Congregational Profile
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Lindsay
I am pleased you have decided to have a look at the profile the St. Andrew’s Search Committee put together for you. In the pages that follow, you will learn about their past, their present and their dreams for the future. You will also get a sense of the attributes they are looking for in their new minister.
St. Andrew’s is located in the heart of the City of Kawartha Lakes, about an hour and a half north of Toronto. If you enjoy anything to do with water, you will love this area. Like to hike? There are many hiking/walking trails both within the town limits and in the surrounding area. Many of them are also used by cyclists.
The Committee conducted two surveys with the congregation. The first was to determine what qualities the congregation desired in a minister. The second was to determine the congregation’s desires for the minister’s priorities. The results of these surveys can be found on page 12.
If this profile interests you and you want to know more about St. Andrew’s, Lindsay, please contact the interim moderator, the Reverend Kathy Firth at Kathyfirth8@gmail.com or 705-344-5219.
Table of Contents
The Congregation 3
Our Mission and Values 3
Our Ministries 3
Worship 4
Christian Education 4
Fellowship 5
Outreach and Missions 5
Management 6
Communication and Connections 6
Events at St. Andrew’s 7
Our History 8
Our Church Building 8
Our Community 9
Leadership for Today and the Future 11
Navigating Changes 12
Leadership Support 13
Personal Support 13
Our Financial Picture 14
The Congregation
Approximately 318 members and adherents are involved with St. Andrew's. Some of these are regular attendees and some are online participants. The Session is in the process of reaching out to people so that we can present the most realistic numbers to interested applicants. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a large percentage of these people join the services online. The in- person services have an attendance of approximately 90 persons. Our statistics indicate that we have an average of 250 online viewers per week; however, we do not know how many of these are members/adherents and how many are visitors.
Our Mission and Values
Our Mission is “to know Christ, to grow in Christ, to serve Christ and to share Christ.”
Our Core Values:
We are gospel-centered
We are faith-driven
We strive to foster loving relationships
We focus on our social responsibility
Our Ministries
There are many active ministries at St. Andrew’s with willing volunteers who desire to use their gifts and talents to help others. Each ministry is led by an elder who reports to Session. St. Andrew’s is always ready to assist those in the community who need us for food, clothing, spiritual assistance or a listening ear.
Worship
First and foremost, St. Andrew’s strives to offer worship services that are biblically-based, relevant, joyful, challenging, and inspiring. The congregation desires a message each Sunday that brings hope, embraces the good news of Jesus Christ, and challenges us to think anew about how to apply our faith in and for the world.
Those unable to attend on Sunday morning can participate in the service along with the congregation through a livestream of the service on YouTube. The services are also posted to our website: standrewslindsay.com.
Our worship is enhanced by a blend of traditional and contemporary music. Examples include:
a choir, usually accompanied by the organ
a praise team accompanied by various musicians
a group of men who sing and play guitars
a guitarist who creates his own guitar music
Christian Education
Our Sunday School teachers provide engaging lessons where children may act out Biblical stories, do crafts that support their lessons and, on occasion, share what they have learned with the congregation. Our creative Sunday School teachers also have a display table in the foyer where current activities or children’s books are displayed.
For the adults, a variety of Bible Studies are offered on Zoom and in-person.
A prayer group meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the church for reflection and prayer.
There is also an on-site library with full shelves of fiction, auto biographies, biographies, commentaries and Christian magazines. The library volunteer creates displays and bulletin boards to highlight seasons or themes. This room is a reader’s delight.
Fellowship
The Fellowship Ministry covers many activities at St. Andrew’s. Our three ladies’ groups, the Mary Marthas, the Daughters of St. Andrew’s and the WMS work separately and together in their service to the congregation and community.
There is always a fellowship time after church, which is an opportunity to have a hot cup of coffee or tea and a cookie while you meet with new attendees and old friends. Under the umbrella of the Fellowship Ministry, the Pastoral Care Committee reaches out to people who would like to have a visit, prayer, phone call, email, text, or card. There is an active prayer chain and hospital visitation in place as well.
