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April – May 2026 Newsletter

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St Andrews Newsletter

April                                                                                                                  May

Cathedral Day at St. Mark’s, Seattle

Come one, come all to the 2026 Cathedral Day at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, our diocesan cathedral! Beginning at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 25, there will be a grand procession of parish banners followed by a festival Holy Eucharist. If you are interested in carpooling to this event, please call the church office no later than Thursday, April 23. To sign up (so there is lunch for you), go here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cathedral-day-2026-tickets-1984905882928?aff=oddtdtcreator

More information on the event itself is here: https://saintmarks.org/about/cathedral-day/

Victorian Tea

Our annual Victorian Tea will be Saturday May 2nd from 2 pm–4 pm. Those wishing to help with set up, clean up, or serving for the event can sign up at the bulletin board across from the kitchen or call the office. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased beforehand either at Aberdeen Office Supply (cash only) and at the office (cash or check only).

Report from the Vestry

The Vestry met for our regularly scheduled meeting last Wednesday, April 15 in the Music Room. We reviewed the minutes and the Treasurer’s Report from the last meeting and approved both. It was noted that we don’t usually include specific numbers from the Treasurer’s Report in the minutes, but that the report is available to anyone on request and the Treasurer is also available to answer any questions. We finalized and approved the Mutual Ministry goals and objectives, as follows:

Goal #1:     Make our worship service more accessible, celebrate our members’ musical gifts, and connect to the community’s musical traditions.

  1. Ensure that worship music selections are easy to sing while expending our repertoire.
  2. Continue to enhance the choir offerings.
  3. Celebrate the musical talents of members by having guest instrumentalists for Offertory.
  4. Participate in World Music Day in Aberdeen (Sunday, June 21, 2026). Do Evensong?
  5. Establish a protocol, create a brochure, and place an interpretive sign in the Great Hall for Nirvana “pilgrims” who visit us.

Goal #2:     Enhance invitation, welcoming, and connection of both new and current members.

  1. Create a “Welcoming Center” in the back of the church with permanent name tags.
  2. Adjust and publicize guild and committee structure, membership, and responsibilities (Funeral/Wedding receptions, events, etc…)
  3. Upgrade the web site to make it more attractive and useful.
  4. Establish a weekly electronic newsletter to keep members and newcomers connected.
  5. Create a congregational Welcome and Development Team and connect with the diocesan College for Congregational Development to facilitate growth and development.

Goal #3:     Increase parish-wide engagement in outreach beyond the priest’s discretionary fund.

  1. Form an Outreach Committee to formalize outreach efforts to local nonprofits.
  2. Reach out to neighboring pastors and congregations to coordinate outreach efforts.
  3. Connect with area government agencies to assess addressable needs and solutions.
  4. Establish a monthly “Outreach Sunday” to highlight parish support for nonprofits.

These represent our goals as a church for 2026, so any assistance or suggestions on accomplishing them are welcome!

Our Junior Warden updated us on current projects, including the completion of the painting of the Great Hall and Giles Hall. Fixtures to hang pictures and artwork have been ordered and will facilitate displaying art in a variety of ways without permanently affixing items to the walls. We determined that the scout display case should remain where it is to signify our support for our newly adopted troop. Our Sunday School Room piano has been refurbished for free, with new key tops courtesy of a local piano repair training program, and should be tuned shortly.

We also discussed how to make our worship area more physically accessible for those with mobility challenges, including making the altar area more manageable. While we are limited by existing architecture, it was pointed out that acolytes and Eucharistic Ministers should make sure that their robes are sufficiently short to avoid tripping and that people are more than welcome to stand rather than kneeling at the altar rail. We will continue to investigate opportunities to enhance our worship space to make it more accessible.

With solid financial numbers, several building upgrades in process, good attendance for Holy Week services, and what was agreed is a generally happy congregation, we’re poised to move into summer with good motivation and excitement for St. Andrews’ future!

From the Priest-in-Charge

My first Lent and Holy Week with you all have now passed and, as noted in the Vestry report, we had good attendance! Palm Sunday attendance was 69 (vs. 47 last year), Maundy Thursday at 30 (vs. 24), Good Friday at 29 (vs. 21), the Easter Vigil at 45 (vs. 26), and Easter Day at 90 (vs. 68). While numbers aren’t everything, they reflect an enthusiasm for St. Andrew’s by both congregation and community that is heartening to witness. The Vestry and I hope to build on that enthusiasm in the months and years to come.

As we move into summer, we are going to make our first change as a congregation by not making an expected change. We will be retaining our 10 am service time through the summer this year, seeing how that feels and cutting down on any confusion that might otherwise arise about when our service time is. For those who prefer an evening worship experience, you are also more than welcome to join our small group in the choir area on Wednesdays at 6:15 pm for Evening Prayer and scripture reflection.

As of today, I’ve been here at St. Andrew’s for six months and have settled into the area pretty well. Lisa and I are loving our hillside home and appreciate its being only minutes from church. As the rains recede and the sun comes out more frequently, we look forward to exploring the area more widely. I have felt warmly welcomed as your Priest-in-Charge and look forward to moving forward in mission and ministry together. Please continue to feel free to catch me at coffee hour or call or email me if you have questions, concerns, or needs I can address.

Blessings,

— Fr. Tom+

Directory Update

We are updating the parish directory. A clipboard with our most current information is available under the bulletin board across from the kitchen. Please review your entry and leave a check mark if it is correct, or corrections if it is not. If you have any questions, please speak with Rose.

Food Bank Reminder

We are still collecting egg cartons, as well as other items for the food bank, especially protein. Also, remember that milk and butter are in short supply, so things that can be made with just adding water are preferred.

Coffee Hour

We are in need of coffee hour hosts for several upcoming Sundays, including Palm Sunday and Easter. If you are interested, the sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board across from the kitchen.

Prayer Chain

If you, a friend, or a family member are in need of prayer, please contact Laurel Sheffield with the details you are comfortable sharing and your request will be passed on to the congregation to be lifted in prayer. Prayer requests will initially go out through the church’s email, but if you want to make sure to receive Laurel’s emails going forward, make sure to add hir email address to your address book!

PRAYER LISTS 

The following is a list of people for whom our prayers are asked. For the sick, lonely, and suffering; for those who mourn, and for those who rejoice, and others:

JoAnne A, Mason A, the members of the AA and NA groups, Marsha, Sara, Dom Philip Bernard, Louise B, Ginger H, Mike A, Don & Judy M, Danny S, Maurice F Jr, Paul & Susie T, Dianne M, Muriel, Richard H, Michael R, Debby M, Lorene H, Lisa N, Dennis D, Elaine P, Mike A, Cheyenne B, Don H, Barb S, Dale O, Nichole H, Angela B, Shelley C, Bill E, Casey K.

Those in current military service:

Andrew Roth, Breanne Gunther, Ian Gunther, Nicole Hyde, Jordan Bush, Josh Sindorf,

Madison Sylvester, Brandon Roeseler, Casey Sindorf, Gabriel Calderon.

Prayers for Israel, Gaza, Iran, and the Middle East:

Loving and liberating Creator, send your healing Spirit upon all involved in the current conflict and violence in the Middle East. Comfort those who mourn or who have been harmed by brutality. Stand with those who are fearful. Protect and provide for the powerless and the vulnerable. Inspire a spirit of forbearance and understanding within all and uphold those who even now work for a just and durable peace. In the name of Christ. Amen.

April

Anniversaries:  Ken & Keelee F, Tim & Jackie M

Birthdays: Jennifer C, Keelee F, Ann M, Dorothy A, Suzanne C, Doug Z, Dan S, Rob A, Maria B, Laurel S

May

Anniversaries:  Bruce & Bette Worth

Birthdays: Alan M, Nancy M, Rob C, Alice B, Jo-Ann A, Jim Chapin Sr, Aubrey C, Tina C, Alex C

Church Calendar

April

  • April 22nd—Evening prayer at 6:15 pm
  • April 23rd—Building and Grounds meeting at 9:30 am; carpool sign up for Cathedral Day due
  • April 25th—Cathedral day at St. Mark’s in Seattle at 10:30 am
  • April 29th—Evening prayer at 6:15 pm

May

  • May 2nd—Victorian Tea at 2 pm
  • May 6th—Evening prayer at 6:15 pm
  • May 15th—Evening prayer at 6:15 pm