Your weekly news & updates
January 14, 2021
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Special Message from our Rector |
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Some two millennia ago, Marcus Aurelius wrote, "Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one"
Aurelius was the last Emperor of the Pax Romana. A time of relative peace and prosperity in Rome. A time many thought unthinkable for a war-ready environment. It was a stable life for the Romans, yet it soon changed as the dictatorial reign of Commodus arrived.
I'm no historian, but I wonder for whom Aurelius wrote these words? Was it for Commodus (his son), the Consul, or the Citizen? Did Aurelius sense the desire for communal peace slipping away from those he loved, the country he loved, and that new longings for self desires were rising?
What do we think of his words now in our day? We live in a society increasingly satisfied with instant contentment, vanity, outrage, and violence. Often, we use the sources aforementioned above to justify and argue our goodness and the goodness of those we like.
We know in our faith that Jesus believes in the innate goodness of each of us and of God's creation. If God so loved the world, why do we often reject the goodness in it? Are we afraid to be acceptable, fair, and good to the things we do not like? Are we afraid to "be an example (pattern) for the believers, in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."? (1 Timothy 4:12) Our character does matter after all.
John Chrysostom, wrote, “God wanted to unite people among themselves. So he made things in such a way that the good of one is inseparably bound to being useful to others. It is in this way that the world is united.”
Dear friends, God wants us to be of loving good use to the world around us. To be united to the people that surround us no matter who they may be. We have no more time to waste arguing. It is time to be good.
In Christ,
Stephen+
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St. Andrew's is so much more than the place we all come to on Sundays. It's a family--a close knit group of souls with a common love for God and a desire to join together to worship and do some good in the world. Every penny you pledge at St. Andrew's goes toward keeping the church running smoothly, and helping us carry out our little piece of a much bigger mission. THANK YOU for your commitment to that. If you haven't turned your pledge card in yet, you can find a stack of them in the narthex. You can fill one out and leave in the offering plate or you can mail it to the office. |
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If you are a part of the tech team click the link above to assign yourself a piece of equipment for the 10:30 am service on a Sunday or two. If you would like to be part of the St. Isidore Guild Contact Aaryn, Gil, or Charlene.
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The Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 17th, 2021. We will vote in our new vestry members as well as discuss the great things that St. Andrew’s has done over the past year and some future plans for us to look forward to! So, please join us in the church following the 10:30 service or Use this link to join virtually via Zoom.
Or go to Zoom.com, click on "join a meeting" and enter in
Meeting ID: 808 581 2167
Passcode: 082932
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In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the church office will be closed Monday, January 18th. We will reopen Tuesday, January 19th.
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Attention Prayer Garden volunteers!!! The Master Gardeners have put their plans for the St. Andrew's Prayer Garden on hold for the foreseeable future. As soon as we know anything we will pass that information along. If you have any questions, contact Alan Cockerell. Thank you for your help to keep our campus beautiful!
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In light of recent email scams, please remember - if you receive an email that looks like it is from your rector, parish administrator, diocesan staff member, or bishop requesting a “favor” and instructing you to reply, DO NOT REPLY and DELETE IT.
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Mustang Island Conference Center Spirit of Water Retreat:
January 15-17
Join the Rev. Dr. Ben Nelson, rector of St. Mark's, San Marcos, for the Spirit of Water Retreat at Mustang Island Conference Center. If you are seeking a deeper connection to God in Creation, interested in creation care and environmental stewardship, or want to find connection to nature, you will find joy and wonder at this weekend retreat at Mustang Island Conference Center. The weekend hopes to bring people into their own connections with God in Creation and the life of Christ through the waters of baptism. It is is open to adults, with special scholarships for college students and young adults.
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The World Missions department extends its gratitude to all who have donated to their ongoing Emergency Food & Winter Clothing Drive. World Missions continues to collect items for mission partners affected by the food and resource shortages intensified by the global pandemic. To schedule a donation drop-off time, contact Catherine Markette, World Missions Ministry Coordinator, at catherine.markette@dwtx.org, or you may make a financial donation to World Missions towards purchasing food and winter clothing, at dwtx.org/give.
