Orders of Service
Photographer: Austin Zhao, FRSA
HARVEST THANKSGIVING
October 11, 2026
St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Toronto Islands
www.standrewbythelake.com
Priest-in-Charge: Alison Hari Singh (416-203-0873 or [email protected])
Wardens: Bella Beazer and Loretta Ryan
Treasurer & Bookings: 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 Selected Thanksgiving Melodies
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 Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Metis, 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 settler arrogance. 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 Come, Ye Thankful People Come (Common Praise #262)
Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
People: And also with you.
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.
The Collect
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Creator of the fruitful earth, you made us stewards of all things. Give us grateful hearts for all your goodness, and steadfast wills to use your bounty well, that the whole human family, today and in generations to come, may with us give thanks for the riches of your creation. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
First Reading
Reader: A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you. Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, "My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors as he is doing today. [DEUTERONOMY 8:7-18]
Reader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 65 The Seed That Falls on Good Ground (Gather #64)
REFRAIN The seed that falls on good groud will yield a fruitful harvest.
You care for the earth, give it water; you fill it with riches. Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain. REFRAIN
And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows; you level it, soften it with showers; you bless its growth. REFRAIN
You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows in your steps; in the pastures of the wilderness it flows. REFRAIN
The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks, the valleys are decked with wheat. They shout for joy, yes they sing. REFRAIN
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
As you are able, please stand.
Gospel Acclamation Listen Now for the Gospel! (Sing a New Creation #188)
Cantor Listen now for the Gospel;
All Alleluia!
Cantor It is God’s word that changes us;
All Alleluia!
Cantor Come, Holy Spirit, melt and break our hearts of stone until we give our lives to God and God alone. REFRAIN
Cantor Come, Holy Spirit, root in us God’s living word, that we may show the faithfulness of Christ our Lord. REFRAIN
Gospeler: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
[LUKE 17:11-19]
Gospeler: This is the Gospel of Christ.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Acclamation (Reprise)
Cantor Listen now for the Gospel;
All Alleluia!
Cantor It is God’s word that changes us;
All Alleluia!
Homily The Rev. Alison Hari-Singh
I speak to you in the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
A couple weeks ago, we heard Billy Choi-Gekas speak to us about the conditions that are necessary for reconciliation to take place. Billy spoke on the Sunday that we commemorated National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. They talked about engaging in practices of deep listening and even deeper gratitude. For those who were here, you’ll remember that Billy said this: the deeper the gratitude the more potent the medicine. Do you remember that? The deeper the gratitude the more potent the medicine. Powerful words – both spiritually and materially. But hanging over that commemorative day was an unasked and, therefore, unanswered question. Why do we need reconciliation? What do we need to be reconciled about?
Something I haven’t spoken a lot about publicly are my personal feelings of concern for what I see happening in the Canadian public square. My concerns really began with the 2016 election of Donald Trump, followed by the resentment, mostly in western Canada, that grew up around how the COVID pandemic was handled by all levels of government. My feelings of disquiet solidified with the havoc the convoy caused in Ottawa in 2022. 2022, to me, seems to be the year, the world broke. In the last four years, I have been very disheartened by how easily algorithms have manipulated minds and captured the imaginations of many Canadians. Even after the 2015 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, some Canadians will now tell you, Indigenous people are lying. There were no atrocities in the 140 Residential Schools dispersed across this country. “Show me the bones,” they say!
I want to spend a little time this morning offering a reading about Thanksgiving from today’s first lesson. There are several things to learn from this reading from Deuteronomy. I’d like to point out just three—and the last one connects to the significance of this yearly celebration. First, the context of this passage is the ancient Hebrews living nomadically in the Sinai desert. They had been liberated from slavery in Egypt, and after decades as a desert people, they were now on the verge of crossing over the Jordan into the territory that God had promised their ancestor Abraham. Something I think we need to remember is that the text does not say that God had promised this land to them as an exclusive possession. In fact, nowhere in the Bible is the claim made that the promised land is only for Israel. Yes, we read that the land is promised to them, but always with the assumption that other people—non-Hebrews—are residing in the land as well; they’re there, in fact, long before the Israelites even arrive. The vision of Deuteronomy is peaceful coexistence, not ethnic and cultural supremacy. Think about Canada.
