the VOICE , Saint Andrews January 2018 Along the Way

Transcription

1 , Saint Andrews LUTHERAN CHURCH the VOICE January 2018 What s inside... Along the Way... 1 Calendar Congregation Collaborations... 5 Congregation Council Discipleship Ministries Fellowship, Groups, and More Health and Wholeness Ministry Ministry Team Outreach and Servant Ministries Pastoral Care... 5 Pathways to Renewal Reflections... 3 Serving in Our Community Sunday Servers... 17, 19 Worship and Liturgical Arts Wednesday of Advent December 20 Soup Supper 6:15 pm Holden Evening Prayer 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. Along the Way Remember your first Christmas? The place, those present, the presents, the traditions which may carry on to this present day? My most present memory is the snow. Spokane was a city of snow in the first Christmas that I remember. The Monroe Street hill was blocked off so that families could use their sleds and slide towards town. Would not happen with the safety concerns and traffic issues of our day. But, the point is that memory points keep us tethered to the past and into the present with the hope of a future. That is, it seems the meaning of the time we share knowing that, yes, Jesus is the reason for the season. Tuesday Morning Bible Study has been dipping into the center of John s Gospel, John It is like an upper room huddle as Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure, His death. There is not much left to guess in this document likely written somewhere near 90 A.D./Common Era. It is His instruction He leaves them. Much, happens from the foot washing to Judas departure and the promise that Peter will deny Him three times, but the rest of it is about assurance that He will be with them forever. It is our promise too on the cusp of Christmas 2017 and a brand new year, And I wonder if you are making New Year s Resolutions. Or, as I have learned to call them New Year s Revolutions. That is the word of the Upper Room as we share love in unity and mission. I begin to build mine on the promises of Jesus Upper Room teaching: Jesus is with us forever, the Holy Spirit powers our witness and life together and calls us to be about the life of listening, learning, and dreaming our vision for mission and ministry. How will we remember this Christmas in these times? A world ready for hope renewed, peace prevailing, and life lived in the love that will never let us go! 2018 is before us! We are called to be disciplefit in the Lord. Now is the time! See you in church! Pastor Jim McEachran December 17 Worship with Holy Communion, 8:30 am Worship with Holy Communion and Children s Christmas Program, 11:00 am Concert Series: Bells of the Sound See page 2 a G h t r e.. E. n c o u r December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship with Holy Communion, 9:30 am Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve Family Worship (no Holy Communion), 4:00 pm Worship with Holy Communion, 6:30 pm Worship with Holy Communion, 9:00 pm a g e... E q u i S p... e n... d

2 Worship Texts January 7 Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm 29 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11 January 14 1 Samuel 3:1-20 Psalm 139:1-6, Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 January 21 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62: Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 January 28 Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm Corinthians 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28 Saint Andrew s Concert Series Bells of the Sound December 17, 4:00 pm Jazz Ensemble February 11, 4:00 pm Will Simpson, piano, and Leslie Johnson, viola March 25, 4:00 pm The Emmaus Trio with Leslie Johnson, viola May 20, 4:00 pm Worship Service Captioning December 31, 9:30 am January 7, 11:00 am January 21, 11:00 am 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 Worship and Liturgical Arts Christmas Eve Family Worship Prelude Music We welcome all children and teens to consider sharing a piece for the prelude music to the 4:00 pm worship service on Christmas Eve. The piece does not have to be Christmas themed but can be something you played in a recital. Contact Dr. Will Simpson, will@salchome.org or , if you would like to participate or for more information Choir at Crossroads Mall Members of the Saint Andrew s Chancel Choir will be singing Christmas Carols at the Crossroads Mall in Bellevue on Saturday, December 16, at 4:30 pm. This event is sponsored by the American Guild of Organists Seattle Chapter. Everyone is invited to this half-hour concert with choir, organ, and strings. For more information, contact Dr. Will Simpson, will@salchome.org or See you there! The Saint Andrew s Concertss are FREE and open to all. Invite a friend! Bells of the Sound: Peace on Earth Sunday, December 17, 4:00 pm Christmas Worship December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship with Holy Communion, 9:30 am No Discipleship Hour Christmas Eve Worship Family Worship, 4:00 pm Worship with Holy Communion, 6:30 pm Worship with Holy Communion, 9:00 pm December 25, Christmas Day No worship services scheduled Sunday, December 31 Worship with Holy Communion, 9:30 am No Discipleship Hour eace on earth, goodwill to Pmen! was the message the angels brought to the shepherds in the fields on that first Christmas Eve. This is the very essence of the Christmas spirit that fills us this time of year. Bells of the Sound will share this message as they present Peace on Earth, featuring traditional carols and songs of peace from around the world. Please join us on this goodwill journey to ring in the holiday spirit! Bells of the Sound is not your typical handbell choir. Under the direction of Shirley Lindberg, this talented group of musicians is a dynamic force in the handbell world - encouraging composers to create new works and advancing this exciting instrument into the mainstream of entertainment. They perform on one of the largest sets of handbells and chimes in the country. Visit for more information. Saint Andrew s member Vanessa Wilkie is a member of Bells of the Sound. 2 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

