CLICK BELOW to listen to an interview (By: with Bev Woodcock, the Director of Special Meals, a hot meal program run by St. Andrew’s Church. ( Published By :
Community News for the Week of November 19th
Presbyterian congregations across Canada this morning will be greeted with this image on the cover of the Orders of Service. It is a portion of a great stained glass window found just as you enter the sanctuary of St. Andrew’s Kingston from the main doors through the bell tower. And I find it quite stunning.
Around the perimeter are pomegranates, which must have evoked a sense of wonder in the late 1800s when this window was installed in this far corner of creation. The fruit hang from branches that evoke the Tree of Jesse, from which God had promised to raise up a new leader, a Messiah, for the people of God. At the centre is a crown, heralding the King of Kings, with rays of golden light streaming behind. Both point us to Jesus the Christ. This depiction is exactly as we would expect and can fully celebrate.
But of course there is a backstory that is critical to understanding. The background of the crown is blood red. The rays of light from the crown are in the form of a cross. It is the embracing life and sacrificial death of Jesus that define how he rules. This is known as ‘Christ the King’ Sunday, and we still ask, as did the disciples of old, ‘Who then is this?’ (Mark 4:35-41).
If you are in the area, we warmly invite you to join the worship of God. Certified child care is offered during the service and there is free parking on the streets around (please note that the time-of-day restrictions on Clergy Street north of Queen are not in effect on Sundays) and in the surface civic lot just behind the church off Queen Street.
Have a look at the Order of Service and bulletin below, and consider each hymn and prayer and announcement a personal invitation to join us in Christian worship, community and service. If you have any questions about forthcoming events and opportunities, please call the church office Tuesday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – noon, 613-546-6316, or email [email protected]
Join us next Sunday as we begin our journey to Christmas and light the first candle of Advent, singing ‘O come, O come Emmanuel’
Click on the link below to hear the interview of Sandi Dodds on CKWS News.
‘It’s just like your family’: Kingston’s The Mess Studio 10 years old and going strong
Let’s talk about “The Mess.”
That’s the name of an art-based program in downtown Kingston, designed for those affected by poverty, addiction, mental and physical health issues. On Tuesday, The Mess officially celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Sandi Dodds is the executive director and co-founder.
“We’re called The Mess Studio because life can definitely be messy and so can art,” Dodds said.
And according to Dodds, if you keep working on it and persevere — in both life and art — something beautiful will result. And that’s been the case as The Mess celebrates a decade on the Limestone City scene.
The initiative, which is run out of the basement of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in the downtown area, is a place where art and relationships come alive, Dodds says.
“We are diverse and inclusive but at the heart of The Mess are people that are struggling with physical or mental health, addition, poverty, loneliness,” Dodds explained.
“We qualify that only to say please come out. Don’t let anything stop you from being a part of our community, we want to remove all stigmas.”
Sharon Walker has been a part of The Mess for seven years now. She enjoys producing art, and she also enjoys the atmosphere where she does it.
“It’s really a great place to come and meet new people and it’s just like your family,” Walker said. “That’s what it is.”
Dodds and co-founder Mechele te Brake have taken something from humble beginnings to what it is today, and Dodds says they had no idea that they’d go two to 150 people.
The Mess has spent the past seven years at St. Andrews, all rent-free. The non-profit organization is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Article by:
© 2019 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
James B. Janknegt – Used with permission www.bcartfarm.com
I attended the annual Kingston Interfaith Community potluck dinner at the City Hall last night. Ten different faith communities of the city (with St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church representing the Christian community this year) presented contributions in word, song and dance from their faith traditions around this year’s theme of ‘hope’. I was moved how deep sincerity was matched with mutual respect, as we shared spiritual dimensions of hope.
As Christians our hope is rooted in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the promise that what God began in the earthly ministry of Jesus God will complete for the good of all who follow him, indeed for all humanity … the holy city, a new heaven and new earth, the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom or Reign of God is the focus of Jesus in the parables we will hear this Sunday … with an emphasis upon the assurance that our faithful acts of service as small mustard seeds can be grown by God into something wonderfully lively and life-giving for others (Mark 4:30-32). Isn’t this an inspiring painting by artist James B. Janknegt? Do you notice the ‘Seed’ store on the left side of the town? I wonder to what that might be referring?!
If you are in the area, we warmly invite you to join the worship of God. Certified child care is offered during the service and there is free parking on the streets around (please note that the time-of-day restrictions on Clergy Street north of Queen are not in effect on Sundays) and in the surface civic lot just behind the church off Queen Street. And this Sunday all are invited to linger afterwards for a congregational potluck!
Have a look at the Order of Service and bulletin below, and consider each hymn and prayer and announcement a personal invitation to join us in Christian worship, community and service. If you have any questions about forthcoming events and opportunities, please call the church office Tuesday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – noon, 613-546-6316, or email
Join us next Sunday as we continue our journey through the Gospel According to Mark, hearing how Jesus stilled a storm (Mark 4:35-41).
Mother Canada Mourning Her Dead (Vimy – Walter Allard)
As Canadians we do not ‘celebrate’ Remembrance Day, we observe it. We do not glorify war and violence, but with solemnity and silence we remember the terrible costs and consequences of war … and pledge to work all the harder for peace between the nations.
To the pulpit of St. Andrew’s this Sunday we welcome The Rev. Major Charles Deogratias, Base Senior Chaplain, CFB Kingston, who comes with a very personal message about life and faith in the midst of conflict and violence. Charles is originally from Rwanda in Central Africa, and grew up in a refugee camp in western Tanzania. He attended the East Africa School of Theology in Nairobi Kenya, and continued his theological studies in the United States and at Knox College Toronto. Charles has served as minister of Elmvale Presbyterian Church ON for five years, and as chaplain in the Canadian Forces for 19 years (including Bases Gagetown, Valcartier, St. Jean, twice deployed to Afghanistan, and most recently with US navy chaplains in Norfolk Virginia.
If you are in the area, we warmly invite you to join the worship of God. Certified child care is offered during the service and there is free parking on the streets around (please note that the time-of-day restrictions on Clergy Street north of Queen are not in effect on Sundays) and in the surface civic lot just behind the church off Queen Street.
Have a look at the Order of Service and bulletin below, and consider each hymn and prayer and announcement a personal invitation to join us in Christian worship, community and service. If you have any questions about forthcoming events and opportunities, please call the church office Tuesday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – noon, 613-546-6316, or email
Join us next Sunday as we continue our journey through the Gospel According to Mark, and Jesus’ assurance of the growth of God’s kingdom of peace and justice (Mark 4:26-32). And all are invited to linger afterwards for a congregational potluck!
~~St. Andrew’s Autumn DVD and Discussion~~
Tuesday evenings November 5-26, 7-8:30 p.m. in St. Andrew’s Hall.
The most recent contribution by N.T. Wright of the University of St. Andrew’s, Scotland ‘There is a great difference between being acquainted with the New Testament, and understanding it’.
A great opportunity to consider anew the scriptures that introduce he who is ‘The Word’.
All welcome!
Lots of opportunities to grow in Christian worship, study and service – all welcome!
p.s. this is a double-sided print document file, so the formatting on your screen may not be ideal.
You are also invited to read the Prayer Partnership – November 2019