Orders of Service
Photographer: Austin Zhao, FRSA
THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
May 10, 2026
St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Toronto Islands
www.sabtl.ca
Priest-in-Charge: Alison Hari Singh (416-203-0873 or [email protected])
Wardens: Bella Beazer and Loretta Ryan
Treasurer: Jane Davidson-Neville ([email protected])
Deputy Warden: David Ulbrych
Synod Rep: Billy J. Choi-Gekas
Musicians: Gordon Brown, Jane Davidson-Neville, Billy Choi-Gekas, and Asha Mayadunne
Musical Selections: Jennifer Wakefield and Alison Hari Singh
Prelude Allemande in B flat Major (Keyboard Suite No. 13) -- GF Handel
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE
We give thanks to our Creator for the earth we share with all creatures, and we acknowledge that we are here on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, and we seek to live respectfully with each other and with the earth. We pray for healing between our cultures and healing from the legacy of settler colonialism. We believe that Black Lives Matter and that Every Child Matters. We know that love is love, and we welcome everyone who desires to join us in worship. You are a beloved creation of God, and you are most welcome in this place.
Please stand, as you are able.
Opening Hymn All Shall Be Well (CP #222)
Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Celebrant: May his grace and peace be with you.
People: May he fill our hearts with joy.
Celebrant: Almighty God,
All: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria Glory to God (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
REFRAIN Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. (3x)
The Collect
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Three-fold God of love, you invite us to abide in you. May we follow the Spirit of truth, so that through us your love may speak deeply to the heart of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
First Reading
Reader: A reading from the book of Acts.
Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown God.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it. This God, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor God made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God, perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.' Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this God has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." [ACTS 17:22-31]
Reader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 66:7-18 Responsorial Psalm (Psalms for All Seasons #66D)
REFRAIN Cry out to God in joy, all the earth.
Cry out to God in joy, all the earth.
Give glory to the name of the Lord.
Bless our God, you peoples; make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our souls in life, and will not allow our feet to slip. REFRAIN
For you, O God, have proved us; you have tried us just as silver is tried.
You brought us into the snare; you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water;
but you brought us out into a place of refreshment. REFRAIN
I will enter your house with burnt offerings and will pay you my vows,
which I promised with my lips and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what God has done for me.
I called out to him with my mouth, and his praise was on my tongue.
If I had found evil in my heart, the Lord would not have heard me;
But in truth God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer,
nor withheld his love from me. REFRAIN
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
As you are able, please stand.
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
REFRAIN Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Cantor Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. REFRAIN
Gospeler: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." [JOHN 14:15-21]
Gospeler: This is the Gospel of Christ.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
REFRAIN Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Homily Rev. Alison Hari Singh
May only the truth be spoken and only the truth heard. In the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
This past week, I attended a conference entitled, Navigating Conflict: Humanistic Buddhism and Comparative Theology in a Divided World. This was the inaugural conference of The Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought and Practice housed at Trinity College. On Friday, as part of the conference, I visited the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto. I’m not going to lie, I felt like Paul in Athens. But unlike Paul – I was not there to evangelize the local population. I was there to engage in deep inter-religious listening, learning, and dialogue.
In his important book, Without Buddha I Could Not be a Christian, Paul Knitter talks about the phenomena of dual religious belonging. He describes this experience as one of passing over and passing back. What he means by this is that one immerses themselves in another religious tradition on that tradition’s own terms – temporarily suspending one’s viewpoint in order to deeply understand that other faith – before returning to one's own tradition with new and enriched insights. Thus, Knitter passes over into full Buddhist practice and then passes back to his Roman Catholic faith with a new understanding of what it means to be a Christ-follower. This is a process that moves beyond dialogue toward genuine participation and it allows that participation to affect what one already holds dear.
As I was listening to the papers being offered – learning more about Buddhist belief and practice – the words of Jesus from today’s Gospel hit me like a ton of bricks. What does Jesus say? "If you love me, you will keep my commandments…They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me.”
Buddhism, as a religion, is unique, in that, Buddhists, generally speaking, are not fixated on a supreme creator, or omnipotent deity who we perceive to be Other than ourselves. Rather, they focus on the teachings of the Buddha who lived 500 years before Christ. The Buddha is not a god or deity but one who is “awakened” and has attained “enlightenment” concerning the human condition; enlightenment about what ails us as a human species, and how we can arrive at a place of peace and fulfillment.
