From the Rector
Preparing for Lent (& Life After Lent)

The Season of Lent, which covers a forty-day period from Ash Wednesday to Easter , is a time of spiritual focus, a time not only to give up things through fasting, but also to make more time for prayer, spiritual reading and reflection, and additional almsgiving (especially to those in greatest need). It is also a time when we are especially called to reflect upon our own sinfulness, our contribution to the brokenness of the world, and our need for redemption.

With Lent beginning one week from today, I encourage you to spend some time this week in prayer and reflection about how you want to grow closer to God through the disciplines that you adopt through this coming Lent. Perhaps, you want consider giving up things that distract you or keep you from a deeper relationship with God.

Beyond giving things up, you may want to add a spiritual discipline of more regular prayer or scripture reading, saying Morning or Evening Prayer, or setting aside a certain amount of money every day during Lent to go to a charity that is furthering God's reconciling work.

Furthermore, this year at Saint Andrew's I am looking forward to leading a Lenten study on preparing a personal Rule of Life . I hope that you will consider joining me for this study. We will offer the study at two different times each week -- the first option is during the Sunday School hour (starting on March 1, the First Sunday of Lent), and the second option is during the noon lunch hour on Wednesdays (starting March 4).

A personal Rule of Life , which has its origins in monastic communities, which created communal Rules of Life in order to guide their life together, is a written document that serves as a guide to how we, as individuals, will orient and direct our lives to grow in the knowledge and love of God. It is my hope that, by offering this study, we can think together intentionally about how we will to continue to deepen our relationships with God and with one another here at Saint Andrew's during Lent and beyond.

I look forward to journeying together with you through a Holy Lent in the weeks ahead.

Grace & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
Worship Schedule
Wednesday,
February 19
Feast of Frederick Douglas, Prophetic Witness
(observed)
5:30 PM Rosary
6:30 PM Low Mass with Unction and Healing Prayers
Sunday, February 23
Last Sunday after the Epiphany
8:30 AM Low Mass
(Rite II)
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:30 AM Sung High Mass
(Rite I)
Tuesday, February 25
Shrove Tuesday
6:30 PM Pancake Dinner with Burning of the Palms and Burying of the Alleluias
Wednesday, February 26
Ash Wednesday
7:00 AM Low Mass with Imposition of Ashes
12:00 NOON Low Mass with Imposition of Ashes
6:30 PM Sung High Mass with Imposition of Ashes
Prayer Requests
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
Ann, Audrey, Barbara, Bill, Bob, Chuck, Corinne, Dave, David, Dick, Eddie, Edward, Ena, Ginger, Hamilton, Hannah, Ian, Jodi, James, John-Frank, Leigh Ann, Margaret Lee, Marie-Therese, Mary, Nancy, Nell, Sandy, Wade, Weesie, Willie, Winnie
To add someone to the Daughters of the King prayer list, please e-mail
daughters1913@gmail.com . There is also wooden box in the Narthex where you can fill out prayer cards. The Daughters will add your names to their prayers. 
Announcements
Sunday School for Children and Adults
Sundays | 9:30 AM
Our  Children's Class will meet in the Lady Chapel continuing with the  Hearts Alive  lectionary-based curriculum. In addition, for infants and toddlers, we have the  Nursery  open during the Sunday School hour (in addition to the 10:30 AM Mass).

For our  Adult Class,  Father Gary will be concluding our  lectionary-based Old Testament study . This week, we will look at the Book of Exodus and, in particular, this week's Old Testament lesson,  Exodus 24:12-18 .
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper with St. Paul UMC
Tuesday, February 25 | 6:00 PM | St. Andrew's Parish Hall
On Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, we will feast on pancakes in preparation for entering the penitential season of Lent. We are also delighted that our neighbors at Saint Paul United Methodist Church will join us for the feast.  In addition to enjoying pancakes together, the children of the St. Andrew's and St. Paul will assist us with the ceremonial Burning of the Palms and Burying of the Alleluias. (If you still have your palms from last year, you are invited to bring them.) If you are interested in helping, please contact Riley Owens, who is serving as this year’s Shrove Tuesday Supper Coordinator, at wrileyowens@gmail.com. 
Ash Wednesday Masses with Imposition of Ashes
February 26 | 7:00 AM,
12 Noon, and 6:30 PM
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is one of the most solemn days of the church year. Please plan to join us for our Ash Wednesday Masses with Imposition of Ashes at 7 AM, Noon, or 6:30 PM as we enter a Holy Lent together and begin the forty day penitential journey to the Cross.
An invitation to Saint Philip's Episcopal Church's Black History Month Program | Saturday, February 22 | 2 PM
Breath, Eyes, Memory: Re-imagining racial trauma exposure, response, & resiliency among African American boys and men.

