Our Plan to Gather, Our Hope Together, Our Future
By Mike Carlson, Lead Pastor
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Dear Friends,
Our hearts have broken open. We have celebrated our graduating seniors. We join in outrage at the loss of George Floyd's life and the persistent unequal treatment of the Black community. And, we continue to mourn our collective and individual losses from a virus that has isolated so many. Together we cry out against injustices, loss, and isolation.
In the midst of this, we see help, hope and healing. We stand for inclusion, love, acceptance and support. We stand for the transformation of lives, not just of others, but our own as well. I am committed to gathering us together, because we need each other.
Today, I share with you an update on three important aspects of our church life together — our plan to gather, our hope together, and our future.
OUR PLAN TO GATHER
As a church, we will continue to gather online-only for weekend services through the end of June. You may be wondering why we are taking this approach when the Governor of Minnesota has said we can gather. Here are a few of the reasons:
- The virus remains active in our community and at this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, we feel it is our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us and to love our neighbors.
- We strive to create an excellent worship experience in our physical space and know that in order to comply with the social distancing guidelines and CDC health recommendations, we would need to restructure our service in ways that will significantly hinder the connection and experience we strive for.
- Currently, we would be able to accommodate less than 1/5 of our average weekend attenders for in-person worship. We do not worship only for ourselves, and yet, we yearn to be back together. We are actively working on the logistics plan to comply with recommendations for safety and health for small groups and up to a projected 2,500 people on campus each weekend for multiple services.
OUR HOPE TOGETHER
Our hope comes in many ways as we Proclaim, Live and Serve! We are actively doing all three. We have been called to serve our community in some very tangible ways right now. That is a priority for our efforts as we continue offering worship and teaching online. If you haven’t yet joined us, please do so.
- PROCLAIM: Continue to worship with us online or via phone. Consider hosting a small worship gathering, inviting a small group over to worship with you or host online through Facebook.
- LIVE: Join Pastor Sarah Breckenridge and me for our weekly Bible Study online Thursdays, or dwell in scripture with Pastor John Straiton on Mondays and Tuesdays. (see information below)
- SERVE: Continue to be the church as we are literally sent out to our community. Join your St. Andrew's friends in serving our community with your time or resources:
3 Ways You Can Help Right Now
- Volunteer- Join your fellow St. Andrew’s members and volunteer to help with donations and clean-up with our friends at Bethlehem Lutheran In the Midway. Click here for more information.
- Donate Food, Diapers and Baby Wipes. Items will be collected by The Depot Church in Hugo, Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m.-12 noon. Please drop off donations at The Depot Trailer near the Blue Heron in Hugo if you can help.
OUR IMMEDIATE FUTURE
While weekend services will be online-only, we will start to expand small gatherings on campus for funerals, baptisms and weddings. Confirmation Camp and Vacation Bible School have modified their plans and will gather virtually. Our Community Resource Center is continuing to operate its Food Pantry Pick-up and will add Curbside Thursday To-Go Meals coming soon. We have scheduled a drive-thru
Sail-e-bration
and virtual opening of our new fellowship space (details below). Plans are underway for a
drive-in worship service
in July
—
watch for details.
This Week and Next Week in Worship
- June 6-7 | Healing Service *have oil or water with you to make the sign of the cross on your forehead as we seek healing and are reminded Whose we are.
- June 13-14 | Rest in Me Matthew 11:28
- June 16 Virtual Ordination Service & Sacrament- Stephanie Anderson
Finally, as we continue our commitment to be good financial stewards of our resources, we have made the difficult decision to furlough our Preschools of St. Andrew's employees, as a result of the suspended summer preschool program due to the COVID-19 virus. I am grateful for this staff's dedication and understanding as we address difficult challenges the pandemic brings. For more information,
click here
to read the note I shared with our staff earlier this week.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support. I look forward to the day when we can all be together in person again.
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Join Us for Online Worship This and Every Weekend
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We stay in community through weekly worship, so please join us for
online worship:
- Saturday at 5 p.m. (Contemporary) *
- Sunday at 9 a.m. (Traditional) *
- Sunday at 10:15 a.m. (Contemporary) **
- Sunday at 4 p.m. (Depot Church in Hugo)
** NEW Watch Sundays at 2 p.m. on Fox 9+ WFTC
* NEW DIAL-UP AUDIO OPTION: 651-337-8284
Dial in for live and on-demand worship
for the Saturday 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. services.
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Special Healing Worship
Saturday and Sunday, June 6 & 7
As you worship online, have
OIL or WATER
with you for making the sign of the cross on our foreheads at this special healing worship service.
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Online Bible Studies Underway
- LIVE ONLINE - "Living Hope" with Pastors Carlson and Breckenridge every Thursday at 10 a.m. Through July 2 -- jump in any time! We are currently in Philippians and will study Jonah June 11 thru July 2. We'll send you a reminder and the link to join in -- sign up here.
- "Gospel on Monday" with Pastor John Straiton, audio on-demand goes up every Monday morning, so listen right here.
- LIVE ONLINE - 7:30 a.m. Men's Tuesday Bible Study -- now online! Join the Zoom link right here, password is 905957. It's also recorded here for on-demand class.
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Together in Grief
Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m.
