Upcoming Events

Thursday Group with Guest Speakers from Egadz Youth Centre: The Thursday Group is an informal gathering of adults that gathers on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month for fellowship, learning, and connection. On Thursday, January 19th at 1:30 p.m. everyone is welcome to come and hear guest speakers Bill Thibodeau and Giselle Doell of Egadz Youth Centre. Members of St. Andrew’s support Egadz every year through generous gifts made through our Advent Appeal. Come and hear more about this important ministry in our neighbourhood.

St. Andrew’s Will Host an Ecumenical Worship Service on Monday, January 23rd at 7:00 a.m. During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity each year, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism co-ordinates a series of worship opportunities in churches of many denominations across the city of Saskatoon. St. Andrew’s has agreed to host one of the early morning services, followed by a continental breakfast in the lower hall of the church.

We hope that many of our members will take the opportunity to participate in this prayer for the unity of the church, either by attending the service at St. Andrew’s and welcoming our Christian friends, or by joining in the other prayer services throughout the week. See the full schedule for the WPCU in Saskatoon January 22-29, 2012.

Holy Communion: A Study of Theology and Practice: The Session of St. Andrew’s is planning to meet on Saturday, February 4th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. to study and discuss the theology and practice of Holy Communion in our church. This event will be open to anyone in the congregation to attend and participate.

Holy Communion is a gift from Christ to the church. Before there were Books of Common Order or formal creeds, even before the New Testament was written, the first Christians met on the Lord’s Day to read the Scriptures, the letters from the apostles, and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Please join us for this time of study and discussion as we deepen our understanding of this Sacrament, as well as appreciate the mystery of Christ’s presence with us when we gather at the Table of the Lord. We will conclude the afternoon with a short worship service and celebration of Holy Communion.

Working to be One

In the most recent Presbyterian Record, a letter from the Presbytery of Northern Saskatchewan was printed with the title “Working to be One: A Commitment to Ecumenism Benefits Communities on the Prairies.” The presbytery had been invited to write about some aspect of the ministry in this part of the PCC. The presbytery’s contributions to Christian unity were highlighted:

Although most congregations and ministers might agree with the ecumenical goal in theory, actual sharing in worship, witness and service with our Christian neighbours often gets pushed aside because of the busy schedules and many demands on our church leaders.  On the Canadian Prairies, the churches have a long history of working together, and the current members of the Presbytery of Northern Saskatchewan have inherited a great legacy of involvement and relationship with our Christian friends. Not only do our congregations and ministers participate in local ministerials and councils of churches, but as a presbytery we are one of seven sponsoring denominations of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon. The purpose of the Centre is “to be an instrument for Christian reconciliation and unity… and to advance towards that unity in order that the world may believe.”

Read the complete letter on the Record’s website.

Festival of Lessons and Carols

St. Andrew’s Choir will be presenting a Christmas concert on December 18 at 7:30 p.m.  Admission will be a free will offering with proceeds going to the Good Food Junction grocery store at Station 20 West.

The concert will follow the “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” format, which is an order of service made famous by the annual performances from King’s College, Cambridge.  The format for the “Lessons and Carols” was created in 1880 by Edward White Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury but at that time Bishop of Truro in Cornwall.  It was further adapted in 1918 by Eric Milner-White, dean of King’s College Cambridge.  Lessons and Carols occur in Anglican, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches.  St. Andrew’s will be using seven of the nine lessons and after each lesson there will be a choir anthem, solo or a carol sung by choir and congregation.

Please join us in this enchanting, inspirational evening of Christmas readings and song.

“Would you like to hold the baby?”

Join With Other Saskatoon Christians to celebrate the Nativity! This December, Christians from a large number of churches in Saskatoon and area will be joining together to host an outdoor nativity pageant as part of their effort to support the Good Food Junction Co-op grocery store at Station 20 West. “Would You Like to Hold the Baby?” will be held on Saturday, December 10^th at 4:00 pm in Civic Square (23^rd St by City Hall).