As such, Buddhism concentrates on embodied practices that help the human being acheive enlightenment (nirvana). This lack of focus on a Divine Other may be why Buddhism can be such a useful compliment to deepening our Christian faith journey. There really isn’t a competition in terms of theistic doctrine. Moreover, Buddhism’s concrete practices help us keep Christ’s commandments and thereby demonstrate our love for him and the Father – the eternal Source of all things.
The Buddha’s basic teaching is summed up by the Four Noble Truths, which are the foundation of all Buddhist belief. While Christians invoke the concept of sin – a sense of missing the mark and being “guilty” before God - to make sense of the human condition, Buddhists begin from a rather different starting point; they begin from the place of human suffering. This is the First Nobel Truth: suffering exists. All human beings experience pain, restlessness, uncertainty, frustration, and loss. For Buddhists, suffering does not necessarily imply guilt or blame. It’s simply that which happens to us – we all experience aging, illness and, at the end of life, death. And since every human being suffers, that co-condition should generate empathy in each one of us.
The Second Noble Truth, which builds on the first, holds that suffering has a cause, a point of origin. The cause of suffering is craving (desire) and attachment. Craving can reveal itself in all sorts of ways, including greed and excess. But at a basic level, it’s a desire for a better existence—an existence that is better than the present life we are experiencing. That restlessness and dissatisfaction is the ultimate source of our suffering because we struggle to accept and fully live into our present reality.
The Third Noble Truth is that, since we can identify the cause of suffering (craving and attachment), we can also identify the end or cessation of suffering; i.e., suffering can end. Suffering ends when we are able to renounce and eliminate attachment and craving. But how do we do this? How do we go about renouncing our attachments and desires? We do so by recognizing that there is a path to freedom. This is the Fourth Noble Truth, that the elimination of craving and attachment occurs through a certain way of living—what Buddhists call the Noble Eightfold Path.
The first principle of the path is Right View, which starts with perceiving the world and who we are as individuals clearly and realistically through a lens of impermanence or the inevitability that things change. The second is Right Intention. Right Intention has to do with the motivation behind our actions. Are we motivated by love or something that is not life-giving? The third principle is Right Speech. This path encourages us to speak truthfully and graciously. It’s a fine balance. We all know the phrase, the truth hurts. Well, according to the Buddha, it shouldn’t. Instead, our speech should build bridges. Right Action – the fourth principle on the path – is similar to the Ten Commandments: do not kill, steal or engaging in sexual misconduct against another. Ultimately, it means treating all living things with the respect they deserve. Right Livelihood is the fifth path. This means earning a living grounded in love and compassion. How many people today consider career paths on that basis? What would our world look like if people’s values and their work actually aligned? The sixth path is Right Effort. Practically speaking, Right Efforts means that we shouldn’t overwork, but, rather, pace ourselves to best serve those around us. Right Mindfulness is the seventh path, and some Buddhists believe it is the most important. Mindfulness has to do with remembering—remembering not to be trapped in the frustrations of the past or the anxieties of the future but to stay in the present. The eighth and final principle of the path is Right Concentration. Right Concentration means we focus on what truly matters, and are not distracted by things that generate craving. To accomplish this, we utilize tools like mediation to train the mind toward calm, centredness, and clarity. Such a state of mind leads to inner peace, clarity and, ultimately, enlightenment.
When we unpack the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, which includes the Noble Eightfold Path, we can see that much, if not all, of this philosophy is consistent with how Christians’ ought to live; how we ought to keep Christ’s commandments. Consequently, what we learn from Buddhists can, in the end, help us become better Christians.
Following St. Paul, better understanding an “unknown god” shouldn’t scare us, rather it should help us find new ways to live, and move and have our being in God. We do not need to be afraid of other faith traditions. More often than not, these traditions can awaken us to questions and issues that we wouldn’t otherwise see; they can also deepen and broaden our own faith. When we are receptive and open in this way, we engage in the most important task of peacebuilding. May we be a parish community that always remains receptive to this kind of learning and transformation. Amen.
Silence is kept. Please remain seated.
Affirmation of Faith (from the Iona Abby Worship Book)
Celebrant: Let us say together,
All: We believe that God is present
in the darkness before dawn;
in the waiting and uncertainty
where fear and courage join hands,
conflict and caring link arms,
and the sun rises over barbed wire.
