November 26th 2023 – “In the heart of God the Father”

2023-11-26 “In the heart of God the Father” 11 AM

Dear friends,

Our Old Testament lesson is Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24, “the Lord will seek them out”.  In this passage, God directly intervenes for Israel’s failed shepherds (kings or rulers), and takes on the role of the shepherd himself.  The promises of God as Israel’s shepherd in the Old Testament, seeking, rescuing, bringing them out of harm’s way, and defending them, ultimately find fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  Jesus testifies to this himself, declaring, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10: 11a).  Thanks be to God our merciful and tender Good Shepherd who we can always rely on, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him.  That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.” (2 Corinthians 1: 20).  


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 477: “Your hand, O God, has guided”
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 115: “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 95: 1-7a
Gloria Patri
Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
Ephesians 1: 15-23
Matthew 25: 31-46
Sermon: “In the heart of God the father”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 474: “The love of God comes close”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 274: “Crown him with many crowns” (vs 3&4 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

November 19th 2023 -“Weighty Living”

2023-11-19 “Weighty living” 11 AM

Dear friends,

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

Our New Testament lesson is taken from 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11.  In this passage the Apostle Paul writes about the sudden and unexpected nature of the day of the Lord.  The expression ‘the day of the Lord’ is a recurring theme throughout the Old and New Testament and refers to the future time when God, in Christ, will finally consummate His Kingdom, bring judgement, justice and establish everlasting peace.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been patiently waiting and anticipating the return of our Lord.  The 16th century Reformer, John Calvin, sheds light on this period of waiting: “Believers do not desire to know more than they are permitted to learn in God’s School.  Now Christ designed that the day of His coming should be hid from us that, being in suspense, we might be upon a watch.”

“Therefore” exhorts the Apostle Paul, “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5: 11).

Everyone is invited to join us downstairs after the service on Sunday to enjoy coffee, cookies and conversation. Thank you sincerely to all the volunteers who contribute, organize, and clean after Coffee Hour!


Order Of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 299: “Holy, holy, holy” (vs 2&4 en français)
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 290: “Immortal, invisible, God only wise”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 90: 1-8, 12
Gloria Patri
Zephaniah 1: 7, 12-18 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11
Matthew 25: 14-30
Sermon: “Weighty Living”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 479: “The church’s one foundation” (vs 2&4 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 461: “Be thou my vision” (vs 2 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

November 12th 2023 – “Waiting…how is it to wait?”

2023-11-12 “Wait...how hard is it to wait?” 11 AM

Dear friends, 

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

Our Gospel lesson this week is taken from Matthew 25: 1-13, “The Parable of the Ten Virgins”.  This parable highlights the importance of preparedness for the unknown, often associated with the Second Coming of Christ.  Ten virgins await the bridegroom, five wise with extra oil and five foolish without.  When the bridegroom arrives (a symbolical representation of Christ), the wise virgins enter the wedding feast, while the foolish ones, lacking oil, are left outside.  This parable prompts believers to always stay vigilant and alert.  At the end of the parable, the five wise virgins are welcomed by the bridegroom and enter into the great marriage feast.  

J.C. Ryle in his exposition on Matthew writes, “The door shall be shut at last — shut on all pain and sorrow, shut on an ill-natured and wicked world, shut on a tempting devil, shut on all doubts and fears, shut, to be opened again no more.  Surely, we may again say, this is a blessed prospect.”


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 411: “Stand up and bless the Lord”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 655: “Give me oil in my lamp”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 70
Gloria Patri
Amos 5: 18-26 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
Matthew 25: 1-13
Sermon: “Wait…how hard is it to wait?”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn: “Be still for the presence of the Lord” (vs 3 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 420: “Je louerai l’eternal” (vs 1 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

November 5th 2023- “God Always Paints with a Broader Brush”

2023-11-05 “God always paints with a broader brush” 11 AM

Dear friends, 

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

Our Lord, “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9: 6), says in John 16: 33, “In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Only in Christ can we find true and everlasting peace.  Our first reading is taken from the book of Revelation 7: 9-17, describing a vision of a great multitude from every nation who are dressed in white robes, holding palm branches and worshipping the Lamb of God.  We look forward to that day, when He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.


This Sunday holds a special place in our hearts as we come together to observe Remembrance Sunday.  On this solemn occasion, we remember and honour the brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom.  Join us in a spirit of reverence and gratitude as we pay our respects and offer prayers for peace.  


