the VOICE January 2015

Transcription

1 , Saint Andrews LUTHERAN CHURCH the VOICE January 2015 What s inside... Along the Way... 1 Annual Meeting... 3 Calendar Christian Education Christmas Eve Servers. 9 Congregation Council. 15 Discipleship and Fellowship Financial Update... 8 Health and Wholeness. 6-7 Ministry Team Outreach and Servant Ministries Pastoral Care... 3 Reflections... 3, 9 Samaritan Center Counseling... 7 Stewardship... 8 Sunday Servers Thank You... 7 Worship and Liturgical Arts... 2 Youth and Family Ministries Sunday Worship December 28 One Worship Service at 9:30 am beginning January 4 Worship 8:30 am and 11:00 am Education Hour 9:45 am 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 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. Luke 2:15 Discipleship is about living out your life of faith in a public way. In some respects it s confession in action. One of the most amazing parts about the birth of Jesus is how quickly God sets up a discipleship culture. Listen again to the words of the shepherds after they find out about Jesus birth, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. Notice how God wastes no time in making this good news about Jesus known, and seeing that this good news gets spread around the world. So my question at this post-christmas time of year is simple: How are you living out your life of faith in a public way? On one hand this sounds like an easy question to answer. Do you do good works? Give? Help the needy? Read your Bible? Pray? Worship weekly? Attend Bible study? On the other hand there is more to discipleship than just what you do for yourself. Discipleship isn t just about the actions we do for ourselves and how we live out our lives of faith. It s also about inviting others into this life of faith by making known what we have seen. In other words part of discipleship is living in and setting up a discipleship culture. So let me ask you: How have you empowered others to lead? How have you empowered others to grow in their faith? How have you empowered others to grow in their service inside and outside of the church? As we begin this new year I would encourage you to think about what the discipleship culture here at Saint Andrew s is, and how you contribute to it. If you find yourself too much in the center of it I would encourage you to take a step back and consider how you might help others get involved. If you find yourself on the fringe I would encourage you to think about how God is calling you to be part of it. In Christ, Pastor Telyea Sunday Concert Series December 21 4:00 pm Bells of the Sound, A Winter s Night Invite friends and family to hear this premier handbell choir present a program of holiday music that will paint a colorful portrait of the Christmas season! See page 2 a G h t r e.. E. Pastor Telyea s blog: n c o u r Christmas Eve Worship Family Worship (no Holy Communion) 5:00 pm Youth are welcome to play a piece during the prelude music. Contact Dr. Simpson. See page 2 a g Worship with Holy Communion 8:00 pm (Chancel Choir) 11:00 pm (Handbell Choir) e... E q u i S p... e n... d

2 Saint Andrew s Sunday Concert Series Bells of the Sound, A Winter s Night The magical, mysterious nights of December come in many shades: silent, holy, cold, clear, starry, bright. This special program of holiday music will paint a colorful portrait of the Christmas season. From the traditional O, Holy Night and Silent Nights, to the shimmering First Noel and Everlasting Light - with a journey into the Twelve Days of Christmas, we ll cast a little light and warmth into your winter nights. Join us at Saint Andrew s on Sunday, December 21, at 4:00 pm to hear Bells of the Sound. Bells of the Sound is not your typical handbell choir. Under the direction of Shirley Lindberg, this talented group of auditioned 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. Established in 1989 to give handbell directors an opportunity to ring, Bells of the Sound has matured into a community ensemble dedicated to musical excellence and exciting performance. They perform on over 7 octaves of Malmark handbells and 5 octaves Malmark Choirchimes - over 150 pieces of equipment and one of the largest sets in the United States. Their four released CDs demonstrate the range of the group and the instrument and feature not only arrangements of well-known tunes, but many original handbell compositions written for contests the group has hosted over the past 12 years. Bells of the Sound will give you a whole new perspective of handbells that you won t want to miss! Saint Andrew s members Bryant and Vanessa Wilkie are members of Bells of the Sound. Bryant is the Handbell Choir Director at Saint Andrew s. Saint Andrew s Sunday Concert Series December 21, 2014, 4:00 pm Bells of the Sound present A Winter s Night Christmas Concert February 22, 2015, 3:00 pm Bellevue College Jazz Ensemble present 100 Years of Jazz April 26, 2015, 3:00 pm Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) University Chorale and University Singers present a program of secular and sacred works All concerts are FREE and open to the public Worship and Liturgical Arts Christmas Eve Prelude Music We welcome all children and teens to consider sharing a piece for the prelude music to the 5:00 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. Musicians Wanted (Actually... Needed) The Handbell Choir invites you to give ringing a try! The Saint Andrew s Handbell Choir is looking for teens and adults to join them. They welcome those who can commit full-time, part-time, or to be a substitute ringer. Contact Handbell Choir Director Bryant Wilkie, bwilkiebells@hotmail.com. He can make time before rehearsals (Tuesdays at 7:00 pm) for you to check out the bells. Please join us - thanks! Flowers The flower chart for 2015 is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Please take a moment to reserve your Sunday. Worship Service Captioning Twice a month during the 11:00 am service, real-time captioning of the worship service is available, making worship more accessible to those who are hard of hearing or cannot be at worship. The text of what is being spoken during worship is displayed on a webpage. To access the captioning on your PC, smartphone or tablet, go to (or go to and select Worship Service Captioning from the home page.) The Sanctuary has a WiFi connection. Our next captioned services will be: December 28, 9:30 am worship service January 4, 11:00 am worship service January 18, 11:00 am worship service 2 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2015

