Our mission is to demonstrate God`s love by caring
Transcription
Our mission is to demonstrate God`s love by caring
November 2012 Volume 63 Issue 11 D ear Friends, Over the course of the past several weeks, I’ve been meeting with our Board of Directors, other ministry leaders, our staff, and several of its individual members for the purpose of maximizing the gifts our current staff brings to the ministry of St. Andrew and of identifying future staffing needs in order to advance our mission in the future. Andrew said, “We have found the Messiah.” John 1:41 Our mission is to demonstrate God’s love by caring for all people and helping them to know and follow Jesus. Check out our new, improved website at www.MyStAndrew.org! In This Issue … Rent-A-Teen!! Get help with those pesky jobs! Nov 10 & 24 Benefit Dinner/Concert for Malaria Cure – Nov 14 Model Train Show & Fair – Nov 10/11 22nd Annual Hearts & Holly Craft Fair – Nov 17 Pre-Advent Party – Nov 18 Thanksgiving Eve Worship – Nov 21 Annual Christmas Toy Collection Begins! November Food Collection to Help the Needy Plus much, much more! While we’ve carved nothing in stone just yet, I can report to you that some degree of staff restructuring appears to be in order. As our conversation ripens more, I’ll be sharing the specifics of the adjustments we’ve been talking about. And though I hope it goes without saying, let me nevertheless say again how thankful I am for our entire staff and for the tremendous honor of serving with them as we seek to encourage your ministries as the members of our congregation. The other message that came through loud and clear is that the time has come for St. Andrew to seek a full-time associate pastor to join our staff. To that end, our Board of Directors is ready to authorize a process which will begin that search process in 2013. Many of you haven’t been with our congregation long enough to remember that when I first arrived at St. Andrew, our congregation was served by three full-time pastors. Though we are larger than we were in those days, we transitioned over the years to a staff of one full-time pastor (me), two part-time pastors (Pastors Mordhorst and Carlson), and several other non-ordained ministers who bless and strengthen our ministry every day. But given our post-relocation growth and the expanding vision for an even greater impact for Christ in the BaltimoreWashington area, the consensus of our leaders and staff is that it is once again time to call another fulltime ordained pastor. To that end, our leaders will be preparing a mission and ministry budget for 2013 that, with your approval, will fund such a position for part of next year even though our search could take us well past 2013 depending on a number of variables. For now, I offer this “heads-up” primarily for your prayers. On the evening of November 11 we will gather for a Members’ Meeting where we’ll be talking in greater detail about the changes we see afoot, as well as about the progress on our current building effort and the new ministries we envision once it’s completed early next year. Finally, allow me to use these thoughts as just a few sources of thanksgiving that will be motivating my praise to God this month. The blessings with which our community of faith has been showered are countless as are the opportunities for glorifying God in our future ministry. I give thanks for all of them and for all the ways they flow into this world through the members of our church staff along with sisters and brothers like you who love the Lord and His mission at St. Andrew! A Blessed Thanksgiving to all of you! With love, in Christ, Pastor Hricko St. Andrew Members’ Meeting Sunday, November 11 in the Great Room Potluck Supper at 5pm Bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to feed your family and a few more! Home-cooked or store-bought … if you like it, we will too! Church Staff Mark A. Hricko, Pastor Robert L. Mordhorst, Assistant Pastor Jotham Johann Jhang, Missionary Pastor Kenneth G. Carlson, Visitation Pastor Greg Twombley, Director of Ministries Barbara Wahlbrink, Minister of Outreach & Discipleship Riki Schoppert, Minister of Youth Lia Mai Puskar, Preschool Director Marianne Lohr, Director of Children’s Ministries Marilee Tollefson, Faith Community Nurse Rosemary Wasser, Director of Music & Bell Choir Kathy Gomez, Youth Choir Director Greg Twombley, Praise Team Leader Riki Schoppert, Praise Team Jennifer Twombley, Praise Team Marilyn Candler, Worship Musician Wendy Linstrom, Office Manager Debbie Snyder, Office Assistant Bruce Poese, Media Ministry Kathy Brungardt, Creative Services Anne Harpster, Bookkeeper Ange Lorenz, Bookkeeper Paul Rognlie, Property Maintenance Luis Escobar, Property Maintenance Khiem Hua, Childcare Phuong Chau, Childcare 2012 Board of Directors Deb Poese, Chair, 301-946-4709 Sandy Nee Jackson, Vice Chair, 301-249-5906 Michael Arsenault, 301-445-6858 Ken Austin, 301-754-2711 Kimberly Gay Armour, 301-570-5335 Stacey Grove, 301-460-2242 Tad Meyer, 301-776-7894 Dan Shaltanis, 301-806-8375 Cecilia Taramona, 301-570-5086 Auxiliary Organizations Members’ Meeting at 6pm Come for an update on … Lower Level Finishing and Furnishings Parking Expansion Staffing Plans for the Future ... and more! St. Andrew’s News And take a peek at the building progress “down under” if you haven’t seen it lately! St. Andrew News Sunday School Superintendent: Debbie Stowe, 301-933-8032 LWML President: