Making and signing our Camp Contract and playing a bit more.
Lots of smiles!
Camp in Your Own Backyard!
Camp in Your Own Backyard has started and we are having fun!
Flat Jesus
Flat Jesus in on the move!
This summer our Sunday School project is to take Flat Jesus with us and see how far he gets. If you don't have your Flat Jesus drop in to church and pick one up! This isn't just for Sunday School students, it's for everyone! When you snap that picture, please send it to me so I can post it.
Thanks, Joni ([email protected])
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| Flat Jesus visiting Grandparents! |
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| Flat Jesus visiting St. Andrew's tent at the Forbes Park Music Festival |
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| Flat Jesus competing in the Soap Box Derby! |
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| Talking with Mr. Pete at the Forbes Park Music Festival. |
St. Andrew’s celebrates Canada 150 (on the day after!)
Sunday, July 2 is, of course, the day after Canada celebrates a big birthday this year. It will be a very special morning for a number of reasons:
Let's just start with the bulletin. Can we just say that it will be a little bit special? There are flags for everyone and lots of the pins (but probably not enough for all so that it first-come, first serve.
So please plan to join us on July 2 as we celebrate and pray for our beloved country. It is also a great time to invite your friends and family to join you.
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- There will be some amazing music that has been specially prepared for the day
- Jean McMurtrie will sing a beautiful piece called, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is."
- Singer-Songwriter, Gabrielle McAndless will debut her new offering, "Rest and Repose."
- Violinist Zoé McAndless will be playing, "Liebesleid" by Fritz Kreisler.
- The Minister, Scott McAndless will continue his special "Canada 150" sermon series by looking at Canada's motto, "A Mari Usque ad Mare." Here is a short introductory video for the message:
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| Gabrielle McAndless |
So please plan to join us on July 2 as we celebrate and pray for our beloved country. It is also a great time to invite your friends and family to join you.
Fathers, Fathers of Confederation and more on June 18
Sunday June 18, 2017 is Fathers' Day and we will be celebrating that (and praying for fathers everywhere) at St. Andrew's. But Father's day also falls in the midst of our series celebrating Canada 150 this year. Hope you can join us for:
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- Some very special music by our own Madison Lightfoot.
- Reflections on the following passage and what it says to us about our country and its origins:
Galatians 5:13-1413 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
- The sermon was inspired by the above scripture and a rather odd occurrence at the first meeting of the Fathers of Confederation in Charlottetown. It is entitled "Canada 150: Call to a Nation from a Rowboat."
Here is a little promotional video for the sermon and the Canada 150 story:
The Web of Connectedness
This Sunday Service was a celebration of Christian Education at St. Andrew’s Hespeler and was led by representatives of the Christian Education Committee and participants. The following message was not merely spoken by Joni Smith (our Family Ministries Coordinator) but acted out by the children, youth and members of the congregation with the help of a very special web master.
The Web of Connectedness
June 11, 2017
Scripture Readings: Romans 12: 3-8
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
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e gather today to celebrate Christian Education. What does that mean? We celebrate all of the babies and toddlers and preschoolers in the nursery and the entire team of people who look after these little ones every Sunday. We celebrate all of the Sunday School children and, again, all of the people who lead and teach them every Sunday. We are thankful for all of the youth who are in our midst. We are especially thankful for their participation here; in the Youth Band, on the Tech Team, in the nursery and Sunday School and for just being here with us. And we are thankful for all of the people who are involved with our youth. We celebrate those who lead and participate in “adult” bible study and those who come to Family Night.
Today we also acknowledge and celebrate that we are a community of faith, that we are all connected, we each have an important role to carry out within our church family. As Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Today the Sunday School children and team and some of our youth are going to build a Web of Connectedness. This will help all of us visualize the importance each of us hold in the life of St. Andrew’s. As we build our web we will begin to see how each of us has an important role to play in the family and community of St. Andrew’s. We will pass the yarn back and forth to build our own unique web. Each person will eventually hold a piece of the web.
How are we connected? There are many, many ways in which we are all connected. Some people here are indeed related! Some sitting here today are members of families who have worshipped here for generations. One’s niece is someone else’s granddaughter. We have aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings, parents, etc. here.
When we build the web more we see that there are more connections. There may be people here today because someone else was their teacher in high school and inspired and encouraged them to be a part of this family. Or someone is here because another person reached out to them.
