A Warm Welcome Awaits You!

0011

+ORDER OF SERVICE+

May 17th, 2026

Ascension Sunday

Prelude:   Royal Audience – Dietrich Wierczeyko

Welcome and Announcements (10:25 am)

Entry of the Word  (please rise)

Greeting and Call to Worship

Let us be joyful before God!

   We will sing praises to God’s holy name.

Let us lift up a song to the One who rides upon the clouds,

   who protects orphans and widows,

   and gives the desolate a home.

Sing to God, all nations of the earth.

   We will sing praises to the Lord, our God!

Hymn  # 265: Hail the day that sees Christ rise

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Hymn  # 266: King of Kings

Children’s Message

Anthem:  Yes, My Lord! – Jay Althouse

Prayer of Illumination

O God of All Majesty,

by raising Jesus from the dead

you proclaimed his victory,

and by his Ascension

you declared him Lord of all.

Lift up our hearts to heaven

that our hopes may rise,

through our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

First Reading                        Acts 1:1-11

Responsive Reading             Psalm 93 (Refrain I)

Epistle                                    Ephesians 1:15-23

Gospel                                    Luke 24:44-53

Sermon      “When Someone You Love Leaves”

Hymn  # 749: Be still, my soul

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession 

Offering:   God Save the King – Charles Wesley

Doxology  # 830: Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Hymn  # 363: All hail the power of Jesus’ name

Benediction

Parting Hymn: #252: He Is Lord

He is Lord, He is Lord;

He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!

Every knee shall bow,

Every tongue confess

That Jesus Christ is Lord.

Words based on Philippians 2:10-11. Public Domain

Choral Amen  # 780 (Danish)

Postlude:  A New Name in Glory – Diane Bish

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We extend our sympathy to Mary Duffin and Eva Tucker on the passing of their sister, Royetta Speziale. Please keep Mary, Eva, and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

FOOD BANK SUNDAY:   To-day is Food Bank Sunday. All donations of food and cash will be welcome and appreciated. Thanks for your support of this worth-while organisation. Please be as generous as possible.

90th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS:  We welcome all those who are 90 or over this year. Congratulations and best wishes! Please join us for a celebration in McCullough Hall after the service. Cake will be served. Our honoured guests are:  Earl Clark, John Donaldson, Willy Drost, Mary Duffin, Cam Fraser, Ray Gardiner, Mary Gascho, Fred Innes, Audrey Little, Clarence McCallum, Bettie Mollins, Jerry Richards, Mary Shean, Doris Sherwood, Margaret Steel, Nevin Taylor, Rhoma Thorn, and Don Wilson.

SANDWICH MAKING:  Help is needed to make sandwiches and provide baked goods for Stratford Connections. Several people who have helped over the past years are stepping back due to health concerns or are just needing a break. If you are able to help make sandwiches on the second Wednesday of each month, or provide baked goods for the second or fourth Wednesdays, please contact Mary Duffin at [email protected].  Thank-you.

PCW JUNE LUNCH:  The PCW will be meeting for lunch at the Arden Park Hotel on Tuesday, June 2nd at 12:30 PM. All ladies and men are welcome to join us, but please let the church office know by Friday, May 29th if you plan to attend. Rides can be arranged. For more information, contact Eva Tucker.

NEW PHOTO BOOK:  The Session is interested in creating a new         St. Andrew’s Photo Book in late Summer and/or early Fall. This takes man or lady power. We are needing volunteers to co-ordinate and help with this short-term project. Examples of ways you can help:  Call and set up appointments with and/or remind members.  Help people to get to St. Andrew’s.  If you can spare time and help, please call Heather Racher at 519-273 2449.

WEEKLY GROUPS & MEETINGS:

Monday, May 18 – Victoria Day Holiday

Tuesday, May 19 – Office Closed

Tuesday, May 19 – Medical Missions – 9:00 AM to Noon

Tuesday, May 19 – Bible Study – 10:00 AM

Tuesday, May 19 – Frank Studio Music Lessons – 4:00 – 7:45 PM

Tuesday, May 19 – Session Meeting – 7:00 PM

Wednesday, May 20 – JYSEP Youth Programme – 2:30 PM

Wednesday, May 20 – Kinnaris Ladies’ Choir – 7:30 PM

Wednesday, May 20 – Frank Studio Sax Ensemble – 8:00 PM

Thursday, May 21 – Choir Lunch – 12:30 PM

Thursday, May 21 – Choir Rehearsal – 1:30 PM

Saturday, May 23 – Messy Church Camp Day at Camp Kintail

Saturday, May 23 – Frank Studio Music Lessons – 10 AM – 5 PM

Sunday, May 24 – Pentecost Sunday

WALK FOR ALZHEIMER’S:  Heather Ross and Margaret Archer are participating in an Alzheimer's Walk in honour of their mother, Marlene Archer. The event takes place on May 30th, 2026 in Kitchener.

On-line donations can be made at:  www.alzgiving.ca/goto/HeatherRoss_MargaretArcher, or you can send a cheque, payable to “Alzheimer’s Society of Waterloo Wellington” to Heather Ross, 124 MacGregor Crescent, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 3W9. Thank-you for your support.

COMMUNITY EVENTS:  Please see the bulletin board for various community events and concerts in Stratford.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE- CANCELLED
Due to inclement weather, the Ash Wednesday Service scheduled for February 18th has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please stay safe! 
SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION

Sunday Services are held at 10:30 am

In-Person Services:

Located at 25 St. Andrew Street, with limited free parking behind the Church (off of Church Street), as well as adjacent street parking. Fellowship Time takes place before (9:45 am) and after Services with light refreshments served.

Online Services:

Livestreamed on Facebook Live and can be found by clicking on the "Find us on Facebook" tab at the top of this page, and then by clicking "Like".

 

Thank you and God Bless!

OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES:

For those who have so kindly asked how they can financially support the ongoing work of St. Andrew's, there are four simple options:

(1) E-Transfer: If you bank online, a no-fee E-Transfer may be sent to:

[email protected]

(2) Website: Please click on this link to our Church Website (www.standrewsstratford.ca) and in the upper-right hand corner you will notice a button that says, “Donate”. Click on that button and it will take you to a charitable website called Canada Helps. Fill in the required information, click on the “Complete Donation Now” button, and a charitable tax-receipt will be sent to your email address. Both our website and the Canada Helps website are secure.

(3) PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance): Please click on this link (www.presbyterian.ca/p…/pre-authorized-remittance-par-program) which will direct you to the National Church's website and an enrolment form which can be completed and mailed to the church (with a voided cheque) at the address below.

(4) Cheque: If you wish to donate by cheque, please mail your offering to:

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
25 St. Andrew Street
Stratford, ON
N5A 1A2

Charitable tax receipts will be issued for the 2025 year.

Many thanks and may God bless you richly for your generosity of heart and hand!