3 Altar Guild Looking for a way to volunteer? The Altar Guild is welcoming new members! We are responsible for preparing the altar for communion. This entails about an hour of set up on Saturday, another half an hour between services on Sunday, and an hour of clean up after the second service. We always work with a partner, so it s a great way to get to know other church members. It s an honor to set the Lord s Table. We typically serve eight times per year, but we d welcome any help. We re also the group who decorates the Christmas tree and Easter flower cross. Join us for our next meeting, between services (9:45 am) on Sunday, January 7, in 322/Conference Room, or contact Karin Eklof or JoAn Eklof with questions. Thanks! Worship and Liturgical Arts Reflections on Being Guileless and Humble 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. Communion Bread Everyone is invited to bake bread used in the Eucharist on Sunday mornings. You can sign up online for a specific Sunday. Links to the sign-up website and to the recipe for Luther Bread are both on the Saint Andrew s website; go to and scroll down to Bake Communion Bread. Contact coordinator Jill Nichols-Hicks for more information. by Lowell Arneson Dick was a classic all American, 20 th Century fellow. Born in the early 1920 s in the Yakima/Ellensburg area of Washington, he had a hard life as a youngster. He made it through enough school, found work, and when the war came, he joined the Navy. Toward the end of the war, he married, ending up in Bellevue, where he and his wife Geri raised a family of four children. He worked in sales of merchandise handling equipment. At age 50, he started his own company, and grew it into a very successful operation. As the business and the family grew, Dick and Geri one day discovered a cabin lot for sale near Snoqualmie Pass. They purchased the lot, built a cozy cabin, and owned it for as long as they were married. Both of them were creative and handy, and added many nice touches to the cabin. Dick was a natural woodsman, who scrounged the nearby forest for fallen trees to drag home for fueling the two fireplaces in the cabin. The neat stacks of firewood around the cabin added greatly to its charm. This was a wonderful spot to retreat to, and only a 45 minute drive from their home in Bellevue. Dick was an unabashed man of faith. He was also the most guileless and humble man I have ever known. Guilelessness and humility are not the same thing but they are related. To be guileless is to not be overly suspicious of others. To be humble is to assume that the other person is probably superior to you, or at least equal to you. Humility is the opposite of pride. We are encouraged to develop strong self-esteem, but self-esteem can quickly grow into pride. The balance between pride and humility gets a little tricky when we try to fit it into our relations with others. Dick was a man who had that balance. I think he was born with it. He always gave others the benefit of the doubt. He was not suspicious, unless given reason to be. He took pride in many of his accomplishments, but he seldom referred to them as his accomplishments. Over the years, we were invited to the cabin for several New Year s weekends. Dinner on New Year s Eve was often BBQ steaks and cheese fondue. We would begin the evening with Dick getting both fireplaces going one up, one down. I would get the grill and meat ready. Dick and I often found ourselves alone on the lower level, while the rest were busy upstairs. We would be sitting in our ski sweaters with our feet up in front of the fire, evening drinks at our elbows, and ready to visit. Our visits ranged over many subjects, serious and jocular: our farm backgrounds, our work, our families, and very often, spiritual matters. I remember Dick once asking me, Do you pray a lot? I can t recall anyone else ever asking me that question, but it was a typical Dick question. I loved his openness and honesty in conversation. He wasn t trying to hold a conversation as much as he was trying to really share, listen and learn. After reaching close to ninety, Dick Anderson died in 2009, after a lengthy bout with Alzheimer s. Under the circumstances, it was okay to see him go, but I still miss him more than I can express fully. When I think of him, I always recall the words of the prophet, Micah,... and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 3

4 Pathways to Renewal Joshua Process Summary Scott Lester, Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church Council President Thank you to those of you that participated in the Rich Congregational History, Roots and online missional assessment profile (MAP) survey Relationships and the Internal Listening interviews with Pastors Jim The strong connection to the ministry of Saint Weckwerth and Tom Jolivette as part of the Joshua Process. Andrew s by many includes family connections, Thank you, also, for your attendance and participation in history, service, and programming. An important both the External Listening Session on Commitment characteristic of Saint Andrew s history includes the Sunday and the Presentation on the Final Report on relationships and connectedness of the members to one December 5. It s such a blessing to receive your input as another. This sense of family, care, and support was we work toward developing a Vision for our Saint reported as an integral part of how members view the Andrew s Lutheran Church community. congregation. People have a deep love for this This Joshua Process exercise is a direct response to the congregation and the people who comprise it. Congregation s commitment to supporting our pastoral Acknowledgment of Changing Context transition process, developing a clear congregational The people of Saint Andrew s have a healthy awareness vision, and informing future initiatives. Your Congregation of the changing cultural and social landscape of the Council is already considering the recommendations Bellevue area. While there is not clarity around what offered in December and developing a foundation to take that means for the future, members are cognizant of the active steps forward in terms of addressing the travel shifts and acknowledge the need to make changes in plan that is documented in the report. At the Annual order to better serve in the changing context. Meeting on January 28, we will again summarize the Challenges report, lift up adopted recommendations, and possibly seek Lack Of Unified Clarity About Purpose And Vision dialogue / direction on other initiatives. In the meantime, People are experiencing confusion and frustration observations gained from surveys and interviews include stemming from the lack of clarity about the future of the following affirmations and challenges: Saint Andrew s. This is based in large part on not Affirmations and Assets knowing when Pastor McEachran will resign and Strong Sense of Mission and Service whether/when to expect a new Senior Pastor. The Saint Andrew s has a strong and healthy sense of what amount of energy being expended on the anxiety it means to be a congregation in Christ s church. surrounding this confusion is drawing from the energy People understand themselves as a community needed to invest in the sense of creativity and gathered by God to care for one another in order to be adventure required to dream about the new future to able to faithfully make a difference in the lives of which God is calling Saint Andrew s. people outside the walls of the church. This sense of Lack of Clarity Regarding Lines of Authority and mission inspires hope and excitement throughout the Decision-Making Processes community. People expressed some confusion about how major Excellent Leadership decisions are made and who has authority to make The people of Saint Andrew s recognize the them. The key issues cited are Pastor Telyea s excellence of the lay and professional leadership of resignation, the uncertainty surrounding the Senior the congregation. Leaders have high capacity to build Pastor position, and the potential building campaign. trustworthy relationships, focus on what is important, Many people are not feeling heard or understood and/or and move the congregation in the direction to which wonder about where authority lies to influence the they are called to go. The congregation has a history resolution of these situations. This also contributes to of healthy Pastoral leadership (including Pastor waning levels of energy and motivation for ministry. McEachran) marked by strong preaching and vision Report Recommendations and Travel Plan Way Points are alongside tangible love and care for people inside and available in the summary report document that can be outside of the congregation. obtained at the following link: Financial Resources Saint Andrew s is gifted with many members who Your Congregation Council is already taking the next have a relatively high capacity for generous financial steps to better understand how we move forward in a shared giving to support the mission and ministry of the ministry. The Council is completing some initial congregation. This is recognized as a gift by groundwork in December, and then will meet twice in members and reflected in data pertaining to giving January, first, to commit to, decline, and/or revise patterns, mission support, and other benevolent recommendations, and second, to take action on various giving. recommendations and travel plan waypoints, in advance of (continued) the Annual Meeting on January 28. I invite your continued questions. Contact Scott Lester. 4 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

