St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church Scarborough

Sunday Services
 at
 9:00 AM
 11:00 AM

115 St. Andrews Road, Scarborough,
Ontario M1P- 4N2 
Church office  (416) 438-4100

Office Hours are Monday to Friday
  9:00 am. to 12:00 pm.

TTC
CLICK FOR BUS SCHEDULES

NOTE: 
Sunday TTC service starts at 8:00 A.M.
Prior to 8:00A.M. refer to: 
"Route 302 Danforth Road McCowan"
on the schedule index.

 Rev. Duncan Cameron - Pastor B.Sc., M. Div.

Pastoral Care Assistant
Katherine Heal
B. Ed., M.Div

Church Secretary
Fiona Pereira

Youth Ministry
Kathleen Sorensen
 B.A. (Hons),  T.E.S.L.

Children's Ministries Director
Cynthia Cameron
R.N., CCS

Music Director 
Helen Simeonov ,Mus.Bac., B.Ed.

Choir Leader
Ianjai Mounsey, B.Mus., A.R.C.T

The Decor Committee

Badminton
We have two groups of people that meet.   On Tuesday afternoons and Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m. for
fitness fellowship and fun.  They would love to have you join them.  If you would like more information, 
Please call the Church office.

The Bridge Club
We are now in our fifth year of fellowship. The purpose of our group is to provide an opportunity for people of common interests to get together on a regular basis and play a friendly game of bridge.  Our players are of varying skills and experience. As we do not award prizes, the reality is that how well you score isn't as important as how much you enjoy the socializing. It is a wonderful way to make new friends.   All are Welcome!

Robbie Burns Dinner
While the growth of the community of St. Andrew's has been intertwined heavily with the growth of Scarborough, it is important not to forget that St. Andrew's began as a Scottish Church.  One of the more common ways of celebrating one's Scottish origins is by having a Robbie Burns supper, named for the 
legendary Scottish poet who lived from 1759 to 1796.   
The suppers began at St. Andrew's in 1970.  The evening is complete with a meal of roast beef, Scottish
  music and dancing and of course haggis is "piped in"!  Sponsored by the Board of Managers the supper 
has helped with the funding of  many worthwhile projects.

The Decor Committee
The Decor Committee keeps the Sanctuary and Christian Education Hall looking delightful.  The Decor coincides with the seasons and Holidays.  Whether you are remembering a loved one, a special anniversary
or just want to express thanksgiving or love, flowers are a nice touch. Decorate our sanctuary with flowers
on your day for remembering. 

Over the years the Women’s groups have operated under several different names. In 1860, the group was known as Scotch Church Ladies Association, in 1875 it became St. Andrew’s Ladies Association, and in 1888 the Ladies Missionary Association of St. Andrew’s Scarborough. In 1914 they affiliated with the newly formed Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) and continued under that name until 1969 when ‘after careful study’ the WMS and the W.A. merged, using the present name PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN.

Currently, there are two groups with a membership of 44 women. One group meets in the evening on the second Monday of each month, and the other on the fourth Tuesday, in the afternoon. Twice a year, in May and November, the groups meet together enjoying the fellowship of a pot luck supper and a special programme.

The groups maintain an active interest in the WMS, supporting it financially and keeping informed of Missionary activities. Representatives from St. Andrew’s participate in Presbyterial, Synodical and Council Meetings.

Besides meeting once a month, the women frequently cater to weddings and banquets, enlisting help from others in the congregation.

Programmes are arranged and guest speakers invited to cover a wide range of topics and the meetings are always open to anyone wishing to attend. Men are welcome too! 
                         For further information, phone the church office at (416) 438-4100.

If you have a concern or a reason for giving thanks that you'd like to share with the congregation and have included in our prayers, prayer request cards are available on the table in the Narthex.  It will be included 
in the Pastoral Prayers the following week.

We covet your support as we continue this important ministry.  Please contact any member of the team if you know of anyone in the congregation who may need this extra measure of support.

We have over 2000 books plus audio and video tapes.

Link to the Book Room of the Presbyterian Church of Canada

Under a mandate from the Session, the purpose of this committee is to involve the whole congregation in mission:

- by encouraging support for the Mission work of the Presbyterian Church at large;

- by responding to needs within the local community;

- by evaluating financial appeals and suggesting appropriate action;

- by sponsorship of refugees as the occasion arises. 

  Through Presbyterian World Service & Development, the congregation contributes to world and disaster relief.

Through the Presbyterian Mission, Evangel Hall, we assist those in need in Toronto .

Through the Teeswater Presbyterian Cropshare project, St. Andrews has supported the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.  By contributing to a cropshare program donations are multiplied significantly.

For several years the congregation organized a BBQ for the immediate church district as an important outreach to the community.

The congregation is encouraged to participate in the Canada Day Parade.

Members of the congregation have helped a neighbourhood shelter for mothers and children.

St. Andrew's members regularly contribute food items for the Food Bank in our neighbouring Presbyterian Church - St. David's.

The congregation is to be commended for its tremendous support of the initiatives of the Mission & Outreach Committee.  