Dr. Wizdom Powell, renowned expert on health issues faced by black men and boys will, present her research and take questions afterwards. All are welcome to this free community event. Saint Phillip’s Episcopal Church is located at 31 Allendale Lane, Greenville 29607.
Next Rebuild Upstate Workday: Saturday, March 28
Volunteers Needed!
We are again teaming up with Rebuild Upstate for our  THIRD  project! Any skill level and all ages are welcome to help with the construction work. Rebuild Upstate repairs and improves existing homes for disabled, low-income and elderly people. You can sign up online through the St. Andrew’s link or use the sign up form located in the parish hall.
Sunday Altar Flower and Presence Candle Dedications
On Sundays, we have the opportunity to offer a special dedication of the altar flowers or presence candle in honor, memory, or celebration of loved ones. ( Please note that, during Lent, we only place flowers on the altar on Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, which falls on March 22 this year.) The cost to the church for altar flowers is now $100 per Sunday, so we are suggesting that donations for dedicating altar flowers be in the range of $50 to $100 to help us cover those costs. The suggested donation for a presence candle dedication is $10.

If you would like to sign up for a Sunday, please see the sign up sheet on the bulletin in the Parish Hall or click on the button below. You may place a check in the offering plate with "Altar Flowers" or "Presence Candle" noted in the memo.
Parking at Saint Andrew's
With the repaving and repainting of the Pendleton Street Baptist Church (PSBC) parking lot (the lot that is adjacent to the church), all of the parking spaces in that lot are now marked with white numbers -- so Saint Andrew's parishioners no longer need to worry about yellow vs. white vs. red spots in that lot . For your information, based on our agreement with PSBC, we are able to use that parking lot as follows:

  • Sundays - All available spots are open to folks who are coming to Saint Andrew's for worship.
  • Weeknights & Saturdays - All available spots are open to folks who are coming to Saint Andrew's for worship or other church-related activities. (Availability may be limited due to baseball or other events.)
  • Weekday Business Hours - Up to five open spots (preferably the spots closest to the stairs from the parking lot) are available for Saint Andrew's parishioners and staff here for church-related events. (If we foresee the need for more than five on a particular weekday, we will notify PSBC to obtain their permission for additional spots.)

Please note that, in addition to available on-street parking, we continue to have access to all of the "permit only" spots on the ground floor of the Homewood Suites Hotel on all weeknights and weekends (including Sunday mornings).

For all of this parking, we encourage folks to have a Saint Andrew's parking sticker visible in their rear window. If you do not have a sticker, please contact the parish office to get one . Finally, if you ever get a parking envelope/ticket while using the PSBC lot for a church-related event, please do not pay it. Instead, bring it to the parish office so that we can notify PSBC and have the ticket canceled.
Service Opportunities
Nursery During 9:30 AM Sunday School and 10:30 AM Mass Every Sunday
Staff member Amanda Abreu oversees our Sunday morning nursery during the 9:30 AM Sunday School hour and the 10:30 AM Mass. Each week, we need at least one parish volunteer to serve with Amanda as our second nursery caregiver. If you have gifts for working with infants and young children--and have “Safe Church” training, we could use your help!
Join the choir! Wednesday evening rehearsals at 7:30 PM
This is a reminder to any interested Saint Andrew's Church friends or members that our regular Wednesday evening choir rehearsals are held in the Parish Hall after the 6:30 PM Mass. If you know of any prospective new choir members, bring them along with you! If you need transportation to rehearsal and or church, or if you have questions, please e-mail our organist/choirmaster John Gilbert.
Sunday Coffee Hour Refreshments
We are blessed to be a growing parish, and one of the ways that we offer hospitality to our many visitors is through our coffee hour after the 10:30 AM mass every Sunday. Please consider signing up for a Sunday on one of the sign up sheets hanging on the parish bulletin board. 
Feed Thy Neighbor on Saturday Mornings
Feed Thy Neighbor is a cooperative effort of the Episcopal community in Greenville. Parish volunteers from Saint Andrew’s, Saint Peter’s, Saint James and Christ Church feed the homeless each Saturday from 7:30 to 8:30 AM in the Saint Andrew's Parish House. The Third Saturday of the month is Saint Andrew's particular responsibility. Come and join us! Set-up and cook team start at 6:30 am. Clean up team start at 8:00 am. Individuals interested in this ministry opportunity, please contact the office at 235-5884.