why lent? March 2015 S T. A N D R E W U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H In Ministry With You, Pastor John Volume 15 Issue 3

Transcription

1 S T. A N D R E W U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H Volume 15 Issue 3 March 2015 why lent? In the same way that the Holy Spirit works on us individually, the Holy Spirit works on us corporately. Our prayer as the faith community that we call St. Andrew, has been and is today, that the Holy Spirit rain down on us, sweeping anew and afresh across us. Come Holy Spirit, come! We invite you to journey into this Lenten season with a fresh perspective, anticipating just what it is that God will do in and through you, and in all of us together as the people of St. Andrew. You may have noticed the banner in front of the church. It reads, why lent?. it s not just fish fridays.. It is through the theme of this banner that we have crafted many special opportunities for you throughout the days of Lent. First, there is an informational card available for you. This card relays most everything happening during Lent here at church. You can take a card to keep at home for your reference. You can also take a few cards to share with friends, coworkers, and neighbors as a way of inviting them along in the journey. Next, we invite you to join in the Lenten Goldfish Challenge. We hope and pray that it will be an inspirational way to engage you and every member of your family, young and old alike, in the Lenten Journey. Without going into a lot of detail here, the challenge is to intentionally add one thing in each of the 40 days of Lent. The hope and goal is that every single person will pick up their very own words from Pastor John Lenten Goldfish Challenge kit and join in. Next, is our Lenten Prayer Cross. In past years we have tied fabric ribbons onto a wooden cross throughout the Lenten season, with the color of the ribbons reflecting the various stages. This year the Worship Committee, working with our Youth Group, have transformed that same cross into our Lenten Prayer Cross. It will be at church throughout Lent, and you will have the opportunity to write your prayer concerns on pieces of paper. The paper may be placed in an envelope, or simply rolled up and placed into the Lenten Prayer Cross. The cross has been outfitted with a mesh that will receive the rolled up papers. Then on Good Friday following the service, the Youth Group and their leaders will take the prayer concerns and pray over them. The ones that have been sealed in the envelopes will remain sealed. Finally, this is in no way a complete listing of everything that s taking place here at St. Andrew this Lenten Season. It is an introduction and an overview that I hope will help lead you into a new and refreshing experience of God s love this Lent and Easter. Blessings upon you and your family. In Ministry With You, Pastor John The people of St. Andrew have been called by God to embrace, equip and encourage persons of all ages to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. e 3

2 Happy Birthday March Margaret Griffin 03/01 Naomi Schalle 03/01 Susan Nicholson 03/05 Susan White 03/06 Lewie Wiese 03/06 Emma Arrington 03/07 Bonnie Fenning 03/08 Daniel Moad 03/08 Jody Garrett 03/09 Wendy Garrett 03/11 Samuel Fenning 03/12 Ken Hutton 03/13 Cora Nicholson 03/16 Sermon Topics and Scriptures Lessons for March 2015 March 1 Communion Sunday "God's Plan" Genesis 17:1-7, March 8 "Do Your Part" 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 March 15 "Loved to Live" Ephesians 2:1-10 March 22 "You Are Not Alone" Jeremiah 31:31-34 March 29 Palm Sunday combined service at 10:30 "The Game Face" Isaiah 50:4-9a Phone: Fax: standrewumc@ameritech.net Website: Office Hours: 9:00 3:00pm Monday Thursday 9:00 Noon Friday Sunday Worship Times 8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am 9:30am Sunday School Child Care at Sunday Services St. Andrew UMC is a Safe Sanctuary Congregation Staff of St. Andrew - Senior Pastor Debbie Caudill - Director of Spiritual Formation John Slate - Director of Music Ministry Shawn Stanley - Music Support Ed Baker- Organist Donna Kirk - Administrative Assistant Childcare Assistants - Bethany Douglas, Molly Sisco The Personal Touch - Custodians Congregation - Ministers of St. Andrew Garrett Brown 03/19 George Watts 03/19 Charles Thomas 03/20 Jerry Sedlacek 03/21 Xavier Scolastico 03/22 Pat Reynolds 03/24 Dana Brun 03/27 Kristina Enix 03/27 Karyle McMannama 03/27 Joshua Terpenning 03/27 Rebecca Shipp 03/29 If your birthday is in March and is not here, please let Donna know Looking Ahead MARCH ~Thursday 19 UMW Agape Meal ~ Sunday 29 Palm Sunday APRIL ~Thursday 2 Maundy Thursday Service ~Friday 3 Good Friday Service ~Saturday 4 Easter Egg Hunt ~Sunday 5 Easter MAY ~Saturday 2 Clean Up Day ~Sunday 10 Mother s day ~Sunday 24 Youth Helpers Day ~Monday 25 Memorial Day, Office Closed V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 2

