September 25, 2025
DEAR ST. ANDREW’S FAMILY:
Sometimes, it’s necessary just to stop what we are doing and consider the gift of life — and its fragility.
Please pray for the Sayers and Laur families after the passing of Jennifer Sayers after a courageous fight with cancer. Her husband Jeff and in-laws Dale and Marilyn are members of our congregation.
Today’s morning news included a long list of recent motor-vehicle crashes in Chatham-Kent. Among the deaths were a 38-year-old male cyclist in Chatham and a 23-year-old Merlin-area woman. Closer to home, a 15-year-old boy on a dirt bike sustained serious hip and leg injuries after colliding with an SUV a week ago on St. George Street. He is the great grandson to Rev. Linda McFadden.
May God’s hands provide strength and healing for everyone affected. And may we be reminded to take every day as a precious gift.
Our annual Roast Beef Dinner will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8th. Everyone is invited for an evening of Fellowship, Good Food, and New Memories so bring your family, friends and neighbours. Tickets remain at $25 for adults, children under 12 are $12.50. We are also looking for New, Original, and Creative items to be donated for our auction. For Tickets or to donate an item, speak to any member of the Fund Raising Committee.
SUNDAY WORSHIP ONLINE – check out past services on our YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gXgpMK6Hyd6HG2Kmcqp3A
SCRIPTURES – Exodus 20:12 – “Honour your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Ephesians 6:1-6 – Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honour your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honour your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
MESSAGE – As we begin the six commandments that deal with our relationship with each other, the first deals with relationships within the family which is the most important human institution in our world. The family is more important than the government, schools, businesses and organizations – even the church. To be clear, I am referring to the church as an institution. The authentic church – which is the Body of Christ, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit and not by human hands – is not a human institution. The family is a reflection of God’s creation story and his undying love for his children, his willingness to provide and to forgive. That puts the family where it belongs, in the center of our human world. Unless people learn to live together in the family, they aren’t likely to learn to get along with anybody anywhere. At the centre of every family unit is the parent.
PRAYER — Requests may be sent to the pastor, either for sharing or in confidence. If a need is not listed here it’s because the family has opted for privacy.
NEW PRAYER
- Those who are grieving the loss of friends and loved ones.
- Guides of Dresden, who meet on Thursday evenings at St. Andrew’s, and begin their new season today
- For Rick Tanner, we pray for positive results of his diagnostic test and give him strength and courage while he awaits them.
- Pray for the Bradley and Unsworth families after the passing of Bruce Bradley, wife of the late Betty of Knox Dawn Presbyterian Church.
CONTINUE TO PRAY
- Healing and strength – Becca Braithwaite, Pam Cornell, Susan Doom’s father, Jen Langstaff Mason, Bonnie Lozon, Kris Richards, Bruce Stephens, Julie & Dan Shaw
- Shut ins – Dianne Richards at Wallaceburg Retirement Residence; Bonnie Lozon, Jim Lusk and Sandra Pegg at Oaks Wallaceburg; Ross Fuchs and Shirley Houston at Fairfield Park in Wallaceburg; Margaret Follows at home.
Elders on session
Mark Labadie – 519-359-4842
Cindy Brewer – 519-683-4113
Sheila Eves – 519-683-4148
Andrew Neely – 519-359-8903
Mark Richards – 519-809-9175
Julie Shaw – 226-627-1953
Bob Vriesema – 519-401-8056
Board Committees
Building – Will Brewer (chair – brewerwill@mcbraynes.com), Mark Labadie (Session Rep), Jodi Rich, Mike Wicks
Finance – Nicole Neely (chair – nikandneely@gmail.com), Mark Richards (Session Rep), Will Brewer, Wendy Weston
Fundraising – Bob Vriesema (chair – bobritav@gmail.com), Andrew Neely (Session Rep), Mike Wicks, Wendy Weston, Linda Malott, Jen Mason, Jodi Rich.
WHAT’S UP:
- The Community Closet at North Dresden Baptist Church is asking for donations of personal grooming and toiletry items. Unlike most thrift stores, everything is free. Drop donations off at NDBC Tuesdays 11-3, Thursdays 11-3, Fridays 4-8, the 3rd Saturday of the month 10-Noon or at St. Andrew’s on Sunday and we will deliver them for you.
- If you use donation envelopes, don’t throw them out if any are unused. We’re asking everyone to keep using them in 2025. They all have your donation number on them – your donation will be processed the day it’s received.
- Weekly email – Send announcements and new info to standrewspcdresden@gmail.com
- Free Community Meals – Please share this info with anyone in need: North Dresden Baptist Church – last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Dresden Christian Reformed Church – second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
VOLUNTEER SCHEDULES – click here for link to the website
Greeters & coffee prep/Counting teams/Livestream/audio
MINISTRY LINKS
Renewal Fellowship – Pastor Andy is employed at 20% time as RF’s Executive Director. St. Andrew’s is the other 80%. Check out the new online publication Living in Truth.
WAYS OF GIVING:
- E-transfer st.andrewspcdresdenon@gmail.com. If required by your bank, our treasurer’s name is Linda Moore. Her number is 226-627-2727. If you are asked for a security question, please contact your local bank branch.
- Bring envelope on Sunday or if you have a key, leave it in the treasurer’s mailbox.
- Mail it to the church, PO Box 93 Dresden. N0P 1M0.
- Gift Cards – You pay face value for the gift cards and the church buys them at a discount through Chatham Christian Schools. Cards will be available for pickup at the church or will be distributed in church. Gift card orders are on the website. https://standrewsdresden.ca/ under the “giving” tab. The next deadline for gift card orders is September 28th.
- McBrayne’s Feed & Supply is offering to donate back 10 per cent of sales made using the St. Andrews account. Some items that apply are peanuts, bird feed, sunflower seed, and grains. Make sure you let them know you would like to use the St. Andrew’s account BEFORE ordering to ensure the church gets credit!
CHURCH WIFI:
Network: StAndrews
Password: StAndrews2015