3 Reflections Reflecting the Light by Anna Porter Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness; your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. Isaiah 58:8a The Message If you ask any interior design consultant he or she will tell you that the best way to optimize the lighting in a building is to turn fixtures so that the light reflects off of other surfaces. In this way you not only get the benefit of the light from the bulb but that of its reflection also, effectively doubling, tripling, or greater the overall illumination. There are times, of course, when direct light is essential for focus on a particular object but the biggest bang for your buck is reflected light. Light is particularly on our minds right now. As I write this in early December we are approaching the shortest day of the year and even the little daylight we do have is shrouded in dark clouds. Light is also on the minds of Christians, those who particularly follow the liturgical church year. We speak of the Light coming into the world at Christmas and of being truly revealed to the world at Epiphany. Light was particularly on the mind of the prophet Isaiah as he warned the Israelites of impending doom. Perhaps not so much literal light as figurative light, light that represented freedom, life and all good things while darkness represented oppression, separation and uncertainty. It is interesting then, that Isaiah made the pronouncement above in this context (I particularly like the version from The Message here): If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people s sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out (Isaiah 58:7). These verses weren t like so many others in the Bible which refer to the Light coming to end our darkness. These verses clearly imply that we are to be reflectors of that very Light. Jesus said He is the Light and the Life. But then his physical body left this earth. So does that mean the Light has left? Indeed not! As Isaiah prophesied long ago and the Gospels spell out clearly: For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8a) In other words, the best way to optimize the Light in this world is to reflect it. It s up to us now. And how do we reflect that light? Isaiah would say it is reflected in how we treat the most maligned and marginalized among us. Paul admonishes us (paraphrased here in The Message No more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. (Ephesians 5:8b-9) And there s an added bonus: if we reflect the light, according to Isaiah we ll lift our own darkness at the same time! How different the world would be if more of us stopped waiting for light to return and started reflecting the Light within us to a world wrapped in darkness. Reflect the Light! Praise be to God! (Dear friends: this will be my last article for this newsletter. After more than 25 years of writing articles for church newsletters it is time for me to pass the torch and let others reflect. Thanks for reading my articles and for your kind words over the years. God bless! Anna Porter) Anna Porter and her husband David live in Warm Beach Washington. Anna served on our staff as Director of Congregation Ministries for a number of years. Annual Meeting Annual Congregation Meeting Our Annual Congregation Meeting is Sunday, January 25. At this meeting, we will elect people to four (4) Congregation Council positions, approve a 2015 budget, recognize Quiet Servants, and hear updates from the Design Advisory Group and Staff Transition Task Force. A congregation lunch is at 12:15 pm. The Annual Meeting begins at 1:00 pm. A quorum is needed and every voice and vote counts. Please plan to attend! Pastoral Care Baptisms Annika Louisa V, December 7 Addison Mae Ka iulani A, December 24 William Theodore H, December 24 Weddings None Memorials Tom and Betty Gentsch, November 29 Don Oja, December 14 Committals Tom and Betty Gentsch, November 29 Don Oja, December 14 January 2015 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 3

4 Faith Stepping Stones Coordinators: Lois Nelson and Kari Henderson Faith Stepping Stones offers a series of classes 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; and 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 11 (High School Seniors) presentation of quilts/gifts on June 14 at the 9:30 am service Stepping into the Church.... March 22 and 29 (Eighth Grade) Affirmation of Baptism/presentation of Bibles on June 7 at the 8:30 am service Christian Education As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 (NRSV) Sunday Mornings at 9:45 am... for Adults Check the Sunday bulletin, Narthex monitor and posted signs for locations. Grab some coffee, tea, or cocoa and join in - our faith journey never ends! Sundays, January 4, 11, 18 and February 1, 8, 15 Church History 101 Presenter: Pastor James McEachran Join us for a six week overview of the history of the Christian Church with a chance to look at those persons used to help grow the Church. We will use timelines, maps, and primary documents from phases of Church History. We will begin on January 4 with the Post-Apostolic Age and look at what happened after the first followers of Jesus had died and the Gospel was spreading to the ends of the earth. Bring a friend and take a first peek at Acts 2. Sunday, January 11 KnitWits Facilitator: Dianne Chong Saint Andrew s KnitWits (Knitting as Witnesses) are a fellowship group whose primary mission is to provide items of comfort that are knit and/or crocheted. The items they are currently making are prayer shawls, baptismal blankets, red scarves, purple baby hats and black hats. All are welcome! Sunday, January 11 Stepping into Adulthood (Faith Stepping Stones for Parents of High School Seniors) Facilitators: Lois Nelson and Kari Henderson This session focuses on post-high school plans and expectations. Ideas and insights are shared about next steps in the young adult s faith journey. Special gifts from families are presented to the youth during worship on June 14. Sundays, January 11 and 18 Proposed 2015 Budget Briefing to the Congregation Presenters: Finance Committee Finance Committee provides the opportunity to The look at the 2015 Proposed Budget in preparation for the Annual Congregation Meeting on January 25. Questions and discussion welcomed! Stepping into Prayer.... April 19 and 26 (2-year-olds) presentation of Prayer Pillows on April 26 at the 11:00 am service Stepping into Affirmation of Baptism.... May 3 (Fifth Grade) presentation of Catechisms in Fall 2015 Please Note... There are NO EDUCATION CLASSES (for adults or youth) on Sunday, December 28. There is one worship service only at 9:30 am. All classes resume on Sunday, January Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2015

5 Sunday Mornings... for Kids and Youth Education classes are offered every Sunday morning at 9:45 am for children and youth age 2 through grade 12. Sunday Church School (SCS) All children ages 2 through Grade 5 are invited to join our Sunday Church School classes, held during the Education Hour at 9:45 am. Two- and three-year olds meet in 210/Nursery; all other classes are downstairs in the Education Wing. Two-year olds through Kindergarten students begin each Sunday with Music in Room 106. 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 receive a class assignment. Christian Education During the Week... for Adults Join these groups at any time! Tuesday Morning Men 6:30 am 7:30 am Room 212 Facilitator: Dave Marcrander All Saint Andrew s Men (SAM) are welcome on Tuesday mornings. TMM is focusing on the REAL CHRISTmas. On December 23, we ll look at the Visit of the Magi and the escape to Egypt. In January we will conclude The Greatest Generation and then begin a Lenten study series. Please join us, be fed spiritually, and have a cup of coffee too! Affirmation of Baptism/Confirmation Classes for students in grades 6-8 are on Sundays at 9:45 am. Those students new to our congregation should contact Pastor McEachran, Pastor Telyea, or Nona Gram, Interim Coordinator of Christian Education, for more information. Affirmation of Baptism Mentor/Mentee Event To all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and their adult mentors: please join us on Sunday, January 11, at 12:15 pm. Check s, Sunday bulletins and Trendings for details. Talk with your mentee/mentor to find out if they can attend. For more information, contact Nancy Davis or Carol Wissner. Looking forward to seeing you there! CrossWalk Welcome to CrossWalk, high school s education hour! Join us every Sunday morning at 9:45 am on the couch side of the Youth Room (319.) This year we are using Augsburg s Animate to explore topics on the Bible, Faith, and Faith Practices. Registration We have one registration form that includes contact information, permissions, and medical information, and is used for all Saint Andrew s activities for Complete one form per family. Paper copies of the form are in the Narthex and Sunday Church School office. There is an interactive PDF form ONLINE at Tuesday Morning Bible Study 9:30 am 10:30 am 322/Conference Room Presenter: Pastor McEachran We conclude our study of Mark on January 13. A new series will begin on January 20. We will begin a study of Isaiah with the theme Isaiah: (You d Better Watch Out). This time of walking through the prophet of promise will guide us through the entire book in 14 (or so!) weeks. While we will read the entire 66 chapters, we will focus on the sections in each of the books. Want a head start? Reading Isaiah 1 6 and think about this question, What does it mean to be called into service of the LORD? Bring a friend and your favorite translation. W.E.B.S. (Women s Evening Book Study) Wednesdays, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, 322/Conference Room January 7 - February 11 Facilitators: Cheryl Jurrus and Vickie Kirn All women are invited to Women s Evening Book Study. Our book for our Winter Session, beginning January 7, is A Lineage of Grace, by Francine Rivers. This compilation of the five books shares the stories of the five unlikely women who changed eternity. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Each was faced with extraordinary even scandalous challenges, each took great personal risk to fulfill her calling, and each was destined to play a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ. ~ from francinerivers.com All the participants are encouraged to present devotions and lead discussions. Our mission is to support one another as we grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially. Please join us, and contact Cheryl Jurrus or Vickie Kirn for more information. January 2015 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 5

