Family Worship & Learning – November 29, 2020

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for November 29, the 1st Sunday in Advent. We start our journey through Advent with the candle of Hope. 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 Nehemiah 1 & 2.

Today’s Question

“What is something you would love to help with?”

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 – Nov 22

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

1) Advent Toolbelt (card stock/construction paper, hole punch, scissors, yarn, markers/pencil crayons)
2) Hope candle – you can work on the candle from the craft kit that was given to you, or try this version shown in the craft video (supplies: toilet paper tube, black/brown/grey pipe cleaner, red/orange/yellow tissue paper, glue, tape) 
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 November 22, 2020

This Sunday, November 22, is Christ the King Sunday and the end of another church year. Next week we’ll begin the season Advent that leads into Christmas.  The theme for this week is “God Keeps His Word,” and our focus is on 2 Chronicles 36, one of the most difficult parts in the story of God’s people.

 

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

Order of Service

Gathering Music

 

Family Worship Video“God Keeps His Word” (available at 9:00am)

Home Worship Recording

Call to Worship – Psalm 95:1-7 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Hymn: “Immortal, Invisible” #290

Old Testament – 2 Chronicles 36:5-23 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – Matthew 23:37-24:2 (NIV)

Message – “Life in Exile”

Song: “Cornerstone”

Closing Prayer & Blessing

 

News:

    • COVID-19 Update: As was announced this past on November 17, St. Andrew’s will not be returning to in-person worship in Advent. This was a difficult and painful decision, yet in light of the recent developments in the pandemic (with Hamilton going into the ‘Red Zone’) this remains the safest choice. We will incorporate as many of our seasonal traditions into our online services as possible through this challenging time. We pray for God’s help for us and our neighbours to do what’s necessary to reduce infection rates in the lead up to Christmas.
    • Resources for Advent: As we’re don’t have the option of gathering together at the church building for our Advent celebrations this year, we’ve prepared a number of ways you can bring Advent home in 2020. You can find these suggestions and resources here – https://standrews.ws/2020/11/21/bringing-advent-home-in-2020/.
    • Wesley Christmas Program: One way our St. Andrew’s family has reached out to our neighbours in Hamilton has been through the Christmas Program of Wesley Urban Ministries. The program is a bit different this year, but you can make a donation online or follow the Advent link above to find out other giving options.

 

Grace and Peace,

John

Family Worship & Learning – November 22, 2020

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for Sunday November 22. 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 today’s theme is 2 Chronicles 36.

Today’s Question

“What is something that is NOT a good idea to do?”

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 – Nov 22

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion & Other Activities

1) Warning signs (supplies: printed examples of warning labels/signs from the internet, white or yellow paper)
2) Righteous Branch (supplies: large branch or small branches, craft supplies to decorate branch)

 

Journal Page – Nov 22

 

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:

Big God Project Resources – Nov 22

Bringing Advent Home in 2020

As was announced on November 17,  due to the high rates of new COVID cases in the province and with Hamilton now in a pandemic Red Zone, our St. Andrew’s family will be marking Advent at home this year. So, I’m sharing some practices that we can use to keep the hope of the season before us as we wait for the light of Christ to shine into the darkness.

Setting up an Advent Wreath

Jen Pooni will be dropping off craft kits to all our St. Andrew’s families with kids, but anyone can make their own Advent wreath from supplies you can get from the dollar store or craft shop. Ideally your candles would be 3 purple, 1 pink and 1 white (and you can also find blue Advent candles as another alternative), but feel free to use whatever you can easily obtain. If you would prefer to buy readymade Advent candles, holders or wreaths, you can find them at the Family Christian Book Store in Burlington (750 Guelph Line) or at online retailers like Amazon (though shipping times may vary).

At our house we have our wreath on our dining room table, and we light the week’s candles at dinner time each day. Each week for worship I will be sending along the Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Advent liturgy, which you can use whenever you join our online service or at dinner on Sundays. You can also use the document below that has simple prayers for each candle that you can use throughout the rest of the week.

Home Advent Prayers (Mobile)

Home Advent Prayers (Print)

Advent Challenge and Gifts of Change

Connected with the Advent Liturgies is the PWS&D Advent Challenge. For each week of Advent, read the story on the back of the PWS&D Advent liturgy, complete the weekly challenge and share the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love that enable abundant life—at home and around the world.

Another way to give to others as you get ready for Christmas is the Gifts of Change program. Below you’ll find the 2020-2021 catalogue which you can look through and choose what kind of mission or development gifts you would like to give on your own behalf or as a present to others. This Advent the St. Andrew’s Mission Team will be picking a project from Gifts of Change to support with the some of the funds you have generously given to the Mission Fund in the past year.

Gifts_of_Change_2020-2021

Wesley Christmas Program

While the program will be a bit different this year, we can continue to support Wesley Urban Ministries as we normally would with our giving tree. For information on how to take part this year, please see the document below from the Mission Team.

Wesley Christmas Program

Advent Study and Devotional

A great resource for study in any season is the Bible Project. Last year they produced a series of 4 videos for each of the weeks in Advent which you can find, along with study notes and other resources here: https://bibleproject.com/explore/the-advent-series/

If you would like something for each day, I would recommend the Advent for Everyone devotional by N. T. Wright. You can find it on Amazon in both print and e-book formats, or take a  drive to the Family Christian Bookstore in Burlington.

 

May God bless you with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love,

May the Spirit empower you to be a blessing to others,

And May Christ be present in all our waiting.

 

Grace and Peace,

Rev. John Read

Mission Update – Textile Drive and Mission Services

Textile Drive Results: The Mission Team would like to thank all who supported the Textile Drive last weekend. We loaded 170 bags (4,000 pounds) onto the truck. Thank you for caring for our environment and diverting all of this from the landfill!