Second, Deuteronomy is very clear that the people of Israel (remember Israel is a person, not a place), when they finally settle in the promised land, their approach to dwelling in the land must be characterized by thankfulness—thankfulness for God’s deliverance from the oppression of Egypt and thankfulness for the bounty of the promised land. The Israelites were instructed to take a basket of the first fruits of the harvest—the best of the best crop—which the priest would then offer to God. But it must be noted that ancient Israel’s rituals of gratitude were not to be practiced in isolation from the other people groups around them in the land. In other words, Israel was not to build walls, alienating other people and segregating them away from Hebrew settlements. There was to be no reservation system. In fact, Moses’ instruction is unequivocal: “Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.” Think about Canada.
The term “alien” is an unfortunate translation of the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy. A more accurate English word that better captures the meaning of the Hebrew term is “stranger.” Stranger here doesn’t mean “stranger to the land” but “stranger to the Hebrew people.” In other words, stranger means “non-Hebrew” or “non-Israelite” or “non-Jew.” The point Deuteronomy is making is that the Israelites are to celebrate the bounty of the land alongside and together with those in the land of other people groups and ethnicities. It’s an inclusive, multi-ethnic vision of peaceful co-existence. This shouldn’t be confused with tolerance, as though the ancient Israelites are being told to “put up with” and endure the presence of non-Hebrews around them for the sake of peace. No! The vision is a shared celebration between ancient Israel and people of other ethnicities. Simply put, this isn’t tolerance; it’s friendship and relationship. Think about Canada.
This brings me to a third point. This weekend we are celebrating Thanksgiving. For many Canadians, it’s a time to be together with family. Many people head up to Muskoka at this time, close up their cottages for the winter, and enjoy a nice dinner with family. My family was quick to adapt to the Canadian holiday of Harvest Thanksgiving after we moved here from the UK, and while it was certainly nice to spend time with family, the holiday always felt to me to be too insular. One of my earliest memories of moving here as new immigrant was never being invited to a neighbour’s house to understand why this celebration is important to Canadians. Think about Canada.
The challenge of Deuteronomy for us today is the same challenge posed to the ancient Israelites: they were not to dwell in the land unengaged and unconnected to the other peoples of the land. They were to celebrate and be thankful together. To what extent do our celebrations include others who are different from us? When we plan events, do we invite people—like the Muslim neighbor across the street or the single neighbour down the hall—whom we don’t know very well? Or do we stay in our comfort zones and celebrate only those who will definitely say yes to our invitation?
For me, the fundamental lesson from Deuteronomy is not simply that we should be thankful and express our gratitude to God. Rather, the lesson is that we should do that together with others who are different from us, even those we don’t know very well. So, this weekend as we gather for celebrations, let’s take note of those who are not at our table. Let’s be people who are not afraid to make friends with strangers, because when we live in this way, we are ambassadors of God’s peace and reconciliation. Amen.
Silence is kept.
