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EESTI ELU reedel, 27. novembril 2020 — Friday, November 27, 2020
Nr. 47
Please help with your support! St. Peter’s Estonian Lutheran Church – Our Sacred Sanctuary
Join the Chicago Estonian community for their Backyard Christmas Bazaar
Dear St. Peter’s Estonian Lutheran Church members, former members, and every one who loves our Church,
Vincent Teetsov
St. Peter’s Estonian Lutheran Church was designed by an Estonian architect and built through the cooperative efforts of Estonians who immigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto. It is unique from other wellknown churches because it is not grand and ornate, but rather simple and comfortable. The building emanates warmth, and spiritually supports those that have sat in the wooden pews while gazing towards the co lourful stained-glass windows. It is a place where we have shed tears of joy, as well as wept tears of sadness. St. Peter’s is our firm and lasting sacred sanctuary. Over the years, it is the church where christenings, confirmations, weddings and final farewells of families, friends and community members have taken place. In the columbarium, we honour our fellow Estonians who now rest in peace. In addition, the church has hosted choirs and
solo concerts as well as impor tant community celebrations. What a tragedy if this were to disappear! St. Peter’s has faced certain financial realities in recent years that finally brought about a resolution on September 27, 2020 to consider selling the church property and relocating our congregation. Your support can help to avert this difficult decision! Covid-19 has brought further challenges in 2020 with greatly reduced church attendance, and, with that, sharp declines in member contributions. This led to the formation of a volunteer group whose goal is to help St. Peter’s balance its budget through an active fundraising program and rejuvenate our membership. If St. Peter’s continues to be a part of you or your family’s life, please help our beloved church. It would be a pleasure to see you at Sunday or holiday ser vices at St. Peter’s. At the same time, especially with current restrictions, we understand your
New restrictions: Government agrees obligatory mask rules, extends 2+2 ERR, November 2020 New restrictions making it obligatory to wear a mask or face-covering in public indoor spaces, extending the 2+2 rule and reducing the maximum number of participants in public events were agreed by the government at an e-session on Monday. Additional stricter measures will be applied in the epicentres of the coronavirus epidemic – in Harju and Ida-Viru counties. Restrictions will be reviewed every two weeks Restrictions concerning masks and social distancing will enter into force on Tuesday, November 24. Restrictions related to indoor public meetings, events and entertainment with fixed seating will take effect on Saturday, November 28. Both the Health Board and the scientists advising the government support the new restrictions. Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Center) said the situation re lated to the spread of the coro navirus in Estonia is becoming more critical, especially in terms of the functioning of the medical system. “The epidemic spread of the coronavirus in Estonia means that we must introduce stricter restrictions to ensure the conti nuity of the Estonian health care system and the availability of treatment for everyone, even as the number of COVID-19 patients continues to increase. We have the opportunity to
Photo: Peeter Põldre
ongoing concerns about Covid-19 and respect the deci sion made by many of our members to not attend church services. If you are unable to attend services and make contribu tions in person, you can make a tax-deductible* donation as an expression of your support of St. Peter’s through one of the following methods (if pos sible, quoting your donation envelope number): 1. E-transfer to: stpeterstoronto@rogers.com 2. Direct transfer from your Northern Birch Credit Union (NBCU) account to St. Peter’s by calling 416-465-4659 or sending your instructions for transfer of funds to info@ northernbirchcu.com
pre-registration requirement. It is a place where a lot of people do not usually come into con tact with each other on a daily slow down the growth of the basis. infection rate with joint efforts. Public transport is con For this, we must follow the re sidered a public indoor space. strictions set by the government The government is develop and behave reasonably and in a ing a plan to provide masks for mutually supportive manner,” disadvantaged people. said Ratas. The so-called 2+2 rule must “All of us must now make be followed everywhere in pub every effort so we could spend lic indoor spaces, which means the Christmas holidays with our that two people can move loved ones. Let us postpone together but keep a distance of major holiday events to next two metres from other people. year and spend this Christmas This applies, for example, in in a smaller family circle.” bank branches, hairdressing and Previously, the guidance beauty salons, and elsewhere. issued by the government about The current 10+2 rule will wearing a mask was considered continue to apply in catering to be a “guideline” and not an e stablishments and places obligation. where entertainment services If the restrictions are not are provided. The rule means met, the state has the right to is that a group may include up to sue a fine with a limit of €9,600 10 people, but