The prayer shawl group meets monthly to socialize while knitting shawls for those going through a difficult time.
Outreach and Missions
The Outreach and Missions Ministry challenges our membership to live in service, participating in outreach and mission activities either through financial support or through sharing gifts of time and talent.
Two key local initiatives are our Sunday supper and community soup kitchen programs, which are both hosted at St. Andrew’s. The Sunday supper program, led by teams from St. Andrew’s, provides a hot supper the second and fourth Sunday of every month for those in the community who need a hot meal.
The community soup kitchen is a program which runs at lunchtime every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at St. Andrew’s. It is staffed by volunteers from our congregation as well as from other Lindsay congregations.
The church partners with community organizations such as the Kawartha Lakes Food Source, A Place Called Home and Kawartha Lakes Pregnancy Centre. Members of St. Andrew’s are encouraged to volunteer and support local charitable initiatives.
The Outreach and Missions Ministry also highlights mission opportunities for members of the congregation. At the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, we provided support for a young mother and her children who needed a safe place from which to escape the war. In partnership with another church, we are currently supporting a young mother and her daughter.
The giving continues with Boots and Shoes for Kids. This program was started by one of our members who saw a need in her school for winter boots for some of the less fortunate children. Donations are given to purchase what is needed for the children.
In 2023 we brought back our White Gift Sunday. This campaign was very well received, with plenty of gifts and supplies donated to a local shelter, “A Place Called Home”. The children of the congregation participated in the dedication of the gifts by collecting the gifts throughout the sanctuary.
As we approach the Christmas season, things get quite busy both in the church and in the community. Our Christmas Hamper Project has touched the lives of both
the receivers and givers. Volunteers from the church not only make the hampers but also deliver them to people in our community.
The church also supports PWS&D and Presbyterian Sharing.
Management
Finance, property, personnel and communications committees fall under the leadership of the Management Committee of Session. Since the tasks and leadership of these committees often overlap, the Management Committee can efficiently deal with the day-to-day
business of the church. Through work done by volunteers from the congregation, regular servicing by local contractors or raising funds for special projects, our church building is well- maintained. This is a benefit to our congregation and the community organizations who use our facilities.
Communication and Connection
The activities of St. Andrew’s are communicated to the congregation through several different methods.
The church office is open between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, and announcements are communicated on screen before the beginning of the service. Each month our News & Muse newsletter is published and available in both print and electronic copy. Regular email updates share the newsletter as well as other notices and information to our membership.
Services, upcoming events and other information are posted on Facebook and our website, in addition to our services being accessible on YouTube.
Events at St. Andrew’s
St. Andrew’s is much more than just a Sunday morning church!
During the week, members of the congregation are in the church regularly working on a project or small maintenance jobs.
Our downtown location gives our community easy access for the many events we plan.
As we pivot to get life back to normal in the post-COVID world, we continue to develop ideas of ways to bring people to our church – not just on Sunday mornings. These activities can take many forms.
One of our summer traditions has been a church picnic or BBQ. Whether we gather in a local park or on a member’s farm, these events let us share a fun social time while enjoying the summer weather.
Summer is golf season. Golf is a great way to be active and social as a part of our Mary Lou Ross Memorial Golf Tournament.
We host inter-generational Games Nights and Café Nights where talented members of the congregation and community entertain us with stories, songs and music.
Our Fashion Shows sell out quickly! People come for the desserts as much as they come for the fashion.
The Christmas season wouldn’t be the same without our long-running and famous Christmas Tea and Luncheon. A beautifully decorated room, a warm welcome, tea in china cups and the little “church” sandwiches are a drawing card for people in the community and congregation.
After lunch, a visit to the bake table – where you will find a variety of items to tempt your palate. Not even COVID could stop us from having our bake table as we reached our public through online orders and drive-through pick up.
Our History
The first Presbyterians to arrive in what is now Lindsay gathered around a stump in 1835 to hear itinerant ministers preach the gospel and celebrate the sacraments.
