This Week
Facing up to faith
Imagine someone gives you a generous gift for your birthday. A new car. A trip. A sailboat. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous and wrong for you to tell a friend, “Look what I earned!” To brag about what you’ve done for the gift would not only be untrue, it would also be an insult to the giver. The only thing you could boast about would be the generosity of another person on your behalf. In Romans 4, the apostle Paul describes a gift the patriarch Abraham received from God but couldn’t boast about. We’ve received the same gift. We can’t boast about what we’ve done to deserve it, but we certainly do boast about the generosity of the One who gave it. We call that worship. Gather with fellow recipients and boasters this Thursday at 7 PM or on Sunday at 8 AM or 10:30 AM.
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Highlights
Events and ministry news needing immediate attention
Monday follow-up change
Prior to COVID days, you received an email with worship resources only if you were absent from the gathering of God’s people on Thursday or Sunday. Now that COVID is in the rear-view mirror and in an effort to judiciously fill your inbox, we will go back to that practice. You can help with the process by using the Connection Cards or checking in online, as the vast majority of us do. You can still access videos of worship services, sermons, and audio of sermons at st-andrew-online.org/resources.
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Worship
Resources and opportunities for you to worship
Wednesday Lent Devotions | Cross Peace
“He himself is our peace . . . through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14,16).Gather with brothers and sisters at 5:00 or 6:30 PM each Wednesday of Lent. Stay for dinner provided by one of our St. Andrew Best Chefs from 5:30 to 6:15 PM. Livestream will be available at 5:00 PM.
- February 14: The Sword| Best Chef Lauren Figi served white chicken chili
- February 21: The Rooster | Best Chefs Kratts and Murphys will serve beef vegetable stew
- February 28: The Sign| Best Chef Laura Westphal will serve spaghetti (gluten free available)
- March 6: The Whip | Best Chefs Jesus Avila and Asencion Montenegro will serve BBQ pulled pork sandwiches
- March 13: The Spear | Best Chef Noemi Reyes will serve chili lime chicken
- March 20: The Crown | Best Chef Kallista Fischer will serve carnitas tacos
Easter flower orders
We are already anticipating the resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday! If you would like to help decorate the sanctuary for Easter with the purchase of Easter flowers, please place your order by March 15. You can do so by filling out the online form here or by picking up an order form at the Welcome Center. Flowers can be taken home following Easter worship on March 31.
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.
“God So Loved” by We the Kingdom
“I Will Sing” by Sandra McCracken
“Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” by Don Chapman
“I Am Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave
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Nurture
Ways to be connected to Jesus throughout the week in your personal life and with others
Seven Words from the Cross
To help your Lenten meditation, you can listen to this past episode of Impact, a St. Andrew podcast. The first of Jesus’ seven words from the cross are featured. Look for part two next week. St. Andrew summer camp
Summer camp at St. Andrew will look a little different this year. Instead of conducting science experiments and kicking soccer balls, kids will have an opportunity to grow in music, art, cooking, and more. What won’t be different is that Jesus will be in the middle of everything. The dates are July 8 – 11. Registration will begin after Easter.
Camp Phillip
If you are looking for a Christian overnight summer camp, consider Camp Phillip in Wautoma. They have been hosting summer camps for over fifty years. Go here to see what is available in 2024. There are cards with more information in the atrium.
New Growth Group
If you are in your 20s or early 30s, we have a new Growth Group just for you. This group is now meeting on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in room 107. If you would like more information on this group, please contact Andrew Fritz or Mr. KJ, or just show up on Sunday morning. You will be welcomed with open arms or maybe just a smile and a chair.
Impact
Have you ever asked God for a sign? If you have, maybe you learned that from Gideon. Pastor John Boggs from Luther Preparatory School talks about that and more on part two of this three-part episode. You can listen to Impact here or wherever you find podcasts by searching “Kjenstad Impact.”
PowerHour
Children up to age 3 and their caregivers are invited to the next PowerHour. Join us on Friday, March 1, at 10:30 AM in the St. Andrew gym. If you want to know what the theme will be, we can’t tell you. It’s a surprise! Click here for more information on PowerHour.
Sunday children’s ministries
Nurturing the precious faith of our youth is the focus of our Sunday children’s ministries. Take a look at what is available for kids of all ages, including high school.