3 Please pray for these people who have been in the hospital, ill, or recuperating in the past month or are simply in need of our prayers and support. Ann Shelton Julie and Stan Erk Jane Henry Flo Craig Edith Leonard Betty Bracken Jack Darst George Watts Kara Sandberg Diane Hutton Mary Lou Fox The St. Andrew prayer chain is always available to pray for you. Contact Jan Garrett Prayer requests can be made at the Atrium prayer box, or by contacting the church office. Every week, a group of people pray for the needs of our members, our church, our community, our country and world. remember where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them - Matthew 18:20 Care and Prayer Deepest thanks for all the many sympathy cards, love and support I have received since Bob passed away on January 5th. St. Andrew is a very caring church whose members live out their faith. Jane Henry Thank you notes were received on behalf of our donations to the Imagine No Malaria campaign, McCurdy Ministries, Red Bird Mission, Society of St. Andrew, and North Katanga Wings of the Morning. The notes are available on the office bulletin board for more information. There are several opportunities this season of Lent for you to grow and share Christ with others. We are also sending out twice a week s. If you do not get s and wish to receive the weekly encouragements, please let the office know and we will mail them to you. The St. Andrew 2015 Lenten Goldfish Challenge How does the Goldfish Challenge work? Pick up your personal goldfish container from church. We have one for each member of you family, we want to make sure that everyone, young and old alike are able to take part. They will be available at the Ash Wednesday service, and on Sunday Inside your container you will find 40 goldfish crackers On each the 40 days of Lent (remember Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter, including everyday except Sundays, thus 40 days) eat one of the goldfish crackers Before you eat the cracker, pause and think about the one thing that you can add in for that day. That s right, rather than giving something up for Lent, we want you to add something in Stay tuned for additional support through our weekly bulletin and church s Remember, you are not alone in the journey. Imagine being in a great school of fish all swimming together. Read the Lenten devotional and add your change to the Lenten Collection Boxes for the Society of St. Andrew. Boxes can be found in the Atrium and Gathering Grounds. During Lent you are invited to write a prayer on a piece of paper and place it in the prayer cross in the Sanctuary. After the Good Friday service, the youth and youth leadership will then pray over your submissions. If you wish to keep your prayer private, please place it in one of the sealed envelopes and your privacy will be respected. UMW AGAPE MEAL March 19 is the date of our annual Agape Meal. We will gather at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall for fellowship and a simple meal. Esther Circle is providing the program and invites all the women of the church to attend. Come and participate in this special evening of celebration of the Lenten season through simple but genuine fellowship with each other. Page 3 F OOTPRI NTS

4 It's been a tough winter for everyone but particularly so for those struggling to put food on their table. We will continue our food collection for the Wesley Center in March. The red wagon will be placed in the Atrium on Sunday, 3/1, as a reminder of our collection on Sunday, 3/8. Please support our St. Andrew outreach program by bringing food items that you can spare with emphasis on the lists below: Food Items Canned goods (meat, fruit, vegetables, & soup) Cereal Cooking oil Crackers Flour Fresh fruit Fresh vegetables Jelly Noodles Peanut butter Pork & beans Spaghetti Spaghetti sauce Wesley also has refrigeration for chicken, fresh meat, and eggs Additional Items (items that food stamps can't buy) Bathroom tissue Bleach (30 oz.) Dishwashing liquid Disposable diapers Face soap Deodorant Laundry detergent (30 oz.) Paper towels Toothpaste & brushes YOU RE INVITED TO JOIN THE ST. ANDREW ADULT DINNER CLUB (Proven to build strong Christian Friendships) Singles and couples of all ages are encouraged to get to know each other better by dining together 4 times over the 6 month period of April through September Groups of 7 or 8 diners are assigned to enjoy each other s company for 4 dinners during that 6 month period. Members of the dinner group take turns hosting and providing the main course. Others bring vegetable, salad and dessert. Although in-home hosting is encouraged, a host may choose a restaurant for all to attend by separate checks. Busy schedule? No problem. Each member s availability is considered with each dinner scheduled. Please consider joining. We d like to get to know you better. Sign up on the clipboard in the Atrium by Sunday, March 15. Questions? Call Marcy at STaRS St. Andrew Retirees STARS will tour the Community Tissue Services facility on Wednesday, March 18. Carpool from the church at 9:30 am. Lunch will follow at Starlight Restaurant and Diner in Belmont, on Smithville Rd. Please sign up and join us. Additional details are on bulletin board, or from the Bauers. Community Tissue Services headquarters are in Dayton, Ohio. They serve more than 2000 hospitals and surgery centers throughout the United States from ten service locations. Services provided include tissue, grafts, and products for patients in need of lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants. Recent STARS activity Over 30 attended the Beekeeper Program in January and 16 attended the Surveillance program in February. Why not join STARS fopr our March outing ot Community Tissue Services in Kettering? Mark April 15 th on your calendar for our STARS outing to EnterTrainment off I-75 in West Chester north of Cincinnati. As is our custom we will stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant. The April Footprints will have more details for this outing. G-Force Adventure Park Vacation Bible School June 22-25, :00-8:30 PM St. Andrew UMC Age 3 thru 5th Grade Debbie Caudill to register dsfcaudill@gmail.com EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE IN ACTION! V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 4

5 Church Wide Sponsored By: The Young Adult Group March 14th at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room The Young Adult Group will provide a variety of soups and beverages. Bring a side dish or a dessert and your favorite game to share GREEN THUMB GARDENING PROJECT HELPS PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES WE HELP Persons who have lost jobs Senior Citizens Families on Low Income Families on Fixed Incomes TYPES OF SEEDS Beets Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Corn, Cucumbers, Herbs, Lettuce, Melons, Peppers, Radishes, Spinach/Greens, Squash/ Pumpkins, Turnips CORN & BUSH BEANS IN BULK Would be greatly appreciated Deadline for Bringing in Seeds is April 5 March starts our seed collection for the Jackson Area Ministry (JAM). To support this mission, we purchase seeds which are sent to the impoverished area of Ohio. Please place your seeds in the baskets in the Atrium and Gathering Grounds. These seeds mean so much to these people who have so little. Thanks for your support. Chris Watters I don t know if you are like me or not. I love the holidays and I love all the food that is everywhere. Unfortunately, I overdo it and my clothes tend to get tighter. I spent most of the year losing weight and in a few short months I gain part of it back. I feel guilty because I am leading a support group and I have given in to temptation. On the positive side, I belong to support group that cares about me and helps me get back on track. Why Weight has helped all of its members lose weight, but more importantly we help in other ways with encouragement, listening, and most important-love. If you are interested in joining our groups just show up at our meeting at 7:00PM on Monday night. Note: This time of year, we are sensitive to the weather and put safety first. If there is a question as to whether or not we are meeting please call me (Chuck Lauersdorf) at Outreach Upcoming!!! Sunday, March 29 th ---Save the date for our next New Hope dinner. We will again provide and serve the dinner for 100+ attendees at New Hope s Sunday evening service. We will also collect items for the New Hope Free Store. Plan to volunteer to prepare & serve the meal, to attend service & share fellowship, to assist with Children s Church, and to pray with and for those attending. Page 5 F OOTPRI NTS

