Have a look at the minister’s monthly newsletter, and join in Christian worship, study and fellowship as you are able.
The format is for printing, double-sided, so feel free to stick a copy on your fridge door!
While the sanctuary is not available for worship right now, services continue to be available online each Sunday morning by 10:30 a.m., and the Church Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m.-noon.
And now for something different!
Tuesday Evenings February 16 – March 23, 7 p.m.
You are invited to explore the gospel known in Jesus Christ and the Bible … as developed in the themes and characters of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece.
Grace – Valjean
Justice – Javert
Poverty – Fantine
Revolution – ‘Les Amis’
Love – Marius and Cosette
Hope – The Garden
It is not necessary to read the novel (considered one of the greatest, and longest!) or see a film rendition or the musical, but if you do wish to fill a quiet winter day before the study begins on Tuesday February 16, here are some options …
Tuesday Evenings February 16 – March 23, 7 p.m.
Contact Andrew for a link to the Zoom Sessions [email protected]
We will be following a study outline prepared by Matt Rawle, a United Methodist Church minister and international speaker ‘who loves to tell an old story in a new way’.
Sawai Chinnawong (Thailand) – The Glory of the Cross
Last Sunday I found myself referring several times to ‘a new year of grace’. It is a classic phrase, and though it slipped off my tongue easily, it is very full. As I pondered this, I thought that ‘grace’ may be a great theme to explore during these weeks of Epiphany. And as this week unfolded, with all its turbulence and uncertainty, I needed the assurance of ‘grace’ all the more.
As Christians we focus our understanding of grace upon what we know of God in Jesus Christ. Grace is God loving the unlovable, God coming to us as one of us in Christ, extending healing and leading us in the ways of life through Christ, embracing us with a love that will not let us go by the death and resurrection of Christ. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (John 1).
As I was pondering my words for this coming Sunday, I was introduced to this painting by the Thai artist Sawai Chinnawong. Sawai was introduced to art when he saw some men painting a local Buddhist temple. When he became a Christian in his 20’s, he heard a lecture about how effective art could be in communicating the Gospel. ‘I believe Jesus Christ is present in every culture, and I have chosen to celebrate his presence in our lives through Thai traditional cultural forms.’ https://www.omsc.org/sawai-chinnawong
In this painting you might identify a palm branch, some grapes and a cup, some die, a crown of thorns around a chi rho, and so much more … But two things pop out for me. One is the great heart of God’s love in the top left corner. The other is the exuberance of line and colour across the canvas, highlighting the joy of knowing the grace of God in Christ through every season and circumstance of the human lot.
We may not be able to gather together in the sanctuary this Sunday, but we will begin this week of grace together in worship! The service will be available online just after 10:15 a.m. at https://youtu.be/qeUzTCPVb10
Recordings of previous services can be found at our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEy41z3sqfRm8X_lLfKGUA
Adoration of the Shepherds (fresco) by Giotto di Bondone, 1303
Notice the ‘star’ in this wonderful piece by Giotto? It is not a stationary orb but is shooting across the night sky, full of movement. This morning we will hear again about how the magi (representing the peoples of humanity beyond the Jewish nation) were led to worship God-come-to-us … by a star. But we will also consider how today we are led to the side of Christ by the movements of the Holy Spirit, inviting us to journey further into life and faith.
Last Epiphany, members received a paper star with a word written upon it, and were challenged to remain open to hearing that word through the year ahead and how it was used and what new understandings were given to them about life and faith by that word. One year later, three members of St. Andrew’s will share some of those reflections.
And as is our custom on the first Sunday of each month, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. You are invited to prepare some bread and a cup for this service.
We may not be able to gather together in the sanctuary, but we will begin this week of grace together in worship! The service will be available online just after 10:20 a.m. at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ14yTeblNY
Recordings of previous services can be found at our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEy41z3sqfRm8X_lLfKGUA
Epiphany Prayer
God of grace, thank you for every epiphany that will happen today
for every one who drops a weapon because there are no enemies
for every one who breathes in the scent of cedar and is cleansed
for every one who drops that heavy bundle of resentment
for every one who is guided by generations yet unborn
for every one who is contented at the end of a journey
for every one who falls on their knees before a baby
for every one who senses the webs that connect us
for every one who follows a sign from heaven
for every one who remembers to give gifts
for every one who is bowled over by love
for every one who recognizes the holy
for every one who dances with joy
for every one who says a prayer
for all with stars in their eyes
For Jesus’ sake
We pray
Amen
by Carol Penner of Conrad Grebel University Waterloo ON www.leadinginworship.com copyright
Mystic Nativity (Alessandro Botticelli) c.1500
The First Sunday after Christmas. Our joy is extended with help of two passages of scripture (Luke 2: 22-40, Colossians 1:15-20), a painting (Mystic Nativity by Alessandro Botticelli) and a carol (Tomorrow is my Dancing Day). We will close this year with special prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.
