Home – Gary
work and witness of...
47 Owen St., Barrie, ON
be fueled by your faith.
Presbyterian
Church
be fueled by your faith.
enjoy singing at St. Andrews.
Worship
Every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m., through music and song, prayer, preaching and study, we share the biblical story of God’s love for all the world as revealed in Jesus Christ. Week by week, we faithfully and joyfully gather to lift up our hearts.
Church Mission
As a congregation of Christ’s people, we seek to discover, celebrate & share the love of God. Through worship, prayer, praise & service, we endeavour to follow the compassionate example of Jesus Christ to our neighbours, and the world.
Ministries
Nursery, Church School, Bible Studies, Women’s, Missionary Society, Pastoral Care Team, Youth Group Summer Vacation Bible Camp, Music, Out of the Cold Program, Mission & Outreach, Art Guild. Call for more information.
Latest Sermons
Take Me To Church
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13 November
Congregation votes to look at new opportunities
St. Andrew’s congregation decided Sunday to journey in faith and close the doors on its building on the corner...
2 November
Soup venture nourishes staff and customers
The Raw Carrot builds skills, friendships and dignity as it serves hand-crafted soups - an inspiring mission project that...
4 October
As the leaves dance and the days shorten days, He refuels me
Each day, the sun rises later, the morning is darker. Each day, the sun sets earlier, with the reminder...
8 September
A year of adventure into the unexplored begins
The first week of September is always an adventure - and we're getting ready for a season of activities...
31 August
Walking through what remains and thankfully remembering
As we take stock after our February fire, let's have a look at what remains, as insurance company contractors...
16 August
Everything in its season – and phase
Phase 1, the emergency clean-up phase after our Feb. 19 fire, is wrapping up. The final piece in that...
25 June
A time for everything, thanks be to God
It's been a busy year, perhaps the first regular year of activities post-Covid. In the middle of it all...
18 June
On our own land – learning and sharing together
Out of our long-time building since the fire in mid-February, the past few months have felt like we were...
8 June
Diversity and learning on our human journey
As a human creation of this loving Creator, each one of us is unique, beautiful and valued. Our human...
21 May
Looking at the new (church) season through modern eyes
Jesus may be working from home, but we are out in the fields -- in the factory or in...
10 May
Reflecting as we enter our 175th year
We continue to walk together and serve in Barrie as we begin our 175th anniversary year. We don't know...
2 May
Using tech to hear our Shepherd’s voice
Money, some say, is the root of all evil. Actually, it’s the love of money that’s a cause for...
24 April
Gardening – a practice of hope
Certainly we are getting April showers… and we know there will be May flowers. Perhaps this sounds trite or...
13 April
Sign up to serve food and hope
Sign up to serve meals with the Busby Centre or donate to the food bank as food insecurity rises....
2 April
We greet the King in the midst of our uncertainties
Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where we confront...
25 March
After the fire and into the unknown: the clean up continues
The upcoming week, the last week of March, will see emergency cleanup work occur - including removing debris and...
16 March
Latest on the fire investigation and clean up
Surveillance video of the evening of Feb. 19, 2023 shows a community group let the man Barrie Police later...
9 March
Long-time friends welcome us Sunday
Starting March 12, we have our own temporary space to worship as a family again. It’s a place where...
5 March
Cleaning up after the fire
Life can change in an instant. Two weeks ago, our building was hit by fire. A lot has happened...
20 February
Fire guts library, investigation closes building
Barrie, Monday, February 20, 2023 – Just after 10:30 p.m. yesterday, Barrie Fire responded to a fire at St....
15 February
Age-old promise solves burnout and rust-out
Does life sometimes feel as if you’re just wandering? The feeling can be, too often, “What will I do...
2 February
Be-attitudes: try one on!
Simple doesn’t necessarily equate to easy. That’s true in terms of words and deeds, and its especially true when...
25 January
Jesus meets us where we are on the journey
Our Matinee and Munchies session focuses on the opportunities for new adventures despite loss, endings and grief. Join retired...
18 January
We’re thankful for those joining in helping warm up Barrie
Community support helps us share the warmth with our Little Winter Warmers Tree.
8 January
Beloved and belonging
Little Winter Warmers Tree warms up people in damp, dark days downtown Barrie.
26 December
Journeying together to discover God’s love for us
The big day in our culture is over: Christmas Day, the day for family, presents and a feast. Talk...
