Sermon for Sunday October 13th, 2024

On Thanksgiving Sunday (October 13) we explored the questions: Who is God? What is God’s Character? Who is God for us in the this world of many different powers and loyalties? And what does it mean if we believe that God is somehow ‘sovereign,’ and guides what happens in the universe? This is the second in a new series on Living Faith, one of the faith statements of the Presbyterian Church. Our guiding scriptures for this week are Isaiah 40:9-11, 21-31 and Mark 12:28-31.

This message reflects on Living Faith sections 1.1-2.1

Chapter One – God

1.1 There is one true God whom to know is life eternal, whom to serve is joy and peace. God has created all that is. The whole universe testifies to the majesty and power of its Maker.

1.2 God has come to us. The Lord spoke to the people of Israel and entered into covenant with them. From Israel came Jesus Christ, the Son of God, bringing salvation through a new covenant entered by faith. The Lord continues to come to us by the Holy Spirit, God present in the world, and Guide to the church, the new Israel.

1.3 The church upholds and defends the truth given to the apostles and recorded in the Scriptures. The Old and New Testaments witness to God’s mighty acts. They reveal the Creator’s holy love, and lead us to Jesus Christ.

1.4 The creeds of the early church preserve the faith of the apostles who first preached the Gospel of Christ. We receive them as a legacy in which the true interpretation of the Scriptures is protected.

1.5 Therefore, with the one church universal we believe in one God, eternal Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three in one, one in three, equal in power and glory. God is the Father to whom we come, the Son through whom we come, the Spirit by whom we come.

1.6 We worship almighty God, the source of all life. With thanks we acknowledge God’s wisdom, power, faithfulness, and love. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be!

Chapter Two – God, Creator and Ruler

2.1 God Creates and Rules 2.1.1 The living God is Lord, Creator of all, Sustainer and Ruler of the universe. In the seasons and the harvests, in the rise and fall of nations, God’s goodness and judgment are present. All events in this world are under the sovereign care of the eternal God.

2.1.2 We hold in reverence the whole creation as the theatre of God’s glory and action. God rules the lives of individuals and nations yet does not negate our freedom and responsibility. Ever at work in the world and in our lives God directs all things towards fulfillment in Christ.

2.1.3 We affirm God’s righteous and loving purpose even in a world where evil abounds. This purpose is uniquely disclosed in Jesus Christ. In him we see the greatest paradox of life: the mighty God chose to come into this world in weakness. In Christ, God entered most deeply into our suffering.

2.1.4 We cannot fully comprehend nor is it our task to justify God’s rule of the world. We experience evil in the midst of life. Yet evil cannot ultimately prevail, for it is against God’s will. The resurrection of Christ and the new life he gives us are assurance of his ultimate triumph.

You can find the full text of Living Faith here: https://presbyterian.ca/wp-content/up…

Sermon for Sunday October 6th, 2024

On Sunday we explored the question: What does it mean to confess our faith today? This is the first in a new series on Living Faith, one of the faith statements of the Presbyterian Church. In this message explore just what a ‘Confession of Faith’ is and how it can be helpful for a local church in a time of renewal and change.

Our guiding scriptures for this week are Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Luke 9:18-20, 2 Corinthians 4:13-15.

Between now and Christmas we will be exploring questions like: Who is God? Why is there evil in the world? Who is Jesus? What does is mean to have faith? How do we handle doubt? What is the church for anyways? What is mission? What about other religions? How do we have hope in times like these?

You can find Living Faith here: https://presbyterian.ca/wp-content/up…
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Sermon For Sunday September 29th, 2024

How do you hold on to who you are when you also need to change to meet the future? This week we look at how at how God’s Word can give us that genuine sense of self, while also helping us grow into who need to become to be faithful where we are.

This was Rev. John’s Read’s first week back from sabbatical.

Our guiding scriptures for this week are Psalm 100 and Mark 7:1-23.
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Sermon & Special Music Sunday June 23rd

June 23 was Rev. John Read’s last Sunday before a sabbatical that will extend from June 24 to September 22, 2024. This will be the last online service posted to the St. Andrew’s Channel until John gets back in the fall. Worship in person will continue each week with a variety of guest preachers. This week’s message is a reflection on the Biblical practice of keeping Sabbath based on Exodus 20 & 23 and Mark 2.

“Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me”
Words & Music: Jonny Robinson | Michael Farren | Rich Thompson
© 2018 CityAlight Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) | Farren Love And War Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music) | Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Used by Permission

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church,
Ancaster Website: https://standrews.ws/
CCLI Licence # 3046584
CCLI Streaming # 20546703

Sermon For Heritage Sunday June 16th

June 16 was Heritage Sunday and the retirement celebration for our Accompanist Bob Marshall. We marked the day with lots of music, and Rev. Read offered a reflection on the important role that music, hymns and songs play in worship.

This video includes the sermon and some musical highlights. Additional music from today will be available in another video. The Bible passage for the message was Psalm 150.

0:07 – Choir Anthem – “Only A Holy God”
4:09 – Message – “Singing Together”
18:29 – Song – “All the People Said Amen

“Only A Holy God”
Words & Music Chris Brown | Dustin Smith | Jonny Robinson | Michael Farren | Rich Thompson
© 2016 CityAlight Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) | Farren Love And War Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music) | Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) |
Used by permission

“All The People Said Amen”
Words & Music | Matt Maher | Paul Moak | Trevor Morgan
© 2013 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) | Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Trevor Morgan Music |
Used by permission

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church,
Ancaster Website:
https://standrews.ws/
CCLI License # 3046584
CCLI Streaming # 20546703

St. Andrew’s Special Music June 16th, 2024

In light of our Accompanist Bob’s Marshall’s forthcoming retirement at the end of June, are posting selections from St. Andrew’s music team and choir. Here are some additional music highlights from Heritage Sunday.

“Sound Of Adoration”
Words & Music: Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt | Phil Wickham
© 2017 Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Jesus Culture Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Jesus Culture Music Group (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) | Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]) | Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]
Used by permission

“For The Beauty Of The Earth”
Words: Folliott Sandford Pierpoint |
Music: Conrad Kocher
Words & Music: Public Domain

“How Great Is Our God”
Words & Music: Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves
© 2004 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Wondrously Made Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Used by Permission

“How Great Thou Art”
Words & Music: Stuart Wesley | Keene Hine
© Copyright 1949 and 1953 Stuart Hine Trust CIO Stuart K. Hine Trust (Administration: USA All rights by Capitol CMG Publishing, except print rights for USA, North, Central and South America administered by Hope Publishing. All other non USA Americas rights by the Stuart Hine Trust. Rest of World – Integritymusic.com.)
Used by Permission CCLI License # 3046584

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church,
Ancaster Website: https://standrews.ws/
CCLI Licence # 3046584
CCLI Streaming # 20546703

Sermon For Sunday June 9th, 2024

This week we conclude our series on Colossians with the call to let Christ transform every area of our lives in Colossians 3:17-4:6. In particular we focus on how this should shape relationships within families and households, and the challenge of how to apply Paul’s teaching in Colossians 3:18-4:1 (and other challenging scriptures) to our lives today.

Sermon For Sunday June 2nd, 2024

This week we take an important detour in our series on Colossians. The short Letter to Philemon (just 25 verses) is essential to understanding what Paul has to say about the Christian household and slavery in Colossians 3:18-4:6. So, we’ll spend this message in Philemon and finish up that final part of Colossians on June 9.

A special thank you to St. Paul’s Church, Carluke for allowing us to use their sanctuary for our service this weekend during the Canadian Open.

St. Andrew’s Special Music May 26th, 2024

In light of our Accompanist Bob’s Marshall’s forthcoming retirement at the end of June, we are posting selections from St. Andrew’s music team and choir over the next month.

“Come Now Is The Time To Worship”
Words & Music: Brian Doerksen
© 1998 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire) (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Used by permission

“Oh For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”
Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) | Music: Thomas Haweis (1734-1820) Arrangement, Samuel Webbe, the younger, (1770-1843)
Words & Music: Public Domain

“Down To The River To Pray”
Words & Music: Sheldon Curry | Traditional Spiritual
© 2002 Hal Leonard Corporation
Used by permission

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Ancaster
Website:
https://standrews.ws/
CCLI Licence # 3046584
CCLI Streaming # 20546703