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Camp Capers Mid-Winter Camp:
January 23
All youth (3rd through 12th grade) are invited to reunite with their camp community at Camp Capers on Saturday, January 23. This all-ages event will be led by the Rev. Reagan Gonzalez and the Rev. Brian Fox. The Saturday camp program will be filled with games, crafts, spiritual teachings, Eucharist, cabin devotionals, meals, and more from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Jr. High and Primary age campers will dive into Galatians 3:26-29 and explore the love that God has for each of us as disciples of Christ. Sr. High youth will explore the diocesan scripture verse for 2021, from Luke 10, "Nevertheless the Kingdom has come near." Parents and families of youth participants can sign up to spend both Friday and/or Saturday night at camp.
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SUNDAY , JANUARY 17, 2021 SECOND SUNDAY after EPIPHANY
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
(Prayer Garden or McKeogh Hall)
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
(Church and live stream)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY, 21, 2021
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
(Chapel)
At this time, we have two in-person services. They are held each Sunday, one at 9:00 am in the Prayer Garden for an Outdoor Family Service and our Contemporary service at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary. A decision will be made at a later date about the Rite I, 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.
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Pledges, Tithes, and Offerings
Ways to Give
Please consider donating to St. Andrew's by one of the options listed below.
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Click the "DONATE NOW" button at the bottom of this message
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Visit the Donate page on our website
- Set up bill pay with your bank
- Mail a check
- 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
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Phased Reopening Guidelines |
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Dear St. Andrew's Family,
Below you will find information regarding our worship opportunities and our safety requirements for the church. We have a responsibility to report this information to you, and we ask that you do your best to review the material. Please know that your Office Staff has full trust in your love for your fellow congregant and that it is apparent in your actions that you have treated these guidelines as a covenant of love for your worshipping neighbor.
As a reminder these are some of the requirements:
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All people over the age of 3 must wear a mask covering nose and mouth.
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Please remember to social distance. DON'T SIT ON THE BLUE TAPE IN THE PEWS.
- If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
When making the decision about whether to return for in-person worship or not, the new, vestry and diocesan approved guidelines Plan for Phased Reopening: Phase 2(b) will help you know what to expect and consider how this experience will be different from the last time you were here.
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.
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Ministers in the Lord's Service |
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Celebrant-
Fr. Stephen Shortess
Lay Reader-
9 am- Gerry Richardson
10:30 am- Mark Keddal
Altar Guild-
Lynnette Jackson
Kelly Olson
George Ann Fuqua
Theresa Casey
Offertory Tellers-
Al & Janice Pruitt
Ushers-
Paul & Claudia Gaytan
Musicians-
Leo Garcia- Choir Director/Cantor/Soloist
Wendi Gustafson- Music Director/Organ
Ellie Follis- Soloist
Samuel Gaytan- Violin
Cameramen/Technicians-
Aaryn Perry
Gil Merkle
Jack Merrell
Warren Wundt
Betty Anderson
Will Follis
Sound-
Jim Anderson
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Altar flowers are given to the glory of God by Paul & Claudia Gaytan in celebration of their 27th wedding anniversary.
NEW 2021 FLOWER CALENDAR IN NARTHEX!- Do you have a special day you wish to remember: an anniversary or birthday to celebrate, a loved one to honor, or an offering of thanksgiving for your many blessings? You may give the gift of altar flowers for worship by signing up on the new 2021 flower calendar in the narthex. Flowers are $50.00, with checks made payable to St. Andrew's (note flowers on the memo line). If you are worshipping at home but would still like to give the gift of altar flowers, please contact the church office and we will be happy to assist you.
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Birthdays
Nick Milanovich- January 17
Anne Perry- January 18
Heather Ramos- January 18
Warren Wundt- January 19
Wendi Gustafson- January 20
Mark Williams- January 20
Anniversaries
Kipp & Kim Mueller- January 18
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.
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Bible Studies and Prayer Groups |
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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.
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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. Click here to learn more about the program.
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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
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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.
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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
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