St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Bringing God and People together through the love of Jesus Christ
News & Notes
December 21, 2019
Sunday, December 22 nd at 9:30 a.m.

Chalice:    Anne Honey & Nigel Spencer-Barnes
Lectors:    Roger Lewis & Judy Spencer-Barnes
Ushers:     Bob Burke & John Lovo
Greeters:  Randy & Sue Eddy
Coffee Hour Food: Trissy Lomax and Nigel & Judy Spencer-Barnes
The office will be closed on December 24th–25th and will reopen on December 26th. The clergy will be working and available. Please call (941) 964-2257 ext.1 if you need access to the office.
Opportunity to Strengthen and Renew your Marriage
"With all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you...”

If we were married in the Episcopal Church, we said these words like these when we exchanged vows and rings in a marriage ceremony. If we have been earnestly trying "to love and to cherish" one another in marriage over any duration of time, we know that good things want renewal. It’s not enough to say, once, “You’re pretty special; I like you a lot.” We need to seize varied opportunities to let a spouse know that we joyfully place him/her at the center of our life and love. St. Andrew’s will coach us along in a simple, but rich process that will enable our married couples to renew their relationships, and to renew their marriage vows. The program will culminate in a
5:00 p.m. Group Renewal of Marriage Vows in the Church on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2020 .

Beginning on Sunday, December 29th, materials will be available at St. Andrew’s for each couple to use to refresh and enrich their love for one another. An on-line program from a highly regarded national resource, Prepare-Enrich , will enable each couple to get an updated picture of their areas of strength, and their areas in which continuing growth will be helpful. A discussion/workbook will be given to each couple who completes the on-line survey.

We have scheduled two group sessions for mutual encouragement, and to share best practices with one another. The first group session will be on Tuesday, January 21st, 4 -5 p.m. in the Chapter House. The second group session will be on Tuesday, February 4th, 4 -5 p.m. in the Chapter House.

The Rev. Geoffrey Piper (married 36 years to Leslie) will guide our preparation and lead our group sessions. Any married couple may join in the festivities. Please contact Fr. Geoffrey if you have questions or concerns: 248-931-3505. We hope you’ll join us!
Men's Bible Study and Fellowship

When Tuesday, December 24 th  – 8:30 a.m.
Where Chapter House
Who Men of the parish, family, friends, visitors
What Chapter 14-15 of Acts of the Apostles with reflections on C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity - Ch. 3-4 of Book 2.
Nominations for Vestry ~ class of 2023
The Vestry nominating committee is receiving names.

REQUIREMENTS FOR VESTRY NOMINEES
On the 26thof January, St. Andrew’s Church will hold its Annual Meeting.On the agenda of the Annual meeting will be the election of four members to serve on the Vestry.The term is three years (Feb. 2020 –Jan. 2023). The process for electing new vestry members is as follows:
  • Nominees must be Episcopalians in good standing (or eligible for and working toward membership within 60 days of the annual meeting).“Good standing” equates to: •regular attendance at services and church events
  • being officially pledged to the church (for the year 2020) and will continue pledging
  • the ability to attend most Vestry meetings (usually held once per month)
  • being involved in service and ministry at St. Andrew’s Church
  • being “visible” in the life of the parish

Nominators should first check with potential nominees to ascertain their willingness to stand for Vestry election. Nominees are responsible for ensuring that they meet the above criteria. Nominations may be made by completing a paper form that can be obtained in the Church Office or by contacting the Vestry Nominating Chair, Bruce Birgbauer: bbirgbauer@gmail.com
Completed nomination forms are due to the church office
(email: mail@standrewbocagrande.org) by January 1st.
The Burial Office will be said for
St. Andrew’s parishioner…  

J. Kimpton (Kim) Honey    Saturday, Dec. 28 th  at 2:00 p.m.
Stan Walch Saturday, Jan. 4th at 2:00 p.m.
ISLAND PET BLESSING
January 29, 20203:00 p.m.

The island churches will host this year’s Ecumenical Blessing of the Animals at the Gasparilla Inn croquet lawn.All pets are welcome!
2020 Stewardship: M aking  G od’s  L ove  V isible
Thank you to everyone who has returned their 2020 St. Andrew's Pledge intention form. Your pledge helps the Vestry and clergy leadership prepare ministry goals for the coming year. If you have not yet returned your pledge intention card, please consider doing so.


Prayer as you consider your 2020 pledge to St. Andrew’s:
Loving God, I come to you in thanksgiving, knowing that all I am and all that I have is a gift from you. In faith and love, help me to do your will. I am listening, Lord God. Speak your words into the depth of my soul, that I may hear you clearly. I offer to you this day all the facets of my life, whether it be at home, at work, or play—to be patient, to be merciful, to be generous, to be holy. Give me the wisdom and insight to understand your will for me and the fervor to fulfill my good intentions. I offer my gifts of time, talent and possessions to you as a true act of faith, to reflect my love for you and my neighbor. Help me to reach out to others as you my God have reached out to me so that  Your Love is Made Visible . Amen.
UPCOMING OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY

Key Sponsors : St. Andrew’s partners with local churches; sharing volunteer resources and the financial cost of building a Habitat Home in our community. This partnership is called ‘Apostles Build.’
 
  Dates & Times:
 January 10 th - 8:30 a.m.   Blessing the Slab and Assist Erecting Exterior Stud Walls (five volunteers)

January 11 th – Saturday - 8:45 a.m. - St. Andrews Work Day  
     Install Exterior Plywood Sheathing (20 volunteers required)
 
Location of our 2020 Habitat Home is: 1335 Miliken Terrace, Port Charlotte, FL 33953
 
St. Andrew’s Participation :
Construction begins Friday, January 10 th  with a blessing of the homesite and the slab by local clergy and raising the exterior wall framing by volunteers from all participating Apostles Build churches. The following day, Saturday, Jan. 11 th is St. Andrews’s prime work day. Volunteers are needed for both events as below.

A sign-up sheet is available in the church narthex. The required HfH Volunteer Application and Release form instructions will be provided by email to each volunteer upon signup. Please contact John Lovo at john.lovo@gmail.com for any further information.

PASTORAL PRAYER LIST

Harold, Roland, Patrick, Ellen Adams, Brian Campbell, Riley Zellers Burton, Riley Callen,
Vera Chelnokov, Nicole Coleman, Brian Covachuck, Shannon Glenn, Connie Gregg, Warren, Hood, Julia, Tonya Hillenbrand,  Jake Hulbert, Jennifer Lilly, Ed Lines, Mac Martin, Peggy Mason, Bob McKinney, Nora Neely, Pete Nicholas, Margaret Norvell, Michael Ott,  Ava Potts, Fletcher Rollinson, Jamie Rollinson, Hal Russell, Kathleen Scotto, Anne Siefert, Shirley Thayer, Jennifer Weaver
and Ginny Wharton.


MILITARY PRAYER LIST 
Blaise Bess, Max Hoffman, John Life Ikenberry, Colin Jackson, Anthony Kopp, 
Alex Lovo,  Andrea Tourville, Renier van Breen and Arch Wilson.