6 Mission Trip to Nicaragua Preparing for my sojourn to a much warmer climate in November began in August. A Parish Nurse at First Lutheran of Richmond Beach mentioned her trip during a meeting we attended. That was all it took before I started asking questions. The organization was entitled Forward Edge International and they mobilize volunteers to share Christ s love by providing a lasting solution to the urgent needs of those affected by poverty, disaster and sickness in the U.S. and around the world. It was founded in 1982 with their first team to Florence, Italy. We were most fortunate to stay at the Villa Esperanza with good living conditions and excellent cooks. We all even adapted to taking a shower with air temperature water. The first morning was a little shock. The Villa was surrounded with high walls and armed guards 24 hours a day, keeping us safe along with four homes with groups of girls according to age and schooling. The country is very poor and thievery is common; however, we always felt safe with the employees of the Villa, who were amazing and very hard workers. We had a facilitator by the name of David Stanley who is now a practicing medical-surgical technician in Portland. He used to work at Forward Edge and he and his wife have facilitated numerous teams for Forward Edge, as well as served as missionaries overseas in Albania. Members of our group consisted of two firemen, one who was also an EMT, accompanied by his 14-year-old son; three nurses from Children s Hospital in Seattle and others who planned activities for children. Members of the group were the most amazing people I have had the pleasure to work with, especially under the circumstances we encountered. We attended a church on Sunday morning where we held our medical clinics. Language, of course, was Spanish but an interpreter was present and always at our beck and call during our trip. The people of Nicaragua were very pleasant and appreciative of all we had to offer. More to come next month. Beverley Watt, R.N., Parish Nurse Health and Wholeness Scarves and More from the KnitWits On December 7, red scarves were draped on the altar railing. They were lovingly made by our KnitWits and will be given to foster children through the Foster Care to Success organization. Founded in 2005, it began a unique initiative to warm the hearts (and necks) of college-bound foster youth, taking donations of handmade red scarves to put into Valentine s Day Care Packages that were sent to foster youth in college. Since then, Foster Care to Success has delivered over 20,000 red scarves to foster youth in colleges and training programs across the country. Our donation reminds the foster youth that many of us care about them. As I read an Advent meditation from Henri J.M. Nouwen s Wait for the Lord, I think of how it reminds me of all that the KnitWits do. The meditation is titled, Clothed in Compassion and the words are, To care is the most human of human gestures.... Caregiving carries within it an opportunity for inner healing, liberation and transformation for the one being cared for and for the one who cares... Thank you again to the KnitWits for all that you do in caring for others. The red scarves were one joyous display of your caring. You also produced 41 wash cloths for the Love Tree baskets that went to Andrew s Glen, meaning that each basket had two wash cloths. Your caring also supports others with prayer shawls, baptismal blankets, and hats. All who knit or crochet are invited to join KnitWits. We typically meet on the second Sunday of the month during the Education Hour. Please join us! Dianne Chong Parish Nurse Hours Tuesdays in Room :00 am to 1:00 pm Blood Pressure Screening First Sunday of every month 9:30 am in Room 212 Healing Prayer Stations for individual prayer on December 28 and January 18 during Holy Communion 6 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2015

7 Health and Wholeness Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Tips for the Holidays by Stella Nieman, R.N., Parish Nurse Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2 The National Foundation for Cancer Research has developed easy-to-follow tips that can help ensure a happier, healthier holiday season, and which, over time, may reduce your risk of cancer. Eat more vegetables and fruit, and keep meat portions small. Choose colorful fruits and vegetables. Turkey is a healthy meat choice; remove the fat. Moderate alcohol consumption. Men should not consume more than two drinks per day. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, women should not consume more than three drinks per week. Get your greens and use healthy cooking oils. Eat spinach, broccoli, green beans and dark leafy greens. Use healthy oils such as flax, walnut, or canola. Eat wild salmon, tuna or mackerel. Eat nuts. Nuts such as walnuts and almonds are sources of protein and healthy fat. Don t overdo, as healthy fat is still fat! Avoid white starch. These are empty calories with little nutritional value. Choose instead a sweet potato or multigrain bread. Fiber is good. Choose whole grains, beans, barley, lentils, dried figs, dried cranberries, dried apricots and whole wheat bread. Be aware of your sugar intake and high-fat dessert choices. Keep dessert balanced, such as a piece of good quality dark chocolate or a poached pear. Keep dessert small and add extra time to your exercise routine. Drink 16 ounces of water before eating. Dehydration can be confused with hunger. Eat a healthy snack at home before attending a party. Controls your hunger and how much you eat when you arrive at the party. Laugh. Enjoy life and laugh best medicine! Move. Exercising five times a week for at least 30 minutes will have a positive impact. Slow down. Eat slowly and enjoy time with family and friends. Turn off TV, phone, and electronics. Rest. Get at least 7 hours of sleep and stay on your natural schedule as much as possible Wishing you a holiday season filled with get-togethers with family and friends. The above suggestions will help reduce the stress and fatigue that can be associated with the holidays. Information from the National Foundation for Cancer Research. Samaritan Center of Puget Sound Counseling Courtney Paine is thrilled to be joining Dr. Mark Houglum as a therapist at Saint Andrew s from the Samaritan Center. She has over ten years of experience working with individuals and families in a variety of settings, both in the United States and abroad. She has been providing counseling in the Seattle area for the past three years. Courtney has her Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago. She believes that therapy should be a place of curiosity, acceptance, and connection. She is passionate about helping clients better connect to their sense of self in order to lead more fulfilling lives and improve their personal relationships. Courtney works with adolescents, children, couples, and adults and will be at Saint Andrew s on Tuesday and Wednesdays. To contact Courtney, please call her at extension 384, or her at cpaine@samaritanps.org. Dr. Mark Houglum will continue to be at Saint Andrews on Mondays and Thursdays. He can be reached at extension 337. Thank You T hank you to all who participated in the life and ministry of our congregation during Advent, making our season of preparation a meaningful time of worship, fellowship, ministry, and outreach. Thank you to those who gave their time and talents to support Sunday and Mid- Week worship, soup suppers, seasonal music, the Love Tree, uniforms for MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School students, socks for Compass Housing Alliance, education programs, and youth ministry. Blessings to all of you. January 2015 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 7

