Author: standrewspcancaster

Good Evening Everyone,

This Sunday, January 10, is the Sunday in the Church year where we reflect on the Baptism of Jesus. This will be the first of two weeks where we look at how John the Baptist prepares the way for the ministry of Jesus. The theme for this Sunday is “God Shows Mercy.”

Our Home Worship service for this week will go live on YouTube at 10:30am. The service continues to be available by telephone for those without internet access.

Today we also welcome our brothers and sisters from St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Carluke and Knox Presbyterian Church in Binbrook to our online service. Their minister, Rev. Nancy Mostert, is on study leave this week. A big thank you to Nancy and the worship teams at Binbrook and Carluke for welcoming the St. Andrew’s family to their online services last week.

Order of Service (also attached as a separate document)

Gathering Music

• • Holy, Holy, Holy #299
  • His Mercy is More – Matt Papa & Matt Boswell
  • All Glory Be To Christ – Kings Kaleidoscope

Family Worship: “God Shows Mercy” (available at 9:00am)

Home Worship Recording  10:30am

Call to Worship – Psalm 103:1-5 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Song: “Your Grace is Enough”

Gospel Reading – Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 (NIV)

Message – “Undeserved Kindness”

Hymn: “Blessed Be the God of Israel”

Closing Prayer & Blessing

Postlude: “The Blessing”

News:

• • Sunday Worship will continue to be online (or telephone) only for the foreseeable future. The Reopening Taskforce will meet again whenever lockdown measures are lifted in Hamilton to assess the situation at that time. Please pray for the citizens of Ontario to do what’s needed to bring infection rates back under control, and for the vaccination efforts that are now underway.
  • Preauthorized and Online Giving: The start of a New Year is a great time to consider joining our Preauthorized deposit program (also known as PAR). It’s going to be a while before we’re back worshipping in person, and PAR makes giving safe and easy. You can email our Giving Secretary Diane Robb at dianemrobb@gmail.com for more information. If you would rather give on an one-time or occasional basis online you can go to standrews.ws/give/. 

Grace and Peace,

John

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for January 10, 2021. The Family Worship video will be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday morning but you can download all the other resources right away. We continue our look at the story of John the Baptist in the Gospel of Luke. The Bible passage connected with our theme is Luke 1:57-79

Today’s Question

“When is a time you didn’t get in trouble when you probably should have?”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out the colouring sheet. If you join the St. Andrew’s Family Email list you will be sent the Question on a Thursday and have the opportunity to have your answers included in in the Family Worship Video (which is recorded on Saturday afternoons). To be added to the weekly email send a message to revjohnread@gmail.com

Question Sheet – Jan 10

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

2. Peace Banner (supplies: large piece of paper or cardboard; markers)

Big God Journal Page: Journal Page – Jan 10, 2021

Rev Read is on study leave this Sunday. For worship tomorrow you can tune into the YouTube channels for Knox Presbyterian Church in Binbrook or St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Carluke. Rev. Nancy Mostert is the minister of both churches. John will be back next Sunday (January 10).

Knox Binbrook – Live at 11:00am with recording available Sunday afternoon.

St. Paul’s Carluke – Recording available Sunday afternoon.

Family Worship: “God Turns Hearts” (available at 9:00am

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for January 3, 2021. The Family Worship video will be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday morning but you can download all the other resources right away. The Bible passage connected with our theme is Luke 1:1-25

Today’s Question

“What is something you like now but didn’t always like?”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out the colouring sheet. If you join the St. Andrew’s Family Email list you will be sent the Question on a Thursday and have the opportunity to have your answers included in in the Family Worship Video (which is recorded on Saturday afternoons). To be added to the weekly email send a message to revjohnread@gmail.com

Question Sheet – Jan 3

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

This Sunday, December 27, is the 1^st Sunday in Christmas.  We hope that you had a good Christmas day in spite of the pandemic measures needed to keep us safe. The theme for this week is “Jesus is God’s Son.”

