Blood Drive: Give the Gift of Life (This Friday)

 Just a reminder that American Red Cross will be having a blood drive st St. Andrew's this Friday July 27  from 2 - 7 PM downstairs in St. Andrew's Hall.  You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or by signing up online at redcrossblood.org. The blood supply tends to be particularly challenging during the summer months.  As you are able, please take some time out of your schedule on Friday to give this precious gift.

Midweek Worship this Wednesday July 25

Dear Friends,

Come join us Wednesday evening at 7 PM for outdoor worship in our chapel across the parking lot from upper entrance.  Feel free to use our benches or bring a favorite lawn chair. We are hoping that the weather is drier than today (We have been very fortunate in the past) and it doesn't get too hot.  However, when the weather doesn't cooperate (which has been rare) we simply move to our  air conditioned worship space.

This  simple Service of Holy Communion will have it's own acoustic music, a spoken liturgy, and different readings and message from Sunday mornings. This summer we are focusing on the book of Proverbs, which gets little or no attention in our assigned Sunday readings.    We hope you can join us Wednesday night.  

(And yes, for those of you who have been away for awhile we are still here on Sundays @ 9:30 too!)

Hope and pray you find some time for rest and renewal in these weeks of summer.  See you in church!

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

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Memorial Day - 9:30 Worship Begins

Dear Friends,

For those of you who are getting through this week by looking forward to an extended weekend, rejoice that we have such a gift as we transition into beautiful weather and the summer months ahead.  However, I encourage you to remember to give thanks this weekend for the reason we have this holiday in the first place.  Let us give thanks to God for those members of our armed forces who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms that we enjoy.  Also, if you see someone in uniform in the days ahead, thank them for their service to our nation as well.

If you find yourself around a special meal with family and friends on Monday or if you find yourselves gathered around the barbecue, take time to say grace giving thanks for our many blessings.  Also, feel free to print out and read the following prayer as well:

Almighty God, you are our strength and our shield.  We give you thanks for the men and women of our armed forces, past and present, especially for those who have died while serving.  May their sacrifices serve the cause of peace, and may our nation be ever grateful for their service.  With your wisdom and strength guide our military's leaders, and give to your people a desire for justice and peace.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

We pray for safety in your travels and if you are in the area, we hope you will have the opportunity to join us for Sunday worship.  Remember that we begin our summer schedule this weekend with one service at 9:30 AM.  This Sunday, we will also have another installment of "Ask the Pastor"  as the message will be shaped by your anonymous questions about the Bible, Church History, Liturgy and Worship, St. Andrew's, or faith and daily life. Come with your questions or simply listen and learn from the questions of others.   

By the way, as we collect the many hymn requests submitted in recent weeks, there were some that were requested repeatedly.  We will be singing several of them on Sunday, including Holy, Holy, Holy,   Here I Am, Lord, and the Battle Hymn (Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory)  

A blessed week and weekend to you all.  See you in church!

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

A Prayer for Pentecost

This Sunday we celebrate one of the three great festivals of the church year, the Day of Pentecost.  Coming 50 days after Easter and ten days after the Ascension of Our Lord, it is the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit to Christ's followers, the birth of Christ's Church in the world, and our mission together. Historically, Pentecost has been a huge celebration in Europe, where church celebrations take on the tone of Easter here in the States.  Because Pentecost tends to fall over graduation weekends or Memorial Day (but not this year!), our celebrations tend to be more intimate and subdued.  However, in no way does this diminish the importance of this day in the life of Christ's Church. For that may have been the first Pentecost but there have been many more since that time as God's Spirit continues to work in, with, and through us for the sake of the world.

  If you are going to be in worship, here or elsewhere, this Sunday, wear something red as we celebrate the coming of the Spirit.  May God continue to  bless us. empower us, and guide us for the joys and challenges of the journey ahead.

Holy Spirit, come upon us.  Breathe new life into us.  Help us to share this new life in what we do and say.  You are our Creator.  Help us to be creative.  You inspire us.  Help us to inspire others.  Help us to build up rather than to break down.  Help us to be renewed and refreshed when we are torn down and tired.  Call us by your Spirit into the way of New Life, through the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

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Opportunities for Growth in the Easter Season

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for a deeply moving Holy Week and a beautiful, joyous celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord.  Sunday was a day of reunion and hope around Word and Sacrament and wonderful music from our choirs.  We have heard many words of thanks from folks who have not worshiped with us for awhile and from people who were worshiping with us for the very first time.  For all of you who led, served, or worked behind the scenes, many thanks.

Easter is not a day but a season of joyous worship and opportunities for growth.  The adventure continues...

This Sunday Adult Education resumes downstairs in the Jerusalem Room at 9:30 AM as we study the Gospel parallels, comparing and contrasting stories as told by different Gospel writers, while looking at what the differences mean

for them and us.

Looking ahead, Inquirer's Class for those seeking information about St. Andrew's will be held on April 15th and April 22nd . If you or anyone you know is interested in joining St. Andrew's or just learning more about our faith community, please meet me on the above dates at 9:30a.m. in the narthex (church lobby). Reception of new members will be held Sunday, May 6th .

Also, we are calling all women to join us on April 14th at 9 AM as we wrestle with "Overcoming the SuperGal Syndrome" A delicious breakfast buffet will be served followed by music led by our own Soulful Strings.Outstanding  guest speaker Lori Hynson will help you to laugh, learn, and de-stress Come for a delightful morning and bring friends! Please sign up on the  bulletin board in the narthex  or contact the church office to reserve your spot.  Family, friends, and co-workers are encouraged to attend.

In the weeks ahead, we look forward to commissioning our Stephen Ministers, welcoming Pastor K to the pulpit, celebrating Mothers Day, and Confirming several of our young people while celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birth of Christ's Church in the world, and our mission together.  Continue to pray for the people and mission of St. Andrew's as we journey through the changes and challenges of the months ahead.  See you in church!

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

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