8 Financial Update Current Operating Fund Contributions and Expenses as of end of November 2014: November January - November Annual Budget Contributions/Income $ 78,807 $ 851,975 $ 930,032 (estimate) Expenses 73, , ,676 Surplus/(Deficit) $ 5,448 $ 34,543 ($ 32,644) And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 With only one month to go in the fiscal year, our church s financial picture is very positive thanks to everyone who faithfully supports Saint Andrew s with your time, talents, and money. This is especially a blessing since we began the year with a deficit budget (-$32,644) and had a carryover deficit of almost -$45,000. Historically, December is our best month for income, so we could potentially end the year without any deficit or negative carryover. At the end of November our carryover deficit was -$10,177. Won t it be nice to say no deficit, and we can build up our reserve account for unexpected expenses? We are in the final development stage of the 2015 Budget, and it would be most helpful to receive all pledge cards for 2015 as soon as possible so we can more accurately forecast our 2015 income. On Sundays, January 11 and 18, there will be sessions on the 2015 Proposed Budget where we will provide a brief summary and you can ask questions in preparation for the Annual Congregation meeting on January 25. END OF YEAR CONTRIBUTIONS: To be counted for 2014, contributions need to be dated December 31 or earlier. If mailed, they need to be postmarked by December 31. If brought to church, they need to be received no later than Sunday, January 4. Finance Committee Members: John Andresen Russ Stark, Staff Accounting Assistant Jerry Haralson Jeff Stedman, Congregation Treasurer Brady Kasper Mark Thorpe, Council Liaison Jerry Mack, Chair P.S. Don t want to write a check? Go to our website and click on the blue button in the lower right part of the home page. You can pay by direct deposit through your financial institution or by credit card (VISA). Stewardship Stewardship 2015 What a great time of year! We celebrate the love God has shown to us in the Building and ultimate gift of Jesus Christ in so many ways. Many of us celebrate by Property attending the Advent and Christmas Eve worship services. These services are always Stewardship special to me as we excitedly wait for and celebrate Christ s birth. Most of us take in 2015 God s love and then give it back to our family in the form of gifts and time together. Caring for our church home Matthew 22:37-39: He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all God is truly among us, your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and strengthening the foundation first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as given to us in Jesus Christ. yourself. I love how Advent focuses my mind and energies away from me and How do these ministry toward my loved ones in so many different ways. I need to find a way to opportunities fit with the plans God has for you? do that more regularly. Youth Lastly, I have been energized by all of you in celebration of God s and Family Christian Ministries Education love by our unified commitment to building God s foundation. Your Worship and response on Commitment Sunday and activism in the many different Liturgical Arts Praise God in His Sanctuary committees at Saint Andrew s makes me proud, connected, and at peace. Leading our youth to follow Learning and Growing in To date, we have received 173 pledges for 2015, totaling $681,524. We in Christ s footsteps Faith Together continue to welcome your pledges. The family at Saint Andrew s shares a vision and is committed to the different missions God places before us. Todd Carmichael, Stewardship Chair 8 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2015

9 ... on Spiritual Net Worth Reflections.... by Lowell Arneson As a real estate broker/developer over 30 plus years, I would hear a lot of talk about people s net worth. Lenders, in particular, are very concerned about their borrower s net worth. Next time you fill out a loan application, notice that apart from your personal information, the application is basically a net worth and income statement. A person s net worth is (simply put) the total current dollar value of everything you own, minus the total dollar amount of your debts. This is, of course, one s financial net worth, and it isn t any wonder that a lender is highly interested in it. If you re involved with personal and/or family finances, you are pretty aware of your net worth at any point in time. It, along with your income, is the basic tool that helps you determine what you can afford to buy, especially in the setting of priorities of lifestyle expenses. Very important. Another net worth that most of us spend some time thinking about is the net worth of our health. In our youth, we are rather unconcerned about the state of our bodies, other than how we look and our ability to physically compete. The older we get, the more attention we have to pay to how our bodies are holding up. During our lifetime, most of us work out some routine for assessing our healthiness, whether it is an annual check-up with a doctor, or recording results of athletic endeavors, or just paying attention. It is needless to say, that taking some time, now and then, to assess one s health status is time well spent. Finances are very important. Health is very important. How about our spiritual net worth? How often do we think about our worth as a spiritual being? How do we even analyze how spiritual we are? Do we even have an idea of how spiritual we should be? These are not easily answered questions. The honest answers are very individualistic. Everyone is a little different. While there are no universal absolutes for measuring our spirituality, there are some guideposts that may prove helpful in thinking about it. Here are four: scripture, prayer, worship, and growth. Spending time with the scriptures is spending time with the Lord. The Word is about God s relationship with His people over the centuries, which of course has meaning for us today. The biblical narrative is both easy and complex. The prominent message is clear and straightforward, but there are layers and layers of nuanced meaning to be gleaned that add to our spirituality. Prayer is simply talking to God. No. Prayer is much more than that. For that reason there have been hundreds of books written about prayer. From a spirituality standpoint, it is good to remember that the one who benefits the most from prayer is the one doing the praying. Not least because when we pray, we are admitting that we are the weak ones, we are helpless; we come asking for mercy: we are humble. Worship gives us the communal experience, where we can feel the rhythm of the body of Christ. Our spirit can connect with other spirits in honor and praise through music and the word. When we worship, something happens. That something decorates our souls with confidence, insight, inspiration, and motivation to serve. In other words, it adds to our spirituality. Growth in the Spirit is the best sign we can use to assess our spiritual being. Only the believer can know if she or he is growing. Our growth tends to come in uneven patterns. We can go awhile feeling like not much progress is being made, and at other times have some real epiphanies. As we look at our spiritual life, it is OK to be satisfied. You can be the judge. The beginning of a new year is a good time to ponder our net worths. Remember that our net worth (spiritual or otherwise) is not about our standing before the Lord. Our standing (worth) in the sight of God is based solely on grace. God has provided our worthiness. Our spiritual efforts are our attempt to faithfully live our lives here on earth. May the New Year bring fresh spiritual meaning for us all! Christmas Eve Servers December 24 Assisting Ministers 5:00 pm Dana Nasby Communion Assistants 8:00 pm Eric Bean Jon Thorpe 11:00 pm Ed Short Linda Gilham Acolytes Crucifers Greeters Lectors Ushers Altar Guild Jillian Nielsen, Joslyn Nielsen Livi Myhre, Sidney Cottrell Sean Carney, Davis Carmichael Sydney Holmes Mikayla Hare Henry Newsum Yvonne Heuving Philip and Judie Maakestad Joanne and Ron Baker Dave Marcrander Shelly Abner Linda Gilham Brett Nelson, Sherry Grindeland John Nelson The Carmichael Family Karin Eklof, Janan Twito, Pat Hashimoto, Linda Powell Jill Nichols-Hicks, Salal Nichols-Hicks January 2015 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 9

