Author: standrew

Dear friends,

Our Gospel lesson for this Sunday is taken from Matthew 20: 1-16, “The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard”.  

The key message of this parable is that God’s grace and salvation are available to all, regardless of when they come to faith.  John Gill, in his exposition on this passage says:  “They are all loved with the same everlasting love by God; they are chosen alike by Him in His Son, at the same time, in the same way and manner, and to the same grace and glory.  They are interested in the same covenant, in all the promises and blessings of it; they are bought with the same price of a Redeemer’s blood, are justified by the same righteousness, and are called in one hope of their calling.”  This is the good news of the Gospel, that God’s grace is freely given to all those that put their trust in Him!  

Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn: “Holy God we praise your name” (sung to tune 776, vs 3 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn: “In Christ alone” (vs 2 & 3 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45
Gloria Patri
Exodus16: 2-15 (en français – English on the screen)
Philippians 1: 21-30
Matthew 20: 1-16
Sermon: “How can we possibly understand God’s grace?”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 750: “How deep the silence of the soul” (sung to 671 Kingsford)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 474: “The love of God comes close”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

Dear friends, 

This Sunday the Rev. Dr. Roland De Vries will be leading us in worship. 

Our scripture lesson this week is from the Gospel according to John 14: 1-14. Here, Jesus engages in a conversation with his disciples about God’s care for them. As they talk together, the idea of home becomes prominent—where is home, and how to get there. Thomas is at the centre of this narrative, asking questions, as Thomas often does!  This time he objects to Jesus’ insistence that they know the way to the Father, by pointing out that they don’t actually know. It is also a mysterious passage because in it Jesus talks about how he and the Father are one—united with each other in some deeply meaningful way. When you see Jesus, you have also been introduced to the Father!

Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 436 “God we praise you for the morning”
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 195 “Come, ye disconsolate”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 33: 1-11, 20-22
Gloria Patri
Genesis 50: 15-21(en français – English on the screen)
1 Peter 2: 2-10
John 14: 1-14
Sermon: “Can we go home?”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 651: “Guide me, O though great Redeemer” (vs 2 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 648: “I’m gonna live so God can use me.”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

Dear friends, 

This Sunday, the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. 

It is with great joy and anticipation that we announce our return to St. Andrew’s this week.  After a refreshing summer break, we pray that everyone has had time to rest, recharge, and spend time with loved ones.  

Our responsive reading this week is taken from Psalm 149, and is a wonderful way to celebrate our coming back to worship together as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 12-14), and sing praise to our Lord and Saviour!  “Sing with your voices; sing also with your hearts.  Sing with your mouths; sing also with your conduct.” says St. Augustine in his exposition on the Psalm.

Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 422 “Sing a new song unto the Lord”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 625: “Seek ye first” (vs 1 & 3 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 149
Gloria Patri
Exodus12: 1-14 (en français – English on the screen)
Romans 13: 8-14
Matthew 18: 15-20
Sermon: “Gathering the blessed”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 324: “Great is thy faithfulness” (vs 2 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 510: “Deep in the shadows of the past”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

Dear Friends,

Our lesson this week continues in the Gospel according to Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52.  Here, Jesus again is speaking in many parables.  In the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large tree, providing shelter for birds.  The mustard seed starts small but becomes significant.  The parable teaches that even though the kingdom of heaven might begin humbly and seemingly insignificant, it has the potential to grow and impact the lives of many, providing refuge and nourishment.  One commentator notes: “There is no other explanation for the growth of Christ’s kingdom other than that it is the work of God.  The continued existence and growth of Christ’s church is a powerful confirmation of His gospel.”

Order of Service

Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 290 “Immortal, invisible, God only wise”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 360: “Jesus, thy blood and righteousness” (sung to tune 760)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 105: 1-11
Gloria Patri
Genesis 29: 15-28 (en français – English on the screen)
Romans 8: 26-39
Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
Sermon: “God’s amazing incomprehensible grace”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 474: “The love of God comes close”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 420: “Je louerai l’Éternal / Praise I will praise” (vs 1 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

Dear friends,

We hope that everyone is safe and unharmed following the tornado warning on Friday afternoon.  It appears that the south shore was largely spared from significant damage, yet some of us still don’t have electricity.  Despite all this, we are thankful for first responders and those tirelessly working around the clock to repair the damages. 