We may not be able to gather together in the sanctuary, but we WILL gather together in worship! The service will be available online just after 10:20 a.m. at https://youtu.be/FlNMjfvG4js
Recordings of previous services can be found at our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEy41z3sqfRm8X_lLfKGUA
I seek you, God, in the spaces of my life.
The spaces between what I’ve done
and what I’ve left undone.
The spaces between my convictions
and my actions,
the spaces between all that I hoped to do,
and what I’ve actually done.
I come with humility,
knowing that I can’t always see
the way I’ve disappointed you,
nor can I always see
the long-term effects of the good I’ve done.
This is a prayer for the road ahead,
which is an empty space stretching before me.
Fill me with a burning compassion
for my brothers and sisters,
a love that will not let me go.
Give me courage to to give boldly,
love simply,
hope deeply,
risk greatly.
My light is small,
my time is short,
but let it shine for you,
always, ever, all for you.
Amen.
Copyright Carol Penner www.leadinginworship.com
Conrad Grebel College, Waterloo ON
This evening we gather for an hour together online, of readings and carols and special music from the sanctuary of St. Andrew’s as we celebrate the birth of our Lord among us, ‘for us and our salvation’. The service will be available December 24, 6 p.m. at https://youtu.be/qNpx0q95Zec
Please note that the outdoor carol sing has been cancelled.
Instead, perhaps you might consider joining with others in something closer to home. Yesterday I received an update from the World Council of Churches sharing that the Lutheran Church of Germany has invited all their members to go to their balcony or front door at 8 p.m. and sing a verse or two of ‘Silent Night’. What a great idea to connect with others and share some of our joy and faith! Will you join me this evening?
‘Services that bring everyone together are not possible this year, but it is still possible to do something that could bring everyone together. Singing ‘Silent Night’ together, perhaps with a burning candle in hand as light in all the darkness that weighs down and threatens life, could be a comforting sign on Christmas Eve. Because this particular hymn fits like no other this night, which will be quieter this year than the Christmas nights we are used to.’
Angels Appearing before the Shepherds, Henry Ossawa Tanner, c. 1910
The final week of Advent and of waiting. Soon the celebration of Christmas shall be upon us, and this year that assurance and joy will come none-too-soon.
In the meantime we continue our preparations by exploring another dimension of the Christian tradition and life. We will follow the story of the shepherds (Luke 2: 8-20) and consider how now we are led to Christ not by a heavenly angel but by the Holy Spirit.
This painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner captures something of the mystery and the beauty of that story. Tanner was the first black American artist to gain international acclaim. He suffered racism in the States and acceptance in France, which he adopted as his home away from home. At Christmas 1896 Tanner wrote to his parents, “I have made up my mind to serve Him [God] more faithfully.” A tour of the Middle East intensified his focus upon scenes from the biblical narrative and infused them with dimensions both ethereal and realistic, as seen in this canvas of 1910 with his portrayal of an ambiguous spiritual presence (the angel) and a definite personal experience (the shepherds and us).
We are planing for the doors to be open and our service of worship will begin at 10:30 a.m., though we suggest you check back Sunday morning just to confirm. If you are able to attend to join for worship in the sanctuary, please note the post under ‘Special Events’ in the column to the right for the protocols that need to be followed. The service will also be live-streamed, active just after 10:20 a.m. with organ music for meditation, commencing with the Entry of the Scriptures at 10:30 a.m., found at https://youtu.be/HBsmHNl94cM
Once the service has ended, a recording will be available on our channel shortly after the live-streaming has ended – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEy41z3sqfRm8X_lLfKGUA
Have a look at the Order of Service, music notes and announcements below, and participate as you are able.
Free parking is available Sunday mornings in the surface civic lot off Queen Street behind St. Andrew’s, and on the streets of the neighbourhood – please note that time-of-day restrictions north of Queen are not enforced on Sundays. For accessible entrance to the sanctuary, please use the ramp by the western-most door along Princess Street.