Category: News and Notices

Posted on

Worship Service for October 31, 2021 on ZOOM & YouTube

Order of Service – Sunday October 31, 2021 @ 10:30AM

We continue our live broadcast this morning AND we are excited to welcome in-person worshipers back to the Sanctuary. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this morning’s service both online and in-person.

Join us on our St. Andrew’s Guelph YouTube Channel and select the live service, and remember to invite your friends and families. You can also join us via Zoom by following the link in your Friday or Sunday morning email. If you’d like to begin receiving our weekly emails you can sign up here. 

Rev. John is on Study Leave this week and will be unavailable. In a pastoral emergency, please contact The Rev. Diane Boyd, our Pastoral Visitor at (519) 835-4323.

Welcome to our Pulpit Guest, The Rev. Dr. Blair Bertrand.

Soprano: Muriel Clemmer
Alto: Barb Bennett
Tenor: Lenny Muth
Bass: Henry Muth

Prelude – ” Invocation”  ( Triptych) D. Bedard

Introit – Psalm 146: 1 – 2 (Refrain: Mit)
Freuden Zart
Tone: R.
Cunningham 

Call to Worship

Hymn –  #315 “A mighty fortress is our God”

Opening Prayer & Assurance of Forgiveness

Time for Wonder and Curiosity

Scripture Reading: Judges 11: 29 – 40 (CEB) 

Sermon: “Alien Encounter in Mission”

The Reverend Doctor Blair D. Bertrand is a mission liaison between The Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Church of Central Africa (Presbyterian) in Malawi. Since 2017, he has been a Lecturer and the Director of Research and Educational Quality Assurance at Zomba Theological College. As well, he serves as an Educational Consultant to Theological Education by Extension Malawi. These two institutions train future ministers and lay leaders. Presently Blair serves from his home in Barrhaven with trips to Malawi expected soon. 

Offering 

You can still mail cheques to: St. Andrew’s Guelph, 161 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON N1H 4J8

Or you can donate to St. Andrew’s through CanadaHelps

Click Here to Donate to St. Andrew’s via Canada Helps here.

You are also invited to sign up for Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR). Instead of using offering envelopes or giving online, you can set up a regular donation through your financial institution. To learn more, click here.

Presbyterians Sharing is how we support our denomination as a whole. Your gifts the variety of missions and ministries that The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports throughout Canada. It also ensures that we are well resources by our National Office staff.

If you are able, the MOCC would encourage you to consider donating to Presbyterians Sharing. You can do soy clicking here. (Make sure that you indicate that you are from St. Andrew’s Guelph on the online form in order for it to count towards our commitment)

Or you can make a donation directly to Presbyterians Sharing through St. Andrew’s Guelph. Please mark your donation: Presbyterians Sharing.

We are making a difference TOGETHER.

If you’d like to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) you can do so by clicking here.

Offertory – “Dialogue”  (Suite du premier ton) D. Bedard

Hymn – #698 “Saviour, teach me day by day”

Prayers of the People

Hymn – #472 “We are God’s people” 

Blessing

Postlude – “Grand Jeu”  (Suite du premier ton) D. Bedard

Posted on

Worship Service for October 10, 2021 on ZOOM & YouTube

Order of Service – Sunday October 10, 2021 @ 10:30AM

We continue our live broadcast this morning AND we are excited to welcome in-person worshipers back to the Sanctuary. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this morning’s service both online and in-person.

Join us on our St. Andrew’s Guelph YouTube Channel and select the live service, and remember to invite your friends and families. You can also join us via Zoom by following the link in your Friday or Sunday morning email. If you’d like to begin receiving our weekly emails you can sign up here.

Chorale Prelude – ” Nun Danket ” (arr. G.F. Kaufman)

Introit – Introit for Harvest Festival (H. Willan)

Hymn –  #803  “Come, ye thankful people, come” 

Opening Prayer & Assurance of Forgiveness

Time for Wonder and Curiosity

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:3-12 (CEB)

Sermon: “Thank You, May I Have Another” (Redeeming Scripture: If It Can Be? Series)

Hymn – #642  “O master let me walk with thee”

Offering 

You can still mail cheques to: St. Andrew’s Guelph, 161 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON N1H 4J8

Or you can donate to St. Andrew’s through CanadaHelps

Click Here to Donate to St. Andrew’s via Canada Helps here.

You are also invited to sign up for Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR). Instead of using offering envelopes or giving online, you can set up a regular donation through your financial institution. To learn more, click here.

Presbyterians Sharing is how we support our denomination as a whole. Your gifts the variety of missions and ministries that The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports throughout Canada. It also ensures that we are well resources by our National Office staff.