Nancy Kichak, 301-384-1933 2 Published monthly by The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew 15300 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20905 Phone: 301-384-4394 Fax: 301-384-4450 E-mail: office@mystandrew.org Website: www.mystandrew.org November 2012 All Saints’ Sunday November 4 Thanksgiving Eve Worship On Sunday, November 4, at all three services, we will have a special time of remembrance for those who have received their victory in Christ during this past year. Wednesday, November 21 7:00 pm Let’s Count Our Blessings and Give Thanks Together! If you would like for your loved one to be included, please provide the church office with their name, dates of birth and death, and a photo if desired (electronic format if possible – sent to office@mystandrew.org). Common Ground Wednesdays through November 7 All information is due no later than Sunday, October 28. Dinner at 6:00 pm Informal Praise & Prayer at 6:30 pm Group Time 6:40-7:40 pm Closing at 7:45 pm Contact Barbara Wahlbrink in the church office with questions. FALL BACK! Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, November 4 (2:00 am) Turn your clocks BACK one hour! See Sunday bulletins and website for full course details and registration information. Invite your friends! It’s a great outreach opportunity! St. Andrew News 3 November 2012 All Aboard!! 22nd Annual St. Andrew Model Train Show & Fair Hearts & Holly Craft Fair Sat & Sun, November 10 & 11 Saturday, November 17, 2012 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Saturday: 9am-4pm / Sunday: 12noon– 4pm Come see the Western Maryland Railway in miniature running in the St. Andrew Great Room! Hand-made Treats & Treasures Homemade Jams & Savories Bake Sale Quilts, Clothing, Table Linens & Textile Artwork Christmas Ornaments & Decorative Pieces Orders Taken for Custom Engraving Santa’s Shoppe for Kids - Crafts & Gift Shopping Gift Wrapping & Baskets Visit “Grandma’s Attic” for Vintage Treasures Too! Try to identify the real-life locations depicted in each railroad scene! The HO-Scale portable layout is courtesy of the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Modular Group. Multiple trains will cover an area approximately 72’ x 32’, plus ... White Elephant Table with train items for sale! Raffle of a complete 2’ x 4’ N-Scale train layout, including power supply, locomotive and rolling stock! Lunch Served 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Hands-on play area for kids! Switching challenge for adult “kids” who like to run trains! Your Holiday Spirit Starts Here! Breakfast and lunch at Andy’s Café on Saturday! Railroad music by the St. Andrew AV team! See Following Page For Ways You Can Help! Suggested Door Donation: $5 for Adults, Kids 12 & under FREE! All proceeds to benefit St. Andrew Firm Foundations Building Fund Volunteers are needed! Contact Roger Caldow at 301-774-2570 or roger.caldow@verizon.net to donate your time or train items for the White Elephant Table, or to express your interest in model railroading/railroad history. P.S. Wanna know about Pastor Hricko’s next building project?? There’s some unusual construction going on at Maryland Junction – a “little” church that just might have his name on it! Come to the Train Show to check it out! St. Andrew News 4 November 2012 Craft Fair Help Wanted - Donations Needed! AN URGENT VOLUNTEER HELP COMMITMENT to set up the BASKET AND BAG DONATIONS: Baskets are always Craft Fair on Wednesday, November 14 at 12:30, and to move the displays after the Craft Fair on Saturday, November 17 at 2:00 is requested by the Craft Ministry Co-Chairs, JoAnn Aulick (301-774-7519) and Marie Jackson (301-871-3922). In addition, help with customers and sales is requested during the Fair at the craft tables and also in Grandma’s Attic, which is described below. Please contact the appropriate person to volunteer your time that day. welcomed for the Gift Basket station. This year there is a shortage of paper and plastic bags for customers to carry away their treasures. **Bag donations are urgently requested now.** Baskets and bags can be left in the Craft Ministry box in the Coat Room just off the Commons. St. Andrew member shoppers, please bring your own reusable bags for your purchases! SANTA’S WORKSHOP HELPERS NEEDED: “Santa’s Workshop” is gearing up for another year at the Craft Bazaar! Please be a “good elf” and help us by cleaning your closets, de-cluttering your storage nooks, and “re-gifting” your new or very gently used items to stock our shelves so kids can shop at very reasonable prices for family and friends! Place your donations in the marked box in the Coat Room off the Commons as soon as possible, to help us with planning. Elves are also needed to help set up and run the workshop this year, and we’re praying for some potential “Head Elves” who might consider taking on leadership of this fun and rewarding project next fall. There’s nothing like the smile of a child who just found the perfect gift for that special someone! Head Elf training included! To express interest, offer help, or ask questions, please contact our current “Head Elves” Janet Burton (janet.burton704@gmail.com) or Kay Caviness (kaziec@aol.com). GRANDMA’S ATTIC is being organized and operated by Lory Bruckner (301-946-0577) and Marilyn Miller (301-439-3040). Either Lory or Marilyn will be accepting small donations Sunday mornings in November, which they will be taking