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 the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation:
79. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors, Indigenous organizations, and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. This would include, but not be limited to:
Intercessor: Remembering all the TRC’s 94 calls to action, in peace let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”
People: Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For peace from on high and for God’s continual work in our lives, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For the peace of the whole world, especially for the people of Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Congo, Cuba, Iran, the West Bank and all the troubled placed in the world, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For our bishops, clergy and laity, and for the peace and unity of the Anglican Church worldwide, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For all the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority; may they prioritize what people truly need: good food, safe and affordable housing, clean water, and stable employment, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For this city Toronto, especially as we approach a mayoral election; for every city and community, and for those who live in them in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy
Intercessor: In the Anglican Communion cycle of prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Burundi. In our Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for foodbanks and food sharing ministries, as well as farmers and food providers, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: We pray for all visitors to Toronto Island – that the time they spend here will sustain them and cultivate a deeper respect and care for the earth. On this Thanksgiving Sunday, I invite your own thanksgivings either silently or out loud...[pause]...For good weather, and for abundant harvests for all to share, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For those who are travelling and for the sick and the suffering, especially Jane, Loretta, Jung Shim, Bella and Doug, Maureen, Patrick, Susan and Dave, Gaye, Sharon, Charlotte, Liz, Gretchen, Alec, Douglas, Alison, Graham, Billy, Margaret, Peter, Raj, Donna, Enid, Freda and I invite your prayers for your own needs and those of others either silently or out loud… [pause]…let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For prisoners and captives, for their safety, health, and salvation; and for our deliverance from all afflictions, strife, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For all who have died; we remember in particular, Jimmy, Miriam, Ron, Christopher, Lynne, Ann, Muriel, and I invite your prayers for any others on your heart either silently or out loud...[pause]...Lord in your mercy,
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: Remembering all the saints and all those we are carrying in love and care, we commit ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ.
To you, O Lord.
Intercessor: O God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you, and you have promised that when two or three are gathered together you will hear their requests. Grant our requests, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Reconciliation
Celebrant: Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
Silence is kept.
Celebrant: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Come to the Table of Plenty (by Dan Schutte)
REFRAIN Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty!
God will provide for all that we need,
here at the table of plenty.
Cantor O come and sit at my table
where saints and sinners are friends.
I wait to welcome the lost and lonely
to share the cup of my love. REFRAIN
Cantor O come and eat without money;
come to drink without price.
My feast of gladness will feed your spirit
with faith and fullness of life. REFRAIN
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
As you are able, please remain standing for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Prayer over the Gifts
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Source of all life, heaven and earth are yours, yet you have made us stewards of all things. Receive the symbols of our labour and love which we offer you this day, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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, Holy, Holy (More Voices #203)
O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n, creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!
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, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: And now, as Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Celebrant: Creator of all, you gave us golden fields of wheat, whose many grains we have gathered and made into this one bread.
All: So may your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.
Celebrant: The gifts of God for the People of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
Agnus Dei Lamb of God (Common Praise #745)
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 God Who Gives to Life Its Goodness (Common Praise #428)
Silence is kept.
Prayer after Communion
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: Let us pray,
God of our hope, in this Eucharist we find the source of all your blessings.
Nourished in these holy mysteries may we, with our lives, give you continual thanks and praise. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our 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: And now go out into the world, be light-bearers, uplift the down-trodden, preserve creation, and be committed to bringing hope to the hopeless; in the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
Closing Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Common Praise #425)
Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Postlude Variations for Organ on the hymn, Come Ye Thankful People Come (St. George’s Windsor, composed by Gordon Brown)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Alison Away
Rev. Alison will take her last week of vacation from Monday, October 26 – Sunday, November 1 (inclusive). Fr. Philip Hobson will preach and preside the Sunday she is away. For pastoral emergencies, please call the church (416-203-0873) and leave a message.
SABTL WIFI Password
Guest WIFI SSID: SABTL Guest Password: Welcome2SABTL!
Communications @ SABTL
We have consolidated our communications, IT and media management. Rev. Alison’s new email is [email protected]. For suggestions regarding music, please email Jennifer at [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].
Rev. Alison’s Weekly Schedule
This fall, Rev. Alison will take Mondays as her teaching day at Trinity College and Thursday’s as her day off. 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 offer the sacrament of unction with the anointing of oil alongside the Eucharist on October 25, 2026. This sacrament will normally 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 Rev. Alison at [email protected].
Respiratory Health Guidelines
Ferry Schedule
The fall 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
October 11, 2026
St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Toronto Islands
www.standrewbythelake.com
Priest-in-Charge: Alison Hari Singh (416-203-0873 or [email protected])
Wardens: Bella Beazer and Loretta Ryan
Treasurer & Bookings: 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 Selected Thanksgiving Melodies
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 Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Metis, 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 settler arrogance. 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 Come, Ye Thankful People Come (Common Praise #262)
Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
People: And also with you.
