From the Rector
Looking Ahead to November: Baptisms, Annual Meeting, & Confirmations with the Bishop
There are many exciting things coming up this Fall (as indicated in all of the announcements further down in this e-mail), and I am looking forward to all of them. However, I wanted to draw particular attention to several Sundays of note that will occur in November—since we need to be preparing for each of these well in advance:
1) All Saints Sunday, November 3 – Opportunity for Holy Baptism – The Feast of All Saints, on which we celebrate the lives and witness of all the saints of the church, is one of the four feast days that our prayer book designates as "especially appropriate" for Holy Baptism. If there is anyone desiring to be baptized or to have a child baptized – or just wants to explore the possibility, please speak with or e-mail me .
2) Feast of Saint Andrew, Sunday, November 17 – Parish Annual Meeting with Potluck Lunch after the 10:30 AM Mass – As has been the custom at Saint Andrew's, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew, our patronal saint, on the same Sunday that we hold our Parish Annual Meeting, where we will review the accomplishments of the past year, plan for the upcoming year, and elect new vestry members and diocesan convention delegates. Please begin considering who you would like to see serving in those leadership roles. Next week, we will publish more details about the nomination process.
3) Christ the King Sunday, November 24 – Bishop’s Visitation & Confirmation Sunday - Our diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo, will be visiting Saint Andrew's on Christ the King Sunday, and we plan to have a Confirmation Service at the 10:30 AM Mass with opportunities for confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation.  For those interested, I have provided a brief overview in the following paragraph.
In this diocese, Confirmation , which the prayer book defines as “a mature public affirmation” of an individual’s “faith and commitment” to vows made at their baptism followed by the laying on of hands by the bishop, is available, after appropriate instruction, to baptized Christians (generally 16-years-old or older) who have not been previously confirmed.  Reception is an opportunity for those have been previously confirmed in another Christian tradition to make a public affirmation of their faith and be fully received into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church by a bishop. Finally, there is also an an opportunity for individuals who have been previously confirmed or received to make a public Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows followed by the laying on of hands by the bishop. We will offer a series of classes in October and November for those interested, and I will be providing additional information about the process in the weeks ahead. Anyone who is interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church or to reaffirm their baptismal vows during the Bishop’s visit, please speak with or  e-mail me

What a joy it will be to be able to celebrate each of these important milestones in the months ahead--as we welcome new Christians into our midst through the sacrament of baptism, as we identify and elect new leaders for our parish at the Annual Meeting, and as we participate in the wider life of God’s Church through the visit of our Bishop and the sacrament of confirmation!

Grace & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
Worship Schedule
Wednesday, September 25,
Feast of Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester
(observed)

6:30 PM Low Mass with Unction and Healing followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Sunday, September 29,
The Sixteenth Sunday
after Pentecost

8:30 AM Low Mass
(Rite II)
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:30 AM High Mass with Incense (Rite I)
Wednesday,
October 2,
Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels (observed)

6:30 PM Low Mass with Unction and Healing Prayers
Prayer Requests
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
Audrey, Barbara, Bill, Bob, Chuck, Corinne, Eddie, Edward, Ena, Ginger, Hamilton, Hannah, Jean, JoAnn, Jodi, Leigh Ann, Margaret Lee, Mary, Nell, Sharon, Weesie, 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
Blessing of the Animals for the Feast of Saint Francis
This Sunday | 4 PM
At Saint Paul UMC
We are looking forward to continuing our tradition of having this joint service with Saint Paul United Methodist Church. This year, we will gather under the fir tree at Saint Paul UMC. Please plan to bring your animal friends!
Sunday School | This Sunday | 9:30 AM
For our Children's Class, we will continue 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). In order to keep these ministries going, however, we need additional volunteers to help with teaching Children's Sunday School and to assist our nursery coordinator, Amanda, in the Nursery . If you are able to do help with Sunday School, please e-mail Father Gary. If you can help in the nursery, please sign up here.

For our Adult Class, Father Gary will continue with our lectionary-based Old Testament study. This week, we will continue our study of the Book of Jeremiah and, in particular, this week's Old Testament lesson, Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15.
Saint Andrew's Knitting Ministry - First Meeting
Sunday, September 29 | After 10:30 AM Coffee Hour
Parish Hall
All are welcome to join the first organizational meeting of our new knitting ministry! Please RSVP to Joyce Ford.
West End Association Meeting | Tuesday, October 1
6:30 PM | Parish Hall
Saint Andrew’s will be hosting the monthly West End Neighborhood Association meeting. All are invited.
First Wednesdays Men’s Group | October 2
7:30 AM | Church
All men are invited for this 20-minute prayer service with Morning Prayer, Rite II. We’ll be using the Book of Common Prayer as our guide rather than a printed program, so “brush up” on the Prayer Book. Afterwards, by special request, we’ll head down to Eggs Up Grill on Augusta Street for breakfast. 
Men’s Clothing Needed
The Miracle Hill Thrift Store on Pete Hollis Boulevard is in desperate need of men’s clothing. If you would like to contribute, please bring items to the parish hall and place in the large box marked “Miracle Hill Thrift Store Donations.” For more information, please contact Tommy Watson.
United Ministries Transformation Walk & 5k Run
Sunday, October 6 | 2 PM | First Baptist Greenville
Please join us for the 2019 Transformation Walk & 5k Run. You may register below and please be sure to sign-up as part of the Saint Andrew's team. Registration for the run is $30 but the walk is free. Check-in will begin at 1 PM in the parking lot of First Baptist Greenville, 847 Cleveland Street. The race begins at 2 PM and maps of the course are posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. You may make additional donations even if you do not wish to participate. Please email J.J. Andrighetti about sponsorship opportunities or if you are unable to register through the website. 
Saint Andrew's Art Show | Saturday, October 12 | 1 PM - 8 PM
Coinciding with Fall for Greenville, we will sponsor an Art Show. Our own Raekan Smith and other local artists will present various mediums for sale including paintings, prints, ceramics, and jewelry. A wine and cheese reception will be held 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Get an early start on your Christmas shopping this year! 

Rebuild Upstate | Saturday, October 19 | 8 AM - 4 PM
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church is teaming up with Rebuild Upstate for our second project to create healthy, sustainable home environments for disabled, low-income, and elderly people. Any skill level and all ages are welcome from simply helping with snacks at the site, interviewing workers and families and taking photographs for the Saint Andrew’s newsletter, to helping with the actual construction work. You may work for as long as your schedule permits on the work day. Click on the sign up link below to let us know that you plan to help!
Upcoming Safe Church Training Opportunities
Safe Church training is important for anyone volunteering in children's ministries, or doing any lay ministry, such as lay eucharistic visitors, involving potentially one-on-one ministry within the parish. We encourage all parishioners, especially those in positions of leadership - such as vestry members and other ministry area leaders, to get Safe Church certified.

There are Safe Church training sessions being offered at the following locations on the following dates:


Please make sure to let our parish office know if you sign up for one of these classes. (We are also working to set up a training session at Saint Andrew's in the near future.) More info on Safe Church Training here.
Sunday Altar Flower and Presence Candle Dedications
Every Sunday, we have the opportunity to offer a special dedication of the altar flowers or presence candle in honor, memory, or celebration of loved ones. 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.
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 have resumed 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.