St. Andrew's, Saskatoon

The Season of Lent Begins Soon

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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.

Bible Reading Challenge: Ends Sunday, Feb. 7th

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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.

Christian Practices for the Way: A Formation Experience for New and Continuing Christians

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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.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 24, 2010

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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.

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Herb Gale - Sun. Jan. 17th

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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.

Responding to the Devastation in Haiti

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Haiti Earthquake Appeal

A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of impoverished Haiti on Tuesday, causing widespread death and destruction and leaving relief workers scrambling to pull people from the rubble.

Over three million people are estimated to have been affected by the powerful quake, leaving homes and schools in ruins, destroying infrastructure and trapping people in the debris. The city is without electricity and the telephone network has broken down. The UN headquarters has collapsed and people are sitting in the streets with nowhere to go. While a full assessment is still ongoing, thousands are estimated dead with millions of dollars of damage.

PWS&D Responds

PWS&D is responding to this emergency situation through the Action by Churches Together Alliance. ACT staff on the ground are carrying out assessments of damage and the needs of survivors. While international aid is being flown in, ACT has been working on the ground from the moment the earthquake occurred. ACT is planning to send a rapid support team of at least a response coordinator, a communicator, two water and sanitation experts and a finance expert. ACT members are also preparing to send water and sanitation materials, hygiene kits, and psychosocial workers to the devastated area.

You Can Help

The people of Haiti need your prayers and financial support to bring hope and relief. Congregations and individuals are encouraged to bring help to the situation by making a donation to PWS&D. Donate by phone by calling 1-800-619-7301 ext. 291, donate online, or donate through your offering at St. Andrew's this Sunday. Please mark all donations �Haiti Earthquake Relief.�

Presbyterian World Service & Development is the development and relief agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

New Year Bible Reading Challenge

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The Christian Education Committee is planning for a Bible Reading Challenge early in the New Year. We will get started on Sunday, January 3rd, so you might want to consider making Bible reading your New Year�s resolution.

We have seen in past years that our congregation can be pretty competitive when it comes to reading challenges, but this time we decided to encourage cooperation. Together, as a congregation, we will attempt to read through the entire Bible!

When you come to church on January 3rd, you�ll find a clothesline filled with cards indicating a section of Bible reading. Choose one, two, or more cards, and take them home to guide your reading. When you�re finished, bring them back to church and peg them on the �completed� clothesline.

Let�s try to read the whole Bible together by Sunday, February 7th. Note: There will be a special clothesline for the children and families, so everyone can get reading.

Sunday Morning Bible Study

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Sunday Morning Bible Study will resume on Sunday, January 10th.

As we begin a New Year together, we will begin a new study. Have you ever wondered about the strange Book of Revelation, with all its unusual images of thrones, scrolls, angels, creatures, and more? Well, here's your chance to delve into the Book of Revelation, to learn about its history and significance, and to explore what it might say to us today.

We meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the parlour, and we hope you'll consider joining our group. Please use the parking lot side door, and stop by the kitchen for a cup of coffee or tea before making your way upstairs to the parlour.

Christmas Worship 2009

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Please join us on Sunday December 20th @ 11:00 a.m. for a special Christmas worship. The children of the church school will be presenting the Christmas poem: "The Real Reason for Christmas" by Mary Harelkin Bishop, and there will be lots of special music led by Gillian Lyons and the St. Andrew's Choir.

The Christmas Eve worship (on Thursday, December 24th, of course!) will begin at 7:00 p.m. Come 10-15 minutes early to join in some extra carolling before we get started. It will be a fun and meaningful service for all ages, including candles, readings, carols, and more.

Ringing our Bells for Climate Justice - December 13, 2009

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The international climate change talks are currently taking place in Copenhagen, and the Earth's future is at stake. It's time for us to do everything we can to ensure that Canada takes a progressive stance at these negotiations, and that the world community emerges from Copenhagen with a just, binding, science-based climate treaty.

Brothers and sisters around the globe are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate injustice, and we are invited to show our solidarity with God's peoples and the Earth!

KAIROS is asking every church in Canada to ring its church bells 350 times for climate justice on Sunday, December 13th.
Why 350 times? Because according to climate experts, 350 parts per million (ppm) is the upper limit for carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in our atmosphere. Until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 ppm of CO2, but now the concentration stands at 390 ppm. Unless we are able to rapidly reduce, we risk irreversible impacts on all of Creation.

