Family Worship & Learning – August 22, 2021

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for August 22. We start a new season of the Big God Project, and return to the beginning of God’s great story in the book of Genesis.

You can enjoy the full Family Worship Video below, or take part in shorter Family Time in our In Person Service, or do both.

Today’s Question

“Name something that is perfect.”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out and colour the Question Sheet.

Question Sheet – Aug 22, 2021

Family Worship Video – Available at 8:30am Sunday

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

Activities:
1) Collage – In this activity we are going to make a collage of what the Garden of Eden might have looked like (supplies: old magazines, especially gardening and nature ones, glue, scissors)
2) Galaxy Play Dough – We are going to make some special Galaxy Play Dough to remember our God Statement (supplies: black, blue and purple playdough, sparkles and small stars, plastic baggies)
To access the curriculum sheet with an overview of the Big God Theme, craft ideas and discussion questions, as well as a how-to craft video go here:

Home Worship – Sunday August 15, 2021

This Sunday August 15 is a special shared online service produced jointly by St. Andrew’s, Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterdown, and Family Church of Heritage Green. Worship will be led by Rev. John Read, Rev. Grant Vissers, and Rev. Alex Douglas and feature lots of music from all three churches. With our churches still worshipping online only it seemed like a great opportunity to work together as we get ready to return to in-person services.

Our Home Worship service for this week will premier on YouTube at 10:30am and be available any time afterward. A shortened version of the Family Worship time will be included as part of the main service. The Big God Project theme for the day is “God is in Control.” Resources for the day can be found here: https://standrews.ws/2021/08/14/family-worship-learning-august-15-2021/ 

 Home Worship Premiers at 10:30am

Order of Service 

Welcome & Call to Worship

Song: “My Lighthouse” (Family Church)

Song: “Love Come Down” (Knox Waterdown)

Family Time: “God is in Control”

Song: “Cornerstone” (St. Andrew’s)

Song: “Goodness of God” (Family Church)

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34

Message – “Summer Psalms”

Hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” (Knox Waterdown)

We Respond to God’s Generosity

Closing Prayers & The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

Closing Hymn: “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You” (St. Andrew’s)

News:

    • In-Person Worship Resumes August 22 at 10:30am: In order to meet provincial guidelines for physical distancing we will be limiting attendance to 40 people. The full guidelines for attending in-person worship can be found here: https://standrews.ws/2021/08/13/in-person-worship/.
    • Online worship will continue to be available each week and will premiere on YouTube at 10:30am. Family Worship & Learning will also continue to be posted online Sunday mornings at 8:30am.
    • Summer Mission Focus: This summer the Mission Team is encouraging our St. Andrew’s Church Family to support the Kenora Fellowship Centre. The Centre is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) that supports Indigenous people in the Kenora area, which was home to one of the two Residential Schools operated by the PCC after 1925. Ministries like the Kenora Fellowship Centre are part of our commitment to Reconciliation and repairing the harm done by the Residential Schools. You can learn more and donate directly here: https://fellowshipcentre.wixsite.com/kenora

Family Worship & Learning – August 15, 2021

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for August 15. The Family Worship time will be a part of our special shared service with Family Church of Heritage Green and Knox Waterdown that premiers on YouTube at 10:30am. You can download all the other resources right away.

Today’s Question

“What is something you are in charge of at home?”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out and colour the Question Sheet.

Question Sheet – Aug 15, 2021

Home Worship Service Premiers at 10:30am

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

Activities:
1) Paper prison (supplies: white sheet of paper, dark colour paper, black pipe cleaners, colouring materials, stapler) – refer to video for instructions
2) Making grape juice – refer to Curriculum document for instructions
(supplies: grapes, various kitchen utensils)
To access the curriculum sheet with an overview of the Big God Theme, craft ideas and discussion questions, as well as a how-to craft video go here:

In-Person Worship

We are pleased to announce that in-person worship at St. Andrew’s resumes as of Sunday August 22 at our usual time of 10:30am.

In order to meet provincial guidelines for physical distancing we will be limiting attendance to 40 people. Those who attend will also be required to wear a mask. The full guidelines for  attending in person are listed below.

Online worship will continue to be available each week, and will premiere on YouTube at 10:30am. Family Worship & Learning will also continue to be posted online Sunday mornings at 8:30am.

