Christmas Cantata Coming Up

A word of thanks to everyone who worked behind the scenes on this year's Advent Family Night.  What an incredible evening for God's children of all ages.Thank you to everyone who shared in crafts, food, laughter, and love.  Thank you to everyone who pitched in cleaning up at the end of our night together.  And a very special thank you to our Director of Christian Education, Mrs. Nicole Kruvczuk and members of our Christian Education Committee for coordinating this wonderful event.  If you missed it, bummer!  There's always next year!

We hope to see many of you here, along with family and friends on Saturday December 15 at 5 PM  for our Annual Christmas Cantata.  Join us for a joy filled hour together featuring special music from the choirs of St. Andrew's (adults, children, bells, chimes, and brass), the Christmas story retold, and beloved hymns sung together.  This is a great way to get into the spirit of the season and an opportunity for those of you who will be traveling or have other commitments on Christmas Eve this year to celebrate with your faith community.  Bring family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers for this special night together.

Blessings in this Advent season and in all of your Christmas preparations.

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

pray-as-you-go.org

Toy Drive Underway

It's about that time of year again!  Time to find those bargains on toys or pack up those unused toys (in good condition) to share with a family in need.

We are collecting new and lightly used toys for distribution at Grace Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia.  This annual tradition of giving and receiving brings smiles to many faces.  Please drop off your toys in the narthex or St. Andrew's Hall by December 10th.   If the toy needs batteries, we would appreciate it if you could supply / install them as a special gift. We will also need a few hands on deck on Wednesday morning December 12th @ 9 AM to help load up the truck for delivery.  Blessings  to you in this season of giving!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Dear Friends,

Below is an excerpt from an article I shared with some of you around Christmastime last year.  I think many families need this once more   So with thanks to Pastor David Lose, who serves at Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, I share with you this brief but important reminder.  Even if you are not a parent (or maybe you are a grandparent), feel  free to pass this along to someone who needs this word of grace.  Finally, thank you for what so many of you do to manage to raise children  to trust in Emmanuel, God in flesh with us, Jesus Christ our Lord.

"Whether your parenting a newborn, toddler, teen, or college-aged kid, all this gets amplified at Christmas time. So many opportunities, so many expectations. Way more, in fact, than any of us can handle.

So here's the deal: moms (and dads) everywhere: you don't have to be perfect. Because you know what? There is no perfect. And you know what else? You're doing enough. Really. More than that, you are enough. You just are.

Your job is to remind your kids you love them, do what you can to help them ring in the holidays with a modicum of joy and minimum of fisticuffs, and that's about it. Actually, that's not quite it — don't forget that you're invited to have a little fun as well. Because the thing is, God didn't come in Jesus to add stress to our lives. God came in Jesus to tell us that God loves us just as we are, not as the pictures on the parenting magazines tell us we should be.

This is hard to remember, but maybe if we remind each other of this once in a while over the next few weeks we can take a little bit of the individual and collective stress out of the holidays and sing "Joy to the World" like we really feel it."

Grace and peace,

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

pray-as-you-go.org

Thanksgiving Greetings

Dear Friends,

As many of us prepare for Thanksgiving Day and the weekend ahead, I want to wish you a truly blessed celebration.  Many of you will be gathering with loved ones and, while likely eating way too much food (Enjoy!),  offering thanks for God's abundant blessings.  May your joy be full and overflowing this Thursday and throughout the holiday season ahead.

However, let us also remember that there will be others for whom this festive season will not be experienced with the joy of abundance, nor surrounded by family and friends.  Many thanks to those of you who continue to reach out to bless the homeless and hungry of our communities at Thanksgiving and throughout the year to make a difference in lives that are hurting.

The weeks ahead can also be a time of great sorrow for those who are grieving the death of a loved one.  Take time to reach out to those experiencing loss, honoring boundaries and their desire to take a step back from festivities when needed, but reminding them that they are not alone.  

The Advent season in the life of the church is one of both contemplation and joy, sorrow and hope, darkness and light   as we wait with tenacity and hope for the coming of Christ in history, mystery, and majesty.

For those of you who are traveling this weekend, may your travels be safe. Blessings in this time of watching, waiting, and giving thanks.

(Remember that there is no Saturday worship this weekend.  We resume on Saturday December 1 at 5 PM)

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

pray-as-you-go.org

This Sunday - Thanksgiving Potluck

Thanksgiving Pot Luck Dinner: This Sunday November 18 @ 6PM

Downstairs in St. Andrew's Hall

We are once again celebrating Thanksgiving with our faith community on the Sunday night before Thanksgiving and we will do it around a meal.  The meal will be about an hour in length and will include songs, prayers of thanksgiving, scripture, and a brief reflection.  This is the fifth year we are hosting this celebration in St. Andrew's Hall and a meal we have come to treasure as a faith community.

 If you have not already done so, please let us know quickly how many people will be attending (family and friends welcome) as well as whether you are planning to bring a salad, an entrée item, and / or a dessert.  You can e-mail this information to Lynette in the church office (lbecattini@standrewslutheran.com).  

PS - Our Outreach Committee continues to collect coats and gloves (all sizes) and boots (adult men sizes) for our friends on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota (We have take numerous mission trips there and hosted a group here in summer 2017).  If you have not had a chance to bring donations on a Sunday, they can be brought this night as well)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and his mercy endures forever."  See you Sunday!

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