Sunday December 13 is a day of action for churches around the world. A global bell ringing action is timed to coincide with an ecumenical service that the World Council of Churches is coordinating at the height of the talks in Copenhagen. When it ends at 3:00 pm, churches all over Denmark will ring their bells.

Why church bells? Because for thousands of years, they've been used to warn people of imminent danger... and also to call people to action.

We don't have any church bells at St. Andrew's, but we can still participate. When you come to worship on Sunday, bring any bells you have at home (little bells, big bells, cow bells, or any other noise makers that you can bring along) and we will close our worship service with bell ringing for 350 seconds.
We'll begin inside the sanctuary, and those who are able can march out onto 20th street to make a little noise in the neighbourhood.

KAIROS staff and partners are on the ground in Copenhagen. Check out their up-to-date reports from Copenhagen on the KAIROS website and through Facebook and Twitter.

Wednesday Worship During Advent

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The Worship Committee is planning two special worship services during the Season of Advent. On Wednesday, December 2, we will gather for a simple supper in the lower hall at 6:00 p.m., followed by an Advent Worship Service upstairs at 6:45 p.m. It will be a time of singing, prayer, and reflection, as we begin this time of waiting to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Our third annual Christmas Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, December 16. Though Christmas is often a time of joy and gladness, it can be a difficult time for many among us. Whether you have experienced the loss of a loved one recently, or you are struggling with a job loss, illness, or other challenges, please join us for a service of Light & Hope in the Midst of Darkness. Everyone is welcome, as we place our trust in the Coming Christ who is our Light. A simple supper will be shared in the lower hall at 6:00 p.m., followed by worship upstairs at 6:45 p.m., including an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one.

Congregational Meeting - Sunday, December 6, 2009

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A committee of the Presbytery of Northern Saskatchewan has been working with a team of elders from McKercher Drive Church and St. Andrew's Church to prepare an amalgamation plan for our congregations. McKercher Drive Church will be closing, but rather than simply close, they would like to "come together" to join St. Andrew's. The committee hopes to present an amalgamation plan to the Presbytery in January.

On Sunday, December 6, members and adherents of St. Andrew's are invited to stay following worship to discuss the amalgamation plan. It will be an opportunity to ask questions and to offer any comments or feedback to the committee before they present it to the Presbytery. Printed copies of the amalgamation plan will be available on Sunday, November 29th on the entranceway table at the church.

A Pre-Christmas Tea as Advent Begins

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The Women's League of St. Andrew's invites one and all to a Pre-Christmas Tea on Saturday, November 28th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the church.

Come and enjoy tea, coffee, and homemade pie, and start to get into the Christmas spirit! The bake table opens at 2:00 p.m. with wonderful treats made by members of the congregation. The youth will have a table with other interesting things you may want to pick up, as well as an opportunity to get your 2010 calendar from the Presbyterian Church in Canada for only $3.50.

Sunday, November 29th will be the first Sunday in the Season of Advent. Come and worship with us at 11:00 a.m. as we light the Candle of Hope and celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Nifty November @ St. Andrew's!

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Were you wondering what nifty things might be happening in November at St. Andrew's? Here are some things to look forward to and get involved in:

Sunday, Nov. 1st - Submissions for the newsletter are due.
Sunday, Nov. 1st - Youth Group & PYGG Bowling Night @ Eastview (7:00 p.m.)
Mondays, Nov. 2,9, 16 & 23 - Book Study continues on Diana Butler Bass's book, "Christianity for the Rest of Us" (7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, Nov. 5th - Thursday Group: Speaker Giselle Doell, Executive Director of the Friendship Inn (1:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 8th - Sunday Worship with a focus on Remembrance and Prayers for Peace in the World (11:00 a.m.)
Wednesday, Nov. 11th - Women's Missionary Society invites women and men to join them for a new study on refugees prepared by our national church: "Making Connections: Staying Rooted in an Uprooted World." (7:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 15th - Canada Youth 2009 worship service will be shared at McKercher Drive (9:15 a.m.) and Calvin Goforth (11:00 a.m.) churches (just in case you missed it at St. Andrew's).
Sunday, Nov. 15th - "Saints Alive" newsletter will be distributed by email or paper copy in your mail slot at the church.
Thursday, Nov. 19th - Thursday Group meets at 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 20th - Presbytery of Northern Saskatchewan meets at St. Andrew's (10:00 a.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 22nd - Guest speaker from the Saskatoon Core Neighbourhoods Youth Group (11:00 a.m.)
Friday, Nov. 27th - Kids' Club Bowling Night at Eastview (7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, Nov. 28th - "Pre-Christmas Tea & Bake Sale" hosted by the Women's League (2:00 - 4:00 p.m.) Donations of baking or time are greatly appreciated. Baking may be dropped off any time after 10:00 a.m. on the 28th.
Sunday, Nov. 29th - First Sunday of Advent. We celebrate Holy Communion and the Advent Appeal Begins. Details about how you can participate in the Advent Appeal by giving to our local missions and programs will be in the Sunday bulletin soon.

