This week has been a sad one for us at St. Andrew’s: our dear friend and long-time secretary/treasurer Barb Drummond was called home, suddenly. Whether in our office or on the phone, Barb was a gentle person who took time to listen and to help others. She was patient as she listened, gentle as […]
The last few weeks in Presbyterian circles in Simcoe County have been exciting ones: new ministers have taken their place amidst the people in Elmvale and Flos and at in Orillia at St. Andrew’s. Few services are as inspiring as inductions, although admittedly two sermons can seem rather intense. At St. Andrew’s Orillia on July […]
Wherever we are on our journey, God reminds us of His enduring, steadfast love. It’s easy to overlook in the rush of the everyday or in the stresses that can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially with the 24-hour news cycle and discouraging items that appear in the feeds on our phone. In fact, they truly […]
Relationships – whether with your neighbour, your family or your colleagues at work – require connection. A simple “hello, how was your weekend?” as you encounter a colleague is not only kind, but affirming as we recognize the individual and take a few moments to ask how they are. There’s nothing like a meal out […]
Each day is full of opportunities to explore God’s goodness and the wonders of our world. And this week, we explored Genesis 18:1-10 and Luke 10:38-42. Both passages explore hospitality, the art and practice of welcoming others into our home and focusing on their needs as a reprieve of their journey. The first featured Abraham […]
This week, Rev. Joanne discussed the parable of the Good Samaritan. Too often we gloss over the parable Jesus tells as He explains what God expects of us: to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbour as ourselves. The obvious take of the parable is that someone who was not expected to […]
Songs, games and fun snacks – and a program that explores the incredible depth and breadth of God’s powerful love for each one of us. As a kid, I’d enjoy going to neighbourhood “camps”, whether run by the city or a community group. Each one had its own flavour and the sense of adventure I […]
Many call Wednesday “hump day” – as they refer to the workday journey to the weekend. They took a deep breath Monday and lunged into their week. By this afternoon, the work week will be 60 per cent in the past and a deep breath and some fresh energy would be helpful. The negative headlines […]
In the days before the pandemic, the last week of June would mean the end of the academic – or activity – year. Not so this year: At St. Andrew’s, we return not just to thank God and be nourished as His/Her/Their family on Sundays, but other activities are resuming too. This week, we saw […]
This week, Rev. Joanne explored Jesus’ trip across the lake to an area no upstanding Jewish citizen would ever venture: In Luke 8, Jesus goes to Gadarenes, located on the east side of the Jordan River and southeast of the Sea of Galilee. There the people were Gentiles and they raised and ate pork. The […]