April 10, 2025

Pastor's Column

Holy Week is one of those weeks with great opportunities for gathering at church, and next week is no exception. In fact, this Holy Week we even have a Session meeting on Wednesday night, which might not seem like a great addition to Holy Week, except our confirmands will be examined that night and share their faith statements.  Then, we move to Maundy Thursday and celebrate the Lord’s Supper as we gather in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone will be invited to participate in either a foot washing or a hand washing as we remember how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. Even if you do not choose to accept the invitation, pondering the question, “Are you going to wash my feet?” will be a meaningful time of reflection (the choir has a wonderful anthem to help us in our reflections). On Good Friday, we will gather as daylight moves into the darkness of night to tell the story of Christ’s betrayal. That night, wonderful string music will set the mood for the melancholy worship.  Although picking a favorite service in Holy Week is hard, the Easter vigil on Saturday probably qualifies as the most fun. We will gather on the lawn, hear some great stories from the Old Testament (everyone might even get to participate in telling one or two), listen to the kids sing (Matt, our tenor soloist has a song for us, too), and then have a few s’mores around the campfire as we shift our sights to the tomb. Then Easter morning arrives as we proclaim the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at two different services. Both the 8:30am and 10:45am services will have brass and timpani to help create the celebratory tone for worship, and at the 10:45am service we will join with the practice of the early church and celebrate the sacrament of baptism.  We will continue the new tradition of having a potluck brunch in the Fellowship Hall between services. Easter, of course, is a terrific Sunday to be in worship as we proclaim God’s life-changing power to resurrect, but each service along the way to Easter enhances and expands our Easter morning experience.

Yours in Christ,

Richard

Preaching Schedule

April 13, 2025

Palm Sunday

Luke 19: 28-38 and Luke 23:32-43

"Lenten questions: 

“Why are you untying the colt?"

and

"Why do you not save yourself?"

April 17, 2025

Maundy Thursday

5:30pm Dinner and service

in the Fellowship Hall

The rituals of footwashing or handwashing will be available

John 13: 1-17

"Lenten questions: 

Are you going to wash my feet?"

April 18, 2025

Good Friday

Tenebrae Service

"Lenten questions: 

“Why do you forsake me?"

7:00pm, Prelude

7:30pm, Service of Tenebrae

April 19, 2025

Easter Vigil

5:00 pm

Stories, campfire, and s'mores

April 20, 2025

Easter

8:30am and 10:45am

services in the Sanctuary

Brass accompaniment

John 20: 1-18

"Easter question: "Why do you weep?"

9:30am Brunch in Fellowship Hall

Sunday Schedule

Sunday, April 13

Westminster Youth Ensemble

9:00am

Children's Choir Room

Preschool

9:30am-10:30am

Room 100

Children’s Sunday School

K-5th Grade

9:30am-10:30am

Media Room

Middle School and High School

9:30am-10:30am

The Den

Classes for Adults

Coffee and Covenant

Karen Jones and Alison Plunkett McStravick

Library, 9:30am

Imago Dei

Amy and Chris Fair

Room 205, 9:30am

Pastors’ Class

Richard Culp and Lisa Patterson

Room 206/208, 9:30am

Worship Service

Sanctuary, 10:45am

Super Wednesday

Wednesday, April 16

Dinner at 5:30pm

Menu: Sloppy Joes, Chips, Fruit, Cake, Ice Cream

Activities for Children

Nursery for infants & preschoolers,

Room 102, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Noel Choir, grades K-1st, Children’s Choir Room, 

Kirsten Trachsel, 6:00pm

Recreation Grades K-1st, Malicia Curran,

6:20pm

Activities for Youth

Middle School and High School

Rec Center and The Den @ 6:00pm-6:30pm

Hear the story of Denton’s Bianca Babb Bell

Annetta Ramsay

April 16, Fellowship Hall

Many Texans know the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, the child captured by Comanche warriors who married a Comanche Chief. But Denton’s Bianca Babb Bell was also captured by Comanches in 1866 near present-day Decatur. She returned to her family, married into a prominent Denton family, and raised her own family in Denton. Annetta Ramsay will tell this compelling story.

Bridge for Beginners

led by Joyce White and Alison McStravick

Room 207

Women’s Book Study

The Book of Joy

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Abrams

Amy Cole and Amy Fair

Library

Chancel Choir Practice

Adult Choir Room

7:30pm

Lattner Memorial Fund Organ Concert

Sam Gaskin

Thursday, April 10

7:00pm, Sanctuary

We are thrilled to welcome Sam Gaskin back to St. Andrew as part of our Organ Series concert.