10 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, Claudia Browers, Sarah Cannon, Dave Holzboog, Dave Marcrander, George Miller, Debbie Szabo, Dick Szabo, Marlyn Thorpe, and Jean Wahlstrom. Ministry Prayer Focus: Students Our outreach ministry prayer focus in January is 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. A Joyous Love Tree Thank You......to EVERYONE! Your gifts to others in our community have been absolutely awesome this year! We have been able to send special gifts to over 300 individuals and families, from infants to elderly. Thank you, also, to all of the committee volunteers this year: Joanne Baker, Sarah Cannon, Carolyn Haralson, Delores Johnson, Allie Kurle, Lynn Mack, Marlyn Thorpe, Sue-Z Trudell, John and Joyce Arnold, and the many others who lent a hand. What a blessing it has been! Sock Drive Through the end of December, Dorcas Circle is collecting new white crew socks and new white tube socks for Compass Housing Alliance. Place your donations in the Sox Box in the Narthex. Contact Linda Willenberg if you have any questions. Uniforms for MaaSAE Girls Once again this Advent, we have the privilege to clothe the new class of 50 new Form One students at the Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) in Tanzania. Each total outfit (skirt, t-shirt, sweatshirt, underwear, shoes and socks) costs $50 and lasts the girl two years. Thank you to all who have contributed! We have enough funds to purchase 48 uniforms. Please write your check to Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church and on the MEMO line write MGLSS Uniforms. If you want to pay cash, place it in an envelope designated MGLSS Uniforms. Place your donation in the offering plate or bring to the church office. Then, please take one of the little girl figures off the display in the Narthex. It lets us know how many have been clothed and also it gives you another tree ornament as a prayer reminder for these young girls as they begin their educational journey. See the display in the Narthex for more information or contact Joyce Arnold Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2015

11 Emergency Feeding Program (EFP) Outreach and Servant Ministries The mission of EFP is to provide an emergency response to the nutritional needs of people in crisis hunger situations throughout Seattle and King County. EFP offers 15 varieties of nonperishable food packs, designed by professional nutritionists, to meet a wide array of individual needs. Nearly half of all meals go to children. Saint Andrew s is a distribution site for EFP, serving several individuals and families each week. They receive a warm welcome from our volunteers and a bag of food that will feed them for one-two days. For more information about EFP, call or visit Food of the Month We emphasize the collection of one commodity each month for EFP, and our goal is to FILL the Corner of Blessing with that food item. We have learned that EFP has a shortage of canned fruit, so that will remain our emphasis for January. Please bring cans of peaches, pineapple, fruit cocktail, and mandarin oranges. Our monthly goal: 400 cans!! Thank you for your continued commitment to respond to those in our community who are hungry! Volunteer Opportunity at EFP Warehouse EFP has put the word out that they are in great need of volunteers to help pack food bags DURING THE WEEK! You are encouraged to call EFP, and arrange with them to volunteer a couple of hours on a day and time that works best for you. We would also love to gather people and go as a group. During Christmas vacation would work great to include kids and get those volunteer hours! Just contact me. Even one person makes a big difference...i ll be going! Thanks! Debbie Szabo EFP Monthly Food Bank Offering Each month the congregation is invited to make a special monetary food bank contribution. Emergency Feeding Program is the recipient of this offering. Our goal each month is $500, and donations can be placed in the offering plate during worship or sent to the church office. Can you spare two hours per week? Volunteers are needed to staff the Emergency Feeding Program distribution site at Saint Andrew s. The EFP is open Monday-Friday 12:30 pm 2:30 pm. We have several openings, sign up for an afternoon that meets your needs. Volunteers are needed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. When people come for food, you simply give them a bag that suits their needs - that s it! Sign up for an afternoon of your choice; it s a wonderful opportunity to meet and serve folks from the community. Contact Mary Mills, mary@salchome.org or and get on the schedule. Keep them Warm at The Sophia Way The Sophia Way is having a Keep Them Warm Campaign. Bring blankets, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and sweaters. The 21 women at the Sophia s Place shelter at St. Luke s Lutheran Church are out on the street from 12:30 pm until 6:00 pm every day and all day on the weekends. Any extra blankets or clothing they don t need will be taken to the Emergency Winter Shelter for Women. Place donations in the basket in the Narthex or take them directly to the shelter at St. Luke s in Bellevue (3030 Bellevue Way.) For more information, visit or contact Cheryl Jurrus. Winter Shelters Open The Eastside Winter Shelters opened on November 15. Last year, with the community s help, a hot meal was provided almost every night to almost 200 men, women and children. As you can imagine, having a hot meal at the end of the day when you are homeless is a real blessing. Please consider providing a meal to those experiencing homelessness during these cold winter months. The Men s Shelter is located in the old International Paper building near Lowes in Bellevue ( th Avenue NE) and the Women s and Children s Shelter will start the first half of the year at St. Peter s United Methodist in the Crossroads area of Bellevue (17222 NE 8th Street) and then move to Redmond United Methodist (16540 NE 80th Street) in February. The meal calendar and more information can be found at: For more information, contact Andrea Liggett, andrea@hfkparish.org. Together we can meet the need; thank you so much for caring! January 2015 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 11

