the VOICE March 2019 , Saint Andrews E n c o u r a g e... E q u e r.. G a t h . S e n d. i p

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1 , Saint Andrews LUTHERAN CHURCH the VOICE March 2019 What s inside... Annual Congregation Meeting Calendar Congregation Council Discipleship Ministries Fellowship Health and Wholeness Ministry Initiatives Lent... 3, Ministry Team Northwest Washington Synod... 9 Outreach and Servant Ministries Pastoral Care Reflections Serving in Our Community Sunday Servers Worship and Liturgical Arts Sunday Worship 8:30 am and 11:00 am Discipleship Hour 9:45 am Lenten Mid-week Worship March 13, 20, 27 April 3, 10 Soup Supper, 6:15 pm Worship, 7:00 pm Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church th Ave SE Bellevue WA Phone: Fax: The Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church newsletter is a free monthly publication. Lent 2019 A Journey into the Heart of God s Love for the World The church year season of Lent is a period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Lent calls us to return to God with our whole heart, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Lent gives us time with a purpose: time to remember again God s profound love for us, and also to remember our dependence on God. Lent is a time to practice being disciples to make a radical response to God s radical love for us. You are invited to gather together on the Wednesdays of Lent to be shaped by the ancient Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These time-tested practices help deepen us in God s Word and open us to the power of the Spirit. Fasting invites us to simplify. We may fast from some specific food but it may be equally helpful to choose to fast from some form of social media or binge watching. Prayer is the invitation to deep listening, listening to God s word as we find it in scripture, within our hearts and within our neighbor and the world around us. The practice of charity is the great invitation to move toward God s jubilee vision by practicing the gracious generosity with others that we experience with God. Our choices to practice merciful/justice sharing behaviors also opens us to the Spirit s re-formation of our hearts and minds. We will gather each Wednesday evening to share a simple meal, be filled with God s word, pray together, and to share the gifts we have been given as we journey toward the baptism waters of Easter new life. G a t h Pastor B. Red Burchfield Family Dinner Church Saturday, March 2 5:30 pm See page 4 Growing Together IN CHRIST to Love and Serve All People e r... E n Ash Wednesday March 6 Worship, 12:15 pm Worship, 7:00 pm (no soup supper) See the insert for a Lenten calendar c o u r a g e... E q u Concert: Seattle Bach Choir Saturday, March 9 Reception, 6:30 pm Concert, 7:30 pm See page 2 Time Change Remember to Spring Forward! Daylight Saving Time begins March 10. Set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on March 9. i p... S e n d...

2 Worship and Liturgical Arts Worship Texts March 3 Transfiguration of Our Lord Exodus 34:29-35 Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a] March 6 Ash Wednesday Joel 2:1-2, Psalm 51: Corinthians 5:20b--6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, March 10 Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Romans 10:8b-13 Luke 4:1-13 March 17 Genesis 15:1-12, Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17--4:1 Luke 13:31-35 March 24 Isaiah 55:1-9 Psalm 63:1-8 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9 March 31 Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Saint Andrew s Concert Series Seattle Bach Choir Rachmaninoff s All Night Vigil March 9, 7:30 pm Music Rehearsal Times Chancel Choir Thursdays, 7:00 pm Handbell Choir Tuesdays, 7:00 pm Worship Bulletins and Notes and Audio Podcasts of Sermons can be found at sermons.salchome.org All Saint Andrew s Concerts are FREE and open to all. Invite a friend! Seattle Bach Choir: Rachmaninoff s All Night Vigil Saturday, March 9, Reception, 6:30 pm Concert, 7:30 pm S ergei Rachmaninoff composed the All Night Vigil in As required by the Russian Orthodox Church, Rachmaninoff based 10 of the 15 sections on chant. However, the original sections (1, 3, 6, 10, and 11) are so heavily influenced by chant that the composer called them conscious counterfeits. The piece has been praised as Rachmaninoff s finest achievement and the greatest musical achievement of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Seattle Bach Choir programs music that is interesting and beautiful; accessible for audiences who are hearing their first choral music program, or those who are seasoned choral music aficionados. Learn more at seattlebachchoir.org. A reception with hors d oeuvres and beverages begins at 6:30 pm. The concert begins at 7:30 pm, and is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes in length. An Easy Way to Serve Please consider volunteering to be an usher, greeter or lector. The need is greatest for ushers at the 11:00 am service! We welcome new volunteers for the 8:30 am service, too. Please contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland contact Sherry, sherry@salchome.org or Flowers The flower chart for 2019 is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex/Commons. Please take a moment to reserve your Sunday. Welcome and Worship with Children There are a variety of resources to welcome children in worship. These include a worship summary form for kids (available in the Narthex), prayer/ offering cards for kids (in the pew racks), Little Disciples Tips in the bulletin on how to engage children in worship, and a spot set aside just for kids on the east side of the Sanctuary. Children may borrow Spark Bibles (available in the Narthex) during worship to follow along with the lessons and parts of worship. 2 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

3 Bread Bakers Needed! Worship and Liturgical Arts Baking Communion bread is a quite easy and important ministry that you and your family can do and which feeds our faith family every Sunday at the altar. We use the Luther Bread recipe. You can bake the bread when it is convenient for you, seal it in a zip lock bag with the date it was baked on the label, and place in the container marked Altar Guild Bread in the freezer in the Scullery at church. You can also sign up online for a specific Sunday to provide bread. The link to the sign-up for 2019 and the Luther Bread recipe can be found on the Saint Andrew s website: Contact coordinator Jill Nichols-Hicks for more information. Lent... Stories of Faith Moments of Grace This year s Lenten theme is: Stories of Faith Moments of Grace. Members of the congregation will be sharing moments of grace with us ways in which they have experienced God s presence in their lives. As members of our community share their faith stories with us this Lent, we are invited to reflect on our own journey with God. We see how God is with us both in our everyday joys and sorrows, as well as in our mountain top experiences. See pages (Lent ~ Easter) for opportunities to worship, pray, and serve. of Stories Faith of Moments Grace March 6 Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday Servers Acolytes Altar Guild 12:15 pm Phillip Misner 7:00 pm Ian Maland Phillip Misner Soup Supper Volunteers Needed On Wednesdays during Lent, a soup and bread supper is served at 6:00 pm, before the mid-week worship service. Volunteers are needed to provide and serve soup and bread on Wednesdays, March 20 and April 10. Sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex or contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or Thanks! Prayer Partners for Lent 2019 During the coming season of Lent (March 6 to April 20), we have the opportunity to pray for someone at Saint Andrew s as we make connections with our Lenten (Secret) Prayer Partners. We remember the words of Paul, Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too (Colossians 4:2-3). The Health and Wholeness Ministry Committee is asking you to consider signing up for a Prayer Partner for Lent. Sunday, February 24 - Sign Up in the Narthex Sunday, March 3 - Pick up the envelope containing the name of your Prayer Partner During Lent - Pray for your Prayer Partner Sunday, April 28, 9:45 am - Reveal Date (find out who has been praying for you!) We ask, believing that God hears and has the power to answer our prayers. Children s Choir Calling all students in kindergarten through middle school! You are invited to join us for Children s Choir as we prepare to sing on Palm Sunday, April 14, at both worship services. This is a great opportunity for you to be a very important part of our worship service that day. Plan to join us; we need your voice! Rehearsals will be Sundays, March 17, March 24, March 31, and April 7, from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, in 215/Music Room. Contact Children s Choir Director Erin Simpson for more information or to let her know of your interest. March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 3

