October 10, 2025

Note: Be sure to click download external images to see all the content.

In this week's newsletter:

Sunday Service

Wednesday Contemplative Service

Amalgamation Vote

Office Closure: Thanksgiving

Spotlight on Saint Andrew’s Community: The Office Staff

Saint Andrew's Supports Social Justice: Jubilee 2025

Drag Me To Church: Our Drag Show

Call for Volunteers

On The Stage: Upcoming Events

You know the line in our Eucharist liturgy when one says “Let us give thanks” and everyone responds “it is right to God thanks and praise.”  Well, yes it is ! Especially on this Thanksgiving Sunday. Psalm 100 will lead the way, calling us make a joyful noise, the choir will respond in the most fantastic way, Susan will offer a reflection on gratitude (obviously), and we will once again say the Eucharist liturgy.

See you Sunday.

UPCOMING:

Wednesday, Oct 15 Contemplative Service, 6:00 - 6:20 pm

Sunday, Oct 19 Amalgamation Vote (following worship)

Sunday Nov 2 All Saints Sunday

SUNDAY SCHOOL this week and every week.

Jillian and Rebecca will be here as usual to greet the children and lead a Sunday School class during worship service. This is their room, by the way. Always warm, always inviting ...

Amalgamation Charter and Voting Procedure

A reminder that you can access the Charter for the Amalgamation of Saint Andrew's, Saint Matthew's and Fort Massey United Churches. You can read the Overview and the Full Charter by clicking on this link. Printed copies of the Overview and Charter will be available on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary and in the church office (weekdays 9am - 1pm).

The Vote: On Sunday, October 19 our worship service will be abbreviated (10:30 - 11:00am), followed by the congregational meeting to hear the question, allow discussion, and conduct the vote. The question: Do you agree to amalgamate the congregations of Saint Andrew's United Church, Saint Matthew's United Church and Fort Massey United Church? Yes or No.

Voting will be anonymous, by paper ballot. The votes will be counted and results announced before the end of the meeting. Note: You must be registered on the Voters List to vote. The list (members and adherents) is posted in the sanctuary. Please check to ensure your name is on the list. 

The United Church of Canada strongly encourages in-person attendance for the Amalgamation Vote. It is of theological and practical import, for the movement of the Holy Spirit within and among. This is a momentous moment for our community and our city. Please attend, if you are able.

If you are not able to attend in person, you can attend and vote online:

1. Inform the office that you intend to attend online. A Zoom link for the meeting will be sent to you. Click here to add your name to the virtual attendee list and to receive the meeting link and instructions.

2. The online meeting will open at 10:00 am to ensure all virtual attendees are functional for the 11:00 am start to the congregational meeting.

3. Online participants will be able to hear/watch the proceedings, submit questions or comments, and vote anonymously. Monitors will be online with you to assist.

4. Online and in-person votes will be tabulated, with the result announced in the meeting.

Office Closure

The church office will be closed on Monday, October 13 for Thanksgiving.

Spotlight on Saint Andrew’s Community: The Office Staff

If you haven’t met our office staff, meet Patricia (pictured left) and Gail!

Patricia spent a large portion of her career in non-profit organizations and running daycare centres. That love of babies and children hasn’t diminished over the years, and Gail calls out to Patricia when there’s a little one visiting the church. Patricia, likewise, calls to Gail when there’s a dog nearby. She continues to be involved in volunteer work with people with disabilities. Patricia handles the finances for the church and often has many spreadsheets on the go. Outside of church you can find Patricia enjoying life with her grandbabies, cycling or kayaking. She also believes that chocolate is a food group.

Gail has worked in marketing, corporate sales and software licensing, retail operations, non-profits, and church administration. She got the opportunity to work in Australia for two years, travelling to many Asian countries with work. She spent six years doing outreach in local prisons and she hopes to be able to do similar volunteer work in the future. Gail also runs a photography business and you’ll often see her with her camera in church and at events. She spends most of her time outside of work reading or hiking with her dogs Jackson and Sydney. Gail loves a good cup of coffee, and believes it’s a perfectly reasonable breakfast.