If you are able, the MOCC would encourage you to consider donating to Presbyterians Sharing. You can do soy clicking here. (Make sure that you indicate that you are from St. Andrew’s Guelph on the online form in order for it to count towards our commitment)

Or you can make a donation directly to Presbyterians Sharing through St. Andrew’s Guelph. Please mark your donation: Presbyterians Sharing.

We are making a difference TOGETHER.

If you’d like to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) you can do so by clicking here.

Anthem – “Carol of beauty ” (tr. French carol)

Prayers of the People

Hymn – #805  “Give thanks, my soul, for harvest “

Blessing

Postlude – Chorale Improvisation on ” Nun Danket ” (arr. S. Karg – Elert)

Posted on

Worship Service for October 3, 2021 on ZOOM & YouTube

Order of Service – Sunday October 3, 2021 @ 10:30AM

We continue our live broadcast this morning AND we are excited to welcome in-person worshipers back to the Sanctuary. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this morning’s service both online and in-person.

Join us on our St. Andrew’s Guelph YouTube Channel and select the live service, and remember to invite your friends and families. You can also join us via Zoom by following the link in your Friday or Sunday morning email. If you’d like to begin receiving our weekly emails you can sign up here.

Today, we are celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion. If you are attending online, before the service begins, you are encouraged to have at the ready a bread and beverage like substance (no judgement) so that you can share in this joyous meal that our LORD provides. The ordinary becomes holy in this meal we share together virtually.

Prelude – Abridge (arr. E. Thiman)

Introit – Psalm 34:1-3 (Refrain: H. Hopson)
I will bless the lord at all times; God’s praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt God’s name together.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Call to Worship

Hymn –  #454 “Blest be the everlasting God”

Opening Prayer & Assurance of Forgiveness

Time for Wonder and Curiosity

Scripture Reading: John 14:1-12

Sermon: “Jesus is the ONLY WAY” (Redeeming Scripture: If It Can Be? Series)

Offering 

You can still mail cheques to: St. Andrew’s Guelph, 161 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON N1H 4J8

Or you can donate to St. Andrew’s through CanadaHelps

Click Here to Donate to St. Andrew’s via Canada Helps here.

You are also invited to sign up for Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR). Instead of using offering envelopes or giving online, you can set up a regular donation through your financial institution. To learn more, click here.

Presbyterians Sharing is how we support our denomination as a whole. Your gifts the variety of missions and ministries that The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports throughout Canada. It also ensures that we are well resources by our National Office staff.

If you are able, the MOCC would encourage you to consider donating to Presbyterians Sharing. You can do soy clicking here. (Make sure that you indicate that you are from St. Andrew’s Guelph on the online form in order for it to count towards our commitment)

Or you can make a donation directly to Presbyterians Sharing through St. Andrew’s Guelph. Please mark your donation: Presbyterians Sharing.

We are making a difference TOGETHER.

If you’d like to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) you can do so by clicking here.

Today, Rev. John, Mary Visser Kerr and Rhonda Wright will participate in the VIRTUAL Run for the Cure. Thank you for your generous support of our Run participants this year. We hope to share some pictures through the week and next Sunday. St. Andrew’s Guelph and Knox Guelph will join together again next year as “Presbyterians on the Run”!

Prayers of the People

Hymn – #534 “All who hunger”

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Hymn – #636 “When voices are confusing”

Blessing

Postlude – “Final in d” (E. Thiman)

Posted on

Reopening Plans and Guidelines

REOPENING Plans and Guidelines – Monday September 27, 2021
On Tuesday September 21, 2021, the Session decided to invite the congregation to return to in-person worship beginning on Sunday October 3. After 18 LONG months of “exile”, we are delighted to be able to extend this invitation to you! The safety of our staff, volunteers, members, and guests remains our TOP priority. To that end, we will continue to follow all the guidelines and advice we receive from Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health. 

We have created fuller guidelines for you to review prior to deciding to attend worship in-person at St. Andrew’s Guelph below. 

But here is the “COLES NOTES” version (showing my age):

  • As we begin to reopen to in-person worship, we are not requiring that attendees pre-register;
  • For the safety of our community and yourself, we would encourage you to self-screen for COVID prior to attending. If you feel unwell, please stay home;
  • Wearing masks will be required for the whole time that you are in the building;
  • Using our Church Directory, our screeners will “Check You In” and make sure that you have reviewed the COVID screening poster and the note encouraging full vaccination that is posted at the entrances. You will not be asked questions nor required to show proof of vaccination to gain entry;
  • Seating will be limited. Families can sit together and our screeners will assist you to find a seat;
  • The Sunday Experience will be different – there will be NO Church School, NO Coffee Hour, NO congregational singing nor a Choir. 
  • We’d also encourage you to arrive EARLY as the screening process takes a little longer.