6 FINANCE NEWS: Remember St. Andrew this year in your estate planning. One way to do this is to make St. Andrew one of the beneficiaries of your IRA. To avoid all income tax when you take a distribution you can instead make a direct gift. See Shaun Nicholson for more information. Building Addition on track for full retirement July Thanks to all of your dedicated giving we are on track to retire our building fund on schedule in July of Note: Because of the terms of the loan, it is not to our advantage to pay off the loan early or to make payments higher than the minimum. The Scarlet Thread By Francine Rivers Reviewed by Pat Reynolds The Scarlet Thread is a novel which parallels the story of two women separated by generations, but who share common challenges in their life experiences. Sierra is the modern protagonist who battles marital issues when her husband takes a new job far from the family and friends she has spent her entire life around. Mary Catherine McMurray is Sierra s ancestor whose story is told through a journal Sierra s mother shares with her shortly before the family s move. Mary Catherine s journey takes place on the Oregon Trail and many hardships are chronicled throughout this personal narrative. The common thread both women share centers around the relationship we all work to build with God first and then our loved ones. The two women strive to mend broken relationships on their own but find that they will always be imperfect as human beings. Only with God at our center can we build and grow other relationships in a positive way. Sierra discovers that many of the struggles we face in today s world are similar to the struggles people worked to overcome in earlier generations. Weaving together the story of these two women and their life challenges provides the reader with historical background as well as modern day events with which we can relate easily. SUNDAY MORNING: 9:30 Sunday School March Youth Events WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: St. Andrew Fellowship Dinner 6:00, Youth Bible Study 6:30 WEEKEND ACTIVITIES : (Youth Group activities are open to any youth in grades 6-12) For more information please contact our youth team at youthst.andrewsumc@gmail.com Or Ann LaMothe at (571) Saturday, March 21st 12:30 pm 5:00 p.m. Easter Sunrise Service Practice followed by Laser Quest. We will leave at 2:00 for Laser Quest. We will play 3 games of Laser Tag each. Cost is $10.00 per person (church youth funds will pay the remainder) RSVP no later than March 14 Church youth group funds will cover the full cost of gaming for all youth who participate in Sunrise service practice and commit to participating in the service on Easter Sunday. Sunday, March 29 4:15-7:30 p.m. Serve Dinner at New Hope Church V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 8

7 March 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 LENT 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 2 7:00 Boy Scouts FH 7:00 Outreach CR 3 9:30 Sow & Sew 121 6:00 Oak Tree Corner FH, EDU 7:00 Boy Scouts :00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice 5 6 7:00 UMW Exec 8:00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH 7 8 LENT Girl Scout Sunday 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 9 7:00 Boy Scouts FH 7:00 Lions Club CR :30 Sow & Sew :00 Worship Team CR 1:30 Staff CR 6:00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice 12 7:00 Ascent Practice 13 8:00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH 14 6:00 All Church Game Night CR 15 LENT One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 16 7:00 Boy Scouts FH 7:00 Finance CR 17 9:30 Sow & Sew 121 6:00 Oak Tree Corner FH, EDU 18 STARS 6:00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice :30 Agape Meal FH 8:00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH 21 9:00 Esther Circle 12:30-5:00 Youth Sunrise Service Practice & Laser Quest 22 LENT 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 23 7:00 Boy Scouts FH :30 Sow & Sew :00 Koinonia Circle 105 6:00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice 26 7:00 Ascent Practice 7:00 Lydia Circle :00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH LENT Palm Sunday 9:00 Burrito Breakfast 10:30 Combined Worship 9:30 Adult Sunday School 4:15 New Hope Dinner :30 Sow & Sew 121 7:00 Naomi Circle OS Spring Break Starts Page 9 F OOTPRI NTS

8 S T. ANDREW UNITED ME THODIST CH URCH standrewumchurch.net 350 N Fairfield Rd Beavercreek, OH catch a breath of fresh air non profit organization us postage paid Xenia Ohio permit #13 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 1 why lent? its not just fish fridays (see inside for more details) Sunday Sermon Series: Why Lent It s not just fish Fridays. Sunday morning Traditional 8:15, Contemporary 9:30, and Blended11:00 Palm Sunday March 29 one service 10:30 - Burrito Breakfast beginning at 9:00 am Maundy Thursday Service April 2 7:00 pm Good Friday Service April 2 12:00 noon Easter Services April 5 Sunrise 7 am, Traditional 8:15 am Contemporary 9:30 am, Blended 11:00 am