We believe in a with-us God
who sits down in our midst
to share our humanity.
We affirm a faith
that takes us beyond the safe place:
into action, into vulnerability
and into the streets.
We commit ourselves to work for change
and put ourselves on the line;
to bear witness, take risks,
live powerfully and face humiliation;
to stand with those on the edge;
to choose life and be empowered by the spirit
for God’s new community of hope.
Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Intercessor: In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of genuine reconciliation in Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) makes the following calls to action. Concerning a National Council for Reconciliation:
55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:
iv. Progress on closing the gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigneous communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.
v. Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in youth custody over the next decade.
Intercessor: In this Easter season, let us pray for the implementation of all the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, so that the reconciling love of Christ’s resurrection may be seen throughout the world:
Intercessor: Lord God, Source of all things, we thank and praise you for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Your Son, our Passover Lamb, has taken away the sin of the world. We celebrate that what is broken has been made whole.
All: You meet us, O God, on the road;
you meet us and change everything.
Intercessor: Your Son said, 'Peace be with you'. Bring your peace, O God, to all the troubled places and to this land in which we sojourn.
All: You meet us, O God, in ways we can’t imagine;
you meet us with your way of justice and peace.
Intercessor: Your Son appeared to Mary Magdalene when she was weeping. Comfort all those who are sad, lonely, or grieving.
All: You meet us, O God, with the truth;
you meet us with an invitation.
Intercessor: Your Son met the women and asked them to tell the disciples about his resurrection. Guide Christians everywhere that their lives may bear witness to the risen Christ.
All: You meet us, O God, with a new realm;
you meet us with a new world.
Intercessor: Your Son revealed himself to those on the road and was made known in the breaking of the bread. Reveal him to us and all people through the teaching of your word and the celebration of your holy meal.
All: You meet us, O God, and call us to be your workers;
You meet us so we may build your realm.
Intercessor: Your Son strengthened the faith of Thomas by telling him to touch his hands and side. I invite your prayers to those in need or any kind of trouble either silently or aloud…[pause]…Reassure those who are struggling and strengthen their faith in your goodness.
All: You meet us, O God, in exactly the way we don’t believe;
You meet us with your plan for the future.
Intercessor: Your Son conquered death by his death and won life’s victory through his resurrection. I invite you to remember those who have gone on before us either silently or aloud…[pause]…Be with those who are dying and lead them to eternal rest.
All: You meet us, O God, with light perpetual;
You meet us so we might live forever.
Intercessor: Lord God, grant that all who now celebrate these joyful holy days here on earth may finally praise you forever, with all the angels and saints in heaven. We ask this through your risen Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The Peace
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Offertory Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary (More Voices #18)
Cantor Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
All: Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Prayer over the Gifts
Celebrant: God of glory, accept all we offer you this day, and bring us to that eternal city of love and light, where Christ is King now and forever. We ask this in his name. Amen.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is indeed right that we should praise you, gracious God, for you created all things. You created us and formed us in your own image. When we turned away from you in sin, you did not cease to care for us, but opened a path of salvation for all people. You made a covenant with ancient Israel, and through your servants Abraham and Sarah gave the promise of a blessing to all nations. Through Moses you led your people from bondage into freedom; through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation. Therefore, with them, and with all your saints who have served you in every age, we give thanks and raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.
Sanctus Holy (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
Celebrant: Holy God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise. In the fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Creator of all. He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; he opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom to the poor and to those in need. In all things he fulfilled your gracious will. On the night he freely gave himself to death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Gracious God, his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death; by raising him to life you give us life for evermore.
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Celebrant: Recalling his death, proclaiming his resurrection, and looking for his coming again in glory, we offer you, this bread and this cup. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts, that all who eat and drink at this table may be one body and one holy people, a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Celebrant: Lord, we died with you on the cross.
All: Now we are raised to new life.
Celebrant: We were buried in your tomb.
All: Now we share in your resurrection.
Celebrant: Live in us, that we may live in you.
Celebrant: These are the gifts of God, for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Agnus Dei Lamb of God (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
REFRAIN Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Come up to the altar following the lead of those ahead of you. If you would like a blessing, as well as, or in place of the wafer, indicate this to the priest.