Canada Youth 2009 Worship Service

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You are invited to worship at St. Andrew's this Sunday, October 25th @ 11:00 a.m. The youth and young adults who attended Canada Youth 2009 in July will be leading the worship, and sharing about their experience at this National gathering of Presbyterian youth from across the country.

As we gather for worship, you will be invited to consider and respond to the following question: "How have you experienced God's presence in the last week?" You will have the opportunity to answer on a slip of paper, and to place it in the "Emmanuel Box". We will celebrate God-with-us, not only in our worship, but throughout our daily lives.

We hope that you will join us at St. Andrew's to hear about how our young people experienced God's presence at CY09, and how it was a time of being rooted and grounded in God's love.

Soup, Bannock, & Sharing Circle: Wed. Oct. 21, 2009

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October 17-23 is the 6th Annual Poverty Awareness Week: �All Together Toward Dignity and Peace: Eliminating Poverty in Saskatchewan�, and the Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coalition has many events planned throughout the week. (You can pick up a copy of the schedule of events from the church, or email the church office and we'll send it to you.)

St. Andrew�s is pleased to be participating in the program this year by hosting a simple soup and bannock supper followed by a sharing circle on the topic �What is poverty?� This will take place in the lower hall at St. Andrew�s on Wednesday, October 21st from 6:00-8:00 PM. You are invited to join us for this time of listening, sharing, and learning from one another.

Thanks be to God! For Loving Hands, and Health, and Community.

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This Sunday, October 11th, is Thanksgiving Sunday. We hope that you will join our Christian community at 11:00 a.m. to worship and thank our loving God for many good blessings. We give thanks for food, shelter, and the necessities of life... for loving community experienced in friendship, family, and our church family... for health and wholeness... and for many other good things.

Due to recent concerns about the spread of the H1N1 virus, St. Andrew's is making hand sanitizer available for your use at church. There are dispensers located at the three doors that are used most often. We encourage you to please make use of them. Also, if you feel uncomfortable shaking hands during the outbreak of H1N1, don't hesitate to decline a hand shake, and to offer a verbal greeting and a smile as you greet your sisters and brothers in Christ.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (2 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

The Gospel According to Mark

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Sunday morning Bible Study at St. Andrew's begins again this Sunday, September 20th at 9:30 a.m.

I had originally announced that we would be studying Matthew's Gospel, but realized that the group has studied Matthew fairly recently. Also, we are in the middle of the lectionary year (year C) in which most of the Gospel readings are from Mark, and that seems like a good reason to explore Mark more closely.

Who was Mark? What is different about his Gospel from the other three? Why does he spend half the book on the death and resurrection of Jesus? How does his message speak to us today? We will be examining these and other questions in our upcoming study of the Gospel According to Mark.

You don't have to be a biblical scholar in order to join us! We enjoy learning, growing, questioning, and exploring together with a diverse group on Sunday mornings before worship. We meet in the church parlour at 9:30 a.m. Use the parking lot side door, and stop by the kitchen for a cup of coffee before making your way up to the parlour.

"It's For Choir Attire" - A Benefit Concert with Flute & Piano

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As I sit here writing this blog in my office at the church, beautiful music is floating in from the church sanctuary. Gill and Brenda are practising for their concert later this month, and you won't want to miss it - It's going to be amazing!

Brenda Moats and Gillian Lyons will present a benefit concert for the St. Andrew�s Choir Robe Fund on Sunday, September 27th at 7:30 pm. You are invited to attend this wonderful musical event and to support the purchase of the choir�s beautiful new robes.

Tickets are $12 in advance from the church office, $15 at the door, $10 for students.

Church School Classes Resume - September 13, 2009

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Don't forget that this is the Sunday (September 13th) that church school classes resume at St. Andrew's. Children from age 3 to grade 8 are welcome to join in our church school program. Feel free to bring your child or grandchild. And your children are welcome to bring a friend.