to their homes and pricing. Large donations may be brought to the church and placed in the Great Room on Sunday, November 11, and also during that week. Jewelry, linens, antiques, vintage clothing, dolls, glassware, fancy dishes, Christmas decorations, hats, frames, purses – all in good shape – are best sellers. Sales help is needed on the day of the Fair. THE BAKE TABLE will be organized and operated by Jeanette Schuder (301-879-5950). See the flyer asking for donations that will appear in the church mail boxes in early November. Pies are particularly big sellers, but then so are cookies, cakes, breads, cupcakes, candy and pastries! As in the past, our 22nd Annual Craft Fair is a totally volunteer event. All merchandise is donated and there are no third party vendors. Proceeds this year go to the Firm Foundations Building Fund, which makes possible added parking space and completion of the lower level of the church building. ENGRAVED GLASS ORNAMENTS will be available courtesy of Jenny Muffler from her Just Write Studio. THE GIFT BASKET TABLE, operated by Peggy Cleaveland, may be an area where you can also offer help. FLYERS AND POST CARDS advertising the Craft Fair will be available for distribution to friends and co-workers. HOME CRAFTERS: The Wednesday workers are already putting prices on the merchandise and need your completed projects immediately. St. Andrew News 5 November 2012 RENT-A-TEEN We’re on a Mission from God! Our High School Youth Group is going to the National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, Texas. We need your help to get us there … Help us by letting us help you! November 10 & November 24 Do you have a “to do” list that just keeps getting longer? What could you cross off that list if you had a team of young, strong teenagers for two hours to do the heavy stuff? We’d like to help you find out! A team of youth will help with those projects you’ve been putting off. Rake leaves Paint a room Move furniture or stuff Organize your garage/attic Babysitting Household Cleaning (and yes, we do WINDOWS!) But we aren’t choosy. Be creative! Reserve your two-hour slot now and we will descend upon your home like a plague of locusts … very helpful locusts! Your generous monetary donations are also very much appreciated. RENT A TEEN! St. Andrew News Sign-up forms are available in the weekly Sunday bulletins, at the Information Center in the Commons, by visiting www.mystandrew.org, or by contacting Riki Schoppert at rikischoppert@gmail.com or 301-384-4394 with your date preference and the jobs needed done. 6 November 2012 Lutheran Malaria Initiative at St. Andrew Malaria fact: Half of the world’s population is at risk for malaria; most malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, check out www.lutheranmalaria.org. The St. Andrew program to support the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI) is underway! Through a series of events over the next six months we seek to provide information about malaria, promote awareness of its global impact, and provide support to help combat this disease. Look for information about our LMI campaign in the monthly newsletters, weekly bulletins, and around the Commons. Two major fundraising events are happening in November to support the LMI: the Music for Malaria Benefit Concert & Dinner and the Wreath Sale. To those who donated – thank you! If you would like to donate, write your check to LCSA and specify “Malaria Initiative” on the memo line and envelope; or give electronically by specifying “Malaria Initiative” in the “Other” blank on the St. Andrew secure payment page, accessible from our website, www.mystandrew.org. Ideas and help are needed! To get involved, please contact Marissa Quebbeman at mlquebbeman@gmail.com. Benefit Concert & Dinner Order Your Christmas Wreaths to Help! Wednesday, November 14 K 22-inch wreaths decorated with pine cones and hand-tied red bow provided by Creative Floral Designs K Cost: $25 each K Ordering deadline: November 25 K Pick up date: December 2 (in the Great Room) K Payment Envelopes located in the Commons (checks Dinner at 6:00pm Come taste a delicious variety of African specialties, prepared by “Chef Stan” and friends! $10 per person Reservations required! Make your reservations online today at www.mystandrew.org or by using the form provided in the Sunday bulletin or in the Commons. payable to LCSA – “Wreath” noted on memo line) Concert at 7:30pm K 100% of proceeds will go directly to Lutheran Malaria Initiative Traditional, Classical, Contemporary, and Jazz – vocalists and instrumentalists – featuring the St. Andrew Cantate Domino Choir, Praise Team, and special guest artists! Plus … African Dance presentation by Elite Dance Studio! Order forms available in the Commons or in your church mailbox. Questions? Please contact Wendy Linstrom in the church office. FREE ADMISSION Offering will be taken with all proceeds benefiting Lutheran Malaria Initiative! Did you know that Creative Floral Designs will donate $2 to our church for every floral order placed with them? Call them at 240-450-0700 and mention the code “Saint” next time you need a floral arrangement! Mark Your Calendars & Invite Friends! St. Andrew News 7 November 2012 Children’s Ministry News What’s Happening at KidCentral? “Prepare the Way!” Pre-Advent Party In this month’s KidCentral lessons, the children will learn the following stories: Get ready for the Holy Season ahead! November 