Communion Hymn Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ (CP #557)
Silence is kept.
Prayer after Communion
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: Eternal Source, you restored us to life by raising your Son from death. May we who receive this sacrament always be strengthened to do your will, in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.
Celebrant: Glory to God,
All: whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Celebrant: When it takes hold, resurrection doesn’t let go.
It shakes the dead awake,
It shakes the darkness from the light.
It shakes the silence from our throats,
and it wrestles death from all that is dying.
Let us go out into the world
in the upheaval of resurrection life. Amen.
Closing Hymn Sing Praises Old and New (CP #469, vs. 1, 3-4)
Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Postlude Sonata in E flat Major, Hob 16:45, 1st mvt (excerpt) -- FJ Haydn
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Liturgical Notes
The Prayers of the People are a combination of set prayers from the Lutheran Church of Australia (https://www.lca.org.au/worship/wpp/) and prayers written by Rev. Roddy Hamilton who also wrote the Benediction for New Kilpatrick parish church in the UK (https://www.nkchurch.org.uk/original-liturgy ).
Blessing of the Boats (and Bikes)
The Blessing of the Boats (and Bikes) will be held this summer of Sunday, June 28th. Details to follow. Save the date!
Doors Open
St. Andrew’s is privileged to once again be one of the unique buildings and sites that will be open during the city of Toronto’s Doors Open weekend on May 23 and 24. If you are interested in welcoming visitors please let Rev. Alison or Jane Davidson-Neville know and if you will be visiting different sites in the city share your Doors Open experience on social media using #DOT26.
SABTL WIFI Password
Guest WIFI SSID: SABTL Guest Password: Welcome2SABTL!
Communications @ SABTL
We are in the process of consolidating our communications, IT and media management. Rev. Alison’s new email is [email protected]. Our website has been refreshed. Please visit www.sabtl.ca to see updates, including an easy to use “how to donate” form. To watch recorded services go to our new YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SABTLToronto. If you have questions about these changes to communications at St. Andrew’s, please connect with Rev. Alison or [email protected].
Musicians Update
Jennifer Wakefield will be with us half-time going forward. Gordon Brown continues to fill in when Jennifer cannot be at St. Andrew’s. If you have any suggestions about music, please email Jennifer at [email protected].
Rev. Alison’s Weekly Schedule
This summer, Rev. Alison will take Mondays as her day off and Thursday reserved for academic commitments at Trinity College. She will not be available on either day.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
We have come to our third reading of the 94 Calls to Action of the TRCC. These Calls to Action were published in 2015. There has been little movement by government and other institutions on most of these action points, thus, the status quo remains (see https://yellowheadinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/YI-TRC-C2A-2023-Special-Report-compressed.pdf). The Anglican Diocese of Toronto has put together a document called “Take Action: Animating the 94 Calls to Action in Your Community.” Action items can be found at https://www.toronto.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-Take-Action-on-the-94.pdf. Please note: language has changed over the last ten years. Use of the term “Aboriginal” has been updated with the term “Indigenous” which is a term of self-identification for many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Turtle Island and across the world.
Ministry of Healing and Reconciliation
The clergy at St. Andrew’s will be offering the sacrament of unction with the anointing of oil alongside the Eucharist on May 24, 2026. This sacrament will continue to be offered on the fourth Sunday of the month.
Facebook Page for St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Come and visit and contribute to the St. Andrew by-the-Lake Facebook page. Search for: St. Andrews by-the-Lake Church (make sure you don’t get St. Andrews Golf Course). Look on the page for “Follow”. Click on that. You will then receive notices, pictures of your community, and a place for discussion. Any questions? Email Laura Cooper [email protected].
Respiratory Health (COVID19 and Flu) Guidelines
Ferry Schedule
The spring schedule is in effect. Boats are also running to Centre Island. Here’s a link to the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/ferry.
The church van continues to pick up passengers at 9:45 am on Sunday mornings at the Ward’s Island ferry dock.
