This Week
The Kingdom of God is Not Too Small
Imagine a rich uncle tells you that for your birthday he’d like to buy you a car, “Just go pick it out.” You go to the used car lot and choose a 20 year old compact with rust and 200,000 miles. Maybe you chose that because you’re satisfied with such a car, in which case we admire you. But maybe you chose that because you didn’t fully understand your uncle’s offer. He meant for you to pick out a Cybertruck or Eurocar. In that case, you were thinking too small. The Apostle Paul responded to several kinds of conflicts in the churches to which he wrote. He led the people to this conclusion: you’re thinking about the kingdom of God is too small. It can happen to us, too. When it does, we’re satisfied with far too little and miss out on far too much. Read Romans 14:9-23 (especially vs. 17) and ask yourself, “Where am I thinking too small about the kingdom of God?” Then gather with your brothers and sisters to probe the depths of what it means to be in the kingdom of God and revel in its riches. We enjoy this privilege together on Thursdays at 7 PM and on Sundays at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
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Highlights
Events and ministry news needing immediate attention
Growth Groups
The fall lineup of St. Andrew Growth Groups is almost ready to be revealed. You will be able to check it out beginning this Sunday in the atrium. In the meantime, if Growth Groups are new to you, click here to learn more.
St. Andrew picnic August 18
Let’s get together for some family fun! Get to know your St. Andrew family, including new Westside Christian School called workers. Fun and games and food and sweet treats await everyone. Show up as early as noon; food will be served until 1:30 PM. Want to help with this event? Contact Pastor Clinton.
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Worship
Resources and opportunities for you to worship
Installation Adult Choir
Blend your voice with others to sing God’s praise as we install our new principal and three new teachers at Westside Christian School. We’ll rehearse at 7 PM on Wednesday, August 14, in the Soul Café to sing for worship on Sunday, August 18. High-school-age and older are welcome to attend. Questions? Email Minister of Worship Naomi Laabs.
Milestones
Elle Lassanske was confirmed in the faith at St. Andrew last Sunday. Todd and Tanya taught her the chief truths of God’s word, using Luther’s Small Catechism. The Spirit strengthened the faith he put into Elle at her baptism and she was pleased to make a public confession of her faith. St. Andrew, in turn, is pleased to welcome her to receive the faith-building blessing of the Lord’s Supper. May the Lord continue to bless Elle and confirm her faith.
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Worship check-in
If you worship on-site, please fill out the Connection Card attached to your worship folder. Online worshipers, please continue to check in here.
Weekend worship songs
Preview some of the songs we will use for worship this weekend. 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.
“Praise the Lord (Psalm 150)” by Matt Papa, Matt Boswell
“Send Us Out” by Matt Osgood
“Christ Be My Leader” by Don Chapman
“We Will Feast in the House of Zion” by Sandra McCracken
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Nurture
Ways to be connected to Jesus throughout the week in your personal life and with others
Grow in Grace
The Bible is clear that there are two genders. Yet we live in a world of gender confusion. Clear. Confusion. Pastor Greg Lyon, a teacher of God’s Word at Wisconsin Lutheran College, will be here to teach us what Scripture says about gender and how Christians can live and love among this confusion. Childcare will be provided. To help us prepare for childcare, please sign up by August 14.
College addresses
Do you have a college student in the quickly approaching new school year? St. Andrew has a ministry team that keeps in touch with all of our college students. Help this team by sending those addresses to mark.kjenstad@st-andrew-online.org or fill out an address card on the tall table in the atrium.
Moms’ Group
A group of moms (and their young children) from St. Andrew gets together every other Tuesday morning for friendship and encouragement. Contact Mark Kjenstad for the details.
Small Talk
Small Talk is back! The beautifully inspiring story of Queen Esther is the story of the mercy of God. Our special guest, Eliana, helps us see our merciful God in this true story. Click here to enjoy this brand-new episode or find Small Talk by searching “Small Talk Kamin” wherever you listen to podcasts.
Impact
We have great sin. God has greater grace. That about sums about the Bible. Listen to that play out in part 2 of David and Bathsheba with Pastor John Boggs. You can listen to Impact here or by searching for “Kjenstad Impact.”
Children’s ministries return soon
Preparation is well underway for a new year of St. Andrew children’s ministries. PowerHour, Musikgarten, Plugged into Jesus, Spark, and FUEL help children learn more about our Savior’s amazing love and grow in their understanding of God’s Word. All will begin again in early September.
