Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for September 12. This week we start a short trip through the book of Exodus as God sets his people free.
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
“Who/What have you rescued?”
You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out and colour the Question Sheet.
To access the curriculum sheet with an overview of the Big God Theme, craft ideas (including a how-to video) and discussion questions for older kids, go here:
This Sunday September 5 we continue to worship in-person and online. For full worship guidelines (such as requirements for masks and physical distancing) please go to: https://standrews.ws/2021/08/13/in-person-worship/
If you’re joining us online, the service will premier on YouTube at 10:30am and will be available any time afterward.
Family Worship Video Premiers at 8:30am
Online Worship Service Premiers at 10:30am
Call to Worship – Psalm 130
Opening Prayer
Song: “Great Things”
Old Testament Reading – Genesis 11:1-9
Gospel Reading – Matthew 6:5-14
Message – “Back to the Start: Hope for the City”
Hymn: “Immortal, Invisible” #290
We Respond to God’s Generosity
Closing Prayers & Blessing
News:
Going Deeper: (Study Resources): The Bible Project has a ‘Bad Words’ series of videos on the words the Bible uses to describe the human tendency to do wrong and harm – Sin, Transgression, and Iniquity. Each video gives the significance of each term and the good news of how Jesus rescues us from these things, and empowers us for goodness: https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/bad-words-series/
Respond to the Crisis in Haiti through PWS&D: The nation of Haiti is facing an unprecedented series of disasters – COVID, a political crisis, a major earthquake and most recently a tropical storm. One way to help is through Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D). To learn more go here – https://presbyterian.ca/pwsd/haiti-crisis/ and please keep Haiti in your prayers.
Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for September 5. This week we finish our exploration of the opening of God’s big 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
“What is something you can’t reach?”
You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out and colour the Question Sheet.
To access the curriculum sheet with an overview of the Big God Theme, craft ideas (including a how-to video) and discussion questions for older kids, go here:
This Sunday August 29 we continue with our new pattern of both in-person and online worship. We can safely accommodate up to 40 people in the church sanctuary at our usual time of 10:30am. Full worship guidelines (such as maximum attendance, requirements for masks and physical distancing) please go to: https://standrews.ws/2021/08/13/in-person-worship/
The online service will premier on YouTube at 10:30am and will be available any time afterward. This week we continue our exploration of the opening of God’s big story in the book of Genesis. Our theme for the day is “The Lord Loves Life”
Online Order of Service
Family Worship: “The Lord Loves Life” (available at 8:30am)
Respond to the Crisis in Haiti through PWS&D: The nation of Haiti is facing an unprecedented series of disasters – COVID, a political crisis, a major earthquake and most recently a tropical storm. One way to help is through Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D). To learn more go here – https://presbyterian.ca/pwsd/haiti-crisis/ and please keep Haiti in your prayers.
Here are all your resources for Family Worship & Learning for August 29. This week we continue our exploration of the opening of God’s big 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
“What is something that makes you jealous?”
You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out and colour the Question Sheet.
To access the curriculum sheet with an overview of the Big God Theme, craft ideas (including a how-to video) and discussion questions for older kids, go here:
This Sunday August 22, is an exciting day for us at St. Andrew’s. We will have in-person worship in our sanctuary for the first time since March 2020. For full worship guidelines (such as maximum attendance, requirements for masks and physical distancing) please go to: https://standrews.ws/2021/08/13/in-person-worship/
Sunday is also a fresh start for our online worship service which will continue in a new format on YouTube. The online service will premier Sunday at 10:30am and will be available any time afterward. Last of all, we start a new year in the Big God Project, beginning the story of the Bible again in Genesis. Our theme for the day is “The Lord Gives Life.”
Online Order of Service
Family Worship: “The Lord Gives Life” (available at 8:30am)
Home Worship Service Premiers at 10:30am
Call to Worship – Psalm 8
Opening Prayer
Hymn: “All Creatures of Our God and King” #433
Old Testament Reading – Genesis 2:4 -9, 15-25
Gospel Reading – Luke 3:21-38 (selected verses)
Message – “Back to the Start: Life and Goodness”
Song: “Good, Good Father”
We Respond to God’s Generosity
Closing Prayers & Blessing
News:
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
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.
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)
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/
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Online worship will continue to be offered each week.
Everyone attending in person will be screened for COVID symptoms when they arrive at the church building.
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.
The windows and doors in the sanctuary will be open for ventilation.
On Sunday Morning
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.
You will be screened for COVID symptoms and wash your hands with sanitizer.
Please make your way directly to the sanctuary by the main stairs or elevator.
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/).
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.
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.
There will be a mix of recorded and live music in the service. At this time Public Health does not encourage singing indoors.
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.
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.