4 Family Dinner Church Discipleship Ministries Saturday, March 2, 5:30 pm - 7:00pm Everyone - youth and adults - is invited to come and experience a new way to worship. On Saturday March 2, in 301/Fellowship Hall, join Pastor Drew Yoos for this unique worship event where we ll pray, sing, hear God s word, and even take Communion all over the course of a meal together. Sign up so we know how much food to prepare; contact Pastor Drew, drew@salchome.org or You don t want to miss this one-time event! GOD SQUAD is Grades 9-12 FIRE FORCE is Grades 6-8 Sheep and Shepherds SHEEP and SHEPHERDS are FAMILIES with kids ages birth through Grade 5 MEXICO 2019 Mission Trip Contact Joyce Kasper or Jean Wahlstrom for more information. Baja, Mexico July 27 - August 3, 2019 Seven youth and six adults are going on our 2019 summer trip to Baja, Mexico to partner with Lantern Hill for a cross cultural exchange and service trip. A special emphasis will be on relationship building. Team members are: Alaina Bland, Jack Holmes, Sydney Holmes, Jakob McInerny, Livi Myhre, Quinn Myhre, Jillian Nielsen, Danielle Holmes, Dave Holmes, Joyce Kasper, Amy Myhre, Shana Nielsen, and Jean Wahlstrom. Learn about Lantern Hill at Mexico with Meaning Throughout the month of March, the congregation will have the opportunity to invest in our youth and adults traveling to Baja, Mexico this summer. In worship and in other publications, you ll hear the why of our tripthe reason each individual person had decided to live out their faith in this way. And then you ll have an opportunity to respond by donating to a specific item needed for our trip on the bulletin board. Be on the lookout for team members in their Mexico with Meaning T-shirts. The donation levels are: 14 flights at $350 Each donation buys an entire round trip flight for a traveling team member 20 supplies at $20 Each donation goes directly to buying educational/recreation supplies and equipment for the youth education program at Lantern Hill 10 meals for students at $50 Each donation will help feed the local participating children as part of the summer program at Lantern Hill 14 food packages at $100 Each donation will feed one team member for our entire trip 7 youth funds at $500 Each donation will fund one of our youth s entire Mexico mission experience To donate, simply take an envelope from the bulletin board, write a check with that amount, seal the envelope and put it in the offering plate. 4 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

5 God Squad Youth in Grades 9-12 Service Day GOD SQUAD is Grades 9-12 Saturday, March 23, 11:30 am - 3:00 pm Serve a meal with the Chicken Soup Brigade in Georgetown. Gather at Saint Andrew s at 11:30 am; we ll return at 3:00 pm. Youth should sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Parents need to complete and sign a waiver for youth under 18. Contact Jean Wahlstrom for more information. God Squad Holden Village Retreat The 2019 Holden Village May Youth Weekend is May 24-26, This year s theme is Ready, Set, Glow! about letting God s light shine in the darkness. Contact Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or , for more information. Discipleship Ministries Fire Force Youth in Grades 6-8 Service Day Saturday, March 23 8:30 am - 11:30 am W FIRE FORCE is e ll serve by packing and Grades 6-8 sorting food at Northwest Harvest in Kent. Gather at Saint Andrew s at 8:30 am. We ll return at 11:30 am. Contact Marvin Kananen for more information. IDAHO 2019 Mission Trip Fire Force Mission Trip Contact Dana Nasby for more information. Shoshone Mountain Retreat, Idaho July 28 - August 1, 2019 FIRE FORCE is Grades 6-8 Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to these youth who celebrate in March! Alexandra L...3/1 Quinn M...3/6 Joshua O...3/6 Sammy W... 3/10 Sarah D... 3/11 Kylee S...3/15 Vincent S...3/15 Lauren P... 3/18 Grace C... 3/19 Joshua H...3/20 Jack H...3/20 Lucas C...3/21 Zoe E...3/24 Sydney H... 3/25 Isabella S...3/26 Abby K...3/28 Faith Stepping Stones Coordinators: Lois Nelson and Kari Henderson Faith Stepping Stones offers a series of classes and gifting opportunities to assist parents in fulfilling their promises made at baptism to: 1) teach the Lord s Prayer and Ten Commandments; 2) place the Holy Scriptures in the hands of their children; 3) provide instruction in Christian faith so the children may lead a holy life. Sessions for parents (and sometimes students) are Sundays at 9:45 am Stepping into the Church.... March 3, March 10 (Eighth Grade) Affirmation of Baptism/presentation of Bibles: June 2 Stepping into Prayer.... April 28, May 5 (2-year-olds) presentation of Prayer Pillows: May 5 at the 11:00 am service Stepping into Adulthood (High School Seniors) presentation of quilts/gifts: June 9 Stepping into Affirmation of Baptism.... May 12 (Fifth Grade) presentation of Catechisms: Fall 2019 March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 5

6 Discipleship Hour on Sunday Mornings 9:45 am every Sunday, with classes for everyone age 2 through adult! Check the Sunday bulletin and Narthex monitor for locations. Grab some coffee, tea, or cocoa and join in - our faith journey never ends! Adults... February 24 Report from Bihar, India Presenter: Becca Piel 301/Fellowship Hall Becca Piel will share with us her stories and experiences from her recent mission trip to Bihar, India. Discipleship Ministries...Sundays Early Sunday Morning Bible Study: Letters of John Sundays, March 10, 17, and 24; 7:15 am, 322/Conference Room Facilitators: Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen Letters of John continued...we will study Second and Third John with reflection and discussion time. It s still all about Jesus and faith challenges to the Johannine community and to the church today. Come for one session or all three! As usual, coffee and munchies provided. March 3 Godspeed party for Pastor Drew 301/Fellowship Hall Join us for a farewell gathering for The Reverend Drew Yoos, our Interim Director of Discipleship Ministries. Pastor Drew and his wife, Pastor Sara, and their daughter, Mikka, are moving to Wisconsin. Drew and Sara will be Associate Pastors at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls near Milwaukee. Although we hate to see Pastor Drew depart, we re thrilled that this dynamic, bright and spirit-led couple will be able to work together in a large Lutheran church closer to their families. March 10 Stepping into the Church (Faith Stepping Stones for Parents of Eighth Graders) Facilitators: Lois Nelson, Kari Henderson 322/Conference Room We will discuss the transitions your child is making in school as well as in church, and how you can support them as they continue on the path to adulthood. March 10, 17, and 24 Climate Change: Scripture, Science and Solutions Presenter: Jeff Thiel 301/Fellowship Hall We ll explore what Scripture says about caring for God s creation and the poor and vulnerable, review the Science about our impact on the climate, and learn about practical Solutions to ensure a livable world for future generations. You ll gain hope, inspiration, and insight into how to reduce your carbon pollution, cut waste, save money, and live out your faith. Sessions will be led by Jeff Thiel of Carbon Innovations. Jeff Thiel formed Carbon Innovations, LLC to promote market-based solutions to the global climate crisis. Carbon Innovations is working with building industry leaders to decarbonize the built environment, investing in companies with technologies that are essential for a carbon-neutral economy, and advocating for a national carbon fee and dividend policy. Jeff grew up in Bellevue attending Saint Andrew s with his family. Jeff and his wife Bettijean are members of Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. March 31 Open conversation 301/Fellowship Hall North Enjoy coffee and conversation about the topics we ve heard about. Recordings of Discipleship Hour Classes Video and audio recordings of Sunday adult discipleship classes are available online for approximately four weeks following the class. Links to videos can be found on the Sunday Morning Discipleship webpage, adulted.salchome.org. 6 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