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.
The Collect
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Creator of the fruitful earth, you made us stewards of all things. Give us grateful hearts for all your goodness, and steadfast wills to use your bounty well, that the whole human family, today and in generations to come, may with us give thanks for the riches of your creation. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
First Reading
Reader: A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you. Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, "My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors as he is doing today. [DEUTERONOMY 8:7-18]
Reader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 65 The Seed That Falls on Good Ground (Gather #64)
REFRAIN The seed that falls on good groud will yield a fruitful harvest.
You care for the earth, give it water; you fill it with riches. Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain. REFRAIN
And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows; you level it, soften it with showers; you bless its growth. REFRAIN
You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows in your steps; in the pastures of the wilderness it flows. REFRAIN
The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks, the valleys are decked with wheat. They shout for joy, yes they sing. REFRAIN
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
As you are able, please stand.
Gospel Acclamation Listen Now for the Gospel! (Sing a New Creation #188)
Cantor Listen now for the Gospel;
All Alleluia!
Cantor It is God’s word that changes us;
All Alleluia!
Cantor Come, Holy Spirit, melt and break our hearts of stone until we give our lives to God and God alone. REFRAIN
Cantor Come, Holy Spirit, root in us God’s living word, that we may show the faithfulness of Christ our Lord. REFRAIN
Gospeler: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
[LUKE 17:11-19]
Gospeler: This is the Gospel of Christ.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Acclamation (Reprise)
Cantor Listen now for the Gospel;
All Alleluia!
Cantor It is God’s word that changes us;
All Alleluia!
Homily The Rev. Alison Hari-Singh
I speak to you in the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
A couple weeks ago, we heard Billy Choi-Gekas speak to us about the conditions that are necessary for reconciliation to take place. Billy spoke on the Sunday that we commemorated National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. They talked about engaging in practices of deep listening and even deeper gratitude. For those who were here, you’ll remember that Billy said this: the deeper the gratitude the more potent the medicine. Do you remember that? The deeper the gratitude the more potent the medicine. Powerful words – both spiritually and materially. But hanging over that commemorative day was an unasked and, therefore, unanswered question. Why do we need reconciliation? What do we need to be reconciled about?
Something I haven’t spoken a lot about publicly are my personal feelings of concern for what I see happening in the Canadian public square. My concerns really began with the 2016 election of Donald Trump, followed by the resentment, mostly in western Canada, that grew up around how the COVID pandemic was handled by all levels of government. My feelings of disquiet solidified with the havoc the convoy caused in Ottawa in 2022. 2022, to me, seems to be the year, the world broke. In the last four years, I have been very disheartened by how easily algorithms have manipulated minds and captured the imaginations of many Canadians. Even after the 2015 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, some Canadians will now tell you, Indigenous people are lying. There were no atrocities in the 140 Residential Schools dispersed across this country. “Show me the bones,” they say!
I want to spend a little time this morning offering a reading about Thanksgiving from today’s first lesson. There are several things to learn from this reading from Deuteronomy. I’d like to point out just three—and the last one connects to the significance of this yearly celebration. First, the context of this passage is the ancient Hebrews living nomadically in the Sinai desert. They had been liberated from slavery in Egypt, and after decades as a desert people, they were now on the verge of crossing over the Jordan into the territory that God had promised their ancestor Abraham. Something I think we need to remember is that the text does not say that God had promised this land to them as an exclusive possession. In fact, nowhere in the Bible is the claim made that the promised land is only for Israel. Yes, we read that the land is promised to them, but always with the assumption that other people—non-Hebrews—are residing in the land as well; they’re there, in fact, long before the Israelites even arrive. The vision of Deuteronomy is peaceful coexistence, not ethnic and cultural supremacy. Think about Canada.