Many thanks also to Marianne, Eric & Jeremy as well as everyone who donated to Mission Services at Thanksgiving. We received the following message from Mission Services earlier this week:

Family Worship & Learning – November 15, 2020

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for Sunday November 15. 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 today’s theme are 2 Samuel 7 & 1 Kings 9.

Today’s Question

“What is something you’ve made that you are proud of?”

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 – Nov 15

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

1) Boundary puzzle (supplies: age appropriate puzzle)
2) Build a Temple (supplies: blocks/Jenga pieces/cardboard boxes)
Big God Journal: Journal Page – Nov 15
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: Big God Project Resources – Nov 15

Home Worship – Sunday November 15, 2020

This Sunday, November 15, we continue to explore how the story of ancient Israel connects with our story. The weekly theme is “God Shows Us The Boundaries,” as we make our way into 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.

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

Order of Service

Gathering Music

Family Worship Video Available at 9:00am

Home Worship Recording

Call to Worship – Psalm 84:1-2, 8-12 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Song: “Because Of Your Love”

Old Testament – 2 Samuel 7:1-17 & 1 Kings 9:1-9 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – Matthew 12:1-8 (NIV)

Message – “A House to Live In”

Hymn – “Holy, Holy, Holy” #299

Closing Prayer & Blessing

News:

    • COVID-19 Update: Session will be circulating an update on Tuesday including the latest plans for the worship & life of St. Andrew’s in light of the most recent developments in the COVD-19 pandemic.
    • Potato Day: In Memory of Howard Atkin, Session will be donating $300 from our special offering fund to Neighbour to Neighbour for “Potato Day” If you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to make a direct donation to Neighbour 2 Neighbour by this Sunday. You can make your donation online (In the notes box you can enter, “From St. Andrew’s Ancaster” and click the “In Memory” box at the bottom of the page and write in “Howard Atkin), or send a donation by mail or phone https://n2ncentre.com/contact-us/

Service of Remembrance – November 11, 2020

Below you will find the video for our Service of Remembrance for November 11, 2020.T he timing of our service will give you the option to view it prior to one of the public Remembrance Day services that will be available on television and online. However, for anyone working or unable to take in the service during the day, know that once the service premiers you can watch it at any time during the day or later in the week. But whether you are at work or at home, please remember to stop at 11:00am and take the 2 minutes to remember.

St. Andrew’s Service of Remembrance

Live coverage of the National Remembrance Day service in Ottawa begins at 10:00am on CBC television, and can be found online at https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1817878595643

Hamilton’s virtual Remembrance service can be found on Cable 14 or the City’s YouTube channel at 10:30am https://www.youtube.com/user/InsideCityofHamilton/featured

Order of Service

 Call to Worship – Psalm 85

Opening Prayer

 Hymn: “There is a Redeemer” #358

We Remember Our Veterans

Act of Remembrance

Minute of Silence

Prayer of Remembrance

National Anthem: “O Canada”

Scripture – Matthew 5:1-16

Reflection: “Justice & Peace”

Closing Prayers & The Lord’s Prayer

 

Blessing

Home Worship – Sunday November 8, 2020

This Sunday, November 8, was a Zoom Communion service. Below is the recorded and edited version of our live service. If you would like to join us live next Communion Sunday send a message to revjohnread@gmail.com to be added to our email list.

Remembrance Day Service

    • Normally this week would be Remembrance Sunday, but in light of the limits of our online service, Session felt it would be more appropriate to take more time and have a separate special video service on the morning of Wednesday November 11.
    • The St. Andrew’s Remembrance service will premier on YouTube at 9:45am which will allow you to join our service, and then tune in to the national service in Ottawa (on CBC) or the virtual service for the City of Hamilton (on Cable 14).

Order of Service for November 8 

 

Gathering Music

Family Worship VideoGod Lets Us Make Mistakes

For more family learning resources for today go here.

Communion Service

Call to Worship – Psalm 138:1, 4-8 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Song – “This is Amazing Grace”

Old Testament – 1 Samuel 8 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – John 19:1-6, 12-16 (NIV)

Message – “Choosing Our King”

Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision” #461 vs.1,2,4&5

We Celebrate Communion

Blessing

News:

    • A big thank you to all the volunteers who came out to help with the Church Yard Cleanup yesterday. A special thank you to the volunteers from the Net Youth Program of Ancaster Community Services, who gave us some extra help this year. We got lots done, and the church yard looks great.
    • Textile Drive Results: The Mission Team would like to thank all who supported the Textile Drive yesterday. We loaded 170 bags (4,000 pounds) onto the truck. Thank you for caring for our environment and diverting all of this from the landfill!
    • Potato Day: We’re coming up to the Sunday when we would normally hold “Potato Day” in support for Neighbour 2 Neighbour here in Hamilton. This was started by the late Howard Atkin, a beloved member of St. Andrew’s who was the last serving World War 2 veteran from our church. Session will be donating $300 from our special offering fund, and we encourage all of you to make a direct donation to Neighbour 2 Neighbour by Sunday November 15. You can make your donation online (In the notes box you can enter, “From St. Andrew’s Ancaster” and click the “In Memory” box at the bottom of the page and write in “Howard Atkin), or send a donation by mail or phone https://n2ncentre.com/contact-us/

Grace and Peace,

John

Family Home Worship – November 8, 2020

Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for Sunday November 8. 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 today’s theme are 1 Samuel 8 & 9.

Today’s Question

“What is the silliest mistake you’ve ever made?”

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 – Nov 8

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

1) Find the Donkey (supplies: toy or printed picture of a donkey)
2) Dethrone the King (supplies: pool noodle, toy crown, blindfold)
Big God Journal: Journal Page – Nov 8
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: Big God Project Resources – Nov 8