7 Discipleship Ministries...Sundays Discipleship Hour on Sunday Mornings 9:45 am every Sunday, with classes for everyone age 2 through adult! Youth... Discipleship education classes are offered every Sunday Morning at 9:45 am for children and youth age 2 through grade 12. Sunday Offering Sunday offerings from students go to support Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Parents, please help your children remember to bring an offering each Sunday for collection during Discipleship Hour. Sunday Church School (SCS) All children ages 2 through Grade 5 are invited to join our Sunday Church School classes. All classes are downstairs in South Hall. The SCS office is located on the lower level near the Narthex stairs. Students who are new to our congregation are asked to come to the SCS office to register and be welcomed to your class. CrossWalk CrossWalk is focused on youth in grades Meet in 319/Youth Room (the couch side). March 3- Adulting Hang out with Mary Davis and chat about adulting while making a yummy treat in the kitchen. March 10, 17, and 24- Climate Change There will be a designated High School table in 301/ Fellowship Hall to hear about climate change from our guest speaker, Jeff Thiel. March 31- Using Faith to Cope Becca Piel will be with CrossWalk to talk about using faith to cope with pressure and anxiety. Discipleship Hour Volunteers Needed We are thankful for the many people who are giving their time and energy to growing disciples at Saint Andrew s. At this time, our Sunday Church School and Affirmation of Baptism/Confirmation teachers and mentors are still in need of extra support and that responsibility falls to all of us. So if you have any interest and passion for furthering the discipleship ministry of this congregation by using your gifts, please contact Interim Director of Discipleship Ministries Pastor Drew Yoos, drew@salchome.org or Affirmation of Baptism/ Confirmation (ABC) This program is geared toward students in grades 6-8, and class is held on Sundays at 9:45 am. ALL students meet in 302/Fellowship Hall South. A reminder to all ABC students and parents that attendance at every ABC class is expected. We understand that conflicts arise, but please make your best efforts to be present at all ABC classes and please be prompt with all ABC reflections. March 3 and 10: The Creeds of the Church led by Ben Johnson March 17 - March 31: Sacraments led by Pastor Red Burchfield Those students new to our congregation should contact Pastor Burchfield. ABC Lunch Sunday, March 10, 12:15 pm, 301/Fellowship Hall On Sunday, March 10, all ABC students, parents, and mentors should plan on attending the ABC lunch after the 11:00 am worship service. We will eat together, learn together, and share faith together. Pastor Red Burchfield will lead a program all about prayer. The meal responsibilities for the day are: 7th grade families- setup/cleanup and dessert 8th grade- main dish 6th grade- side/salad ABC Reflections All ABC students are required to turn in 4 worship reflections over the course of a year and each grade level has 2 additional reflections. Blank reflection sheets can be found on the bulletin board and in Pastor Drew s office. For more information, contact Interim Director of Discipleship Ministries Pastor Drew Yoos, drew@salchome.org or March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 7

8 Young Adults Coordinator: Carolyn McKenna Young adults of Saint Andrew s (all who have graduated high school and older) get together for dinner at 6:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month. Our next dinner is February 27 at Crossroads Food Court. Please contact Carolyn McKenna by Monday, February 25, before the dinner to let her know you plan to come. During Lent, we ll attend Lenten Mid-week soup suppers and worship. Dorcas Circle orcas ircle Dorcas Circle is about service and fellowship as we support Lutheran World Relief, Compass Housing Alliance, and other charities. Dorcas Circle meets on the first Tuesday of every month, from 9:30 am until 12:00 noon in 302/Fellowship Hall South. Our next two meetings are March 5 and April 2. Dorcas Circle welcomes help in the following ways: Donate crochet thread, embroidery thread, flat sheets, cotton, or cotton blend fabrics. Donations can be placed in the Dorcas basket in the Narthex. Cut quilting fabric into 10 1/2 squares at home and/or sew the squares together at home. Join us at our monthly meetings to assemble and sew quilts. Sewing skills are not required, and you are welcome to drop-in at any time. If you have any questions contact Linda Willenberg. Dorcas Circle needs Sheets Dorcas Circle uses sheets to back quilts that we create for Lutheran World Relief. We particularly appreciate colored sheets and sheets with patterns. New sheets and used sheets in good condition may be placed in the Dorcas collection basket in the Narthex. All sizes are welcome. Please contact Linda Willenberg if you have any questions. Fellowship Tuesday Morning Men Every Tuesday 6:30 am 7:30 am, Room 212 Facilitator: Dick Swaisgood We have just begun a study of the book Learning to Speak God from Scratch by Jonathan Merritt. In a rapidly changing culture, many of us struggle to talk about faith. We can no longer assume our friends understand words such as grace or gospel. After moving to New York City, Jonathan Merritt discovered that sacred terms he was accustomed to using to describe his spiritual life didn t connect as they had in the past. That launched him into an exploration of an increasing American reluctance to talk about faith. In this book, he revives ancient expressions through incisive cultural commentary, personal narratives, and biblical insights. This book will breathe new life into your spiritual conversations and invite you into the embrace of the God who inhabits them. The men s group gathers for coffee, conversation, some prayer and early morning snacks at 6:30 am each Tuesday. Questions? Contact Dick Swaisgood. Holden Village Re-visit A few people have indicated they d be interested in another Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church group trip to Holden Village this summer. Because of Vacation Bible School and planned youth mission trips, proposed Holden dates would be either June 30-July 6 or July We need a minimum of 15 people to get the group rates. Holden group options fill up fast. If you re interested, contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or ASAP! Insider s secrets: Learn How to Use Our Kitchen When your committee or group will be using the church kitchen, please contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland to set up an orientation. We ll teach you how to turn on the stove, how to make coffee, where to find basic supplies and how to do the dishes. For more information, contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, or sherry@salchome. org. 8 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

