Christmas Concert | December 18
This Saturday, December 18, at 4 PM, piano extraordinaire Zach Unke will be performing his Christmas concert entitled “Comfort and Joy” here at St. Andrew. Enjoy some incredible Christmas piano music first and then stick around for some delicious appetizers, apple cider, and a hot chocolate bar around the Christmas tree. Join us for this fun and relaxing taste of Christmas.Advent Home Devotions

Christmas worship schedule
Christmas Eve: 1, 3, 5 PM (livestream available at 5 PM)
Christmas Day: Online only
December 26: Lessons and Carols at 8 & 10:30 AM
January 2: New Year’s worship at 8 & 10:30 AM
No worship on December 23 or December 30Christmas Day at home?
St. Andrew has enjoyed the unique worship afforded by the Festival of our Lord’s Nativity, aka Christmas Day. You’ve probably noticed this year we are not gathering for worship on Christmas Day. Instead, we’ll gather for worship on Christmas Eve (Friday), release a home devotion video on Christmas Day (Saturday), and gather for a service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, the first Sunday of Christmas. Several factors influenced this decision: serving more people with Lessons and Carols in two services on Sunday than we can in one service on Christmas Day; the reality of finding available musicians and other volunteers to serve Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; and, realistically, many of our family of faith may not be able to gather on all three days. One could say the birth of our Savior is worth it, and that one would be right. Next year, we intend to go back to a Christmas Day worship service.

Children’s Christmas Program | Coming December 23
A big event like the Children’s Christmas Program requires decisions to be made quite early. Back in early fall it was decided that an in-person children’s program in 2021 was not going to be possible. However, the children of St. Andrew and Westside Christian have been hard at work preparing a program via video in order to still share the Christmas story with family and friends. On December 23, “The Miracle of Christmas” will be released on our website and social media. Enjoy the video and share with others as the children remind us of THE Miracle, Jesus, born to save us from our sin.

Worship Check-in
Connection Cards have returned. If you worship on-site, please fill out the Connection Card attached to your worship folder each week. Online worshipers, please continue to check in here.

Weekend worship songs
Preview some of the songs we will use for worship this weekend and during Christmas. We will sing many familiar Christmas carols as well, but listening to the links provided for some of the newer songs will certainly help you be more comfortable participating in the service.
“Peace Has Come” by Hillsong
“Soon and Very Soon” by Andrae Crouch
“Hear the God of Love and Comfort” by Sarah Lambrecht
“In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty, Stuart Townend

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by Matt Maher
“O Come, All Ye Faithful” by Chris Tomlin
“Silent Night” by Casting Crowns
“Joy to the World (Shout for Joy)” by Paul Baloche
“He Has Come for Us (God Rest Ye)” by Meredith Andrews
“Joy Has Dawned” by Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
“Away in a Manger”
“Once in Royal David’s City”
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
. . .  and many more!

Grow in Grace—whole church Bible study
Christians have peace on earth even when there is not peace on earth. Learn more from the song the angels sang to the shepherds on the night of Christ’s birth. Join your church for this Christmas Grow in Grace Bible study Songs in Luke led by St. Andrew Staff Minister for Nurture Mark Kjenstad. Grow in Grace is at 9:30 AM in the sanctuary.Small Talk
Small Talk is a new podcast featuring St. Andrew children sharing the good news about Jesus. Host Rachel Kamin talks to young children about the birth of Jesus. This week is all about the angels. You can’t listen without smiling! Use this link to listen. You can also find Small Talk on Spotify by searching “Kjenstad Impact.”

Impact—A St. Andrew podcast
The apostle Peter speaks about swimming in filth and rejoicing while suffering. That and more are in part two of the conversation with Pastor Greg Lyon from Wisconsin Lutheran College. Impact is new every Monday, and all past episodes are available. Click here for Impact, or find it where you listen to podcasts. Search “Kjenstad Impact.”

Advent by Candlelight
The to-do list was forgotten, and the hassles of the holidays were left at the door. The St. Andrew atrium was transformed into a quiet meditative sanctuary. Over 50 women joined together in preparing their hearts for the coming Messiah during the Advent by Candlelight service.  One woman responded with this comment:  “We were able to come together as a family of women to thank and praise God for the gift of his Son.  It truly will remain in my heart this Christmas season.”

A heartfelt thank you to the many women who helped make this event happen: the organizers, the musicians, the decorators, the readers, and the cookie/dessert bakers.  You ALL made the event an unforgettable one. To God be the glory!

FUEL
FUEL is taking a break but will return with a Saturday night pizza party in January. FUEL will start meeting again on Sundays at 9:30 AM in mid-January. In the meantime, St. Andrew high school students are encouraged to attend Grow in Grace (see above). Speak to Mr. KJ for more information about FUEL, St. Andrew’s high school ministry.

Plugged into Jesus
Home activity for “A Returning Truth: Christ Returns”: Talk as a family about how John described heaven in the lesson. Use this link to watch the Bible teaching video.

Kit and video share: Extra Kits will be made available after worship on December 16 and 19. Kits are easily shared or shipped. Video access will be demonstrated. Consider which kids in your world might be blessed by home Bible lessons!

December 12 was the end of our Children’s Ministry sessions for this semester.
Musikgarten, Plugged into Jesus, and Spark will resume January 9.