Within less than thirty years, two congregations – one connected with the Church of Scotland and the other with the Canada Presbyterian Church – were established in town, the former worshipping in a building on Francis Street opposite the present-day City Hall, and the latter worshipping in a building on Peel Street, opposite the present-day Curling Club.
In 1875, these two congregations united under the newly formed Presbyterian Church in Canada. Twelve years later, on January 2, 1887, the present building was opened, and continues to serve as the congregation’s house of worship into the twenty-first century.
Our Church Building
Designed by Lindsay architect William Duffus, our congregation makes its home in a Gothic Revival building that evokes the appearance of the great cathedrals in the British Isles and continental Europe – a testament to the faith and confidence of the congregation. Some 100,000 white bricks were used to raise a sanctuary measuring 60 feet in width and 76 feet in length, complete with a battlemented tower rising to 75 feet in height that continues to be one of Lindsay’s most recognizable landmarks.
This tower features the horns of the carillon. The carillon bells ring out the hour and play hymns intermittently during the day. A new pipe organ was installed in 1899, rebuilt in 1927, and replaced with an electronic instrument in 1967. A new Sunday School building – complete with a sizable parish hall – was constructed at the southeast corner of Peel and William Streets in 1900. Over the years, this space has played host to countless meetings, suppers, receptions, youth events, and other opportunities to foster faith and fellowship.
In 2009, after more than a decade of extensive planning and fundraising, a fully accessible addition was opened – complete with ample meeting space for church and community groups to live out their respective missions in this, the heart of downtown Lindsay. Among the features of this addition are a beautifully-decorated nursery on the main floor, complete with a large window to let in the sunshine – and a commercial kitchen that is regularly leveraged for both congregational and community-oriented events.
We make our meeting rooms available to the community for a variety of purposes. It is felt that there is more room for growth in this area.
Our Community
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is located in downtown Lindsay, the county seat of the City of Kawartha Lakes. This single-tier municipality – formed in 2001 as a result of the amalgamation of thirteen townships and six incorporated communities – has a population of 79,247 people, 22,367 of whom live in Lindsay proper. While many of our members and adherents live in Lindsay, others are drawn from the surrounding countryside and smaller municipalities in the area. Lindsay is located an hour and a half northeast of Toronto, 45 minutes west of Peterborough, and approximately two hours south of Algonquin Park and the Muskokas.
Lindsay is the gateway to cottage country for many, with a number of summer resorts and cottages located only 30 minutes to an hour north of it, and summertime tourism remains a significant driver of the local economy. The Scugog River runs through Lindsay, giving access to several of the beautiful lakes in our area. A walk along this river showcases one of the many parks that Lindsay is known for. If you look carefully, you will see our church in the background of this photo.
Lindsay’s population is projected to grow from its population of 22,000 people to at least 30,000 in the next decade. The increase in population is expected to provide both challenges and opportunities for many sectors – including faith communities.
St. Andrew’s is located in the heart of a vibrant commercial district, with many thriving businesses, restaurants, and cultural and social organizations located steps away from our facility.
Lindsay is blessed with a number of healthcare facilities, the foremost of which is the Ross Memorial Hospital, which has been providing care since 1902. The City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team and Community Care Kawartha Lakes offer care delivered by primary care providers and comprehensive community-based support services, respectively. Several nursing homes and retirement facilities serve Lindsay and the surrounding area. As our population ages – both within and outside the church – these types of services are likely to grow and expand.
Education is provided by two Boards of Education – The Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDB). The TLDSB provides six elementary schools and two high schools within the Town of Lindsay. PVNCCDB has two elementary schools and one high school in Lindsay. Both TLDSB and PVNCCDB offer French Immersion. Heritage Christian School provides private education, while the Roman Catholic School Board operates two elementary schools and one high school in town. Licensed childcare facilities can be found throughout the community including the Lindsay Montessori Preschool. Sir Sandford Fleming College’s Frost campus, located in Lindsay, has provided world-class post-secondary education in a variety of trades and specialized vocations for more than half a century.