Supporting St. Andrew’s
May 10, 2026
St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Toronto Islands
www.sabtl.ca
Priest-in-Charge: Alison Hari Singh (416-203-0873 or [email protected])
Wardens: Bella Beazer and Loretta Ryan
Treasurer: Jane Davidson-Neville ([email protected])
Deputy Warden: David Ulbrych
Synod Rep: Billy J. Choi-Gekas
Musicians: Gordon Brown, Jane Davidson-Neville, Billy Choi-Gekas, and Asha Mayadunne
Musical Selections: Jennifer Wakefield and Alison Hari Singh
Prelude Allemande in B flat Major (Keyboard Suite No. 13) -- GF Handel
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE
We give thanks to our Creator for the earth we share with all creatures, and we acknowledge that we are here on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, and we seek to live respectfully with each other and with the earth. We pray for healing between our cultures and healing from the legacy of settler colonialism. We believe that Black Lives Matter and that Every Child Matters. We know that love is love, and we welcome everyone who desires to join us in worship. You are a beloved creation of God, and you are most welcome in this place.
Please stand, as you are able.
Opening Hymn All Shall Be Well (CP #222)
Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Celebrant: May his grace and peace be with you.
People: May he fill our hearts with joy.
Celebrant: Almighty God,
All: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria Glory to God (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
REFRAIN Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. (3x)
The Collect
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Three-fold God of love, you invite us to abide in you. May we follow the Spirit of truth, so that through us your love may speak deeply to the heart of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
First Reading
Reader: A reading from the book of Acts.
Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown God.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it. This God, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor God made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God, perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.' Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this God has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." [ACTS 17:22-31]
Reader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 66:7-18 Responsorial Psalm (Psalms for All Seasons #66D)
REFRAIN Cry out to God in joy, all the earth.
Cry out to God in joy, all the earth.
Give glory to the name of the Lord.
Bless our God, you peoples; make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our souls in life, and will not allow our feet to slip. REFRAIN
For you, O God, have proved us; you have tried us just as silver is tried.
You brought us into the snare; you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water;
but you brought us out into a place of refreshment. REFRAIN
I will enter your house with burnt offerings and will pay you my vows,
which I promised with my lips and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what God has done for me.
I called out to him with my mouth, and his praise was on my tongue.
If I had found evil in my heart, the Lord would not have heard me;
But in truth God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer,
nor withheld his love from me. REFRAIN
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
As you are able, please stand.
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
REFRAIN Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Cantor Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. REFRAIN
Gospeler: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." [JOHN 14:15-21]
Gospeler: This is the Gospel of Christ.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
REFRAIN Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Homily Rev. Alison Hari Singh
May only the truth be spoken and only the truth heard. In the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
This past week, I attended a conference entitled, Navigating Conflict: Humanistic Buddhism and Comparative Theology in a Divided World. This was the inaugural conference of The Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought and Practice housed at Trinity College. On Friday, as part of the conference, I visited the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto. I’m not going to lie, I felt like Paul in Athens. But unlike Paul – I was not there to evangelize the local population. I was there to engage in deep inter-religious listening, learning, and dialogue.
In his important book, Without Buddha I Could Not be a Christian, Paul Knitter talks about the phenomena of dual religious belonging. He describes this experience as one of passing over and passing back. What he means by this is that one immerses themselves in another religious tradition on that tradition’s own terms – temporarily suspending one’s viewpoint in order to deeply understand that other faith – before returning to one's own tradition with new and enriched insights. Thus, Knitter passes over into full Buddhist practice and then passes back to his Roman Catholic faith with a new understanding of what it means to be a Christ-follower. This is a process that moves beyond dialogue toward genuine participation and it allows that participation to affect what one already holds dear.
As I was listening to the papers being offered – learning more about Buddhist belief and practice – the words of Jesus from today’s Gospel hit me like a ton of bricks. What does Jesus say? "If you love me, you will keep my commandments…They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me.”
Buddhism, as a religion, is unique, in that, Buddhists, generally speaking, are not fixated on a supreme creator, or omnipotent deity who we perceive to be Other than ourselves. Rather, they focus on the teachings of the Buddha who lived 500 years before Christ. The Buddha is not a god or deity but one who is “awakened” and has attained “enlightenment” concerning the human condition; enlightenment about what ails us as a human species, and how we can arrive at a place of peace and fulfillment.
As such, Buddhism concentrates on embodied practices that help the human being acheive enlightenment (nirvana). This lack of focus on a Divine Other may be why Buddhism can be such a useful compliment to deepening our Christian faith journey. There really isn’t a competition in terms of theistic doctrine. Moreover, Buddhism’s concrete practices help us keep Christ’s commandments and thereby demonstrate our love for him and the Father – the eternal Source of all things.