5 Pathways to Renewal Pa hways to Renewal Discipleship Ministry Building athways to PRenewal is our theme that serves to ground our mission forward in discipleship, ministry and planned initiatives, including a future capital campaign that will inform our commitment to a building remodel project. Discipleship: There is opportunity for engagement with committees, groups and the mission of this church and investment in Christ s work. This engagement is what stewardship and discipleship are all about. The Discipleship Ministries Committee includes Joyce Kasper (Chair), Emily Harrow (Director of Discipleship Ministries), Marshall Erling (Council Liaison), Emily Andresen (Youth Council Representative), Beth Donahoe, Stephanie Lester, Sonja Feldman, Jessica Allen, Janan Twito, and Mary Davis. Building: Congregation leadership is informing and educating the congregation on our proposed building remodel. Room 212 has become the Pathways Hub, an information center and a place for conversation, questions, and insights. There are display boards with drawings from VIA Architecture and copies of feedback provided by the congregation and staff in Members of the Building Remodel Team are in the Pathways Hub on Sunday mornings and look forward to talking with you. There are also forms available to provide written feedback. The building remodel team includes Lucy Sannes (Chair), Guy Feldman, Judy Gowdy, Dick Lee, Stephanie Lester, Pastor McEachran, John Nelson, and Dick Swaisgood. We re excited about this new theme in discipleship, ministry and foundation building and how Christ will guide us on our Pathways to Renewal in Him. Questions can be directed to Congregation Council President Scott Lester. Pastoral Care Baptisms Ella C, December 17 Noah P, December 24 Weddings None Memorial Services Marjorie R. White, December 15 George Edward Short, December 16 Committals Marjorie R. White, December 15 George Edward Short, December 16 Congregation Collaborations Saint Andrew s is in relationship with area congregations! Here are some of the ways we are collaborating with other Lutherans in our community: Timber Ridge Worship Gatherings: Saint Andrew s and Our Savior Lutheran have members who live at Timber Ridge. Members of both congregations are invited to worship gatherings. Women s Retreat: Our Savior Lutheran is coordinating a Women s Retreat on March 2-4, 2018, and has invited area congregations to participate. See below. Vacation Bible School: Saint Andrew s, Our Savior Lutheran, and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran teamed up to host Vacation Bible School (VBS) last summer. Look for collaboration at next summer s VBS too: July 9-13, Imagine Housing Project at Saint Luke s Lutheran: Sixty-three units of affordable housing will be built by Imagine Housing on property at Saint Luke s Lutheran (3030 Bellevue Way NE). Half of the units are designated for the homeless; 20% for the disabled. Groundbreaking was December 12. Invitation: 2018 Women s Retreat Hello to the women of Saint Andrew s! In an effort to strengthen our relationships with other Lutheran congregations in our area, you are cordially invited to join the women of Our Savior Lutheran Church (OSLC) at our annual Women s Retreat! Themed The Gift of Encouragement, it will be held Friday-Sunday, March 2-4, 2018 at the Rainbow Lodge in North Bend. Our speaker is Barb Boswell. She is a gifted storyteller who shares her message with transparency and vulnerability. Her down-to-earth style will disarm you with humor, then smack you with God s Truth. The desire of her heart is to be used by God to draw women into a closer relationship with Him. Barb is the author of several books. If you are looking for some time away to re-group, recharge, and re-energize your faith (plus have some fun with other Christian women), this is the event for you! Registration for this event is now open. The cost varies depending on accommodation and meal options chosen. Brochures are in the Narthex or register online; the link is at women.salchome.org. After filling out the online form, mail your registration deposit ($50) to Joan Friel, Women s Retreat Coordinator, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front Street South, Issaquah, WA, Further details are available on the registration form. For more information, please contact Joan through Our Savior Lutheran Church. January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 5

6 Discipleship Ministries. The vision of Discipleship Ministries is To gather, encourage and equip all people through active learning, how to embody faith in Jesus as they are sent into the world. Discipleship Hour on Sunday Mornings 9:45 am every Sunday morning, 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... December 17 Christmas Carol Sing Facilitator: Dr. Will Simpson Dr. Will Simpson leads us through an hour of your favorite carols. Get in the Christmas Spirit as we await the Birth of our Savior! January 7 Baby Shower for Jesus Facilitator: Sherry Grindeland will celebrate Epiphany the first Sunday in We January with a baby shower for Jesus. Plan to bring baby clothes and supplies in honor of Jesus. No need to wrap these baby gifts they will be going to Eastside Baby Corner to outfit needy and underserved families. Most needed items are warm sleepers, onesies, and baby outfits. January 7 Stepping into Adulthood (Faith Stepping Stones for Parents of High School Seniors) Facilitators: Lois Nelson, Kari Henderson We look forward to meeting with our parents of seniors to talk about the next steps for their children as they get ready for life after high school. High school seniors are blessed and presented with a quilt/gift from their family on June 10 during the 9:30 am worship service. January 14 and January Budget Facilitators: Congregation Treasurer Joni Barrott, Finance Committee, Outreach and Servant Ministries Committee We re devoting two discipleship hours for discussion about the 2018 budget. On January 14, join us for conversations with your Treasurer, Joni Barrott, and members of the Outreach and Servant Ministries Committee to learn about planned opportunities for our outreach ministries in The following Sunday, January 21, Joni and the Finance Committee members will be open to any general questions about the budget, our current fund, and reserve funds. January 28 New Members Facilitator: Sherry Grindeland, Pastor McEachran We will receive members at the 8:30 am worship service on January 28 followed by an all-church get-acquainted hour. Expect yummy treats, a warm welcome to our new members and some social time. Contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or , if you would like to join the congregation or would like more information. 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 Adulthood.... January 7, May 13 (High School Seniors) presentation of quilts/gifts: June 10 at the 9:30 am service Stepping into the Church.... March 11, March 18 (Eighth Grade) Affirmation of Baptism/presentation of Bibles: June 3 at the 9:30 am service Stepping into Prayer.... April 22, April 29 (2-year-olds) presentation of Prayer Pillows: April 29 at the 11:00 am service Stepping into Affirmation of Baptism.... May 6 (Fifth Grade) presentation of Catechisms: Fall Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