4 Joshua Becomes Leader of Israel God had a plan for Israel and Joshua was the instrument through which he was going to accomplish that plan. Bible verse: God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 November 11 Joshua sends spies to Jericho God blessed Rahab for acting in faith and hiding spies who were sent by Joshua to Jericho to investigate how the Caananites felt about the Israelites. Bible verse: God’s mighty hand cares for you (adapted from 1 Peter 5:6-7) November 18 The Israelites Cross the Jordan River Seeming like a rerun of the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea 40 years earlier, the story involves the Jordan River running at flood stage and being dried up for the people to cross. God wanted the people to fear Him and to give him the worship and service he deserved. Bible verse: God’s mighty hand cares for you (adapted from 1 Peter 5:6-7) November 25 No KidCentral – special Family Worship! Regular KidCentral sessions will resume on Sunday, December 2. On Sunday, November 25 we will have a special message for children during the 9:30 and 11:00 worship services. Special seasonal activity packets will also be available. Sunday, November 18 1:00-4:00 pm Have Lunch at Andy’s and Stay for Advent Crafts and Goodies! Fun for the whole family! To help us plan, please register by November 11! Sign up in the Commons or call/email the office. Donations will be accepted at the party to cover cost of materials. Wee Worship Volunteers Needed Do you love children and want to play a significant role in their faith development? Are you comfortable leading a mixed-age group in singing and prayertime? Do you like to tell stories from the Bible? Do you have an hour to spare once a month? We’re in search of people to be part of a Wee Worship Leadership Team. Volunteers would lead Wee Worship once every month or so, depending on the number of people interested. In addition to some preparation time prior to Sunday, your services would be required from 11 am until noon on your assigned day. If you would like more information or to submit your name, please call the church office or email Marianne Lohr at mariannelcsa@verizon.net. Children’s Christmas Program KidCentral is looking ahead to the children’s Christmas program on December 16 during the 11am worship service. Rehearsals begin mid-November for children ages preK through grade 6. If you miss the paperwork coming home on a Sunday, then watch your email inbox for more information. We will practice a few minutes during the KidCentral “hour” each Sunday morning and then come together for a special dress-rehearsal practice on Saturday, December 15. Students in upper elementary grades can signup for speaking/reading parts by talking with their KidCentral teachers. Vacation Bible School Only 8 months until Vacation Bible School!! It will be here before you know it! Contact Marianne Lohr if you would like to be part of the VBS pre-planning team. Call the church office or email her at mariannelcsa@verizon.net. St. Andrew News 8 November 2012 Health & Wellness Preschool News “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you...” Psalm 55:22 Perinatal Loss Support Group When a family experiences the loss of a child through miscarriage, infant death, or stillbirth, the grief journey can be a lonely one. As the holidays approach, feelings of isolation may be particularly challenging. The support group is a safe place to share feelings and receive comfort from others who have experienced similar loss. Thursdays, November 8-December 20 (except Thanksgiving, Nov. 22) from 7-9pm in the St. Andrew Family Room. To get more information or register, contact Jeanine McGrath, RN, CD (DONA) at jeaninemcgrath@gmail.com or 240-481-3903. All welcome. The crisp air and crunching leaves have been warmly welcomed by the busy preschoolers! November will bring forth preparations for our annual Thanksgiving Feast, which will be held on Monday, November 19. The children, dressed as Pilgrims and Indians, love to gather to share their delicious pre-Thanksgiving meal together, and to thank the Lord for their bounty of blessings. It’s a time honored Preschool tradition that is always a wonderful success. Caring For Loved Ones Our school is now 92% full, which means that we still have a few openings in our 3’s class and our 2’s classes. Please spread the word! Someone you know might be very blessed by our Preschool! The St. Andrew Caring for Loved Ones Support Group resumes its monthly meetings in November, so watch the bulletin and bulletin boards for dates and location. Call the church office for more information. Lia Mai Puskar Preschool Director Community Resources November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month – The Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Center presents “Journey to Hope,” a free conference for caregivers to learn about the diagnosis and treatment of memory loss, and tips to manage Alzheimer’s disease and its associated behaviors on Saturday, November 10, 8:30am-1pm at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus. For more information, call 1-800-442-9160. Do you have limited movement due to aging or disability, but know you should be exercising? Try Chair Yoga at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring, just down from Holy Cross Hospital, starting Thursday November 1-December 13 (no class November 22), 10:30-11:30am. Enjoy yoga