The Buddha’s basic teaching is summed up by the Four Noble Truths, which are the foundation of all Buddhist belief. While Christians invoke the concept of sin – a sense of missing the mark and being “guilty” before God - to make sense of the human condition, Buddhists begin from a rather different starting point; they begin from the place of human suffering. This is the First Nobel Truth: suffering exists. All human beings experience pain, restlessness, uncertainty, frustration, and loss. For Buddhists, suffering does not necessarily imply guilt or blame. It’s simply that which happens to us – we all experience aging, illness and, at the end of life, death. And since every human being suffers, that co-condition should generate empathy in each one of us.
The Second Noble Truth, which builds on the first, holds that suffering has a cause, a point of origin. The cause of suffering is craving (desire) and attachment. Craving can reveal itself in all sorts of ways, including greed and excess. But at a basic level, it’s a desire for a better existence—an existence that is better than the present life we are experiencing. That restlessness and dissatisfaction is the ultimate source of our suffering because we struggle to accept and fully live into our present reality.
The Third Noble Truth is that, since we can identify the cause of suffering (craving and attachment), we can also identify the end or cessation of suffering; i.e., suffering can end. Suffering ends when we are able to renounce and eliminate attachment and craving. But how do we do this? How do we go about renouncing our attachments and desires? We do so by recognizing that there is a path to freedom. This is the Fourth Noble Truth, that the elimination of craving and attachment occurs through a certain way of living—what Buddhists call the Noble Eightfold Path.
The first principle of the path is Right View, which starts with perceiving the world and who we are as individuals clearly and realistically through a lens of impermanence or the inevitability that things change. The second is Right Intention. Right Intention has to do with the motivation behind our actions. Are we motivated by love or something that is not life-giving? The third principle is Right Speech. This path encourages us to speak truthfully and graciously. It’s a fine balance. We all know the phrase, the truth hurts. Well, according to the Buddha, it shouldn’t. Instead, our speech should build bridges. Right Action – the fourth principle on the path – is similar to the Ten Commandments: do not kill, steal or engaging in sexual misconduct against another. Ultimately, it means treating all living things with the respect they deserve. Right Livelihood is the fifth path. This means earning a living grounded in love and compassion. How many people today consider career paths on that basis? What would our world look like if people’s values and their work actually aligned? The sixth path is Right Effort. Practically speaking, Right Efforts means that we shouldn’t overwork, but, rather, pace ourselves to best serve those around us. Right Mindfulness is the seventh path, and some Buddhists believe it is the most important. Mindfulness has to do with remembering—remembering not to be trapped in the frustrations of the past or the anxieties of the future but to stay in the present. The eighth and final principle of the path is Right Concentration. Right Concentration means we focus on what truly matters, and are not distracted by things that generate craving. To accomplish this, we utilize tools like mediation to train the mind toward calm, centredness, and clarity. Such a state of mind leads to inner peace, clarity and, ultimately, enlightenment.
When we unpack the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, which includes the Noble Eightfold Path, we can see that much, if not all, of this philosophy is consistent with how Christians’ ought to live; how we ought to keep Christ’s commandments. Consequently, what we learn from Buddhists can, in the end, help us become better Christians.
Following St. Paul, better understanding an “unknown god” shouldn’t scare us, rather it should help us find new ways to live, and move and have our being in God. We do not need to be afraid of other faith traditions. More often than not, these traditions can awaken us to questions and issues that we wouldn’t otherwise see; they can also deepen and broaden our own faith. When we are receptive and open in this way, we engage in the most important task of peacebuilding. May we be a parish community that always remains receptive to this kind of learning and transformation. Amen.
Silence is kept. Please remain seated.
Affirmation of Faith (from the Iona Abby Worship Book)
Celebrant: Let us say together,
All: We believe that God is present
in the darkness before dawn;
in the waiting and uncertainty
where fear and courage join hands,
conflict and caring link arms,
and the sun rises over barbed wire.
We believe in a with-us God
who sits down in our midst
to share our humanity.
We affirm a faith
that takes us beyond the safe place:
into action, into vulnerability
and into the streets.
We commit ourselves to work for change
and put ourselves on the line;
to bear witness, take risks,
live powerfully and face humiliation;
to stand with those on the edge;
to choose life and be empowered by the spirit
for God’s new community of hope.
Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Intercessor: In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of genuine reconciliation in Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) makes the following calls to action. Concerning a National Council for Reconciliation:
55. We call upon all levels of government to provide annual reports or any current data requested by the National Council for Reconciliation so that it can report on the progress towards reconciliation. The reports or data would include, but not be limited to:
iv. Progress on closing the gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigneous communities in a number of health indicators such as: infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, chronic diseases, illness and injury incidence, and the availability of appropriate health services.
v. Progress on eliminating the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in youth custody over the next decade.
Intercessor: In this Easter season, let us pray for the implementation of all the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, so that the reconciling love of Christ’s resurrection may be seen throughout the world:
Intercessor: Lord God, Source of all things, we thank and praise you for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Your Son, our Passover Lamb, has taken away the sin of the world. We celebrate that what is broken has been made whole.
All: You meet us, O God, on the road;
you meet us and change everything.
Intercessor: Your Son said, 'Peace be with you'. Bring your peace, O God, to all the troubled places and to this land in which we sojourn.
All: You meet us, O God, in ways we can’t imagine;
you meet us with your way of justice and peace.
Intercessor: Your Son appeared to Mary Magdalene when she was weeping. Comfort all those who are sad, lonely, or grieving.
All: You meet us, O God, with the truth;
you meet us with an invitation.
Intercessor: Your Son met the women and asked them to tell the disciples about his resurrection. Guide Christians everywhere that their lives may bear witness to the risen Christ.
All: You meet us, O God, with a new realm;
you meet us with a new world.
Intercessor: Your Son revealed himself to those on the road and was made known in the breaking of the bread. Reveal him to us and all people through the teaching of your word and the celebration of your holy meal.
All: You meet us, O God, and call us to be your workers;
You meet us so we may build your realm.
Intercessor: Your Son strengthened the faith of Thomas by telling him to touch his hands and side. I invite your prayers to those in need or any kind of trouble either silently or aloud…[pause]…Reassure those who are struggling and strengthen their faith in your goodness.
All: You meet us, O God, in exactly the way we don’t believe;
You meet us with your plan for the future.
Intercessor: Your Son conquered death by his death and won life’s victory through his resurrection. I invite you to remember those who have gone on before us either silently or aloud…[pause]…Be with those who are dying and lead them to eternal rest.
All: You meet us, O God, with light perpetual;
You meet us so we might live forever.
Intercessor: Lord God, grant that all who now celebrate these joyful holy days here on earth may finally praise you forever, with all the angels and saints in heaven. We ask this through your risen Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The Peace
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Offertory Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary (More Voices #18)
Cantor Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
All: Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Prayer over the Gifts
Celebrant: God of glory, accept all we offer you this day, and bring us to that eternal city of love and light, where Christ is King now and forever. We ask this in his name. Amen.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is indeed right that we should praise you, gracious God, for you created all things. You created us and formed us in your own image. When we turned away from you in sin, you did not cease to care for us, but opened a path of salvation for all people. You made a covenant with ancient Israel, and through your servants Abraham and Sarah gave the promise of a blessing to all nations. Through Moses you led your people from bondage into freedom; through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation. Therefore, with them, and with all your saints who have served you in every age, we give thanks and raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.
Sanctus Holy (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
Celebrant: Holy God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise. In the fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Creator of all. He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; he opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom to the poor and to those in need. In all things he fulfilled your gracious will. On the night he freely gave himself to death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Gracious God, his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death; by raising him to life you give us life for evermore.
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Celebrant: Recalling his death, proclaiming his resurrection, and looking for his coming again in glory, we offer you, this bread and this cup. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts, that all who eat and drink at this table may be one body and one holy people, a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Silence is kept.
Celebrant: Lord, we died with you on the cross.
All: Now we are raised to new life.
Celebrant: We were buried in your tomb.
All: Now we share in your resurrection.
Celebrant: Live in us, that we may live in you.
Celebrant: These are the gifts of God, for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Agnus Dei Lamb of God (Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen)
REFRAIN Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Come up to the altar following the lead of those ahead of you. If you would like a blessing, as well as, or in place of the wafer, indicate this to the priest.
Communion Hymn Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ (CP #557)
Silence is kept.