7 Youth... Discipleship Ministries Discipleship education classes are offered every Sunday Morning at 9:45am for children and youth age 2 through grade 12. Please note: There are no classes on December 24 and December 31. Classes resume January 7. Sunday Offering Last year the students of Saint Andrew s voted to have their Sunday offerings go to support Lutheran World Relief (LWR). This year their offerings will continue to support LWR with the funds being designated for Bihar, India. Parents, please help your children remember to bring an offering each Sunday for collection during Discipleship Hour. The class with the highest participation will be rewarded with Krispy Kreme donuts each quarter! Congratulations to the 2- and 3-year olds class and the 4-year-olds/Kindergarten class for their nearly 50% participation this fall. They enjoyed donuts on December 10. 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. Affirmation of Baptism/Confirmation (ABC) Classes are geared toward students in grades 6-8. Classes for student in grades 6-8 are on Sundays at 9:45 am. Those students new to our congregation should contact Director of Discipleship Ministries Emily Harrow or Pastor McEachran. CrossWalk CrossWalk is focused on youth in grades Got questions? Join us each Sunday at 9:45am in the youth room (Room 319) for coffee, cocoa, donuts, and conversation. On the last Sunday of each month, gather in the youth room for Oasis, a time for our high school students to rest, color, and enjoy a movie. Youth Registration Forms We ask that all families complete a Youth Registration Form each year. This form gives us the information needed to help keep children safe while participating in Saint Andrew s activities, and is used for all activities for Complete one form per family. It covers all youth from age 2 through Grade 12. Paper copies of the form can be found in the Narthex on the bulletin board near the church office, in the Sunday Church School office, and in classrooms. Return completed forms to the church office. The form is also ONLINE as an interactive PDF form; it can be found at Open the form and SAVE it to your computer. Open the saved form, complete the information, and SAVE it again. οο Please note: Registration forms with revised August 2014 (or more recent date) at the bottom may be submitted. Update the school year and Today s Date, make any other necessary changes, and save. Either the form to info@salchome.org or print and return the form to Saint Andrew s. Teachers We have wonderful and dedicated teachers for our children during the school year, but we always welcome new volunteers! If you are interested in serving as a teacher or substitute, or would like more information, please contact the church office. Vacation Bible School 2018 Do you love to plan ahead? Vacation Bible School is July 9-13, 2018, at Saint Andrew s! January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 7

8 Discipleship Ministries Early Sunday Morning Bible Study Paul s First Letter to Timothy Sundays, January 7 - February 18, 7:15 am, 322/Conference Room Facilitators: Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen Come, consider Paul s practical (and sometimes controversial) advice to Timothy, a church leader in Ephesus. As Paul nears the end of his life, it s a time of transition for training new leadership in the Church. Likewise, let us be encouraged, equipped, and challenged to use our gifts for the building up of God s kingdom in 2018!! Coffee and snacks will be provided. You are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions. Tuesday Morning Bible Study Every Tuesday, 10:00 am 11:00 am 322/Conference Room Presenter: Pastor James McEachran We continue our study of John 13-17, Jesus and His Own, the Upper Room teachings found only in John s Gospel. Here is the schedule and readings: December 19 Absence and Presence. The First Teaching: John 13:31-14:31 December 26 No Class January 2 No Class January 9, 16 Jesus and His People. The Second Teaching: John 15:1-16:4a January 23, 30 Joy Out of Sorrow. The Third Teaching: John 16:4b-33 February 6, 13 Jesus Prayer. John 17:1-26 We will conclude with tips on a life in Christ which faces every storm in every time. Invite a friend! God Squad Lock In Our high school youth combined fun and serving at their December Lock In! 8 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

9 God Squad Youth in Grades 9-12 White Elephant Gift Exchange Sunday, December 17, 9:45 am On December 17 during CrossWalk, we will enjoy a White Elephant Gift Exchange to celebrate the Christmas season. So search the depths of your closet, and bring your tacky, silly, ridiculous gift item (wrapped) to CrossWalk. Please spend a minimum amount of money on your gift. Ideally your gift will cost you $0!! Sign up by contacting Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or Mission Trip When: July 21-18, 2018 Join us this summer as we learn about the Blackfeet Nation and work with them to serve in their community in Montana. You may learn more through the information packet available in the Narthex and online at highschoolmission.salchome.org. To participate, complete the commitment form in the packet and return it by January 14, 2018 (at our first Mission Trip Team meeting, 12:15 pm in 319/Youth Room.) May Youth Weekend at Holden Village Friday-Sunday, May 18-20, 2018 Cost: $100 (scholarships available) We are headed back to Holden Village next spring, May Join us for an unplugged weekend of fun and fellowship. Please sign up by January 14! Discipleship Ministries...Youth GOD SQUAD is Grades 9-12 Fire Force Youth in Grades 6-8 White Elephant Gift Exchange and Christmas Party Sunday, December 17, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm FIRE FORCE is Grades 6-8 On December 17, we will enjoy a White Elephant Gift Exchange to celebrate the Christmas season. So bring your tacky, silly, ridiculous gift item (wrapped). Please spend a minimum amount of money on your gift. Ideally your gift will cost you $0!! We will also celebrate with a variety of fun and silly games. Sign up by contacting Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or Spring Retreat -- Save the Date Mark your calendar for a weekend away at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, Washington, May 4-6, Sheep and Shepherds Families with children age Birth through Grade 5 Little Lambs Fellowship Sunday, January 14, 9:45 am, 210/Nursery Parents of children under two, please join us in 210/Nursery for fellowship on the second Sunday of each month. The youngest Sheep and Shepherds families are invited for snacks and coffee, visiting, and play time. Sheep and Shepherds SHEEP and SHEPHERDS are FAMILIES with kids ages birth through Grade 5 Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to these youth who celebrate in January! Kassandra K...1/01 Avery L... 1/20 Alex E... 1/04 Jenna M...1/23 James H...1/10 Parker N... 1/26 Emily A... 1/12 Emerson R... 1/28 Jack W... 1/13 Adam C... 1/29 Joslyn N...1/19 Sebastian M... 1/31 January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 9

