Category: News

Keep up to date on our latest news.

Explorations in Music

Posted by on Wednesday, September 19th, 2018 in News



I am delighted to share that we're starting a new program for younger children this fall. It's called “Explorations in Music” and will provide the children with an opportunity to begin exploring music and building relationships with each other and the congregation.


We will have different presenters and instruments each week, so you will never get quite the same thing twice, but generally speaking the kids will have opportunities to play around with different instruments, will get to learn about the cool things they can do, and will make music in a group.

We will share our activities with the congregation by inviting them to join as participants and presenters. The focus will be on play, exploring music together, and building relationships. We're hoping to provide opportunities for the children to get to know congregation members better as well as connect with other faith traditions, especially Indigenous ones, in response to the Truth & Reconciliation commission.

The program will run most Sundays after church and it promises to be a fun time, so I hope you will check it out, no matter your age. We are grateful for the support and contributions of Queen Street Music.


Schedule:



Sept 23rd, 11:30 – 12:00 – Gerard Yun 
(snack available in Rm 206 at 11:15)
Assistant Professor in Community Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. Gerard is trained in a number of singing and instrumental cultural traditions including Zen shakuhachi, Native American flute, overtone singing, didgeridoo, and Ghanaian drumming. In addition, he holds graduate degrees in choral/orchestral conducting. As a community music practitioner and scholar he helps people encounter unfamiliar musics and builds their confidence through creative improvisation.


Sept 30th, 11:30 – 12:00 – Queen Street Music: Ukuleles
(snack available in Rm 206 at 11:15)
Queen Street Music is a community driven, creative school with a focus on performance and quality education Programs for ages 3 to Adult Private and Group lessons year-round Performance and enrichment. This time they will help us learn the basics of ukulele.

Oct 7th, 11:30 – 12:00 – Theresa McGregor
(snack available in Rm 206 at 11:15)
Indigenous rooted person, Theresa McGregor is a Drum & Song carrier, Moon Bundle, Earth & Water Protector, Traditional Women's Dancer. Proud member of the Indigenous & Non Indigenous women's hand drum group Mino Ode Kwewak N’gamowak (Good Hearted Women Singers).

Oct 14th, 11:30 – 12:00 – Drums! 
(snack available in Rm 206 at 11:15)
We're going to set up a couple of drum kits. Come see how everything works, make lots of noise, and discover the cool sounds an electric kit can make.

Oct 21st, 12:00 – 3:00 – Lucas Tensen, Kazoo Making, and more!
(potluck lunch available in Fellowship Hall at 11:15)
Celebrating community and nature through sound, song and soulful imagery is what continues to motivate Lucas Tensen as a multi-disciplinary artist and facilitator. In 2008, he travelled to St. Louis, Senegal to learn the 21 string Kora, (a West African Harp). A few years later, Lucas began making them. He also collects and plays other instruments like the Japanese shakuhachi flute and a collection of old aluminum pots and lids that were transformed into magical singing bowls. Lucas earned a BA in Cello Performance and MA in Community Music from Wilfrid Laurier University. We will also be making kazoos and have a variety of music activities.

Oct 28th, 11:30 – 12:00 – Unique Sounds (snack available in Rm 206 at 11:15)Have you heard of a theremin? An otamatone? A harmonium? Come check out these unique instruments and discover the cool sounds they make.

Nov 4th, 11:30 – 12:00 – Theresa McGregor (snack available in Rm 206 at 11:15)

(please note that Explorations will not be offered Nov 11thNov 18th)

Nov 25th, 11:30 – 12:00 – Gerard Yun 
(snack available in Rm 206 at 11:15)

Dec 2nd, 11:15 – 12:00 – Christmas Carol sing!
Join Explorations for juice, coffee, tea, Christmas goodies and your favourite Christmas carols in the Fellowship hall (note the alternate location!). This edition of Explorationsis open to parents, guests, and congregation members, so please join us. 


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Election of Deacons and Elders

Posted by on Monday, September 17th, 2018 in News

An election of Deacons and Elders for the church will take place on Sunday, October 7, 2018. A separate package for the election has been prepared for distribution to members of the church. If you have not received your package, please drop by an pick one up or contact you elder, deacon or the church office. While participation in the election is limited to those on the membership roll, anyone is welcome to read the information in the package. In fact, we’d encourage you to do so. As it is a good lesson on how the church functions and governs itself.

Of course, there are some who attend St. Andrew’s and have never taken the step of becoming members. The minister would be very pleased to speak with you if you are interested in becoming a member, either by transfer of membership or by profession of faith. A simple membership course will be organized later this Fall to help those interested in membership.


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Race to Erase

Posted by on Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 in News

The Race to Erase will be held on Saturday, October 13th.
This is a  main fundraiser for Hope Clothing which relies on the generosity of the congregation of St. Andrew's and individuals and groups from the Hespeler Community.
Please consider sponsoring a team or joining at team.
For more information contact Joni at [email protected]


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Sunday, July 29. Who is welcome at the table?

Posted by on Thursday, July 26th, 2018 in News

There are a number of things that will make worship at St. Andrew's Hespeler Presbyterian Church very special.

Our special music will feature Bob and Ray blessing us with a duet called "How Long Has It Been" (Written by Mosie Lister, Arranged by Richard Kingsmore). It is always a treat to hear Ray and Bob sing together.

