St Andrews Newsletter
January February
Annual Meeting Notice
At the suggestion of the Priest-in-Charge and with the approval of the Vestry, notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church will be held in the Great Hall following the 10 am service on Sunday, February 1, 2026. This will be a brunch hosted by the Vestry, so bring a dish to share! At that meeting the approved budget and other reports will be presented and elections for Vestry members and Delegates to Diocesan Convention will be held.
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.
Twelfth Night Tally
Our annual dinner was an excellent time and a great success, as usual. Over 70 people came out for a night of feasting and fellowship, followed by a compline. Thanks to the generosity of those who attended, the donation total was over $2,600. Many thanks to everyone who attended, donated, and of course helped organize, host, cook, pour wine, and clean up. Events like these require a great deal of time, coordination, and logistics on the part of our volunteers, and we appreciate their hard work in organizing such a wonderful night!
Letter from Father Tom
Dear Family of God at St. Andrew’s:
I’m writing this note on a rare sunny, if cold, day in Aberdeen. Last night, we had a good Vestry meeting marking Betty Paulsen’s final meeting as Senior Warden. Before she metaphorically sails off into the sunset, I wanted to take this opportunity to commend her for seven (!) years of service to St. Andrew’s as Senior Warden. Through multiple supply and interim priests, Betty has guided both the Vestry and congregation through many ups and downs. Fortunately for all of us, she is relinquishing only one of her many roles, retaining her Treasurer position and making sure that our books are clear and transparent as we move into this new chapter in our common life. Thanks to Betty for all of her work and care!
Pivoting to our Annual Meeting, we will be electing four new Vestry members, three for full three year terms and one for a two year term. We already have several people who have volunteered, but if you feel like God is calling you to this ministry, please see Betty, Josh, Lynne, Alice, or me (the Nominations Committee) as soon as possible. Thanks for considering this opportunity for ministry!
I’m very much seeing 2026 as a year of discovery and discernment for St. Andrew’s. It is a time to move from maintenance to ministry, from survival to celebration. Not that we don’t know how to celebrate (see Annual Meeting note), but we’re at a point in which we can confidently look to the future and ask where God is calling us to go and who God is calling us to be. The Vestry will be focusing on that discernment and discovery process and I invite you to join us!
In other news, St. Andrew’s is sponsoring a 7th Street Theatre showing of “The Sound of Music” on Saturday, March 21 (7 pm) and Sunday, March 22 (2 pm), and we have dozens of free tickets, so ask me for yours!
Finally, I am anticipating offering a “Saturday Seminar Series” during Lent (tentatively March 14, 21, and 28) called “Our Souls and Bodies: Life, Funeral, and Estate Planning”. This will give people both the tools and the permission to think and talk about their current circumstances and concerns and to plan for both the church service at their passing at the legacy they wish to leave behind. Stay tuned for more!
I look foreword to continuing this journey with you and wish everyone the best for 2026!
— Tom+
The Rev. Tom Sramek, Jr.
Priest-in-Charge.
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. 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, Bob 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, Pat M, Michael R, Debby M, Lorene H, Lisa N, Dennis D, Elaine P, Mike A, Cheyenne B, Don H, Barb S, Pat O, Dale O, Annette P, Tom Q, Dot D.
Those in current military service:
Andrew Roth, Breanne Gunther, Ian Gunther, Nicole Hyde, Jordan Bush, Josh Sindorf,
Madison Sylvester, Brandon Roeseler, Casey Sindorf.
Prayers for Israel, Gaza, 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.
January
Anniversaries: —
Birthdays: Ray W, Sue W, Marlene C, Sammantha C, Erin C
February
Anniversaries: —
Birthdays: Sue M, Bob W, Russel S
Church Calendar
January
- January 28th—Evening Prayer at 6:15 pm
February
- February 1st—Annual Meeting & brunch after service
- February 4th—Evening Prayer at 6:15 pm
- February 11th—Evening Prayer at 6:15 pm
- February 12th—Building and Grounds meeting from 10 am to 11 am
- February 18th—Ash Wednesday services at 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm
- February 21st—Vestry retreat at 9 am