9 Older Wiser Lutheran Saints (O.W.L.S.) March 19: Prepare to Experience the Tateuchi Center Learn about the soon-to-be-built Tateuchi Center a destination and moving force for music, dance and theater in Bellevue. The Center s new Chief Executive Officer, Ray Cullom, will be sharing the vision and timeline at the next O.W.L.S. Luncheon at Saint Andrew s on March 19. The Older, Wiser Lutheran Saints meet at 11:45 am the third Tuesday of the month in the Saint Andrew s 301/Fellowship Hall. No reservations needed for these entertaining and informational gatherings. If able, please pitch-in with a potluck dish for the luncheon. For more information, contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or Notary Public Church Office Administrator Mary Mills is a notary. If you are in need of a notarized signature, please feel free to contact her in the church office, mary@salchome.org or Memorial Garden Vases Saint Andrew s has vases available for use in our Memorial Garden. The plastic vases are stored in a waterproof tub just behind the Columbarium wall. The vases have a stake on them, and can be pushed into the rocks or dirt in front of the engravings on the wall. The vases can hold a few flowers, a small bunch, or flags. Once the flowers have passed their prime, they will be removed and the vase returned to the tub for its next use. If you have any questions, please contact Facilities Manager Kurt Lutterman, or kurt@ salchome.org. Events Around the Synod Fellowship Become part of our Fellowship and Family! The Saint Andrew s congregation is a faith community powered by a belief that God s love offers us a chance to do amazing service through many activities and volunteer opportunities. Our extended family provides ongoing fellowship for all ages. We will be welcoming new members soon For more information on how to join, contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, or sherry@ ssalchome.org. W.E.B.S. (Women s Evening Book Study) Wednesdays 7:00 pm, 322/Conference Room Facilitator: Cheryl Jurrus Our theme for this year is Remarkable Women. Looking ahead, our Spring selection will be Where There s Hope: Healing, Moving Forward, and Never Giving Up by Elizabeth Smart. She was kidnapped and held captive as a teenager and is now a wife and mother. She interviews other women who have survived tragic events and shares their recoveries. All women are welcome to join us for a great discussion of the author s story, our stories, and God s part in our lives. We meet at 7:00 pm for devotions, prayer, sharing, laughter, and critical discussions. Contact Cheryl Jurrus for more information. Inclement Weather Northwest Washington Synod If the weather gets wild and traveling is treacherous, you may wonder if events at church are on as scheduled or have been canceled. Up-to-date information can be found at There is a link to a list of daily events. If an activity, meeting, or event has been canceled, it will be noted there. There are also links to the Bellevue city traffic camera located near the church, which you can use to check road conditions and decide whether or not it is safe to travel to church. Safety is paramount. Please come to church only if you feel safe traveling the roads. The Northwest Washington Synod is a resource for concerts, lectures, events, and opportunities hosted by churches in our Synod and other organizations. Many are free of charge. The Synod s Weekly Update webpage maintains an updated list. Check it out, March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 9

10 Initiatives Saint Andrew s Vision Initiative The Vision Initiative is an engagement in a visioning process for our congregation. This was initiated by the Congregation Council in early It is a process that will help us, by listening to the Holy Spirit s leading, shape the future of our congregational ministry and seek the way God would have Saint Andrew s go and grow. THANK YOU, people of Saint Andrew s! Thank you for all of the hard work that you have put into the Visioning process this past year. Together we have gone through an extensive process of workshops and review and feedback sessions. This has truly been a congregation-wide effort. Through this process, you have shared and discussed your ideas, thoughts and comments. The Vision Initiative Team has collected these ideas and worked with your ideas to create clear and concise statements that are easy to understand and remember. Then together we have gathered to review and discuss these statements and collect your feedback. Through this process we have created the first two sides of our vision frame: Our Mission and Our Values. MISSION Statement: Growing Together IN CHRIST to Love and Serve All people. Values: WORSHIP: Responding to God s gift of Grace through Word and Sacrament, with praise, prayer and music. DISCIPLESHIP: Nurturing the growth of Christian faith in all ages as we learn from and follow Jesus. OUTREACH: Serving and loving our neighbors with generosity and justice by sharing of our gifts from God. RELATIONSHIP: Living as a compassionate community sharing God s forgiveness and acceptance of all. What is next? Start using the Mission and Values live with and live into the Mission Statement and the Values Statements. Discuss how it works. Start thinking about how and where we will display the Mission Statement and the Values Statements. Proceed with the development of the other two sides of the Vision Frame Strategy (How we do it?) and Measures (When are we successful?) Adopt the Mission Statement and the Values Statements as part of the full Vision Frame at some time in the future possibly at the Semi-Annual Meeting in June. Contact Dick Szabo for more information. Congregation Council, Committees, and Initiatives (as of January 27, 2019) Committee Liaison assignments will be finalized in the coming weeks, including assignments for newly elected members Aaron Davis and Dan Johnson Committee Council Liaison Committee Chair Executive Art Gurtel, President Carolynn Ferris, Vice President Becca Piel, Secretary Joni Barrott, Treasurer Pastor Burchfield Building and Property Dick Swaisgood John Nelson Communications Ben Johnson Kendra Mills Discipleship Jean Wahlstrom Joyce Kasper Ministries Livi Myhre, Youth Representative Finance Dick Szabo Joni Barrott, Treasurer Brady Kasper Health and Wholeness Human Resources Vanessa Wilkie Congregation Council Stella Nieman Beverley Watt Karen Grams Brent Hicks Committee Council Liaison Committee Chair Outreach and Servant Marshall Erling Marlyn Thorpe Ministries Stewardship Karen Grams Andy Hogle Worship and Liturgical Arts Sharon Gurtel Initiative Council Members Discipleship Ben Johnson Dick Swaisgood Vanessa Wilkie Marshall Erling Vision Dick Szabo Scott Lester Ann Thorpe Jean Wahlstrom Building Dick Swaisgood Scott Lester Art Gurtel Stewardship Karen Grams Joni Barrott 10 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

11 Annual Meeting Highlights Annual Congregation Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Congregation was held on Sunday, January 27. Over 140 members of the congregation family were in attendance. Thank you for your commitment to God s ministry at Saint Andrew s! The Navajo Mission Team served a baked potato lunch and took a free-will offering that will go toward funding their project of remodeling an apartment to be ADA compliant at the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Arizona. Thank you! The Nominating Committee - Hal Ferris (chair), Marli Edde, Miriam Kroschel, Stephanie Page-Lester, Judy Thiel, and Christine Zomorodian - were thanked for their work. All of the candidates were thanked for being willing to serve. Aaron Davis, Carolynn Ferris, Dan Johnson, and Becca Piel were elected to 3-year terms on the Congregation Council. Livi Myhre was elected as the Youth Representative. Joni Barrott was elected as Treasurer. (Following the Annual Meeting, the Council met and elected Art Gurtel to be President, Carolynn Ferris to be Vice President, and Becca Piel to be Secretary.) Lucas Clarke was the winner of the Dorcas Circle quilt raffle. All proceeds will go to Lutheran World Relief. Quiet Servants were recognized. These are volunteers who serve the body of Christ at Saint Andrew s, sometimes in ways that may go unnoticed. Joan Tweten was thanked and recognized by Sherry Grindeland for always being willing to serve. Carla Smith was thanked and recognized by Kurt Lutterman and John Nelson for joyfully going about the work of completing an abundance of tasks to maintain the building and grounds. Dave Marcrander was thanked and recognized by Dick Swaisgood for Dave s 20 years of faithful leadership of the Tuesday Morning Men s group. Finance Report and 2019 Current Fund Budget: Treaurer Joni Barrott thanked the members of the Finance Committee - Brady Kasper (chair), John Andresen, Jeff Stedman, Russ Stark, and Dick Szabo (Council Liaison). Joni explained the various funds used and what their purposes are. She reviewed some the of larger 2018 expenditures from these funds 2018 ended with a surplus of funds, which have been transferred to the Deferred Maintenance Fund. Joni presented the proposed 2019 Current Fund budget of $879,792, which the congregation approved. Art Gurtel explained the updates that were approved to the Saint Andrew s Constitution in These included updates to the voting process for Congregation Council members and updates to descriptions of all committee duties/ responsibilities. This work helps to complete a preparatory step in the pastoral transition process. Art Gurtel and those present thanked President Scott Lester for his leadership and service to the congregation. President Scott Lester reflected on 2018 in review and looked ahead to He framed his report around Leadership, Vision, and Other Initiatives, noting that all will feed into the pastoral transition process. Leadership: Our Transition Pastor, Brian Red Burchfield, was introduced. The next step will be to form a Transition Team. Vision: Dick Szabo presented the new Mission Statement (Growing Together IN CHRIST to Love and Serve All people) and Values Statements (Worship, Discipleship, Outreach, and Relationship.) We will spend time as a congregation beginning to live with and into these statements. The next steps will be to begin work on the development of Strategy and Measurement. Other Initiatives: Work and conversation will continue around improvements to our facility, a new website and effective communications, and faith integration of mission, values, strategy, and measures into an eventual strategic plan. Committee Chairs gave updates about the work they are doing. A Nominating Committee for 2019 was elected: Scott Lester, Amy Myhre, Beth Donahoe, Chad Oftedal, Darcy Johnson, and Ann Thorpe. March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 11

12 It s OK To Yell at God Health and Wholeness by Karen Grams, R.N., Parish Nurse At a former congregation, I led a support group for caregivers. One of the regular attendees has a daughter with schizophrenia. Over and over she shared with us the frustrations of being responsible for this young woman who periodically destroyed her belongings and stopped taking the medications that helped her control her behavior. She also told us of the lack of realistic help she received from the agencies designed to support her. Also a too frequent occurrence in our current society are mass shootings where often the shooter is discovered to be depressed or mentally impaired in another way. Mental illness is a reality in our world and still is viewed with old stigmas and sometimes the inability to address these issues with the openness that we deal with other illnesses and the disabilities they cause. The following paragraph is taken from an article by Tracy Hilts in an issue of CHURCH HEALTH. She talks about facing God with our real and sometimes unpleasant feelings when dealing with emotional and mental health. God knows how human we are and how difficult are our struggles, and He is there for us ALWAYS. Look at the Psalms: An entire book 150 chapters are filled with its authors questioning God and yelling at God and accusing God of abandonment. Yes, these psalmists also praise, thank, and speak hopefully of God, but what I find most comforting is that they are not afraid to bring their deepest emotions into the throne room of the Most High. How did God respond to these cries? He made them the Bible s book of worship. Look at Psalms 13, 61, and 139. We worship an emotion-loving and emotion-honoring God. The Psalms clearly reveal that God knows us and loves us in all our human complexities and calls us to come to God just as we are. God wants us to bring our WHOLE person When stress and the challenges of life weigh us down, Jesus offers to walk our emotional journeys with us (or with those we love). Emotional and mental struggles touch each of our lives at one time or another, in ourselves or someone we know. Jesus calls us to respond with acceptance and compassion, and not turn our back or be afraid. We can yell at God knowing that He understands even the most frustrating and unpleasant situations. We are His children. He loves us no matter what. reprinted with permission Parish Nurse Hours Tuesdays, Room :00 am - 1:00 pm Blood Pressure Screening Sunday, March 3 9:30 am - 10:30 am, in Room 212 Healing Prayer Stations for individual prayer Sunday, March 17 during Holy Communion KnitWits (Knitting as Witnesses) Saint Andrew s KnitWits (Knitting as Witnesses) is a fellowship group whose primary mission is to provide items of comfort that are knit or crocheted. Their on-going projects include prayer shawls, baptismal blankets, lapghans, baby blankets, chemo caps, hats, wash cloths, sweaters, and scarves. The work of the KnitWits hands keeps many people warm and reminds them that someone cares. KnitWits meets once a month on a Sunday. ALL are welcome to join at any time! The next meeting is Sunday, March 10, at 9:45 am in 322/Conference Room. Dianne Chong is the KnitWits Coordinator. Lenten Outreach: Baskets of Promise Items for Personal Care Kits The Baskets of Promise program during Lent helps to fill the Personal Care Kits that are sent out in early May. Lutheran World Relief is the organization that we work with and the kits are sent to areas of the world where an emergency has occurred, and people are left with very little. The kits supply basic items for survival. Our goal this year is to fill 150 kits. You can help us reach that goal by donating the following items on the weeks indicated. There is a collection basket near the elevator in the Narthex. March 10 bath towels (20 x40 52 x27, light weight, dark color) March 17 combs (large sturdy) March 24 nail clippers (metal, small or large) March 31 soap (4 or 5 ounce bars) April 7 - toothbrushes (adult size) April 14 - bath towels An announcement will be in the bulletin each week to remind you of the item for the following week. You may also bring in any of the items any time that is convenient for you. Please note that we are not collecting empty pill bottles for The Sophia Way. They have an ample supply Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

13 .... on Being Patient Reflections.... by Lowell Arneson Teaching a real estate class one time, I opened with the line, I think that patient people were mostly put here to annoy aggressive people. I knew it wasn t profound, but it did get a laugh. Not sure which half of the class found the most humor in it. Our society can be divided into two types of people with varying degrees of either patience or impatience. When I was young, I witnessed the conflict that can arise from this difference by observing my own parents. They loved each other deeply, but they could get into it because my father was the most patient man I have ever observed, and my mother was far more of a let s get it done person. The four most aggravating words in my mother s world, were we ll have to see. My folks were a bit extreme, but they would talk and thrash it out and arrive at a reasonable conclusion. This was good, but to a young kid, like me, it sounded like they were arguing, and I didn t like that. Later, I realized that I was more like my father, but I have given a lot of thought to how one can find middle ground on the subject without a lot of terrible stress. A middle ground can be based on the notion that many problems and situations can be dealt with by recognizing that one of three things is likely to happen if you give it a little time. It may get better more or less on its own, or it may get worse (maybe significantly), or it may stay about the same. Say your friend has a pain in her abdomen. It could just be something she ate, and within a day or so it may be gone. Or it might not get better, or even worse time to have it checked medically. Another friend has a funny clicking noise in his car when he first starts his engine. It may get better and go away (not likely), or get worse or stay the same. The idea is to not let these kinds of problems create unnecessary alarm but you re also not ignoring them. If the problem is acute or an emergency, and it is obvious, be an adult. Call 911. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle all considered patience to be a virtue. Basically, all the mainstream religions of the world consider patience to be an important element in both cultural and spiritual life. I believe when the 23 rd Psalmist writes, He leadeth me beside the still waters, he is saying this is where we must try to live our days. Patience and calm should prevail. The fruits of a patient life are many, but the greatest fruit is Peace, personal, family, and neighborly peace. My father s patience not only bore fruit with people, but also with animals, especially with large animals (i.e. cattle, horses, etc.). His ability to communicate with them was legendary. He never used a whip. He could calm down an antsy team of young horses or a young cow with a few words and tone of voice. This may sound a little weird, but he actually loved them. We all know it is easier to be patient with someone we love. Patience does not mean being passive or lackadaisical. It mostly means waiting on purpose to get the facts, to allow a cool down period, and consider alternatives. We all should probably work at being more patient. I hear some of you saying, We ll see... Good response! Pastoral Care Baptisms None Weddings None Memorial Services Helen Arntson, March 1 Committals None March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 13

