THE GREETERNOVEMBER 2014

FROM THE RECTOR

I’ll never forget a conversation I had with a young adult in his mid-twenties about three years ago. I was introduced to him shortly after joining a local Rotary club. He was asked directly what he thought of the Episcopal Church. His comment stung. “Oh, that’s the old man’s church” was his response. He went on to say that young adults are interested in doing, that is, being involved in a cause and actively participating in outreach to the community. This is actually something Rotary does very well, which is why he joined. But St. Andrew’s has what I think may be a secret. St. Andrew’s IS heavily involved in outreach. I think we do so much of it that sometimes it just flies under the radar screen.

Recently a representative from the organization Youth Emergency Services (YES) came to speak to our Outreach Committee. After finishing her presentation she commented to a member that she was impressed and amazed at the amount of outreach St. Andrew’s has to the wider community. I could list all our activities and partnerships, but it would be an extensive list and I would probably forget something. But as our group heard about “YES” and another program called “The Omaha Street School”, it

occurred to me that many of our outreach efforts are geared toward youth, either directly or indirectly. Outreach to the Pine Ridge reservation, our support of scholarships for youth in the Dominican Republic, and our support of school children at St. Anne’s in South Africa are all directed toward helping young people in the larger world, and now Youth Emergency Services and The Omaha Street School are two organizations high on our list as local outreach efforts.

I invite you to join our Outreach Committee. It’s a great way to get involved and active in taking the faith we proclaim in Jesus Christ to the outer world.

As the song goes, we should not hide our faith under a bushel basket but instead – Let’s let it shine! You may think our Outreach Committee is large. It is not. We need more people to join us. All are welcome. Our next outreach meeting is Saturday November 15th at 10:00 am. Look for us in the conference room.

Changing the subject – The Rev. Deacon John Adams will be ordained to the priesthood, God willing, on Friday evening, November 14th, starting at 7:00 PM at St. Andrew’s, with Bishop Scott Barker officiating. Please join us for this festive occasion!

Fr. John

PLEDGE CARDSA big THANK YOU to everyone who has already turned in their pledge card. If you have not yet done so, please pray about what you are called to give to St. Andrew’s for this coming year and turn in your pledge card AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to help the vestry plan the budget for next year.

“ZIP A- DEE- DOO DAH” Sunday! - November 15th and 16thFollowing all our church services, please join us in the Undercroft to meet your neighbor! A list of all our St. Andrew’s zip codes will be on a wall. Find your zip code and meet your neighbors! Refreshments will be served!

MEAL TRAINOur church is growing with young families who have small children and new babies and we also have several parishioners recovering from surgeries and hospital stays!  Food is a universal way of saying "We care about you!"  We need volunteers who will make food, donate money to buy food, and/or deliver food. St. Monica’s Guild has graciously taken the lead with this ministry providing financial and volunteer support. Please contact Sarah Black (sarah@standrewsomaha.org or 402-660-7649) if you would like to be a part of this new ministry or if you know of someone in the parish who is in need.

OUTREACHGrocery baskets are in Engle Hall for our annual collection of Thanksgiving food items through November 21st. Twenty five baskets will be delivered but to do this we need your help! This is what will be in EACH basket. Please bring what you are able. $20 gift certificate from Bag & Save, 2 boxes of potatoes, 2 jars of gravy, 2 cans cranberry sauce, 2 boxes of stuffing, 2 cans of green beans, 2 cans of peaches or other fruit, 2 cans of tomatoes and 1 boxed cake or brownie mix. Remember, we need the above in each basket. Thank you for your continued generosity!

You will notice black baskets in Engle Hall to collect clothing for the Sienna Francis House. All donations are welcome! Thank You!

DEAN FRICKE FOOD PANTRYDonations are always gratefully accepted in the grocery cart outside the office. The items currently needed more so than any others are: crackers, cookies, snacks (like granola bars or snack items in a box preferably) and soup. We appreciate the great response we have been getting throughout the summer months when food has been unavailable from the Food Bank of the Heartland. Thank you for supporting this ministry.

ST. ANDREW’S NOTE CARDSSend a note to a friend, family member, or someone in need who might consider a handwritten card to be a special gift. St. Andrew’s Note Cards are being printed for individuals to purchase. The package contains 8 cards and envelopes tied in a bundle. The cost is $10.00. They may be purchased in the office or between services in Engle Hall beginning November 2nd. These beautiful Note Cards would make wonderful gifts for the coming Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Proceeds will be used to fund Music and Garden Costs.

