St. Andrew’s Update–December 25, 2024

Merry Christmas

I Will Light Candles for Christmas by Howard Thurman

Merry Christmas! Please enjoy this short video meditation of a reading of a poem by Howard Thurman. It lasts a little over a minute long. Click on the button below and then enter your email to log in. This is a new streaming service that St. Andrew’s Adult Education is trying out this year. 

Wishing you and yours a peaceful holiday break!

Blessings,

Pastor Jen

Office Closure

The office will be closed from December 24th through January 2nd. Have a Happy Holiday Season!

Naegle Scholarship Application Open

We are pleased to announce that eligible members of St Andrew’s may apply to the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation for financial assistance. The scholarships are provided by the grace and generousity of the Naegle family. The application can be found HERE and closes February 16, 2025.

SB Mission Conference

DISCOVERING THE CHURCH IN THE SAFE HOUSE: One of the afternoon breakout sessions will focus on efforts to eradicate human trafficking. Jeff Shaffer and Anika Erlenborn, associates of Kingdom Causes, Inc., will moderate the session, showing where God’s church is present and active in the exposing and eradication of trafficking. This takes place at Engage, the 23rd annual Santa Barbara Mission Conference, Saturday, Feb. 1, at First Presbyterian Church. Also included are keynote Tim Soerens and a panel of practitioners committed long-term to justice ministry. You have a choice – attend in-person or participate remotely. Either way, you may register by going online at sbmissionconference.org or by picking up and completing a brochure at any of the conference’s partner churches.

In the Entryway to the Fellowship Hall

Pick Up Your Free Copy

Strengthen your faith with These Days, an inspiring and uplifting daily devotional! Each issue of These Days features:

– Scripture suggestions
– Thought-provoking daily reflections written by clergy and lay leaders
– Inspiring prayers
– Adult coloring pages
– Colorful artwork on the outside covers with poems, prayers, and songs
pertinent to the issue’s theme
– Information about the writers

This moving devotional is released in printed format quarterly in regular or enlarged print.

Be a Planet Protector!

St. Andrew’s is now collecting plastics that cannot be recycled at home. Bring in your plastic film labeled #2 or #4 and turn them into residential flooring. To learn more about Planet Protectors, click here. Here are examples of what we can take:

Pallet Wrap
Grocery Bags
Bread Bags (turned inside out)
Case wrap (toilet paper, paper towels, water bottles)
Dryclean bags
Newspaper Sleeves
Electronics Wraps
Bubble Wrap
Plastic Shipping Envelopes
Air Pillows
Ziplock bags
Produce Bags
Ice Bags
Salt Bags
Wood Pellet Bags

All plastics must be clean and dry. Collection is located in the Narthex.

Five Stars for St. Andrews

If you love our congregation and hope to grow together in numbers and faith, would you consider submitting a positive, personal reveiw to Google and/or Yelp? Often a Google search is a potential visitor’s first step to finding us. A few simple words about why you love St. Andrew’s will help others make an important decision.

The Numbers Are In!

St. Andrews’s donated 128 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Santa Barbara! Even more than last time! Great job everyone!

Let’s make our donations even bigger by bringing in items such as…

• Peanut butter
• Canned soup
• Canned fruit
• Canned vegetables
• Canned stew
• Canned fish
• Canned beans
• Pasta (most prefer whole grain)
• Rice (most prefer brown rice)

Calendar of Events

Happening This Week

12/26 (Thurs) –

12/27 (Fri) – Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH)

12/28 (Sat) – Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH)

12/29 (Sun) – Worship 9:30am (S); Coffee Hour 10:30am (MH)

12/30 (Mon) – Running Stitches 9:30-12:30pm (WR); AA Grateful Group 8pm (YL)

12/31 (Tues) – New Year’s Eve

1/1 (Wed) – Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH)

*happy*birthday*happy*birthday*

December Birthdays

If you don’t see a birthday on here and would like to get it added please email office@standrewspcusa.org

12/2     Robin Knauss

12/8     Jeff Nelson

12/8     Carol Stewart

12/21    Twyla Grier

12/21    Stephen Lee

12/29   Michael Padden-Rubin

12/29   Shannon Gerow

2025 Worship Schedule

The 2025 schedule is being created. This includes liturgists, sound and slides, ushers and greeters, Sunday School teachers, and more. See Pastor Jen for more information.

Transition House

Sign up to cook and/or serve in 2025. Third Friday of the Month. Invite a friend! Instructions available.

Lost & Found

Lost and Found will now be in the Weekly Update!  If you recognize any of the following or know someone who might, please stop by the office on Tuesday-Friday from 9am-2pm and Silkie will give it to you!

• Black Umbrella
• Tortoise Shell Reading Glasses
• A Receipt from Lang Motors
• Black Reading Glasses with Diamonds on Edges
• Frameless Reading Glasses
• A Set of Keys with the Chrylser Symbol
• Small Orange Dinosaur
• Pearl Bracelet
• Small Gold Earring Heart-Shaped with a Cross Inside
• Small Turqoise and Silver Earring
• Anker Glasses Holder
• A Silver Half-Hoop Earring with L-Shapes Throughout
• A Piece of Mail for Patrick Hinckley
• Small tube of Hand Lotion
• A Green Clear Tumbler with a Straw
• A Clear Tumbler with a Black Lid
• A Blue Tumbler
• Glasses Case with Zebras
• Green Jeweled Earring
• White Teapot

It Takes Many Hands

Church ministry is the work of many hands and includes everything from caring for the grounds to planning worship to organizing mission opportunities and more. If you are interested in lending a hand see one of the Elders below about joining a committee or you can talk to Pastor Jen anytime:

• Buildings & Grounds – Porter Spencer
• Congregational Life Team – Shannon Gerow
• Worship – Julie Sommers
• Personnel – Diana Lee
• Mission –
• Finance – Melinda Gerow
• Membership – Melinda Gerow
• Digital Presence Team – Dana Monk
• Adult Education – Maggie McMillan
• Children & Youth Ministry – Carol Lefley