12 Outreach and Servant Ministries Grocery Deliverers Needed Imagine Housing is seeking a volunteer(s) to deliver groceries to Imagine Housing residents in Issaquah. Imagine Housing has partnered with the Issaquah Food Bank as they pilot a new program called Groceries-to-Go. The goal of this program is to assist those who have higher barriers to getting the food they need to stay healthy. As the Grocery Deliverer you will pick up pre-made grocery bags from the Issaquah food bank and deliver them to residents at several Imagine Housing properties in Issaquah. Once the groceries have been dropped off you will gather the next week s orders and bring them to the Resident Support Specialist. Volunteer Grocery Deliverers are compassionate, outgoing, reliable, flexible, and willing to interact and build healthy relationships with residents. The locations are Rose Crest, Johnson Hill, and Mine Hill properties in Issaquah. They are all within 3-4 miles of each other and the food bank. The time commitment is weekly on Wednesdays, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Training and on-going support are provided. Contact Lindley King, lindleyk@imaginehousing.org, to volunteer or for more information. Imagine Housing Annual Auction A BENEFIT FOR: IMAGINE HOUSING S imagine 2015 Benefit Auction & Dinner SAVE THE DATE: March 21, 2015 Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue Have questions or want to get more involved? Please auction@imaginehousing.org Visit our website at to learn more about Imagine 2015! MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) in Tanzania Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA) is seeking sponsors for the 50 new Form One students who begin at MaaSAE Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) in Tanzania in January Full scholarships are $1000 each; half sponsorships are $500. If you can help sponsor a student, contact the church office. To find out more about MGLSS and this great Global Mission opportunity, watch their video on YouTube: visit and enter: OBA MaaSAE Girls School. FYI...Currently Saint Andrew s members and groups sponsor 17 students at MGLSS in Forms Saint Andrew s members and groups sponsor 8 MGLSS grads in Post-Secondary education at universities and teacher colleges. That is a grand total of 25 Maasai girls lives being positively impacted, changed forever!! Thanks for your partnership in mission and thanks be to God! Prayers for... Saint Andrew s is helping to fund the continuing education for three graduates of the MaaSae Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) in Tanzania. Witness Omari and Neema Saruni are studying to be teachers. Joyce Kesoi is a Food Processing Technology major. Please pray for these young women as they pursue their studies. From Joyce Kesoi... Hello. I am also doing good and my family also...i am doing well in my studies. How is Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church family? Please pass my greeting to all. I LOVE THEM ALL. GOD BLESS YOU ALL Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2015

13 Outreach and Servant Ministries From Jean and Marvin...in Tanzania Advent, 2014 Beloved friends at Saint Andrew s Lutheran, You are both our home church and our church home. In this Advent Season we miss being in your presence; we are grateful you are in our lives. We left November 10 th, almost a month ago, and we wonder both where the time went and, equally puzzling, has it only been four weeks? Our work, the purpose for our being here, is vast. They give us thirteen periods a week to cover English and Math with 42 students. Right now, math is focused especially on understanding how fractions, metrics, decimals, and percentages relate to each other and that they are interchangeable. I know we are talking about future doses of medicines in the future but they see it only as math. Jean is working on their speech communication (think loud/soft, articulation, tone of voice, fast/slow, high/low) and is fighting upstream against their culture which teaches them mock humility in that they speak softly and then do so when they are entirely sure of the answer (and we re talking about 100% sure). They d rather sit in silence even though the whole class is waiting for them to speak than to make a flawed response. Their culture unfortunately teaches them not to say, I don t know, so neither they nor their families are ever shamed. I am biased of course, but one of the true blessings about being Americans is that we allow ourselves and others to make mistakes. (We do, don t we? That s grace!) The basic African pattern, and not just Tanzanian, is to make no errors. I can laugh at myself when I err and then try again until I get it right or decide I really can t do it. They don t have that freedom. We want to teach them that a part of the growing and learning process is error, failure, and losing. We don t stop when things go wrong, we keep trying. They are afraid to start. They tie their own feet together and then wish they could run. I really think much of our sense of freedom is the freedom to laugh at ourselves, not taking ourselves too seriously. When we fall, we get up and try it again. As teachers, we don t want to take the students time from their nursing subjects, so we don t want give them homework. They have a ton of things to learn, most of it is in memorization mode. We try to stay out of their way and yet improve the quality of their learning. The fact that the school is willing to give us 13 periods a week (15 if you consider the two double periods on Saturday with both classes together) is an indication that the administration considers our work important. Five periods are with the 20 First Semester students only and three are with the 22 Second Semester students at the hospital after they have had a full day of clinicals. There are two joint periods with all 42 on Saturday mornings. We also have 1 with everyone on Monday mornings for devotions in English. The First Semester get 3 more English devotions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Jean is teaching 3 different English Morning Prayer services, thus increasing their faith vocabulary as well. It s always a privilege to share the Word with others and develop leadership skills. Next week, students join Jean in leading the services and also start sharing the Word in English, of course! We re also at MGLSS to lead English Worship once a month, the second service having been on December 7 th. Now you have our week, ever subject to change. It is more than two people can accomplish in only three months, but we hopefully are improving the students learning skills. Staff and students alike are grateful for the English dictionaries and the Nursing Dictionaries that Saint Andrew s has provided for them, with Midwifery Dictionaries soon to come. For your awareness, the funds have come in part through the Outreach and Servant Ministries Committee of Saint Andrew s. We want you to know what some of your benevolence budget does in regards to global mission. With thirteen Maasae Girls School graduates here, it makes it much easier because we don t have to convince them, as teachers, we re worth listening to. The fact that they are willing to believe us as teachers makes the others more willing. In new situations, the students are not very quick to pick up on a new idea, and foreign teachers generally have to earn students trust before they can be effective teachers. It feels as if we are climbing a 10,000 foot mountain here. I think after four weeks out of the twelve we ve been allowed to teach, we re at about the eleven-foot level. We have a long way to go, but we know that they are already a little better off than they were before. It would be good to keep us and the students in your prayers. We also pray for you! With all the love and energy we can muster, have a blessed and meaningful Advent Season! Yours, Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen, members of Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church and forgiven children of God. Marvin Kananen and Jean Wahlstrom request our prayers as they are in Tanzania through March 2015 as volunteer teachers. They are assisting nursing students to increase their English and Math skills at the new School of Nursing of the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ELCT). Follow them on their blog: jeannmarv2013.wordpress.com/ January 2015 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 13