Saint Andrew's Supports Social Justice: Jubilee 2025

Jubilee 2025 is a global ecumenical initiative that builds on the transformative success of Jubilee 2000, which canceled $100 billion of debt for 36 of the poorest countries. Throughout history, Jubilee years have been a call to restore justice - canceling debts, caring for people and the land, and addressing inequality. Today, more than 100 countries in the Global South face a severe debt crisis, worsened by climate change, conflicts, and economic instability. Nearly half the world's population lives in countries that spend more on debt repayment than on health and education.

Wealthy nations and corporations continue to exploit resources from indebted countries and Indigenous communities, deepening economic and ecological injustice. Debt cancellation isn't just economic policy - it's a moral imperative.

In Canada, KAIROS Canada is leading the campaign in collaboration with Citizens for Public Justice, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, and the Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology and The Canadian Council of Churches. Together, they are mobilizing communities of faith and conscience.

Join them in calling on world leaders to:

Cancel unjust debts.

Reform the financial system to prevent future crises.

Establish a fair debt framework at the United Nations (UN).

Let us join voices with Indigenous peoples, global partners, organizations and movements around the world to Turn Debt into Hope. Together we can create a just world for all.

For the next 3 Sundays, the Social Justice Committee will have a table in the back of the church with more information and petition to sign. The goal is for 100,000 signatures by the end of this year.

You can sign the petition here OR in person at the church on Sunday.

Drag Me To Church is October 25!

As October 25 gets closer, we thought we'd share some etiquette tips for Saint Andrew's very first drag show! If you have any questions about what to expect at the show, please don't hesitate to reach out to the office!

We can't wait to fill our sanctuary with sequins and celebrate the artistry, inclusivity, and community of drag at this unique, affirming, and truly fabulous event. Local drag entertainers will take the stage, including co-hosts Lovina Poison and Lydia Sapphire; featured performers Elle Lixir, Anna Thematic (aka Tamsin Moynihan-Robson), and Cookie Cunningham; and spotlight performers Miss Thing and Chani Cash.

Tickets are $10 and available now by clicking on the button below.

Saturday, October 25, 2025

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - 2SLGBTQIA+ Market

8:00 p.m. - Drag Show

The 2SLGBTQIA+ Market is free of charge and open to all ages. The drag show is for an audience aged 19 and older. ASL interpreters will be on site at the event.

Volunteers Needed!

To make Drag Me to Church a great success, we will need the help of several

volunteers.

We're looking for people to help in the following roles:

• Greeters
• Ticket Takers
• Ushers
• Runners
• Set Up for the Market
• Tear Down
• Bartenders
• 50/50 Ticket Sellers

If you'd like to volunteer, please contact the office at info@saintandrewshfx.ca.

On The Stage at Saint Andrew's

Music Without Borders: In Memory of Ziad Rahbani

October 17

8pm

This tribute concert will bring Ziad Rahbani's unforgettable songs and compositions to the stage, performed by outstanding vocalists and musicians, under the artistic direction of Syrian-Canadian musician Gaby Al Botros.

Music Without Borders is a non-profit organization that uses the power of music to promote peace, understanding, and cooperation among people of all cultures and nationalities. They believe that music has the ability to transcend language, cultural barriers, and political boundaries to bring people together.  

​Their mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through the universal language of music.

Music Without Borders was founded by Gaby Al Botros, a Syrian-Canadian musician who recognized the unique power of music to bridge cultural divides and promote understanding. Gaby's experiences as a refugee from Syria have further inspired him to use music as a tool for promoting peace and understanding. He believes that music has the power to bring people together and break down barriers, creating opportunities for people to connect and build relationships across cultural divides.

Together, they are making a difference by promoting cross-cultural understanding and fostering a greater appreciation for the rich diversity of music and culture in our world. 

Sunday Service 10:30am

Office Hours

Monday - Friday 9:00am -1:00pm

Contact & Newsletter Submissions

(902) 422-3157

info@saintandrewshfx.ca

www.saintandrewshfx.ca