Worship changes
Because of parking lot paving:

• No Thursday evening worship in our building this week.
• Worship services at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM on Sunday, August 22, will be live in our building, but we won’t be able to drive on the parking lot. Worshipers will have to park on Schneider Rd., Springton Rd., or drive on the bike trail access road (just west of the Hwy 12 overpass) onto our property and park on the grass. Those are fun challenges for some. Those are not happy options for others. So we will also live-stream both the 8 AM and 10:30 AM worship services.

We did the best we could to avoid this but the parking lot was in much worse condition than we originally thought. According to our original plan it would have been finished a month ago for $125,000. Contractors and consultants determined our parking lot needed more work—an additional $125,000 worth of work. We want to do all we can to protect this investment for the many people who will benefit for years to come.

Mask requirement
Our ministry leaders had determined to follow the CDC and Public Health guidelines and recommend that students and worshipers in our school and church wear masks, but we would not require it. We were going to suggest people read the recommendation and determine their response.

However, on Tuesday, August 17,Madison and Dane County Public Health issued a new order requiring masks for all indoor public gatherings. This order goes into effect on Wednesday, August 18, and will be in effect until Thursday, September 16. Accordingly, we will require masks for our gatherings as a church and school until then.

Some of us will agree with this; some of us will disagree. We are all free to do so. What we aren’t free to do is neglect God’s Word and sacrament or disobey our government. Our Christian statement is that nothing can keep us from the faith-strengthening Word and sacrament. Our political statement is a biblical one: God instituted the government and we obey it unless it commands us to disobey God. Christian citizens in this country have the freedom to petition for changes and elect officials, but we are only free to disobey when a government orders us to disobey God’s commands. The mandate to wear a mask doesn’t violate God’s law.  A mask doesn’t have to keep us from receiving the means of grace by which God strengthens our faith. Instead, we can thank God for the freedom to gather, worship publicly, grow in faith and strengthen each other in our church and school, even with a mask.

St. Andrew, we likely have different opinions on this—many different opinions—and good reasons for them. May God grant us grace to be patient and loving with each other. Our prayer is that nothing keeps God’s people from gathering to grow in faith and life; not even a mask.

Growth Groups
Now is the time to sign up for a St. Andrew Growth Group. The next few weekends, you’ll have an opportunity to check out the fall lineup of Growth Groups in the atrium and online.  Please sign up by September 8. Our Growth Groups meet at different times, on different days, and in different places. Pray about it and then find one that works for you. Growth Groups provide an opportunity to grow in your relationship with the Lord and your church family. You’ll join a group of 8 – 12 people for 12 weeks. Fall Growth Groups begin the week of September 12. God bless your growing!

God has given us beautiful new and newly remodeled facilities to use to his glory. Let’s celebrate together. See Service & Outreach for more details about the picnic following 10:30 AM worship.

• Thursday, August 26, 7:00 PM
• Sunday, August 29, 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
• Sunday, August 29, 11:45 AM: facility tours, picnic lunch, kite flying, etc.

Sanctuary timeline
You may remember when we first moved into the gym, and over the course of the following weeks and months, you continued to see changes and improvements. The same will be true as we move into the sanctuary, finalize renovations, and make tweaks to the new setup. To God be the glory!

Worship Check-in
Please let us know that you were with us for worship. You can do so on our website or by going here.

Weekend Worship Songs
Preview some of the songs we will use for worship this weekend here. Obviously, ours won’t sound exactly like this, but listening to the links provided will certainly help you be more comfortable participating in the service.
“House of the Lord” by Phil Wickham
“Forever” by Chris Tomlin
“Great Things” by Phil Wickham
“My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness” by Stuart Townend

Milestone
Alexander Peter Bindl was baptized into Christ in 2007 and confirmed in the faith last Thursday evening. He chose as his confirmation verse, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

Impact
You have been set free to serve. That is the heart of Christianity. Listen to President Earle Treptow of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and part two of our discussion on righteousness. Find the link here or search “Kjenstad Impact” wherever you find podcasts. Previous episodes are also available.

FUEL
The “L” in FUEL stands for learning, as in learning from God’s Word. FUEL is returning to weekly gatherings after Labor Day to learn truths from the Word. These will be in-person at 9:30 AM on Sunday mornings. We will also cover the F (have fun), the U (use our gifts to serve), and the E (encourage each other). Four teens from FUEL and Mr. KJ are getting together next week to plan what we will do each week in FUEL. We want all St. Andrew high school students to join FUEL in 2021!

20-Somethings
Join us for another fun time! It’s called “Tunes and Takeout” at Hilldale Shopping Center. We’ll meet there at noon on Saturday, August 21. Here are more details. This is a new St. Andrew group—if you are in your 20s, you’re invited!  Contact Levi Schriefer with your questions.

PETT
Getting young people prepared for the Lord’s Supper and confirmed in their faith is a team effort between home and church. PETT (Parents Equipped to Teach) is a St. Andrew partnership that begins in grade 6 – 8. Contact Pastor Hunter or Mr. KJ with your questions.

College addresses needed
Will you or your child be attending college this upcoming year? We stay in touch with our college students so we can continue to serve them. Please email Mr. KJ with your updated college address, or fill out an info card in the atrium and put it in the drop box.

