Sunday September 27, 10:30 Prayer 3) Hallowed Be Your Name

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Original artwork by Lesley Shatwell

 

When Béatrice and I were considering names for our first born, we began by sharing with each other our personal favourites at the time. For a girl, my contributions were ‘Imogen’ and ‘Ailsa’, one very English and one very Scottish, both probably reflective of my formative years at Edinburgh University. I liked the sound of these names.

This autumn we are exploring the Lord’s Prayer anew, turning this Sunday to the phrase ‘Hallowed be your name’ (Matthew 6:7-13). The original depth of this phrase is difficult to appreciate, given how different are our concepts of both ‘name’ and ‘holy’ two millennia later.

And I think about how the Holy One was never given a name, but in an act of revelation and relationship gave ‘the name’ at the burning bush, ‘I am who I am’  (Exodus 3:14).

The doors of the sanctuary will be open for worship at 10:30 a.m. (Please see the post under ‘Special Events’ in the column to the right for the protocols and shape of the service). 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meditation, commencing with the Entry of the Scriptures at 10:30 a.m. DUE TO TECHNICAL GLITCHES, THIS SERVICE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

The Order of Service, music notes and announcements can be found at the end of this post.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE PREVIOUS SERVICES on our YOUTUBE channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEy41z3sqfRm8X_lLfKGUA

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.

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Sunday Feb 9, 10:30 a.m. ~ Rejection and Commission

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Jesus Mafa Art – Northern Cameroons, West Africa

We arrive at two revealing scenes this Sunday in our journey through the Gospel according to Mark.

In the first, Jesus is rejected by the people of his hometown (Mark 6:4). Might familiarity be an enemy of faith? For many of us raised in the Church, this possibility comes as a challenge.

In the second, Jesus sends his disciples as partners in his mission of extending the healing and embrace of the Holy One. And he declares that they need to travel light (Mark 6:8). For many of us in the Church, accustomed to frameworks of support from creeds to physical sanctuaries, this exhortation comes also as a challenge.

As I consider these scenes, I find this painting by the Jesus Mafa community in northern Cameroon helpful. It is just one of dozens that date back over 50 years and an initiative to make the gospel real in a particular region of this West African nation. A team of a church leader, a theologian and an artist would read a particular gospel passage and invite people of various villages to enact what they heard. Photographs were taken of the skits and tableaux, and the artist would eventually paint a canvas. It was a tremendous project, one that prompts the question … what might the gospel look like in my community? What does it mean for me/us to go in the power of the Risen Lord ‘lightly’?

If you are in the area, we warmly invite you to join us. Certified child care is offered during the service and a programme for young children also. After the service a time of fellowship over tea or coffee, so please linger if you can and allow us to introduce ourselves more fully. 

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. There is a wheelchair lift inside the doors to St. Andrew’s Hall from the church parking lot mid way along Clergy Street, and hearing assist devices are available upon request from an usher. 

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.

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Next Sunday, we welcome the Rev. Prudence Neba of the Presbyterian Church in the Cameroon to St. Andrew’s.

Sunday Jan 19th, 10:30 a.m. ~ Mark 11) ‘Go home to your friends …’

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Releasing the Demons ~ A contemporary tapestry by Андрей Мадекин (Andrei Madekin), of Moscow Russia

This morning we return to our journey through the Gospel according to Mark, and we begin with an oft-neglected passage. It is the scene in which a man possessed by evil spirits is freed by Jesus, with the spirits leaping from the man into a herd of pigs that then jump into the sea and to their death (Mark 5:1-20). It is ‘neglected’ perhaps because we do not feel as comfortable speaking about ‘evil spirits’ as did the first Christians, or indeed Christ. But perhaps this is all the more reason for us to ponder the scene. And besides, the scene concludes with a call that is extended to all of us – to return to our daily lives freed for life in praise of God and service of others.

When I looked for a piece of art with which to focus my meditations, I found this work by Andrei Madekin. Though most references to the artist were in Russian, I learned that Madekin comes from a family of textile artists, and after graduation from the Moscow Institute of Applied Technology he has created over 40 large tapestries (over three square meters each) since 1990, many on biblical themes and scenes. Quite wonderful!  

If you are in the area, we warmly invite you to join us on this Sunday. Certified child care is offered during the service and a programme for young children also. After the service this Sunday a monthly congregational lunch is offered, so please linger if you can and allow us to introduce ourselves more fully.

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. There is a wheelchair lift inside the doors to St. Andrew’s Hall from the church parking lot mid way along Clergy Street, and hearing assist devices are available upon request from an usher. 

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.

Download (PDF, 562KB)

Next Sunday we will continue our journey through Mark with two scenes focusing upon Jesus’ interaction with two women (5:21-43), and conclude the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with our own prayers for the Church of Christ, Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic.

November 17, 10:30 A.M. ~ Mark 9) The Dynamics of the Kingdom of God

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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

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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).

The Sanctuary Windows of St. Andrew’s (7) At the Door – Sunday September 1, 10:30 A.M.

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I am standing at the door and knocking ~Revelation 3:20~

Stained glass of St. Andrew’s sanctuary

As one season gives way to another, we hear the invitation to open our lives to the presence and promises of God (Revelation 3:14-22). We warmly welcome you to join us. 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]

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