Prayer after Communion
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: Eternal Source, you restored us to life by raising your Son from death. May we who receive this sacrament always be strengthened to do your will, in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.
Celebrant: Glory to God,
All: whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Celebrant: When it takes hold, resurrection doesn’t let go.
It shakes the dead awake,
It shakes the darkness from the light.
It shakes the silence from our throats,
and it wrestles death from all that is dying.
Let us go out into the world
in the upheaval of resurrection life. Amen.
Closing Hymn Sing Praises Old and New (CP #469, vs. 1, 3-4)
Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Postlude Sonata in E flat Major, Hob 16:45, 1st mvt (excerpt) -- FJ Haydn
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Liturgical Notes
The Prayers of the People are a combination of set prayers from the Lutheran Church of Australia (https://www.lca.org.au/worship/wpp/) and prayers written by Rev. Roddy Hamilton who also wrote the Benediction for New Kilpatrick parish church in the UK (https://www.nkchurch.org.uk/original-liturgy ).
Blessing of the Boats (and Bikes)
The Blessing of the Boats (and Bikes) will be held this summer of Sunday, June 28th. Details to follow. Save the date!
Doors Open
St. Andrew’s is privileged to once again be one of the unique buildings and sites that will be open during the city of Toronto’s Doors Open weekend on May 23 and 24. If you are interested in welcoming visitors please let Rev. Alison or Jane Davidson-Neville know and if you will be visiting different sites in the city share your Doors Open experience on social media using #DOT26.
SABTL WIFI Password
Guest WIFI SSID: SABTL Guest Password: Welcome2SABTL!
Communications @ SABTL
We are in the process of consolidating our communications, IT and media management. Rev. Alison’s new email is [email protected]. Our website has been refreshed. Please visit www.sabtl.ca to see updates, including an easy to use “how to donate” form. To watch recorded services go to our new YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SABTLToronto. If you have questions about these changes to communications at St. Andrew’s, please connect with Rev. Alison or [email protected].
Musicians Update
Jennifer Wakefield will be with us half-time going forward. Gordon Brown continues to fill in when Jennifer cannot be at St. Andrew’s. If you have any suggestions about music, please email Jennifer at [email protected].
Rev. Alison’s Weekly Schedule
This summer, Rev. Alison will take Mondays as her day off and Thursday reserved for academic commitments at Trinity College. She will not be available on either day.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
We have come to our third reading of the 94 Calls to Action of the TRCC. These Calls to Action were published in 2015. There has been little movement by government and other institutions on most of these action points, thus, the status quo remains (see https://yellowheadinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/YI-TRC-C2A-2023-Special-Report-compressed.pdf). The Anglican Diocese of Toronto has put together a document called “Take Action: Animating the 94 Calls to Action in Your Community.” Action items can be found at https://www.toronto.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-Take-Action-on-the-94.pdf. Please note: language has changed over the last ten years. Use of the term “Aboriginal” has been updated with the term “Indigenous” which is a term of self-identification for many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Turtle Island and across the world.
Ministry of Healing and Reconciliation
The clergy at St. Andrew’s will be offering the sacrament of unction with the anointing of oil alongside the Eucharist on May 24, 2026. This sacrament will continue to be offered on the fourth Sunday of the month.
Facebook Page for St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Come and visit and contribute to the St. Andrew by-the-Lake Facebook page. Search for: St. Andrews by-the-Lake Church (make sure you don’t get St. Andrews Golf Course). Look on the page for “Follow”. Click on that. You will then receive notices, pictures of your community, and a place for discussion. Any questions? Email Laura Cooper [email protected].
Respiratory Health (COVID19 and Flu) Guidelines
- Masking is optional
- You may sit where you are comfortable – please allow space to those who desire it
- Use hand sanitizer before and after taking the Eucharist (note: intinction – dipping the bread in the wine – is not permitted by the Anglican Diocese of Toronto)
Ferry Schedule
The spring schedule is in effect. Boats are also running to Centre Island. Here’s a link to the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/ferry.
The church van continues to pick up passengers at 9:45 am on Sunday mornings at the Ward’s Island ferry dock.
Supporting St. Andrew’s
- The collection plate – located on the table at the back; envelops are available for one-time and regular offerings
- Canada Helps – Visit the church website www.sabtl.ca and click on the Donate button or click on the QR code below
- Bring a friend