Worship Livestreaming – Each week, our Sunday services are livestreamed to YouTube and available anytime. You will find a direct link in our weekly newsletter, or look up our YouTube channel:
Fall Bake Sale — Mission Team
 The Mission Team will be having a Fall Bake Sale this Sunday, Sept. 20th, following the worship service downstairs in the church hall. Please help support our ongoing Mission projects! |
ACS September Appeal The Mission Team is holding an appeal for the Ancaster Food Bank. For the month of September, they are requesting school snacks, fruit cups, puddings, juice boxes, granola bars, etc. Please place your donations in the baskets at the back of the sanctuary. Thank you for supporting our neighbours! |
Planning for Children and Family Ministry in September 2026
We are pleased to announce that Sharon Payant and Khalida Douglas are attempting to revive the St. Andrew’s Community Children’s Choir program that was such a success before the pandemic. This program is open to any child (Grades 1-8) who loves to sing. The cost is $25. The choir practices on Tuesdays at 4:30 pm. If you have any questions, please speak to Sharon, Khalida or email the church office: standrewsancaster@gmail.com
Membership Course – End of September/Early October: Rev. John Read will be holding membership courses this fall. The course involves some reading and 2 or 3 small group gatherings. If you are interested or have questions about membership, please contact John (revjohnread@gmail.com) or call the church office. For a brief introduction on what membership means at St. Andrew’s, click HERE.
Fall Textile Recycling Drive – October 17th
The Mission
team are holding the Fall Textile Drive on Sat. October 17th, 9am-Noon, here at St. Andrew’s. Acceptable donations include clothes, towels, curtains, linens, bedding (NO PILLOWS) socks, underwear, shoes, purses, belts. Please Note: All donations must be placed in garbage bags. Please no cardboard boxes or bins. All donations are picked up by Canadian Recycling Ltd. The clothing that is usable is sent to Clothing for Charity who distributes it to organizations who support families in need. What is not usable is made into rags.
Sunday School Plan – The congregation also must know about our need for additional help to run regular Sunday School programming in the fall of 2026. We are in need of additional volunteers who can serve as teachers or helpers. Teachers and helpers would serve one Sunday per month.
St. Andrew’s 200th Anniversary in 2026
St. Andrew’s will be celebrating its 200th Anniversary throughout 2026. Over the course of the year, we have planned several Anniversary Events and Projects.
Anniversary Weekend – October 24 & 25, 2026
There will be a 200th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday, October 24, followed by a special Anniversary service on Sunday, October 25. This event will include guest speakers and other special elements. While we haven’t marked Anniversary Sunday in many years, it was traditionally held in October. Sale of dinner tickets for members only begins Sept. 13th, for friends and family begins Sept. 27th. Laura Doull will be selling tickets at coffee hours.
St. Andrew’s Time Capsule Project
Our Time Capsule is reaching its final stages. Our Brother in Christ, David Dreidger, has graciously donated his time and energy to create a beautiful box from the wooden pews from our Church, giving it significant meaning for the Time Capsule. Our Sister in Christ, Laura Doull has been generous with her gift of her ability to work in stained glass and has made the wonderful Presbyterian Cross on the the lid of the box. Altogether it is unique and perfectly fitting for us to fill with a few items that are particularly significant for our Church to represent our Christian heritage to future generations. We are asking that the different groups within the Church will find an item to represent themselves. e.g. The Choir, the Session, the Sunday School, Pastoral Care Team, Prayer Team, etc. and if anyone in the congregation has an item that might be appropriate, please speak to Rev Read. The size of the box is 6” deep, 8” wide and 14” long approx. so we have to be selective about what can fit inside. Please give this your consideration.
200th Anniversary Quilt
Our quilt was successfully created and displayed for Heritage Sunday. It will remain displayed at the church for a time.
Restoration of the Griffin Stone
As part of our Anniversary celebrations we restored the gravestone of Enerals and Priscilla Griffin. Enerals Griffin was an early African American farmer in Ancaster (arriving in 1834) whose home is now the Griffin House National Historic Site.
St. Andrew’s Steeple
Restoration work on the St. Andrew’s Steeple has been completed.
Counselling Support for St. Andrew’s Members – In 2026 we have joined Counselling Assistance Program (CAP) offered by Shalem Mental Health Network. Shalem is a Christian organization based in Hamilton that provides professional counselling (by fully accredited Master’s degree level psychotherapists and social workers), restorative practices, education, and community programs. Through the CAP program St. Andrew’s will cover the cost of professional counselling services for any member of our church family who does not have the means to afford this kind of care. Please speak to Rev. John Read if you would like to make use of this service. Your request will be kept entirely confidential and will not be shared with anyone else in church leadership.
Grief Share Peer Group
If you have experienced the passing of a life partner or significant other, you might be interested in joining a peer led healing group that will enable you to walk with others who are on a similar path in their journey from grief to peace. This group will be facilitated by Laura Doull, a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Educator in Women’s & Babies and Children’s Health. If you might consider participating or have questions, please contact Laura at doulllau@hotmail.com or 905-577-7336.
Prayer Gatherings
Our Lectio Divina group meets Wednesdays at 9:30am. Our Prayer Team meets Thursdays at 9:30am. Both groups meet in the sanctuary. If you have questions, please contact Diane Robb.
Knit 4 Need
A group of St Andrew’s knitters meet on Wednesday from 2 – 4 pm at the home of Edith Carlton, #14-210 Fiddlers Green Road, Ancaster. Everyone is welcome, knitters and non-knitters. Needles and yarn are available. This group has a missional focus on providing warm blankets for the homeless. Yarn donations would be appreciated and can be left at the back of the sanctuary. Call Edith if you want any more information: 905-745-3417.
Spring & Fall Textile Recycling Drive
The Mission team hold Spring & Fall Textile Drives in April and October here at St. Andrew’s. Acceptable donations include clothes, towels, curtains, linens, bedding (NO PILLOWS) socks, underwear, shoes, purses, belts. Please Note: All donations must be placed in garbage bags. Please no cardboard boxes or bins. All donations are picked up by Canadian Recycling Ltd. The clothing that is usable is sent to Clothing for Charity who distributes it to organizations who support families in need. What is not usable is made into rags.
McMaster Cookie Drive
The Mission Team collect cookies for the Cookie Drive for the McMaster Chaplaincy Exam Hospitality. Purchased or homemade cookies are much appreciated (please make sure they have no nuts). The last round of exams in December saw more students make use of the program than ever. The last Sunday for donations will be announced.