A Warm Welcome Awaits You!

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+ORDER OF SERVICE+

March 22nd, 2026

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Prelude:   Deep River – Robert Lau

Welcome and Announcements  (10:25 am)

Entry of the Word  (please rise)

Greeting and Call to Worship

Seek the Lord while He may be found.

   We return to the Lord with our whole hearts.

We come seeking God’s good direction.

   We come as people of the Way.

Come, let us worship God!

   Let us praise His name together!

Hymn  # 350: To God be the glory

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Hymn  # 400: Spirit of the living God

Children’s Message

Anthem:   In You There is a Refuge – Linnea Good  

Prayer of Illumination

Almighty God,

your Son came into the world

to free us from sin and death.

Breathe upon us the power of your Spirit,

that we may be raised to new life in Christ,

and serve you in righteousness all of our days.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Old Testament                   Ezekiel 37:1-14

Responsive Psalm              Psalm 130 (Refrain II)

Epistle                                 Romans 8:6-11

Gospel                                 John 11:1-45

Sermon                “New Life For Old Bones”

Hymn  # 384: O Breath of life, come sweeping through us

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Offering:   Shine, Jesus, Shine – Graham Kendrick

Doxology  # 661: We give thee but thine own (v.1)

Hymn  # 399: Spirit, Spirit of gentleness

Benediction

Parting Hymn: “Go Now In Peace”

Go now in peace, never be afraid;

God will go with you each hour of every day.

Go now in faith, steadfast, strong, and true;

Know He will guide you in all you do.

Go now in love, and show you believe;

Reach out to others so all the world can see.

God will be there, watching from above;

Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. Copyright 1988 Harold Flammer Music. OneLicense # A-742310.

Postlude:   Concertino on a Bach Fragment – Gordon Young

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please continue to pray for any member of the congregation who is sick, in hospital, recovering, or in need of prayer.

WEEKLY GROUPS & MEETINGS:

Monday, March 23 – Flower Guild – 9:30 AM

Monday, March 23 – Frank Studio Music Lessons – 4:00 – 6:00 PM

Tuesday, March 24 – Medical Missions – 9:00 AM to Noon

Tuesday, March 24 – Bible Study – 10:00 AM

Tuesday, March 24 – Frank Studio Music Lessons – 4:00 – 7:45 PM

Tuesday, March 24 – Frank Studio Sax Ensemble – 8:00 – 9:30 PM

Wednesday, March 25 – Sandwich Making – 9:30 AM

Wednesday, March 25 – JYSEP Youth Programme – 2:30 PM

Wednesday, March 25 – Kinnaris Ladies’ Choir – 7:30 PM

Thursday, March 26 – Choir Rehearsal – 1:30 PM

Saturday, March 28 – Frank Studio Music Lessons – 10 AM – 5 PM

HOLY WEEK SERVICES:   Next week is the start of Holy Week, with Easter as its triumphant conclusion. Here are the services being offered at church:

  • Sunday, March 29th – 10:30 AM – Palm Sunday
  • Thursday, April 2nd – 7:00 PM – Maundy Thursday Communion
  • Friday, April 3rd – 10:30 AM – Good Friday
  • Sunday, April 5th – 10:30 AM – Easter Sunday Communion

“THE TABLE:  BREAD. WINE. BETRAYAL.”:  This dramatic work about Palm Sunday and Good Friday is being presented at Shakespeare Presbyterian Church on March 27th and 28th. Both days are sold out; however, you can see the dress rehearsal on Thursday, March 26th at 7:30 PM.  Attendance at the dress rehearsal is by invitation only. Please contact Jean Aitcheson, a member of the cast, on 519-276 1975 or at [email protected] to get your invitation.

STRATFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION:   The Hospital Foundation is looking for new members to join its Board of Directors. If you’re interested, please apply by March 31st.  Visit the Hospital Foundation web-site for more information and to apply.

BENEFIT CONCERT:  In support of the Stratford Kiwanis Festival, Shane Cook and The Woodchippers are performing on March 27th, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Avondale United Church. Tickets are $35 for adults. Tickets available on-line or at the door. See the poster on the bulletin board.

ROTARY HOSPICE GRIEF PROGRAMMING:  The Rotary Hospice of Stratford Perth has a number of programmes about grief and bereavement. See the bulletin board for their Spring, 2026 events.

LENTEN LUNCHEONS:  The Stratford Council of Churches and The Kiwanis Club present their Lenten Luncheons, every Wednesday of Lent (Feb. 18th through to March 25th). Everyone is welcome to attend. Located at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 50 Well Street, Stratford, 12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM. Cost is $15 per person at the door. Reservations are not required. If you have special dietary requirements, call Sharon Twamley on 519-273 1995. See the bulletin board for more details and a list of speakers.

FREE SUNDAY BUS SERVICE:  There is a free bus service to Sunday worship at St. Andrew's for those in the Stratford area. If you wish to use the bus, please call the Office at St. Andrew's at 519-271 5668 to book a ride. The deadline for booking or cancelling (if you have a weekly scheduled pick up) is 12 Noon on the Friday prior to the Sunday you wish to attend.

SUNDAY COFFEE TIME & FELLOWSHIP:  Join us downstairs in McCullough Hall immediately following the worship service for coffee, refreshments, and fellowship. All are welcome.  If you can help in the kitchen, or can provide treats on Sunday morning, please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the kitchen counter.

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!