Mark Battenberg

About the Musicians

Debbie Danbrook

Debbie Danbrook is a musician, composer and recording artist specializing in music for meditation, relaxation, gentle movement and healing. She is a Master player of the Shakuhachi flute, an ancient Japanese instrument that was originally played by monks as a type of Zen called ‘Suizen’ or blowing Zen. Debbie lived in Japan for several years to study this flute. She is the first woman to have mastered this difficult instrument and weaves the Shakuhachi together with her voice in her ethereal music. Her music has been embraced by healers and spiritual practitioners around the globe. She has released over 20 albums of Healing Music. She has performed extensively internationally and played at EXPO in Japan and also played for the Japanese Prince and Princess at the opening ceremony for a Zen meditation garden. Debbie was invited to offer her healing music at the Genocide Memorial in Rwanda.

Debbie is a founding member of Music Can Heal, a non-profit organization that brings peaceful, healing music to uplift and soothe those in need whether in hospital, retirement homes, long term care or palliative care. Debbie is an ordained Reverend and offers healing music and also officiates at Memorials and Celebration of Life ceremonies. 

Dr. Dobrochna Zubek

Polish-Canadian cellist Dr. Dobrochna Zubek has established herself as a versatile artist dedicated to a wide-ranging musical repertoire and to exploring boundaries between artistic disciplines.  A soloist, chamber musician, orchestral cellist and educator, Zubek’s multi-faceted career has taken her to cities across Europe, Asia and North America. Along the way, she has collaborated with some of music’s most distinguished artists, includingPeter Gabriel, José Carreras, Shauna Rolston and Gioconda Barbuto. She served as principal cellist in the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and the Ontario Philharmonic (2017-2023). She recently was invited as acting principal cellist of Symphony New Brunswick for this and the next season.

Oleksandra Fedyshyn is a violinist, composer and educator based in Toronto since 2008.  She’s got a Master’s degree from The Lviv National Music Academy, M. Lysenko (Lviv Conservatory, Ukraine). Oleksandra performed as a member of symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles with concert tours in Europe (including performances at INSO Lviv Orchestra and Leopolis Orchestra). As a composer, she was awarded as the laureate of The First International Pianists and Composers Competition “Farbotony” and Young Composers International Competition “Gradus ad Parnassum”. Her compositions were performed at the Lviv International Contemporary Music Festival “Contrasts”, The eight International Youth Music Forum (Kyiv, Ukraine), Youth Music Festival “Music of Millennium”. She participated in the 21st IMCM Summer Course for Young Composers, in Warsaw, Poland. Her scores could be seen at the library of The Gaudeamus Foundation (the Netherlands).  

In Toronto, Oleksandra continues to perform as a member of different music projects, bands, and orchestras  (including performances at Trinity-ST. Paul’s United Church, Living Arts Centre, Richmond Hill Centre for  The Performing Arts, Markham Jazz Festival, Koerner Hall, Casa Loma, Gallery 345, Tag Tv, Glenn Gould Studio, CBC.ca Eglinton St., George’s United Church, OAPN Showcase (USA), etc.) She composes music for chamber ensembles, bands, short movies, music arrangements and songwriting. 

DeAnn DeGruijter

DeAnn DeGruijter is a veteran of the musical theatre stage having performed many shows at the Stratford and Shaw festivals, Mamma Mia! and Crazy for You for Mirvish productions and dozens of shows in theatres large and small coast to coast. Her production company deGroovyArts has produced shows all over North America and her voice can be heard for the first seven seasons, as Mayor Goodway on the popular kids cartoon Paw Patrol! Most recently DeAnn enjoyed being part of The Last Timbit at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre. She is also a certified Expressive Arts practitioner, offering courses and workshops that employ arts play (painting, dance, music, sculpture, poetry etc.) for self-discovery, anxiety, healing, memory care and most of all, JOY! “It’s not about making a work of art, it’s about making the art work for you”. DeAnn grew up in the Beach and is proud to call it home.

Mark Battenberg

Composer / Guitarist Mark Battenberg is a multi-disciplined musician, composer, writer, and teacher focusing on meditative and healing music and literature. With over 45 years of experience in composition, production, and live performance, Mark has released 8 CDs of original work for both solo guitar and a large collection of compositions for guitar and string ensembles.   His work has been heard in film and theater as well as being featured at many charitable and fundraising concerts for organizations including Pancreatic Cancer Canada, Princess Margaret Hospital, Daily Bread Food Bank, Pegasus Project for Adults with Special Needs, and countless community events. Twice each year, Mark produces and performs the Winter and Summer Solstice Concert Series, here in the Beaches, to raise food donations for our  local food banks. He has recently released an acclaimed collection of poetry entitled A Leaf in the Wind, some of which is featured in this presentation.