PowerHour
We are excited to announce the return of PowerHour! PowerHour will be lead by Mrs. Ellen Soukup (Preschool Director at Westside Christian) and is for parents and their children up to age 3. PowerHour happens the 1^st and 3^rd Friday of the month, beginning September 3, from 10:30 – 11:25 AM in the gymnasium. There will be fun activities, story time, a Bible lesson, and snacks-to-go each week. This is open to parents and children from St. Andrew, Westside Christian, and the community. Contact Mr. Kjenstad with your questions.

Registration is now open!
St. Andrew Children’s Ministry looks forward to welcoming kids back to in-person sessions with opening day Sunday, September 12. A fun-filled year ahead with games, videos, music, crafts, and Jesus is planned! Children’s Ministries will follow Westside Christian’s lead and require masks, at least for the opening weeks. Register your kids here.

Consider choosing one or more of the following ways to serve: greeter or game leader (“Launch”), Bible leader (“Learn”), application activity (“Live”), or support staff in Musikgarten, Pre-K3 – kindergarten, or Grades 1 – 6. So many options! Reach out today to Jane Dew.

Musikgarten
Has God trusted a little one to your care? Babies and toddlers with a caregiver are welcome to this Sunday-morning ministry! Certified Musikgarten leader Karen Hong will teach Jesus through interactive music and rhythm activities. Questions? Contact Karen Hong.

Plugged into Jesus
This ministry serves kids Pre-K3 – grade 6. Preschool and kindergarten will meet in a self-contained classroom, and grades 1 – 6 will meet in the gym. Individual activity kits will be provided for those students present as well as virtual students (those kids in your world who need Jesus). Questions? Contact Jane Dew.

Middle school
Get ready to bond with friends! Grades 7 – 8 form an independent ministry this year and will meet in a classroom. Bible study, life application, and activities will anchor faith in the hearts of middle school students. Contact Lance Hill with questions.

Missions
Our Mission Madison team shared their wonderful experience in service and outreach during worship this past week, and at each service a different team provided a few highlights of their mission work around Madison. Great job, team! Praise God for the safe return home for the Fanello family—our first family mission team. They shared via Facebook that the trip was “a blessing both to our family and to Illume.” They also said, “We cannot thank St. Andrew enough for giving us this opportunity. The ways we were able to serve, the evidence of God’s grace that we witnessed, and the relationships that were strengthened cannot be measured.” They will be sharing their trip experience during services in the coming weeks.

Next year’s mission trips are already in the planning phase. Would you be interested in a mission opportunity? Our Mission leadership team is exploring future opportunities to be shared in upcoming newsletters. Stay tuned.

The Love of Christ (TLC)
The Love of Christ ministry team provides support to individuals and families in need. That can be anything from providing a meal, mowing the grass, shoveling a walk, or listening and praying with people in need. Each request is prayerfully considered and referred to volunteers who may help. If you have a prayer concern, a particular assistance need, or just need a listening ear, please reach out and ask. We are blessed to be a blessing. Notes of encouragement are sent out by our team. Our mission is to not only help with physical needs, but also direct spiritual needs to Pastor.

Connections
Did you know that we have volunteers who are tech savvy and able to communicate ministry information effectively through print and media? Part of our Service and Outreach ministry mission addresses tracking our connection cards and updating Facebook postings, our website, Instagram, etc. We haven’t given up on print yet, but the world is transitioning to digital media at an ever-increasing pace. Our connection ministry is one part of service and outreach, and those who make it happen are among our priceless volunteers.

Where you might serve
Each ministry of our church provides opportunities to use gifts or talents and to be a blessing to someone, share Christ, and witness with service.  You may not know how gifted you are because you have not had an opportunity to try! You might like to take a gift inventory survey.  We have resources to help you identify your giftedness and apply your talents as well.  With over 140 ways to volunteer at St. Andrew, there is a place for you! We could always use more volunteers, and a few immediate examples are below. Current opportunities for growth include signing up for membership in a Growth Group, volunteering to assist with our Dedication Picnic on August 29, or inserting material in the weekly bulletins throughout the year. Please reach out if you are interested in serving!

Coffee is served
We plan to start serving coffee during worship services beginning this fall, but we need a person to coordinate our volunteer team to make this happen. If you are organized and have a passion for coffee, please let Curt Kephart know.

We will comply with requirements for public gatherings and respect public health guidance.

Building Dedication
Plans are shaping up for the dedication of our new addition, and we look forward to seeing you at one of our three dedication services on August 26 or 29. We still could use some assistance with the picnic which will follow the 10:30 AM service on August 29. We will be grilling brats, hot dogs, and hamburgers with chips and water, so plan to come and stay for the open house and picnic after worship that day. Once again, volunteers make this happen.

Curt Kephart, Interim Service and Outreach Minister, is available to point you to a team leader who can suggest a role that needs to be filled. You can reach Curt here. Praise the Lord, for he has blessed us richly so that we can be a blessing to others. To God alone be the glory!

Many hands make light work
Volunteers are at the core of service in our outreach ministry. We are so thankful for people who roll up their sleeves and offer to help in service to the people of his pasture. Last Sunday is a wonderful example of that as around 100 people got us moved back into the sanctuary.

Service and Outreach is more than physical laboring in his vineyard; we bring our ministry to people with the message of Christ. Sometimes that is in a simple conversation with those we serve, and sometimes that is by laboring with a servant’s heart. We are so blessed to have our people share in our ministry of Service and Outreach in so many ways. Thank you.