Order Of Service

Prelude
Reading of the Honour Roll
“The Last Post”
Minute of Silence
“The Rouse”
“O Canada”
Video: “In Flanders Fields”
Call to Worship
Hymn 330: “O God our help in ages past” (vs 2&4 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Unison Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Choir Anthem: “Be still and know that I am God”
Children’s Time
Hymn 606 “Ye holy angels bright” (vs 3 en français)
Responsive reading: Psalm 34: 1-10, 22
Gloria Patri
Revelation 7: 9-17
1 John 3: 1-3
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5: 1-2
Sermon: “God always paints with a broader brush”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 611: “For all the saints” (vs 2&4 en français)
Announcements
Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 769: “Lord of light”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

October 29th 2023 -“It Only Takes One”

2023-10-29 “It only takes one” 11 AM

Dear friends, 

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

This Sunday marks Reformation Sunday, a day dedicated to commemorating the beginnings of the Reformation in the year 1517 AD.  It was on October 31st that Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the church door in Wittenberg.  The foundational principles of the Reformed faith are summed up in the ‘5 Solas’ (Latin for ‘alone’): Sola gratia (grace alone), sola fide (faith alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), soli Deo gloria (to the glory of God alone), and sola scriptura (scripture alone).  Our journey in this life involves an ongoing reformation to be transformed and shaped into the image of Christ (Romans 8: 29).  


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 315: “A mighty fortress is our God” (vs 2 &4 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 749: “Be still, my sole” (vs 4 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17
Gloria Patri
Deuteronomy 34: 1-12 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8
Matthew 22: 34-46 The Great Commandment
Sermon: “It only takes one”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 486: “The church of Christ, in every age” (Sung to Wareham)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 497: “Word of God, across the ages”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

October 22nd 2023 – “Living with Intensity

2023-10-22 “Living with intensity” 11 AM

Dear friends, 

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

Our first New Testament reading is taken from 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10.  Many scholars believe this to be one of Paul’s first letters written about 50 – 51 AD.  His letter was directed to the church in Thessalonica (present day Thessaloniki, Greece), the capital of Roman Macedonia.  Paul wrote this letter to encourage new believers in their faith, to exhort them to godly living and to give them assurance about the eternal state of believers who had died.  These early Thessalonian believers provide for us an example of what genuine living faith looks like.  Paul goes on to say that their faith was exemplary, and despite their many afflictions, their faith was known throughout all Macedonia, Achaia, and had “gone forth everywhere” (v. 7-9).  Nearly two thousand years later we continue to uphold the faith once delivered to the saints, eagerly awaiting our Lord’s second coming to inaugurate His perfect kingdom, and where many will be invited to His great banquet. 


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 313: “O worship the King” (vs 3 en français)
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 707: “More love to thee”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 99 The Lord our God is holy
Gloria Patri
Exodus 33: 12-23 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10
Matthew 22: 15-22 Paying Taxes to Caesar
Sermon: “Living with intensity”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 626: “Lord of all power”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 685: “How firm a foundation” (vs 5 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

October 15th 2023 – “The Peace of God”

2023-10-15 “The peace of God” 11 AM

Dear friends, 

This Sunday Edythe Arnott will be leading us in worship.

There are many things in our daily lives that can cause us anxiety and make us feel afraid.  Maybe sometimes we feel like the couple in the serigraph image below.  They’re walking through what looks like a lonely, deserted place.  It’s night.  They have lanterns but they still look a little nervous.  In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul offers some advice that is still relevant for us in today’s world.  We’ll reflect on that in Sunday’s sermon.

Ecumenical Community Services (ECS) food bank located here at St Andrews is in need of non-perishable food items such as vegetables, soups, cereal, coffee and spaghetti sauce etc.

Should you wish to contribute please leave your donation in the box located outside the entrance to the sanctuary.  Thank you for helping the less fortunate families in our community.

If you have any questions concerning the food bank or ECS speak to Betty Grant downstairs during coffee hour.