9 S T. A N D R E W U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H Volume 15 Issue 3 March 2015 why lent? In the same way that the Holy Spirit works on us individually, the Holy Spirit works on us corporately. Our prayer as the faith community that we call St. Andrew, has been and is today, that the Holy Spirit rain down on us, sweeping anew and afresh across us. Come Holy Spirit, come! We invite you to journey into this Lenten season with a fresh perspective, anticipating just what it is that God will do in and through you, and in all of us together as the people of St. Andrew. You may have noticed the banner in front of the church. It reads, why lent?. it s not just fish fridays.. It is through the theme of this banner that we have crafted many special opportunities for you throughout the days of Lent. First, there is an informational card available for you. This card relays most everything happening during Lent here at church. You can take a card to keep at home for your reference. You can also take a few cards to share with friends, coworkers, and neighbors as a way of inviting them along in the journey. Next, we invite you to join in the Lenten Goldfish Challenge. We hope and pray that it will be an inspirational way to engage you and every member of your family, young and old alike, in the Lenten Journey. Without going into a lot of detail here, the challenge is to intentionally add one thing in each of the 40 days of Lent. The hope and goal is that every single person will pick up their very own words from Pastor John Lenten Goldfish Challenge kit and join in. Next, is our Lenten Prayer Cross. In past years we have tied fabric ribbons onto a wooden cross throughout the Lenten season, with the color of the ribbons reflecting the various stages. This year the Worship Committee, working with our Youth Group, have transformed that same cross into our Lenten Prayer Cross. It will be at church throughout Lent, and you will have the opportunity to write your prayer concerns on pieces of paper. The paper may be placed in an envelope, or simply rolled up and placed into the Lenten Prayer Cross. The cross has been outfitted with a mesh that will receive the rolled up papers. Then on Good Friday following the service, the Youth Group and their leaders will take the prayer concerns and pray over them. The ones that have been sealed in the envelopes will remain sealed. Finally, this is in no way a complete listing of everything that s taking place here at St. Andrew this Lenten Season. It is an introduction and an overview that I hope will help lead you into a new and refreshing experience of God s love this Lent and Easter. Blessings upon you and your family. In Ministry With You, Pastor John The people of St. Andrew have been called by God to embrace, equip and encourage persons of all ages to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. e 3

10 Happy Birthday March Margaret Griffin 03/01 Naomi Schalle 03/01 Susan Nicholson 03/05 Susan White 03/06 Lewie Wiese 03/06 Emma Arrington 03/07 Bonnie Fenning 03/08 Daniel Moad 03/08 Jody Garrett 03/09 Wendy Garrett 03/11 Samuel Fenning 03/12 Ken Hutton 03/13 Cora Nicholson 03/16 Sermon Topics and Scriptures Lessons for March 2015 March 1 Communion Sunday "God's Plan" Genesis 17:1-7, March 8 "Do Your Part" 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 March 15 "Loved to Live" Ephesians 2:1-10 March 22 "You Are Not Alone" Jeremiah 31:31-34 March 29 Palm Sunday combined service at 10:30 "The Game Face" Isaiah 50:4-9a Phone: Fax: standrewumc@ameritech.net Website: Office Hours: 9:00 3:00pm Monday Thursday 9:00 Noon Friday Sunday Worship Times 8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am 9:30am Sunday School Child Care at Sunday Services St. Andrew UMC is a Safe Sanctuary Congregation Staff of St. Andrew - Senior Pastor Debbie Caudill - Director of Spiritual Formation John Slate - Director of Music Ministry Shawn Stanley - Music Support Ed Baker- Organist Donna Kirk - Administrative Assistant Childcare Assistants - Bethany Douglas, Molly Sisco The Personal Touch - Custodians Congregation - Ministers of St. Andrew Garrett Brown 03/19 George Watts 03/19 Charles Thomas 03/20 Jerry Sedlacek 03/21 Xavier Scolastico 03/22 Pat Reynolds 03/24 Dana Brun 03/27 Kristina Enix 03/27 Karyle McMannama 03/27 Joshua Terpenning 03/27 Rebecca Shipp 03/29 If your birthday is in March and is not here, please let Donna know Looking Ahead MARCH ~Thursday 19 UMW Agape Meal ~ Sunday 29 Palm Sunday APRIL ~Thursday 2 Maundy Thursday Service ~Friday 3 Good Friday Service ~Saturday 4 Easter Egg Hunt ~Sunday 5 Easter MAY ~Saturday 2 Clean Up Day ~Sunday 10 Mother s day ~Sunday 24 Youth Helpers Day ~Monday 25 Memorial Day, Office Closed V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 2

11 Please pray for these people who have been in the hospital, ill, or recuperating in the past month or are simply in need of our prayers and support. Ann Shelton Julie and Stan Erk Jane Henry Flo Craig Edith Leonard Betty Bracken Jack Darst George Watts Kara Sandberg Diane Hutton Mary Lou Fox The St. Andrew prayer chain is always available to pray for you. Contact Jan Garrett Prayer requests can be made at the Atrium prayer box, or by contacting the church office. Every week, a group of people pray for the needs of our members, our church, our community, our country and world. remember where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them - Matthew 18:20 Care and Prayer Deepest thanks for all the many sympathy cards, love and support I have received since Bob passed away on January 5th. St. Andrew is a very caring church whose members live out their faith. Jane Henry Thank you notes were received on behalf of our donations to the Imagine No Malaria campaign, McCurdy Ministries, Red Bird Mission, Society of St. Andrew, and North Katanga Wings of the Morning. The notes are available on the office bulletin board for more information. There are several opportunities this season of Lent for you to grow and share Christ with others. We are also sending out twice a week s. If you do not get s and wish to receive the weekly encouragements, please let the office know and we will mail them to you. The St. Andrew 2015 Lenten Goldfish Challenge How does the Goldfish Challenge work? Pick up your personal goldfish container from church. We have one for each member of you family, we want to make sure that everyone, young and old alike are able to take part. They will be available at the Ash Wednesday service, and on Sunday Inside your container you will find 40 goldfish crackers On each the 40 days of Lent (remember Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter, including everyday except Sundays, thus 40 days) eat one of the goldfish crackers Before you eat the cracker, pause and think about the one thing that you can add in for that day. That s right, rather than giving something up for Lent, we want you to add something in Stay tuned for additional support through our weekly bulletin and church s Remember, you are not alone in the journey. Imagine being in a great school of fish all swimming together. Read the Lenten devotional and add your change to the Lenten Collection Boxes for the Society of St. Andrew. Boxes can be found in the Atrium and Gathering Grounds. During Lent you are invited to write a prayer on a piece of paper and place it in the prayer cross in the Sanctuary. After the Good Friday service, the youth and youth leadership will then pray over your submissions. If you wish to keep your prayer private, please place it in one of the sealed envelopes and your privacy will be respected. UMW AGAPE MEAL March 19 is the date of our annual Agape Meal. We will gather at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall for fellowship and a simple meal. Esther Circle is providing the program and invites all the women of the church to attend. Come and participate in this special evening of celebration of the Lenten season through simple but genuine fellowship with each other. Page 3 F OOTPRI NTS