Service clubs include the Optimist Club, the Rotary Club, 100 Men Kawartha Lakes and 100 Women Who Care – Kawartha Lakes, while the Lindsay Men’s and Women’s Probus Clubs, the Lindsay Canadian Club, and other organizations offer networking opportunities to share knowledge and fellowship.
Located right along the Trent-Severn Waterway, Lindsay offers ample opportunities for recreational boating and is at the nucleus of a fabulous trail system linking it with Bethany, Haliburton, Peterborough, and Uxbridge. The Lindsay Recreation Complex offers skating, swimming, squash and a weight room. It is but one of several places in town catering to physical fitness needs.
Home to a very vibrant arts, culture, and heritage sector, Lindsay is famous for its Flato Academy Theatre for the Performing Arts – and is only a short drive away from
top-notch performing arts venues in neighbouring Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls. In the summer, Lindsay offers Concerts in the Park in Victoria Park located in downtown Lindsay.
Community museums and art galleries located throughout Kawartha Lakes offer much to see and do, and the annual Lindsay Central Exhibition is one of the largest of its kind in this part of Ontario. There are two Farmers’ Markets operating from May to October – on Thursday and one on Saturday.
Leadership for Today and the Future
Our previous minister was with us for close to 21 years and left in June of 2023 to move with her husband to be closer to their grandchildren. An associate minister was also with us for 14 years and retired at the end of 2022. Now, we eagerly await the arrival of our new minister.
The congregation is seeking someone who is enthusiastic about bringing the Word of God to us in a variety of ways that relate to us and challenge us. Using your excellent communication skills, you will encourage and support us as you connect with individuals as well as the congregation as a whole. Your ideas and teaching will inspire us to fulfill our mission and will serve as an example for living out our values.
Recognizing that Sunday worship will be the primary focus for any minister, we surveyed the congregation to establish what other parts of ministry they hope will be priorities of a successful candidate. The congregation chose the following four priorities:
• Leadership Development
The successful candidate for this position will be passionate about developing and nurturing leadership within the congregation. At the present time, we have many strong, dedicated leaders in our congregation, but we are open to growing in this area.
• Youth
We are aware that our congregation is aging. It is our desire to engage with the young people in our church and in the community. We anticipate that our new minister would be interested in this area and would have exciting ideas for growth in this area.
• Building Connections with other churches
A priority of our congregation is that the minister will build partnerships in the community especially with other churches (all denominations) in Lindsay and surrounding areas. Through the ministerial currently in place in Lindsay, the minister will not only receive support from other church leaders, but also find ways to build on the work already done in engaging with our community.
• Pastoral Care
As is true of any church, our congregation recognizes that there will be times of crisis when we will need the support of a caring minister. It is our hope that our new minister has gifts in this area.
Navigating Changes
Recently, St. Andrew’s has gone through a difficult time resulting from discussions around the recent decision of the PCC regarding human sexuality. On the arrival of the interim moderator, the church was divided about this issue, and there seemed to be a loss of hope and joy on the part of many of the people. There was also a lack of understanding that this had been a long process for the PCC and not something that was decided spontaneously.
As a result, over the past few months, Session has provided the congregation with documents, opportunities for coffee and chat, guest speakers, Bible studies and workshops. It has not been an easy journey. After much prayer, research and discussion, Session recently voted that the congregation would be an affirming congregation. However, the Session has not fully determined what that will look like. Several models that other churches have adopted have been considered, but it is believed that arriving at a definition of affirming for the church will be an evolving process. At this point, what is clear is that the church’s first step will be to ensure that every person who comes to our church feels welcomed and respected. The Session will continue to research, discuss and pray about this topic to determine what affirming will look like in our church.
It is the prayer of St. Andrew’s that God has a minister in mind for us who will see these discussions as opportunities for all members/adherents to re-examine their faith in the context of love and hospitality and examine exciting new possibilities for the future of our church.
Leadership Support
Administrative support 20 hours per week
Volunteer Music & live streaming Coordinator
Personal Support
Stipend and benefits to be determined in accordance with the stipend and benefit structure in the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