10 Older Wiser Lutheran Saints (O.W.L.S.) The O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser Lutheran Saints) meet (typically) on the third Tuesday of the month for a potluck lunch and interesting programs. December: Annual Holiday Carol Sing Tune-up your voice for the O.W.L.S. Annual Holiday Song Fest led by Dr. Will Simpson. Following our potluck lunch on December 19, we ll enjoy both traditional church Christmas hymns and other seasonal favorites. January: Wagging Tails Weave Great Tales from the Vet s Office People don t have a corner on strange behavior at the physician s office. Our pets have tales, too. And their vet has even more. Join the O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser Lutheran Saints) on Tuesday, January 16, to hear Dr. Kit Bowerman s tales of life as a vet: Forty-two years of Animal Fun mixed with a Smidgeon of Chaos. All pet lovers welcomed you don t have to be older, wiser or even retired to attend. The potluck and social hour begin at 11:45 am. No sign-up or RSVP required. Just come, and if you can, bring a dish to share. See you there! Thanks to our January hosts, Lois and Lowell Arneson. Have an idea for a program? Contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or Annual Congregation Meeting January 28 The Annual Congregation Meeting will be on Sunday, January 28. Lunch will be served at 12:15 pm; the meeting begins at 1:00 pm. At the meeting, we will elect people to four 3-year Congregation Council positions, one 2-year position, and one 1-year position, approve a 2018 budget, recognize Quiet Servants, and hear updates about ministry and mission. A quorum is needed and every voice and vote counts! Please plan to attend. Photos Wanted! Do you have photos from any Saint Andrew s activities and events? If so, we d love to have them! We use them in publications throughout the year to highlight our life together in ministry. Photos can be ed to Communications Specialist Susan Hegedus, susan@salchome.org, or contact Susan to arrange a time to transfer them from a flash drive, CD, SD card, etc. Thanks! Fellowship, Groups, and More! W.E.B.S. (Women s Evening Book Study) Wednesdays, January 3 - February 7 7:00 pm, 322/Conference Room Facilitator: Cheryl Jurrus Do you want to learn more about India? We will discuss marriage, society, women s roles, cuisine, and other issues depicted by the author in the book selection for Winter Session for W.E.B.S. (Women s Evening Book Study). Now is the time to get your copy of The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar (available on Amazon for $10). We will meet from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm on Wednesdays from January 3 - February 7. Join us for a lively discussion, prayer, sharing, laughter, and maybe some service projects! We hope to include an Indian meal and a special speaker. All women are welcome. Bring a friend! At W.E.B.S., we don t just read books---we delve into them, study them, apply them to our own experiences, and look for God s work in our world and our lives. We also share what s happening in our own lives, pray, discuss, share, laugh, and have fun together! All women are welcome. Contact Cheryl Jurrus for more information. Inclement Weather Updates If the weather gets wild and traveling is treacherous, you may wonder if events at church are on as scheduled or cancelled. Go to weatherupdates.salchome.org. There is a link to the church calendar as well as a link to a list of daily events. If an activity, meeting, or event has been cancelled, it will be noted there. There is also a link to the Bellevue city traffic camera located near the church, which you can use to check road conditions. Safety is paramount. Please come to church only if you feel safe traveling the roads. 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 Wednesday of every month, either at a restaurant or at someone s home. Our next dinners will be January 10 and January 24. Check Sunday bulletins and Trendings enews for locations. Please RSVP to Carolyn McKenna by the Monday before each dinner if you d like to join us! 10 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

11 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 January 2 and February 6. 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 please contact Linda Willenberg. Saint Andrew s Ambassadors The church has adopted an Emergency Operations Plan. As part of that, we are looking for volunteers for a new Sunday Server position: Ambassador. The job description is to keep a watchful presence in the Narthex during services, and to be helpful hosts (where is the bathroom, etc.). Training provided. Please contact Facilities Manager Kurt Lutterman for more information, kurt@salchome.org. God Talk among Friends: Small Group Fellowship Small groups meet once a month for fellowship and conversation. We enjoy getting to know one another by sharing conversation, some God talk and dessert. Groups meet on Friday night or Sunday night monthly through May in someone s home. If you would like to be a part of a small group, contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, sherry@salchome.org or Indicate which night works best for you Friday or Sunday. Fellowship, Groups, and More! Tuesday Morning Men Every Tuesday 6:30 am 7:30 am, Room 212 Facilitator: Dave Marcrander All Saint Andrew s Men (SAM) are welcome to join us every Tuesday morning for study, faith growth, prayer, and conversation. We are studying Galatians, using a commentary written by Martin Luther. Please join us on Tuesday mornings at 6:30 am in Room 212, just outside the Sanctuary. ALL MEN ARE WELCOME! Please Return Wreath Bowls If you made an Advent wreath at the Advent Fair, please return the bowl to Sherry Grindeland in the church office. We reuse the bowls each year. Chili Cook-off and Auction Saturday, March 10, 2018, 6:00 pm Save the date for the chili cook off and auction on March 10 at 6:00pm. Proceeds benefit the high school summer 2018 mission trip to serve the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. We will collect items for the auction beginning in February. We love wine, baskets of goodies, handcrafted items, art, etc.. Holden Village in 2018 Agroup from Saint Andrew s is going to Holden Village next summer (July 15-20, 2018)! We now have 40 folks eager to go for fellowship, great food (homemade bread), hiking in the mountains, well-planned day programs for children and youth, Bible study and special interest forums, crafts and pottery, worship each evening, pool and bowling (set your own pins), outstanding ice cream and popcorn, and unexpected hilarity!! For those who are signed up, a one night s deposit is due January 2, payable to Saint Andrew s with Holden Village July 2018 in the memo line. The deposit is $65 per adult, $48 per youth ages If you are interested in being a part of this trip, contact Fellowship Coordinator Sherry Grindeland, or sherry@salchome.org, to get put on the waiting list. Holden Village is a year-round Lutheran Christian center in the North Cascade mountains. For more information, visit All Church Retreat 2018 Mark your calendars! Our annual All Church Retreat is Friday-Sunday, August 17-19, 2018, at Mt. Rainier National Park! January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 11

