Our Programs and Educational Opportunities
St. Andrew's offers many and varied opportunities to participate, grow in faith and even lead in church programs and special events.

For more information and details,
please contact the St. Andrew's Church Office.

Opportunities at St. Andrew's
How can I connect? How can I grow in faith?
Check the "Calendar" for specific event details

A.K.D. Circle 2nd Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Note: January - March at 2:00 p.m.	This is a fun, caring group of mainly "young senior" women who meet monthly for devotions, usually a guest speaker or video and short business session. Funds are raised for the church, missions and outreach through offerings, annual cheese sale and occasionally, a bring and buy sale. New members of 'all ages' are welcome.
Breakaway Group Weekly on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.	This group is for women of all ages and interests and includes activities such as bible study, speakers, outreach projects and crafts. Excellent childcare, an essential part of Breakaway, is provided. Consequently, most women who attend are mothers and grandmothers who enjoy the 'break'.
Breakfast @ St. Andrew's 3rd Saturday at 8:30 a.m. September thru April Please pre-register	This is an excellent opportunity to join with others of the congregation for fellowhip and breakfast, followed by a short program featuring a variety of speakers who bring us interesting insights and challenges. Catered breakfast is $8.50 per person. You are welcome to bring a friend.
Breast Cancer Support Group 2nd Monday at 7:30 p.m.	The Guelph and Wellington Area Breast Cancer Support Group meets at, and is supported by, St. Andrew's. They provide support to women living with breast cancer, either under active treatment, during five-year follow-up, or living symptom free. The social group gathering is in itself renewing and uplifting.
Saturday Night Suppers as announced	A weekly Saturday Night Supper for those in need in Guelph is served at Royal City Church on Quebec Street. St. Andrew's, along with other churches, is responsible for food, service and cleanup for this event on a quarterly rotation. Watch the bulletin or newsletter for information on when these dinners are held and how you can become involved.
Choir Weekly on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.	The Choir provides musical leadership for the worship services and occasionally participates in community choral events. This choir rehearses weekly and is open to any teen or adult who enjoys singing sacred music.
Children's Ministry Sunday during Worship Service	Church School is offered during Sunday Morning Worship Service for children ages 4 to grade 9. A package describing our programs and curriculum can be obtained by contacting the church office.
Congregational Care @ St. Andrew's	The Congregational Care (CC) Team was formed to develop a different way of ensuring that as many members and adherents as possible have a personal link to the church.  This is a shared responsibility between Minister, Session and members of the congregation. A network of people, known as CONNECTORS, are people who care about strengthening our church community through the ties of faith and friendship, are willing to reach out to more closely connect families and individuals to the church and are responsive to individual need.
Handbells Choir Weekly on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.	The Handbell Choir rehearses weekly and frequently participates in the worship services as well as regularly performing 'gigs' in Guelph and surrounding community. Participation in the Handbell Choir is open to anyone (subject to opening availability) but does require a moderate music reading ability.
Prayer Network as required	The Prayer Network is a network of dedicated members of the congregation who give us the gift of prayer. These daily prayers are offered on behalf of those who are troubled, sick, grieving etc. This is accessed by calling the Church Office, and is available to you as well as to your extended circle and it is not necessary to name individuals.
Women's Missionary Society 3rd Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.	The Women's Missionary Society is a community of Christians whose purpose, in response to the love of God in Jesus Christ, is to encourage one another and all the people of the church to be involved in local and world mission through prayer, study, service and fellowship.

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Education - Children, Youth, Adults

Our events and special activities geared for education and training for individuals and groups.

Church School: Jenny Emerson, Church School Leader
Contact Jenny through the Church Office for information about our Church School program.

Looking for a fun and meaningful time for your kids this summer?
Sign them up for St. Andrew’s Vacation Bible School!
We are hosting our first VBS in years and it is an exciting program that links directly to our ‘Habitat for Humanity’ mission theme.  It will be hands on and fun for your children to make connections with our 2009 Habitat Build, ‘My Neighbour’s House’. 
Entitled “Under Construction”, our VBS will be offered the first (1st) week of August (August 5th to 8th) from 9 am to 12:30 pm.
Registration forms are available at the Welcome Centre, or contact Jenny Emerson through the Church Office.  Cost is $75.00 for the week.
We are also looking for volunteers to help our VBS be a great success, if interested contact Jenny as soon as possible.

‘I would also like to thank all those “teachers” who gave of their gifts and time to help out this year up in the Church School.  I look forward to working with you all again next year!!  Thank you.  If you can help out in September, October and November, please contact me. 
Jenny Emerson, Church School Team Leader

Youth Ministry: Matt Foxall, Youth Team Leader
We’d like to invite you to come on out and get involved in Youth Ministry here at St. Andrew’s! This ministry is geared towards all young people in Grade 6 to University — So we know it’s a place for YOU!
• Click here • to read about a few things that are going on right now with our youth and young adults.
Contact Matt through the Church Office for information about our Youth and Young Adults programs.