NEARLY NEW SHOPMany thanks to all our volunteers, especially those who are now helping on Saturdays. We are now seeking volunteers to help operate the store on Tuesdays from 10am-1pm and 1pm-4pm. Our shop is known for clothes that are spic ‘n span, so we are also seeking volunteers to wash a few items, remove small stains, and/or steam wrinkled clothes. These tasks can be done at home if you prefer. The shop is currently seeking children’s clothing size 0-4T and a laptop to assist with transactions. Please contact Denise (402-393-5888) if you are willing and able to help.

ALTAR GUILDAltar Guild Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at 9:30am. The November Meeting is Nov. 5th and the December meeting is Dec. 3rd. Altar Guild Coffee Day is December 7th and is shared with the Nearly New Shop. See you there! Terrie

LET’S BUILD A HOUSE TOGETHERDear Saint Andrew’s members,

Hello, my name is Kelly Dornan. I am a member at Saint Andrews Episcopal Church and a senior at Westside High school. I am writing to you because I am planning a fundraiser to support the building of a home in the Dominican Republic by youth members from different churches across the state of Nebraska.

I want to share my mission experience in the Barrio of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. Last summer I went on a Nebraska Youth mission trip with youth from four different churches. Our mission was to build a house and a playground in one week. Together we worked with locals to complete our mission. In one week, I formed life long friendships not only with my fellow missioners but also with the locals in Jarabacoa.

This experience was important to me because through this trip I became closer to my faith. I went to the Dominican Republic to change the lives of others in need, and they changed my life. I am blessed to say, I am who I am today because of my experience in the DR.

I ask for your assistance in creating memorable baskets, or a donation, that help to support next year’s Nebraska Youth Mission trip to build a house for another family with special needs children, who are in need of a house to provide them shelter.

Please consider making a donation in the form of a gift basket or item to help make this event and mission possible.

On the next page you will find a donation commitment form letting me know what you are willing to donate to this event. Please return the form to me with the details so I can assist in any way to make this a meaningful event.

Please feel free to contact me at any time, with any questions or advice you might have. You can reach me at my cell phone: (402) 536-0179, or email: kelly.dornan@yahoo.com

I am excited about this event and will be contacting you soon.

Thank you for your consideration

Sincerely,Kelly Dornan

DECEMBER GREETERPlease submit articles for the DECEMBER Greeter to Laraine in the office (info@standrewsomaha.org) no later than NOVEMBER 12. Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday we would like to complete the Greeter as early as possible. Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDARSSt. Andrew’s Wine and Bingo March 6, 2015 St. Andrew’s 53RD Antique Show & Sale April 10 and 11, 2015

SILENT AUCTION DONATION FORM

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM NO LATER THAN JANUARY 4, 2015

Mail or email this form to: Mail: 1321 S 96 th St Omaha, NE 68124 Phone: (402) 536-0179   Email: kelly.dornan@yahoo.com

Silent Auction items listed below must be delivered to:1321 S 96th St

Omaha, NE 68124Delivery Deadline: January 11, 2015

NAME:____________________________________________________________

BUSINESS NAME:_________________________________________________

NAME OF DONATED ITEM: ____________________________________________

DESCRIPTION OF ITEM: _______________________________________________

YEAR :____________ (appropriate for antiques, wine, whiskey, etc.)

RETAIL PRICE:  $ ____________

OTHER DETAILS:  (include references to autographs, previous owners, etc.)

Thank you for your Donation!

THE CURATE’S CORNER

The Challenge of the Bible

On Tuesday mornings, an intrepid group gathers here at the church for one of the most important activities we do as Christians outside of corporate worship: studying the Bible. The Bible, beyond being a library that documents the course of one people’s relationship with God over more than one thousand years, is the foundational source of our faith. What makes us Christian is that we know God as revealed in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God; a traditional and important way that we learn about and actually encounter that Word is by actively engaging with the words of Holy Scripture. This is why, after reading selections from the Bible, our worship services include an opportunity for a preacher to wrestle with the readings as a living encounter with God rather than dead letters on a page.