On Sunday October 3rd, we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion (using individual pre-filled communion cups with wafers for safety) and also recognizing some of our elders whose terms concluded in June and two others who have officially retired from service on Session. 


We look forward to worshipping with some of you in-person as well as continuing to maintain our virtual options via ZOOM and YouTube. Our community now included both in-person attendees and online ones. We will continue to explore ways to bring both “worlds” together as we worship the One who holds all worlds in their hands.

Grace and peace,

Rev. John Borthwick  

Click Here to View/Download the Full Guidelines for Attending WorshipDownload

Posted on

Worship Service for September 26, 2021 on ZOOM & YouTube

Order of Service – Sunday September 26, 2021 @ 10:30AM

We continue our live broadcast from the Sanctuary this morning. We remain closed to public worship. Rev. John, Fred, and our Tech Team are present this morning, along with the family of the Rev. Dr. Blair Bertrand, and the family of Rev. Dr. Bob Spencer (see special announcement following the offering).

Join us on our St. Andrew’s Guelph YouTube Channel and select the live service, and remember to invite your friends and families. You can also join us via Zoom by following the link in your Friday or Sunday morning email. If you’d like to begin receiving our weekly emails you can sign up here.

Chorale Prelude – “Old 100th” (arr. G. Merkel)

Introit – Psalm 103: 1 &22 (Refrain: F. Gingrich, Tone: J. Derkson)

Call to Worship

Hymn –  #410 “Joyful, joyful we adore you”

Opening Prayer & Assurance of Forgiveness

Time for Wonder and Curiosity

Scripture Reading: Job 38: 1 – 11 (CEB)

Sermon: “ZOOMerview with Stephen Jackson, Executive Director of Anishnabeg Outreach”

Stephen Jackson, Executive Director of Anishnabeg Outreach

Click the link below to read and download Stephen’s Bio

Click Here to Read Stephen Jackson’s BioDownload

The Confessions of the Presbyterian Church of Canada.

Click below or on the image to view the entire statement.

Click Here to view and The Confessions of the PCCDownload

Truth and Reconciliation Confessions of Canada: Calls to Action

Click on the link below the image to download and read the entire report

Click Here to download the Truth And Reconciliation ReportDownload

Hymn – #723 “Lord in this broken world” 

Offering 

You can still mail cheques to: St. Andrew’s Guelph, 161 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON N1H 4J8

Or you can donate to St. Andrew’s through CanadaHelps

Click Here to Donate to St. Andrew’s via Canada Helps here.

You are also invited to sign up for Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR). Instead of using offering envelopes or giving online, you can set up a regular donation through your financial institution. To learn more, click here.

Presbyterians Sharing is how we support our denomination as a whole. Your gifts the variety of missions and ministries that The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports throughout Canada. It also ensures that we are well resources by our National Office staff.

If you are able, the MOCC would encourage you to consider donating to Presbyterians Sharing. You can do soy clicking here. (Make sure that you indicate that you are from St. Andrew’s Guelph on the online form in order for it to count towards our commitment)

Or you can make a donation directly to Presbyterians Sharing through St. Andrew’s Guelph. Please mark your donation: Presbyterians Sharing.

We are making a difference TOGETHER.

If you’d like to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) you can do so by clicking here.

This Fall we are encouraging our members to join the VIRTUAL Run for the Cure. Similar to last year, we are inviting interested individuals to sign up on their own and participate. Let Rev. John know if you have signed up and we will encourage the congregation to sponsor you too.

Click Here to sign up yourself

Click Here to Sponsor Rev. John 

Click Here to Sponsor Mary Visser Kerr

Click Here to Sponsor Rhonda Wright

Turning Over of The Dr. Bob Spencer’s Vestments to Our Mission Partners in Malawi

The Rev. Dr. Blair Bertrand will be with us to accept the generous donation from the Spencer family (who will be present in-person for this occasion) of Dr. Bob’s vestments for our mission partners in Malawi. Blair is a Malawi Liaison with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in the Synod of Blantyre.

Anthem – ” The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases” (E. McNeill)

Prayers of the People

Hymn – # 714 : Wordless, ancient earth’s foundation” 

Blessing

Postlude – “Trumpet Tune in C” (D. Lasky)

Posted on

Worship Service for September 19, 2021 on ZOOM & YouTube

Order of Service – Sunday September 19, 2021 @ 10:30AM

We continue our live broadcast from the Sanctuary this morning. We remain closed to public worship. Rev. John is back from vacation. Rev. John, Fred, and our Tech Team are present this morning.

Join us on our St. Andrew’s Guelph YouTube Channel and select the live service, and remember to invite your friends and families. You can also join us via Zoom by following the link in your Friday or Sunday morning email. If you’d like to begin receiving our weekly emails you can sign up here.

