Dear friends,
This Sunday Edythe Arnott will be leading us in worship.
It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that Rowena Van Seters, wife of Art Van Seters, a past minister at St. Andrew’s church, died on February 23, 2023, in Toronto only three weeks before her 90th birthday. Her dear husband, Arthur predeceased her in 2011. She will be deeply missed by her five sons; David, Stephen, Tim, Philip and Tom and their families. Her life will be celebrated at 5:00 PM on Sunday, March 12th, 2023, at Armour Heights Presbyterian Church in Toronto.
Here is a link to her obituary: https://cremationcare.ca/tribute/details/522/Rowena-Van-Seters/obituary.html#content-start
This Sunday marks the second Sunday of Lent. Our gospel lesson is taken from John 3: 1-21, where Nicodemus, a Pharisee and teacher of Israel comes to meet Jesus in the night to speak to Him. This is the famous passage where Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again (or born from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3: 3). Ezekiel 11: 19–20 may help us with this passage, “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” This is the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in believers. But like Nicodemus, we have questions, uncertainties and maybe even doubts, yet Jesus welcomes them and ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7: 25). What do Jesus’ words to Nicodemus mean for us today?
Order of Service
Prelude
Welcome
Lenten Liturgy
Hymn 194: “Come, let us to the Lord our God”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 400: “Spirit of the living God” (vs 2 en français)
Responsive reading: Psalm 121
Gloria Patri
Numbers 21: 4-9 (en français – English on the screen)
John 3: 1-21
Sermon: “New Life”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 202: “We lay our broken world in sorrow at your feet”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 665: Lord Jesus, you shall be my song (vs 2&3 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude