St. Andrew’s Update–March 19, 2025

The Sopranos

So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil? Luke 13:7

I have finally gotten around to watching The Sopranos. It is not a television series for the faint of heart, but it has me hooked (I’m just starting season three so no spoilers, please). For those of you who haven’t seen it, it is the story of a mob boss named Tony Soprano who sees a therapist to treat his anxiety and depression. Tony does a lot of bad things and kills a lot of people, including people he loves. However, if Mr. Soprano was totally evil, I don’t think the show would have much appeal. But, instead, like most human beings, he is somewhat complex. There are traces of good in him, though they are very, very faint.

One question the series seems to pose is whether or not it is possible for Tony to change. Is there such a thing as real transformation or are some people beyond redemption? Dostoevsky asks the same question in Crime and Punishment and provides a similarly ambiguous answer. Personally, I am not waiting to find out if Tony Soprano can be redeemed. No, what keeps me tuned in is the glorious fight that the “flicker of good” within him puts up. Tony works hard to silence that whisper of life that haunts him—avoiding, rationalizing, medicating, or raging against it; and yet he can’t seem to kill it and it torments him with agitation.

That flicker of good, whisper of life, or Spirit, (whatever we call it) resides within all of us. It argues the case for love, connection, compassion, and the possibility, as Bruce Sanguine puts it, “of a brighter future for us, our families, our communities, and our world.” It wrestles against the forces within us that oppose it—cynicism, contempt, resignation, hopelessness. It torments us with a “blessed unrest,” or “divine dissatisfaction” that is the very image “that flared in Jesus.” None of us are as far gone as Tony Soprano, but we all need that goodness to be nurtured and encouraged so that it might bear fruit. This is the charge that this Sunday’s Scripture places before us. I look forward to considering it together.

Until Sunday,

Pastor Jen

Quotes from Bruce Sanguine, If Darwin Prayed: Prayers for Evolutionary Mystics, p. 94.

Monday, May 12, 7pm

SB Gay Men’s Chorus

The Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus returns to the Lobero on Monday, May 12th for its spring concert, Fight & Flight. The concert embraces both sides of the classic survival response with a wide range of music from the 1950s to present day. From Sinatra’s classic “Fly me to the Moon” to Rachel Platten’s anthem “Fight Song,” the concert features pop, rock, folk, and musical theatre. So whether you’re braced for action, or wanting to hide away, let us defy gravity together for one night, because we are all champions and can be the wind beneath each other’s wings! Click here for tickets.

Sunday, March 23

One Great Hour of Sharing

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to:

• Respond to the aftermath of disasters, both natural and human-caused.
• Support Refugees.

Presbyterian Hunger Program to:

• Encourage Earth Care Congregations.
• Address how climate change is affecting our food sources.

Self Development of People to:

• Help communities advocate for their own needs.
• Provide opportunities for people to develop skills that improve their communities.

And so much more!

Every Friday at 10am

Chair Yoga

New! Chair Yoga takes place every Friday morning in the Window Room at 10am. Cost is $20 and can be paid by cash or venmo. Text or call Emily with any questions or for more info at 818-297-4970.

Sunday, March 23

Adult Education

This week Adult Education will be led by Pastor Jen on the topic of “The Hows and Whys of Lent.” “While Lent has been a part of the church calendar for centuries, it is a relatively new observation in the Presbyterian Church. This leaves many wondering what it means, how we are supposed to observe it, and why we would even want to. In this class we will get a little history and background along with some ideas for observing Lent that might make a difference in our faith experience.”

Please join us in the Window Room at 11 after the Sunday worship service.

Photos for the New Directory

The Office is working on putting together a new Directory. If you would like to have your photo in the Directory please submit it to the Office by April 1st! You can email the photo along with your name to office@standrewspcusa.org. Or if email isn’t your thing you can mail in a copy to                                                  St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
4575 Auhay Dr.                                       Santa Barbara, CA 93110                      

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.

SB Food Bank

St. Andrews’s is still taking donations to the food bank and items are needed 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

3/20 (Thurs) – Meditation Group 10:15am (Lowery Room); PASB Support Group 3pm (WR); Worship Committee 3:30pm (VOS)

3/21 (Fri) – Santa Barbara Chair Yoga 10am (WR); Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH)

3/22 (Sat) – Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH)

3/23 (Sun) – Worship 9:30am (S); Coffee Hour 10:30am (MH); Adult Education 11am (WR)

3/24 (Mon) – Running Stitches 9:30am (WR);  AA Grateful Group 8pm (YL)

3/25(Tues) – PASB 1pm (MH)

3/26 (Wed) – Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH); Stewardship Committee 7pm (ZOOM)

*happy*birthday*happy*birthday*

March Birthdays

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

03/02    Billy Spencer

03/06    Bob Shapiro

03/11      Pam Polan

03/12     Mary Padden-Rubin

03/12     Dave Russo

03/15     Sandra McGreevy

03/21     Barbara Eschbach

03/22    Tara Woodard

03/23    Barbara Gaughen-Muller

03/24    Sue Arnold

03/29    Harriette Azlein

2025 Worship Schedule

The 2025 schedule is 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

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!

• White Teapot
• Tear Drop Silver Earring with Blue Stones
• Blue Handkerchief with Flowers
• Tear Drop Silver Earring with Turqoise Stone
• Silver Bracelet with Multi-Colored Jewels
• Black Zip Up Hoodie
• Baby Keyboard with Rainbow Keys

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