12 It's been a tough winter for everyone but particularly so for those struggling to put food on their table. We will continue our food collection for the Wesley Center in March. The red wagon will be placed in the Atrium on Sunday, 3/1, as a reminder of our collection on Sunday, 3/8. Please support our St. Andrew outreach program by bringing food items that you can spare with emphasis on the lists below: Food Items Canned goods (meat, fruit, vegetables, & soup) Cereal Cooking oil Crackers Flour Fresh fruit Fresh vegetables Jelly Noodles Peanut butter Pork & beans Spaghetti Spaghetti sauce Wesley also has refrigeration for chicken, fresh meat, and eggs Additional Items (items that food stamps can't buy) Bathroom tissue Bleach (30 oz.) Dishwashing liquid Disposable diapers Face soap Deodorant Laundry detergent (30 oz.) Paper towels Toothpaste & brushes YOU RE INVITED TO JOIN THE ST. ANDREW ADULT DINNER CLUB (Proven to build strong Christian Friendships) Singles and couples of all ages are encouraged to get to know each other better by dining together 4 times over the 6 month period of April through September Groups of 7 or 8 diners are assigned to enjoy each other s company for 4 dinners during that 6 month period. Members of the dinner group take turns hosting and providing the main course. Others bring vegetable, salad and dessert. Although in-home hosting is encouraged, a host may choose a restaurant for all to attend by separate checks. Busy schedule? No problem. Each member s availability is considered with each dinner scheduled. Please consider joining. We d like to get to know you better. Sign up on the clipboard in the Atrium by Sunday, March 15. Questions? Call Marcy at STaRS St. Andrew Retirees STARS will tour the Community Tissue Services facility on Wednesday, March 18. Carpool from the church at 9:30 am. Lunch will follow at Starlight Restaurant and Diner in Belmont, on Smithville Rd. Please sign up and join us. Additional details are on bulletin board, or from the Bauers. Community Tissue Services headquarters are in Dayton, Ohio. They serve more than 2000 hospitals and surgery centers throughout the United States from ten service locations. Services provided include tissue, grafts, and products for patients in need of lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants. Recent STARS activity Over 30 attended the Beekeeper Program in January and 16 attended the Surveillance program in February. Why not join STARS fopr our March outing ot Community Tissue Services in Kettering? Mark April 15 th on your calendar for our STARS outing to EnterTrainment off I-75 in West Chester north of Cincinnati. As is our custom we will stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant. The April Footprints will have more details for this outing. G-Force Adventure Park Vacation Bible School June 22-25, :00-8:30 PM St. Andrew UMC Age 3 thru 5th Grade Debbie Caudill to register dsfcaudill@gmail.com EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE IN ACTION! V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 4

13 Church Wide Sponsored By: The Young Adult Group March 14th at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room The Young Adult Group will provide a variety of soups and beverages. Bring a side dish or a dessert and your favorite game to share GREEN THUMB GARDENING PROJECT HELPS PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES WE HELP Persons who have lost jobs Senior Citizens Families on Low Income Families on Fixed Incomes TYPES OF SEEDS Beets Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Corn, Cucumbers, Herbs, Lettuce, Melons, Peppers, Radishes, Spinach/Greens, Squash/ Pumpkins, Turnips CORN & BUSH BEANS IN BULK Would be greatly appreciated Deadline for Bringing in Seeds is April 5 March starts our seed collection for the Jackson Area Ministry (JAM). To support this mission, we purchase seeds which are sent to the impoverished area of Ohio. Please place your seeds in the baskets in the Atrium and Gathering Grounds. These seeds mean so much to these people who have so little. Thanks for your support. Chris Watters I don t know if you are like me or not. I love the holidays and I love all the food that is everywhere. Unfortunately, I overdo it and my clothes tend to get tighter. I spent most of the year losing weight and in a few short months I gain part of it back. I feel guilty because I am leading a support group and I have given in to temptation. On the positive side, I belong to support group that cares about me and helps me get back on track. Why Weight has helped all of its members lose weight, but more importantly we help in other ways with encouragement, listening, and most important-love. If you are interested in joining our groups just show up at our meeting at 7:00PM on Monday night. Note: This time of year, we are sensitive to the weather and put safety first. If there is a question as to whether or not we are meeting please call me (Chuck Lauersdorf) at Outreach Upcoming!!! Sunday, March 29 th ---Save the date for our next New Hope dinner. We will again provide and serve the dinner for 100+ attendees at New Hope s Sunday evening service. We will also collect items for the New Hope Free Store. Plan to volunteer to prepare & serve the meal, to attend service & share fellowship, to assist with Children s Church, and to pray with and for those attending. Page 5 F OOTPRI NTS