In-Person Worship Guidelines

Version 1 – August 10, 2021

Before You Arrive

    1. Everyone attending an in-person worship service is required to wear a mask and maintain 2m (6 ft.) physical distance from other people outside of their household.
    2. We strongly encourage everyone to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is the best way to keep yourself safe from infection or serious illness, and the best way to protect others.
    3. Please do not come to worship if you are feeling unwell or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID in the past 14 days. If someone attends while in the infectious period for COVID, Session will need to shut down in-person services for 2 weeks.
    4. Online worship will continue to be offered each week.
    5. Everyone attending in person will be screened for COVID symptoms when they arrive at the church building.
    6. Due to provincial physical distancing requirements, the capacity for the church sanctuary is currently a maximum of 40 people. If more than 40 people wish to attend worship regularly, we will add a second in-person service.
    7. The windows and doors in the sanctuary will be open for ventilation.

On Sunday Morning

    1. Please come to the main entrance at the lower level (the new lobby). The upper doors to the sanctuary (the narthex) will be locked until the beginning of service.
    2. You will be screened for COVID symptoms and wash your hands with sanitizer.
    3. Please make your way directly to the sanctuary by the main stairs or elevator.
    4. A member of the Reopening Team will direct you to a seat. Offering plates will be located at the back of the sanctuary if you wish to make your offering that way. PAR, e-transfer and online giving continue to be available (https://standrews.ws/give/).
    5. Please remain at your seat for the duration of the service unless you need to use the washroom. Attendance and a seating plan will be kept for contact tracing.
    6. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer Sunday School activities or the use of the nursery at this time. Children should stay seated with their families. There will be a Family Time during the service and independent activities from the Big God Project.
    7. There will be a mix of recorded and live music in the service. At this time Public Health does not encourage singing indoors.
    8. At the close of worship, the congregation will exit the sanctuary. Unfortunately, we are not able to have Coffee Hour at this time. If you stay for fellowship outside please continue to use appropriate precautions.
    9. If you feel unwell with COVID symptoms after you have attended worship please get tested (contact the church if you are unsure of how to do this). If you should test positive, please tell Public Health that you attended worship at St. Andrew’s.

These Guidelines will be reviewed weekly and adjusted based on feedback from the congregation and in response to the public health situation.

    • Our hope is to remain open throughout the fall, but this will depend on how serious the 4th Wave of the pandemic becomes.
    • At this time, we do not have clear guidance on what conditions might require us to close in-person services, but Session will monitor the public health situation closely and communicate regularly with the congregation.
    • Let’s continue to pray for the health of our community, and do our part to prevent the spread of COVID this fall.

Home Worship – Sunday August 8, 2021

This Sunday August 8, 2021, St. Andrew’s home worship returns, but with a twist. This week Rev. Read will be broadcasting our online services from St. Paul’s Carluke and Knox Binbrook to help out Rev. Nancy Mostert who had to take her vacation earlier than planned.

 Family Worship Video: “Jesus Blesses and Warns” (Available at 8:30am)

Connect to the 11:00am Knox Binbrook Livestream https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbBMApD5T-sZPwti_WFp2Kg

Order of Service

Opening Song: Blessed Be Your Name

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship – Psalm 1

Opening Prayers

Scriptures: Isaiah 30:18-21 & Luke 6:17-26

Message: “Choosing the Way”

Closing Prayers & The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

Closing song: Great is Thy Faithfulness #324

A recorded version of the 9:30am service from St. Paul’s Carluke will be available on our YouTube Channel early Sunday afternoon and posted to this page.

Those without internet access are also welcome to drive to St. Paul’s and tune into their radio service. Unfortunately, their in-building service is limited to 25 people, but there is plenty of room in their parking lot. 526 Carluke Rd W, Ancaster, ON L9G 3L1.

News:

    • Online Worship for August 22: We will be back to our usual 10:30am worship time for what will (hopefully) be our last online only Sunday. This will be a special joint service with Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterdown and Family Church of Heritage Green. Worship will be led by myself, Rev. Grant Vissers, and Rev. Alex Douglas and feature music from all three churches. With our churches still worshipping online only it seemed like a great opportunity to work together as we get ready to return to in-person services.
    • Update on Reopening St. Andrew’s: We will be returning to in-person worship on Sunday August 22 as planned. The Reopening Team has reviewed the public health situation and feels that we are safe to reopen. Session will meet this coming Tuesday August 10 to approve health and safety procedures for our in-person services. Expect full details by next Thursday.
    • Summer Mission Focus: This summer the Mission Team is encouraging our St. Andrew’s Church Family to support the Kenora Fellowship Centre. The Centre is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) that supports Indigenous people in the Kenora area, which was home to one of the two Residential Schools operated by the PCC after 1925. Ministries like the Kenora Fellowship Centre are part of our commitment to Reconciliation and repairing the harm done by the Residential Schools. You can learn more and donate directly here: https://fellowshipcentre.wixsite.com/kenora

 

Family Worship & Learning – August 8, 2021

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for Sunday August 8, 2021. This week we spend some time with Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.