12 Health and Wholeness The Challenge of Hearing Impairment by Karen Grams, R.N., Parish Nurse Being hard of hearing or living with someone who is can be a real challenge. Read on to learn more and get some tips that may be helpful to you both. There are some who believe that hearing impaired persons hear only what they want to hear. Those accusations may be unwarranted. They must concentrate and may tire easily. They only hear what they can. When the hearing impaired person is tired, worried, distracted, ill, or made to feel a nuisance, they are less able to hear and understand. Awareness of the following points will improve your communication and relationship with a person who is hearing impaired. What You Do 1) Get their attention. Before you speak, say their name or gently touch their arm. This helps them focus their attention; and concentrate on your words. 2) Face them. Don t turn or lower your head; this reduces the volume of sound reaching their ears. 3) Be near. Try to be within two feet to four feet. Beyond that your voice may be faint and other sounds may interfere with hearing. 4) Don t stand in front of a window. Light behind you is distracting and will lessen their ability to see and read your lips. 5) Don t cover your mouth. Anything in front of it not only hides your lips, it blurs the sound. 6) Be ready to use pencil and paper. If you have an unfamiliar accent or you are not being understood, try writing the message. How You Speak 7) Speak more slowly but not too slowly. Give them time to assimilate what is being said. 8) Speak clearly. Don t exaggerate. Over-emphasis distorts lip movement 9) Speak loudly, if necessary, but don t shout. Shouting distorts sounds and is painful to the wearer of a hearing aid. How You Say It 10) Get to the point. Like a good news story, explain first what, who, when, and where and how. They must know what you are talking about. This will prevent any misinterpretation of your remarks. 11) Use your face, hands and body. Express your feelings about what you are saying. 12) Rephrase your statement. Don t repeat the same words if you are not being understood. 13) Background noises are confusing for the hearing impaired. Traffic, television, radio and other people talking make it difficult for them to hear. Under these conditions, make a special effort to speak clearly and audibly. 14) A hearing aid doesn t make a person s hearing normal. It makes sounds louder but not always clearer. It is difficult to separate speech from unwanted sounds, so be patient. Impatience with their listening behaviors will not help. It will only make them tense up and understand less. The more relaxed and accepted they feel, the more they can concentrate. Parish Nurse Hours Tuesdays, Room :00 am - 1:00 pm Blood Pressure Screening Sunday, December 3 9:30 am - 10:30 am, in 210/Nursery Healing Prayer Stations for individual prayer Sunday, December 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! Their next meeting is Sunday, January 14, at 9:45 am in 322/Conference Room. Dianne Chong is the KnitWits Coordinator Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

13 Congregation Council At the December 11 Council Meeting... The Council began with worship. Pastor McEachran s devotional words were on Luke 1: Pastor McEachran commended the collaborative work of the staff. He noted that over 10 giving opportunities have been available and completely fulfilled, and he is grateful for the generosity of the congregation. He shared that the Emergency Shed is complete and nearly stocked. Sherry Grindeland re-capped the many fellowship and discipleship events that occurred this fall. She is enjoying reading worship service summaries while Emily Harrow is on maternity leave. Pastor McEachran thanked Sherry for her coverage of Emily s tasks these past 10 weeks. Sherry looks forward to the Children s Christmas Program and to receiving new members in January. The trip to Holden Village in July has 40 people signed up. Sherry now has a Food Handler s permit and Saint Andrew s is in compliance with health regulations. Sherry shared that she has a supply of food in her office, which is available to be given to anyone who comes in needing an immediate supply of food. Susan Hegedus shared that input for the 2017 Annual Report will be due on January 8. Dr. Will Simpson shared his appreciation for the Chancel Choir, especially their singing during worship on December 10. He invited everyone to the Bells of the Sound concert on December 17, and is making final preparations for Christmas Eve worship. In 2018, the Council will discuss possible support for the Northwest Washington Synod s Because of You Executive Scott Lester, President campaign. A Synod Gathering will be held at Saint Art Gurtel, Vice President Andrew s on June 2. Stein Dolan, Secretary The Council approved Eastside Pathways as the new Joni Barrott, Treasurer organization to fill the office space at Saint Andrew s that Pastor McEachran Congregations for the Homeless (CFH) had occupied. Building and Steve Serex CFH moved their offices to Lincoln Center in Bellevue Property at the end of November. Communications Stein Dolan Council Initiatives: Ben Johnson ο ο Pathways to Renewal Ministry: The Council discussed the presentation and report given by Joshua Group on December 5. The Council voted to acknowledge receipt of the report and to move ahead to consider the congregation s approach to the recommendations. Initial efforts will be made to staff recommended leadership teams. The Council will discuss the report and next steps in detail at two January meetings. οο The Stewardship Committee is still in need of a chairperson. οο The Nominating Committee is making good progress toward filling a slate of 12 candidates to run for Congregation Council positions in January. Finance: οο There is a negative cash balance year-to-date. Expenses are under budget, but giving is also under budget. οο Pledges for 2018 are almost to the level of 2017 pledges at this point in time. οο The congregation will have the opportunity to discuss the proposed 2018 Current Fund budget at two Discipleship Hour presentations in January. One of the presentations will focus on the Outreach budget. Committees are active in ministry. Packets containing reports from all committees are available in the church office; ask Office Administrator Mary Mills if you would like to see them. Minutes from Council meetings are in the office and on the Saint Andrew s website: visit Congregation Council and Committee Chairs Committee Council Liaison Committee Chair Discipleship Ministries Marshall Erling Emily Andresen, Youth Representative John Nelson Kendra Mills Joyce Kasper Finance Joni Barrott Brady Kasper Health and Wholeness Vanessa Wilkie Stella Nieman Beverley Watt Karen Grams Human Resources Scott Lester Dianne Chong Outreach and Servant Karen Grams Ann Thorpe Marlyn Thorpe Building: The Building Remodel Team continues Ministries to focus on communicating, educating, and informing the congregation about plans and Stewardship Joni Barrott benefits of a building remodel. The Pathways Jon Thorpe Hub, is a center for communications and conversation. Comment forms are available in the Worship and Andy Hogle Sharon Gurtel Pathways Hub and many have been received. Liturgical Arts Pastor McEachran (continued) January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 13

