2021 News Stories
Christmas Eve Services
Family Service: Cancelled
Candlelight Service: Live-streaming only
In response to an upsurge in Covid-19 cases in our area and throughout Ontario, the Chair of the Pastoral Charge Board met with members of St. Andrew's Re-opening Committee and Worship & Life Committee to determine the best course of action for the 2021 Christmas Eve Services.
With the safety of our entire community in mind, the difficult decision was made to cancel the Family Service originally scheduled for 4:30 pm .
The Candlelight service at 7:30 pm proceeded but was not be an in-person service.
The service was instead live-streamed on our YouTube channel at:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCxuAWRsCjRSwMvHrszIhyVQ
We wished everyone God's gifts of Advent and Christmas and a New Year be filled with peace, hope, joy and love and a big helping of good health.
Family Service: Cancelled
Candlelight Service: Live-streaming only
In response to an upsurge in Covid-19 cases in our area and throughout Ontario, the Chair of the Pastoral Charge Board met with members of St. Andrew's Re-opening Committee and Worship & Life Committee to determine the best course of action for the 2021 Christmas Eve Services.
With the safety of our entire community in mind, the difficult decision was made to cancel the Family Service originally scheduled for 4:30 pm .
The Candlelight service at 7:30 pm proceeded but was not be an in-person service.
The service was instead live-streamed on our YouTube channel at:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCxuAWRsCjRSwMvHrszIhyVQ
We wished everyone God's gifts of Advent and Christmas and a New Year be filled with peace, hope, joy and love and a big helping of good health.
St. Andrew's welcomed
The Festival of Small Halls
again for the 2021 holiday season
The Festival of Small Halls
again for the 2021 holiday season
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Royal Woods
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Sam Drysdale
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Bridging Generations
On Sunday, October 31 we welcomed guest speaker Sherryl Smith |
Sherryl is a retired health care professional with over 35 years of experience in health promotion and community development. She is a community builder who has been on the board of the Champlain Community Care Access Centre and currently sits on the board of the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Health Unit.
Sherryl is a community builder who has been an active volunteer and/or driving force behind Bridging Generations, Home Hospice in North Lanark, the Pakenham Library, the gardening club at the Pakenham Public School and the Mississippi Mills Field Naturalists to name a only few. She is Chair of the Festival of the Wild Child and past president and active member of the Pakenham Horticultural Society. When Sherryl is not on a School Box build in Nicaragua or building Monarch butterfly habitats she enjoys adventures with her family, golfing, hiking and staying active.
Ms. Smith gave a compelling and interesting talk about
Bridging Generations
which is a group of Pakenham residents with a shared passion for ensuring that Pakenham thrives as a multi-generational, age-friendly community.
Sherryl is a community builder who has been an active volunteer and/or driving force behind Bridging Generations, Home Hospice in North Lanark, the Pakenham Library, the gardening club at the Pakenham Public School and the Mississippi Mills Field Naturalists to name a only few. She is Chair of the Festival of the Wild Child and past president and active member of the Pakenham Horticultural Society. When Sherryl is not on a School Box build in Nicaragua or building Monarch butterfly habitats she enjoys adventures with her family, golfing, hiking and staying active.
Ms. Smith gave a compelling and interesting talk about
Bridging Generations
which is a group of Pakenham residents with a shared passion for ensuring that Pakenham thrives as a multi-generational, age-friendly community.
Saturday, October 23, 2021 / 4 pm to 7 pm
Yumm, yumm.
Yumm, yumm.
On Sunday, September 12, 2021 Tom Affleck joined us and gave a talk entitled
“Not by Might.”
Tom's talk was poignant, funny and thought-provoking. We will welcome him back with open arms so he can remind us of God's love in the face of our human foibles.
Tom is the founder of School Box a registered Canadian and Nicaraguan Charity. School Box’s mission is “Making Education Possible” for all children https://schoolbox.ca/
Tom is currently the Entrepreneurial Leader at Knox Presbyterian Church in downtown Toronto. His responsibilities at Knox include eliminating the church’s 14-million-dollar maintenance deficit and preparing the one-acre site for 100 more years of life and service.
“Not by Might.”
Tom's talk was poignant, funny and thought-provoking. We will welcome him back with open arms so he can remind us of God's love in the face of our human foibles.
Tom is the founder of School Box a registered Canadian and Nicaraguan Charity. School Box’s mission is “Making Education Possible” for all children https://schoolbox.ca/
Tom is currently the Entrepreneurial Leader at Knox Presbyterian Church in downtown Toronto. His responsibilities at Knox include eliminating the church’s 14-million-dollar maintenance deficit and preparing the one-acre site for 100 more years of life and service.
We took a different approach to our annual Fish Fry this year.
To keep everyone safe, we did a
Fish Fry Drive By on Saturday, September 11, 2021.
There was curbside pickup between 4 and 7 p.m.
There was no inhouse dining.
As always, our diners enjoyed:
Fish and fries from Mundell’s Surf & Turf
Corn from Hudson Farms
Freshly made coleslaw and homemade cookie for dessert.
