Author: Nonsequitor

Posted by on Thursday, November 17th, 2016 in Clerk of Session

Hello St. Andrews!

This is a BIG thank you for your generosity to the Session Meat Pie fundraiser. The order window is now closed as Kerri Prong and her associates are building the orders. If you missed this time we will be reopening the process again in late winter 2017.


I’d like to recap what a success this fundraiser is.  There were 13 featured products available and 6 fruit pie alternatives. Many of you noticed the sweet pies were available and have already ordered them. The next order cycle will see the fruit pies featured and the meat pies still available. Featured in the merchandising trade usually means discounted prices – and yes they will be.

Here’s the early synopsis of how this will help St. Andrews achieve sustainable finances. 776 products were ordered in 71 individual orders with an estimated profit of $1,600. This goes directly to pay down the debt - 100% to the cause with 0% overhead.   
In development of this fundraiser there were a number of suggestions on additions to the traditional meat pie fare. If you have any requests for additions to the menu kindly tell me and we’ll see how this can be accomplished.

From me to you I humbly thank you for your support of St Andrews and will talk to you again in the New Year.


Rob Hodgson
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Update on the meat pie fundraiser

Posted by on Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 in Clerk of Session



Thank you for your support of the meat pie, fundraiser. Your orders are placed and Nutritious and Delicious are planning/making your orders. November 26 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, November 27 – 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, and November 27 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm are the designated times available for pickup.  Please use the Spring St. entrance to the new kitchen when picking up. It would be appreciated if you could bring reusable bags or boxes for your order.  


A special delivery and distribution to St. Luke’s’ on November 26th will be made. Details will be available soon.

Image result for volunteers neededWe need help!  To enable this three-day distribution 10 volunteers will be needed.  2-3 hours of time will make the difference. Please contact Rob Hodgson to make this fundraiser a reality. 

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Posted by on Monday, November 14th, 2016 in Clerk of Session

Communion December 21 & 24 for evening services. Servers, stations, and directions

The congregation is encouraged to follow the blue arrows as shown. Approach by the outside aisles and return via the centre aisles. Kindly move to an open station if a lot of people are standing on line to be served.


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Posted by on Friday, October 21st, 2016 in Clerk of Session



Exciting news - the Wednesday Family Night group on October 19th, declared the meat pie tasting as hand-made.   " They are very good, and the pastry tasted homemade" declared one of the participants. "Lots of good gravy" said another. Others in attendance agreed that the quality was top notch. 

We are about to launch a creative competition and tasting challenge after worship on the 30th. That day, I invite you to join the congregation, not only for our anniversary but to taste test meat pies from Nutritious and Delicious. AKA, Kerri Prong and Nancy Holbrook, who have been making pies for more than 20 years in Forest, Ontario. Additionally, someone will be the recipient of a pie in the face courtesy of the "small change ministry" recently started. The highlight of the day, in my humble opinion, will be the taste testing of meat pies, in assorted flavours.  These pies are currently for sale by a St. Andrew's Session Fundraiser. We hope to revitalize a tradition that will lead to sustainable funding of this Church. 

If you have been missing meat pies like we used to make, I'd like to say these like homemade pies are the answer. Be here on the 30th for pies in the face and pies yummy in your tummy. Please share the news about this fundraiser - a lot of people, not just Presbyterians ate a lot of meat pies, back in the day!


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Communion schedule for December 2016

Posted by on Tuesday, October 18th, 2016 in Clerk of Session


Communion Schedule December 2016



     As shown above, the communion schedule is December 4 standard communion (new format), December 20 intinction @ 7:30 pm (time approx. needs to be confirmed) and December 21 intinction @ 8:00 pm (time approx. needs to be confirmed). As noted above, Dec. 21- 4 servers are needed and Dec. 24 - 6 servers are required. A sign-up sheet will be circulated asap. Thank you all for your service in 2016 - you were amazing. 
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Meat Pie Session Fundraiser Campaign 2016 Sunday October 16

Posted by on Monday, October 17th, 2016 in Clerk of Session

It is a great pleasure for me to be here today.
You have heard by now that the Sustainable Finances Task Group has identified four Session sanctioned Fund-Raising adventures at St. Andrews. The impetus to change our standard budgeting and financial methods was driven by the Congregation at the Annual General Meeting. Today I’d like to tell you about the revival of the famous Meat Pie campaign. 
In the recent past, Karen Nixon along with the Beth McIntosh Groups’ oversight led this magnificent legacy and literally "thousands" of meat pies were sold in short order. Karen’s skills at St. Andrews are both legendary and earned through years of dedicated hard work. Karen created a standard of performance that saw her lead numerous groups over many years. Karen had the vision to use her personal missions to be a game changer. The Beth Macintosh Group reaches farther into our past and created a heritage record of financing so many projects that it is truly amazing. Throughout the years these dedicated women invented ways to keep us functioning through their charitable work. The sum result of all these efforts was people using personal missions to change the way we do business here at St Andrews.  

I would like to grasp the opportunity to congratulate us on launching these outstanding fundraising campaigns in which you can make a difference in the future of our church. Your donations, in any, amount can be the game changer we need to get ahead for years, maybe forever. The monies raised by selling meat pies, soups and tapas will go directly to offset the budget shortfall. I am honored to thank all: volunteers, sponsors, organizers and private persons, who see the need for St Andrews to endure.  In short Karen Kincaid and her helpers have created a sustainable heritage at New Hope Clothing and need us to sustain the building that lets her move her mission forward. The Thursday night supper group depend on a place to feed a group of friends we see every week. The residents of Hespeler now rely on how we take care of them. In uncertain times some remarkable people have taken the chance to make a difference.
OK so here’s the details – you will have received a package outlining the program and products today or we will make sure you get a package. In early October I met two women who run Delicious and Nutritious a small business that makes meat pies, soups, tapas as well as sweet pies. Kerri Prong and Nancy Holbrook have a personal mission too; they make hand-made meat pies in Forest Ontario. Almost exclusively they create their meals to supply fundraisers throughout Ontario. They have a fair history of an enduring mission of their own.  The offerings are many and multiple sizes are available as you see fit. So you’re saying “wonder what the pies are like?” Right?  To answer this question two dates have been reserved to try the product and make up your own mind.  Wednesday, October 19 at the Family dinner downstairs in the hall I will present a selection of pies for your tasting pleasure. On October 30 at the anniversary celebration after, worship my lovely wife Debbie and I will again present the meat pies and some soups for your evaluation. 
Orders must be in by November 13thYou decide the pickup date for your meat pies either November 26, 27 or 28. Other arrangements can be made if you add comments to the order form in the box provided.  Oh wait there are also discounts for bulk purchases – buy six 5” pies and save OR buy 6 soups and save more. I’m sure you have questions and so I will be downstairs today to try and answer if I can. Volunteers will be downstairs every Sunday from today until November 13 to help expedite your orders. You may leave your orders: with the church office during office hours, drop them on the collection plate, email them to me, or bring them to fellowship after worship. Payment will be accepted when you pick up your order – cash (exact change would help greatly) or cheques made payable to St Andrews Hespeler. It was my intention to recreate the meat pies you all know and cherish but reality is we cannot reproduce what Karen Nixon and the Beth Macintosh group created all those years ago. Roadblocks like: the costs to make pies, box, label and bag the pies, labeling requirements, allergy issues, Health and Safety concerns with surprise food inspections, the volume of volunteers required for 3 – 4 full days and the idea of doing this multiple times. 
Keri and Nancy in Forest can deliver some flexibility to sell meat pies whenever we want and to scale the fundraiser in ways that are unavailable onsite in Hespeler. Relationships like this are rare and far between. I like to think that the pies are like homemade but you will be the judges.
In closing, I wish to thank all of you, our sponsors and donors, for your donations. Let’s go on building the bonds of friendship and goodness through cooperation and mutual respect. Thank you all for being with us, joining us, and supporting our beginnings.