14 Outreach and Servant Ministries 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, Dave Marcrander, Pastor McEachran, Karen Grams (Council Liaison), George Miller, Becca Piel, Debbie Szabo, Dick Szabo, Ann Thorpe (Council Liaison), Marlyn Thorpe (Chair), and Jean Wahlstrom. Ministry Prayer Focus 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 January, we pray for students who receive scholarship support from our congregation. Through Operation Bootstrap Africa, we support students at MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School and in post-secondary educational programs. Through the Pastor Homer W. Berner Scholarship Fund, we support Saint Andrew s members who attend Lutheran universities/colleges. Through the Saint Andrew s Legacy Education Scholarship, we support selected residents of Imagine Housing properties as they further their education Socks and Warm Hat Donations to Benefit Compass Housing Alliance Dorcas Circle is collecting NEW socks and warm knit hats for Compass Housing Alliance. Your donations of NEW tube socks, crew socks, and warm knit hats can be placed in the box in the Narthex until December 31. Food of the Month - January Each month we collect one food item in the Corner of Blessing in the Narthex. All food goes to the Hopelink food bank in Bellevue to help feed our hungry neighbors. During January, we ll collect cooking (vegetable) oil, ounce size. This is an item that Hopelink really needs, but rarely gets donated. Let s fill the Corner of Blessing! Please contact Linda Willenberg if you have any questions. 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. Eastside Baby Corner Eastside Baby Corner (EBC) envisions a world where all children are healthy, safe and prepared to build their own futures. EBC does this by meeting basic needs of children, serving as a diaper bank, a clothing bank, and a food source for more than 800 kids each week. Saint Andrew s currently supports Eastside Baby Corner with budgeted funds, gifts through the Love Tree, and with the Baby Shower for Jesus on January 7 - see page 6. To learn more about EBC, visit Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

15 Imagine Housing Outreach and Servant Ministries Gala and Auction Mark your calendar for the annual Imagine Gala & Auction to benefit Imagine Housing. The event will be held March 24, 2018 at the Meydenbauer Center. You can find more information at imaginehousing.org/events. Thank You for Gifts Imagine Housing would like to offer sincere gratitude to the Saint Andrew s congregation for your support, generosity, and kindness this holiday season and throughout the year. Your contributions to our holiday gift program will help 130 families 50 children, 60 seniors, and 20 homeless veterans have a brighter holiday. Your gifts not only bring joy this season, but they show our residents how much the community cares about them. Thank you. Thank you with our whole hearts! The Imagine Housing Team Volunteer with 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 that is open to drop-ins, job search, casework, and an office. The Sophia Way organization is in need of volunteers in the Day Center for sorting the donated clothes and items they receive, and for making sure the women visiting the Day Center have the clothing they need. The Day Center is located at St. Luke s Lutheran Church (3030 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue.) Volunteers need to attend an orientation. If you are interested in or want more information, please contact Tara, The Sophia Way volunteer coordinator, Boxtops for Education Last December 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. Louise Oda will regularly send them on to the school. It may seem like too small an item to make a difference, but collectively, it really adds up to enable these children to get a better education!! Thanks for your help!! To learn more, visit or contact Jean Wahlstrom. Jean Wahlstrom, on behalf of the Outreach and Servant Ministry Committee Be a Driver for Chicken Soup Brigade Saint Andrew s is a distribution hub for weekly deliveries of meals for Chicken Soup Brigade (Lifelong). Meals and groceries are picked up at Saint Andrew s on Thursdays and delivered to homebound chronically ill individuals on the Eastside, providing them with needed nourishment. The delivery window is 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Thursday afternoons with around 2 to 4 stops. Additional volunteers are needed. Choose to be a driver in the rotation or to be a substitute driver and cover weeks where regular volunteers are on vacation. Training provided. If you are interested in serving in this way, contact Outreach and Servant Ministries committee chair Marlyn Thorpe. Recycle Cell Phones LifeWire collects old and unused cell phones. Donated phones are turned into cash to support their programs and the families they serve. What You Need to Do: Before you donate your cell phones, erase any stored information, including your contact list, text messages and listing of incoming/outgoing numbers. Most cell phones use a master reset to delete information quickly and easily. Also, verify that your account has been canceled with your service provider. Then drop your phone off at Saint Andrew s, and a LifeWire representative will pick it up. If you wish to receive a donation receipt please affix complete contact information securely to the donated phone, being sure to include your name and mailing address. January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 15

16 Love Tree Ministry - Thank You! Thank you Saint Andrew s friends for your very generous giving to the Love Tree Ministry this year. We were able to provide over 200 special gifts to individuals and families, from infants to the elderly. Also, thank you to the many volunteers who helped make this year s Love Tree a success. What a blessing it has been! Carolyn Haralson and Joanne Baker, Co-chairs Paracord Bracelets - Thank You! Outreach and Servant Ministries Thank you to all of you who came and made paracord bracelets during Hearts and Hands Discipleship Hour on December 10. Thanks to you, we will be sending 102 paracord bracelets to Operation Gratitude who will distribute these to soldiers and first responders. The people who receive these are not just grateful for the extra paracord, but are reminded that others are thinking of them and their well-being. A special thank-you to the Saint Andrew s Human Resources team for sponsoring this activity and preparing the paracord to be made into bracelets. Dianne Chong Emergency Bags for Hopelink Advent 2017 A big Thank You from Hopelink to all of you who helped with the November food collection and packing the Emergency Bags during the Advent Fair. You collected 1120 pounds of food and packed most of that into 78 Emergency Bags: 49 1-person bags and 29 2-person bags. This will really help those in our community who reach out to Hopelink when they face a food crisis. Hopelink s food bank is closed during the last two weeks of December. Then all that is available during that time period are Emergency Bags. These bags you provided will be a much-needed supply during this time. Those who receive these bags will really appreciate your concern for them. Global Outreach...Bihar, India Project Bihar/Lutheran World Relief Bihar is a global mission field which is engaging us in significant, multi-year outreach in Northeastern India as part of a sponsored mission through Lutheran World Relief (LWR). The goals are agricultural improvements, year-round food security for the family, empowering women in the community, and increasing incomes for families. Our involvement will be with nine congregations throughout the United States. Task Working Groups from the three Washington congregations (The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olympia; Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland; and Saint Andrew s) are being formed. If you are interested in joining our Project Bihar/LWR Working Group contact Marlyn Thorpe. Follow the Erling/Prasad Family in India On December 10, Saint Andrew s members Marshall Erling, Asha Prasad, and Alexander, Vishal, and Vrishtilata Erling left Bellevue to travel to Asha s home village district (Mohulpahari in JHARKHAND, southeast of BIHAR) in India. For the next six weeks they will be reconnecting with family and friends, village leaders and district officials, and building relationships in the hopes of beginning development projects. Yes, you can Google Earth the village, southeast of BIHAR. Pray for their health and safety, joyful reunions with family and friends, and the Holy Spirit to lead them as they research possibilities and continue to seek God s best for this underserved area of India. They invite you to follow their adventure through their blog: Project Bihar Prayer Bookmarks Coming soon...look for Bihar Prayer Bookmarks highlighting a Bihar family in the church s hymnals. The bookmarks can be used as a bookmark during the service or you can take them home and pray for the Bihar family and their village and the outreach mission work that LWR and Saint Andrew s Lutheran is involved in. 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 January 2018