To keep everyone safe, we did a
Fish Fry Drive By on Saturday, September 11, 2021.
There was curbside pickup between 4 and 7 p.m.
There was no inhouse dining.
As always, our diners enjoyed:
Fish and fries from Mundell’s Surf & Turf
Corn from Hudson Farms
Freshly made coleslaw and homemade cookie for dessert.
Welcome Back ... again
We had a special service to welcome everyone back to
St. Andrew’s on Sunday, August 1, 2021.
Rev. Ed Gratton led a service based on the musical Dreamgirls.
We had a special service to welcome everyone back to
St. Andrew’s on Sunday, August 1, 2021.
Rev. Ed Gratton led a service based on the musical Dreamgirls.
Dreamgirls is a 2006 American musical drama written and directed by Bill Condon, an American director and screenwriter, that was jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. Dreamgirls was adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name. Dreamgirls is a film à clef, a work of fiction taking strong inspiration from the story of the Supremes. Loosely based on the rise of Motown and its stars, the film is filled with show-stopping songs.
It was wonderful to be back in the church.
Our thanks to:
It was wonderful to be back in the church.
Our thanks to:
- Julie Wilson for suggesting Rev. Ed Gratton as our supply Minister.
Marrying the readings to the musical was wonderfully creative. - the Wilson family for hosting coffee time and treating us to tasty goodies from 3 Apples Bakery and The General Store.
- Laurie Boon and Jack Fulton for doing the screening and ushering.
- the tech team who make our services modern and accessible.
How great is it to follow along on the screen and not on a paper bulletin.
And how wonderful it is that people can participate from home when they can't make it to the church. - Ken Souliere and Rhonda Tees for singing the hymns
- Tony, as always, for his awesome gift of music. Singing Supremes songs is not easy - especially if you're a guy!
Cathy Lacroix organized a
Walk, Run and Ride Relay
in support of the Lanark County Food Bank
Sunday, June 27 to Sunday, July 4, 2021
Many thanks to our very generous donors who helped us raise $1,610.
Day One: Sunday, June 27, 2021
Marc and Cathy Lacroix rode their bikes from Almonte to Carleton Place (26.85 kilometers there and back in 2 hrs. 15 mins.)
Along the trail they met Katie McCann and Rachel Lacroix who walked from Pakenham to Almonte (13.94 kilometers in 2 hrs. 47mins.)
Day Two: Monday, June 28, 2021
Despite the hot weather Cathy Lacroix and Laurie Boon walked from Mountainview Rd to Waba Rd (6.39 kilometers walked in 1.5 hours).
Day Five: Thursday, July 1, 2021
Canada Day
Stacie and Avery Lloyd completed a 5K run from Blakeney to Almonte.
Walk, Run and Ride Relay
in support of the Lanark County Food Bank
Sunday, June 27 to Sunday, July 4, 2021
Many thanks to our very generous donors who helped us raise $1,610.
Day One: Sunday, June 27, 2021
Marc and Cathy Lacroix rode their bikes from Almonte to Carleton Place (26.85 kilometers there and back in 2 hrs. 15 mins.)
Along the trail they met Katie McCann and Rachel Lacroix who walked from Pakenham to Almonte (13.94 kilometers in 2 hrs. 47mins.)
Day Two: Monday, June 28, 2021
Despite the hot weather Cathy Lacroix and Laurie Boon walked from Mountainview Rd to Waba Rd (6.39 kilometers walked in 1.5 hours).
Day Five: Thursday, July 1, 2021
Canada Day
Stacie and Avery Lloyd completed a 5K run from Blakeney to Almonte.
Rachel, Katie and Cathy
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Marc & Cathy's bikes ready for the trail.
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Cathy Lacroix and Laurie Boon on the hottest day of the year!
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Cathy Lacroix presenting our cheque to the Food Bank
The Worship and Life Team rebranded Sunday morning
Coffee Time in preparation for our summer hiatus.
Members of the team took turns hosting.
It was a great way to stay in touch during summer vacation.
Coffee Time in preparation for our summer hiatus.
Members of the team took turns hosting.
It was a great way to stay in touch during summer vacation.
Mother's Day
Life doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a Mother.
As always at St. Andrew's and Zion we honour our Mom's on their special day.
Life doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a Mother.
As always at St. Andrew's and Zion we honour our Mom's on their special day.
This year families submitted their favourite photos of their moms, grandmas, or other women who have been mother figures in their lives. These were new and vintage photos. We used the photos for a special celebration of Mom's during the online service on
May 9, 2021.
May 9, 2021.
Watch the special video below made to honour Moms everywhere - past, present - young and old.
Special thanks to Laurie Boon for creating the video and to Emily Nanne for singing the background track.
Special thanks to Laurie Boon for creating the video and to Emily Nanne for singing the background track.
2020-21 Renovations and Upgrades
Here's What We Did
Here's What We Did
We took full advantage of closures due to the Pandemic to work in our beautiful building. Three groups worked on renovations/upgrades to St. Andrew’s in 2020-21.
