St Andrew’s Newsletter

May June

A Reminder

This coming Sunday is Pentecost, so everyone is encouraged to wear red for the occasion!

Garden (Work) Party

Time to ready the church for summer. A work party is scheduled for Saturday, May 30 from 9:00-11:00 am. Outside we’ll clean the flower beds, pull dandelions, pick up trash, and clean and organize under the outside stairwell. Inside we’ll do some kitchen clean up and clean the upholstered folding chairs. A sign up sheet is available on Sundays and tools will be provided. So, pull out your favorite work gloves and ready St. Andrew’s for summer!

Coffee Hour Rotation

We are trying to get together a regular rota for Coffee Hour, with 5^th Sundays being a potluck. Please see Nancy Olsen or Ronni if you are interested in claiming a Sunday.

From the Vestry

The St. Andrew’s Vestry met last night for our regular monthly meeting. Fr. Tom expressed his appreciation for all of the efforts to keep the church functioning in his unexpected absence. Special thanks to Senior Warden Rose and Treasurer Betty for their efforts. Appreciation was also expressed for the Bishop’s unofficial visit in Fr. Tom’s absence that first Sunday. After follow-up surgery on June 5, Lisa and Fr. Tom will make their way home prior to service on June 14.

The Vestry is in the midst of transitioning from an informal to a more formal structure, with various committees being formed or re-formed and liaisons being set. Current committees and Vestry Liaisons are as follows: Finance and Stewardship (Ray), Buildings and Grounds (JoLea and Eric), Music and Worship (Nancy), Hospitality (Ronnie and Nancy), Outreach (Laurel), Welcoming and Membership (John), Christian Education (JoLea and Will). If any congregational member has any interest in being a member of any of these committees, please contact the Vestry liaison for more information.

Our Treasurer presented her report, which had no significant red flags. Our income is ahead of our budget, mostly due to prepaid annual and quarterly pledges. Expenses are generally in line with budgetary expectations. We did receive the $40,000 donation towards the Priest-in-Charge’s full-time salary, which we have not had to use so far. It was also noted that we have used the bulk of our $15,000 Permanent Maintenance budget for our $12,000+ painting of Giles Hall, the Great Hall, and the entryway. The Buildings and Grounds committee is in the midst of coming up with a 5 year maintenance and improvement plan so that we have a good idea of what projects are coming up and the costs involved.

Finally, Fr. Tom announced that he is starting a tradition at St. Andrew’s of quarterly fifth Sunday potlucks and congregational meetings instead of the usual coffee hour. The first of those is coming up next Sunday, May 31, so bring your favorite dish to share and any questions you might have about St. Andrew’s. We look forward to seeing folks there!

From the Priest-in-Charge

As I said to the Vestry, what a difference a month makes! This has been two weeks of crisis management followed by two weeks of putting pieces back together and figuring out more long-term plans. I very much appreciate all of your prayers. Lisa will be going back into surgery to complete her treatment on Friday, June 5 and then we will make our way home by train a week later. She will need to continue rehabilitation here, but she is recovering much of her functionality and now working on fine motor skills. Your continued prayers are appreciated.

As you might well imagine, longer-term planning regarding St. Andrew’s was put on hold during my absence, but we are nevertheless moving forward. As noted in the Vestry report, I am suggesting that we do a quarterly fifth Sunday potluck and congregational meeting beginning a week from this Sunday, on May 31 to update people on our goals and objectives for the year. We are currently planning on having a booth at the Red White and Boom! Festival on July 4. Lisa is still hoping to spearhead the effort, but certainly could use some help if folks are interested. We have also tentatively scheduled an Evensong service on Sunday, June 21 which is World Music Day, but haven’t settled on specifics as yet.

One of my summer projects is to convene all of the licensed Eucharistic Visitors for a refresher training as well as potentially forming a Pastoral Care Committee where we can make sure that members of the congregation who, for whatever reason, don’t show up on one or more Sundays don’t fall through the cracks and get overlooked. We would also keep track of anyone who is homebound or otherwise unable to attend church with the goal of making sure they received communion and pastoral attention regularly. If you are interested in being a part of this committee, let me know, as we can use more than licensed Eucharistic Visitors.

As always, I’m available in the office and via cell phone. Beginning in mid-June and through mid-September, I’m likely to cut back on my office hours for the summer to work from home more and take care of Lisa. Feel free to call or email and I will be happy to respond.

Blessings,

— Fr. Tom+

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.

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, Rodney H.

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.

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

June

Anniversaries: Alan & Sue M, the Dunavants

Birthdays: Megan C, Roman T, Buck C, Gayla B, Rene’ M, Marsha S, Grace B

May – June 2026 Newsletter