Anyone interested in joining the festivity is welcome to participate; a free will offering will be taken for the Good Food Junction. Children and youth interested in taking part are asked to be at Third Avenue United Church (304 3^rd Ave N) at 2:00 pm on December 10^th for a rehearsal (with costumes, if you have them!).

Those who would like a CD of the music to practice ahead of time can contact Janice Sanford Beck at 655-5301. Refreshments will be served. Anyone willing to contribute cookies or fruit is asked to bring it to Third Avenue United Church between 1:00 and 2:00 pm on Dec 10^th.

Advent & Christmas Schedule

• Sat. Nov. 26th 8:30 am – Women’s Breakfast at Mulberry’s on 3rd Ave (Christmas theme and carolling!)
• Sun. Nov. 27th 9:30 am – Advent Bible Study Begins: “From Longing to Receiving.” Study materials available in advance from Rev. Amanda by email.
• Sun. Nov. 27^th 11:00 am – First Sunday of Advent with Communion
• Sat. Dec. 3rd 2 – 4 pm – Women’s League Christmas Tea & Bake Sale
• Sun. Dec. 4^th 11:00 am -  Second Sunday of Advent
• Sun. Dec. 11^th 11:00 am – Christmas Presentation by the Children of the Church School during worship
• Thurs. Dec. 15th 1:30 pm – The Thursday Group gathers for Christmas Dinner at Mano’s Restaurant on 8th Street. All are welcome.
• Sun. Dec. 18^th 11:00 am – Fourth Sunday of Advent
• Sun. Dec. 18^th 7:30 pm – St. Andrew’s Choir will present a Festival of Lessons and Carols. Free will offering to support the Good Food Junction at Station 20 West.
• Tues. Dec. 20^th 7:00 pm – Carolling at the Lighthouse with the Outreach Committee
• Wed. Dec. 21^st 7:00 pm – Christmas Memorial Service, especially for those who have lost loved ones in the past year. All are welcome.
• Sat. Dec. 24^th 7:00 pm – Christmas Eve Family Worship
• Sun. Dec. 25^th 11:00 am – Christmas Day Family Worship

Fragrance Free at St. Andrew’s

Many people are negatively affected by perfumes or other fragrances worn by people in close proximity. Even fairly subtle fragrances can cause headaches, migraines, respiratory difficulties, and other challenges for those who are particularly sensitive.

The Session is asking everyone at St. Andrew’s to refrain from using perfumes and other fragrances on Sunday mornings. Let’s go “fragrance free” so that everyone can breathe easily as we gather together to worship God.

Potluck, Photos, and New Members

Church Family Potluck & Family Photos:
Everyone is invited to stay after church THIS SUNDAY OCT. 30th for a potluck lunch. (Bring some food to share!)

Newcomers to St. Andrew’s are especially encouraged to attend, to hear about our church and some of the ways you can get involved in our programs and groups, as well as to get your photo taken for our photo display board.

Church Membership Classes – Begin this Sunday, Oct. 30:th:
St. Andrew’s has been happy to welcome many new people into our worshipping community over the last several months. We are so glad to have you with us! Several people have been asking about how they can become members of the church, and so it is time to offer a membership class.

Participating in the class will give you the opportunity to learn about the Presbyterian Church in Canada, what we believe, and how we live out our faith together in Christian community. It will also give you an opportunity to learn about St. Andrew’s and some of the ways that you can become more involved in our church family.

You are welcome to join the class if you are thinking of becoming a member of the church, if you are already a member and want to brush up on the basics, or if you just want to explore a bit and have an opportunity to ask some questions. Everyone from grade 9 to age 99 is welcome!

The class will be on Sundays after church (12:30-2:00 pm) starting next today with a potluck lunch and continuing for three more weeks (Nov. 6^th, 13^th & 20^th). Please phone or email the church office to let Rev. Amanda know that you would like to participate.