17 Tanzania Outreach and Servant Ministries Donations for Plaster House - UPDATED LIST Jean Wahlstrom serves on the International Advisory Board for the PLASTER HOUSE, a part of the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. In February 2018 the Plaster House is having their first face-to-face board meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, and also celebrating the opening of the new dormitory and volunteer house. (Many Saint Andrew s members helped to fund those buildings in October 2016.) Marvin Kananen and Jean Wahlstrom will travel to Tanzania for this board meeting in February. The Plaster House is a rehabilitation center for postsurgery 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 cost per student is only $4 per day. To learn more about the Plaster House, visit and learn why those kids have a hold on our hearts. The Plaster House asks if we could provide the following items for children (aged 3-15): coloring books (no crayons) small toys (animals, cars, dinosaurs, etc.) pencils scissors underwear (non-white) metric rulers socks (non-white) Cash/check donations, payable to Saint Andrew s and designated for Plaster House) Bring items to the basket in the Narthex through January 15. Marvin and Jean can carry about 150 pounds of supplies. If you have any questions, please contact Jean.. MGLSS Students and Graduates Thank you for continuing to support students at MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS)! We are asked to help with providing 35 scholarships for the new Form One class, an increase of 10 students from previous years due to current needs. The amounts are: $500 for a half scholarship and $1,000 for a full scholarship for Forms 1-4; $600 for a half and $1,200 for a full Scholarship for Forms 5-6. We continue to need funding for the MGLSS Post-Secondary Scholarships also, used for the students who qualified for university study; these amounts vary with the institution. However, ANY AMOUNT given is helpful. Make contributions by check to Saint Andrew s with MGLSS Scholarship or MGLSS Post-Secondary Scholarship in the memo line. All funds will then be forwarded to OPERATION BOOTSTRAP AFRICA (OBA). You can also contribute directly to OBA online, or by mail. Contributions can be made in lump sum or installments throughout the year. Perhaps a family might consider this gift of education for a girl and build a relationship to learn of another culture. We rejoice in the news that the new Form 5-6 Science classroom, donated by Dick Swaisgood as a memorial for his wife Jan, should be ready for student use in January For more information about MGLSS, contact Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen. Christmas Eve Servers December 24 4:00 pm Assisting Ministers 6:30 pm Jon Thorpe 9:00 pm Sue Short Communion Assistants Art Gurtel, Judi Miller Judi Miller, Jan Bowerman Acolytes Greeters Lectors Ushers Altar Guild Caden Feldman, Jillian Nielsen; Collin Feldman, Crucifer Livi Myhre, Beka Gordon; Quinn Myhre, Crucifer Izzy Clarke, Sidney Cottrell; Torin Carmichael, Crucifer Sarah Cannon CJ Tatum Dave Marcrander Shelly Abner Linda Gilham David and Sherry Grindeland Mark Thorpe, Brett Nelson Ann Thorpe, Gary Rudolph, Josh Rudolph Phillip Misner, Karin Eklof Phillip Misner, Christine Koch January 2018 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 17

18 January 2018 For current information, visit and click on the Calendar link Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday th Ave SE Bellevue, WA Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2018

19 January 28 11:00 am Alaina Bland The Ben and Jenny Johnson Family Marli Edde The Feldman Family JoAn Eklof, Karin Eklof Jan Bowerman 8:30 am Izzy Clarke Sarah Cannon Cheryl Jurrus Mikel Oswalt, Bill Brueggemann January 7 January 14 January 21 January 28 January Servers January 21 11:00 am Sydney Holmes The Dolan Family Carolyn McKenna The Carmichael Family Signe Wraith and Elmer Neu Aaron Davis 8:30 am Quinn Myhre Nancy P. Davis Roger Koskela Gary Rudolph, Brett Nelson January 14 11:00 am Emily Elien Ann and Larry Berglind Misty Weber Quinn Myhre, Mark Davis Phillip Misner, Christine Koch Matt and Christine Camrud 8:30 am Livi Myhre Judy Thiel Andy Hogle John Arnold, John Nelson Flowers for January Louise Oda Elmer Neu and Signe Wraith January 7 11:00 am Ella Nickel Shana Nielsen Joni Barrott Brent Hicks, Alex Nichols-Hicks Mary Jo Nelson, Carolyn Haralson Mark Davis 8:30 am Ian Maland Marlys Aliment Diane Hogle Tom and Bev Anderson Acolytes Greeters Lectors Ushers Altar Guild Coffee Hosts Saint Andrew s Ministry Team Pastoral Staff The Reverend James N. McEachran, Senior Pastor jim@salchome.org The Reverend Timothy T. Weber, Shared-Time Pastor timwebertt@yahoo.com Ministry Staff Emily Harrow, Director of Discipleship Ministries emily@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 Michael Haynes, Facilities Set-up Ed Short, Adam Harrow, Bryant Wilkie, Kitchen Team Samaritan Center of Puget Sound Dr. Mark Houglum, Counselor Crissie Petro, Counselor , extension 353 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 Pastor McEachran Member, City of Bellevue Human Services Commission Member, Wilburton Gateway Citizens Advisory Committee Bill Brueggemann Board Member, Lutheran Community Services Northwest Marcia Riggers Board Member, Compass Housing Alliance Deadline to submit items for the next issur of the VOICE: January 15 submissions to Susan Hegedus, susan@salchome.org January 2018 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 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 with Holy Communion, 8:30 am and 11:00 am Discipleship Hour, 9:45 am December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship, 9:30 am Christmas Eve Worship Family Worship (no Holy Communion), 4:00 pm Worship with Holy Communion, 6:30 pm Worship with Holy Communion, 9:00 pm Church Office Hours Monday Friday, 8:00 am 4:00 pm Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church is a Safe Place for youth We Support: Saint Andrew s was the 2017 recipient of the Norm Maleng Award from LifeWire