14 FINANCE NEWS: Remember St. Andrew this year in your estate planning. One way to do this is to make St. Andrew one of the beneficiaries of your IRA. To avoid all income tax when you take a distribution you can instead make a direct gift. See Shaun Nicholson for more information. Building Addition on track for full retirement July Thanks to all of your dedicated giving we are on track to retire our building fund on schedule in July of Note: Because of the terms of the loan, it is not to our advantage to pay off the loan early or to make payments higher than the minimum. The Scarlet Thread By Francine Rivers Reviewed by Pat Reynolds The Scarlet Thread is a novel which parallels the story of two women separated by generations, but who share common challenges in their life experiences. Sierra is the modern protagonist who battles marital issues when her husband takes a new job far from the family and friends she has spent her entire life around. Mary Catherine McMurray is Sierra s ancestor whose story is told through a journal Sierra s mother shares with her shortly before the family s move. Mary Catherine s journey takes place on the Oregon Trail and many hardships are chronicled throughout this personal narrative. The common thread both women share centers around the relationship we all work to build with God first and then our loved ones. The two women strive to mend broken relationships on their own but find that they will always be imperfect as human beings. Only with God at our center can we build and grow other relationships in a positive way. Sierra discovers that many of the struggles we face in today s world are similar to the struggles people worked to overcome in earlier generations. Weaving together the story of these two women and their life challenges provides the reader with historical background as well as modern day events with which we can relate easily. SUNDAY MORNING: 9:30 Sunday School March Youth Events WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: St. Andrew Fellowship Dinner 6:00, Youth Bible Study 6:30 WEEKEND ACTIVITIES : (Youth Group activities are open to any youth in grades 6-12) For more information please contact our youth team at youthst.andrewsumc@gmail.com Or Ann LaMothe at (571) Saturday, March 21st 12:30 pm 5:00 p.m. Easter Sunrise Service Practice followed by Laser Quest. We will leave at 2:00 for Laser Quest. We will play 3 games of Laser Tag each. Cost is $10.00 per person (church youth funds will pay the remainder) RSVP no later than March 14 Church youth group funds will cover the full cost of gaming for all youth who participate in Sunrise service practice and commit to participating in the service on Easter Sunday. Sunday, March 29 4:15-7:30 p.m. Serve Dinner at New Hope Church V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 8

15 March 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 LENT 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 2 7:00 Boy Scouts FH 7:00 Outreach CR 3 9:30 Sow & Sew 121 6:00 Oak Tree Corner FH, EDU 7:00 Boy Scouts :00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice 5 6 7:00 UMW Exec 8:00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH 7 8 LENT Girl Scout Sunday 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 9 7:00 Boy Scouts FH 7:00 Lions Club CR :30 Sow & Sew :00 Worship Team CR 1:30 Staff CR 6:00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice 12 7:00 Ascent Practice 13 8:00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH 14 6:00 All Church Game Night CR 15 LENT One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 16 7:00 Boy Scouts FH 7:00 Finance CR 17 9:30 Sow & Sew 121 6:00 Oak Tree Corner FH, EDU 18 STARS 6:00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice :30 Agape Meal FH 8:00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH 21 9:00 Esther Circle 12:30-5:00 Youth Sunrise Service Practice & Laser Quest 22 LENT 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 Worship 9:30 Sunday School 11:00 Adult Sunday School 23 7:00 Boy Scouts FH :30 Sow & Sew :00 Koinonia Circle 105 6:00 Fellowship Meal 6:30 Small Groups meet Men, women, young Adult, Art Explorers, Youth 7:00 Choir Practice 26 7:00 Ascent Practice 7:00 Lydia Circle :00 NA FH 2:00 GS FH LENT Palm Sunday 9:00 Burrito Breakfast 10:30 Combined Worship 9:30 Adult Sunday School 4:15 New Hope Dinner :30 Sow & Sew 121 7:00 Naomi Circle OS Spring Break Starts Page 9 F OOTPRI NTS

16 S T. ANDREW UNITED ME THODIST CH URCH standrewumchurch.net 350 N Fairfield Rd Beavercreek, OH catch a breath of fresh air non profit organization us postage paid Xenia Ohio permit #13 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 1 why lent? its not just fish fridays (see inside for more details) Sunday Sermon Series: Why Lent It s not just fish Fridays. Sunday morning Traditional 8:15, Contemporary 9:30, and Blended11:00 Palm Sunday March 29 one service 10:30 - Burrito Breakfast beginning at 9:00 am Maundy Thursday Service April 2 7:00 pm Good Friday Service April 2 12:00 noon Easter Services April 5 Sunrise 7 am, Traditional 8:15 am Contemporary 9:30 am, Blended 11:00 am