Second, Deuteronomy is very clear that the people of Israel (remember Israel is a person, not a place), when they finally settle in the promised land, their approach to dwelling in the land must be characterized by thankfulness—thankfulness for God’s deliverance from the oppression of Egypt and thankfulness for the bounty of the promised land. The Israelites were instructed to take a basket of the first fruits of the harvest—the best of the best crop—which the priest would then offer to God. But it must be noted that ancient Israel’s rituals of gratitude were not to be practiced in isolation from the other people groups around them in the land. In other words, Israel was not to build walls, alienating other people and segregating them away from Hebrew settlements. There was to be no reservation system. In fact, Moses’ instruction is unequivocal: “Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.” Think about Canada.
The term “alien” is an unfortunate translation of the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy. A more accurate English word that better captures the meaning of the Hebrew term is “stranger.” Stranger here doesn’t mean “stranger to the land” but “stranger to the Hebrew people.” In other words, stranger means “non-Hebrew” or “non-Israelite” or “non-Jew.” The point Deuteronomy is making is that the Israelites are to celebrate the bounty of the land alongside and together with those in the land of other people groups and ethnicities. It’s an inclusive, multi-ethnic vision of peaceful co-existence. This shouldn’t be confused with tolerance, as though the ancient Israelites are being told to “put up with” and endure the presence of non-Hebrews around them for the sake of peace. No! The vision is a shared celebration between ancient Israel and people of other ethnicities. Simply put, this isn’t tolerance; it’s friendship and relationship. Think about Canada.
This brings me to a third point. This weekend we are celebrating Thanksgiving. For many Canadians, it’s a time to be together with family. Many people head up to Muskoka at this time, close up their cottages for the winter, and enjoy a nice dinner with family. My family was quick to adapt to the Canadian holiday of Harvest Thanksgiving after we moved here from the UK, and while it was certainly nice to spend time with family, the holiday always felt to me to be too insular. One of my earliest memories of moving here as new immigrant was never being invited to a neighbour’s house to understand why this celebration is important to Canadians. Think about Canada.
The challenge of Deuteronomy for us today is the same challenge posed to the ancient Israelites: they were not to dwell in the land unengaged and unconnected to the other peoples of the land. They were to celebrate and be thankful together. To what extent do our celebrations include others who are different from us? When we plan events, do we invite people—like the Muslim neighbor across the street or the single neighbour down the hall—whom we don’t know very well? Or do we stay in our comfort zones and celebrate only those who will definitely say yes to our invitation?
For me, the fundamental lesson from Deuteronomy is not simply that we should be thankful and express our gratitude to God. Rather, the lesson is that we should do that together with others who are different from us, even those we don’t know very well. So, this weekend as we gather for celebrations, let’s take note of those who are not at our table. Let’s be people who are not afraid to make friends with strangers, because when we live in this way, we are ambassadors of God’s peace and reconciliation. Amen.
Silence is kept.
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 the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation:
79. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors, Indigenous organizations, and the arts community, to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration. This would include, but not be limited to:
- Amending the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and its Secretariat.
- Revising the policies, criteria, and practices of the National Program of Historical Commemoration to integrate Indigenous history, heritage values, and memory practices into Canada’s national heritage and history.
- Developing and implementing a national heritage plan and strategy for commemorating residential school sites, the history and legacy of residential schools, and the contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canada’s history.
Intercessor: Remembering all the TRC’s 94 calls to action, in peace let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”
People: Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For peace from on high and for God’s continual work in our lives, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For the peace of the whole world, especially for the people of Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Congo, Cuba, Iran, the West Bank and all the troubled placed in the world, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For our bishops, clergy and laity, and for the peace and unity of the Anglican Church worldwide, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For all the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority; may they prioritize what people truly need: good food, safe and affordable housing, clean water, and stable employment, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For this city Toronto, especially as we approach a mayoral election; for every city and community, and for those who live in them in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy
Intercessor: In the Anglican Communion cycle of prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Burundi. In our Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for foodbanks and food sharing ministries, as well as farmers and food providers, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: We pray for all visitors to Toronto Island – that the time they spend here will sustain them and cultivate a deeper respect and care for the earth. On this Thanksgiving Sunday, I invite your own thanksgivings either silently or out loud...[pause]...For good weather, and for abundant harvests for all to share, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For those who are travelling and for the sick and the suffering, especially Jane, Loretta, Jung Shim, Bella and Doug, Maureen, Patrick, Susan and Dave, Gaye, Sharon, Charlotte, Liz, Gretchen, Alec, Douglas, Alison, Graham, Billy, Margaret, Peter, Raj, Donna, Enid, Freda and I invite your prayers for your own needs and those of others either silently or out loud… [pause]…let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For prisoners and captives, for their safety, health, and salvation; and for our deliverance from all afflictions, strife, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: For all who have died; we remember in particular, Jimmy, Miriam, Ron, Christopher, Lynne, Ann, Muriel, and I invite your prayers for any others on your heart either silently or out loud...[pause]...Lord in your mercy,
Lord, have mercy.
Intercessor: Remembering all the saints and all those we are carrying in love and care, we commit ourselves, one another, and our whole life to Christ.
To you, O Lord.
Intercessor: O God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you, and you have promised that when two or three are gathered together you will hear their requests. Grant our requests, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Reconciliation
Celebrant: Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; God welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
Silence is kept.
Celebrant: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Come to the Table of Plenty (by Dan Schutte)
REFRAIN Come to the feast of heaven and earth!
Come to the table of plenty!
God will provide for all that we need,
here at the table of plenty.
Cantor O come and sit at my table
where saints and sinners are friends.
I wait to welcome the lost and lonely
to share the cup of my love. REFRAIN
Cantor O come and eat without money;
come to drink without price.
My feast of gladness will feed your spirit
with faith and fullness of life. REFRAIN
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
As you are able, please remain standing for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Prayer over the Gifts
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Source of all life, heaven and earth are yours, yet you have made us stewards of all things. Receive the symbols of our labour and love which we offer you this day, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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, Holy, Holy (More Voices #203)
O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n, creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!
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, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebrant: And now, as Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Celebrant: Creator of all, you gave us golden fields of wheat, whose many grains we have gathered and made into this one bread.
All: So may your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.
Celebrant: The gifts of God for the People of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
Agnus Dei Lamb of God (Common Praise #745)
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 God Who Gives to Life Its Goodness (Common Praise #428)
Silence is kept.
Prayer after Communion
As you are able, please stand.
Celebrant: Let us pray,
God of our hope, in this Eucharist we find the source of all your blessings.
Nourished in these holy mysteries may we, with our lives, give you continual thanks and praise. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our 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: And now go out into the world, be light-bearers, uplift the down-trodden, preserve creation, and be committed to bringing hope to the hopeless; in the name of God: eternal Source, incarnate Word, and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
Closing Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Common Praise #425)
Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Postlude Variations for Organ on the hymn, Come Ye Thankful People Come (St. George’s Windsor, composed by Gordon Brown)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Alison Away
Rev. Alison will take her last week of vacation from Monday, October 26 – Sunday, November 1 (inclusive). Fr. Philip Hobson will preach and preside the Sunday she is away. For pastoral emergencies, please call the church (416-203-0873) and leave a message.
SABTL WIFI Password
Guest WIFI SSID: SABTL Guest Password: Welcome2SABTL!
Communications @ SABTL
We have consolidated our communications, IT and media management. Rev. Alison’s new email is [email protected]. For suggestions regarding music, please email Jennifer at [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].
Rev. Alison’s Weekly Schedule
This fall, Rev. Alison will take Mondays as her teaching day at Trinity College and Thursday’s as her day off. 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 offer the sacrament of unction with the anointing of oil alongside the Eucharist on October 25, 2026. This sacrament will normally 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 Rev. Alison at [email protected].
Respiratory Health Guidelines
- Masking is optional
- You may sit where you are comfortable – please allow space to those who desire it
- Hand sanitizer is available before and after receiving Eucharist (note: intinction – dipping the bread in the wine – is not permitted by the Anglican Diocese of Toronto)
Ferry Schedule
The fall 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
- TipTap – the tap machine is located at the back (multiple taps recommended)
- 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