14 Invest in Youth! While the dividends you receive from your investments in stocks on the NASDAQ, Dow, and S&P may be unpredictable, the dividends you receive from investing in Saint Andrew s youth are guaranteed! On Sundays, January 25, February 1 and February 8, Saint Andrew s youth will sell stock in themselves. Each stock purchase helps our youth get closer to our goal of raising $10,800 for July s ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, which will help our youth learn about and serve God in remarkable ways. You will have the option of purchasing common stock for $1, and preferred stock for $10. Anyone investing $10 or more will receive a postcard sent from the Gathering team while in Detroit! For more information, contact Emily Harrow, emily@salchome.org or Older Wiser Lutheran Saints (O.W.L.S.) Older Wiser Lutheran Saints (O.W.L.S.) is a lively fellowship group which meets on the third Tuesday of the month for fellowship and a potluck lunch. Please join us on January 20 at 11:45 am. The topic is Missions. There is no need to sign up or RSVP. Just come and, if you can, bring a dish to share. See you then! Thank you to our hosts, Lowell and Lois Arneson. Projects of the Month Our Building and Property Committee maintains a list of tasks that need to be done around the church building and grounds. Many projects can be done by one or two people. Contact Facilities Manager Kurt Lutterman, or kurt@salchome.org, if you can help complete one of these projects or if you have questions. This month s projects are: #Attach # the handrail to the building for the basement workshop. Will take about 30 minutes. #Brush # the cobwebs out of the exterior building corners. Will take about 45 minutes. Discipleship and Fellowship orcas Dinner with Young Adults Join us for Dinner with Young Adults. On the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month, young adults of Saint Andrew s (those who have graduated high school in 2014 and older) get together for dinner at 6:30 pm, either at a restaurant or someone s home. Please refer to the bulletin, Trendings, or your for each week s location. If you plan to join in on the fun, contact Emily Harrow, emily@salchome.org, or text her, , no later than the Sunday before we meet. We will meet at the home of Peter Jasinski on January 14. We need a host/organizer for January 28 and February 11. Dinner with Young Adults will break for Lent to allow for participation in Lenten Soup Suppers. Inclement Weather Updates ircle The Dorcas Circle is about service and fellowship as we support Lutheran World Relief, Compass Housing Alliance, and other charities. We meet the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am to sew quilts, school bags, and respond to other opportunities. Our next gathering is January 6. Please join us! We also appreciate the prayerful and intentional support of the congregation for donations to support our ministry. Lists of needed items are available on the Dorcas Circle basket in the narthex. For additional information about Dorcas Circle, contact Linda Willenberg. If the weather gets wild and traveling is treacherous, you may wonder if events at church are on as scheduled or cancelled. A list of daily events is accessible from our home page at 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 and decide whether or not it is safe to travel to church. Summer Camp Counselors Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham is looking for adults age 18 and over to live and teach God s love and be silly together as Camp Counselors for summer 2015! Details and job descriptions available online at Applications are available at: For questions, please contact Bethany Dietrich, or program@camplutherwood.org. Applications are due January 31, 2015! Come to Lutherwood to Rock On together! 14 - Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA January 2015

15 January 25 11:00 am Vicar William Cheung Lynn Mack Sydney Holmes The Holmes Family The Carmichael Family Janan Twito Claudia Browers and Dave Holzboog 8:30 am Sue Short Claudia Browers Sam Clemons Gayle Rhymes Roger Koskela Curt and Lois Eckley January Servers January 18 11:00 am Joanne Hinkle Art Gurtel Hannah Wilcox Beverley Watt Brent Hicks Signe Wraith and Elmer Neu Chad Oftedal 8:30 am Sharon Gurtel Judi Miller Emily Rudolph John and Judy Gowdy Beth Donahoe, Lilli Donahoe Hal and Carolynn Ferris January 11 11:00 am Shana Nielsen Jan Bowerman Mikayla Hare John and Sandra Stoddard Danielle Holmes Mark Davis 8:30 am Vicar William Cheung Jerry Mack Beka Gordon Elizabeth Rose, Debbie Rose-Armstrong Bev Anderson, Ann Berglind Karen Getzinger Claudia Browers John Arnold, Jerry Mack January 4 11:00 am Josh Rudolph Celeste Ackerbloom Emily Andresen Carolyn and Jerry Haralson David Mills Ralph and Jackie Risdal Bev Anderson, Patsy Gottchalk Jerry Mack 8:30 am Ed Short Dave Marcrander Isabel Weibel Larry and Shelly Abner Joyce and John Nelson Tom Anderson, Lucy Sannes Assisting Ministers Communion Assistants 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 Wesley C. Telyea, Associate Pastor wes@salchome.org The Reverend Timothy T. Weber, Shared-Time Minister timwebertt@yahoo.com William Cheung, Vicar willc@salchome.org Ministry Staff Emily Harrow, Director of Youth and Family Ministries emily@salchome.org Dr. Will Simpson, Director of Music Ministries will@salchome.org Nona Gram, Interim Coordinator of Christian Education, nona@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 JJ Dorwart, Sexton Joey Cannon, Facilities Set-up Elaine Koga, Choir Accompanist Stella Nieman, R.N., Beverley Watt, R.N., and Karen Grams, R.N., Parish Nurses MJ Rowe, Lillian Donahoe, Emily Rudolph, Nursery Attendants Erin Simpson, Children s Choir Director Bryant Wilkie, Handbell Director Samaritan Center of Puget Sound Dr. Mark Houglum, Counselor Courtney Paine, Counselor , extension Congregation Council David Anderson, President Deanna Oeffner John Nelson, Vice President Debbie Szabo Lois Nelson, Secretary Mark Thorpe Nona Gram Pastor McEachran Brent Hicks Pastor Telyea David Holzboog Marie Andresen, Ben Johnson Youth Representative Scott Lester Jeff Stedman, Treasurer Kendra Mills January 4 January 11 January 18 January 25 Flowers for January Louise Oda Joanne Hinkle Linda and Dick Powell January 2015 Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church, Bellevue WA - 15

