St.Andrew's Presbyterian Church Fenelon Falls

Dear Friends,

Lent, a 40-day period of divine reflection on the death of Jesus and sacred preparation for the Resurrection of Christ, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday. Good Friday–the first day after Lent–is a time for us, as followers of Christ, to walk with Him to Golgotha and to stand with Him at the Cross. Easter, the most transformative event in Christian history, marks the shift from Sabbath to Sunday worship, known as the Lord’s Day. It is a celebration of our new life in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again for our eternal life.

Easter Sunday Service – April 20, 2025, at 10:00 A.M.
During our Easter service, we will continue our sermon series, The Invisible War, with Session Four: “When Our World Falls Apart.” We will turn to the Book of Lamentations chapter 3 and explore five powerful lessons on how to restore our broken world and lives through Jesus Christ–who specializes in restoration and resurrection. During the children’s time, we will also discover the meaning behind the Easter egg through a video clip.

As I mentioned last week, these sacred gatherings offer a wonderful opportunity for us to invite our friends and our loved ones to reflect on the steadfast love of Jesus–who comforts and forgives us through the Cross–and to rejoice in the supernatural power that gives us victory over sin and death, and hope for eternal life in Heaven.

Church News and Announcements for This Sunday:

Thank you all for praying for the Spring Bible study, “The Invisible War,” and a special thanks to those who participated. Although the study concluded this past Wednesday, the sermon series on this topic will continue over the next four or five Sunday worship services. The Fall Bible study, titled “Life Management,” is scheduled to take place sometime in October and November.

Shopping Card orders will be collected on Sunday, April 27. Please place your order with Donna Schley. Thanks to everyone who uses the cards.

Donations to the Salvation Army Food Bank will be collected on Sunday, May 4. Everyone’s ongoing support for our community is greatly appreciated.

May 4: Guest Speaker – Ray Coker, Lay Preacher from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Gamebridge (Note: Caleb will lead the worship for the Ballyduff congregation under his interim moderator care on this date.)

St. Andrew’s Women of the Church will meet on Wednesday, May 14th, at 1:30 p.m. in the Church basement. Everyone is welcome to join this fellowship.

We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming events and worship services.

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

I hope most of us have regained power and are enjoying the normalcy we often take for granted. For those who are still without electricity since the recent freezing rainstorm, I hope that power will be restored to you sooner rather than later. As a church and community, we are deeply grateful to Hydro One crews and civic servants for their hard work in restoring damaged power lines and clearing hazardous road conditions in our areas.

With that said, I warmly invite you and your loved ones to join us for our hybrid service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. This Sunday, we will continue our sermon series The Invisible War and explore session three, titled “Why is life in this world so hard?” I believe this message will be especially relevant as we reflect on the suffering and triumph through Jesus’ Cross on Passion Sunday, also known as Palm Sunday or the last Sunday in Lent. We will discuss how to survive and succeed in our spiritual warfare, through our mighty Redeemer, Jesus, who can restore our broken world and is the true Light, capable of saving us from every area of damage.

Church News and Announcements for this Sunday:

Spring Bible Study: “The Invisible War” taught by Rick Warren
Session 7: “How to Avoid Temptation”
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 16, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join us for Bible study and prayer time! Please note that this will be the final section of the study.

Upcoming Events and Services:
April 18: Good Friday Pancake Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
April 18: Good Friday Worship at 9:30 a.m.
April 20: Easter Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.

These sacred gatherings above will provide a wonderful opportunity for us to invite our friends to remember the steadfast love Jesus has shown us–comforting and forgiving us through the Cross–and rejoice in the supernatural strength He has given us to overcome the power of sin and death, with the hope of eternal life in Heaven.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday and in the upcoming services.

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, Mark Mitchell will be sharing the Word of God with us. We are deeply grateful to him in advance for his spiritual leadership in our worship service.

With this note, I warmly invite you to join us for our hybrid service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 10:00 A.M.

Church News and Announcements for this Sunday:

Donations to the Salvation Army Food Bank will be collected on this Sunday. Everyone’s ongoing support for our community is greatly appreciated.

Spring Bible Study: “The Invisible War” taught by Rick Warren
Session 4: “God’s Antidotes to Temptation”
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 9, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join us for Bible study and prayer time!

St. Andrew’s Women of the Church will meet on Wednesday, April 9th, 1:30 p.m. in the Church basement. Everyone is welcome to join this fellowship.

Upcoming Events and Services
April 18: Good Friday Pancake Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
April 18: Good Friday Worship at 9:30 a.m.
April 20: Easter Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, Ray Coker, Lay Speaker from Knox Presbyterian Church in Gamebridge, will share the Word of God with us. We are grateful to Ray in advance for his spiritual leadership in our worship service.

