St. John's Anglican Church Madoc Ontario

09/15/2026

Beautiful harvest decorations .

09/15/2026

THE STORY BEHIND “O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST”

“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” traces its origins to 1719, when English minister and hymn writer Isaac Watts published a paraphrase of Psalm 90, the ancient prayer of Moses. Watts transformed the biblical text into a deeply personal reflection on God’s faithfulness through generations, the passing of human life, and the security found in God amid an uncertain world.

The hymn became widely known through its powerful opening words: “O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come.” Its memorable tune, St Anne, was composed by William Croft and later became inseparably associated with Watts’ words.

More than three centuries later, the hymn remains a beloved expression of trust in God, reminding generations that while time changes and human strength fades, God remains our refuge, hope and steadfast help.

Lyrics

1. Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home

2. Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

6. Like flow’ry fields the nations stand,
Pleased with the morning light;
The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand
Lie with’ring ere ’tis night.

7. Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home.

09/15/2026

Morning is a quiet reminder that yesterday does not own today. God’s mercy arrives before our plans, mistakes, or fears. Begin again without demanding that you already know the whole way.

“His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23

Begin your day with our free weekly devotional linked in bio.

09/15/2026

Join with us in prayer. 🙏

Today's prayer is available in plain text and audio formats at cofe.io/TodaysPrayer.

09/15/2026

Today we welcome Kimberly R H to our Facebook community.

09/14/2026

Wonderful progress at St. Paul's in Marmora !

09/14/2026

Advance notice ! Mark your calendars !

09/14/2026

09/14/2026

The people of St. John's had a "Safe Church" training in June.

Safe Church Training - Sat. October 3

Diocesan Executive Officer, The Ven. Jane Humphreys, will be facilitating a "Safe Church Training" workshop for volunteers, clergy and staff who are involved in both medium risk and high risk ministries in churches on Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9:30 am St. Thomas' Anglican Church, 130 Lakeview Ave., Kingston.

High risk ministries include: ministries with vulnerable persons (eg. children, youth and elderly persons), positions of authority which allow a person to establish long-term relationships of trust, and/or positions in which a person has access to significant amounts of financial resources or sensitive and confidential information.

Sign in & Coffee at 9:30 am, presentation begins at 10:00 am.

All are invitedwelcome to attend. Use this online form to RSVP your attendance: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/YR5Ph2FFNd