The Messenger
In Christ, We Worship, Love, Grow, Serve and Send.
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OCTOBER 2021 | Vol. XXXXII No. 10 |
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October 2021
By Cornelia Pearson, RN, MN
As I often do when preparing to write a monthly newsletter article, I consult the list of National Health Observances published annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. At the top of the list for October each year is Breast Cancer Awareness. In addition, this year, there are two other days, Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, October 13, and National Mammogram Day, October 18. The health concern, of course, that has dominated all lists for the past year and one-half is COVID-19. The effects of COVID -19 on individual personal health care may be far more reaching that can be seen at first glance. Emerging evidence tells us that health threats from postponing routine yearly tests and exams outweigh the risk of running into the coronavirus at the doctor’s visit. One survey showed that the total number of cancer screening tests received by women through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program declined by 87 percent for breast cancer during April 2020 as compared with the previous 5-year averages for that month.
One concern that I have had for a number of years regarding screening is the October 2015 recommendation by the American Cancer Society that breast self exam (BSE) or physician breast exam is no longer necessary. The explanation that I found at that time states: “Breast exams are no longer a part of the screening recommendations because research does not show they provide a clear benefit.” However, the American Cancer Society says all women should be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to their health care provider right away. ....Read more.
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New Acolyte!
Kai is all smiles (behind the mask) on his first Sunday solo as an acolyte. Great job, Kai!
If you have a youth who wishes to help by acolyting in worship, it isn't too late to have training to participate. Please contact Liza Hawkins or the pastors for more information.
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Celebrating First Communion and Baking Bread! |
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On Sunday, September 26, Sarah Baker, Charlene Baulsingh, Paul Lesley Baulsingh, Clara Butler, Hailey Danielson, and Cora Klug celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Communion at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.
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Liza Hawkins, Interim Director for Youth & Children's Ministry teaches our First Communion students the art of baking communion bread. The bread was shared for communion with our congregation on September 26 as we celebrated our First Communion recipients. |
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Pastor Eric instructs children about Holy Communion. |
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The Klug and Butler families celebrating First Communion with their children on September 26. |
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Students attended BIBLE 101 class on Saturday, September 26 and received Bibles. Those who participated in the class were Sarah Baker, Hailey Danielson, and Raleigh Fisher.
Pictured to the right is Pastor Pauline who is working with the students of Bible 101 class.
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Ellis Greer Bohanan, son of Kayla and Blake Bohanan, was born September 14, 2021. He weighed 6 lbs.,13 oz. and was 20 inches long.
Proud grandparents are Beth and Rand Smith! He is also welcomed by Aunt Jen and Uncle Charlie Fisher. Raleigh and Edison Fisher are thrilled with the arrival of their new cousin!
Beth and Rand feel blessed and so thankful to welcome their new grandson in the family and want to share the happy news with our church family!
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Runners by the Spirit
For Mercy Community Healthcare
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Congratulations to our St. Andrew team for running and walking in the 5K and 10K Labor Day event to benefit Mercy Community Healthcare. What a fabulous and fun day to participate. Thanks to Linda and Peter Strickland for organizing our team. Look for more information to join the Turkey Trot in November!
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The Faith Formation Ministry of St. Andrew Lutheran Church
By Jeana Butler, Faith Formation Chair
Recently, the Faith Formation Committee had an opportunity to collaborate with Pastor Pauline and Pastor Eric at a retreat at the home of Chad and Jeana Butler. The Faith Formation Committee consists of Jeana Butler, Faith Formation Council Chair; Liza Hawkins, Director of Youth and Children's Ministries; Jen Roberts, and Wayne Higbe. The purpose of the retreat was to define the values and goals of the committee, as well as plan ahead for future faith formation events. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our new pastors’ vision for St. Andrew as a whole.
The day started by reading Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, the parable of the sower. In this parable, a farmer sows many seeds, seeming to scatter them carelessly across four different types of ground. Ultimately, the seeds that grow in the fertile soil represent people who hear the message and live it in their lives, even when things are difficult. While we all strive to be these "ideal Christians,” the truth is that we fall short. We are usually somewhere else on the path, more closely represented by the seeds that struggle to grow properly. The good news is, that's okay, and it simply means we're human. God is always planting seeds in our lives. Faith Formation at St. Andrew aims to plant seeds for individuals and families that allow for growth and renewal in your spiritual lives.
To that end, you may see us planting a variety of seeds in a variety of locations, so to speak. We're excited to try new things that we've never done before. We're also more than willing to try things from the past that weren't successful, maybe in a new way. And, of course, if something is working, we definitely want to continue to plant seeds in that location. We have a tendency to only plant seeds where we know something is growing and flourishing, but the willingness to try new things may provide us with the ability to grow beyond our current spiritual position in life.
Below are the values and goals for the Faith Formation Ministry at St. Andrew that were developed with Pastor Pauline, Pastor Eric, and the committee.
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We love our Sunday School Teachers! |
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Pictured above: Christy Lee and Joe York teach Pre K through 1st grade Faith Formation in the Atrium on Sunday mornings. Not pictured is teacher Courtney Wainner.
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Gratitude and Generosity!
Sunday School Offering Starting in October
By Jeana Butler, Faith Formation Chair
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Sunday school for children and youth ages Pre K through 12th grade is in full swing and off to a great start! We are very grateful for our Sunday school teachers, who volunteer their time each Sunday morning. If you see one of them around St. Andrew, please tell them "thank you" for being a Sunday school teacher! Pre K, Kindergarten and 1st grades are taught by Christy Lee York and Courtney Wainner, with assistance from Joe York. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades are taught by Pam Butler and Sandy Vollmer, with assistance from Rita Brockman-Baker. 5th and 6th grade is taught by Julie Bednar and Beth Fikejs. 7th through 12th grades are taught by Renee Brown and Chuck Vollmer. On Sunday, September 12, the children enjoyed Sunday school opening and a snack outside. Thank you to Katherine Mansouri and Ai Yamada for leading the music. It was a lovely, sunny day to be outside! Our next outdoor Sunday school opening and snack will be held on October 3.
Sunday, October 3 also kicks off a new theme for Sunday School: Gratitude and Generosity. In combination with the church's annual stewardship campaign, we will begin a Sunday school offering collection. Last spring, we started a children's stewardship program to benefit Inspiritus. So far, we have collected garden supplies and seeds to support the Healthy Gardens program. During VBS, we collected art supplies to support the My Canvas program. Starting in October, we are asking Sunday school participants to bring a small offering to their Sunday school classroom. This offering will go to Inspiritus to support their overall mission.
Sunday school offerings will be collected and counted by our very own St. Andrew Lutheran Youth. 7th through 12th graders will take turns collecting the offering, in pairs. Two youth will go to each classroom on Sundays, gather the offering, and then individually count and sign off on the amount collected. The money will then be placed in our safe. Thank you to our Financial Secretary, Heather Adams, for training our youth on responsible money handling practices. The youth will be trained in the same manner as our adult offering counters, placing an emphasis on responsibility and accountability. We hope these responsible practices will shape future financial leaders at St. Andrew and beyond.
You will likely be hearing more about Gratitude and Generosity during the months of October and November all over St. Andrew. Even in the midst of uncertain times, we can identify many things for which to be grateful. Generosity flows from a grateful heart. These lessons will be discussed during Sunday school and we are hopeful that parents will help to support and model this message at home, where faith formation ultimately takes shape.
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ROOM IN THE INN AT ST. ANDREW
Sign-up sheets to volunteer are on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall!
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What’s Room in the Inn? Good question! A support organization for Nashville’s homeless population, Room in the Inn was founded and organized by a priest, Father Charlie Stroble. Room in the Inn provides meals, shelter, counselling, employment services, medical assistance and a host of other services.
What is our congregation’s involvement? Good question! Like hundreds of other congregations in the greater Nashville area, we help Room in the Inn provide assistance to Nashville’s homeless population. It’s a “many hands make light work” deal. We do a very small part of the overall program. During the cold months of November through March, on two Friday nights per month, our volunteers, aka all y'all, host a sleepover at St. Andrew called the Winter Shelter for six men from Room in the Inn downtown. All y’all actually host this sleepover, two Friday nights per month. Here's how it works:
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SET UP: A person or persons – one or more of all y'all – on Friday afternoon/evening, prior to guest arrival, sets up cots in the fellowship hall in preparation for our guests.
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DRIVER: A person – one of all y'all – picks up our rented 9-passenger van, drives to the Room in the Inn shelter downtown, picks up our six overnight guests, and brings them to St. Andrew. The same driver returns them to the shelter downtown on Saturday morning, usually stopping enroute at Waffle House or Hardee’s to feed them breakfast. After dropping them at the shelter, the driver refuels the van and returns it to the rental place.
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DINNER HOSTS: A person or persons – some of all y'all – prepares and serves a delicious, nutritious dinner, and cleans up the kitchen afterward. This is a great opportunity for family or group interaction, including children and youth.
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OVERNIGHT HOSTS: Two (or more) men – a couple or more adult male all y’all - spend the night with the guests at the sleepover. Cots are provided. These two also oversee use of the shower downstairs, and see that the fellowship hall and restrooms are tidied up after the guests leave on Saturday morning. They stow the cots in the closet and set the laundry bag aside for pickup.