And we continue to build our web. People are connected through their shared gifts, talents and passions. People who love music are connected through our choirs and ensembles, with Corey, maybe unknowingly, weaving a silken web throughout. Others are connected because they like to study the Bible and upcoming messages weekly. And many are connected because they love to cook. The kitchens here, connect many, many people because let’s face it St. Andrew’s people love to eat!
We could go on to list the ways in which we are connected. It is a fun exercise to do, to make us realize that we are all in “this” together. But what is “this?”
“Living then, as everyone one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? (The Message, excerpts from Romans 12)
And we continue to build that web, but not for ourselves. We build that web to worship and honour God. Together we can share all of the gifts and talents that we have been blessed with. Each of us has a ‘job’ and that is to share our talents. When we begin to realize that we are stronger together we will be able to do great things. We will be able to reach out to each other and to our neighbours both locally, nationally and internationally. In these ways we will build an even bigger web, one that can reach far and wide.
As we near the completion of our web we can pause to look at all of the intricate connections. Some are small, faint connections and others are complex, strong connections. But each connection is vital to keeping the web intact.
Now let’s take a look at what happens when we become detached or unconnected. When even one person causes a break in the web, we lose our strength and sometimes our focus. There will be many times when we lose our focus and get sidetracked, but Paul clearly states, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” (Romans 16:17) We must keep watch so that we do the work that God has intended us to do.
As more points in the web are dropped we will see that the web, indeed, becomes very weak. If left untended it will eventually disintegrate completely and will be gone. We must do everything we can to build each other up, to support one another and work together. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10: 24-25)
Mission Awareness Sunday
There is so much that is very special going on at St. Andrew's Hespeler this Sunday. It is Mission Awareness Sunday and we will be deepening our understanding of how we are all involved in Christ's mission to the world.
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- Our very special guest speaker will be Gladys Abboud. For Gladys and her family, moving to Canada was bittersweet. Gladys is from Lebanon, and her husband is from Syria. Together, with their son, they moved to Canada 2015. Gladys’ home country of Lebanon has received about 2 million refugees from Syria and that has put a great strain on the country. Gladys and her husband decided to immigrate to Canada to get away from the conflict, to try and live in a peaceful place, she says. Gladys’ husband has a background in software, so they decided to move to Waterloo. Although refugees are moving to Canada in the hopes of finding safety, they are leaving a lot behind. Often they are leaving friends and family behind. The innocent people never leave their thoughts.
- Glady's message will be entitled: "The Lord is my Shepherd."
- There will be lots of really amazing music
- The Youth Band will share "What a Beautiful Name" by Ben Fielding & Brooke Ligertwood
- The Adult Choir will share "Rise Up, Rise Up" by Linnea Good
- Joyful Sound! (the men's group) will be singing "Can He, Could He, Would He?" By John Chisum & Dwight Liles with some very special musical accompaniment!
- After the service, we will enjoy a “potluck” style lunch together while we share information with everyone, about the trips and organizations some of our groups and individuals are involved in within our community and further.
- Also, the Summer newsletter will be out. Grab one hot off the presses.
This Sunday, May 21
When you enter the sanctuary this Sunday (and there will definitely be things going on that you won't want to miss so you will want to enter) the first thing that you may notice is that something is out of place. Something is there that shouldn't be -- that usually isn't. First of all, fear not! This is a temporary addition but there is a very good reason why we have added this very special thing this Sunday but you really kind of have to be there to understand why -- so be there!
Here are some other things to look forward to this Sunday, May 21:
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Here are some other things to look forward to this Sunday, May 21:
- The Adult Choir will sing Rock Me, Lord by Andy Beck
- Amy Lightfoot will sing a solo: Spirit, Open My Heart by Ruth Duck
- We will tell a new chapter in the story of our piano which is given and played in memory of people from the congregation.
- Another of our young folk will bring in the mystery box which the minister will open and have to tell a story based on what he finds inside.
- The Minister, Rev. W, Scott McAndless, will continue his series of sermons on the Afterlife looking specifically at the Parable of Lazarus and the rich man, which raises the question, what in Hell is Abraham's Bosom?
Here is a short video introduction to the question posed in the sermon:
What’s on today! (Thursday)
It's Food Bank day today and Hope Clothing is open, too! Lunch will be ready around 12 noon.
Sounds like it is going to be a perfect summer lunch.
Mission Sunday is coming soon!
Please plan to join us on Sunday, May 28th for Mission Sunday.
We have a special guest speaker coming to worship with us.
Following worship we will have a potluck lunch together while we check out the mission and outreach that our church family and church have done and are doing.
If possible please bring a finger food type of potluck to share with others, please no peanuts or shellfish.
