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:
Calling all Quilters!
We will host a Quilt Exhibit at the Ancaster Heritage Days on Saturday, June 13. The plan is to showcase our 200th Anniversary Memorial Quilt and display other quilts made (or owned) by our congregation. New or old. We will be collecting the quilts in the weeks leading up to June 13 and returning them immediately after. Please contact Karen St. Aubin at karen.staubin33@gmail.com or 905-912-5836.
Let her know:
– how many quilts you have to display in the show
– if you are available to help set up the quilts on Friday, June 12
– if you are available on Saturday, June 13 to manage the crowds and refold all the quilts after the show around 4 pm.
Death, Dying and Planning for Later Life – St. Andrew’s will be hosting two workshops open to anyone in our community,
– Saturday May 9: Our focus will be on approaching death and dying from the perspective of Christian faith and hope, as well as preparing ourselves emotionally and spiritually.
– Saturday May 23: Our focus will be on advance planning for later life and death (wills, power of attorney, health care choices, long-term care) as well as funeral and memorial planning. This session will include discussion of issues around Medical Assistance in Dying. This will be handled with sensitivity to people’s experiences and the variety of perspectives held among Christians.
– Please invite anyone who you think might benefit from these kinds of discussions. If you have questions please contact Rev. John Read, Nancy Serafini or Laura Doull.
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.
Heritage Sunday – June 14, 2026
The annual celebration of our place in Ancaster’s Heritage and a memorial for those who have gone before us will be extra special this year. It will include the public presentation of the restoration work to the grave of Enerals and Priscilla Griffin (see details below).
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 the month of October.
200th Anniversary Quilt –
Quilting is a long-held tradition here at St. Andrew’s, and there will be the opportunity to contribute to a new quilt for the 200th. We have decided to host a Quilt Exhibit at the Ancaster Heritage Days on Saturday, June 13. The plan is to showcase our 200th Anniversary Memorial Quilt and display other quilts made (or owned) by our congregation.
Restoration of the Griffin Stone
On Sunday, June 14th, we will reflect on the history of St. Andrew’s Ancaster and include a time of remembrance in the church cemetery for all those who have gone before us in faith – both from St. Andrew’s and our former sister church in Alberton. As a part of our 200th Anniversary celebrations we are restoring 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. The restoration work will be completed for Heritage Sunday.
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.