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SACK LUNCHES: One person – one of all y’all – prepares 6 sack lunches for our guests for them to take along on Saturday morning, returning to the shelter and the street.
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LAUNDRY: A person - one of all y'all – retrieves and cleans the used linens and other laundry, and returns it to church in the correct bin in the closet for next use.
These are the roles we must fill for each overnight stay. If we’re unable to fill these roles with your volunteer help, the overnight event is cancelled and 6 homeless men are on the street in winter’s weather. We need you – all y’all – to sign up and help with this ministry.
Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.
Sign up now, get it on your calendar, and let’s show some tender Christian compassion to folks that need us. For those wanting to learn more or get more detail, please reach out to me by email or phone.
Thank you,
Ken Cockerham
704-614-3946
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OKTOBERFEST
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Haiti Hunger Fight Auction
Saturday, October 23, 2021
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Look Away Farms
1850 Lewisburg Pike, Franklin 37064
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Let us know you are attending OKTBERFEST!
Hayrides! Train Rides! Games! Food! Silent auction! Music! The meats are provided by a Thrivent grant (brats, hamburgers, and hot dogs) and drinks (soda, beer, and wine). We ask that each family bring their own side dish and dessert. Please bring your lawn chairs and a blanket to picnic on if you wish. We will be holding the Haiti Hunger Fight Silent Auction to raise funds for the school we sponsor at Oktoberfest.Contact Margaret Bearss at aubearss@gmail.com for questions!
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AUCTION ITEM EXTRODINAIRE!
Benefitting our Haiti Hunger Fight!
This beautiful handmade piece, created by Chuck Vollmer, woodwork, and Kris Nethercutt, metal artist, can be yours if the price is right! The walnut is from the late John Green farm with a repurposed scrap metal frame that used to be part of a Model 300 Ideal Lawnmower sharpener in its first life! The possibilities to use this unique, one-of-a kind piece are endless; a bar, a table, a desk, etc. Please see it in person at church before the bidding begins to appreciate the artistic work Chuck and Kris created.
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HAITI HUNGER FIGHT UPDATE
By Frank Thomas
We are excited to bring back again this year the Haiti Hunger Fight program in conjunction with the Oktoberfest event at Look Away Farms on Saturday, October 23. Especially considering the impact of the recent earthquake in Haiti, the needs of the children in our schools in Haiti are greater than ever.
For the past 16 years, St. Andrew has generously supported schoolchildren in Haiti via the Trinity Hope Feeding program, a Nashville based non-profit organization. We have done this through various Hunger Fight events, including auctions, direct sponsorship, and fellowship activities, to raise awareness and to raise money for the schools. These events have been fun for the entire congregation and community.
This year’s program includes:
- On-line silent auction
- Fun and fellowship at the Oktoberfest on October 23
- Sponsorship program
Key Dates:
- Last day to submit auction items: October 1
- Auction opens with display between services on October 10 and 17
- Auction closes at Oktoberfest on October 23
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QR Code to View Auction Items |
Scan the QR code or click on this link to view auction items and place a bid on them. Please note that this site will be 100% loaded by October 10 at the start of the auction. Check often to see auction items and bid on them. And thanks for supporting our school children in Haiti!
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Trial -> Joy
By Denise Gudlin,
Co-Executive Director of Trinity HOPE
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I watch all the trials Haiti experiences one after another with no end in sight. My heart breaks and doubts arise as I wonder, “Will Haiti ever be able to thrive?”
James 1:2-4 tells us to count our trials as joy – “great joy, pure joy.” This sounds contrary to what we feel, but we know God can use our afflictions to refine us and make us stronger. The thriving and renewal we experience after a trial or suffering brings glory to God. Pure joy is what I see when I walk into a Haiti Christian school and the children look up and see the cooks walking into their classroom with lunch. All the trials they have already experienced in the recent hours, days, months, and years are changed to renewed HOPE because they know God loves them.
I look forward to returning to Haiti to walk with our Haitian brothers and sisters again. During our trip after Hurricane Matthew, many shared testimonies of blessings and praised God for sparing their lives. I look forward to hearing them praise God and recount the many blessings they experienced when the earthquake, tropical storm Grace, COVID-19, and political unrest struck this summer. I cannot wait to see the joy in the teacher’s face knowing that their children are able to focus and learn. I can’t wait to see the joy in the eyes of the children as their bellies are no longer grumbling. But I most want to see their eyes as their faith in Jesus grows.
