FINAL WEEK OF ANNUAL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN & PARISH SURVEY:
If you haven't responded yet, please do so by Sunday. If you have, thank you very much!
“For it is in giving that we receive.” - Prayer attributed to Saint Francis
We are now entering the final days of our Annual Pledge Campaign. As the graphics above indicate, we are making great progress toward our goals! Thank you to everyone who has already turned in their pledges!

This week, our Annual Pledge Campaign Committee has begun placing reminder phone calls to those who have not made their pledge yet, and we are grateful for their efforts.

If you do not have your pledge card, you can download one via this link -- or you can complete your pledge online via the "Pledge" link below:
In addition to the Annual Pledge Campaign, our parish survey, which is being used to help guide the work of the Saint Andrew's Mission/Vision/Values Task Force, continues. If you haven't already had an opportunity to complete the survey, you can do so via the following link:
Thanks again to each of you for blessing Saint Andrew's with your participation in our common life -- and for your faithfulness in supporting this community with your time, talent, and treasure
Worship Schedule
Wednesday, December 4, Feast of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra
6:30 PM Low Mass with Unction and Healing Prayers
Sunday, December 8, The Second Sunday of Advent
8:30 AM Low Mass
(Rite II)
9:30 AM Sunday School
10:30 AM Sung High Mass
(Rite I)
Wednesday,
December 11,
Feast of John of the Cross, Mystic
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, Bambi, Barbara, Bill, Chris, Chuck, Corinne, Dick, Eddie, Edward, Ena, Ginger, Hamilton, Hannah, Jodi, Krista, Leigh Ann, Margaret Lee, Mary, Nancy, Nell, Ryan, Sharon, 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
This Sunday at 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 look at the Book of Isaiah and, in particular, this week's Old Testament lesson, Isaiah 11:1-10 .
Second Sunday Harvest
This Sunday, December 8
At Both Masses

As is our custom on the Second Sunday of each month, we are collecting food and personal hygiene products as well as financial donations designated to United Ministries. 
Relief for Earthquake Victims in Albania

As you may know, one of our parishioners, Monika Herr, is an Albanian native, and she recently alerted us to the suffering that many in that country are experiencing as a result of a 6.5 magnitude earthquake there last week. That suffering is exacerbated by the fact that many in Albanian were still recovering from an earlier earthquake in September.  You can read more about this situation by clicking on this link to a recent NPR article.  Please hold those affected in your prayers and consider making a donation to support ongoing relief efforts. Donations can be made via the button below linking to UNICEF’s Albania Earthquake Relief Page.
ECW Christmas Project: Greenville's Gift
For its Christmas outreach project, our ECW (Episcopal Church Women) has voted to sponsor Greenville’s Gift , which collects and distributes items for needy newborns in Greenville. Requested items are blankets, bibs, burp cloths, infant hats, socks, onesies 0-12 months, pajamas 0-12 months, outfits 0-12 months, coats, jackets or sweaters. Items may be placed in the collection box located in the narthex. 
Backpack and Blanket Drive 
Saint Andrew’s Mission and Outreach is sponsoring a backpack and blanket drive to assist United Housing Connections with their annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count in January. The PIT Count helps to identify those who are experiencing homelessness in Greenville and the Upstate. Each person identified is given a backpack which includes items to aid them against the harsh winter weather. 800 backpacks and blankets are needed to fill this need. Information about homelessness and boxes for donations are provided in the parish hall. If you would prefer to write a check for your donation, it can be placed in the offering plate. Make your check out to "United Housing Connections" and in the memo line, add “2020 PIT Donation”.

For more information contact Cindy Henry , Sara Conrad, or Rusty Infinger .
Clothe Thy Neighbor Seeking Winter Clothing

Please bring warm clothing for men and women to the Parish Hall for those in need.
Poinsettia Orders for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

If you would like to dedicate poinsettias for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, the dedication forms can be found in your Sunday bulletins. You can also e-mail the Parish Office with your order and dedication. The deadline for orders will be Sunday, December 15. Suggested donation for each plant is $15.00.
Ordo Kalendars Available

The 2020 Ordo Kalendars are available in the Parish Office for $5 each. Reserve yours today by emailing office@standrewsgreenville.org , or stop by the office.
Safe Church Training at Saint Andrew's
Sunday, January 12 | 1:00 to 4:00 PM
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.

We are offering a Safe Church training session here in January:


Please make sure to let our parish office know if you sign up a class at a location other than Saint Andrew's. More info on Safe Church Training here.
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. 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.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR ADVENT: Given the penitential nature of the Season, we only have flowers on the altar on the Third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday.

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.