Zoé McAndless will also grace us with her interpretation of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major. She will be accompanied by Corey Linforth on the piano.

In our sermon we will consider what a world-changing event that happened in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1960 has to teach us about Communion and being the church.

Sermon Title:


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Rev. Wally Little, longtime minister of St. Andrew’s Hespeler has passed away.

Posted by on Wednesday, July 25th, 2018 in News

Rev. Wallace Inglis Little – Peacefully passed away at home in Stratford, surrounded by his family on July 24, 2018 at the age of 83.

He was devoted to his loving wife, Audrey of 60 years and was a cherished father of Jane (Pep) Philpott, Judy (Paul) Boivin, Karen (Rob) Congram and Kathy (the late Mark) Hoogsteen. Grandpa will be dearly missed by his 13 beautiful grandchildren, Bethany (Alex), Jacob, David and Lydia Philpott; Andrew, Luke and Sophie Boivin; Ben, Abby and Caroline Congram; and Timothy, Daniel and Samuel Hoogsteen. Wally was predeceased by his son, Gary Wallace Little (1966); his granddaughter, Emily Katherine Philpott (1991); his parents, Chester and Jessie; and his siblings Norman Little, Elgin Little, Jean McIntosh and Thelma Clarke. He had many loving nieces and nephews as well as several dear sisters- and brothers-in-law. Wally will also be greatly missed by his dedicated caregiver, Mai.


A man of great wisdom and integrity, Wally had a huge heart and a gentle spirit. He touched countless individuals during his 50 years of congregational ministry in Winnipeg, Cambridge, Collingwood, and Wasaga Beach, as well as serving in Thornbury, North Bay and Blantyre, Malawi in his retirement.

Cremation has taken place. Internment at a later date at Elma Centre Cemetery, Atwood. Visitation at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 25 St. Andrew Street, Stratford, on Friday, July 27, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Memorial Service at St. Andrew’s Hespeler Presbyterian Church, 73 Queen St. E., Cambridge at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Rev. Mark Wolfe officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

The Ontario Rett Syndrome Association
PO Box 50030
London, ON N6A 6H8
www.rett.ca

Presbyterian World Service & Development
50 Wynford Drive
Toronto, ON M3C 1J7
www.presbyterian.ca/pwsd

or

The Alzheimer’s Society of Perth County
1020 Ontario St., Unit 5
Stratford, ON N5A 6Z3

would be appreciated by the family and can be arranged by calling the funeral home or returning to the Current Funerals page and clicking on the Make a Donation link. Please forward your cheque directly to the charity of choice at the above address.

Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Little Wallace June 10 1935 to July 24 2018.
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The Pescod Family

Posted by on Monday, July 23rd, 2018 in News

Many people at St. Andrew's have been joining in prayers for the family of Kathy Pescod (the daughter of Brenda Holm). We would like to share the following link. It will give you updates on what the family is going through as well as information on the Gofundme campaign that they have started.

The church does not endorse Gofundme or any particular campaigns, but we do feel that there are many in the congregation who would like to have this information and would perhaps choose to take part. We would therefore like to share the following link with the congregation.

Please continue to pray for them.

GoFundMe Link.
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A Magical Service

Posted by on Friday, July 13th, 2018 in News

Please join us for worship on Sunday, July 15, 2018 at 10 am. It promises to be a "magical" service.

For one thing, we are looking forward to hearing a beautiful duet sung by Annette Denis and Ray Godin: "Where No One Stands Alone."

Secondly, when the sermon has a title like this, you know you are in for a bit of magic:


Please plan to stay and join us for a cold drink in the foyer following the service.
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Damage at the Church Building

Posted by on Tuesday, July 10th, 2018 in News

Some people might have heard that there was an incident at the church yesterday. Apparently, a driver failed to set the parking brake while making a delivery involved with the road work further up Cooper St. The 5-ton truck took off, all by itself, headed down the street directly at the church building.

The very good news is that nobody was injured. It could have been a very dangerous situation.

The truck took out the metal railing and damaged the retaining wall that lead to the lower Queen Street door. The truck then hit the buttress next to that door, deflected to the west and took out a downspout and then broke one of the windows on the Fellowship room. Of course, the walkway and some of the sod were also damaged.


The Operations Committee is presently evaluating the damage. Fortunately, there is no question about who is at fault and where the liability will lie! There will likely need to be some kind of engineering evaluation in case there was any structural damage. (If anyone does have contact with a good structural engineer, please let us know.)

Things could have been much worse, so we are thankful that they were not. The entrance to that Queen Street door will have to remain closed until it can be made safe.
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Potato Sunday

Posted by on Wednesday, May 16th, 2018 in News

Our Sunday School team was busy planting potatoes this past Sunday.  Each year we plant potatoes and in the fall donate all of the harvest to Thursday Night Supper & Social.  The Sunday School students were encouraged to take home seed potatoes to plant and grow through the summer.  In the fall we will hold the Grand Gardener contest again to see who grew the largest potato (by weight).






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Message from Malawi

Posted by on Friday, April 20th, 2018 in News

We just received this message from Malawi.  Please keep Bill & Marg and Yvonne in your prayers while they are travelling in Malawi.

Hi we are having a great trip. Have toured northern  Malawi visiting many PWS &D projects. It is warm with some periods of rain. Best Wishes Marg & Bill & Yvonne


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