with the help of a chair! This class is done while you are seated and standing using a chair to assist in improving balance, strength and flexibility. The sessions also include breathing exercises with guided relaxation. To register, call 301-754-8800 or visit holycrosshealth.org We all know how emotionally traumatic the holidays can be for us after losing a loved one. “Surviving the Holidays” is a grief workshop and a time-through-sorrow to celebrate and honor treasured memories of your loved one on Sunday, November 18, 3:30-6:30pm through the Adventist Health Care system. To register and to find the location nearest you, call 1-800-542-5096 or visit adventisthealthcare.com. An eight week session of weekly Bereavement Support Groups also begins Wednesday, November 7 from 5:30-7pm at Holy Cross Resource Center, 9805 Dameron Center, Silver Spring. Sponsored by Holy Cross Home Care and Hospice – all groups are free and open to anyone! Registration is required. Call Eileen Jacobs or Fran Zamore, social workers and Bereavement Program Coordinators, at 301-754-7742. St. Andrew News 9 Give a Special Gift Thank God for the Years! To support the Firm Foundations Building Program, you are invited and encouraged to remember your blessings and “Thank God for the Years” of life, marriage, baptism, work, or anything you celebrate by making a donation of $1/year to the building fund on or near the special date. Use this program to give back on your own special days as well as to honor the milestones of family and friends! You may make your gift online at www.mystandrew.org (click “Firm Foundations” graphic on lower right side) or by enclosing your check payable to LCSA in an envelope marked “FF Gift – Thank God for the Years.” Include information about the special occasion plus the honoree name and address. We’ll send a card to let your loved one know that you have made a donation in their honor, and you will receive an acknowledgement for tax reporting purposes. What better way to give back to God for all He has given us!! November 2012 Social Ministry News Thanksgiving Food Collection How to Join St. Andrew We are thankful! As you load your grocery cart for a Thanksgiving feast, please add non-perishable items for less fortunate families. We’ll collect food for Lutheran Mission Society on Sundays, November 18 & 25 and Thanksgiving Eve. If you are traveling Thanksgiving week-end, please bring your food donations the Sunday before you leave. LMS will distribute the food to their Compassion Center clients. God called us to be part of His family for a reason – it’s hard to grow alone! Our St. Andrew community will meet you where you are, and walk beside you to a closer relationship with God. Monthly LMS Collection Wondering how to unite with our St. Andrew family? Follow these easy steps … Thrift Shop items collection for Lutheran Mission Society is November 25. This is the final collection for 2012, due to the Christmas holidays. Mark your calendars for January 27 – the first collection in 2013! Many Thanks! Thank you and God bless each and every one of you...all who signed up to bring the many needed items to make the CBS SHELTER WEEK a success; the cookers, the servers, the suppliers of breakfast foods, bag lunches, and special items. St. Andrew parishioners did it again Christmas Cheer for Needy Children! Beginning in early November, our Toys for Needy Children project begins for the Linkages to Learning Program in the Montgomery County School System. Look for the Special Ornaments in the Commons, which will have the names and ages of children, and three things that they are hoping to receive for Christmas. Each requested gift costs $25 or less. Please come by the table in the Commons, and help a child by choosing one of the Ornaments. Write your name and contact information on the attached sheet, and leave it in the designated box on the table. Then buy one, two or three of the things on the child’s list. Wrap the presents, put them in a large gift bag or a trash bag, tape the Ornament tag to the outside of the bag with items circled that you bought, and bring to the designated box in the coatroom by Sunday, December 9. This is a great opportunity to help children and families who are less fortunate than us. Another Opportunity to Help Needy Children The Colesville Council of Community Congregations (C-4) hosts a preChristmas Toy Closet, at which parents with limited resources can select toys for their children. What’s needed? Toys: All types of new toys for children ages 12 and under, may be brought to St Andrew and placed, unwrapped, in the C-4 box in the coatroom, by December 9. (Yes, cash and checks are also accepted! Mark your check “C-4 toys.”) Suggested items include: dolls, preschool toys, stuffed animals, electronic games, musical instruments, arts & crafts, athletic games, dress-up kits, nail kits, balls of all sorts, sports equipment and games, trucks, and board games. Contact Revonda Mosher at 301-434-2672 or rbmosher@comcast.net if you have questions about the Linkages or C-4 toy projects. Volunteers: Do you enjoy getting to look at all kinds of toys? Help organize the toys on Friday evening, December 14, 6-8pm. Or on Saturday, December 15, 8:30am-12:30pm, you can help the parents select just the right gifts to bring out their children’s smiles. Contact Carol Petzold, 301-871-7413 or carolpetzold@boo.net if interested. St. Andrew News 10 Worship with us