Your weekly news & updates
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
A Note from our Rector
They shall be like a tree planted by water,
    sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
    and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
    and it does not cease to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17. 8

Click here to read a special message from Fr. Stephen, our rector.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
September 20, 2020

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
(Church and live stream)

At this time, we have one in-person service only. It is held each Sunday at 10:30 am. A decision will be made at a later date about the 8:00 am service.

If you are uncomfortable with physical return, you can still be spiritually present with us by joining us via live stream! CLICK ON ONE OF THE IMAGES BELOW to join us virtually on Sundays at 10:30 am as we worship Our Lord. All services are available any time after that on Facebook (click on Video tab), YouTube, and our web page under Sermons.
PHASED REOPENING GUIDELINES
Reopen 1

When making the decision about whether to return for in-person worship or not the Plan for Phased Reopening: Phase 2 is a great read to help you know what to expect and consider well how this experience will be different from the last time you were here. 

These are some of the requirements each person must meet as you make your decision to join us in the nave:

  1. Everyone, of any age, must wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times whenever you are on church property.
  2. Anyone over the age of 65 and/or with any of these underlying medical conditions must carefully weigh the risks before joining into public worship: Chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, chronic heart disease, severe obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis, liver disease, or weakened immune system. 
  3. As you enter, please fill from the front – and DO NOT SIT ON THE BLUE TAPE. Families may sit together. Singles, unfortunately, must sit alone.
  4. Other changes and requirements are found in the Phased Reopening plan. We urge you to “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” this document.
  5. If you want a Prayer Book, Hymnal or bulletin, please bring one from home. They will not be available in the pews.You will receive a copy of the bulletin via email or you can find the link to download a pdf version on our website under Sermons which is under the worship tab.

As we reopen for public worship, LIVE STREAMING WILL CONTINUE.
In order to avoid disrupting the live-stream video and audio, we ask that everyone be in your seats no later than 10 minutes before the beginning of the service. Use those 10 minutes to thank God for your life and health, to listen to the prelude, and to otherwise prepare yourself for worship.
Ministers in the Lord's Service
Celebrant-
Fr. Stephen Shortess

Lay Reader-
Kelly Follis

Altar Guild-
Lynnette Jackson
Kelly Olson
George Ann Fuqua
Theresa Casey


Ushers-
Paul Gaytan
Claudia Gaytan

Musicians-
Bill Gibbons- Guitar
Gil Merkle- Guitar
Leo Garcia- Choir Director/Cantor/Soloist
Wendi Gustafson-Music Director/Organ

Cameramen/Technicians-
Aaryn Perry
Gil Merkle
Jack Merrell

Sound-
Carolyn Baker
Pledges, Tithes, and Offerings
Ways to Give

Please consider donating to St. Andrew's by one of the options listed below.

  1. Click the "DONATE NOW" button at the bottom of this message
  2. Visit the Donate page on our website
  3. Contact Marsha (830-372-4330) to set up auto-draw
  4. Set up bill pay with your bank
  5. Mail a check
  6. Drop off your check in our mail slot located in the window to the right of the office door.

Thank you for your help to fund the mission and ministry of St. Andrew's
Our Blessing of the Animals service is scheduled for Sunday, October 4th at 6 pm in the prayer garden. We hope to see you and your furry friends there! Like any other event, we ask that anyone who attends practice the guidelines set by the Diocese and our Vestry. Please wear a mask and social distance.

Click here for the guidelines.
Altar flowers for this Sunday are given to the glory of God by Lou Dagel in celebration of the September birthdays of Patty Dagel, Julius Tabery, and Alex Dagel.

There are lots of empty spots on the flower chart for November. If you would like to donate altar flowers on any given Sunday please contact the church office. (830-372-4330)
Birthdays

Buddy Alcede- September 23
Nick Costas- September 23
Lee Droescher- September 24
Ardith Perry- September 26


Anniversaries

Fr. Tom & Martha Bruns- Sept. 26

If you have a birthday or anniversary next week and it's not listed, please call the Parish Office and leave a message for Charlene to add it to the list.
IN OUR PRAYERS
If you or another member of the parish are sick or in the hospital and would like a contact from Pastoral Care, please notify the Parish Office. We don't want anyone to get missed! Contacting the office will ensure that Pastoral Care is notified.

If you would like to add a name, etc., to the prayer list, send an email to secretary@standrewseguin.org. If you have a pastoral situation that needs attention, please contact the parish office. 

If a member of your family is in the armed forces, please send their name to Charlene via email at secretary@standrewseguin.org or by phone (830-372-4330) so they can be included in the Prayers of the People each Sunday.
The St. Andrew's Prayer Garden has been adopted as a project by the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners. They will assist in maintenance and future planning of the garden. We would like some St. Andrew's volunteers to help with the maintenance of the grounds. We do not have any dates of work days yet, but would like to know how many people are interested. Click here to sign-up and inform us of your interest. If you have any questions, contact Alan Cockerell. Thank you for your help to keep our campus beautiful!
We all know that doctors and nurses are on the front lines of battling the corona virus. Although there isn't much we can do to help them physically while they help patients, we can pray for them. So we are asking all of you to Click here to sign up for a time slot to pray for them around the clock. This way we can make sure we have at least one person praying even for just a few minutes of every hour of every day. If you are not able to commit to a specific time, or if the slots are all full, please take a few moments to say one of these prayers each day for these wonderful men and women. Thank you!

Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their ministries the health of the community may be promoted and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Angels in blue gowns, They wear face masks instead of haloes. Their gloved holy hands administer to us Care we are too weak to provide for ourselves.
Without sleep, Without hope of a day off, In the face of ever-dwindling supplies, They risk their lives at every moment In order to save ours. Blessed are the hands, Rubbed raw from washing, That connect us to ventilators. Blessed are the feet, Sore and swollen, That tread the ER floors. Blessed are the eyes That have stared down death Hundreds, Thousands of times, And yet look upon each desperately ill patient And refuse to give up hope. God Most Merciful, Preserve the health and safety Of those who work so hard to preserve ours. Amen.– Cameron Wiggins Bellm
Bible Studies and Prayer Groups
Forest Dwelling: Spirituality for Our Wisdom Years, hosted by Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, is an ecumenical, certificate program designed for more mature seekers who desire to mindfully embrace the challenges and opportunities of aging by accessing the deep wisdom embedded in the world's great mystical and contemplative tradition. This two-year program of education and formation will be led by Fr. Ron Rolheiser, the Rev. Mary C. Earle, Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, and other invited speakers on transformation and aging. Contact forestdwelling@ost.edu to register for a Zoom Information Forum, on September 11 at 3:00 p.m. CT, and click here to learn more about the program.
"Wisdom Journey: Pilgrims Traveling Together" Online Retreat: September 18 The last third of our lives is not a time of "non-life," coasting towards death, but a new stage of life, a season given to us as a gift. Just when we thought we had lived all there was for us, we discover that God has something more in store for us. On Friday, September 18, join the Wisdom Years ministry for an online retreat engaging with practices to guide us to live more fully in these years than ever before. Led by Ann Hoffman, the day will be constructed around prayer, teaching sessions, Q & A time, and small-group discussion. Click here to learn more and sign up.
SUSPENSIONS & ADAPTATIONS
Tech Help
Do you ever feel out of the loop when it comes to technology? I think we all do sometimes. It seems as though technology is advancing every day and there is always some new tech thing. And with the trying times that we are in, you have to use technology to worship with your church family. Well, we are here to help! Click here for a list of FREE tutorials for different programs with step-by-step instructions on how to use them!
St. Andrew's Virtual Baby Bottle Campaign: 
The South Texas Pregnancy Care Center has been a St. Andrew's Outreach Ministry for many years. Often in the weeks leading up to Mother's Day, the members of St. Andrew's who are so inclined, and there are many, fill baby bottles with checks, currency, and spare coins to donate to the Pregnancy Center. We call this our "Baby Bottle Campaign." Campaigns like this one held in churches across our community, help keep the Pregnancy Center afloat. This year our drive, along with many others, were cancelled because we weren't meeting together. Please join me in helping the ministry of this important charitable organization by donating today in our "Virtual Baby Bottle Campaign"

Also, all are invited to attend their 20th annual banquet to be held on Thursday, September 24 at the Seguin Event Center (950 S. Austin St.) with your choice of either noon for the lunch seating or 6 PM for the dinner seating. Reservations are required. Call 830-303-2151 to reserve your seat. Deadline to reserve is September 17th.
Program Updates from Camps & Conferences, Vital UM, World Missions, and More.


Fall Family Weekends & Retreats at Camp Capers
Registration is open for Fall Retreats at Camp Capers, with more dates to be announced soon. Any individual, couple, or family needing a safe, stress-free weekend getaway is invited to:
  • Creation Care Family Retreat (Sept. 24-27)
  • Helping Hands, Serving Hearts Family Retreat (Oct. 2-4)
  • Mother/Son & Father/Daughter Retreat (Oct. 9-11)
  • Halloween in the Hill Country Family Retreat (Oct. 29 - Nov. 1)
  • Art & Soul Retreat (Nov. 6-8)
  • A Very Capers Christmas Retreat (Dec. 10-13)
Each retreat will include time to savor the beautiful Texas Hill Country, play in the Guadalupe River, enjoy fun family activities, and share delicious meals. Morning and evening worship services will be led by Camp Capers staff and chaplains.

Wounded Warrior/Veteran Family Weekend at Mustang Island Conference Center
Mustang Island Conference Center invites all veteran families to a Wounded Warrior / Veteran Family Weekend, September 25 - 27. Enjoy private beach access, scrumptious island cooking, fun activities, campfire & S'mores, and more. Contact Lynn Corby, at lynn.corby@dwtx.org, for more information and to sign up.

Click here for more information about all upcoming Camps & Conferences retreats.
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas thanks everyone who participated in The Big Give SA, an online day of giving supporting nonprofit organizations in South Central Texas on September 10th; funds raised will support Camps & Conferences, one of the diocesan programs greatly impacted by the effects of COVID-19.
Twelve Step Recovery

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meets at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the Youth House on Crockett Street.
St. Andrew's dares to embrace its Episcopal Heritage by living out the Great Commission of Christ through the intimacy of community, discipleship, and service.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, a congregation of The Episcopal Church, and a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church| (830)372-4330 | 201 E. Nolte St. Seguin, TX 78155| standrew@standrewseguin.org | standrewseguin.org