2020 Pledge Campaign: Reflections on Gracious Giving

"The church is a triangle," Cliff whispered to me in the pew, repeating his observation later during Children's Chapel. As he held his little fingers together in the shape of this three-sided figure, the other children copied him as we named the holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In unscripted moments like this, I am filled with gratitude and moved by God's love. He has always called me to ministry with the young through teaching Sunday School, leading vacation bible school, mentoring confirmands, and sponsoring youth groups. I see God's love for creation when I work with children.

 As it was Instructed Eucharist Sunday that week, we took a little field trip to the sacristy where the children could see the small space where so much takes place before and after services. As they marveled at the shiny brass and silver items as well as the flowers by the sink, I recalled the many special moments I have shared with folks on the altar guild while arranging flowers. Sometimes, it's just two or three of us working together and sharing concerns or joys. Other times, both the altar and flower guilds are almost dancing around each other in that confined area, helping set the stage for our beautiful services. 

I am grateful for this opportunity to reflect on what St Andrew’s means to me and how I belong to its parish. As the season of stewardship is upon is, I consider once again what I am giving to the church as one of its members, and in return for what I receive. As Jason Knudeson preached to us from Luke's parable of the shrewd steward, we give of our time, talents, and treasure because Christ called us to do so. 

 Karen Waddill

A grateful good-bye to Lorna

Dearest people of St. Andrew’s,

My heart is heavy as I write this letter to you all, as I have accepted a call to another parish, St. Luke’s, Germantown, in the city of Philadelphia. My last Sunday with you all will be October 13th. I have been so blessed with all the love you have shown to me in the two years I have been here.

It has been quite a juggle to balance my responsibilities to my parents in Delaware and my responsibilities here at the parish. Many of you know what that is like. Also, my mother’s diabetes has worsened, and I am very concerned about her. It has become more apparent to me that I need to live closer to them.

I have been so blessed to serve with you all, and I love you all so very much. I also love our Rector, Anne, who has been a great source of holy instruction and collegiality for me. I have been very fortunate to work with a priest who cares very much for St. Andrew’s, and whose wisdom and gentleness I have been privileged to experience and witness. I will miss her and you all and I give thanks to God for you.

Peace,

Lorna

 __________________________________________

Dear Friends,

I write this letter with a heavy heart. Along with all of you, I have grown to know and love Lorna Williams in the two years that she has served in our midst. One of the great blessings of my ministry thus far at St. Andrew’s was the privilege of calling her.  

I’ve heard Lorna described as a “child magnet,” and that is certainly an apt description of her ministry here: reading books with the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School students on the library floor before classes began for the day, playing tag in the little playground with our Hilton Community Playground neighbors, crafting spirit-filled Children’s Chapel lessons, and nurturing our youth through the EYC. In addition, her loving heart, thought-provoking sermons, and wise advice have been blessings to people of all ages, including me.  

One responsibility listed in Lorna’s letter of agreement was “to be a counselor to, and confidant of, the Rector.” Lorna has been both ever since her arrival, and I am so grateful. I am a better priest and rector because of the things Lorna has taught me.  

While I am so very sad that Lorna will be leaving us, I rejoice for her that her new call will enable her to live much closer to her parents. Along with many of you, I know what it is like to try to balance work with family responsibilities, especially parental care taking. I am grateful to God for finding a way for Lorna to continue to live into her priestly call while making it easier for her to provide help and care to her parents. There is no doubt in my mind that God is at work in this scenario.

The God who brought Lorna into our midst here at St. Andrew’s will not abandon us, or Lorna. As God leads Lorna into her next call, God is also busy preparing the way forward for us. We can’t see the future, but God can. Our task over the next few weeks is to say a good and healthy good-bye to Lorna. Even as we do so, God is lovingly at work on the next chapter for St. Andrew’s.  

Lorna’s last Sunday will be October 13. Both services will include a litany of departure, to enable us to send Lorna on her way with our love and blessings, and there will be a reception in Lorna’s honor immediately following the 10:30 service that day. We are collecting a purse as a gift of gratitude to Lorna for her ministry in our midst. If you would like to contribute to that gift, please send a check (made out to St. Andrew’s, with “Lorna” in the memo line) to the parish office by October 11.

Please hold Lorna in your prayers during this time of transition, and please join me in thanking her for all that she has done for us in these past two years. May God bless Lorna abundantly.

Faithfully, 

Anne

Hospitable

As we welcome people to become a part of our new Outreach Center, let us remember the gift of hospitality.

Make of your life a welcome home.
Make your heart a buffet of goodness.

Make yourself a front porch, wide,
two chairs, only one step up.

Think of yourself as a free sample,
a rocking chair, a bench by a lake.

People need a place to belong, to matter,
to receive without question.

Round up all your furniture of love and respect,
all your heirlooms of special treatment,

and put them out on the curb.
Go ahead and make a sign that says FREE.

It's not about airing your laundry, or “being yourself.”
It's about letting them do that.

After all, you live in God's house,
who has given you the run of the place.

Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

Multi-Use Community Outreach Facility Already Underway - Here's What's Happening so Far

As we are forming the Building Implementation Team to oversee and foster the functioning of the Multi-Use Community Outreach Facility, people in our community are already reaching out to us with requests to use the former day school classrooms. Here is a brief summary of what is happening so far:

Every Tuesday and Wednesday morning the Hilton Community Playgroup meets in the basement classrooms and cafeteria. Comprised of preschool aged children and their parents, this group also enjoys the use of our "little people" playground adjacent to Ferguson Ave. The group began meeting at St. Andrew's almost a year ago as a co-op. Due to the great success in fulfilling a need for young children in our neighborhood, the group expanded and became the Hilton Community Playgroup in June of this year.

Classical Conversations is an organization that provides group classroom instruction to home-schooled students. They serve around 50 students age 4-16 and meet all day on Thursdays. Their first session was September 5, and they are scheduled to meet for 30 weeks and use all of the areas that comprised our former day school, including the cafeteria and both playgrounds.

An ACT Study Group began meeting last Saturday to help high school students prepare for the college admissions test. They are led by our former day school librarian, Tracy Crooks and currently plan to meet for 5 Saturdays with the option to continue should there be a need.

Plans are also underway to establish a Writing Center for anyone who needs help with writing projects or who wants to hone their writing skills. This project was proposed and will be led by Nicole Emmelhainz, one of our newest church members and a professor at CNU.

Earlier this year our facility was used for International Baccalaureate (IB) testing of local high school students.

A lesson for the ages

Luke 15 seems to be about 3 lost and found parables, but Jesus makes it into lost and found and really lost.

The Pharisees were seething with resentment that Jesus associated with people they deemed well outside of God’s grace. (“He keeps paying attention to THEM, and keeps insulting US!”)

Jesus told about a shepherd rejoicing over finding a lost sheep, a woman who was happy to find a lost coin, and a father who threw a party for his prodigal son. The seemingly insignificant was found, and it was a cause for celebration.

The older son was in no mood for celebration. He was dripping with resentment, even though he still had everything. Jesus intimated that the older son (the ultimate Pharisee) was lost in a practically unfindable way.

No fences around God’s grace.

Brad Norris, Minister of Music