21 December
Into the darkness God’s Love comes and shines
Today is the shortest day, the longest night. It has felt like a long slow decline into darkness. Even...
11 December
Peace and joy are tied together to sustain and inspire
Last Sunday and today were Advent 2 and 3. But what does that entail – and what does it...
30 November
Sharing the Light and its love
Today is St. Andrew’s Day. St. Andrew was one of the first two disciples Jesus called to help Him....
20 November
Sharing and caring in downtown Barrie
Nothing can be so discouraging as reading the headlines: inflation, a lack of housing that’s affordable, cutbacks at the...
14 November
Breathing in and living in the present
Too often, our minds and our imaginations can run wild. And sometimes they take us down dark paths and...
6 November
Sharing the flame of love of hope
It only takes a spark to get a fire going. That’s the opening line of a song that inspires...
24 October
Mission is practical love
Practical Compassion. It’s the title of a book, published in August by Presbyterian World Service & Development to commemorate...
16 October
Changing lives and sharing hope in Malawi
For 39 years, the Presbyterian Church in Canada has been offering a helpful hand of love in Malawi. One...
10 October
Being thankful changes everything
Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. The skies are a bright blue, the trees robed in glorious colours and...
4 October
A small seed of faith is something to be truly thankful for
This weekend, it’s Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. We are grateful and celebrate the plentiful harvest. The joy of biting...
25 September
Caring for and sharing God’s creativity and goodness
For some, fall means pumpkin spice. For others, it’s the harvest – with fresh apples to enjoy and to...
11 September
In compelling love, the Good Shepherd rescues you and me
The season of creation happens to coincide with the early apple harvest here in Central Ontario. Few things are...
6 September
Our Creator shows us sustaining generosity
As I walked barefoot on the grass and onto the rocks, and listened to the waves gently roll onto...
28 August
Bask in and share the love that streams to us
Summer’s sun fades as do the flowers of the field. The days shorten and the nights become cooler. And...
16 August
Being nourished by the Spirit, we live fruitfully
This week has been a sad one for us at St. Andrew’s: our dear friend and long-time secretary/treasurer Barb...
7 August
Living courageously and compassionately
The last few weeks in Presbyterian circles in Simcoe County have been exciting ones: new ministers have taken their...
1 August
Take time to pause, rest in God’s creative love
Wherever we are on our journey, God reminds us of His enduring, steadfast love. It’s easy to overlook...
24 July
Taking time to connect
Relationships – whether with your neighbour, your family or your colleagues at work – require connection. A simple “hello,...
18 July
Seizing the day
Each day is full of opportunities to explore God’s goodness and the wonders of our world. And this week,...
12 July
An inspiring spin on the Good Samaritan: being kind to those we meet, wherever
This week, Rev. Joanne discussed the parable of the Good Samaritan. Too often we gloss over the parable Jesus...
9 July
Kids, explore God’s love with us!
Songs, games and fun snacks – and a program that explores the incredible depth and breadth of God’s powerful...
6 July
Mid-week fellowship resumes today
Many call Wednesday “hump day” – as they refer to the workday journey to the weekend. They took a...
27 June
Shifting gears into summer
In the days before the pandemic, the last week of June would mean the end of the academic –...
19 June
Going where you’d never imagined you’d go
This week, Rev. Joanne explored Jesus’ trip across the lake to an area no upstanding Jewish citizen would ever...
12 June
Letting God out of the box in our heads
Three in One. That’s the message of Trinity Sunday. And many ministers, pastors and preachers have used an array...
5 June
Defining Christian event was Inclusive
There are defining moments in all our lives, and in the life of the Christian church, Pentecost is acknowledged...
29 May
Walk softly in springtime
In the pre-pandemic days, St. Andrew’s choir would, every year, sing Walk Softly in Springtime. A gentle hymn of...
23 May
Relax. God has a plan – for you and for me.
This past holiday weekend, as a horrible storm went through Ontario, it snapped and uprooted trees, cut power for...
19 May
St. Andrew’s joins in healing
In many of our communities and churches, we have territorial acknowledgements that often include a phrase about moving forward...
15 May
As Jesus loves us, we love others
Inclusivity. It matters. Because it matters to Jesus. And to His disciples, including Peter, who shares the good news...
12 May
Helping people become – and stay – housed
Earlier this week, there were 150 tents pitched along Lakeshore Drive in Barrie. It wasn’t a kid’s camping event,...