With this note, I warmly invite you to join us for our hybrid service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 10:00 A.M.

Church News and Announcements for this Sunday:

Spring Bible Study: “The Invisible War” taught by Rick Warren
Session 4: “God’s Antidotes to Temptation”
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 2, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join us for Bible study and prayer time!

Donations to the Salvation Army Food Bank will be collected on next Sunday, April 6. Everyone’s ongoing support for our community is greatly appreciated.

Guest Speaker: April 6 – Mark Mitchell

Upcoming Events and Services
April 18: Good Friday Pancake Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
April 18: Good Friday Worship at 9:30 a.m.
April 20: Easter Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Looking forward to worshipping with you all!

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

I warmly invite you to join us for our hybrid service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. During the service, we will continue exploring Part 2 of the “Invisible War” sermon series, titled “Set Free From Me.”

Church News and Announcements for this Sunday:

Shopping Card orders will be collected this Sunday. Thank you to everyone who uses the cards.

Spring Bible Study: “The Invisible War” taught by Rick Warren
Session 3: “The Three Kinds of Temptation”
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join us for Bible study and prayer time!

Guest Speakers: March 30 – Ray Coker & April 6 – Mark Mitchell (On both Sundays, Caleb will lead the worship for the congregations under his interim moderator care.)

Donations to the Salvation Army Food Bank will be collected on Sunday, April 6. Everyone’s ongoing support for our community is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Events and Services
April 18: Good Friday Pancake Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
April 18: Good Friday Worship at 9:30 a.m.
April 20: Easter Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Looking forward to worshipping with you all!

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, we are launching a new sermon series called “The Invisible War.” Over the next six weeks, we will learn “how to better understand, overcome, and avoid temptation, providing tools from God’s Word to help us win the battle” in a spiritual war (Excerpted from the study guide of the Invisible War).

I warmly invite you to join us for our hybrid service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 10:00 A.M.

Church News and Announcements for this Sunday:

Spring Bible Study: “The Invisible War” taught by Rick Warren
Session 2: “The Process of Temptation”
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 19, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join us for Bible study and prayer time!

Guest Speakers: March 30 – Ray Coker & April 6 – Mark Mitchell (On both Sundays, Caleb will lead the worship for the congregations under his interim moderator care.)

April 18: Good Friday Pancake Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
April 18: Good Friday Worship at 9:30 a.m.
April 20: Easter Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Looking forward to worshipping with you all!

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

I want to begin this Sunday’s service invitation email with a reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins this coming Sunday, March 9, 2025. Please remember to set your clocks forward one hour this Saturday night so we can all be prepared for worship on time.

This Sunday, we will celebrate the sacrament of Baptism for Aydria Martire, the youngest daughter of Paolo and Joanne Martire, during our regular service. As a church family, we are overjoyed to witness this sacrament with the Martire family and their friends and to make baptismal vows before the Lord. Your prayers for the Martire family and your presence at this sacramental service–either in person or via Zoom–will be deeply appreciated.

With that in mind, I warmly invite you to join us for our hybrid Baptism Service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. During the service, we will reflect on the baptism of Jesus and explore the meaning of our baptism in Christ from the Gospel of Matthew 3.

Church News and Announcements for this Sunday:

Spring Bible Study: “The Invisible War” taught by Rick Warren
Session 1: “Understanding the Sources and Purposes of Temptation”
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 12, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join us for Bible study and prayer time!
Note: This study will be conducted via Zoom. The Zoom meeting ID and passcode are the same as those used for our Sunday services.

Guest Speakers: March 30 – Ray Coker & April 6 – Mark Mitchell (On both Sundays, Caleb will lead the worship for the congregations under his interim moderator care.)

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).

Looking forward to worshipping with you all!

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a sacred time of reflection on Jesus’ sacrifice and remembrance of Christ’s love, both of which were demonstrated on the cross. This is a wonderful opportunity for us, as an inclusive faith community, to come to God together, just as we are, observe the divine elements, and deepen our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Whether you are a regular worshiper or new to our church, all are welcome to participate in this sacred experience. For those joining the service via Zoom, please prepare suitable communion elements for yourselves and follow the officiant’s instructions during the observance.

With this note, I warmly invite you to join us for our hybrid Holy Communion service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. During the service, we will conclude our New Year’s sermon series, “Time to Dream,” with part 6, titled “Finish.”

Below are the church news and announcements for this Sunday:

Donations to the local Salvation Army Food Bank will be collected on Sunday, March 2, 2025. All donations are greatly appreciated.

An ecumenical event, World Day of Prayer, will be held at the Salvation Army Fenelon Falls, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025. Everyone is welcome to join for this prayer gathering and fellowship afterward.

