Author: J Abscher

Epiphany Lutheran

On a relatively large parcel of land sits this relatively small church. It looks good in the snow and the trees around it are a treat. It is nevertheless striking in how small it is in comparison to some other places of worship even in its immediate vicinity. I am certain that makes no difference whatsoever to the faithful who worship here.

Thankfully, it’s tucked away from the major road that passes by. And it’s clear that someone enjoys the grounds. The sheds show it’s cared for. The stained glass windows, displayed on two sides of the main building, suggest to me there’s the usual magic that happens here.

With any of these places, regardless of means, what’s most important is that it exists and it exists for a reason: to allow expressions of faith, prayer, hope, and love. With that in mind, this one’s small but mighty.

I like their website: http://www.epiphanylutheranchurch.ca/Home.html

Melville Presbyterian

It’s a handsome church and the setting is close to divine. It’s near the outskirts of Scarborough and was not long ago in what one would have considered “the country.” There are some rather lovely old Ontario houses around it, too.

It must be a fine place to worship and this church is again one of the parent faiths of my own historical home faith. It is also home to some gatherings of those involved with my current spiritual calling. That guidance has been invaluable to me and I am grateful for any place that acts as a host.

I believe, too, that it’s as fine a place as any one could hope for for a long rest, final or not, depending on your own faith. The cemetery is worth a visit in its own right. And this is where the environs really let their presence be felt. The whole place sits on a promontory overlooking a splendid river valley and parks. As I said … close to divine.

As always, a link to their site: https://melvillechurch.ca/

Sunatul Jamaat

This great bulk of a place has existed in our community for over 40 years. It is squat and plain and mighty. Sized like a warehouse, it can accommodate thousands of the faithful and has ample parking. What I love is how it sits on its own, using its lawns and parking lots as a moat. It stands out from its surroundings and strangely simultaneously blends in to the extent it’s barely noticed if riding or driving by.

The final photo looks away from the building at its back over the largest car park. It seems the Mosque may have an arrangement with its neighbours such that a visual block has been provided to shield worshippers from the ugly industrial mess just behind. At least that’s what it seems to me.

In any case, given the potential accommodation afforded and the sheer scale of the space it occupies, I trust this place provides respite and solace for many and offers an avenue to hope and peace.

Of course, they have a website, too: https://www.sunatuljamaat.com/

Church of the Master

Regrets for a brief hiatus over the Christmas period. The reasons are threefold: a) not wishing to favour any church during that crucial period, b) my own business during the holiday season, and c) severely lacking weather, as I clearly choose to take my photos in the morning sun and that’s been decidedly sparse!

Anyway, I present this entry as “Church of the Master,” because that is how this location appears on Google Maps. You’ll see from the sign it’s locally described as Destiny & Dominion Ministries. It appears to be an attempt to integrate a place of worship within a larger development, typically housing. I have seen other such examples in Scarborough and will share more in future.

I like the playground, as again there’s an emphasis on family and the facility overall speaks to learning. The building itself looks reasonable, sturdy, and quite modern. Slightly disconcerting that it’s across the street from a liquor store.

Most disconcerting, though, is the notice of intent to demolish and replace. I see this posted by many places of worship (and many places, period). It will be more condos that go up, but I am not convinced by the popular tales of lack of housing supply. My belief is that such developments are primarily driven by greed more than need; greed from investors and banks who will only “risk” money on housing they’re betting is the only way to make them more money; greed from governments that allow the rampant creation of currency to create an illusion of prosperity while everyone’s standard of living falls. This is not unique to Scarborough, of course, but its taste is perhaps bitterer here where there is much evidence of the opposite of prosperity.

As far as I can tell, for now, belief and worship continue: https://dd.church/

Bendale Bible

This is one of those places I’ve driven by so very many times and never paid much heed. In fact, I barely noticed it was there. That is very much akin to my own faith and spiritually, which I neglected for so very long.

It’s a handsome building and shows signs of expansion and care. I’m sure there are many who love to come to practice their faith here. It sits on its own little hill and has a good view around, which is, I’m sure, how the God who cares for this place sees it. He sees all and never neglects.

And I couldn’t resist the One Way sign that hangs out back, which is why that photo appears first. It is telling.

Naturally, they, too, have a site: https://www.bendale.com/

Hope Lutheran

I see hope writ large in this place. Clearly, though, it’s been a work in progress for many years. This is not in the most salubrious neighbourhood of Scarborough, but it presents an air of accomplishment, polish, care, and money. It probably started back when this was a more salubrious area, in an era when it was surrounded by farms, rather than nestled among working-class houses, townhouses, strip malls, and apartment blocks as today. Lutheran is definitely another sober, industrious side to my family, historically and worshipfully, and this place resonates with its emphasis on home, church, and schooling, too. It has hope for today and the future; it has purpose. The relatively large size of the nave, as suggested from the outside, speaks of hope that many will come to worship. The large bell turret positively hopes for light from above. And, it seems to me, the whole place speaks that hope with faith and purpose will provide security, comfort, and prosperity.

If you wish to visit the Church’s site: https://www.hopetoronto.com/

Masjid Bilal

Inauspicious, unassuming, humble. These are words that come to mind when I consider places like this mosque. And there are plenty of places of worship in Scarborough that are similar. They are not created from money or pride, rather from need and faith. They serve a purpose in their community. They serve those who care and love. And this place of prayer represents its kind appropriately, to the best of my knowledge, when I see the separate doors marked for Sisters and Brothers and the charity box out front to receive and help dispense alms. When one has faith, one can always give. St. Peter’s (in Rome) or Notre Dame (Paris) or Masjid al-Haram (Mecca) could never touch my heart the way this place does by its humility.

Check out their site: https://masjidbilal.ca/

St. Stephen’s

There are bound to be some Saints in this procession. Let’s start with St. Stephen’s. Also local to me and close to home in more respects than that. Presbyterian is the faith of some of my forebears and Presbyterian is one of the foundational churches of the church I consider my family’s faith home. (I have a nephew whose bride and he were married by a Presbyterian minister just last week.)

I do also visit this church sometimes, but not for their Sunday services. My visits are related to my own spirituality, but this particular church is merely a host, one of many for me. I’m sure I’ll come to more on that topic as we progress through these various and varied places of worship.

But the point of these posts is not about me or my religion or my spirituality, rather an examination and a celebration of the multitude of options one has.

These folks have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/st.stephenscommunityhub/

Perfect Love

Auspicious that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been to my door as I prepare this inaugural blog post to share my fascination with the multitude of faiths and forms of worship here in my home city of Scarborough (part of Toronto). Scarborough is not unique and I know some others will recognize this diversity from their own communities. Others may live in places where there are narrower views or less choice. For me, faith transcends any human-driven interpretation or agenda (which is, by the way, the view I’ve just shared with the gentlemen from the local Kingdom Hall). That’s part of its beauty and is a contributor to the joy I feel in it.

So, I wish to share with you, in photos and words, a representation of what Scarborough, representing the wider world of worship, offers. What better place to start than the Perfect Love Tabernacle?

They have a site, too: https://www.perfectlovetabernacle.org/