8 May
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture
Psalm 23 is so well-known it can be taken for granted, as the words quickly roll off our tongues....
1 May
Our history is full of people caring and sharing
Today at St. Andrew’s we celebrated our 173rd anniversary. Our faith community dates back to September 1843, when a...
28 April
It’s all about a relationship
This week, St. Andrew’s began its life-long learning series that focuses on healing and reconciliation. United Church of Canada...
24 April
What wondrous love and peace
There are rainy days, damp days and sunny days. It’s a whole lot easier to give thanks and praise...
21 April
Join us on our reconciliation journey
Our Spring 2022 life-long learning series features Indigenous elders, teachers and other specialists as we seek to learn more...
17 April
Waiting to see the risen Lord
The brass and the trumpets, the triumphant hymns and hand bells were all part of our celebration of our...
14 April
Jesus keeps it simple: Love one another
Today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy is actually a translation of the Latin word “mandatum”. In John 13, Jesus gives...
10 April
Let us journey together this Holy Week
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is over; the palm branches and loud Hosannas are in the past. And we...
7 April
Creativity, getting messy and new work
God is doing new work in us – and over the past several weeks, our Art Guild has been...
3 April
God is doing a new thing – in you, in me, in us
Now that the snow has almost all melted, we can see the blooms of the snowdrops and crocuses and...
31 March
Every child matters – and it matters that we all learn
As Association of First Nations former chief Phil Fontaine told CTV News “We’re all in this together.” He was...
27 March
We’ve all made mistakes, but we’re all welcome
Perhaps the only thing not welcome today was the return of wintry weather. Today, we contemplated the parable of...
22 March
Sharing and showing love for Ukraine
One of Barrie’s creative gifts to our world is Don Komarechka. He’s a photographer who explores the smallest details...
21 March
Second chances and new life
Second chances. Imagine if we could redo some event in our life over again. It’s easy and it’s the...
17 March
Being creative is experiencing the divine
The days are longer and it’s starting to feel like spring, a time for new beginnings. St. Andrew’s Art...
13 March
God’s promises are for you
Just imagine Abram. He was an older guy, in his late 70s and he’d not had an easy life....
9 March
“Without mission, they are alone”
When she takes her holidays from work this spring, Sandra Burns is packing more than her desire to help...
6 March
Jesus has been there, done that
One of the incredible aspects of Jesus’ living among us was He became fully human. Which means He felt...
2 March
Lenten thoughts and journeys
So how do we journey with Jesus during Lent? Do we imagine what He faced as He ventured into...
27 February
Butterflies… transformed and transforming
One of the amazing things in nature is the journey of the caterpillar. The humble caterpillar munches and munches....
25 February
We pray for peace
As part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, we join in praying with our partners in Ukraine as...
23 February
Caring beyond Canada’s borders
Doing God’s work isn’t something any of us do alone. Partnerships are key. And so it is with the...
20 February
It’s simple really: Love others and do good
With Valentine’s Day past us, thankfully, it’s time to talk about what love means. It’s a decision to do...
17 February
Hidden promises are ours for the seeking
Just a few days ago we were in a deep freeze. We’ve had a few days of milder weather...
13 February
Something God alone can see
Face it: Many of us are tired of winter. This year, we didn’t have a January thaw that reduced...
9 February
Art for the Heart full of colour
As winter wanes and the grey skies begin to lighten, add some more colour to your life with our...
6 February
Life-changing grace abounds for you and me
Like all well-known stories, the one in which Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James and John as His first disciples...
30 January
“I choose you” – yes, you
“Why me?” That’s a fair question. Why you? Well, that was a variation on the question Jeremiah asked...
27 January
Our organist returns to his roots – at the church keyboard
It brings us joy that Dennis Thompson has come out of retirement as he joins us as our organist....
23 January
The heavens declare the glory of God
The mercury is dipping to extreme lows these days. And the days are still on the short side. Even...
20 January
Given a new life. Take comfort in it.
This week’s theme seems to be how God uses each of us to do great things. For example, the...
16 January
Lighting up your corner of our world
It seems too many people who’ve had an impact in our world have left it: Betty White, Sidney Poitier,...
12 January
Shop to care and share
Doesn’t it seem that $20 doesn’t go very far in the grocery store these days? All too often, a...