Today’s Question

“What is something that makes your family Proud? or Disappointed?”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out and colour the Question Sheet.

Question Sheet – Aug 8, 2021

Family Worship Video – Available at 8:30am Sunday

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

1)  Blessings and Woes: supplies – paper plates made of very thin paper (cheap ones) or similar sized circles cut out of card stock, brass fasteners, scissors, markers/crayons/pencil crayons
 
2) Pass It On: supplies – items that the children can call a blessing that they can pass around like a hot potato, music

Big God Journal: Journal Page – Aug 8, 2021

To access the curriculum sheet with an overview of the Big God Theme, craft ideas, a how-to craft video, and discussion questions for older kids go here:

Home Worship – Sunday July 4, 2021

This Sunday July 4, 2021, we conclude our exploration of the Book of Revelation and come to the end of God’s great story in the Bible with a vision of hope for a new Creation. Our theme for the day is “Jesus Makes Everything New.”

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. An edited version of the service will be available at 1:00pm on Sunday.

Order of Service

Gathering Music

Family Worship: “Jesus Makes Everything New” (available at 9:00am)

Home Worship Recording

Call to Worship – Psalm 150

Opening Prayer

Hymn: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” #371

New Testament Reading – Revelation 21 & 22 (selections)

Gospel Reading – Luke 13:18-21

Message – “Revelation: The End and the Beginning”

Song: “Build Your Kingdom Here”

We Respond to God’s Generosity

Closing Prayers & Blessing

News:

    • Rev. Read will be vacation from July 5 to August 2. The next St. Andrew’s online service will be on Sunday August 8.
    • Sunday Worship Options for July 11 to August 1: Over the next few weeks we encourage you to connect to the online services from Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterdown (https://www.knoxwaterdown.ca/) and Family Church of Heritage Green (http://www.familychurch.life/familychurch/home.jsp).
    • Going Deeper (Study Resources): The Bible Project has an excellent video on how to read Apocalyptic Literature in the Bible – Revelation and other books like Daniel and Ezekiel. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/UNDX4tUdj1Y and find a study guide and other resources here: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/apocalyptic-literature/
    • Update on Reopening St. Andrew’s: Session has tentatively set August 22 as the date for a ‘soft’ reopening of our in-person worship service. This will be a more limited worship gathering to ease us into being back together. Our hope is to return to something approaching a normal in person service by the first Sunday in September. We  will review the situation in the first week of August and finalize our plans at that time.
    • Summer Mission Focus: This summer the Mission Team is encouraging our St. Andrew’s Church Family to support the Kenora Fellowship Centre. The Centre is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) that supports Indigenous people in the Kenora area, which was home to one of the two Residential Schools operated by the PCC after 1925. Ministries like the Kenora Fellowship Centre are part of our commitment to Reconciliation and repairing the harm done by the Residential Schools. You can learn more and donate directly here: https://fellowshipcentre.wixsite.com/kenora

Family Worship & Learning – July 4, 2021

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for Sunday July 4, 2021. This week we finish the Big God story in the final chapters of Revelation, which give us a glimpse of what God will do for all Creation one day.

Today’s Question

If you were an animal, which animal would you be?

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out and colour the Question Sheet.

Question Sheet – Jul 4, 2021

Family Worship Video – Available at 9:00am Sunday

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

1)  Scratch Art: supplies – black paint, dish soap, paint brushes (foam is best), crayons, card stock or cover stock paper, toothpicks or wooden skewers.
 
2) Broken Crayons Made New: supplies – broken crayons, mini muffin trays or other molds, toothpicks or wooden skewers.

Big God Journal: Journal Page – Jul 4, 2021

To access the curriculum sheet with an overview of the Big God Theme, craft ideas, a how-to craft video, and discussion questions for older kids go here:

Presbyterian Response to Discoveries at Residential Schools

The current and former Moderator of General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada have written a letter in response to the finding of the 215 children at Kamloops. The letter can be found here: https://presbyterian.ca/2021/06/15/moderator-joint-statement/

In response to the most recent discoveries in Saskatchewan, the Life and Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church in Canada has made an additional statement that can be found here:  https://presbyterian.ca/2021/06/25/a-statement-regarding-residential-schools/ 

For more information on the Presbyterian Church in Canada’s role in Residential Schools and our involvement in the Healing and Reconciliation process you can go here: https://presbyterian.ca/2021/06/05/pcc-and-residential-schools/ and here: https://presbyterian.ca/healing/

At St. Andrew’s we grieve for the pain these discoveries have caused Indigenous individuals, families and communities in Canada, even as they confirm what many had long known and believed. We pray for the ongoing work of Reconciliation between the government, churches, and peoples of Canada of settler descent and the Indigenous peoples of this land.