To quote an anonymous writer; “when courage, genius, and generosity hold hands, all things are possible.”
Rob COS
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St Andrews meat pie, soup and tapa 2016 Fund-raiser

Posted by on Saturday, October 15th, 2016 in Clerk of Session






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                      Fruit pies are available as follows: apple, cherry, raspberry and pumpkin                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Click to enlarge


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Posted by on Thursday, October 6th, 2016 in Clerk of Session

"The meat pie fundraiser that will knock your socks off"

I have received the go-ahead from Session on the plan, for at least 1,200 meat pies for pickup November 26 to 28, 2016. 
Our sales marketing scheme will start on October 23rd and run until November 13th. Last time we sold pies we completed orders for 1,440 (2014). Order forms will be available @ Fellowship on the 23rd of October. 


The sweet pie tasting scheduled for October 30th is now officially a savory pie tasting of our sale products. Please, sample selections available from the menu at Fellowship on the 30th or the Family Supper on the 19th.
Here what's taking place:
  1. Assorted pies  served @ Wednesday Family supper October 19th.
  2. Invite as many people as possible to experience the quality @ fellowship on the October 30th.
  3. Access the results and comments
  4. Move to the sales marketing strategy as outlined.

This fundraiser is one of the four Session designated events planned to achieve sustainability of our finances.

Many of you will remember the price point from St Andrews last foray into meat pie sales in 2014. Most everyone knows that prices have increased significantly on groceries since then. Beef alone has increased at least 14% in the last year alone. As you might expect beef is the largest expense in a fundraiser like this. Every single item used has increased to some degree or other. Prices will be higher - we simply cannot match the older prices due to the new economic realities. BUT...the prices are cheaper than retail and we will raise monies to pay down the debt. The good news here is we can run this fundraiser every; month, 6 months or semi-annual and still offer you below retail costs!  

Menu


·        The Roasted Beef and Roasted Turkey are swimming in delicious gravy with potatoes, peas, corn and carrots.

·        The Lean ground beef with mushroom and onion is encased in delectable gravy.

·        The Shepherd’s Pie (no pastry) made with lean ground beef & vegetables, is blanketed with creamy seasoned potatoes.

·        Crustless Quiche- delightful and filling with a choice of ham or veggie, both include -onions, broccoli, cheese.

·        Turkey Tapa- 10” wood oven thin crust topped with a hearty mixture of caramelized onion, roasted turkey and tangy sauce - delicious on its own or top it with you favorite additions


·        Our Fruit Pies are made the old fashioned way- with the freshest fruits and delicately sweetened to perfection all 9” 

·        Our selection of Home-style Soups will warm the soul with the choice of six varieties. (no details just yet)

·        Meat pies are available @ 9” size 

      

     


           The details on how the magic happens will be  a secret until you sample the menu at one of the tastings.  You could be surprised!



  This is the before picture.






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Posted by on Tuesday, September 13th, 2016 in Clerk of Session

Presented in association with; New Hope Clothing, Cambridge Self-help Food Bank and the United Way of Cambridge & New Dumfries.

New Hope Clothing is a designated stop on the challenge! Teams, helpers and staff to facilitate the challenge are required. Contact either Karen or Joni via the Church Office. 

*disclaimer
If you want too...goofy shorts can be worn. No discrimination here folks. Sorry, you do have to wear clothes though.


Race To Erase

CAMBRIDGE

Saturday, October 01st, 2016


DID YOU KNOW:

This is a chance to connect with your teammates, other Race participants, local businesses and not-for-profits, and your community! It begins when individuals reach out to friends, family and co-workers to form a team of four. 

Teams begin by competing to raise the most funds for their chosen cause. Prizes are handed out to the top fundraisers. Then on Race Day teams travel throughout their community, competing in a series of fun-filled challenges along the way. The team that finishes the combined challenges in the fastest time is crowned the Race to Erase winner. Note: this is not a running race! The challenges are a combination of savvy and smarts - no goofy shorts required.

This is an opportunity to support your community in a fun and meaningful way. The most immediate contribution comes from the fundraising taken on by each team - all of the money raised goes to local organizations. Volunteers create, organize and run the stops while local businesses and charities host them, benefiting from the exposure and awareness created.
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