regularly! Explore the ministry and fellowship opportunities we offer. Don’t be shy – ask questions, join us at special events, small groups and meetings. Look for a comfortable place to “plug-in.” Participate in Faith Walk 101 Information & Membership Seminar. Led by our Pastor and other ministry leaders, these sessions offer the opportunity to explore the Lutheran faith, learn more about our St. Andrew community, and get to know others who are on the same path. If you wish to transfer your membership from another faith community, contact the church office. We will be pleased to assist by writing for your transfer. If you are a new Christian, speak with Pastor about receiving the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. If you are searching for answers about God, your faith, or our St. Andrew community, contact the church office at 301-384-4394 – we’ll be happy to talk with you to find the answers you seek. November 2012 Treasurer’s Corner It has been six months since I assumed the role of your Treasurer, and I must say I nervously accepted the job with the full knowledge that I had some very big shoes to fill. Dick Goetsch served our congregation faithfully as Treasurer for 11 years and it’s not an understatement when I say that replacing him truly takes an entire team of people! Our Finance Team is made up of a dedicated group of fellow members that tirelessly track the financial matters of our growing congregation. I can assure you that this is a significant undertaking, and I’m very pleased to report that we have made several big steps this summer in continuing to improve our processes and financial condition. I thank each and every one of you for your contributions of time, talent, and your financial resources. None of this would have been possible without the generous financial gifts St. Andrew has received, and I hope that each of you will thoughtfully pray about ways your family can continue to support our initiatives and responsibilities. Only by God’s grace, and with your sacrificial gifts, can the good works of our ministries continue and grow! I will be reporting to you important milestones in our financial position on a regular basis, and will provide more detailed financial information to members of our Church family in future correspondence. Please don’t hesitate to stop me in the Commons on any Sunday to say hello, and feel free to inquire about any financial question or concern you may have. The financial stability we enjoy today is an incredible asset of our congregation and one which has been earned over several generations. I promise, as does our entire Finance Team, to work hard to continue the outstanding conservative financial stewardship of our Church finances. First, earlier this summer we completed our first ever financial statement reviewed by an independent accounting firm. This project has been underway since 2011 and in late June we received an unqualified report from the outside accountants for our fiscal years 2011 and 2010. These financial reports are an independent validation that the Finance Team, Staff and Board have handled the Church’s financial resources in a careful and conservative manner. We will continue to produce independent annual financial statements and I look forward to sharing more details regarding our congregation’s financial position with you. Bruce Winter, St. Andrew Treasurer Meet St. Andrew’s New Treasurer! Bruce Winter is President of FSG Leasing, Inc., an equipment financing company he founded in 1991 to provide commercial equipment loans and leases nationwide. Bruce received his B.S. in Finance from the University of Maryland, College Park and he volunteers as guest lecturer and competition judge at Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Since 1996, Bruce has held numerous leadership positions with the National Equipment Finance Association, including four years as Treasurer. He served as Chair of the Funding Team at St. Andrew prior to accepting the position of Treasurer in April of this year A top priority since taking over as Treasurer has been to refinance our Church mortgage. We have been approved for a new mortgage and expect to close on this carefully negotiated loan within 30 days. Like many homeowners, thanks to the record low interest rates available in today’s market, we will enjoy a substantially lower fixed interest rate and minimal costs to close the transaction. We sent formal “Requests for Proposal” to eight lenders, and received positive feedback from all of them. The faith the banking community showed when reviewing the creditworthiness of our congregation is a testimony to the historical conservative financial stewardship demonstrated by our leaders for many years. As we finish the build out of our Lower Level and the expansion of our parking lot, we will have invested $13.5 million in our “new” Church home, and it is no small feat to realize we have funded nearly 75% of this cost without debt financing. Our new mortgage will be a $3.5 million, 25 year loan, requiring a payment thousands of dollars less per month than the original $3.86 million mortgage we obtained when we opened in 2008. These savings will support the operations of our newly expanded facilities and allow us to grow St. Andrew ministries to serve many more in our community. St. Andrew News Bruce and his wife Sarita live in Silver Spring with their 13year-old daughter, Gavi. They have been members at St. Andrew since 2006. Bruce enjoys traveling, cycling, scuba diving and following the Maryland Terrapins basketball and football teams. 