Musikgarten | 3 and under | Room 102 @ 9:20
Plugged into Jesus | 4K – K | Room 100 @ 9:20
Plugged into Jesus | grades 1 – 5 | Gym @ 9:20
Spark | grades 6 – 8 | Room 110 @ 9:30
FUEL | grades 9 – 12 | Room 116 @ 9:30
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Service & Outreach
Opportunities for you to live your faith and love for Jesus by sharing Jesus with others
Those crosses are nice
The cross you received for Lent did not come from Amazon or a craft store. It was handmade. Let’s thank our cross makers Henry Netzinger, Neil Marshall, John Schmoller, and Casey Weiss for their hard work. If you haven’t picked yours up yet, there are plenty in the atrium.
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Lenten meals: setup, service, and cleanup
Lent worship services are additional opportunities to gather and focus on our Savior and to share a meal. If you or your Growth Group would like to serve by assisting the chefs with prep, setup, service, and cleanup, sign up here. LWMS Convention June 27 – 30
Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society exists to support mission outreach within our church body. The annual LWMS convention is June 27 – 30 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Find more information about the convention and about LWMS at their website.
Monthly Mission Partner
This summer, teens and adults will go on mission trips to several different locations to help spread the gospel of Jesus. Not everyone will go on a mission trip, but you can still support them with prayers, encouragement, and offerings. Both the host congregations of mission trips and the participants themselves have always appreciated St. Andrew’s support.
WELS Connection
Every month, our church body releases a video to highlight a specific project or ministry of some of our brothers and sisters in faith. Last month’s video was a recap of blessings 2023 brought and a look ahead to what’s coming in 2024.
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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
Call acceptance letter
Our 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Gnewuch, has received a call to Abiding Peace Academy in Simpsonville, South Carolina, to teach a 3rd/4th or 4th/5th combo classroom next school year. She welcomes your prayers, words of encouragement, and thoughts for her as she deliberates this call.
We have called two individuals to join our ministry next school year. Dan Plath was called to serve as principal. He is currently the principal at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Beverly Hills, Florida. Krista Simmons, a member of St. Andrew, was called to serve as the new middle school special education and ELA teacher. We are thankful to say that Krista has accepted the call to teach at WCS starting next school year. Her call acceptance letter is below. Please pray for Dan as he continues to deliberate.
Dear Members of St. Andrew and Westside Christian School families,
When I think about all of the blessings God has placed in my life, the best way I believe I can thank him is to serve his kingdom. It is my prayer that I can show gratitude to God by doing my best to teach and help my students grow. I am committed to encouraging my students not only in their learning but in their faith. Thank you, community of St. Andrew and Westside Christian School, for your prayers and support. I am looking forward to a great school year!
In Christ,
Krista Simmons |
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Serving This Week
Serving Jesus at St. Andrew this week, February 22 & 25, 2024
Musicians
Lead musician: Naomi Laabs
Vocalists: Amanda Faessler, Naomi Laabs
Guitar: Terry Jacobs, Liam Liermann
Drums: Aaron Faessler
Cello: Kaelana Faessler
Piano: Adam Figi
Saxophone: Malia Faessler
Greeters
Thursday: Ellen Soukup
8:00 AM: Karen Hunter, Pete and Cece Peterson
10:30 AM: Patina Hooten, Isabelle Volberg
Ushers
Thursday: Phil Otto
8:00 AM: Mark and Kyler Roloff
10:30 AM: Cole Brickner, Dan Simpson
Communion Assistants
Thursday: Dick Bernards
8:00 AM: Brian Fritz, John Kamin
10:30 AM: Brandon Brickner, Tom Shepard
Communion Care
Thursday: Rachel Martalock
8:00 AM: Kylie Roekle
10:30 AM: Susan Wright
Audio
Thursday:
8:00 AM: Natalie Onsager
10:30 AM: Sarah Wendorf
Slide Tech
Thursday: Kaitlyn Mullin
8:00 AM: Micki Ross
10:30 AM: Dana Veers
Livestream Video
Elle Bolstad
Hospitality
Thursday:
8:00 AM: Michelle Murphy
10:30 AM: Jill Kaltenberg
Connection Card Assembly
Pete and Alice Zimpelman
Offering Caretakers
Jim and Heidi Pease
Children’s Ministries
Musikgarten: Karen Hong, Ellen Soukup
Plugged into Jesus: Esther Bohl, Lauren Figi, Sarah Gilbert, Isaac Heckmann, Lauren Schroeder
Spark: Jessica Bohl, Hilary Griswold
Growth Group Leaders
Pastor Clinton, Jared Dammann, Jane Dew, Andrew Fritz, Brian Fritz, Amy Heckmann, Brad Hougaard, Pastor Hunter, Mitch Hutter, Ron Kerr, Mark Kjenstad, Sue Martalock, Wayne Utke, Bill Walther, Sarah Wendorf
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