News & Events

This Sunday September 20 we continue our worship series looking at the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. The Big God Theme for the day will be introduced in the Family Worship video, and then be expanded upon in the adult message in the live service. This week the theme is “God is in Control.”

Our Home Worship service will go live on YouTube at 10:30am. If you aren’t able to join us live, a recording will be available Sunday afternoon. The words to the songs in the service will be on the screen, or you can find a copy attached. The service continues to be available by telephone for those without internet access.

Order of Service 

Gathering Music

• • A Mighty Fortress is Our God #315
  • Bless Your Name – All Nations Music

Family Worship Video – “God is in Control” (available at 9:00am)

Worship Recording

Call to Worship – Psalm 33:12, 16-22 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Hymn – “Great is Thy Faithfulness” #324

Old Testament Reading – Genesis 41:1-16, 25-40 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – Matthew 26:47-56 (NIV)

Message – “Taken Care Of?”

Song: “Good, Good Father”

Closing Prayer & Blessing

News:

• • Sunday Worship: Worship on September 27 will be by YouTube Livestream. Online worship will continue alongside in-person services after October 4. This will be a recorded service that will be posted on Sunday afternoons.
  • Monitoring the Pandemic: Session and the Reopening Taskforce continue to monitor the public health situation. While the rise in cases in the Toronto region and Ottawa are concerning, we are thankful that case levels in the Hamilton region remain manageable. We pray that the new restrictions on private gatherings help the situation. For the time being there are no new restrictions on houses of worship. If that situation should change or case levels in Hamilton get out of control, we will adjust our plans accordingly. Safety remains our top priority.
  • In-Person Worship Plans: Sunday October 4^th continues to be our target date for a return to in person services. Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on our plans. There will be one service at 10:30 with a maximum attendance of 40. Details on how to RSVP and fill out the pre-screening questionnaire will be circulated in the next week.

Here are all your resources for Family Home Worship for September 20. The Family Worship video will be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday morning but 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 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 – Sept 20

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

On Sunday September 13 we start a new worship series looking at the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. The Big God Theme for the day will be introduced in the Family Worship video, and then be expanded upon in the adult message in the live service. This week the theme is “God Protects.”

Our Home Worship service will go live on YouTube at 10:30am. If you aren’t able to join us live, a recording will be available Sunday afternoon. The words to the songs in the service will be on the screen, or you can find a copy attached. The service continues to be available by telephone for those without internet access.

Order of Service

Gathering Music

• • Alive & Breathing – Matt Maher
  • What a Friend – Matt Maher
  • What a Friend We Have in Jesus #746

Family Worship Video – “God Protects” (available at 9:00am)

Worship Recording

Call to Worship – Psalm 28:1-3, 6-7 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Song & Hymn Medley: “Everlasting God” & “O God Our Help in Ages Past” #330

Old Testament Reading – Genesis 37 (NIV selected verses)

Gospel Reading – Matthew 20:17-19 (NIV)

Message – “Protected from the Pit”

Closing Prayer & Blessing

News:

• • Sunday Worship:  Worship on September 20 & 27 will be by YouTube Livestream. Online worship will continue along side in-person services after October 4. Initially this will be a recorded service that will be posted on Sunday afternoons.
  • Survey for In-Person Worship: Sunday October 4^th as our target date for a return to in person services. A letter was sent to the congregation this past week by email and paper mail containing the full details of our reopening plans and some questions for feedback. The elders are in the process of making follow up phone calls to every household. If for some reason you haven’t received a call by this coming Thursday (September 17) please contact Nancy Serafini who is the leading up the Reopening Taskforce – nancydingwall791@gmail.com. Your responses to this letter and telephone survey will help us finalize our plans for October.

Grace and Peace,

John

Here are all your resources for Family Home Worship for September 6. The Family Worship video will be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday morning but you can download all the other resources right away.

Today’s Question

“What is something you use to stay safe this fall?”

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 – Sept 13

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

This Sunday is our second week of the Big God Project: The theme of the service is “God Blesses” and the guiding scriptures is the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 15:1-6 & Genesis 21:1-7. The Family Worship video will introduce the theme, which we will explore with more depth in the adult message of the Home Worship Recording of the live Zoom service from this morning.

Order of Service 

Gathering Music

• • For the Beauty of the Earth #434
  • Stand Up and Bless the Lord #411
  • The Blessing: Canada – This song based on the blessing given to the priests of Israel in Numbers 6:22-27 (and a few other scriptures), has been taken up by churches across the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, and virtual choirs from a variety of countries and regions have sung it together. This version was produced by a number of Canadian churches.

