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In light of the rising number of covid cases in the region and province, and upon a recommendation from the Safe Facilities Committee of Session, the Elders of St. Andrew’s have made this afternoon the difficult decision to pause in-person worship services until further notice.

The decision to pause in-sanctuary worship is effective immediately, including tomorrow, Sunday December 19, as well as the Christmas Eve service.

Your participation in the on-line services, however, would be a great encouragement and witness. Please find the link for tomorrow’s service at:
https://www.standrewskingston.org/sunday-december-19-online-and-in-sanctuary-1030-a-m-advent-4-mary-of-the-magnifying-soul/

‘Through all the changing scenes of life, in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still my heart and tongue employ‘
(Metrical Version of Psalm 34)
Join in the chorus at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox1r0OzIwoo

New Beginnings (detail). Christi Belcourt with Isaac Murdoch. 2014

Questions abound when I hear Mary singing ‘My soul magnifies the Lord’ (Luke 1:46).

For example, a dictionary tells me that ‘Magnification is the process of making an object appear much larger or more important than it really is’. So is Mary’s song all about making the Holy One larger or more important than the Holy One really is? Yikes, that raises serious questions about Christian faith.

Thankfully a spouse who knows me well offered me a volume of etymology several Christmases past … ‘magnify‘, borrowed from Old French magnifier, borrowed from Latin magnificare … ‘to esteem greatly, to glorify, to praise’. Wow, that makes more sense.

But for what does Mary ‘magnify’ the Holy One? How is hers a ‘magnifying’ soul?
Many of the first Christians felt their experience described in that of the character of Mary. How might we?

We invite you to join us in Christian worship either in the sanctuary (following COVID protocols of safe distancing, mask wearing and refraining from singing) or by live-stream at https://youtu.be/hoTGMxqvMuc Sunday morning.   Organ preludes will begin around 10:25 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

Please note that beginning Christmas Eve and the following Sunday, vaccination certificates will be required for entrance into the church for all services.

Have a look at the Order of Service below, along with announcements and invitations to grow in Christian worship, community and service. You will also find the words to the hymns, which might offer words for meditation through the week ahead.

Download (PDF, 577KB)

Download (PDF, 128KB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

John the Baptist. Leonardo da Vinci, 1513-1516

As this season of Advent continues to unfold, we hear again the call to ‘prepare’ … this Sunday from John the Baptizer. And this painting by da Vinci offered me a whole new perspective upon the preaching of this prophet and the fullness of the gospel known in Jesus Christ.

Emerging from darkness, John is bathed in a soft and inviting light. There is a warmth and beauty and even playfulness known. There is a ‘pointing’ to new dimensions of the holy – one hand conventionally directing us ‘up’ to ‘heaven’, but another hand holding a staff that is crowned with a symbol of the Holy One come among us in Jesus the Christ. That cross is faint but sure, waiting with assurance and strength for all who truly seek. The ‘pointing’ of John in this painting by da Vinci is all the more moving when I realized this was probably the artist’s last work.

As we hear the Advent call to ‘prepare’, certain questions arise. Do I point to Christ with a warmth that attracts? Do I embody the beauty of the gospel?

We invite you to join us in Christian worship either in the sanctuary (following COVID protocols of safe distancing, mask wearing and refraining from singing) or by live-stream at https://youtu.be/8-wc9SCa-0w. Organ preludes will begin around 10:25 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

Have a look at the Order of Service below, along with announcements and invitations to grow in Christian worship, community and service. You will also find the words to the hymns, which might offer words for meditation through the week ahead.

Download (PDF, 800KB)

Download (PDF, 154KB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Five Wise Ones. Cornelis Monsma

This painting by Cornelis Monsma of New Zealand jumped off the computer screen into my imagination when I first saw it. It refers to Jesus’ parable, and the five bridesmaids who were prepared to welcome the groom when he finally arrived and able to accompany him into the hall for the banquet to begin (Matthew 25:1-13). The five look like candles, shining bright even as they ‘wait’. 

The second Sunday of Advent. Another candle lit around the Advent wreath. Another exploration of this season of ‘waiting’ … for Christmas … and the coming of Christ. The sermon will be followed by the classic Advent hymn, ‘Sleepers, wake’ (‘Wachet auf’ by Philipp Nicolai).

Being the first Sunday of the month, we will also celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. To this are invited all who ‘love the Lord a little, and yearn to love him more’. Prepare some bread and a cup, and join us to know this time of Holy Communion.

We invite you to join us in Christian worship either in the sanctuary (following COVID protocols of safe distancing, mask wearing and refraining from singing) or by live-stream at https://youtu.be/l7QFK4v7JH8. Organ preludes will begin around 10:25 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

Download (PDF, 462KB)

Download (PDF, 152KB)