9 January
When the darkness and the waters seem overwhelming
Nothing - not the dark, bone-chilling days, not the loneliness of lockdowns, not the worries 2022 will bring -...
2 January
God’s light and love are ours
The simple nativity scenes, the carols, the decorations and lights — it’s tempting to put them away now that...
30 December
The work of Christmas begins
God with us. That’s the miracle of Christmas – but now that the gifts have been opened, what do...
25 December
Christmas brings us the light and warmth of God’s love
Marking the birth of our Saviour, Jesus, Christmas brings us the light and warmth of God’s love. Just imagine...
23 December
Joining in feeding others
A little thing – a granola bar, a little box of cereal, a box of macaroni and cheese –...
19 December
Lighting up our world with Love
This week, we lit the fourth Advent candle: Love. Even in these dark, uncertain times of the pandemic –...
16 December
Art for the Heart inspires
What can you do with paper and glue? That’s what our art guild, Art for the Heart, explored this...
12 December
Staying healthy, staying safe
At St. Andrew’s, we take your health and safety seriously. Starting in January, we will require all who join...
12 December
Sharing the warmth, experiencing the joy
This third Sunday in Advent was special for us at St. Andrew’s: It was our annual Mitten Tree Sunday....
8 December
Get ready to share – and have some fun!
Sunday – this Sunday, Dec. 12 – is Mitten Tree Sunday. At St. Andrew’s, that’s cause for excitement. We...
5 December
Peace – more than just lighting a candle
Noticed that the days are shorter, that the darkness is ever growing? The sun rises long after the high...
1 December
Advent calendars that share God’s love
December. Kids often look forward to Dec. 1 because it’s the first day they open their Advent calendar and...
28 November
Creative ways to share
This is our Mitten Tree. It’s bare – but it won’t be for long. And it’s one way we...
23 November
Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas
Jesus – name above all names. Rev. Joanne’s Advent study discusses the meaning behind the names of Christ: On...
21 November
Giving a little can have a major impact
Sharing is caring. Each one of us is blessed with opportunities to share and make an impact on our...
18 November
Creative and Caring
‘Tis the season – the season for crafts and shopping for gifts. But we can make that even better....
14 November
Our faith journey includes doubt
Certainty isn’t faith; self-sufficiency is. Our faith is a journey as we share our lives with God – and...
10 November
Real. Relational.
In our fall study series, we’re discussing the book, Searching for Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans. Our study leader,...
7 November
We remember – and we are thankful.
Being in Barrie since before Confederation (1849 to be exact; if you want to read more, check out our...
31 October
Multi-musical talents
Some of our talented musicians are stepping in to share their talents as we praise God together. Ken Farrar is...
24 October
Sharing about caring among Indigenous people
Rev. Andrew Song spent several years working as a “foreign missionary in Canada.” Originally from Taiwan, Rev. Song came...
19 October
Understanding how the Bible works
Does the Bible confuse you with stories of violence and pestilence, of seeming contradictions, of cultures and times so...
17 October
Gratefully sharing and helping
Want to support St. Andrew’s work in our community and in our world? There are lots of ways to...
17 October
Accompanying us as we sing
Kristin Koetsier shares her gift of music with us as we worship and praise our Lord. Since age five,...
10 October
Singing with a thankful heart
This Thanksgiving Sunday, we have even more reason to give thanks: the return of live singing! Our Praise Team...
5 October
Creating better living in Malawi
St. Andrew’s Women’s Missionary Society has supported several life-changing projects in Malawi . Here’s one that feeds and We support...
13 September
Sunday Worship – Online or in-person
Online or in-person – you can choose how to worship this Sunday with us at St. Andrew’s Barrie. Our...
10 September
Let the sun shine in! Or should be say, the Son shine in.
Our west-facing sanctuary window, featuring Jesus our Lord, has been under cover all summer, as window restoration specialists have...
12 August
Honouring the Children: Reconciliation and Residential Schools Fund.
In honour of the children who were lost and all people living with the consequences of that legacy, The...
1 August
A Joint Statement from the Current and Former Moderator
Regarding Residential Schools We issue this statement of repentance and commitment to action today, aware of our own responsibility...
Get in touch with Blessing theme today and get ready to see your church grow!Marina Leopold
I Just wanted to let you know how pleased we are and how great the Blessing theme is working for our National ChurchMortimer Elmo
Blessing theme has a real desire and heart for ministry within the local churchAline Drummond