One of our Scripture readings this Sunday is taken from Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23, “The Parable of the Sower”.  Jesus is teaching the crowds by way of a parable filled with deep spiritual meaning about a Sower spreading seeds on four types of soil: seeds that fell along a treaded path, seeds that fell along the rocky ground, seeds that fell among the thorns, and lastly, seeds that fell along the good and fertile soil that produces much fruit.  This parable challenges us and prompts us to reflect introspectively and contemplate; “Which soil am I”?

Order of Service

Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 435: “All things bright and beautiful”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 496: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 119: 105-112
Gloria Patri
Genesis 25: 19-34 (en français – English on the screen)
Romans 8: 1-11
Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
Sermon: “Skeletons in the family tree”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 637: “Take my life and let it be” (vs 2 & 5 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 291: “Thou whose almighty word”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

Dear friends, 

One of our Scripture readings this week is taken from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans 7: 15-25, “the law and sin.”  In this challenging passage, the Apostle Paul is writing about the inner spiritual battle that all believers face against the flesh and the spirit.  This battle is found within ourselves – a war between the new life granted to us by the Holy Spirit and our sin nature, which will remain until our glorification.  “The godly, love the law of God and its commands, but at the same time they are grieved by the degree of sinfulness that they perceive in everything they actually do.” writes the Italian Reformer, Peter Martyr Vermigli in his Commentary on Romans.  Yet despite this spiritual inward struggle and our imperfections, our Good Shepherd loves us and invites us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

Order of Service

Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 352: “And can it be that I should gain?”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn: “Come thou fount of every blessing” (sung to tune #248)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 45: 11-17
Gloria Patri
Genesis 24: Selected verses (en français – English on the screen)
Romans 7: 15-25
Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
Sermon: “A study in contrasts”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 671: “I heard the voice of Jesus say” (vs 2 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 652: “Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go” (sung to tune #103)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

Dear friends, 

One of our Scripture readings is taken from Romans 6: 12-23, “dead to sin, alive in Christ.”  Salvation is a gift of God’s grace.  The Apostle Paul says in verse 23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 23), but thanks be to God, He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus!  

“There is power, power, wonder-working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb.” (taken from the hymn “There is Power in the Blood” by Lewis E. Jones)

Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 461: “Be thou my vision” (vs 4 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 462: “All my hope in God is founded”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 13
Gloria Patri
Genesis 22: 1-14 (en français – English on the screen)
Romans 6: 12-23
Matthew 10: 40-42
Sermon: “Listening for God”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 569: “O Jesus I have promised”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 670: “Amazing grace” (vs 3 & 4 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

Dear friends, 

This Sunday the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship. 

We would like to thank everyone who attended the barbecue last week and made it such a memorable experience.  Not only were we fortunate to have fantastic weather, but the true blessing was the sense of fellowship we experienced among one another and the deep peace we have with God.  The food and desserts were delicious and an absolute treat!  We would also like to express our sincere appreciation for volunteers who helped bring everything in place and for the help with the cleanup involved afterwards.

Last week we celebrated the two sacraments that our Lord Jesus has appointed for the church, Baptism and Communion.  Even for believers in Jesus Christ who have been adopted into God’s family by grace, trusting in God’s ultimate plans can still be a struggle at times.  “Do we really trust God?” is the question we should be asking ourselves, and is the sermon title this week. 

Order of Service

Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 328: “This is my Father’s world” (vs 2 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn: “Holy God we praise your name” (Sung to Tune 776; vs 3 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 86: 1-10, 16-17
Gloria Patri
Genesis 21: 8-21 (en français – English on the screen)
Romans 6: 1-11
Matthew 10: 24-39
Sermon: “Do we really trust God?”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 324: “Great is thy faithfulness” (vs 2 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 685: “How firm a foundation” (vs 5 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude