ST. ANDREW S CELEBRATING OUR PAST SHAPING OUR FUTURE. Volume 27 Number 12 St. Andrew s Episcopal Church, Lake Worth, Florida December 2016

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1 ST. ANDREW S CELEBRATING OUR PAST SHAPING OUR FUTURE Volume 27 Number 12 St. Andrew s Episcopal Church, Lake Worth, Florida December 2016 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I was recently reminded that Jesus talked often about money and riches. Then, as now, it is a topic that can make people uncomfortable. We are not always eager to hear or think about money in a public context. However, fools rush in where angels fear to tread! We sent out Pledge cards for the support of our parish ministry a few days ago and hopefully you received one. The pledges we make are vital to the ongoing life and mission of St. Andrew s Episcopal Church in Lake Worth. We recently received a Diocesan Award for six years of continual growth in our average weekly attendance. This points to the fact that, at least in numbers, we are growing at a steady rate. It also means that we have more people joining us in all the various ministries here in our parish. However, the one place we have not seen growth is in our giving as it is reflected in annual pledges. There has been some growth but it is modest in comparison to our attendance numbers. So, I am making a plea to all of you to consider increasing your giving by just a modest percentage. Just a one of two percent increase by all of us would have a tremendous impact on our income. Such an increase would allow us to do more in our own work and also be more generous in outreach to local needs of the community. Brenda and I can do this and we will. I know that not everyone can. But if you can, it would go a long way to furthering the mission and ministry that makes this parish the great parish that it is. I know that money can t buy happiness but it can go a long way to bringing our world closer to God and to the doing of God s work in the world. This is our call and we continue to work hard to answer that call. May God, from whom all blessings flow and by whose grace we are saved watch over and bless each and everyone of us. Father Paul Watch over thy children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their hearts may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 Sue Olson 5 Natasha Cameron 6 Janet Kinder & Blair Sloyer 7 Marie-Christine Regard 8 Christie Ragsdale 11 Uwe Haarman 14 Simone Harrison 15 Andrew Fuleki 16 William Hamilton Andrew Cameron 17 Ben Lowe 19 Brenda Rasmus Lee Powers 21 Sandy Bell 22 Ron Richard Henrietta Pemberton 23 Martine Fulton 24 Bev Brightling & Jim Kreucher 26 William Hargett 27 Gordon Broom 29 Donna Bragel & Leo Lombardi 31 Anne Pascone

2 Page 2 Saturdays Schedule of Services 6PM Worship and Communion ANNIVERSARIES St. Andrew s News & Notes Sundays Wednesday Thursday 7:30AM Holy Eucharist Rite I 10AM Holy Eucharist Rite II 10am Church School (Elementary) 10AM Holy Eucharist & Healing. Choir Rehearsals at 7pm Office Phone Fax saepiscopal@aol.com Web Site: CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON Our annual Christmas Luncheon will take place this year at Calerro s Restaurant on Saturday, December 3rd at Noon. Tickets will be $30 and are now available. You can get them at church on Sunday or by calling the office. There will be 60 tickets available. ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS This beautiful service of Scripture readings and Advent Carols will take place on Sunday, December 11th at 4PM. Voices of Pride will also be a part of the service.we will also enjoy our annual Christmas Cookie Extravaganza. There is no charge for the service or the cookies. This is an opportunity to take time out of the busy holiday schedule to enjoy God s Word and inspirational sacred music. A Love Offering will benefit the Farmworkers Coordinating Council. O gracious and everliving God, look mercifully upon the couples who are celebrating their anniversaries this month and assist them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor the vows they have made through Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen. DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 14 Donna Bragel & Ron Bukley 19 Winnifred and Selvyn Spence 20 Nicole & Mario Weaver-Vojkovic 24 Leo Lombardi & Gene Smalling 28 Christie & Steve Ragsdale 31 Elizabeth & Stewart Hurline WAY CAFÉ We are now feeding at our new location Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church (3730 Kirk Road, Lake Worth). Meals will be served at a new time of 1PM and volunteers needed at 12:30PM. Contact Joy Bayrouty ( ) or Doug Randolph ( ) to help. DECEMBER TAIZE WORSHIP On the third Saturday of December our 6pm service offers the beauty of contemplative Taize music with healing prayers and communion. All are invited and welcome. TWELVE STEP EUCHARIST Our Eucharist on the fourth Saturday of each month incorporates the 12 Steps of recovery into the service. This Eucharist is open to everyone. This month the service will be pre-empted by Christmas Eve services. CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY SERVICES December 24th at 6 P.M. Family Eucharist December 24th at 10:30 P.M. Carol Service December 24th at 11:00 P.M. Midnight Mass December 25th at 10:00 A.M. Holy Eucharist Please note there will not be a 7:30am service on Sunday, December 25th (Christmas Day) GOD BLESS OCTAGENARIANS On Sunday, December 4th we will honor all our members who are 80 years old and older with a special blessing and cake at Coffee Hour that morning. VESTRY NEWS Our next meeting is on Tuesday, December 20th at 7PM. A reminder that our financials are posted on the Bulletin Board in the Parish Hall hallway.