11 November 2012 Young Christian Adults Poinsettias for Christmas College and Beyond! Looking for friends who share your faith to walk with you through the transitions and challenges of school, work and the “real world”?? Young Adult Bible Study Group Let’s meet, eat and plan our first study and activities to follow! Sunday, November 11 at 12:30 pm Christmas Poinsettias will once again be available for purchase for those who would like to help us decorate the church altar this Christmas. Plants will be displayed through Christmas morning, at which time purchasers can take them home. Available in both red and white in a variety of sizes: Pixie (1 bloom for tabletop use) - $7:00 6-inch Pot (4-6 blooms) - $8.50 7-inch Pot (8-12 blooms) - $14.50 10-inch Pot (20-24 blooms) - $32.50 at the home of Lindsey & Dave Heinemann (just a couple of miles from LCSA) RSVP (call/text) for directions & to help us plan for food. Visit the Information Desk in the Commons to purchase. Payment envelopes will be available. Orders must be received no later than 12noon on Friday, November 30. Dave (301-741-2054) or Lindsey (717-433-2869) All welcome! Bring friends and ideas! New Website! Attention Thrivent Members Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 11 between services to cast your ballot for officers of the Montgomery County Thrivent Board. The Board’s chief task is to distribute Care Abounds in Community funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to local nonprofit causes. Several projects at our church have benefited including our St. Andrew Preschool and a local homeless shelter where we provide meals for a week. Don’t miss the elections. For more information, contact St. Andrew members and Thrivent Advocates, Nancy NobenTrauth and Carol Petzold. We’ve been working for months on a brand new site chock-full of information, photos, and latest news, all in a sleek, easy-to-use format ... and the new site just went live at www.mystandrew.org. Note: it’s smartphone friendly, so you can access it from anywhere! Check it out, and share with friends! And please give us your feedback so we can keep evolving and enhancing it in the months ahead. Special thanks to St. Andrew member Michael Grimes, whose generosity and technical expertise have made the new site possible! Mission Trip to Moscow – Summer 2013 Two members of the Global Mission Team are going on a Mission Trip to Moscow, Russia for two weeks next summer, July 31-August 14, 2013. The trip will involve teaching English at a summer camp, developing friendships to share God’s love, and experiencing the Russian culture. If you are interested in being a part of this wonderful opportunity, please email Olga & David LaCour at davidlacour@verizon.net or wwolgad@yahoo.com St. Andrew News 12 for December issue: Sunday, November 11 November 2012 Thanks Upon Thanks! The Droege Report Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Serving at St. Andrew as assistant pastor has been a joy from day one and has been its own reward, so it was like icing on the cake when you recognized the 10th anniversary of my service among you on September 30. As I said on that day, St. Andrew is a very special fellowship of God’s people, and I never cease to give thanks for you, your gifted and dedicated pastor, and the remarkable staff members and lay leaders I have been privileged to know and serve with these past ten years. I thank you also for the generous and thoughtful gifts that Lila and I will surely enjoy as they remind us of you and your Christian love for us both. I look forward to serving at St. Andrew as long as needed and God in His wisdom allows. May God continue to bless us all. Pastor Mordhorst As far as the lower level is going I thought I would get a firsthand look at where my money is going and asked Paul Lobien to give me a tour. As we walked through the space Paul told me that now that construction has started there have been no surprise hurdles and everything is on schedule and on budget. The completion date is going to be in late January, which will give Pastor Hricko the ability to schedule the grand opening/blessing the same evening as the Super Bowl in order to test the faith of the LCSA congregation. Those who don’t attend the event will be posted on the “Ye of Little Faith” bulletin board. My thanks to all of you who have expressed concern about my current medical condition. I appreciate all the prayers, cards and support for continued healing. The power of prayer is awesome. Blessings to all of you, Carol Brown Dear St. Andrew family, It is hard to put into words the depth of our gratitude for your prayers, gifts, encouragement, and so many other expressions of love during our losses, restoration and waiting. Your love has deeply touched our hearts and we tell people everywhere we go of your generosity. We ask God to bless you in all aspects of your lives. May you continue to be a witness to God’s love and mercy! The space itself is about 70% complete and as one church leader said “is not your father’s church basement.” While it looks huge at the moment all space will be utilized pretty quickly upon completion. There are many highlights but the two most exciting areas are the youth area (curved walls, flat screen TVs, lounge and vibrant colors) and