14 Our Core Ministries... Core Outreach Ministries of Saint Andrew s are specific areas of ministry which congregation members are most involved in with various resources, including time, expertise, and financial resources. Our Core Outreach Ministries fall into five categories: ~ Affordable Housing/Homelessness ~ Hunger ~ Christian Education non-profits ~ Local Ministries ~ Global Missions The members of the Outreach and Servant Ministries Committee are: Joyce Arnold, Marshall Erling (Council Liaison), Dave Marcrander, George Miller, Becca Piel, Debbie Szabo, Dick Szabo, Ann Thorpe, Marlyn Thorpe (Chair), and Jean Wahlstrom. Ministry Prayer Focus Outreach and Servant Ministries Each month, as a congregation, we pray for one of the ministries we support and partner with, in the world and in our community. In March, we ll pray for Friends of Youth, an organization that helps young people in challenging circumstances get their lives back on track. Friends of Youth positively impacts youth and young adults ages 6-24 and their families. Its programs serve homeless youth, including the only overnight youth shelter on the Eastside, street outreach, transitional living programs, and case management; youth in foster care, and youth and families needing support services such as mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, parenting education, academic support, and in-home family support for young parents. Saint Andrew s supports Friends of Youth with monetary donations and participation at Friends of Youth events and fundraisers. Saint Andrew s also partners with Friends of Youth to be a Safe Place, where youth in crisis can come to get access to shelter and resources. The Sophia Way The Sophia Way assists women from homelessness to independence. They have an overnight shelter for 22 women to sleep, a Day Center (on the lower level of St. Luke s Lutheran Church, 3032 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue) that is open to drop-ins, job search, casework, and an office. The Sophia Way helps homeless women journey toward independence and a home of their own. How About Lunch? Volunteer C V an you provide some food for one luncheon? Saint olunteers are needed at the Day Center and to help Andrew s is contributing the lunch for the ladies of with meal serving. Donations of clothing, personal Sophia Way Day Center in Bellevue on Wednesday, items, food, and other essentials are also welcome. Visit February 27. You will NOT be delivering or serving, or contact Saint Andrew s liaison to JUST providing a part of it. If you could bake or buy a the Sophia Way, Joyce Arnold for information. portion of the meal, or want to learn more, please contact me, Joyce Arnold. It can be as easy as buying a Costco salad or two, making a pan of brownies, or cooking a large portion of rice. The ladies are always so appreciative of anything! Joyce will arrange to pick the food up from you. Thank you. Friends of Youth Fundraiser All are invited to a Celebration of Youth fundraising luncheon for Friends of Youth on Friday, March 1, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue (900 Bellevue Way NE). Registration begins at 11:30 am; the luncheon is from 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm. Visit to learn more and to register. Collections Dorcas Circle, Health and Wholeness Ministry, and Outreach and Servant Ministries welcome your contributions for Lutheran World Relief, Compass Housing Alliance, and Congregations for the Homeless. Lists of needed items are in the baskets near the elevator in the Narthex. Donations can be placed in the same baskets Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

15 Corner of Blessing Collection Items - March Each month, we collect food and other items in the Corner of Blessing in the Narthex. All donations are given to Hopelink to help serve those in our community who are in need. The Hopelink Food Bank tries hard to provide the items needed and desired by the 1900 households they support. As we partner with them, they have come to ask us for items that they don t usually get donated. The families they support would like to be able to do some baking, but baking supplies are not typically donated. So, for March we will be collecting Baking Makings butter, sugar and flour. There will be a small refrigerator in the Corner of Blessing to collect the butter. To support as many households as possible, they ask for specific size packages*. The foods for March are: 1 pound packages of butter (4 sticks) [Costco packs of four 1-pound boxes is okay] 4 pound bags of sugar 5 pound bags of flour * Hopelink can repackage larger bags of sugar and flour into smaller packages; HOWEVER, it diverts their volunteers from other important tasks and delays getting the food available for those who need it. (Many volunteers don t like repackaging flour and sugar.) Monetary donations are also welcome, returned to the church or placed in the offering plate. Note Hopelink on your donation. SOUPer Bowl of Caring - THANK YOU Outreach and Servant Ministries Thank You Saint Andrew s! What an amazing response for our hungry neighbors. You filled 35 crates and several boxes with food on Super Bowl Sunday. Thank you all for such generosity. This provided 1,175 pounds of food and $1, to the Hopelink Food Bank. And thank you to our teammates who helped with the collection: The Engan family (Mike, Juliet Zhang and Alex), the Johnson family (Erik, Avegail and Kellen), the Wilkes family (Andy, Suzanne, Jake and Sam), and the Martin family (Andre, Izzy and Anthony). It was quite a team effort!! Congregations for the Homeless Clothing Needed The CFH Day Center is open year-round providing services to homeless men. Once a week they distribute clothing, and currently are in need of more donations. If you have any gently used men s clothing, please put them in the basket marked CFH near the elevator in the Narthex. Items needed are: jeans, belts, new underwear, t-shirts, light jackets, sweatshirts, fleece jackets, socks, athletic shoes, casual pants and shirts, towels for showers, sweat pants, and sleeping bags. Mission Trip to Arizona The spring trip to the Navajo Nation Mission in Arizona has been postponed due to the death in January of Mission manager Lea Begay. The mission team is continuing to fundraise for the planned building project they hope to complete when there. The goal is to raise enough money to remodel an apartment at the mission so it is ADA compliant. This would give disabled Navajo Nation residents better access to services at the mission. We will announce new trip dates as soon as possible. Meanwhile, please keep the Navajo Mission in your prayers. The trip will include a combination of construction work (no experience necessary) and less physical things such as volunteering in the kitchen, participating in a Bible study or listening to children read. Got questions? Contact Congregation Council member Jean Wahlstrom or Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or Boxtops for Education In December 2016 Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen volunteered for a month at the Navajo Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, Arizona, an ELCA project. The Mission School has asked if Saint Andrew s would participate in this easy way to secure needed school supplies and equipment. Please cut out and bring those little coupons found on various food containers (General Mills products and others). Collect and put them in the envelope attached to the bulletin board in the Narthex, labeled BOX TOPS. These small coupons really add up to enable these children to get a better education!! To learn more, visit March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 15