17 S T. A N D R E W U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H Volume 15 Issue 3 March 2015 why lent? In the same way that the Holy Spirit works on us individually, the Holy Spirit works on us corporately. Our prayer as the faith community that we call St. Andrew, has been and is today, that the Holy Spirit rain down on us, sweeping anew and afresh across us. Come Holy Spirit, come! We invite you to journey into this Lenten season with a fresh perspective, anticipating just what it is that God will do in and through you, and in all of us together as the people of St. Andrew. You may have noticed the banner in front of the church. It reads, why lent?. it s not just fish fridays.. It is through the theme of this banner that we have crafted many special opportunities for you throughout the days of Lent. First, there is an informational card available for you. This card relays most everything happening during Lent here at church. You can take a card to keep at home for your reference. You can also take a few cards to share with friends, coworkers, and neighbors as a way of inviting them along in the journey. Next, we invite you to join in the Lenten Goldfish Challenge. We hope and pray that it will be an inspirational way to engage you and every member of your family, young and old alike, in the Lenten Journey. Without going into a lot of detail here, the challenge is to intentionally add one thing in each of the 40 days of Lent. The hope and goal is that every single person will pick up their very own words from Pastor John Lenten Goldfish Challenge kit and join in. Next, is our Lenten Prayer Cross. In past years we have tied fabric ribbons onto a wooden cross throughout the Lenten season, with the color of the ribbons reflecting the various stages. This year the Worship Committee, working with our Youth Group, have transformed that same cross into our Lenten Prayer Cross. It will be at church throughout Lent, and you will have the opportunity to write your prayer concerns on pieces of paper. The paper may be placed in an envelope, or simply rolled up and placed into the Lenten Prayer Cross. The cross has been outfitted with a mesh that will receive the rolled up papers. Then on Good Friday following the service, the Youth Group and their leaders will take the prayer concerns and pray over them. The ones that have been sealed in the envelopes will remain sealed. Finally, this is in no way a complete listing of everything that s taking place here at St. Andrew this Lenten Season. It is an introduction and an overview that I hope will help lead you into a new and refreshing experience of God s love this Lent and Easter. Blessings upon you and your family. In Ministry With You, Pastor John The people of St. Andrew have been called by God to embrace, equip and encourage persons of all ages to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. e 3

18 Happy Birthday March Margaret Griffin 03/01 Naomi Schalle 03/01 Susan Nicholson 03/05 Susan White 03/06 Lewie Wiese 03/06 Emma Arrington 03/07 Bonnie Fenning 03/08 Daniel Moad 03/08 Jody Garrett 03/09 Wendy Garrett 03/11 Samuel Fenning 03/12 Ken Hutton 03/13 Cora Nicholson 03/16 Sermon Topics and Scriptures Lessons for March 2015 March 1 Communion Sunday "God's Plan" Genesis 17:1-7, March 8 "Do Your Part" 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 March 15 "Loved to Live" Ephesians 2:1-10 March 22 "You Are Not Alone" Jeremiah 31:31-34 March 29 Palm Sunday combined service at 10:30 "The Game Face" Isaiah 50:4-9a Phone: Fax: standrewumc@ameritech.net Website: Office Hours: 9:00 3:00pm Monday Thursday 9:00 Noon Friday Sunday Worship Times 8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am 9:30am Sunday School Child Care at Sunday Services St. Andrew UMC is a Safe Sanctuary Congregation Staff of St. Andrew - Senior Pastor Debbie Caudill - Director of Spiritual Formation John Slate - Director of Music Ministry Shawn Stanley - Music Support Ed Baker- Organist Donna Kirk - Administrative Assistant Childcare Assistants - Bethany Douglas, Molly Sisco The Personal Touch - Custodians Congregation - Ministers of St. Andrew Garrett Brown 03/19 George Watts 03/19 Charles Thomas 03/20 Jerry Sedlacek 03/21 Xavier Scolastico 03/22 Pat Reynolds 03/24 Dana Brun 03/27 Kristina Enix 03/27 Karyle McMannama 03/27 Joshua Terpenning 03/27 Rebecca Shipp 03/29 If your birthday is in March and is not here, please let Donna know Looking Ahead MARCH ~Thursday 19 UMW Agape Meal ~ Sunday 29 Palm Sunday APRIL ~Thursday 2 Maundy Thursday Service ~Friday 3 Good Friday Service ~Saturday 4 Easter Egg Hunt ~Sunday 5 Easter MAY ~Saturday 2 Clean Up Day ~Sunday 10 Mother s day ~Sunday 24 Youth Helpers Day ~Monday 25 Memorial Day, Office Closed V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 2

19 Please pray for these people who have been in the hospital, ill, or recuperating in the past month or are simply in need of our prayers and support. Ann Shelton Julie and Stan Erk Jane Henry Flo Craig Edith Leonard Betty Bracken Jack Darst George Watts Kara Sandberg Diane Hutton Mary Lou Fox The St. Andrew prayer chain is always available to pray for you. Contact Jan Garrett Prayer requests can be made at the Atrium prayer box, or by contacting the church office. Every week, a group of people pray for the needs of our members, our church, our community, our country and world. remember where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them - Matthew 18:20 Care and Prayer Deepest thanks for all the many sympathy cards, love and support I have received since Bob passed away on January 5th. St. Andrew is a very caring church whose members live out their faith. Jane Henry Thank you notes were received on behalf of our donations to the Imagine No Malaria campaign, McCurdy Ministries, Red Bird Mission, Society of St. Andrew, and North Katanga Wings of the Morning. The notes are available on the office bulletin board for more information. There are several opportunities this season of Lent for you to grow and share Christ with others. We are also sending out twice a week s. If you do not get s and wish to receive the weekly encouragements, please let the office know and we will mail them to you. The St. Andrew 2015 Lenten Goldfish Challenge How does the Goldfish Challenge work? Pick up your personal goldfish container from church. We have one for each member of you family, we want to make sure that everyone, young and old alike are able to take part. They will be available at the Ash Wednesday service, and on Sunday Inside your container you will find 40 goldfish crackers On each the 40 days of Lent (remember Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter, including everyday except Sundays, thus 40 days) eat one of the goldfish crackers Before you eat the cracker, pause and think about the one thing that you can add in for that day. That s right, rather than giving something up for Lent, we want you to add something in Stay tuned for additional support through our weekly bulletin and church s Remember, you are not alone in the journey. Imagine being in a great school of fish all swimming together. Read the Lenten devotional and add your change to the Lenten Collection Boxes for the Society of St. Andrew. Boxes can be found in the Atrium and Gathering Grounds. During Lent you are invited to write a prayer on a piece of paper and place it in the prayer cross in the Sanctuary. After the Good Friday service, the youth and youth leadership will then pray over your submissions. If you wish to keep your prayer private, please place it in one of the sealed envelopes and your privacy will be respected. UMW AGAPE MEAL March 19 is the date of our annual Agape Meal. We will gather at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall for fellowship and a simple meal. Esther Circle is providing the program and invites all the women of the church to attend. Come and participate in this special evening of celebration of the Lenten season through simple but genuine fellowship with each other. Page 3 F OOTPRI NTS