the Wellspring room (space for over 100 people to listen to presentations, Promethean boards [ask your school age children if you don’t know what these are], ability to send/receive video and data across the world, etc.). We love you and miss you, Rod & Karen Bohlmann A heartfelt Thank You to the members of St. Andrew for the prayers and good wishes sent while I was recuperating from surgery. It meant a great deal to me. God bless you. I will give the inaugural talk at both locations. For the Youth the title will be “Learn From Me: An Arrest Record is Not All it is Cracked Up To Be” and for the Wellspring room, “ I Think There are not a Lot of People Here Because My Message is Too Powerful for Most Lutherans.” Maryanne Probus Dear St. Andrew Family, Thank you for your care, concern, cards, flowers and especially for your prayers for my recovery. There were times that I could really feel the hand of God supporting me in my healing from knee surgery. Having your faith and prayers lifting me up has made a difference. God bless each of you. Carol Petzold St. Andrew News Pastor Hricko asked if I could write about the upcoming elections under the title: “How you should vote on November 6 in order to get into heaven.” I told him that I would be happy to especially since in Maryland there were some hot button issues such as immigration, gambling and civil marriage rules on the ballot. However, I also told him that it would not be proper to use this space for anything other than updating the congregation regarding the lower level project. That said, if you do want my sage advice on the issues of the day, please feel free to click on the link to my blog “I’m Right and You are not a Missouri Synod Lutheran.” After these kickoffs, the rooms will be turned over to the intended groups along with the Creative Arts ministry and the all-important Storage ministry. If you think LCSA is a growing, vibrant, hustling/bustling congregation now, wait for the start of 2013 and see what a 40% increase in usable space will do. Phil Droege, Unmotivational Speaker 13 November 2012 November 2012 Service Assistants Calendar USHERS 8:00 *Bob Rathbun, Grant Graeves, Tricia King, Mark Wallen 9:30 *Bruce Nesslage, Lois Blodgett, David Doermann, Lew Brode, Paul Lobien, Phil Haase, Klaus Strebel 11:00 *Shelly Hoffman, Moses Ammons, Lori Koch, David Van Norstrand November 4 WELCOME CENTER pre/post Karen Matthiesen 9:30 post 11 ALTAR PREPARATION GREETERS November 11 November 18 November 25 Bonnie French Claudia Jacobson Marie Jackson Judy Downey Kay Caviness Karen Rosales Lisa Tipton Lory Bruckner, Rose Bruckner Lory Bruckner, Rose Bruckner Karen Hale, Trudy Wehking Karen Hale, Trudy Wehking 8:00 Mary Ann Rydland Janice Flug Janice Flug Joan Garey Audrey Belsinger, Millie Forey - F Linda Newcomer - F Lina Rashid - F 9:30 Karen Rosales - F Matt & Sarah Krueger - SC Dave & Carol Doermann - SC Audrey Belsinger, Millie Forrey - SC Claudia Jacobson - SC Paul & Arlene Buck - R Linda Newcomer - R Dave & Carol Doermann - R Lynn & Judy Hollenbach - R 11:00 Bruce Brizendine & Denise Marshall Sonia Sarreals Sonia Sarreals Michael & Tamara Arsenault 8:00 Dan & Jennifer Shaltanis George Harris, William Wooden Ken Austin, Lucie Austin Carol & Walt Petzold 9:30 Luther Tollefson, Trish Baker Carol Ames, Don Becker Jonathan Moser, Jane Owen Sandra Poyner, Margaret McConnell 8:00 *Deb & Ed Stowe, Roger Caldow, Eddie *Robie Hillhouse, Brian Nockleby, Walt James, Helena Jacobs Petzold, Leslie Hollowell, Evelyn Blaes *Leslie Hollowell, Ken & Lucie Austin, Bill *Bruce Emmel, Walt Petzold, Lyndi Lahl, Wyeth, Walt Petzold Dan Shaltanis, Deb Stowe 9:30 *Trish Baker, Jim Solfronk, Marty Herrin, *Kathleen Strebel, Carol Ames, Bill & Peggy Gorski, Claudia Jacobson, Karen Margot Golding, TBD, Tom Polansky, Matthiesen, Vicky Aceto, TBD Lina Rashid, Phil Droege *Marty Herrin, Leslie Hollowell, Jeanette Schuder, Marilee Tollefson, Sue Zimmerman, Peggy Hayeslip, Don Becker, Eldra Simmons *Trish Baker, Marv Brown, Robie Hillhouse, Sandi Goetsch, Jackie Lobien, Karen Matthiesen, Ken Carlson, Carol Ames Pew Irma Cuellar Sandi Goetsch Marilee Tollefson 11:00 *Marianne Lohr, Nancy Choudhry, Stu & *Stan Jackson, John Butler & Lisa Barbara Richards, Angela Green, Carol Tipton, Jack Reinhart, Sandy Jackson, Witmer Tamara Arsenault *Jeff & Barbara Wahlbrink, Carol *Mandy Wingo, Jim & Willie Farmer, Jeff Witmer, Gary Fields, Lynn Harty, Mandy Lohr, Jennifer Backus, Gloria Reyes Williams *Luther Tollefson, Pat Herrin, Jack Reinhart, Beth Victor *Marge Schwalm, Lucie Austin, Bill Fristoe, Bob Helms *Dennis Lahl, Patrick Hintz, Tim Richmond, Wendy Scheible *Jeff Wahlbrink, John Adam, Diane McCoy, Carl Rose 8:00 Brittany Hayes, Ashley Rolf Cameron Hyder, Matthew McVeigh Daniel Jacobsen, Evan Menendez Amy Moser, Carl Paulson 11:00 Ian Hidalgo, Ellie Hidalgo Brendan Hughes, Ashley Rolf Cooper Batchelder, Paige Nosal Tia Puskar, Gabby Peitsch Sue Smith Karen Matthiesen, Claudia Jacobson Carlos Garcia Steve Berry Janet Burton Bruce Poese Bruce Poese Bruce Poese LECTORS COMMUNION ASSISTANTS STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY Claudia Jacobson ACOLYTES ALTAR FLOWER DELIVERY AUDIO/VISUAL If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please try to find a substitute - contact the church office for info. Please contact the church by Wednesday prior to scheduled date in order for names to be changed in bulletins. Thank you.