16 Equal Exchange Fairly Traded Coffee and More... Outreach and Servant Ministries Support our Global Outreach by purchasing fairly traded coffee, hot cocoa, and chocolate bars. By purchasing these items, you help the coffee and cocoa bean farmers in impoverished countries receive more money for their crops by eliminating the middle man s cut. Please note: in March, coffee, cocoa, and chocolate will be sold on Sunday, March 3, (instead of March 10.) Imagine Housing Imagine Housing invites groups to provide monthly dinners for residents at our communities in Bellevue, Kirkland, and Issaquah. This is a great activity for families or groups of ~5 or fewer. Community dinners are a wonderful way to build community and get to know our residents, and to ensure that the many growing kids in Imagine Housing communities are getting consistent, healthy, balanced meals. Please contact Kathryn at kathrynj@imaginehousing.org or extension 17 for more info or to sign up. Mission and Outreach - Thank You! Saint Andrew s contributes funds to many organizations. Our donations, and many like ours, help these agencies fulfill their missions. Dear Saint Andrew s, All of us here at the Sophia Way want to thank you for your wonderful and ongoing support of our mission to assist homeless women on the Eastside. Your caring and compassion for the community is visible by your generous donation. We are because of you! Kavya, Director of Donor Relations Dear Friends at Saint Andrew s, Over 145 promising young Tanznaians are currently attending college, universtiy or vocational school with full or partial Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA) scholarships. These students go on to serve communities all over Tanzania. Please know that your donation has an impact for the students, their families, communities, and every life they will touch in their coming careers. Jason Bergman, Executive Director, OBA Bihar, India Project Bihar/Lutheran World Relief Bihar is a global mission which is engaging us in significant, multi-year outreach in Northeastern India as part of a sponsored mission through Lutheran World Relief (LWR). LWR has created a new video (2 minutes long) that invites you to meet Lilawati: As you will see in the video, being a part of Partnership Bihar has truly changed her life and the life of her community. This project is making an incredible impact in the lives of the people living in the 76 villages with whom we re partnering! The goals of this project are agricultural improvements, year-round food security for the family, empowering women in the community, and increasing incomes for families. Our involvement is with nine congregations throughout the United States, including three in Washington (The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olympia; Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland; and Saint Andrew s). Saint Andrew s has a Project Bihar/LWR working group that has defined three major components in our mission: communication, engagement and giving. If you are interested in joining our Project Bihar/LWR Working Group contact Marlyn Thorpe. Partnership Bihar Trip Saint Andrew s member Becca Piel joined the LWR trip to Bihar in January, representing Saint Andrew s. Hear about her experience on Sunday, February 24, during Discipleship Hour. Project Bihar Prayer Bookmarks Project Bihar Prayer bookmarks are in hymnals. Use them in the hymnals and/or take them home and pray for the highlighted family and their community. Remember in prayer this continuing outreach ministry. Contributions can be made to Saint Andrew s with Bihar-LWR in the memo line. Learn more at Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

17 Outreach and Servant Ministries Tanzania Sustaining Success Funding for MGLSS and at University Students The Plaster House The Plaster House, a part of the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre in Tanzania, is a rehabilitation center for post-surgery children, usually in casts (hence the term Plaster House ). For reasons of health and nutrition, many children cannot rehab successfully in their villages/homes while in casts. They need to stay at the center; the average stay being four weeks. The best ways to give: Use a credit card/atm card and go online to and click on Donate. Write a check to Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church with Plaster House on the memo line. You can also subscribe to their monthly newsletter at Jean Wahlstrom Plaster House International Advisory Board member Pants A Saint Andrew s donation of $500 was sent out with former member Ann Rowberg, who is volunteering at the Plaster House for two months. Ann wrote to say that the money was used to purchase uniform pants for the children. These pants were specially made to fit over the casts worn by the children. They were made by a local gentleman, which also provided a good source of income for his family. MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) is located on the outskirts of Monduli, Tanzania, a village about 45 kilometers from Arusha. Thank you for the gracious response to the December presentation during Discipleship Hour. We rejoice that 3 of the 4 new first year secondary students shown in the presentation now have full scholarship sponsors! If the students could, they would say, ASANTE SANA (Kiswahili) or AASHE NALEENG (Maa) = thank you very much!!! This is a redemptive investment!! In addition, our budgeted scholarships for the current MGLSS Post-graduate students will continue. We provide half support for Naserian Kambaine at Josiah Kibera University and Paulina Gidamadenga at Mwenge University for their 3rd and final year; both studying to be teachers, graduating with a bachelors degree in We provide full support for Namayani Saiko at the University of Dar es Salaam in her 2nd year, also in an education degree program. Please see the display boxes in the Narthex/Commons for more information on MGLSS and OPERATION BOOTSTRAP AFRICA. If you would like to sponsor a student, contact the church office. However, ANY donation amount is welcome at any time, as these scholarships are needed every year. Contributions can be made by check to Saint Andrew s with MGLSS Scholarship or MGLSS Post-Secondary Scholarship in the memo line. All funds are collected and forwarded to OPERATION BOOTSTRAP AFRICA (OBA). You can also contribute directly to OBA online, or by mail. For more information about MGLSS and the young women who are being educated there, contact Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen. Join a Trip to Tanzania and MGLSS Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA) is offering a tour of OBA projects, including the MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, primary schools, and more. Also included is a safari in the Tarangire National Park, cultural activities, and attending a traditional Maasai Graduation ceremony at the school. The trip will cost approximately $6,000 per person and includes airfare, meals, lodging, tips, and overland travel. Additional activities may be available for an added expense. For more informayion or to secure a spot on this May 2019 journey, contact OBA, info@bootstrapafrica.org or March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 17

18 March 2019 For current information, visit and click on the Calendar link Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Women's Retreat/Rainbow Lodge-North Bend 02:00p Helen Arntson Memorial Celebration of Life 2 Women's Retreat/Rainbow Lodge-North Bend 05:30p Family Church Dinner 3 Transfiguration of Our Lord Women's Retreat/Rainbow Lodge-North Bend 08:30a Worship 09:30a Blood Pressure Screening 4 01:30p Saint Andrew's Staff Meeting 06:00p Finance Committee 07:00p Executive Committee 07:00p Health and Wholeness Ministry :30a Tuesday Morning Men Ash Wednesday 09:30a Dorcas Circle 11:00a Parish Nurse Office Hours 07:00p Handbell Choir Rehearsal 12:15p Ash Wednesday Worship with Holy Communion 07:00p Ash Wednesday Worship with Holy Communion 7 07:00p Chancel Choir Rehearsal :30p Concert Reception 07:30p Concert Series/Seattle Bach Choir peforming Rachmaninov's "All Night Vespers" 09:45a Discipleship Hour/ABC 11:00a Worship 12:15p Acolyte Officer's Planning Meeting 10 Daylight Saving Time Begins First Sunday in Lent 07:15a Early Morning Bible Study 08:30a Worship 11 10:00a Saint Andrew's Staff Meeting 07:00p Congregation Council :30a Tuesday Morning Men 06:00p Lenten Soup Supper 11:00a Parish Nurse Office Hours 07:00p Handbell Choir Rehearsal 07:00p Evening Worship 14 07:00p Chancel Choir Rehearsal :45a Discipleship Hour/ABC 09:45a Faith Stepping Stones 09:45a KnitWits 11:00a Worship 12:15p ABC Lunch 17 Second Sunday in Lent 07:15a Early Morning Bible Study 08:30a Worship/Healing Prayers 09:45a Discipleship Hour/ABC 11:00a Worship/Healing Prayers/Acolyte Recognition Service 18 10:00a Saint Andrew's Staff Meeting 06:30p Worship & Liturgical Arts Committee :30a Tuesday Morning Men 06:00p Lenten Soup Supper 11:00a Parish Nurse Office Hours 11:45a O.W.L.S. 07:00p Handbell Choir Rehearsal 07:00p Evening Worship 21 07:00p Chancel Choir Rehearsal :30a Fire Force Service Event 11:30a God Squad Service Event 12:15p Acolyte Meeting 03:00p Children's Choir Rehearsal 24 Third Sunday in Lent 07:15a Early Morning Bible Study 08:30a Worship 09:45a Discipleship Hour/ABC 11:00a Worship 03:00p Children's Choir Rehearsal 25 10:00a Saint Andrew's Staff Meeting 07:00p Discipleship Committee Meeting :30a Tuesday Morning Men 06:00p Lenten Soup Supper 11:00a Parish Nurse Office Hours 07:00p Communications 07:00p Outreach and Committee Servant Ministries Committee 07:00p Building and Property Committee 07:00p Handbell Choir Rehearsal 07:00p Evening Worship 28 07:00p Chancel Choir Rehearsal Fourth Sunday in Lent 08:30a Worship 09:45a Discipleship Hour/ABC 11:00a Worship 03:00p Children's Choir Rehearsal th Ave SE Bellevue, WA Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA March 2019

19 March 31 11:00 am Tom Getzinger Celeste Ackerbloom Collin Feldman The Cottrell Family Joni Barrott Brent Hicks, Alex Nichols-Hicks Ann Berglind, Christine Koch volunteer needed 8:30 am Karen Grams Judi Miller Jack Holmes The Engan/Zhang Family Mikel Oswalt The Lester Family March Servers March 24 11:00 am Dana Nasby Dick Swaisgood Caden Feldman Christine Koch Fred Clarke Quinn Myhre, Kirk Myhre 8:30 am Sharon Gurtel Art Gurtel Emily Elien Gayle Rhymes Vishal Erling Alexander Erling, Mark Davis Bev Anderson, Janan Twito volunteer needed March 17 11:00 am Carolyn McKenna Livi Myhre Josie Marti Mexico Mission Team Mexico Mission Team Mexico Mission Team 8:30 am Dick Swaisgood Art Gurtel Anthony Martin Mexico Mission Team Mexico Mission Team Mexico Mission Team Elmer Neu and Signe Wraith Chad Oftedal March 10 11:00 am Tom Getzinger Dana Nasby Sara Marti Beverley Watt, Joanne Baker Jessica Allen Joan Tweten, Janan Twito 8:30 am Jean Wahlstrom Judi Miller Abby Kasper Sarah Cannon, Nancy Ewart Lois Nelson Lois and Curt Eckley Mary Jo Nelson, Janan Twito Shirley and Dean Hobson March 3 11:00 am Sue Short Celeste Ackerbloom Sam Wilkes volunteer needed Roger Koskela Ann Ross-Clarke and Fred Clarke 8:30 am Dana Nasby Judy Gowdy Izzy Martin Hal and Carolynn Ferris Shelly Abner Judi and George Miller Carolyn Haralson, Janan Twito Mark and Nancy Davis Assisting Ministers Communion Assistants Acolytes Greeters Lectors Ushers Altar Guild Coffee Hosts Saint Andrew s Ministry Team The Reverend Brian Red Burchfield, Interim Pastor red@salchome.org The Reverend Timothy T. Weber, Shared-Time Pastor timwebertt@yahoo.com The Reverend Drew Yoos, Interim Director of Discipleship Ministries drew@salchome.org Dr. Will Simpson, Director of Music Ministries will@salchome.org Sherry Grindeland, Fellowship Coordinator sherry@salchome.org Susan Hegedus, Communications Specialist susan@salchome.org Kurt Lutterman, Facilities Manager kurt@salchome.org Mary Mills, Office Administrator mary@salchome.org Russ Stark, Accounting Assistant russ@salchome.org Elaine Koga, Choir Accompanist Stella Nieman, R.N., Beverley Watt, R.N., Karen Grams, R.N., Parish Nurses Erin Simpson, Children s Choir Director Bryant Wilkie, Handbell Choir Director Sydney Holmes, Facilities Set-up Bryant Wilkie, Kitchen Team Samaritan Center of Puget Sound Dr. Mark Houglum, Counselor Dr. Neal Teng, Counselor Kristin O Hara, MA, Extern , extension 350 Serving in Our Community We have many in our congregation family who serve on boards and commissions in our community. Some of those who serve are: Clare Moe Board Vice President, Congregations for the Homeless Bill Brueggemann, Carolynn Ferris, Dan Johnson, Rob Moe Board Members, Imagine Housing Marcia Riggers Board President, Compass Housing Alliance Judy Gowdy Board Member, Eastside Baby Corner Deadline to submit items for the next issue of the VOICE: March 18 Send to Susan Hegedus, susan@salchome.org March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31 Flowers for March Sam and Shanthi Gunasekaran Stella Nieman Nancy P. Davis no flowers March 2019 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 19

20 , Saint Andrews LUTHERAN CHURCH th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA Address service requested NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT No. 35 BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON ( ) Mission Statement Growing Together IN CHRIST to Love and Serve All People As a people saved by God s grace through faith, Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church is joined by our common belief in Jesus Christ and is a welcoming community of believers who, empowered by the Holy Spirit: Gather to worship, hear God s Word, and share the Sacraments Encourage, renew and strengthen faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord Equip, educate and nurture a deeper understanding of the expression of faith in daily life, and Send people into the world to serve. Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church supports the mission and ministries of Lutheran World Relief, Sunday Worship Services with Holy Communion 8:30 am and 11:00 am Discipleship Hour, 9:45 am Church Office Hours Monday Friday, 8:00 am 4:00 pm info@salchome.org Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church is a Safe Place for youth We Support:

21 Outreach Prayer Partners Lenten Outreach... Baskets of Promise Items for Personal Care Kits The Baskets of Promise program, sponsored by the Health and Wholeness Ministry Committee, helps to fill the Personal Care Kits that are sent out in early May. Lutheran World Relief is the organization that we work with and the kits are sent to areas of the world where an emergency has occurred, and people are left with very little. The kits supply basic items for survival. Our goal is to fill 150 kits. Help us reach that goal by donating the following items on the weeks indicated. There is a collection basket near the elevator in the Narthex. March 10 bath towels (20 x40 52 x27, light weight, dark color) March 17 combs (large sturdy) March 24 nail clippers (metal, small or large) March 31 soap (4 or 5 ounce bars) April 7 toothbrushes (adult size) April 14 bath towels You may also bring in any of the items any time that is convenient for you. Prayer Partners for Lent During the season of Lent, we have the opportunity to pray for someone at Saint Andrew s as we make connections with our Lenten (Secret) Prayer Partners. We remember the words of Paul, Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too Colossians 4:2-3 To participate: Sign Up in the Narthex Sunday, February 24 Pick up your Envelope containing the name of your Prayer Partner Sunday, March 3 Pray all throughout Lent Reveal Date (find out who has been praying for you!) Sunday, April 28, 9:45 am We ask, believing that God hears and has the power to answer our prayers. Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church Lent ~ Easter 2019 This year s Lenten theme is Stories of Faith Moments of Grace of Stories Faith of Moments Members of the congregation will be sharing moments of grace with us ways in which they have experienced God s presence in their lives. Grace As members of our community share their faith stories with us this Lent, we are invited to reflect on our own journey with God. We see how God is with us both in our everyday joys and sorrows, as well as in our mountain top experiences. Check the Sunday bulletins, Trendings enews, the VOICE, and Saint Andrew s website for updates Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church th Avenue SE Bellevue, WA info@salchome.org