“Gems of Encouragement”

“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” Hebrews 10:24-25

The Christian Education Committee at St. Andrew’s is encouraging everyone to participate in the “Gems of Encouragement” program. Take some time to consider how you can be an encouragement to someone in your life this week.

You may feel called to say something or do something encouraging for a member of your family, for a colleague at work, for a friend at school, for a stranger that you meet, or for a sister or brother in Christ. Every time you say or do something encouraging, you are invited to place a gem stone in the glass jar at the front of the church. If you do many acts of encouragement during the week, keep track of them and place that number of gem stones in the glass jar when you come to church on Sunday.

We hope to fill up the glass jar with “Gems of Encouragement” by Thanksgiving Sunday (Oct. 9th). And then we’ll have a little contest to guess how many acts of encouragement have been completed.

News from the Session of St. Andrew’s

• The session of St. Andrew’s is pleased to announce that we have hired a Pastoral Care Nurse to join the ministry team (10 hours/week) beginning in mid-October. Laura Van Loon is a member of St. Andrew’s and an experienced and compassionate Registered Nurse. Laura will be receiving training for this ministry position through Interchurch Health Ministries–Saskatchewan, and we look forward to welcoming her to this new ministry in our church.

• The session received many responses to the “Worship Time Survey” that was originally circulated in the May newsletter. Thank you for giving us your input on this important decision. Please know that we took all of your comments, needs, and preferences seriously as we made this decision. Worship at St. Andrew’s will continue to be at 11:00 am, and in future years we will not change the time during the summer months. It will be at 11:00 am year-round.

September Start-Up 2011

On Sunday, September 4th, worship will begin at 11 a.m. once again. We hope to see you there! September also brings a full schedule of events and programs in and around St. Andrew’s. Don’t miss the first meetings/gatherings of your favourite program or group:

1. Worship Schedule:

• Worship at 11 a.m. – beginning on Sunday, Sept. 4th
• “Gems of Encouragement” – Sunday, Sept. 11th Worship at 11 a.m.
• World Communion Sunday – Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 11 a.m.

2. Special Events:

• Church School Teaching Training – Sunday, Sept. 4th after worship
• Women’s Camp at Camp Christopher – Sept. 9-11th
• Saskatchewan Presbyterian Youth (SPY) Weekend at St. Andrew’s – Sept. 16-18th
• Operation Sandwiches – Make sandwiches for the Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry – Sunday, Sept. 18th & 25th after worship

3. Programs & Groups:

• First Choir Practice – Thursday, Sept. 8th at 7:30 p.m.
• Prayer Group – Friday, Sept. 9th & 23rd at 11 a.m.
• Thursday Group – Thursday, Sept. 15th at 1:30 p.m. with guest speaker Brian Graham on Tuberculosis treatment in SK
• Church School Classes Begin – Sunday, Sept. 18th
• Hildur Hermanson Women’s Missionary Society – Monday, Sept. 19th at 7:30 p.m.
• Kids’ Club Begins – Friday, Sept. 23rd & 30th at 7:15 p.m.
• Women’s Breakfast at Mulberry’s – Saturday, Sept. 24th at 8:30 a.m.
• Sunday Morning Bible Study Begins – Sunday, Sept. 25th at 9:30 a.m.
• Youth Group Begins – Sunday, Sept. 25th at 7 p.m.
• Women’s League – Wednesday, Sept. 28th at 10:30 a.m.

Committee Meetings:

• Worship Committee – Wednesday, Aug. 31st  & Sept. 28th at 7:30 p.m.
• Session Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 6th at 7:30 p.m.
• Board of Managers – Tuesday, Sept. 13th at 7 p.m.
• Stewardship Committee – Wednesday, Sept. 14th at 7:30 p.m.
• Presbytery Meeting at St. Paul’s, Prince Albert – Friday, Sept. 16th at 10 a.m.
• Christian Education Committee – Tuesday, Sept. 20th at 7 p.m.
• Outreach Committee – Wednesday, Sept. 21st at 7 p.m.