20 It's been a tough winter for everyone but particularly so for those struggling to put food on their table. We will continue our food collection for the Wesley Center in March. The red wagon will be placed in the Atrium on Sunday, 3/1, as a reminder of our collection on Sunday, 3/8. Please support our St. Andrew outreach program by bringing food items that you can spare with emphasis on the lists below: Food Items Canned goods (meat, fruit, vegetables, & soup) Cereal Cooking oil Crackers Flour Fresh fruit Fresh vegetables Jelly Noodles Peanut butter Pork & beans Spaghetti Spaghetti sauce Wesley also has refrigeration for chicken, fresh meat, and eggs Additional Items (items that food stamps can't buy) Bathroom tissue Bleach (30 oz.) Dishwashing liquid Disposable diapers Face soap Deodorant Laundry detergent (30 oz.) Paper towels Toothpaste & brushes YOU RE INVITED TO JOIN THE ST. ANDREW ADULT DINNER CLUB (Proven to build strong Christian Friendships) Singles and couples of all ages are encouraged to get to know each other better by dining together 4 times over the 6 month period of April through September Groups of 7 or 8 diners are assigned to enjoy each other s company for 4 dinners during that 6 month period. Members of the dinner group take turns hosting and providing the main course. Others bring vegetable, salad and dessert. Although in-home hosting is encouraged, a host may choose a restaurant for all to attend by separate checks. Busy schedule? No problem. Each member s availability is considered with each dinner scheduled. Please consider joining. We d like to get to know you better. Sign up on the clipboard in the Atrium by Sunday, March 15. Questions? Call Marcy at STaRS St. Andrew Retirees STARS will tour the Community Tissue Services facility on Wednesday, March 18. Carpool from the church at 9:30 am. Lunch will follow at Starlight Restaurant and Diner in Belmont, on Smithville Rd. Please sign up and join us. Additional details are on bulletin board, or from the Bauers. Community Tissue Services headquarters are in Dayton, Ohio. They serve more than 2000 hospitals and surgery centers throughout the United States from ten service locations. Services provided include tissue, grafts, and products for patients in need of lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants. Recent STARS activity Over 30 attended the Beekeeper Program in January and 16 attended the Surveillance program in February. Why not join STARS fopr our March outing ot Community Tissue Services in Kettering? Mark April 15 th on your calendar for our STARS outing to EnterTrainment off I-75 in West Chester north of Cincinnati. As is our custom we will stop for lunch at a nearby restaurant. The April Footprints will have more details for this outing. G-Force Adventure Park Vacation Bible School June 22-25, :00-8:30 PM St. Andrew UMC Age 3 thru 5th Grade Debbie Caudill to register dsfcaudill@gmail.com EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE IN ACTION! V OLU ME 1 5 ISS U E 2 Page 4

21 Church Wide Sponsored By: The Young Adult Group March 14th at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room The Young Adult Group will provide a variety of soups and beverages. Bring a side dish or a dessert and your favorite game to share GREEN THUMB GARDENING PROJECT HELPS PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES WE HELP Persons who have lost jobs Senior Citizens Families on Low Income Families on Fixed Incomes TYPES OF SEEDS Beets Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Corn, Cucumbers, Herbs, Lettuce, Melons, Peppers, Radishes, Spinach/Greens, Squash/ Pumpkins, Turnips CORN & BUSH BEANS IN BULK Would be greatly appreciated Deadline for Bringing in Seeds is April 5 March starts our seed collection for the Jackson Area Ministry (JAM). To support this mission, we purchase seeds which are sent to the impoverished area of Ohio. Please place your seeds in the baskets in the Atrium and Gathering Grounds. These seeds mean so much to these people who have so little. Thanks for your support. Chris Watters I don t know if you are like me or not. I love the holidays and I love all the food that is everywhere. Unfortunately, I overdo it and my clothes tend to get tighter. I spent most of the year losing weight and in a few short months I gain part of it back. I feel guilty because I am leading a support group and I have given in to temptation. On the positive side, I belong to support group that cares about me and helps me get back on track. Why Weight has helped all of its members lose weight, but more importantly we help in other ways with encouragement, listening, and most important-love. If you are interested in joining our groups just show up at our meeting at 7:00PM on Monday night. Note: This time of year, we are sensitive to the weather and put safety first. If there is a question as to whether or not we are meeting please call me (Chuck Lauersdorf) at Outreach Upcoming!!! Sunday, March 29 th ---Save the date for our next New Hope dinner. We will again provide and serve the dinner for 100+ attendees at New Hope s Sunday evening service. We will also collect items for the New Hope Free Store. Plan to volunteer to prepare & serve the meal, to attend service & share fellowship, to assist with Children s Church, and to pray with and for those attending. Page 5 F OOTPRI NTS