Order Of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 407: “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven”
Prayer of Adoration
Sung Confession (Hymn 201: We come to ask your forgiveness)
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 746: “What a friend we have in Jesus” (vs 2 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 23
Gloria Patri
Isaiah 25: 1-9 NRSVUE (en français BFC – English on the screen)
Philippians 4: 2-9
Sermon: “The peace of God”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 11: “The Lord’s my shepherd” (vs 2 & 5 en français)
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 266: “King of Kings” (vs 2 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

October 8th 2023 -“Thanksgiving Sunday”

2023-10-08 “True Thanksgiving means ‘Thanks living’” 11 AM

Dear friends, 

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

Our psalm this Sunday, Psalm 65, is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God for His abundant blessings and the bounty of the earth.  In this psalm, the psalmist acknowledges God’s mercy and righteousness, as well as His role as the Creator who sustains the natural world.  The psalmist describes the majesty of God’s presence in nature, from the mountains to the seas, and praises Him for providing for the needs of both humans and the land itself.  It is a beautiful expression of gratitude for God’s benevolence and the fruitful abundance of His creation.   May we remind ourselves of the love of God this Thanksgiving Day. 

Our Special Thanksgiving Offering, the yellow envelope for October 8 in our boxed set of offering envelopes, has been designated for Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) Canadian Wildfire Response.  Fires continue to burn along large swaths of Canada. Both the British Columbia and Northwest Territories governments have declared states of emergency in response to large-scale, devastating fires.  PWS&D is accepting donations in response to the wildfires.  In consultation with presbyteries in the affected areas, PWS&D will respond to the most urgent needs identified. 

Ecumenical Community Services (ECS) food bank located here at St Andrews is in need of non-perishable food items such as vegetables, soups, cereal, coffee and spaghetti sauce etc.

Should you wish to contribute please leave your donation in the box located outside the entrance to the sanctuary.  Thank you for helping the less fortunate families in our community.

If you have any questions concerning the food bank or ECS speak to Betty Grant downstairs during coffee hour.


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 803: “Come, ye thankful people, come” (vs 2 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Choir Anthem: “For the autumn sky”
Children’s Time
Hymn 807: “We plow the fields and gather” (vs 2 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 65
Gloria Patri
Deuteronomy 8: 7-18 ESV (en français – English on the screen)
2 Corinthians 9: 6-15
Luke 17: 11-19
Sermon: “True Thanksgiving means ‘Thanks living’”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 802: “For the fruits of all creation”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 457: “Now thank we all our God” (vs 2 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

October 1st 2023 – “In on the Secret”

2023-10-01 “In on the secret” 11 AM

Dear friends, 

Our scripture lesson this week is from the Gospel according to John 2: 1-12. Here, Jesus attends a wedding and provides miraculous and astonishing support to a family when the wedding wine runs out.  It is a beautiful and complex narrative with a special portrait of Jesus power and of those who are “in on the secret.”

This Sunday the Rev. Dr. Roland De Vries will again be leading us in worship, and we will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Roland serves as Principal of the Presbyterian College and is our Interim Moderator.

Living Faith, a statement of faith (a Confession) of The Presbyterian Church in Canada (the green booklet in our church pews) says: 

In breaking bread and drinking wine Jesus told us to remember Him. In this action called Holy Communion, Lord’s Supper, or Eucharist, Christ offers Himself to us and we present ourselves to Him in worship and adoration. In Holy Communion Christ places his table in this world to feed and bless his people. The Holy Spirit so unites us in Christ that in receiving the bread and wine in faith we share in His body and blood. (7.7.1 – 7.7.2) Those who belong to Christ come gladly to His table!

Let us, as the Apostle Paul instructs the church in 1 Corinthians 11: 17-33, prepare and examine ourselves before we partake in this blessed sacrament that the Lord has appointed for us. 

For those joining us through livestream on Youtube, a reminder to provide your own communion elements for this Sunday’s service. For those participating in person, the communion wafers are gluten free and the inner ring of glasses on the communion trays contain white grape juice—the outer ring is red wine.


Order of Service

Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 422 “Sing a new song unto the Lord”
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Declaration of Grace
Anthem: “Come, share the feast of love”
Children’s Time
Hymn 201 “We come to ask your forgiveness”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16
Gloria Patri
John 2: 1-12 (en français – English on the screen)
Isaiah 62: 1-5
Sermon: “In on the Secret”
Hymn 358: “There is a Redeemer”
Offering and Offertory
Apostles’ Creed and Invitation to the Table
Hymn 534: “All who hunger, gather gladly.
Lord’s Supper with Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hymn 299: “Holy, holy, holy.”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude

September 24th 2023 – “How can we possibly understand God’s grace”

2023-09-24 “How can we possibly understand God’s grace?” 11 AM

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