The Heartbeat. Saint Andrew United Church of Christ

Transcription

1 Saint Andrew United Church of Christ The Heartbeat February Browns Lane Louisville, Kentucky Website: Phone: (502) Sunday School for all ages 9:15 AM; Sanctuary Worship 10:30 AM Our February Benevolence Focus: Merom Conference Center (Reprinted from The Merom Spirit, Summer 2012) By Susie Larson, Director of Youth & Young Adult and Outdoor Ministries & Merom Conference Center I believe that Merom is sacred ground. I believe that the physical place, our volunteers and staff provide comfort, faith-explora on and peace to campers of all ages. I believe that Merom is a place for everyone no ma er where you are on life s journey. I believe that people that come to Merom experience uncondi onal love and are even liked. I have seen lives change. I have witnessed youth have mountain top experiences. I have heard stories about how being at Merom has made a difference in people s percep ons of others. I have heard that faith founda ons have begun at Merom and then spread into day-to-day lives. I believe when people arrive at Merom, they allow God to work through them and take me away from their rou nes and daily tasks. I believe that Merom is sacred. I have been talking with people I ve seen grow up with Merom. I ve asked why they s ll come now that they re adults. Not everyone had a great experience at summer camp, and they discovered they really liked retreats. One of the girls didn t enjoy retreats, but loves being part of the school groups. Not every event is going to win you over. However, there is something about Merom that brings people back for a second chance. Merom has a following grade school campers, junior high campers, high school campers and those of us who used to be in high school campers. Friendships cross genera ons, economic lines, poli cal thinking, academic values and social structures. I have witnessed growth, acceptance and uncondi onal friendships at retreats, summer camps and school group events. When I started working at Merom, the Lily grant had been received. According to Lily s informa on, 90% of pastors declared that a camp experience led them to ministry. 75% of volunteers have declared that camp affected them. If that was true 10 years ago, think of the campers and their future ministries. Help us maintain Merom and its ministry for our campers faith founda on support that just may From the Pastor Rev. Lori Miller-Price Take a look ahead at our Lenten worship series and schedule and plan to be a part of it all! Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, Master, save me! Jesus didn t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. - Matthew 14: The Message This Lenten worship series, based on the book by the same name by Eric Elnes, is about seeing life through new eyes, recognizing that experiences of failure, emptiness, and uncertainty are as critical for finding our way through life as they are unavoidable. We will see how experiences of life through the dark wood are actually clues to our calling or life path. How can the struggles of life be the seedbed of spiritual awakening to the fullness of life? Ash Wednesday, March 1-4:00-6:00 - We will be offering "Ashes to Go" again in the circular drive in front of our building. Ash Wednesday Worship Service - 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship Service, April 13 7:00 p.m. Good Friday, April 14 Guided prayer stations will be set up in the sanctuary to help you pray, contemplate and draw closer to God. You are invited to come anytime between 3:00 7:00 p.m. Pastor Lori will be available to have prayer with you also anytime during those hours. Easter Morning, April 16 We will have an Easter Sunrise service and our regular 10:30 worship. Inside this issue: Page 2 Ash Wednesday, Movie Discussion, Parish Health Page 3 Birthdays & Anniversaries, Merom for Adults Page 4 Women, Nurture, Youth Retreats, Laptop Coffee Shop Page 5 Daily Lectionary Page 6 Next Heartbeat Deadline