The Tuesday group has been taking that task to heart over several weeks of considering Ruth, Deborah and Jael, Esther, and now Judith: Female Heroes in Hebrew Scripture who show up rarely or never on Sunday mornings. Reading their stories allows us to consider the different ways God might be present and active in unfavorable situations and reminds us that, even as men from Abraham and Jacob to Moses and Joshua take center stage in our Old Testament lectionary readings, women are no less central to the history of our salvation. Upon completing Judith, we expect to begin a study of the Twelve, minor prophets including Amos, Micah, Jonah, and Malachi who show up in snippets on Sundays but are rarely read in their entirety.

The point of this article is really to issue three invitations to all of you who are members and friends of St. Andrew’s. The first invitation is to join us in our Bible Study at 10:00 am on Tuesday mornings; prior experience in studying the Bible is not necessary, and we make a point of framing the discussion in such a way that anyone could join us any week and participate readily. The second invitation is more specific: God willing, Bishop Scott Barker will ordain me to the priesthood on Friday night, November 14, at 7:00 pm at St. Andrew’s. This is a festive and joyous occasion both for me and the

parish, and I hope that many of you will be able to come and celebrate with me.

The third invitation is related to the first two. I have not read the Bible cover to cover since before entering seminary, and it seems appropriate that I should again take on that discipline during my first year as a priest. Beginning on the Monday after my ordination (November 17), I will be reading a few chapters of the Old Testament, a Psalm, and a chapter of the New Testament daily, according to the schedule for the year laid out by the Bible Challenge (available at http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/wp-

content/uploads/2014/07/Read-the-Bible-in-a-Year-Revised-1.pdf). I want to invite anyone who has never read through the Bible before, or has not done so in awhile, or is looking for a new structure in which to do so, to join me in the Bible Challenge. If you are interested, please tell me so that we can converse about what we read and otherwise keep each other accountable. Whether you take the Bible Challenge or not, I hope that you will find ways to make reading and studying the Bible a part of your regular spiritual practice.

John Adams

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES- NOVEMBER

Birthdays

11/02 Steve White11/03 Mike Markoff11/03 Suzy Bathel11/03 Quinn Rider11/04 Joan Hill11/04 Andrew Fisher11/05 Donna Jordan11/06 Chris Bathel11/08 Eleanor Dodge11/09 Bill Ponec11/10 James Henry11/10 Mara Summers11/11 Dan Dornbush11/11 John Harter11/12 Judy Mabry11/14 Nathan Else11/14 Dena Wagner11/14 Tim Pierce11/14 Kiara Matthews11/15 John Mabry11/15 Andy Davis11/17 Harry Koch11/17 Lauren Sitzman11/18 Laraine Crane11/18 Kim Loveless11/19 Mary Schreiber11/19 Bruce Moritz11/19 Adam Rensch

11/20 Jim Kozak11/20 Kelly Bourne11/21 Elizabeth Hallgren11/22 Larry Stiverson11/22 Sam VanderVeen11/23 Jill Siner11/23 D.J. O’Shea11/24 Isabelle Adcock11/25 Kathy Hankins11/25 Nancy Ponec11/28 Edi Pierce11/29 Dorothy Steele11/29 Pete Hill11/29 Alexis Mann11/30 Darrell Huss11/30 Morgan Larson11/30 Ashley Crosman

Anniversaries11/06 Don & Yvonne Wagner11/07 Jim & Shirley Ortman11/11 Jon & Jill Siner11/14 Ed & Marie Krieger11/18 Tom & Jane Upton11/21 Hugh & Carol Johnson11/25 Daryl & Dena Wagner11/30 David & Cathy Adcock

If your name does not appear in our birthdays and anniversaries, let the office know so we can update our records. Call 402-391-1950 or email ginny@standrewsomaha.org

Ministry ScheduleNovember 2 November 9 November 16 November 23 November 30

Acolytes9:00 Kathy Upton

Taryn SmithLauren SitzmanConner Smith

Hannah CooncePaige Rife

Ella HaakinsonMatt Dornan

Anna Kay SitzmanMichael Adcock

10:30 Jim Hallgren Henry Hallgren

Josh GottschalkJames Henry

Kelsey ConradSarah Conrad

Eric Manley Ron Dunic

Altar GuildS Polly Goecke Adah Earle Sue Hillman Suzanne

DaltonPat Addison

E Susie Trupp Terrie Saunders Judy Mabry Ardie Vickery Susie TruppL Jan Buhr/Betty

