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Changing Seasons

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Dear Friends,
As we gradually put things away from our 60th Anniversary Celebration, we are reminded on a number of levels how all things come to an end, seasons change, and new focuses emerge.  The vibrant green leaves that filled our summer changed to beautiful fall colors and are now giving way to the rustling dead leaves of fall (which many of you will be raking this Sunday.  Thanks in advance!)  Soon the bare trees of winter will be all that greet us.  But I will not soon forget the beauty of those fall leaves and I will even appreciate the bareness of the trees as they reveal new views as well as bright blue skies and snow crystals on branches and on the ground.  
Our lives move through seasons just as our life as a congregation moves through seasons.  Some are long and joyful.  Some are short and hurtful.  Others are there to prepare us for what is yet to come.  Some seasons stagnate, some grow, and some rest.  But all are part of life in the body, both as individuals and as  …
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Welcome Home!

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Dear Friends,
Where is home for you?  Maybe home is the house where you grew up.  Maybe it's spending time with family and close friends. Maybe home is something more elusive for you but there are those places where you find strength, peace, or a sense of belonging, if even for a short time.  Home is complicated.  None of us grew up in a perfect home but we have images of what home is and means, and we long for it.
As our 60th Anniversary Celebration approaches (Sunday October 27th @ 9:30 AM), there are many people planning to attend who see St. Andrew's as their spiritual home, a place of confirmation, marriage, family baptisms, and funerals.  A place that was there in every age and stage of children's lives, a special place in the Audubon community.  However, there are also many of the St. Andrew's faithful who did not grow up here, who don't know a lot of familiar faces, and maybe just feel like they are passing through.  We all have a place in this special cele…
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Bringing Generations Together

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Dear Friends,
At our 11:00 Worship this past week, children from our Celeste Choir joined with our Sanctuary Choir in the singing of  "All God's Children by composer Sally Albrecht.  The blending of voices and tunes in this piece served as a reminder of a couple of things in our life together.
First of all, our lives are so much richer when hands and hearts and voices of multiple ages are brought together.  We already see how true this is in our Music Program, in Christian Education, and in our volunteer teams that support our worship life together.  How many other opportunities might there be to develop mentoring programs, partnerships in service projects between youth and seniors, and incorporating our children and youth even more in worship leadership?  Secondly, our children are not simply the future of the church but a very important part of our present, blessing us with their voices, enthusiasm, creativity,  curiosity and love.
We look forward to bringing the generation…
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September 29th - Blessing of the Animals

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 Blessing of Animals this Sunday September 29 @ 12:30 in outdoor chapel area across parking lot from church upper entrance (weather permitting) - part of our remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi.

  Bring your safe and well mannered (relatively speaking!) pets and join us this Sunday.   There is plenty of space to spread out with your pets if they are not as social and to walk afterwards.  This time together following a brief opening of scripture and prayer may include individual conversation, prayer, and blessing as well as photo ops.  Our dog friends will also receive, according to wishes of their owners,  lots of love and attention from Pastor and our youth. This is also a great opportunity to meet new people in the community and some very special members of their family. – small animals should be in containers / cages and dogs should be leashed.  Also, we will be collecting donations of dog and cat food for Daily Bread Food Pantry. Even if you cannot stay for the Blessing,…
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Coming Up In Adult Education

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THIS FALL ON SUNDAY MORNINGS (AT 9:30 AM – (beginning this Sunday)
"Simon Says" ~ The Journey of Simon Peter (meets downstairs in Jerusalem Room)
This video / discussion series looks at the life and ministry of this faithful but flawed disciple who teaches us much about being a disciple but also about what it means to be very human. 



Wired Word (meets upstairs in Daniel's Den) 
Each week a group will gather for a guided devotion and discussion at the intersection of current events, scripture, and our faith journey and experience.





 Looking ahead to November…
Honoring our Neighbor's Faith Part 2 Outside the Mainstream (meeting downstairs in Jerusalem Room)
Continuing our overview of beliefs, practices, and piety of our brothers and sisters, we move on from mainstream Christian groups to communities on the fringes of Christian faith (including Quakers and Mormons) but play a role in our nation and culture. 



The Bible Tells Me So (meeting upstairs in Daniel's Den) 
An hon…
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9:30 Worship for One More Sunday (Saturday Worship Begins)

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September 7th & 8th Kick-Off Weekend Fall Worship Schedule Begins
Weekly Saturday Worship at 5:00 pm.
We return to our weekly service of Holy
Communion for the upcoming program year.  This service is more intimate and a little less formal with more spoken liturgy and monthly appearances by our acoustic group, Soulful Strings. We always look forward to Saturdays when they lead us in worship. Holy Communion is always offered on Saturday nights. As we begin a new program year together, think about family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors who could benefit from Saturday worship, especially those who have work or sports on Sunday and need a Sabbath with the Word. Also, think about those who may have medical issues that make mornings difficult or those who are returning to the church and looking for something different. Growth opportunities abound.
9:30a.m. ~ Kick-Off Sunday "Building Our Faith"
A simple but celebrative worship gathering, including songs with our Sunday School …
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Blood Drive: Give the Gift of Life (This Friday)

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Just a reminder that American Red Cross will be having a blood drive st St. Andrew's this Friday July 26  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.









Virus-free. www.avast.com
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