2 HEARTBEAT Page 2 ASH WEDNESDAY MARCH 1 DRIVE THRU ASHES 4-6 PM (church s front circle drive) WORSHIP SERVICE 7 PM Movie Discussions will resume in February, meeting at 7:00pm at the church on the last Sunday of the month. The routine remains the same: I will announce a film during the middle of the month. Each person will see the film on his/her own, considering the question What does this film have to say about our faith? Excellent films for discussion are now playing in local theatres: Hidden Figures, Lion, Collateral Beauty, LaLa- Land, Fences. Since we are entering into the dark interior world during Lent, I highly recommend Collateral Beauty and walk through the darkness of grief and loss with Howard (Will Smith) after a personal tragedy. Or, because February is celebrated as Women s Month, Hidden Figures shares the story of three women who, as mathematicians, were vital to the NASA space program but who were victims of racial and gender stereotypes. CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS 2017 David Sickbert - President Mike Jones - Vice President Teresa Aikens - Secretary Elaine Caldwell Judy Johnson Rose Mills Virginia Neat 2017 Parish Health Ministry A Word from the Heart from Your Parish Health Nurses: February what does this month make you think of? Groundhogs Day? Snow and cold? Valentine's Day? Well, it is National Heart Month! About 610,000 people die of Heart disease every year in the United States. It is the leading cause of death for Men AND Women. While those facts seem pretty depressing, there are things you can do to help keep your heart in tip top shape. According to the American Heart Association, there are 10 risk factors for Heart Disease. Three of those, age, gender, and family history, can not be modified. But the other 7 can be! Here are their Life's Simple 7 Keys to Prevention of Heart Disease. Reduce blood sugar I know sugar tastes awesome! But about 21 million Americans have diagnosed Diabetes. Many more unfortunately have not yet been diagnosed. Control Cholesterol More than 40% of American adults have Cholesterol levels above 200mg>>too many BIG MACS can cause a Heart Attack! Manage blood pressure about 80 million United States adults have high blood pressure. Be sure to get yours checked frequently (like here at Church on the last Sunday of the month) Stop smoking or more importantly, don't ever start! And try to avoid second hand smoke as well. Eat Right The holidays are over and all of the sweet, gooey, fattening food should be gone. When you eat a Heart Healthy diet you improve your chances for feeling great and staying healthy! Lose weight Most Americans older than 20 are overweight or obese. What is even scarier is about 32% of our children are overweight or obese. Get moving Put down that remote/cell phone/ video game! About 1 in every 3 adults in the US report no leisure time physical activity. Sounds so simple, right? I know it's difficult it's a struggle every day for all of us, but we have to start somewhere. Here's hoping 2017 finds all of us heading in the right direction for our Heart Health! So this month, focus on your HEART as Proverbs 27:19 reads: As Waters reflect the face, so one's life reflects the HEART

3 HEARTBEAT Page 3 ADULTS AT MEROM 3rd 4th 5th 7th Joyce Louden Bill Cox Madelyn Raderer Autumn Bartley 11th Darian Wicker 12th Cheryl Lewis 14th Betty Metzger Ken Bischof 18th Penny Wilding 19th Emma Briggs Trudy Lewis Todd Whitehead 20th Amy Laufer Coley Ballard 22nd Scott Schwartz 24th Trenton Jolly 25th Haley Merideth 28th Betty Morgan Dreatha Dee Sullivan 18th Joyce and Bob Volk If we have inadvertently left you off this list, please contact the office so we may update our records. If you are new to St. Andrew, please share your birthday with us so that we may recognize you!

4 HEARTBEAT Page 4 Women of St. Andrew Business Meeting: Monday, February 20, Noon Conference Room All Women Are Welcome Bring a Sandwich: Drinks Are Provided The Ladies Day Out JCPS Outreach Project Has Not Been Selected But Will Be Discussed and You are Invited to help make the decision. NURTURE TEAM

5 HEARTBEAT Daily Lectionary February 2017 Page 5

6 February 2017 Heartbeat Issue 58 No Browns Lane Louisville, KY No matter who you are, you are welcome here! St. Andrew United Church of Christ 2608 Browns Lane Louisville, Kentucky Phone: (502) Fax: (call first) Website: Sunday School 9:15 AM Worship Service 10:30 AM Office Hours: 9 AM 1 PM, Monday Friday Church Staff Rev. Lori Miller-Price Senior Pastor J.R. Cannaday Minister of Music Mary Rose Linker Church Secretary/Editor Joe Louden Custodian Wednesday, February 15th