April 13, 2022
Hello everyone – it’s a crazy busy week, but a meaningful one as well. For me, Holy Week is a deeply spiritual time. I pray it is for you as well.
Some last minute changes for your information
Maundy Thursday communion service will be at 6 pm in the sanctuary. This will not be the Agape Meal planned but rather a unique communion service complete with prayers and readings. The Agape Meal will be postponed until next year. Too many COVID cases to make it reasonable this year. No need to register, simply come. It is a powerful little service.
Good Friday will be held at 11:00 am in the sanctuary. The choir will perform the cantata “It is Finished” by Mary McDonald as part of the service. This service will be taped at 11:00 by CTV but not broadcast until 12:00 – so a one hour delay. We do encourage you if able to come to the live service.
Easter Sunday service begins at 10:00 am. This will be an intergenerational themed service with possibilities for participation from a variety of ages. However it will be more spontaneous. Unfortunately some of our youth and children have COVID in their families and will not be able to attend. However, with our vaccination policy and masking requirements we are very safe here in the church. We encourage you at attend and celebrate the beauty of resurrection as we experience it once again this year. There will be songs and drama and balloons and powerful music – something for everyone. So come and join us as you are able. This too will be a televised service and will be on CTV Kitchener live at 10:00 am.
Fran Adsett from Frannies Restaurant has been very supportive in providing food and other supplies for the Emergency Warming Shelter. As a show of thanks we are helping her in another endeavour. She is offering pies for sale for $25 each with $10 going to Ukraine for support. We have purchased the pies outright from Fran and will have 20 pies on Easter Sunday for you to purchase. Because we have purchased them outright with the partial help of an anonymous donor, we will be able to sell them on Sunday for $15 plus any donation you may want to give. Your donated portion will go to PWS+D for Ukraine relief. To purchase a pie on Sunday please bring cash or send an e’transfer to accounting@standrewskw.com
We have been negotiating with the Region and their request to extend the Emergency Warming Centre until June 22, 2022. The agreement will be signed today. The session requested details be worked out by April 14 with the needs of the church clearly identified and addressed. The items below have now been addressed. The Region is also funding more staff for the Working Centre to facilitate all of this.
Sunday Security
The Region will coordinate Security staff on-site between 8am-12pm on Sunday mornings.
Needle Pickup
The Working Centre staff and Security will coordinate daily sweeps of the St. Andrews property to pick up any needles.
Community Garden Committee Safety
Security staff dedicated to the Garden Committee will be coordinated by Regional Security staff at the request of St. Andrews. St. Andrews will provide the days/times Security is needed in order to coordinate the Security shifts.
People Sleeping in the Vestibule/Front Porch After the Shelter Closes in the Morning
The Working Centre shelter staff will work with Security staff to have people leave the property when the shelter closes. Mobile Security will also make regular patrols in the morning to also politely ask people to move off the property once the shelter closes.
Garbage Challenges (e.g., Bin overflow, people in garbage dumpsters)
The Region will continue to work with The Working Centre to resolve garbage challenges by increasing the frequency of garbage pickup and monitoring people in and around the garbage bins.
I know all of this is a lot to take in. So that’s all for now. I remain focused on the services for this week and for Easter Sunday
I hope your day if filled with sunshine and the blessings of a God who fills us all to the brim
Take care
Marty