Chorale Prelude – Pastorale on ” Darwall ” (arr. J. Vandertuin)

Introit – Psalm 113: 1 – 3 ” An Acclamation to Praise ” (F.E.W. Gingrich)

Call to Worship

Hymn –  #321   ” Praise to the Lord the Almighty “

Opening Prayer & Assurance of Forgiveness

Time for Wonder and Curiosity

Scripture Reading: Ezra 3: 10 – 13 (CEB)

Sermon: “Returning to Exile”

Hymn – # 202    ” We lay our broken world in sorrow at your feet ” 

Offering 

You can still mail cheques to: St. Andrew’s Guelph, 161 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON N1H 4J8

Or you can donate to St. Andrew’s through CanadaHelps

Click Here to Donate to St. Andrew’s via Canada Helps here.

You are also invited to sign up for Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR). Instead of using offering envelopes or giving online, you can set up a regular donation through your financial institution. To learn more, click here.

Presbyterians Sharing is how we support our denomination as a whole. Your gifts the variety of missions and ministries that The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports throughout Canada. It also ensures that we are well resources by our National Office staff.

If you are able, the MOCC would encourage you to consider donating to Presbyterians Sharing. You can do soy clicking here. (Make sure that you indicate that you are from St. Andrew’s Guelph on the online form in order for it to count towards our commitment)

Or you can make a donation directly to Presbyterians Sharing through St. Andrew’s Guelph. Please mark your donation: Presbyterians Sharing.

We are making a difference TOGETHER.

If you’d like to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) you can do so by clicking here.

This Fall we are encouraging our members to join the VIRTUAL Run for the Cure. Similar to last year, we are inviting interested individuals to sign up on their own and participate. Let Rev. John know if you have signed up and we will encourage the congregation to sponsor you too.

Click Here to sign up yourself

Click Here to Sponsor Rev. John 

Click Here to Sponsor Mary Visser Kerr 

Ordination of Elders-Elect – Rick McRonald, Virginia Gillham, Craig Clack, Rhonda Wright, Dallas Green

Anthem – “Sing to the Lord with a joyful sound”         J. Gallina

Prayers of the People

Hymn – #587  ” Called as partners in Christ’s service “

Blessing

Postlude – Toccata on ” Darwall ” (arr. J. Enns)

Posted on

Worship Service for September 12, 2021 on ZOOM & YouTube

Order of Service – Sunday September 12, 2021 @ 10:30AM

We continue our live broadcast from the Sanctuary this morning. We remain closed to public worship. Rev. John is back from vacation. Rev. John, Fred, and our Tech Team are present this morning.

Join us on our St. Andrew’s Guelph YouTube Channel and select the live service, and remember to invite your friends and families. You can also join us via Zoom by following the link in your Friday or Sunday morning email. If you’d like to begin receiving our weekly emails you can sign up here.

Chorale Prelude – ” Holy Manna ” (arr. D. Hustad)

Call to Worship

Hymn –  #27  “As the deer”

Opening Prayer & Assurance of Forgiveness

Time for Wonder and Curiosity

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 1 – 2, 5 – 6 (CEB)

Sermon: “We Don’t Get Discouraged”

Hymn – #590  “We have this ministry”

Offering 

You can still mail cheques to: St. Andrew’s Guelph, 161 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON N1H 4J8

Or you can donate to St. Andrew’s through CanadaHelps

Click Here to Donate to St. Andrew’s via Canada Helps here.

You are also invited to sign up for Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR). Instead of using offering envelopes or giving online, you can set up a regular donation through your financial institution. To learn more, click here.

Presbyterians Sharing is how we support our denomination as a whole. Your gifts the variety of missions and ministries that The Presbyterian Church in Canada supports throughout Canada. It also ensures that we are well resources by our National Office staff.

If you are able, the MOCC would encourage you to consider donating to Presbyterians Sharing. You can do soy clicking here. (Make sure that you indicate that you are from St. Andrew’s Guelph on the online form in order for it to count towards our commitment)

Or you can make a donation directly to Presbyterians Sharing through St. Andrew’s Guelph. Please mark your donation: Presbyterians Sharing.

We are making a difference TOGETHER.

If you’d like to make a donation to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D) you can do so by clicking here.

This Fall we are encouraging our members to join the VIRTUAL Run for the Cure. Similar to last year, we are inviting interested individuals to sign up on their own and participate. Let Rev. John know if you have signed up and we will encourage the congregation to sponsor you too.

Click Here to sign up yourself

Click Here to Sponsor Rev. John 

Offertory – “My Jesus I love Thee” (D. Hustad)

Prayers of the People

Hymn – #680  “Christ of all my hopes the ground”

Blessing

Postlude – Recessional on “Nun Danket” (arr. D. Hustad)