As we go forward let’s all keep our eyes on Jesus alone, and let the Holy Spirit lead our hearts and souls as we share God’s saving grace with others. God has a plan for each of us and for those in Haiti. We need to continue our faith walk through all trials and challenges. To God be the glory!
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HABITAT BUILD UPDATE
Saturday, October 9 & December 4
8:00 AM
Who: Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury (HFHWM) & St. Andrew Lutheran
What: A partnership to help build an affordable home for single dad, George Davis and his 4 children - family bio is attached below. (click on the picture)
Where: Our Fall Faith Build will be at 517 E. 9th Ave, Columbia, TN
When: Saturday, Oct. 9th and Dec. 4th
Why: To build homes, hope, and community through affordable housing. In partnership with folks like you, we help local residents transition out of poverty, to positively change their lives today and for generations to come.
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Next Steps:
· Please sign-up on the link above.
· Keep the Habitat ministry and the Davis family in your prayers.
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Inspiritus Update
By Pastor Ann Bassett
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Inspiritus helps folks transition from surviving to thriving. I’m passing along a story from one of the women of Cheatham Place, the oldest and poorest project in Nashville. This person has an Inspiritus raised garden bed. This story was in the Inspiritus newsletter that was mailed last week. A delightful feel good story worth highlighting.
“Your garden, through me, just did a great deed for someone. A guy was walking by as I was watering. He walked up to me really close and asked could he have some tomatoes and cucumbers. I was really scared of him – all he wanted was food. Just goes to show how judgmental of people I am. I told him yeah get all you want and I’m not kidding girl, he ate tomatoes and cucumbers a good 15 minutes. He said he had a family and asked could he come back with them. I told him of course. He brought his two little daughters and small son back so fixed them about 15 ham sandwiches and put some chips, waters and sodas in a backpack for them. They are staying across from the cemetery by the old hospital. There are several people there and they have been coming by when they’re hungry and just eat off the vines. It’s so cool. I’m going to start making a huge pot of beans and corn bread or spaghetti and garlic bread to tell them to come by on Fridays. Sometimes I forget how good I have it and have to be reminded. Through you and what u gave me, God’s helping feed all the hungry people. Feels good to be useful again – can I get a AMEN?”
Inspiritus' mission statement is to guide people on a path from surviving to thriving, to discover resilience and to contribute to community.
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St. Paul's Breakfast Ministry
NEXT on Saturday, October 9
Breakfast items drop-off at St. Andrew from
11:00 AM to 12:00 NOON
Watch for the sign up link coming soon!
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WELCA October Gathering
October 19 at 6:30 pm Fellowship Hall
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Women of St. Andrew, are you feeling stressed, or anxious? Is your brain so full of creative ideas that you cannot sleep? There is a solution for you!! Come to WELCA on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 6:30 in the fellowship hall for a craft led by our own Ruth Haskins. You will leave focused, relaxed, and smiling with your own art. Please join us for a fun-filled evening -- either in-person or by Zoom. If you are coming in person, please wear a mask. Don’t forget, if you can’t be there, please send your donations to:
Peggy Bowker
525 Madeira St.
Franklin, TN 37064
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Meeting ID: 861 3384 9904
Passcode: WELCA
One tap mobile - 1.301.715.8592
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From left: Meredith Frantz, Peggy Bowker, Wanda Jasper, Diana Dalius, and Carol Pond enjoyed quilting together at the recent Quilt-A-Thon. This is one of 12 quilts they put together that day along with other ladies of the church. Thanks to ALL who participated!
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Quilting Days at St. Andrew |
In-person quilting takes place at the church on the second and fourth Mondays at 9:30 AM. If you can tie a knot, you can quilt! Quilt dates are October 11 & 25. Help setting up and cleaning up is appreciated!
We will still provide quilt kits for those who may want to continue working at home. Pick them up at church.
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October 2 Charlie & Peggy Bowker
October 3 Nick & Amy Hafner
October 6 Scott & Barbara Adams
October 7 Kenneth & Gay Baumann
October 7 Bernie Anderson & Lynn Samuelson
October 9 Mark & Beth Wainner
October 10 Wayne & Jeanette Higbe
October 10 Doug & Beth Paton
October 10 Jeff & Ingrid Byrum
October 12 Joe & Christy-Lee York
October 13 Brandon & Shelly Dei
October 14 Jim & Heather Adams
October 15 Chad & Jeana Butler
October 17 Tim & Libbie Quinn
October 18 John & Ann Loecher
October 20 Adam & Paula Starace
October 21 Tom & Lori Kariott
October 23 Eric & MaryBeth Crispell
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OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
For a list of October birthdays,
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Financial Update: 1/1/2021 - 8/31/2021 |
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NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021.
Jolene Richardson, The Messenger Editor
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