We use the Seasons of the Spirit multi-age curriculum, which includes biblical stories following the same lectionary readings that we use in worship. The program includes singing, crafts, and activities that encourage the children to explore the stories and lessons of scripture in a variety of ways.

If you don't have any children or grandchildren, we hope that you will still remember our church school this Sunday, and keep the children and teachers in your prayers. See you on Sunday!

Sunday Worship @ 11:00 a.m. Again!

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September has arrived, so it's time to change our worship time at St. Andrew's back to 11:00 a.m. We hope that you will be able to come and worship with us this week (Sept. 6th) as we commission our teachers and leaders for the important ministry that they do throughout the year in our church and community.

Also, did you get your copy of "Glad Tidings" the magazine of our National Women's Missionary Society? If you got it, check out the first article in the Sept/Oct issue, written by our own Allyssa de Bruijn. If you don't subscribe to the magazine, check out Allyssa's article "Live the Faith" online.

Autumn Adult Education

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OPENING DOORS TO DISCIPLESHIP
The Life & Mission Committee of Presbytery is sponsoring participation in an online Bible Background course starting this fall. This is a free program in which you work individually and then get together with a group for discussion and questions. Pick up a flyer about this program in the entranceway, and sign up by September 15th if you would like to participate in a discussion group.

SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
New participants are always welcome in our Sunday morning bible study group, which will resume on Sunday, September 20th. We meet at 9:30 a.m. in the church parlour. Come in through the parking lot side door, and stop by the kitchen for a coffee before joining the group upstairs in the parlour. We will begin the season with a study on the Gospel of Matthew.

BOOK STUDY
You are invited to participate in a six-week book study on �Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighbourhood Church is Transforming the Faith� by Diana Butler Bass. We will meet in the church parlour at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evenings October 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16 & 23.

This book shares the results of an exciting study of vital mainline congregations, and explores how these vital congregations develop community, reach out, and teach faith practices to their members. Let�s study this book together and consider what St. Andrew�s might learn from our Christian friends in other thriving congregations. Copies of the book are available for $15 from the church office.

Women's Camp: September 11-13, 2009

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You won't want to miss WOMEN�S CAMP 2009 at Camp Christopher! It's a wonderful weekend away with Presbyterian and United Church women of all ages.

We will gather at Camp Christopher September 11-13 for a great weekend of fun, food, worship, study, reflection, and recreation in God's creation. This year�s theme is �New Beginnings�.

Registration forms are available on the bulletin board in the lower hallway at the church. The deadline for registrations is August 28th. (There will be car-pooling taking place if you need a ride up to the camp or if you would like to offer a ride.)

Summer Sacraments

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Sixteen youth and adults from St. Andrew's have just returned from an amazing week at our National Presbyterian Youth Conference, Canada Youth 2009. At CY09, those participating in the Conference Branch took part in small group sessions each day to explore the scriptures, reflect on worship, and build relationships with each other and with God.

As part of the gathering prayer in our small groups, we took time to reflect on this question: "How have you experienced God's presence in the last day?" We wrote our answers to the question, placed them in the "Emmanuel Box", and took time to celebrate God's presence among us as we gathered to learn and grow together.

I invite you who are reading this to take a moment to answer that same question... How have you experienced God's presence in the last day, the last week, or this summer? Spend some time celebrating and giving thanks for God-with-us today.

The Sacraments represent some very special ways in which we experience God with us - in the pouring of water and the sharing of bread and juice.

You are invited to join us at St. Andrew's for the Sacrament of Holy Communion on Sunday, August 2nd at 10:00 a.m.

You are also invited to celebrate with us as we baptize Grace Anne Drover, daughter of Vickie and Doug Drover, on Sunday, August 9th at 10:00 a.m.

Summer Worship: Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

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Don't be late! During the months of July and August, Sunday worship begins at 10:00 AM.

The sun is rising very, very early these days, so hopefully you'll be up earlier and ready to worship God a little earlier too. And perhaps you can go out from worship at St. Andrew's to continue to worship God as you enjoy God's creation and some beautiful summer Sundays.

Are you travelling this summer? Take the opportunity to worship with a local Presbyterian Church or a church of another denomination wherever you are staying. Take a holiday from work. Take a holiday from your usual routines. But don't take a holiday from your true purpose of glorifying and enjoying God.

Have a wonderful summer everyone, whether you're worshipping with us at St. Andrew's (at 10:00 a.m.) or wherever your travels take you. We will return to the regular worship hour of 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6th.