WhiteAileen Henry Christina

HarterAileen Henry Mina

WitherspoonHealing Prayer7:45 Lois Westfall Lois Westfall Lois Westfall Lois Westfall Lois Westfall9:00 Matt /Jamie Karen/Nancy Lance Andy H/Jamie Matt/Karen10:30 Cricket Dorothy S. Anne G Dorothy S. CricketLay Readers7:45 Keith Ross Jordan Hankins Lois Westfall Keith Ross Ron Dunic9:00 Beth Summers

Karen ConradKim HawekotteMelissa Peeler

Ben BryanJenny Else

Sharon KrygerAnna Kay Sitzman

Dan SitzmanKayleigh Baker

10:30 Elizabeth HallgrenIngrid Van Blerk

Bert Van BlerkLee Hammond

Anne GambalAndy Ketterson

Tara O’SheaKelly Bourne

Claire AtkinsKen West

Ushers7:45 John Mabry John Mabry John Mabry John Mabry John Mabry9:00 Sharon Kryger

Barb JacksonDon Peeler

Kim JohansenLiz OrrickKaren Quintana

Keith GourleySusan Menter

Steve WhiteLauren White

Linda Kay EinersonBurke SmithIsabelle Adcock

10:30 Ron DunicLee HammondD.J. O’Shea

Ken CrattyMike BarnesAnthony Brown

Gordan FoleyCharlie PugsleyNancy Pugsley

D.J. O’SheaLee HammondKen Cratty

Dave GambalMike BarnesGordan Foley

Greeters7:45 Laraine Crane Laraine Crane John Mabry John Mabry Laraine Crane9:00 Tom Sitzman

Jean SitmanTodd EngleCathy Engle

Barb Jackson Camille Culp Dana Cooce

10:30 TBD Steven Duvoisn Anne Gambal Lisa Hammond Kelly BourneLiz Bourne

ALL SUNDAY SERVICES

Lay ReadersLiturgy

VestryFinanceDOK

Parish LifeGreeters

Healing PrayerStephen Ministry

Lay ReadersLiturgy Team

QUICK REFERENCE NUMBERS

CLERGYThe Rev. Dr. John Schaefer Rector (h) 402/397-5859

(c) 402/690-0991The Rev. Dcn. John Adams Curate 571/232-1294The Rev. Dcn. Tom Upton Deacon (h) 402/895-2684

STAFF & LAY MINISTRIESGinny Winsor Financial Administrator 941/716-1761Sarah Black Christian Education Director 402/339-0674Susie Thorne-Bond Music Director 402/293-2599Michael Bauer Organist & Choir Master 785/331-6195Shelly Smith Children’s Choir Director 402/896-8759Kara McIntire Handbell Director 402/391-1950Denise Benson Nearly New Shop Manager 402/393-5888Fred Plater Sexton 402/391-1950Jim Saunders Buildings & Grounds 402/592-0242Jill Siner Kitchen Coordinator 402/331-2239 Janet Cosgrove Daughters of the King 402/598-1689Cricket Foley Daughters of the King 402/452-3768Dari Dornan Episcopal Church Women 402/397-0374Amy Urban St. Monica’s Guild 402/697-1505Margaret Schaefer Prayer Shawl Ministry 402/397-5859Loree MacNeill Fun Club 402/575-5524Dan Sitzman Acolyte Master 402/556-5344Terrie Saunders Altar Guild Director 402/592-0242Karen Ekholm Healing Prayer Team 402/393-2625Jim Hutchinson Head Usher – 9:00 402/593-8648Dave Gambal Head Usher – 10:30 402/571-7487Ron Dunic Lay Readers 402/596-2921Joe Engle Lay Eucharistic Visitors 402/551-0909Loree MacNeill Wedding Coordinator 402/575-5524

VESTRYAndy Hawekotte Senior Warden 402/933-4600Nancy Ponec Junior Warden 402/331-2575Gordon Foley Treasurer 402/208-6010D.J. O’Shea Clerk of the Vestry 402/960-6016Shaun Rife 2014 402/651-5502Beth Summers 2014 402/397-7969John Mabry 2015 402/333-3568Loree MacNeill 2015 402/575-5524Susie Trupp 2015 402/502-5078D.J. O’Shea 2016 402/960-4549Don Peeler 2016 402/572-7556Lois Westfall 2016 402/498-8612

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church925 S. 84th St.Omaha, NE 68144

Non ProfitOrganizationU. S. Postage

PAIDOmaha, NE

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