As is always the case, and with only minor exceptions, these projects were done by volunteers who have spent literally hundreds of hours on these important improvements.
Renovation Project
The Stewards completed the following work in the Dining Hall:
Audio-visual Project
Members of the A-V Committee purchased and installed: dozens of pieces of equipment, new lighting and ran and fished what felt like miles of wire and cable. As a result, we will have improved or brand-new capabilities for: audio, projection, broadcast, live streaming in and out of the church, recording, video mixing and lighting. They have also had high speed Internet installed in the building. All functionality that will help position us for the future.
Members of the committee and A-V volunteers also received training on operating the new system and completed final testing and run-throughs.
As with any project, one thing leads to another, the A-V Committee members also patched and painted the walls around the dais.
Reopening Safety Plans
The Reopening Committee wrote a plan that was approved by the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Health Unit, St. Andrew’s Executive Council and the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council. The Plan details the fundamental things that we are doing to keep you, your loved ones, friends and neighbours, our staff, and volunteers safe and healthy. A copy of this plan is available to you on this website at: COVID-19 Safety Plan The Committee has also designed and posted appropriate signage and purchased supplies such as disposable masks, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, disinfectant to be used on the pew seat cushions and better paper towel dispensers and garbage cans.
The reopening committee members also:
- The Stewards, chaired by Bruce Hudson, were responsible for renovations in the Dining Hall and lower level.
- The A-V Committee, chaired by David Sale, installed a new Audio-Visual System.
- The Reopening Committee, chaired by Rhonda Tees, prepared the church so it is safe for gathering during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
As is always the case, and with only minor exceptions, these projects were done by volunteers who have spent literally hundreds of hours on these important improvements.
Renovation Project
The Stewards completed the following work in the Dining Hall:
- removed the old duct work from the ceiling in the Dining Hall
- installed new recessed duct work to eliminate noise and improve furnace efficiency
- installed a new ceiling to contain the updated duct work
- installed additional electrical outlets to help the Special Events Committee host events
- ran wires and cables to allow the primary audio-visual system to communicate with equipment in the Dining Hall in Phase 2 of the A-V Project
- completed electrical work for LED ceiling lights in the Dining Hall
- created new cold air returns in the Dining Hall and Stewart Hall to improve air flow and heating
- removed the old water pump and pressure tank and replaced them with a new tank and submersible pump to reduce noise and ensure enough volume through the system
- arranged for the water to be tested in anticipation of the installation of a new water treatment system to eliminate the smell of sulfur.
- painted the ceiling, posts/columns
- patched and painted the walls in the Dining Hall
- completed extensive electrical work
- cleaned up Sunday School Rooms and kitchen
- Sorted, moved and stored everything temporarily placed in the kitchen back to their original spots (or took it to the dump!)
- installed the new water treatment system.
Audio-visual Project
Members of the A-V Committee purchased and installed: dozens of pieces of equipment, new lighting and ran and fished what felt like miles of wire and cable. As a result, we will have improved or brand-new capabilities for: audio, projection, broadcast, live streaming in and out of the church, recording, video mixing and lighting. They have also had high speed Internet installed in the building. All functionality that will help position us for the future.
Members of the committee and A-V volunteers also received training on operating the new system and completed final testing and run-throughs.
As with any project, one thing leads to another, the A-V Committee members also patched and painted the walls around the dais.
Reopening Safety Plans
The Reopening Committee wrote a plan that was approved by the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Health Unit, St. Andrew’s Executive Council and the Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council. The Plan details the fundamental things that we are doing to keep you, your loved ones, friends and neighbours, our staff, and volunteers safe and healthy. A copy of this plan is available to you on this website at: COVID-19 Safety Plan The Committee has also designed and posted appropriate signage and purchased supplies such as disposable masks, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, disinfectant to be used on the pew seat cushions and better paper towel dispensers and garbage cans.
The reopening committee members also:
- removed and stored all Hymnals, Bibles and other books from the Sanctuary
- had the entire church professionally cleaned (including carpets and walls).
- posted signage
- roped off the pews for social distancing
- closed areas of the church such as Stewart Hall
- made supplies available
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Every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. during the Pandemic we came together for a Zoom "Coffee Hour"
We visited, shared stories and talked about the business of the church. It was a great way to stay in touch. |
During the Pandemic
We Pivoted to On-line Services
St. Andrew’s is committed to the safety of our community.
Given the community outbreak of COVID-19 the church closed for the safety of all.
We determined on a weekly basis if it was safe to open.
On-line services were streamed to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxuAWRsCjRSwMvHrszIhyVQ
We offered prayers to all for their safety, good health and hope.
We Pivoted to On-line Services
St. Andrew’s is committed to the safety of our community.
Given the community outbreak of COVID-19 the church closed for the safety of all.
We determined on a weekly basis if it was safe to open.
On-line services were streamed to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxuAWRsCjRSwMvHrszIhyVQ
We offered prayers to all for their safety, good health and hope.