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Service & Outreach
Opportunities for you to live your faith and love for Jesus by sharing Jesus with others
Attention all teachers
The calendar has flipped to August, so we know what that means for your life! In all the excitement and preparations for a new year, we’d like to pray for you and encourage you in your vocation. If we know you’re a teacher, you will receive an email from Pastor Hunter by Friday, August 9. If you don’t and you’re a teacher, please send us a note at [email protected]. We don’t want to miss you. Thank you.
Service role | Plugged into Jesus team
This children’s ministry for 4K – grade 5 uses God’s powerful and precious Word to lead young children to learn more about our Savior, Jesus. Plugged into Jesus is 9:20 – 10:15 AM on Sundays, September through May. If you would like to join the team as a leader or assistant, please contact Yvonne Onsager or Pastor Clinton.
Service Opportunity | Childcare August 18
Do you enjoy playing with cute children? Are you capable of supervising them for an hour? What a great service you will provide to parents attending Grow in Grace by caring for their children during that time. Contact Pastor Clinton or Mark Kjenstad to serve in this way on August 18 from 9:20 to 10:20 AM.
Good Shepherd in Downers Grove, Illinois
Some have asked what St. Andrew can do for our brothers in sisters near Chicago whose church building burned down last week. A recent statement from Christian Aid and Relief (an organization of our church body) says that they are still assessing, so no action is suggested at this time other than prayer. Let us pray that God use this disaster to bring them closer to him and to one another and offer prayers of thanks that the fire caused no bodily injury.
New prison ministry volunteer opportunity (from home)
WELS Prison Ministry has opportunities for you to be a test corrector for inmates’ Bible correspondence courses. For more information and to get involved, contact [email protected].
Golf and games | August 25
Resurrection Lutheran Church, a nearby sister congregation, is hosting a golf outing in western Madison that is sure to be lots of fun. Individuals or foursomes of any golf ability (including none) are welcome to join. Find the details and register here by August 11.
Monthly Mission Partner
Our August Mission Partner is The Love of Christ Ministry. This is St. Andrew’s compassion ministry to the community. It is one way we help those in physical need. We show the love of Christ by helping not out of obligation, but out of thanksgiving for Christ’s love. We embrace the outstanding debt to love.
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Westside Christian School
A ministry of St. Andrew, preparing students for academic success and lives of Christian service founded on God’s Word
School days are coming!
The start of school is only weeks away. Preparing all students, no matter their age, for the transition back to school can be challenging. That’s why you need to start now.
If you have ever taken a trip across the country and jet lag plays into your recovery once you return, you understand what it is like for kids returning to school. They have to get up much earlier than they did during the summer. Hopefully, during the school year, they are going to bed earlier too. But changing the internal clock takes time. Start now.
Some additional thoughts and ideas can be found here. The better prepared you get your child for school before it begins, the better start to the school year they will have! |
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Serving This Week
Serving Jesus at St. Andrew this week, August 8 & 11, 2024
Musicians
Lead musician: Jonathan Fricke
Vocalists: Brandon Luppen, Meredith Pucci
Guitar: Clayton Grow, Jack Pucci
Drums: Elijah Grow, Sam Pucci
Trumpet: Clara Grow
Greeters
Thursday: Sharon Saxby
8:00 AM: Pete and Cecile Peterson
10:30 AM: Pete and Alice Zimpelman
Ushers
Thursday: Dave Rortvedt
8:00 AM: Aaron Dix, Jeff Grim
10:30 AM: Cole Brickner, Zachary Maron
Lay Readers
Thursday: Ron Kerr
8:00 AM: Paul Wittkamp
10:30 AM: Colin Shaffer
Communion Assistants
Thursday: Ron Kerr
8:00 AM: Karl Kuschel, Ed Murray
10:30 AM: Orv Jordahl, Mark Westphal
Communion Care
Thursday: Cheryl Utke
8:00 AM: Stephanie Grow
10:30 AM: Ron Ketterer
Audio
Thursday: Naomi Laabs
8:00 AM: Brent Denton
10:30 AM: Ian Eberle
Slide Tech
Thursday: Alex Bindl
8:00 AM: Paul Pucci
10:30 AM: Mia Teteak
Livestream Video
Jacob Miller
Hospitality
Thursday: Amanda Taticek
8:00 AM: Heidi Wolf
10:30 AM: Ana Belstra
Connection Card Assembly
Kevin and Sherry Kessler
Offering Caretakers
Dick and Vicky Bernards
Growth Group Leaders
Daniel Dammann, Jared Dammann, Paige Fricke, Mark Kjenstad, Ashley Renstrom
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