16 , 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 Education Hour, 9:45 am Christmas Eve Worship December 24 Family Worship, 5:00 pm Worship with Holy Communion, 8:00 pm, 11:00 pm 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 Deadline to submit items for the next the VOICE: January 12. submissions to Susan Hegedus, susan@salchome.org

17 January 2015 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 th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA

18 GOD SQUAD is Grades 9-12 FIRE FORCE is Grades 6-8 Youth and Family Ministries God Squad and Fire Force Sock Samurai! Sunday, January 11, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm God Squad and Fire Force will take over the church building to play another round (or 3 or 4) of our favorite Saint Andrew s tradition, Sock Samurai! Tubing Sunday, February 8, 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm* It s time for some fun in the snow at the Summit at Snoqualmie! Meet at Saint Andrew s with your snow gear at 12:00pm*. Bring $10, or, if you have a ski pass, bring $5. We will meet back at the church at 5:00pm*! *Time is subject to change upon the release of the Tubing Center s operating hours ELCA Youth Gathering Team Meeting Sunday, January 11, 12:15 pm The Gathering team and parents will gather for the first meeting. We will discuss fundraisers and assign leaders. The Gathering team will end the meeting with the first ELCA Youth gathering session to help prepare us for Detroit! Stocks Sundays, January 25, February 1, February 8 We are providing an opportunity for the congregation, family and friends to invest in Saint Andrew s youth by selling stock on Sundays, January 25, February 1, and February 8. Look to your to sign up! Kids In/Parents Out Saturday, February 7, 4:45 pm - 9:30 pm Play games, watch a movie, and enjoy some pizza with some of the youngest in our congregation. We will enjoy an entertaining evening with Sheep and Shepherds kids while their parents gather together at an off-site location. We need 4-5 youth and 2 adults to lead this. If you would like to volunteer, contact Emily. Meet in the youth room. FIRE FORCE is Grades 6-8 January 2015 Fire Force Sunday Night Fire Force Sundays, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Bring a friend or two and join us every Sunday night from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. We use the Re:Form curriculum to explore the Bible and end each night playing a variety of games. If you have questions about Sunday Nights, contact Emily Harrow. January and February Schedule Please note the following changes to Sunday Night Fire Force... January 4: no meeting, Happy New Year! January 11: Sock Samurai with God Squad, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, no meeting January 25: Fire Force resumes for 2015 February 1: Super Bowl Sunday, no meeting February 8: Tubing at the Summit at Snoqualmie with God Squad, time TBD (around 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm) February 15: Mid-Winter Break, no meeting February 22: Regular Sunday Night Fire Force Meeting Lock In/Go Night! Friday-Saturday, March 6-7 Fire Force will join youth groups from all over the Greater Seattle Area for an all-nighter in March. Please correct your calendar from our original Fire Force Lock In dates. Youth Registration Form... for ALL Youth We have one registration form that includes medical information and permissions. This form will be used for all Education, Youth, and other activities at Saint Andrew s for Complete one form per family. There is space for up to four children and it covers all youth from age 2 through Grade 12. The form is an interactive PDF form and is ONLINE at You can open it and fill in the applicable fields. After completing the form, SAVE it to your computer. Then either the form to info@salchome.org or print and return the form to Saint Andrew s in person or by mail. Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA

19 Youth and Family Ministries January 2015 Sheep and Shepherds SHEEP and SHEPHERDS are FAMILIES with kids ages birth through Grade 5 Kidz Bounce Saturday, January 10, 3:30 pm - 5:45 pm On Saturday, January 10, Sheep and Shepherds are heading to Kidz Bounce in Preston. For two hours we will bounce around until we can t bounce anymore on indoor inflatable structures! Sign up by January 4. You can learn more about Kidz Bounce at Kids In/Parents Out Saturday, February 7, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Join us at the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering Team s Kids In/Parents Out. Drop the kids off at church where they will play games create crafts, eat pizza and watch a G-Rated movie with our high schoolers. Adults will meet at an off-site location to enjoy games, wine, and hors d oeuvres. All donations will benefit the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering Team s trip to Detroit this summer! Please sign up in the Narthex or by by Sunday, February 1! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to these youth who celebrate birthdays in January! Sheep and Shepherds Alexander E... 1/04 Samuel C... 1/06 Annika V... 1/09 James H...1/10 Emily A... 1/12 Haley M... 1/12 Jack W... 1/13 Michael O... 1/17 Joslyn N...1/19 Avery L...1/20 Jenna M...1/23 Parker N... 1/26 Emerson R...1/28 Adam C...1/29 God Squad 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit The 8th-12th graders of Saint Andrew s will travel to Detroit July14-19/20, You can find out more about the trip through the packet on the bulletin board in the Narthex. You can also look to your for a copy of the Information Packet. GOD SQUAD is Grades 9-12 Mission-ships are available. If you have any questions, please contact Emily. You may still sign up for the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit! If you sign up after January 15, your overall cost for the trip with increase by $50. Act soon! CrossWalk Join us every Sunday morning at 9:45 am on the couch side of the Youth Room (319.) This year we are using Augsburg s Animate to explore topics on the Bible, Faith, and Faith Practices. Coffee Shop Meetings! God Squad is doing something new in Each week we will meet for an hour and a half or so for conversation, and maybe a game of cards or Apples to Apples. The day and location will rotate week to week, so be sure to check your and Facebook for location and day information. To get last minute updates through text, send a text to Emily at with your name. In January we will meet: Wednesday, January 14, 4:00 pm Starbucks in Eastgate ( th Avenue Southeast, Bellevue) Tuesday, January 20, 4:00pm Issaquah Coffee Company (317 Northwest Gilman Boulevard, Issaquah) Monday, January 26, 4:00pm Starbucks in Factoria ( th Avenue Southeast, Bellevue) For more information... about Youth and Family Ministries at Saint Andrew s, contact Director Emily Harrow emily@salchome.org or Saint Andrew s Lutheran Church th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA