St. Andrew’s Update–September 18, 2024

The Fall Season Begins

This coming Sunday is September 22nd. It’s not a particularly special Sunday. It’s not a Communion Sunday. The choir isn’t singing. There isn’t a guest preacher or an installation or a congregational meeting. It’s just an ordinary worship service on an average Sunday morning in September. And yet, if you have been paying attention to the shift in the angle of sunlight, if you have noticed the cold wind and the early moonlight, you may be aware of the fact that this Sunday falls on a special day of the year. It’s the fall equinox. Yes, it happens every year, but it doesn’t always fall on a Sunday.

This Sunday marks the shift from one season to the next, and yet it’s been building for some time now. When fall arrives and the bright light of summer fades, a stirring of activity kicks into gear. Fall is the season to gather together. We have lots of events planned here at church—all of which are opportunities to invite friends or neighbors to church. On October 5th its “Precious Precarity” stories from the borderlands with Pastora Helena (Rev. Helen Boursier). On October 6th it’s the Blessing of the Animals service (you will hear more about this on Sunday). October 20th is Scary Movie night and October 31st you can come down and pass out candy to the neighborhood kids with the Membership Committee (costume not required but enthusiastically encouraged). November 16th is the bi-annual clean up day, and November 17th is the Bread and Benevolence dinner. All of this in the lead up to Thanksgiving. There seems to be something for everyone.

So, if you are ready to gather together, to enjoy one another’s company and to reach out and invite others to participate in the life of the church, mark your calendars. The season starts now!

Blessings,

Pastor Jen

Adult Education is Back

Join us for Adult Education in the Window room from 11-12 for the second week of a three part series. Pastor Jen will be continuing the discussion on the book God After Einstein. In this book, author John Haught seeks to answer the question “What does the God of Jesus mean to us if we think in depth about the Big Bang universe?”.

Sowing the Seeds of Peace

Our gifts to the Peace & Global Witness Offering are helping our neighbors in need-those who live next door, down the street, and across the globe.  Our neighbors need us. Please give what you can to the Peace & Global Witness Offering. Click here for more information.

Weekend in the Word

On September 20 and 21, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara is pleased to welcome Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow for “Weekend in the Word.” Rev. Reyes-Chow’s presentation will be based on his latest book, “Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith.” Friday, September 20, from 6-8 pm and Saturday, September 21, 9-noon at
First Presbyterian Church, 21 E Constance Avenue, Santa Barbara.

September 28

Have you signed up yet?

As we find ourselves in the middle of August, the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) 2024 Out of the Darkness Walk is almost hear! This year’s event takes place at Goleta Beach Park on September 28, in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month. Behavioral Wellness is excited to be returning as one of the event sponsors. For those who have joined before, you know how very powerful this community event is. Together we are stronger.

There is no cost to sign up to walk! Whether you join Team Behavioral Wellness, walk independently, or walk with another team, be sure to register! It is FREE to walk, but registration must occur. Anyone is welcome to join Team Behavioral Wellness. To register, click here. To join Team Behavioral Wellness, click here.

Date: September 28, 2024

Location: Goleta Beach Park

Check-in opens at 9:00am, and the event will begin at 10:00am

(anticipated ending time of 12:30)

General Registration Link: here

Team Behavioral Wellness Registration Link – Click here.

Crafty Quilters Needed

The membership committee wants to create special visitor gifts that reflect our warm, loving, community spirit and we need your help. If this small, but fun project sounds like something you would be interested in helping to make, call Melinda at 805-708-8699

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.

October 6

Blessing of the Animals

Join us for a special service to bless and appreciate the beloved pets in our lives on Sunday, October 6 at 3:00 pm on the lawn. All types of animals are welcome. Rabbits? Yes! Geckos? Yes! Snakes? Sure? We ask the dogs be leashed and cats be crated. For questions, please contact Melinda at 805 708-8699

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

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 September 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)

2024 Worship Schedule is Up!

The 2024 Worship Schedule is up and ready to view.  Please click the following link here to access the Schedule.

Thank you for your gift of time and dedication and Happy New Year!

Friday, September 20th starting at 2pm

Transition House Cooking Party

Join us for a cooking party at St. Andrew’s with Ann Padden-Rubin. We will prepare a meal for 60 to be served to children and their families at Transition House. Transition House helps unsheltered families find permanent homes. Sign ups on the patio after worship.

Once the meal is complete, come and learn how to set up and serve at Transition House with Pastor Jen. We promise it will be the highlight of your week!

Excuse The Dust!

The construction on the flat roof and stage in Morgan Hall is more extensive than originally thought. Work will continue through September…

*happy*birthday*happy*birthday*

September Birthdays

Birthdays will be in the Weekly Updates from now on!  If you don’t see your birthday on here and would like to get it added please email Silkie at silkie.hur@standrewspcusa.org.

9/2     Carol Lefley

9/3     Julie Sommers

9/5     Caroline Willsie

9/8     Karen Noffz

9/23   Sara Vickers

9/23   Tamara Skov

9/26   Sandy Thoits

9/29   Karen Wootton

Calendar of Events

Happening This Week

9/19 (Thurs) – Morning Prayer Service 10:15am (Lowery Room); Adult Education Committee 1:00pm (VOS); Worship Committee 3:30pm (VOS)

9/20 (Fri) – Transition House Cooking Party 2:00pm (MH); Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH)

9/21 (Sat) – Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH)

9/22 (Sun) – Worship 9:30am (S); Fellowship 10:30am (MH);  Adult Education 11:00am (MH)

9/23 (Mon) – Running Stitches 9:30-12:30pm (WR);  AA Grateful Group 8:00pm (YL)

9/24 (Tues) – Parkinson’s 1:00pm (MH);

9/25 (Wed) – Wading Through Watercolor 1:00pm (YL); Llamada Final 6:30pm (MH); Stewardship Committee 7:00pm (zoom)

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