Our Home Worship service for this week will go live on YouTube at 10:30am. The service continues to be available by telephone for those without internet access.

In the service Rev. Read recommends the Luke-Acts series from the Bible Project as a good way to continue the Christmas story into the New Year. You can find it here:

https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/luke-acts-series

Order of Service

Gathering Music

• • ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (The Huron Carol)
  • Jesus Ahatonnia (The Huron Carol) – Original Huron Words
  • In the Bleak Midwinter –  Rend Collective

Family Worship: “Jesus is God’s Son” (available at 9:00am)

Home Worship Service

Call to Worship – Psalm 148:1, 7-14 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Hymn: “While Shepherds Watched” #138

New Testament – Galatians 4:1-7 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – Luke 2:41-52 (NIV)

Message – “A Place in the Family”

Hymn: “The First Nowell #136 vs. 1-3, 5

Closing Prayer & Blessing

Postlude: “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” #148

News:

• • Study Leave:  Rev. Read will be on Study Leave from December 28, 2020 to January 3, 2021. For this leave I will be exchanging virtual pulpits with Rev. Nancy Mostert of St. Paul’s Carluke and Knox Binbrook. On Sunday January 3 links for St. Paul’s and Knox’s services will be posted here. January 10 the folks from Carluke and Binbrook will join our online service. If you are in need of pastoral care during this time, please email Rev. John Hibbs (jayhibbs@cogeco.ca).
  • Christmas Donations to Ancaster Community Services: In a normal year we donate a portion of our Christmas Offering to Ancaster Community Services. Please consider making a donation directly to ACS here – https://ancastercommunityservices.ca/
  • 2020 Donations to St. Andrew’s: Please remember that all donations for the 2020 must be received at the church by Friday December 31, 2020 in order to be included on 2020 tax receipts. Information on how to make a donation online, by e-transfer or by mail can be found here.
  • Thank you again for your support throughout this challenging year.

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for December 27, which is the 1st Sunday of Christmas. The Family Worship video will be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday morning but you can download all the other resources right away. The Bible passage connected with our theme is Luke 2:41-52.

Today’s Question

“What is something that you are known for?”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out the colouring sheet. If you join the St. Andrew’s Family Email list you will be sent the Question on a Thursday and have the opportunity to have your answers included in in the Family Worship Video (which is recorded on Saturday afternoons). To be added to the weekly email send a message to revjohnread@gmail.com

Question Sheet – Dec 27

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

Welcome to Christmas Eve online at St. Andrew’s. Our service features traditional selections of Christmas lessons and carols as well as some special music from our Band and Choir. We pray that this service would be helpful to you whether you’re a part of our church family or joining us for the first time. Merry Christmas.

Order of Service

Welcome & Opening Prayer

Carol:  O Come All Ye Faithful  #159

Lesson:  Isaiah 11:1-9                                        

Carol:  O Little Town of Bethlehem  #165

Lesson:  Luke 1:26-38                                        

Carol:  Angels We Have Heard On High  #147

Lesson:  Luke 1:39-56

Carol:  Away in a Manger  #149

Lesson:  Luke 2:1-7

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Anthem: “And On Earth, Peace”

Lesson:  Luke 2:8-20

Carol:  What Child is This?  #161

Reflection: “Right Where We Are”

Special Music: “Make Room”

Closing Prayers & Blessing

Carol:  Silent Night  #154

This Sunday, December 20, is the 4^th and final Sunday of Advent. We continue around the Advent wreath and light the candle of Love. You can use the attached Advent liturgy with your own wreath and follow along in the Family Worship video as another of our St. Andrew’s families lead us in lighting our fourth candle. The theme for this week is “God Restores Love.”

Our Home Worship service for this week will go live on YouTube at 10:30am. The service continues to be available by telephone for those without internet access.