A graduate of UNT and former organist at St. Andrew, Sam was awarded a prestigious Fulbright grant to study in France. He is currently pursuing Artist Diplomas in both organ and jazz studies at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Versailles.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Sam’s extraordinary artistry and celebrate his return to St. Andrew!

Parents’ Night Out

Saturday, April 12

Parents’ Night Out is a program for the young families of St. Andrew. The program has a two-fold purpose: it gives parents an opportunity to spend quality time together without their children and it gives the children an evening of fun, age-appropriate activities with their friends at St. Andrew. The evening runs from 4:00pm to 8:00pm for infants-5yrs old in the Nursery. In the Rec Center, Kindergarten-elementary age will meet 4:00pm to 9:00pm, with pick-up from the media room in the main church building. Registration is required on Realm or email Karen Raabe at karen@standrewdenton.com.

Meal Sign Up for Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 17

5:30 pm, Fellowship Hall

Please use the link below to register for the Maundy Thursday dinner in Fellowship Hall. The menu includes a ham or turkey sub, chips, and a cookie (vegetarian and gluten-free options are available). Deadline to register is Sunday, April 13.

Child Care for Holy Week Worship Services

Please sign up for child care for the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services below. RSVPs give staff an idea of how to staff the nursery for these worship services. Questions? Please contact Karen Raabe, karen@standrewdenton.com.

Easter Potluck Breakfast

Easter Sunday is April 20.  It is time to celebrate our 2^nd Annual Easter Potluck Brunch between services.  It was a rousing success last year thanks to all of you that contributed food.  Let’s do it again!  You can drop off your breakfast treats before the first service and someone will be there to greet you, or drop off at any time before 9:30am.  Tables will be set up in Fellowship Hall and we can once again greet each other with Easter Joy! Questions? Ask Lisa Dorr, dorll@yahoo.com. RSVP with your contribution by using the SignUpGenius link below.

Lunch and Learn – UKirk and You

Connecting with Students through Campus Ministry

Sunday, April 27

Following the Worship Service 

You are invited to a Lunch and Learn, hosted by the Mission Committee, on Sunday, April 27, following the church service in room 206/208. Rev. Gini Norris-Lane, Executive Director of the PC(USA)’s UKirk Campus Ministries, will be speaking on the many ways congregations can connect with students through campus ministries. We hope you will join us as we explore this important topic. Register/pay for lunch (a sub sandwich sack lunch) using the link below.

5th Sunday Results!

Last Sunday, over 60 members actively participated in putting together hygiene kits for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) distribution. Three assembly tables put together nine items in each kit. Unfortunately, production had to stop when the tables ran out of fingernail clippers. This, combined with an earlier youth assembly of 100 kits, raised the production to 527 hygiene kits. (To round this effort out to 600 hygiene kits, some additional fingernail clippers have since been obtained and were assembled by the St. Andrew youth this Sunday.) This coming week, these 600 kits are being driven over to Camp Gilmont in east Texas. Camp Gilmont serves as an assembly point in Texas for collecting and delivering kits to the PDA main distribution center in Little Rock, AR. In closing, many thanks to those who took time to participate in this effort. Also thanks to the Ruth Anderson Committee for providing the funds necessary to purchase the many kit items. 

Vacation Bible School 2025

This year’s curriculum is titled “Waves of Wonder VBS: Living in God's Light." At Waves of Wonder VBS, we will explore scriptures in which God provides water for plants, animals and people. Through worship and drama, story, art, science, games, music and mission, our campers will deepen their understanding of the importance of water and be invited to join God in caring for this precious natural resource. 

Join us for VBS, June 23 - 27, 9:00am-Noon. Registration kicks off the week at 8:45am on Monday, June 23 in the Narthex. We'll also have a VBS wrap-up Event on the evening of Friday, June 27. Questions? Contact Alison McStravick, alison.mcstravick@gmail.com, or Sarah Anne Adams, sarahanneadams@me.com. Sign up your student today using the link below!

Director of Music Search

St. Andrew is currently accepting applications for its Director of Music position. Our current Music Director, Christine Le, will be moving in June. Download the job description using the link below. Applicants should apply using a cover letter, updated CV, a recent video of the applicant conducting a choir, and three references that can speak to the applicant's experience leading a music ministry. More information is available using the full job description below.