Bible Study:
Over the years we have had various bible study programs: some scheduled for weekdays, some for Sunday mornings, and some for evenings, including the Bible Trail Parties.
Currently we are offering:
Thursday Morning Bible Trail Party ..... Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Check this page regularly for updates, or contact the Church Office.

Workshops:
From time to time, St. Andrew's offers workshops and seminars.
Currently St. Andrew's has none scheduled.

Retreats:
Occasionally St. Andrew's hosts retreats for interested members and friends.
Currently St. Andrew's has none scheduled.

Book Clubs: (There are no book clubs in May, June, July and August.)

Thanks to all who have come out to the Friday Brown Bag and Good Food, Good Book, and Good Nite this past year. It has been another delightful season of laughter, debate, and thought provoking reading. I continue to love the venue of a work of fiction as a jumping off point for a profoundly spiritual discussion.  Newcomers are always welcome… as well as suggestions for books.
Rev. John Borthwick, June 2008

View and download this pdf file of 15 recommended books:
Friday Brown Bag Recommends 2008 Summer Reading List

The Friday Brown Bag and Good Food, Good Book, and Good Nite return on Friday September 19th, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively with Allison Pearson’s book, I Don’t Know How She Does It.

Friday Brown Bag
St. Andrew's offers this monthly lunch and book discussion program, during which anyone is welcome to join in for a discussion on the book of the month while enjoying a brown bag lunch, brought by the participant. Coffee and tea provided by St. Andrew's. The discussion is held in the St. Andrew's Church Parlour, usually on the last Friday of the month, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Check the INSPIRE newsletter for details.

Good Food, Good Book, and Good Nite
St. Andrew's offers this monthly supper and book discussion program, usually held on the last Friday of the month, during which anyone is welcome to join in for a discussion on the book of the month and enjoy supper. There is always a space available for newcomers. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Parlour. Dinner is provided at cost. Reading the book is not a requirement and Rev. John Borthwick provides the leadership. Interested participants must reserve their places at the table by calling the Church Office. Seating is limited and reservations are necessary. Check the INSPIRE newsletter for details.

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Congregational Care @ St. Andrew's
Following the introduction of Term Eldership and discontinuation of regular pre-communion visits by elders, the Congregational Care (CC) Team was formed to develop a different way of ensuring that as many members and adherents as possible have a personal link to the church.  This is a shared responsibility between Minister, Session and members of the congregation.
A network of people, known as CONNECTORS was developed.  They are people who care about strengthening our church community through the ties of faith and friendship, are willing to reach out to more closely connect families and individuals to the church and are responsive to individual need.  Contact varies from regular visits to shut-ins to occasional lunch dates, e-mail, phone calls, cards .... whatever works best for those involved.
Our network is still developing, and as yet, not every household is connected.  We look forward to recruiting more Connectors.  Following successful training Workshops in 2007, another is scheduled for November 1st 2008.
Visitor/Newcomer Ministry is a recent initiative led by a subcommittee of the Congregational Care Team.

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Missions

Mission Policy Statement 2005 - Principles, Process and Policy
The Presbyterian Church in Canada has worked hard at developing principles for mission that express who we are as a denomination and how we work with others in our world.
The congregation of St. Andrew’s upholds these principles as our approach to discerning our vision for mission as a congregation of God’s people.
If you are interested in participating in a mission trip or have an idea for a congregational mission project, first contact the Church Office to arrange to speak to one of the ministers or a member of the Session Team responsible for Mission about your interest. They may be able to assist you in exploring the opportunities available.
View our .pdf file for our mission guidelines: Mission @ St. Andrew's
Note: This document was approved by Missions Committee in April 2005 and approved by Session in June 2005.

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Community Outreach
CORE: Guelph Churches' Outreach Program
In response to the growing need for assistance within the community, some Guelph churches formed the CORE group to address this issue. The result to date has been the formulation of an assistance policy which will, hopefully, address some of the needs, although on an emergency basis only.
View our .pdf files for:
• CORE Program - Front page of flyer
• CORE Program - Back page of flyer

Help Us Help Others - Please Save:
Used Postage Stamps – for Leprosy Relief
Campbell’s Soup Labels – for Education Programs
Zehrs Cash Register Tapes – to convert to cash
Aluminum Cans - for Habitat for Humanity Wellington County
All of the above can be placed in the appropriate slots in the wall container at the Welcome Centre, with the Aluminum Cans placed in the appropriate holder in the Church Hall.

"My Neighbour's House"
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church celebrates its 180th Anniversary with an invitation to all faith communities to build "My Neighbour’s House" in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Wellington County.
"My Neighbour’s House" will be the first ever Multi-Faith Habitat Build in Wellington County. It will be completed in 2009 by members of Guelph’s diverse faith communities working together to fundraise and construct a new home for sale to a local low income family.
Click here to link to our "My Neighbour's House" webpage.

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