Family Worship Video – “God Blesses” (available at 9:00am)

Home Worship Recording

Call to Worship – Psalm 100 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Song – You are My All in All

Old Testament Reading – Genesis 15:1-6 & 21:1-7 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)

Message – “Believing in the Blessing”

Hymn – Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

We Celebrate Communion

Blessing

News:

• • Sunday Worship:  Worship on September 13, 20 & 27 will be by YouTube Livestream. There is also a local telephone option for those without internet access.
  • Planning for In-Person Worship: Sunday October 4^th as our target date for a return to in person services. This date has the benefit of giving us 4 weeks to assess how the reopening of schools will affect the public health situation. A letter will be sent to the congregation this week by email and paper mail containing the full details of our reopening plans and some questions for feedback. The elders will follow this up with a phone call to every household. Your responses to this letter and telephone survey will help us finalize our plans for October.

If you would like a phone call in the coming week or need some assistance, please write email revjohnread@gmail.com or call 905-648-6024 and leave a message. If you would like your name, or the name of someone you care about included in our prayers (or simply prayed for by myself or the elders) please let me know that as well.

Grace and Peace,

John

This Sunday September 6, we will be worshiping by Zoom video conference at 10:30am. Our service will include the celebration of communion, and live music.

If you aren’t on St. Andrew’s email list and would like to join our service please send an email to revjohnread@gmail.com by 9:00am Sunday. If you aren’t able to join us live, there will be a recorded and edited version of the service posted to YouTube by the early afternoon.

Here are all your resources for Family Home Worship for September 6. The Family Worship video will be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday morning but you can download all the other resources right away.

Today’s Question

“What is something NICE that someone did for you this week”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out the colouring sheet. If you send along your answers to revjohnread@gmail.com 12:00 noon on a Saturday, they will be included in the Family Worship Video (which is recorded on Saturday afternoons). And if your kids want to share their colouring sheets, take a photo and they’ll also be included.

Question Sheet – Week 2

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

The Big God Theme

“God Blesses”

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

August 30th is the first Sunday of the Big God Project at St. Andrew’s. This new worship & learning program will guide our family worship time for the coming year. To learn more go to: https://standrews.ws/2020/08/28/introducing-the-big-god-project/.

The worship theme for the day will be introduced in the Family Worship video, and then be expanded upon in the adult message in the live service. This way all ages in our church will be learning the same things together each week. Kids and adults will continue to engage with the Bible at their own level, but the family time, Sunday school lessons and adult sermon will all be tied together by this common theme.

Our Home Worship service will go live on YouTube at 10:30am. If you aren’t able to join us live, a recording will be available Sunday afternoon. The words to the songs in the service will be on the screen, or you can find a copy attached. The service will also be available by telephone for those without internet access.

Order of Service

Gathering Music

• • “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective
  • “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” #399

Family Worship Video – “The Bible is God’s Story” (available at 9:00am)

https://youtu.be/osDksByR8xs

Worship Recording

Call to Worship – Psalm 1 (NRSV)

Opening Prayer

Hymn – “All Creatures of Our God and King #433 vs. 1, 4-6

Old Testament Reading – Genesis 2:4-9,15 (NIV)

Gospel Reading – Matthew 17:1-8 (NIV)

Message – “Finding Our Place in the Story”

Song – “What a Beautiful Name”

Closing Prayer & Blessing

News:

• • Sunday Worship:  Worship on August 30 Worship on September 6 will be a Zoom Communion service. Remember to get your bread and juice when you go shopping this week. September 13, 20 & 27 will be by YouTube Livestream. There is also a local telephone option for those without internet access.
  • Planning for In-Person Worship: In the coming weeks we will be finalizing our health and safety plans, with Sunday October 4^th as our target date for a return to in person services. This date has the benefit of giving us 4 weeks to assess how the reopening of schools will affect the public health situation. A letter will be sent to the congregation in early September containing the full details of our reopening plans and some questions for feedback. The elders will follow this up with a phone call to every household. Your responses to this letter and telephone survey will help us finalize our plans for October.

If you would like your name, or the name of someone you care about included in our prayers (or simply prayed for by myself or the elders) please send a message to standrewsancaster@gmail.com or call 905-648-6024.

Grace and Peace,

John

Here are all your resources for our first week with the Big God Project. The Family Worship video will continue to be available starting at 9:00am on Sunday mornings.

Today’s Question

“What is your (total, for sure, no question, absolute, one-hundred-percent, yes, indeed) Favourite Story?”

You can just ask the question together as a family or have your kids fill out the colouring sheet. If you send along your answers by 12:00 noon on Saturday, they will be included in the Family Worship Video (which is recorded on Saturday afternoons). And if your kids want to share their colouring sheets, take a photo and they’ll also be included.

Question Sheet Week 1

The Big God Theme

“The Bible is God’s Big Story”

Family Worship Video – Available 9:00am Sunday Morning

https://youtu.be/osDksByR8xs

Crafts, Discussion and Other Activities

This week it’s assembling a Big God Journal. If you would like one delivered to your house any time this fall just email Jen at jennypooni@gmail.com  See the attached lesson file for more details or watch the how-to craft video. What you’ll find is simpler and more straightforward than what you were getting with our old curriculum.

Curriculum_1_1

Journal_1_1

As this is brand new to us at St. Andrew’s please let me know how we can make our family worship and learning resources the best and most helpful they can be.

Best,

John