Last Sunday!

Easter Music and Flowers

The Worship and Music Committee invites you to give to the St. Andrew Easter Music and Flower fund. Let’s fill the sanctuary with beautiful lillies and festive Easter music. You are invited to honor or remember family and friends through your donations to this campaign. To do so, fill out a form and put it in the folder in the church office. The deadline for donations is Sunday, April 13.

Chancel Flower Giving Opportunities Are Available!

Celebrating an anniversary or a birthday? Celebrating a person's or ministry's contribution to the church? Wanting to remember a loved one? Consider giving chancel flowers! Chancel flowers provide an ideal opportunity to commemorate that event, loved one, or ministry during a worship service at St. Andrew. A sign up sheet is available outside the church office. Questions? Please contact the coordinator, Lynn Carrico, lwcarrio@gmail.com.

Footsteps of Paul in Greece

October 8-21, 2025

Registration closes: June 21, 2025

Join the group from St. Andrew on a guided tour designed to experience the earliest home of Christianity outside of Israel. This 14-day pilgrimage traces the footsteps of Paul across Greece, including the ruins of Ephesus, Philippi, Thessaloniki, Berea, and more. On the way to Athens, we will spend time in the Meteora region, with its Byzantine monasteries, and we will explore the Acropolis, Roman Forum, Mars Hill, ancient Corinth. The pilgrimage concludes with a 3-night cruise including Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, and Santorini. Questions? Pickup a brochure in the narthex or contact Lisa Patterson or Richard Culp.

Denton Christian Preschool Supply Drive

We are gathering supplies needed for the students at the Denton Christian Preschool. These items will be collected in through March and include the following: glue bottles, Play Doh, 9X7 composition books, washable markers, dry erase markers, red or green pocket folders, watercolors, crayons, toilet paper, white construction paper, AA batteries, 9 Volt batteries.

You may either donate supplies or give financial donations for supplies. Your financial donations can be made via Realm by visiting the give page and choosing "Denton Christian Preschool" from the fund drop down menu.

These items may be placed in the Christian Preschool bin outside of Fellowship Hall. If you have questions, please contact Jim White at: acewalton1965@gmail.com. Thank you for your generosity.

Mother’s Day Gift Bags

St. Andrew provides Mother’s Day Gift Bags each year for “Friends of the Family” to give encouragement and bring a bright spot into the lives of homeless and less fortunate moms in our community. We are requesting help from the congregation in the form of new personal care and beauty products, or a monetary donation would be appreciated as well! Personal care items can be placed in the Narthex (Mother’s Day Gift Bag Box) or you may give online at standrewdenton.com/give by selecting "Mother's Day Gift Bags" from the fund drop down menu. The deadline for all donations is Sunday, April 13. For more information, contact Caia McCullar at macs50@verizon.net or the church office. Thank you for giving!

Ed Moorehead Scholarship

We are pleased to announce that a scholarship fund for graduating high school seniors has been established in memory of Ed Moorehead by his wife, Mary. Those of you who knew Ed will undoubtedly remember him as a mentor who inspired countless young people through his genuine interest and involvement in their lives. We are grateful for Mary’s generosity in establishing this meaningful endowment as a lasting legacy and fitting tribute to Ed’s life of service to others.

St. Andrew’s seniors are encouraged to apply for this renewable scholarship, which will be available for the first time this spring. Students who wish to be considered will need to complete an application, write an essay, and provide two adult references - one from St. Andrew and one from their high school. More than one student may be eligible to receive this scholarship in any given year.

To apply, fill out the application using the link below. Return applications to Darhyl Ramsey, d.ramsey2@verizon.net.

Items Needed for Our Daily Bread

The diaconate is collecting items for Our Daily Bread. Items may be donated in the box in the Narthex. Current needs are: travel size shampoo, travel size body wash, ethnic hair care products, women's new underwear (sizes S, M, L), men's new underwear (all sizes), sports bras (all sizes), food safe rubber gloves, napkins.

Give-a-Meal - $2.29

There has been an update to February's total! St. Andrew donated $537.80 to the Give-a-Meal program in March! Thank you for supporting the needs of those who are experiencing food insecurity during this time. A monetary donation of $2.29 feeds a person in need for a week. Donations can be made by mail or online. Please write Give-a-Meal-a-Month on your envelope or check when giving by mail. To give online, visit standrewdenton.com/give and be sure to choose Give-a-Meal from the fund options to the right of your monetary donation.

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