Order of Service

Gathering Music

• • Angels We Have Heard on High #147 (Organ and Choir)
  • Angels We Have Heard on High #147 (Full Band)
  • Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (King’s College Choir)
  • Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (Rend Collective)

 Family Worship & Advent Liturgy: “God Restores Love” (available at 9:00am)

Home Worship Service

Prelude Song: “Glory (Let There Be Peace)”

Call to Worship – Psalm 89:1-4, 35-37, 52 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Hymn: “Good Christians All Rejoice” #141

Old Testament – Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)

Message – “Rescued and Restored”

Hymn: “Once in Royal David’s City” #166

Closing Prayer & Blessing

News:

• • Christmas Eve Service: Due to the continued rise in new cases of COVID and Hamilton moving into lockdown, Christmas Eve service will be online only. Christmas Eve service will premier live on YouTube on December 24 at 4:00pm and be available at any time after that.
  • There will also be a Christmas Eve Zoom gathering at 7:00pm, where we can wish each other a ‘Merry Christmas’ and sing ‘Silent Night’ together (those without internet access will be able to call into our local teleconference number). To receive access to the Zoom call write to –revjohnread@gmail.com
  • 2020 Donations to St. Andrew’s: Please remember that all donations for the 2020 must be received at the church by Friday December 31,2020 in order to be included on 2020 tax receipts. Information on how to make a donation online, by e-transfer or by mail can be found here. Thank you again for your support throughout this challenging year.
  • Christmas Donations to Ancaster Community Services: In a normal year we donate a portion of our Christmas Offering to Ancaster Community Services. As we won’t be meeting in person please consider making a donation directly to ACS here – https://ancastercommunityservices.ca/

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 20. We continue our journey through Advent with the candle of Love (click the link below for the candle liturgy). The Family Worship video will be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday morning but you can download all the other resources right away. The Bible passages connected with our theme are Isaiah 9:2-7.

Advent 4 – Love (Large Print)

Today’s Question

“How can you tell that somebody loves you?”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out the colouring sheet. If you join the St. Andrew’s Family Email list you will be sent the Question on a Thursday and have the opportunity to have your answers included in in the Family Worship Video (which is recorded on Saturday afternoons). To be added to the weekly email send a message to revjohnread@gmail.com

Question Sheet – Dec 20

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

You can watch the video message above or read the full text below:

The Session and Reopening Taskforce met over the past two days and we are in agreement that as much as we would dearly love to offer some kind of in-person service on Christmas Eve, the continuing rise in COVID cases in Hamilton and the rest of Ontario unfortunately makes this impossible.

Daily case numbers in Hamilton are now over 100 on a regular basis with no sign of levelling off. There are warnings of many hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area reaching their capacity and calls for everyone to stay home and avoid contact with others as much as possible. While there was no announcement of a lockdown for Hamilton this afternoon, it is likely that one may come as early as Monday or perhaps for Boxing Day.  We know that this is deeply discouraging and adds to what has already been a difficult time of year.

Yet this does not mean that Christmas is cancelled. Christ comes to us whether we are gathered together in one place or scattered each to our own households.

An online Christmas Eve service will premier live on YouTube on December 24 at 4:00pm and be available at any time after that. This service will include Christmas readings by members of our church, Christmas Carols and music from the St. Andrew’s Band and some of our Choir members.

There will also be a Christmas Zoom gathering at 7:00pm, where we can wish each other a ‘Merry Christmas’ and sing ‘Silent Night’ together (those without internet access will be able to call into our local teleconference number). All these details will be emailed to those on our mailing list at noon of December 24. If you are not yet on the St. Andrew’s mailing list please write to revjohnread@gmail.com by December 23 at 5:00pm to be included on the Zoom Call.

We pray that you would be filled with the hope, peace, joy and love of Christ as we continue to journey through this pandemic. There is hope on the horizon as vaccines have started to make their way across the country to those in greatest need of protection. But even as we give thanks for this, and await widespread vaccinations in the coming months, we remember that the one who fulfills our greatest hopes and brings us the most profound health and salvation is the Child of Mary, who is the Son of the Living God. May you know his coming among us in the coming days and in the season to follow.