DURING THE SEASON OF LENT each year, the people of St. Andrew's are encouraged to collect coins to support the work of Presbyterian World Service and Development. Our gifts to PWS&D are one way that we care for people around the world and for God's creation. The Stewardship Committee has provided coin-collecting containers for us. You can pick up either a box or a jar in the entranceway at St. Andrew's, fill it with your spare change, and bring it back on Easter Sunday. There are also some PWS&D envelopes in the entranceway if you would prefer to write a cheque.

PANCAKE & SAUSAGE SUPPER (Tues. Feb. 16th) @ Calvin Goforth Church (1602 Sommerfeld Ave). Share in the Shrove Tuesday tradition of eating pancakes on “Mardi Gras” before the season of Lent begins. Come for pancakes between 5 PM and 7 PM. A free will offering will be received to support Presbyterian World Service & Development.

ASH WEDNESDAY SUPPER & WORSHIP (Wed. Feb. 17th) @ St. Andrew’s Church. (Please use the parking lot side door.) We begin the season of Lent together with a simple supper in the lower hall at 6 PM, followed by worship upstairs at 6:45 PM. The worship will include Holy Communion and an opportunity to receive ashes on the forehead – a sign of humility and repentance.

The Bible Reading Challenge sponsored by the Christian Education Committee has only one week left! Together, we are reading the whole Bible by Sunday, February 7th!

If you have bible reading cards at home, don’t forget to finish up your reading, bring the cards back to the church, and hang them on the “completed” clothesline. There aren’t any cards left to be taken, but don’t stop reading! You can read any section of the Bible you like, and mark what you have read on a blank card.

Come out and celebrate with us on Sunday, February 7th following the morning worship service. The CE Committee will be providing lunch (including cake!) to celebrate the fact that together, we have read the whole bible over the last month or so.

Youth, Adults, Members, and Newcomers are invited to participate in an exploration of what it means to live the Way of Christ today. This will be an opportunity for those thinking about making a profession of faith and becoming members of the church, as well as for others wishing to explore and renew the faith practices that keep us on the Way.

Topics will include hospitality, reading and interpreting scripture, worship, prayer, Eucharist (thanksgiving), stewardship, and repentance (turning to the way). Each session will include DOING the practice, as well as LEARNING about and REFLECTING on it. Each one will include relevant scripture, teaching about the church’s historical practice, and resources/tools for taking up this practice within the Christian community.

If you love God a little and would like to love God more, come and join us on February 14th (Valentine’s Day) after the morning worship service. We will meet each week after worship from Feb. 14th to Mar. 28th, and a light lunch will be provided. Speak to Rev. Amanda if you have any questions and to indicate your interest in taking part in the program.

St. Andrew’s has the honour of hosting the closing worship for the Saskatoon Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Sunday, January 24th at 3:00 PM. Speak to Rev. Amanda if you would like to help out with the service either by greeting at the door or singing in the choir.

This year’s theme for the Week of Prayer is “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48) and it is a celebration of 100 years since the 1910 World Mission Conference in Edinburgh, which marked the beginning of the modern ecumenical movement. This year’s resources have been prepared by the Churches of Scotland, so our closing worship is being planned with a Scottish flair! Come out and enjoy the bagpipes, as well as shortbread and other Scottish favourites being prepared by some of the women of our church.

This Sunday, January 17th, we welcome the Rev. Dr. Herb Gale to St. Andrew's. Herb serves the Presbyterian Church in Canada as the Associate Secretary for Planned Giving. He will be sharing in the 11:00 a.m. worship service as our guest preacher, and then giving a presentation on Planned Giving following worship in the lower hall.

Everyone is invited to stay for a linger lunch following worship, which will be provided by the Stewardship Committee. There is no charge for the lunch, but you may make a donation towards PWS&D if you choose. After lunch, the Rev. Dr. Herb Gale will give a presentation, and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions about Planned Giving.

The Stewardship Committee also invites you to bring your own bowl & spoon for lunch.