June 15, 29; July 13, 20; Aug. 3, 17, 31
St. Andrew’s is introducing a new, virtual, facilitated support group for those who are experiencing the loss of loved ones.
Group Facilitators are Pat and Lon Pardun who have facilitated a grief support in their church for the last few years. Pat is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Cost for the summer session of seven meetings is $20.
To learn more about the group please contact Pat Pardun at pat@soundmindnow.com or 651-433-2130.
Use this link to register
or contact Lisa Grundtner at lgrundtner@saintandrews.org or 651-762-9117.
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Sail-e-bration!
DRIVE-THRU EVENT at St. Andrew’s
Wednesday, June 24, 4-7 p.m.
Rain Date: June 25
Let's all make some waves as we go on a cruise for joy in the parking lot of St. Andrew’s!
Each car will receive a cruise itinerary, be able to make a donation for sailing itinerary, and receive a free candle and a lifesaver! There will be live music playing, and we'll be able to get a virtual tour of the new Fellowship Hall! Remember: Do not abandon ship! (Don't get out of your car.) It's a way to have Partner-SHIP, Disciple-SHIP, Wor-SHIP, and Fellow-SHIP as we drive thru the lots of St. Andrew's!
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Vacation Bible School
June 22-26
“On Earth As in Heaven” will explore the Lord’s Prayer through worship and songs, exciting Bible storytelling, global connections, and creative activities -- right in your own home! Join our 30-minute broadcast every morning with Elena Cressy, Josh Carlson, Sue Lennartson, and special guests, with choices for additional interactive activities you can do together at home. There will be no cost to participate in VBS this year and we encourage you to invite others to join in, too! Learn more at
saintandrews.org/vbs
.
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Confirmation Camp
*NEW DATES* June 15-19
Camp is being moved a week later than originally scheduled to give families an additional week break after the end of an unusual school year.
“Dare Mighty Things” dives into biblical stories of those who dared mighty things and how we can all be mighty today! We’ll use a blend of videos and interactive groups to create an experience that will connect us to each other and to God through interactive morning worship, small group Bible studies, house games and large group games, and, of course, evening campfires. Your “Camp in a Box” will be delivered to your doorstep the weekend of June 13-14 with everything you need for the week!
Cost is $30 per middle school participant. (Scholarships are available if cost is of concern. Please simply enter “SCHOLARSHIP” in the discount code box to register at no charge.)
Read more.
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Virtual Ordination Service for
Stephanie Anderson
Tuesday, June 16, 5 p.m.
Livestreamed from the Sanctuary!
Click the
Watch Worship Live
button at saintandrews.org.
All are invited as Stephanie is ordained to Word and Service and installed as our new Deacon!
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Curbside Food Bag Pick-ups
Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Pre-packed bags of shelf-stable items along with milk, cheese, eggs and bread.
No appointment necessary. All are welcome!
Call 651-762-9148 with any questions.
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***NEW MATERIAL Added Frequently***
From Dock at Home to Preschool Chapel to Game Night and more, Join the Creative Fun with Children, Youth and Family!
A plethora of information and resources that's frequently updated with fresh information. Our Children, Youth & Family Ministry Team continues to find creative ways to stay in touch even if we can’t gather in person. Explore
these creative activities and events
to get involved and stay connected!
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Financial Gifts and Offering
We thank you for your generosity during these disrupting times and remind you there are three ways to give to St. Andrew's:
- Gifts can be made online at saintandrews.org/give
- Gifts can be sent through the U.S. Post Office. If you need postage-paid envelopes, please call our finance office at 651-762-9101.
- Gifts of Stock/IRA/Other: please reach out Patricia Ingberg at 651-762-9174 or pingberg@saintandrews.org.
Thank you for your generous support of St. Andrew's, and please be safe with your health and your money.
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Counseling, Grief and Support
We are facing unprecedented challenges, but you don’t have to walk through them alone. St. Andrew’s Pastoral Care ministry exists to reach out to members, friends and families of the church and community to share Christ’s healing love with all people.
Click here for details.
Our care team consists of Pastoral Staff, a spiritual advisor, a parish nurse, a resource counselor and a variety of caring individuals experienced in walking with people through the storms of life, bringing the presence of Christ and promise of God to others.
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Holy Invitations: Summer Spiritual Practices
Meets Monthly on Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m. on Zoom
June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, and Sept. 1
Zoom Meeting ID: 975 4653 3474 Password: 380876
Every month on Zoom we will virtually add a new spiritual practice to your spiritual toolbox. This will include, but not limited to, Lectio/Visio Divina, The Examen, Breath Prayer, and more. Join Spiritual Directors Heidi Lender, Pastor Brian Norsman, and Peg Reutten, the leaders of this year's
“Listening Circles,”
in learning a new monthly spiritual practice through a virtual large group interactive and contemplative format. All are welcome any and all weeks. For more information, contact Heidi Lender at
hlender@saintandrews.org
or Pastor Brian Norsman at
bnorsman@saintandrews.org
.
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Funeral Notifications
Members can now receive email notification on upcoming funerals and memorial services by signing up at
saintandrews.org/funerals
.
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Update Your Contact Information
If you want to change or add email addresses or mobile phone numbers to ensure you receive messages in your preferred location, you can do that
here
. If you need further assistance, email
office@saintandrews.org
.
Did You Miss Worship?
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