3 St. Andrew s News & Notes Page 3 JUSTICE MINISTRY Our Community Problems Assembly held on October 24th was a great success. We had five state legislature candidates present and several others who joined them with written statements giving their support to our state bill making civil citations mandatory for first time youthful non-violent offenders. Work on the issues of homelessness and community ID s is also moving along. Thanks to all who joined us for this great meeting. YOGA CLASSES Yoga classes are now being held on Monday and Wednesday at 6:15 at a new location: Move is at th Avenue North, Suite Check out the website at MEALS ON WHEELS The Meals on Wheels program is growing in the Lake Worth area and more volunteers are needed. The commitment is to deliver meals to homebound seniors one day a week. Call Debbie Emerick at to volunteer or to get further information. YOUTH NEWS Youth Night Friday, December 16th at 6:30PM Winter Light at Kanuga Several folk from St. Andrew s will be attending the Winter Light Conference for Youth at Kanuga Camp and Conference Center near Ashville, NC the week between Christmas and New Year. INTEGRITY OF PALM BEACH December Meeting Integrity Palm Beach, a parish activity open to all, invites everyone to join us on the second Saturday, of each month at 7:00PM. Integrity-Palm Beach is the first and only chapter of Integrity in Palm Beach County. Throughout its ten years of existence, it has welcomed a number of speakers and guest clergy at monthly meetings. Integrity has also been a consistent presence in the community, inviting all people into the life of St. Andrew s and thereby fulfilling the parish s stated mission: To Share the Love of Christ in Word and Deed with all God s Children. Our next meeting will be on Saturday, December 10th following the 6PM service. The Board members will be serving the membership dinner that night. ANGEL TREE As usual we will have an Angel Tree in the church to benefit the children at Adopt-a-Family. Grab an ornament and buy and return an unwrapped gift for a child in need of Christmas love and cheer. We are still looking for young acolytes to serve at the 10am service on Sundays Contact Debra Carter for details (debracarter01@gmail.com) SUNDAY COFFEE HOSTS We continue to need folks to host our coffee fellowship time on Sunday mornings following the 10am service. Reimbursement up to $50 is available to help defray any costs. This is a vital part of our worship and community ministry. Just remember that simple is good. UPCOMING EVENTS Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday performance by Core Ensemble on Sunday, January 16th at 4PM Annual Parish Meeting Sunday, January 22nd at 11:15am

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5 SAINT ANDREW S EPISCOPAL CHURCH December 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 World Aid s Day P Christmas Luncheon 12:30 Way Cafe 4 II Advent 7:30 & 10 HE 5 6 St. Nicholas Day :30 Way Cafe 7pm Integrity 11 III Advent 7:30 & 10 HE :30 Way Café 4pm Lessons & Carols 6:30pm Youth Night 6pm Taize 18 III Advent 7:30 & 10 HE pm Vestry 21 St. Thomas Christmas Eve 10:30 Carols 11pm Midnight Mass 25 Christmas Day 26 St. Stephen 27 St. John 28 Holy Innocents New Year s Eve 10am HE Winter Light at Kanuga 12:30 Way Café

6 * * St. Andrew s Episcopal Church 100 North Palmway Lake Worth, FL Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid West Palm Beach, Fl. Permit No ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE The office is open from 9AM to 1PM Monday through Friday. The deadline for notes and/or announcements for the Sunday Bulletin is Wednesday at noon. If it is after noon, you can leave a message on the church telephone, or leave an at saepiscopal@aol.com. The bulletin is printed on Thursday and the wonderful Church Ladies come in and fold and stuff them on Friday mornings. Keep in mind that the Prayer request list will begin anew each month. If you want the prayer requests to stay on the list for longer, just indicate that when getting the information to the office. The newsletter deadline for the January newsletter is December 20th. If you know of any events you would like to put in the newsletter or articles of interest, please them to the office. The Altar flower memorial and bequest form is in the Parish Hall. Suggested donation for this is $60. Thanks to all of you this year for your generosity and dedication for sponsoring the altar flowers. If you would like to have envelopes for your donations, please let the office know. Writing your envelope number on your check helps the accuracy of our bookkeeping. Clergy & Staff The Rev. Paul A. Rasmus Rector The Rev. Charles Laskin David Assistant Donna Westbrook Parish Secretary Dave Eakin Administrator Billy Hargett Organist Mark Lynch Choir Director Lee Powers Sexton Blake Crane Chancellor Chuck Jackson Treasurer The Vestry Mary Kay Murray Senior Warden Michael Hoagland Junior Warden Holly Stewart Clerk Donna Bragel Joel Ballard Margaret Hudson Chuck Jackson Brian McDonnell Doug Randolph Parish Website: