The Church of St. Andrew, Scarborough has many activities to meet the spiritual and social needs and interests of our parishioners and the members of our community.

For information specifically about activities for young people go to the Youth section of the web site.

Although there is a broad overlap among activities, church activities include spiritual, social, and fund-raising activities. Click on an activity below to get more information, or for a comprehensive description of all church related activities, you can download a copy of our Church Handbook in PDF format.

Spiritual Activities include:
·      An Altar Guild whose members make sure the sanctuary of the church is prepared before all services.
 · Choir to provide choral singing during church services.
· Church School teachers who help our youth develop spiritually.
· Greeters who welcome people to our church.
 · A Liturgical Team that carries out responsibilities to aid the rector and enhance the service.
 · An Outreach Committee that provides a variety of services to the community.
 · Prayer and Bible Study Group that helps members develop spiritually.
· Prayer Chain whose members use the power of prayer to help others.
· Sidespersons who provide essential services before, during, and after each service.
 · Stewardship Committee who members encourage parishioners to be effective and generous stewards of their time, talent, and treasure.
·  St. Andrews Sisters who encourage women in the Parish to grow spiritually.
 ·  Worship Team who provide feedback to the Rector on possible changes to the worship services to make them more meaningful to the congregation.
  ·   Lay Pastoral Visitation Team who visit the sick and shut-ins to provide them with a friendly visit.

Social Activities include:
  ·    Anglican Church Women (ACW) who develop and implement activities for the women of the parish.
  ·  Caribbean Night held once per year to provide a fun time of Caribbean style food and entertainment.
 ·  A Euchre Club that meets once per week.
 · Pub Night held once per year to enjoy pub songs, entertainment, and food.
 · Excursions such as scenic bus tours.
 · Other activities held on a one-time basis.

Fund Raising Activities include:
·A twice-yearly Rummage/Garage/Tailgate sale where items donated by parishioners and members of the community are sold at almost give-away prices.
·A yearly New to You sale where clothes, jewellery, and other items in new condition are sold at bargain prices.
 ·A yearly Christmas Treasures Bazaar to display and sell craft and food items made by parishioners.

Spiritual Activities:

Altar Guild

In teams of four to six people, the Altar Guild prepares and beautifies the Church sanctuary for all Church services, including Sunday and Wednesday services, Weddings, Funerals, Ordinations, Memorials etc. The teams ensure that everything is in the Sanctuary that the Clergy require to complete the services.
Choir

The choir is made up of approximately 25 to 30 male and female members of the congregation who enjoy choral singing. The choir adds to the beauty of the church services by providing a choral contribution to the liturgy. The choir is under the direction of our Organist and Choir Master. The choir practices once per week (usually on Thursday evenings) and sings during the 10:00 am Sunday service.
Greeters

Greeters welcome people as they arrive for worship services. They make every effort to make sure that new people feel comfortable when they arrive at our church for the first time. They make newcomers feel welcome, answer their questions, and help them sign the guest register and fill out a new parishioner card when applicable.

Liturgical Team

The Liturgical Team members function in a leadership role in the celebration of worship. Members of the team include: Eucharistic Ministers, Crucifers, Book Persons, Cantors, Servers, Torchbearers, Lectors, and Intercessors. They provide the services required at worship services in a manner specified and directed by the clergy.

The Liturgical team has the following members:

Sunday School Teachers

Teachers in the Church School provide religious education to the young people in the Congregation. We have one Sunday school superintendent who is appointed by the Rector and four to five teachers. These teachers like to work with, and help develop, young persons; like to teach; and are rewarded to see spiritual growth in others. For more information on youth activities, visit our Youth page.

Outreach Committee

Prayer and Bible Study Group

Members of the Prayer and Bible Study Group enhance their faith by learning more about Christian beliefs. They learn more about Christian beliefs in a group environment through prayer and the study and discussion of the bible and related information. They share their learning experiences and knowledge of the bible with other members of the Parish.

Prayer Chain

Members of the Prayer Chain use the power of prayer to help others. They work closely with the Clergy to identify the need for prayerful intercessions. They act as the focal point for people needing help through the power of prayer.

Sidespersons

Sidespersons assist the congregation before, during, and after the worship service. Before services (including special services such as funerals and ordinations, as well as the normal Sunday Services), they greet people, issue them the church bulletin and, when necessary, guide them to available seats. They coordinate parking for special services. During the service, they count the congregation, take up the offering, and, control the flow of people receiving communion. After the service, they straighten up the books in the pews and remove any debris, turn off the lights and lock the doors.

Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee plans and conducts programs to encourage Parishioners to be effective and generous stewards of their time, talent, and treasure. The Stewardship committee is made up of the Rector, one of the Church Wardens or Deputy Wardens, and several members of the congregation. They design and implement programs to encourage the sharing of time, talent, and financial resources throughout the Parish.

Worship Team

The Worship Committee researches and suggests enhancements to Worship Services. They bring forward a sharing of ideas and ways to worship God; hear from parishioners of their desires and hopes for worship, and provide a sounding board for the Clergy on what activities should be considered for providing more meaningful worship experiences for the congregation.

Social Activities

Anglican Church Women (ACW)

The ACW is made up of women from the Parish. The ACW is an organization for women of the Parish where they can meet together for fun and fellowship and where they can contribute their talents to organize and conduct events that will foster a feeling of sisterhood and accomplishment and provide a service to others.

Hospitality Committee

The hospitality committee prepares meals and refreshments for Church activities. Members of this committee provide refreshments  (such as coffee, tea, juice, and cookies) after the 10:00 am Sunday service and at other special occasions.

Pub Night

The Church Hall is transformed into a British pub, where people can enjoy an evening of fun filled with singing and entertainment. Beer and wine are available and the evening ends with a pub style meal. Pub Night usually occurs in early February.

Other Activities held on a one-time basis !

Excursions

Church groups, such as the ACW plan and arrange scenic bus tours or other excursions where members of the parish and community can go on trips lasting one or more days to various places around Ontario.

Musical Entertainment

Church groups may arrange for choirs, chamber ensembles, and soloists, to provide musical evenings from time to time.

Dances

Church groups organize dances from time to time, usually based on a theme, such as Valentine's Day, or Halloween.

Fund Raising Activities

Rummage/Garage/Tailgate Sale

The rummage/garage/tailgate sales are fund raising activities where members of the Parish and Community donate used but saleable items and baked goods for sale by the Church. The Sale Committee arranges for the pre-publicity for the sale, sets up and displays the items, conducts the sale of the items, and cleans up afterwards. These sales are usually held twice a year, in May and September

New-to-You Sale

The New-to-You Sale is a sale of clothing, jewellery, and other items in brand new condition donated by parishioners and members of the community. The New-to-You Sale is held once a year, usually in the fall.

Christmas Treasures Bazaar
The Bazaar is a major fund raising activity for the Church of St. Andrew where members of the Parish and Community donate items they have made, such as craft items, preserves and condiments, sewn and knitted clothing, and baked goods for sale by the Church. High quality used but saleable items, such as jewellery, lamps, and silverware may also be included. The Church puts on a sale of these items, (often with a Christmas theme) in the late fall. The Bazaar is usually organized with many "Booths", each stocked and staffed by members of a particular Church Group. A silent auction of items donated by organizations and merchants, and a tearoom where customers can buy light lunches of food prepared by parishioners are also part of the Bazaar.