A spring Bible study via Zoom, The Invisible War taught by Rick Warren, will take place on Wednesdays from March 12 to April 16, 2025. A more detailed information sheet about this study is attached once again. Please note that you can pick up a hard copy of the study guide in the sanctuary if you’d like to join this Bible study and fellowship.

On a personal note, my wife and I would like to share the Instagram page of our eldest son, Caleb Jr. As a physiotherapist, he has uploaded posts and reels related to back and neck pain management and exercises on Instagram. If you are interested in this topic, please click the link below to watch the short clips and read the instructions for the movements. https://www.instagram.com/movewcaleb/

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Looking forward to worshipping with you all!

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

I want to begin this Sunday’s service email by echoing what Mark Mitchell, Clerk of the St. Andrew’s Session, briefly mentioned during the annual meeting this past Sunday. As he said, on behalf of the Session, we would like to express our deep appreciation to you, the congregation, for taking the time and effort to participate in the Annual Meeting, both in person and via Zoom, despite the severe winter storm. We also extend our gratitude to those who have stepped into various volunteer roles within the church.

As Mark emphasized, I believe God is the One who continuously provides the resources we need to keep our church doors open, as these doors belong to Him. Through God’s doors, His life and light are shared with His people–both inside the church and beyond. In other words, all individuals are welcome to come and be loved by God at any time, just as they are.

Mark, thank you not only for presiding over the meeting but also for encouraging us with your insights and for clearing the snow with multiple shovels that Sunday.

With this note, I am delighted to extend an invitation to you to join us for our hybrid worship service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Our guest speaker will be Rev. Aaron Miller, who will share the Word of God via a pre-recorded ‘Together We Worship’ video. Some of us remember Aaron and his wife, Kate, along with their two sons, Levi and Jude, who have visited our church on several occasions. Aaron also delivered a message for us during my holiday.

His bio follows: Rev. Aaron Miller is the Congregational Minster of University Hill Congregation, in Vancouver BC. He began serving there July 2016. Prior to that, he was the minister at Faith Centennial United Church, in Selkirk, ON, for nearly 7 years. Aaron is a graduate of Emmanuel College, in Toronto. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and two young sons. He enjoys the peculiar location of University Hill, on the UBC campus, knowing that the particularities of campus life pose interesting challenges for preaching and living the gospel. Aaron also enjoys the opportunity to interact and work with the students and faculty at the Vancouver School of Theology.

Below are the church news and announcements for this Sunday:

The first communion service for 2025 will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Please mark your calendars and be prepared to observe the steadfast and amazing love of Christ shown on the cross.

Church Cleaning–Volunteer Needed: We are searching for a volunteer to clean the church on a regular basis. Please speak to an elder if you can help.

A Spring Bible study via Zoom, The Invisible War taught by Rick Warren, will take place on Wednesdays from March 12 to April 16, 2025. A more detailed information sheet about this study is attached again. Please note that a hard copy of the study guide, priced at $15, will be available for purchase in the sanctuary after the service on February 23, 2025.

Service Information, Church Announcements and videos of weekly Sunday’s message are posted on our church website for those who wish to watch at their convenience.

Looking forward to worshipping with you all!

Blessings,

Caleb

Dear Friends,

I would like to begin by emphasizing the 2025 Annual Meeting scheduled for this Sunday. The meeting will be held immediately following the service and will be presided over by Mark Mitchell, Clerk of the Session. We are grateful in advance for his spiritual leadership during this important congregational gathering. Your presence, whether in person or via Zoom, as well as your prayers for this assembly, will be greatly appreciated. During this time, we will reflect on what God has done over the past year and beyond, and look forward to what He will continue to do in our church in the days ahead.

With this note, I am delighted to extend an invitation to you and your loved ones to join us for our hybrid worship service at St. Andrew’s Fenelon Falls on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. During this service, we will continue to explore our New Year’s sermon series, “Time to Dream,” with Part 5: “From Dead End to Deliverance.” We will also participate in a prayer shawl dedication. Together, we will pray over the shawls knitted throughout the past year and celebrate this vital pastoral ministry. A copy of this Sunday’s service information and sermon is attached for your reference.

Church News and Announcements:

Due to an unforeseen situation with our guest speaker, a Together We Worship video sermon will be presented during our worship service next Sunday, February 23, 2025, as Caleb will be leading the service in Ballyduff as the interim moderator.

The first communion service for the year will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Please mark your calendars and be prepared to observe the steadfast and amazing love of Christ shown on the cross.

A spring Bible study via Zoom, The Invisible War taught by Rick Warren, will take place on Wednesdays from March 12 to April 16, 2025. A more detailed information sheet about this study is attached. Please note that a hard copy of the study guide, priced at $15, will be available for purchase in the sanctuary after the service on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’” – John 11:25-27

Blessings,

Caleb