they have to The new rules, currently only keep a distance of two metres published in Estonian by the from others. These restrictions government, can be viewed do not apply to families. here: https://www.valitsus.ee/et/ From November 28, the uudised/valitsus-kiitis-heaks- maximum number of partici koroonaviiruse-leviku-vastased- pants in public events will be piirangud reduced. Up to 400 people can There is an obligation to take part in an indoor public wear a mask or cover one’s event with stationary seating, nose and mouth indoors, includ otherwise, up to 250 people are ing on public transport and at allowed. For outdoor events, the service points, during hobby maximum number of partici education and activities. pants is 500. People for whom it is medi Masks must be worn in cine cally difficult, as well as mas, theaters and concert halls. children under the age of 12, do In addition, people may not need to cover their nose and move outside the stationary mouth or wear a mask if suffi seating area by following the cient distance is ensured and in so-called 2+2 rule. This means other justified cases. that in common areas, such as A public indoor space is a lobbies, up to two people can space intended for public use move together, who must keep that can be entered by anyone, a distance of two meters from regardless of, for example, a the others. These restrictions do
3. Cheque mailed to: St. Peter’s Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 817 Mount Pleasant Rd. Toronto, ON M4P 2L1 * St. Peter’s Estonian Evangeli cal Lutheran Church: Charity Registration No. 85852 2489 In closing, in order to receive your tax receipt and other church communication, please confirm your current address, telephone number, and email. You can do this in person at St. Peter’s church office, by email (stpeterstoronto@rogers.com), or by voicemail at 416-4835847. Thank you and may God be with you. VOLUNTEER WORKING GROUP TO PRESERVE ST. PETER’S CHURCH
not apply to families moving or staying together, nor in cases where this condition cannot reasonably be guaranteed. Public transport. Wear a mask or cover your nose and mouth. If possible, keep a dis tance of two meters from other people. Indoor sports. Up to two spectators may be present and traveling together at public sporting or exercise events, keeping a distance of at least two meters apart from others, except for families moving or staying together, or where such conditions cannot reasonably be guaranteed. The organizer must ensure up to 50 percent occupancy and the number of participants in a sports or exercise event does not exceed 250 people. Spectators must wear a mask indoors. The conditions do not apply to extracurricular, basic and secondary education activities. The condition of up to 50 percent occupancy and the limit of 250 people do not apply to professional and semi-profes sional sports activities in the sports system of the sports federation. Sports competitions. Orga nizers of sports competitions must ensure the dispersal of people and up to 50 percent occupancy indoors. The number of participants in the event must not exceed 250 people indoors and there must not be more than 500 people outdoors. Spectators must wear a mask indoors.
We all know, “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” We have Buddy the Elf to thank for that one. But you should also know about the incomparable cheer and warmth to be found in a Christmas market. On behalf of the Eesti Kultuuriselts Chicagos (Estonian Cultural Society of Chicago), I would like to cordially invite you to their Backyard Christmas Bazaar. Do you live in the Chicago metropolitan area, or further afield in Illinois, and want to get into the Christmas spirit? On Saturday December 5th be tween 10 AM and 4 PM (CST), you can stop by 2415 Colby Drive South in McHenry, Illinois. For a ticket price of just five dollars per person, you can get into the Christmas spirit Estonian-style with food, drinks, and gifts for your friends and family. Refreshments include pickled pumpkin, verivorstid (blood sausage), piparkoogid (ginger bread cookies), and of course, hot cocoa to keep nice and warm. Get some marshmallows and roast them over the back yard fire pit. At the market, visitors can expect multiple vendors who will be selling their hand-craft ed products. For instance, you can peruse luxurious soaps. Ille Sutt will be selling the delicious tea blends made with Iwona Garwacki for their brand Iwanatea. Marina Veiler’s intri cate gemstone jewellery will be on sale. Attendees will be able to cast their bids for exciting products in a silent auction. In addition, you won’t want to miss the glistening ice sculpture being made live at 12 PM. It’s the best of the season, all wrapped up into one delightful afternoon. The bazaar will be operated in accordance with health regu lations, and will take place outdoors. It looks like the tem perature is going to be hovering just above the freezing point, so it’ll be a good idea to wear a warm coat, hat, and gloves. To make an even fuller day out, you can go for a hike in Stickney Run Conservation Area nearby, where you can walk past tranquil meadows, beautiful old forests, and the bend of the Fox River. If you are looking for more details about the event, you can contact the Estonian Cultural Society of Chicago at estonian sinchicago@gmail.com. Visit the Society’s website for more information about their activities by visiting estoniansinchicago. com.
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