The mandate of the Committee is to explore and implement ways to enhance Worship at St. Andrew’s. This is accomplished by:

1. Involving members of the congregation during Worship.

2. Being a creative resource to the minister.

3. Planning and/or assisting special services (a delegated responsibility of the session)

4. Prayerfully considering the needs of the congregation regarding Worship, prayers and praise, and

5. Praying for the Worship at St. Andrew’s

The Committee is comprised of the Minister, Director of Music, Session Representative and three to five members of the Congregation. Members are asked for a two-year commitment. The Committee meets on a monthly or as-required basis.

The Worship Committee would like to hear from anyone with ideas regarding our Worship at St. Andrew’s. Comments and/or suggestion can be left at the office or given to any member of the Committee.

The Church Choir

Choir

Our choir meets every Thursday evening between 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. from the Thursday after Labour Day until the Thursday before our Anniversary Service – usually the third Sunday in June.

We sing an anthem every Sunday – more, of course, at Easter and Christmas Eve Services.

Our anthems cover a variety of styles from traditional classics through gospel and contemporary. Most are in four-part harmony (sometimes eight) – S.A.T.B.

We welcome new members always. Although reading music is a great asset, it is not a requirement, only love of music and a good ear.

The Bells

In the spring of 1992, the Kirk Session gave permission to proceed with the ordering of a four-octave set of Malmark English Handbells. The bells were purchased with funds raised by the congregation. These 49 bronze bells were manufactured in Plumsteadville, Pennsylvania, and arrived at the church at the end of the summer. 38 people were willing to ring bells, so four different choirs were formed and they all began to ring in September, 1992. The choirs were numbered one to four, based on the time when they rehearsed each week. Two of the choirs rang 2 octaves of the bells and two choirs rang 3 octaves. 

On Sunday, November 29, 1992, all four choirs of The Bells of St. Andrew's rang in church for the first time. The bells rang in church throughout the year, as well as ringing at Scarborough General Hospital, Bendale Acres Nursing Home, several Seniors' Luncheons, and the church's annual Burns Dinner. On June 19^th The Bells of St. Andrew's took part in the 175^th Anniversary celebrations of St. Andrew's. During the summer of 1993, a quartet of ringers performed "Lift Thine Eyes".

 On March 6^th, 1994, the Handbells were dedicated in a special service at St. Andrew's. During the summer, two of the choirs joined together for a backyard luncheon at the home of two of the ringers. This event included taking the bells along and playing them "alfresco". In 1994, The Bells of St. Andrew's performed in churches in Brighton, Audley, Scarborough, and West Hill, in addition to playing in hospitals and nursing homes, and in church.

June of 1995 was very busy for the Bells of St. Andrew's. The quartet played at a wedding reception, the choirs played at the church's Anniversary Service and at the Premiere Spring Concert of The Bells of St. Andrew's. Three days after the concert, the bells and ringers traveled to London, Ontario, to take part in an Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers Biennial Handbell Festival, at the University of Western Ontario. Together with over 400 other ringers, The Bells of St. Andrew's ringers played massed music and sectional music, some easy, some moderate, and enjoyed learning workshops. Again that summer, the bells enjoyed the summer backyard luncheon.

In the fall of 1995, David Keith took over directing one of the choirs. 1995 was also the year that The Bells of St. Andrew's purchased a three-octave set of Malmark Choirchimes. These instruments are like tuning forks and have a different sound than the bells which compliment the bells nicely.

In June 1996, The Bells of St. Andrew's performed their 2^nd Annual Spring Concert. On August 14, 1996, two of the choirs performed in the lobby of Roy Thomson Hall for the Seniors Jubilee. It was rather noisy and distracting with people wandering by and talking, but it was a good experience. On December 7, 1996, one choir performed outside at Mel Lastman Square in North York for the lighting of the Christmas tree. A choir of children was formed to play the Choirchimes, and their debut was on December 8, 1996. The Choirchimes were dedicated on May 11, 1997.

May 21, 1997 saw the 3^rd Annual Spring Concert of The Bells of St. Andrew's. This was followed by a trip to York University for another Biennial Handbell Festival. On Christmas Eve, 1997, a handbell soloist from The Bells of St. Andrew's performed "O Holy Night" at two services.

In 1998, the performances of The Bells of St. Andrew's included visits to six other churches. In March 1999, The Bells played for the Funeral of Betty Murray, the only ringer who had rung in every choir. Betty's health slowly deteriorated because of ALS, but she was ringing right up to the very end. In May of 1999, seven ringers attended the Biennial Handbell Festival in London, Ontario. "How the West Was Rung" was an exciting conference with a Western theme (since the event was held at the University of Western Ontario).

A record high of 23 performances were given by the Bells of St. Andrew's in 2000. These included a number of other churches, a funeral, a baptism, and a senior's home. In the fall of 2000, Choir I, which met on Sunday mornings before worship, was disbanded due to dwindling numbers and the future introduction of a second worship service on Sunday mornings. The year finished with performances on Christmas Eve. In January, 2001, two new beginner choirs were formed. Hopefully, these choirs will provide a sort of  "Farm-Team" system for the existing choirs.

The Bells of St. Andrew's continue to be a vibrant and growing part of the congregation at 
St. Andrew's. In the spring of 2007, the Bells had been ringing for more than 15 years. The congregation looks forward to many more years.

Member of The Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers.