What to Expect at Sunday Worship
We are eager to welcome all who would like to join in and be part of our community of faith
Our Services are enhanced with audio/visual equipment, and for persons with hearing difficulties, we have hearing assist devices available. The sanctuary is wheelchair friendly and the three levels are wheelchair accessible.
The 40 to 50 people who attend Knox-Calvin regularly are well-practiced in spending time together, worshipping and working together to make a difference both inside and outside the walls of the church. We hope you’ll feel at home on your first visit; your sense of belonging will grow as you practice being together with us. Time spent connecting and worshipping with our members will help you find your place.
You can expect to be reminded of who you are and whose you are as the beloved of God.
You would be welcome to join in singing right out loud with us, to listen to the reading of the Ancient Sacred text of the Christian faith, to pray prayers of praise and thanksgiving, confession and seeking help. Together we rejoice when good things happen and share the sorrow when the hard stuff of life happens. Some people who love to sing get together as a choir and prepare anthems each week; sometimes drums and guitars are added to the music. You can expect the offering plate to be passed as we are in the practice of giving each week out of gratitude for the abundance of goodness we have received from the One whose goodness and mercy chases after us all the days of our lives. You would be welcome to practice giving along with us.
You can expect to see, not all, but a lot of “grey heads.”
Knox-Calvin follows the trend of mainline denominations experiencing decline and lack of younger generations attending church. But that does not mean they are not alive and living into the mission and ministry of God’s kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.
Putting together their gifts and skills and resources, dinners are served, hospitality extended, local and international missions are supported, prayer shawls are woven, children worship along with them, the sacraments of Communion and Baptism are celebrated. It has been our great delight to spearhead the sponsoring of a Syrian family to come and live in the Harriston community. The gifts and skills you care to offer would bless the mission and ministry of this community of faith.
You can expect to be invited to stay for coffee and snacks!
After all is said and done in the service of worship, refreshments are served downstairs in the church hall. We would be delighted for you to join us for a time of chatting. The hall is wheelchair accessible and washrooms are disability- and baby-friendly. Our kitchen is allergy-conscious.
Leadership
Mission & Outreach
Foodgrains Bank
In joint partnership with Harriston United Church, Knox-Calvin is actively involved in the local chapter of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a reputable Christian organization responding to world hunger.
Each year local crops are planted and harvested with the profits donated to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
The purchase of shares helps to reduce the costs of planting and harvesting.
Presbyterian World Service & Development
Along with Presbyterian congregations across Canada, Knox-Calvin is active in supporting mission around the world through Presbyterian World Service & Development.
In 2015, the congregation spearheaded the forming of a Harriston community refugee sponsorship committee. Through PWS&D, on October 17, 2016, a Syrian family of 8 were welcomed to the Harriston community! It has been a wonderful journey!
I Live Again Uganda
Knox-Calvin actively supports the mission of Tricia De Boer, founder of the original Africa Arise, now rebranded as I Live Again Uganda, an organization that ministers to individuals, families, and communities traumatically affected by war. Tricia grew up in the Harriston community and has family ties with the congregation.
Prayer Shawl Knitting
For the past several years a group of women have gathered monthly to do the work of knitting. Colourful prayer shawls are woven together in the presence of friendly conversation, a bit of business, prayer and inspirational reading and then given to folks both inside and outside the church who are in need of warmth and prayer.
Harriston Food Bank
Knox-Calvin supports the local Harriston Food Bank through volunteers and collecting of food items.
Donations can be made year-round at Foodland in Harriston
High School Graduate Support
Each year as high school graduates connected to the congregation head off to college or university, they are remembered by the congregation with cards of encouragement and gifts of nourishment.
Thank you for sending along the thoughts and prayers from Knox-Calvin.
Alaina
Thank you to everyone at Knox-Calvin for 5 years of steadfast support, warm wishes, and deliveries of cookies to my various mailboxes throughout the years.
Eric
I just wanted to reach out and say thank you. I really appreciate the card and cookies you made for me.
Leslie
I just want to say thank you for the card from the congregation. It was so thoughtful and always puts a huge smile on my face… Thank you so very much for having me in your thoughts, it is always appreciated 🙂
Emily
Thank you for the card with the kind wishes and the Tim Horton’s gift card. It is much appreciated.
Matt
I hope all is well at Knox-Calvin. As always, thank you for all your well wishes and thoughts!
Margaret
Sponsored Child Project
For many years now the Sunday School children have been involved in sponsoring a child through the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada. Letters have been written and received. Sponsored children have grown too old for the program and new children taken on. We are grateful for Keith and his dad who keep in touch with our current child, Heyner, who lives in Nicaragua.
Donations collected at the annual Easter Sunrise Breakfast support the sponsorship.
Music
Our talented choir is always very happy to welcome new voices to join them. Every 6 weeks or so, the Praise band provides the ministry of music during worship on Sunday mornings.
Please speak to the Music Director or contact the church office for more information about either of these groups.
Community Life
Where do we find God while staying at home during the pandemic? Some of us see God’s work while taking our tractor for a drive on Sunday afternoon, social distancing on a woodland trail behind our grandchildren, or photographing a winter sunrise from our own backyard.
By Larry and Mary Dickieson
Testimonial
A few words from our members about their involvement in the church.
A Place to Realize Mission Goals
Mission work has always been an area of interest for me. As a child I listened with great interest as missionaries spoke about the people in the faraway lands where they worked who needed our caring. I also had a family of cousins who served for many years in Ethiopia, so it was probably not surprising that the possibility of my working overseas as an adult was always there.
I never did go overseas as a missionary, but my life has been wonderfully blessed, and I have learned over the years that mission has many expressions. I consider it a privilege to be a member of the Knox-Calvin Mission Committee.
June Macdonald
Family Ties to Knox-Calvin Church
Thinking back, there have been four generations of our family involved with Knox-Calvin Church. The people of our church have provided a valuable Christian faith upbringing, and the support that our church and its members have provided our family over the years has been beyond what one could ever expect.
I believe that one of the most important parts of Knox-Calvin is the church family that has developed here. It’s not just fellowship and coffee, but extends far beyond. It is good to be part of Knox-Calvin Church.
John Crispin
Our Message to the Community
Originally purchased by the Standfast Class, the message-board sign on the front lawn of Knox-Calvin Presbyterian Church is now updated every two weeks by Iris Richardson. Over the years, the church has received many compliments on the Christian messages appearing on the sign, from both Harriston residents and motorists passing by. It is not uncommon for a cottage-goer to stop in to voice their appreciation to the minister or church secretary. The sign has proven to be an effective and thought-provoking way to share God’s message with people outside the doors of the church, and Iris welcomes your input. If you have a favourite inspirational message that would be appropriate for the sign, feel free to send it to our office.
Guest Preacher
It was a delight to welcome the Moderator of the 146th General Assembly to Knox-Calvin on March 27, 2022. The Rev. Dr. Daniel Scott brought greetings from the Presbyterian Church in Canada and blessed the congregation with his presence. He is presently the minister at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Bradford, Ontario. Special guests included Harriston Town Councillor Judy Dirkson, and several folks from Alma and Arthur. And there was cake!
