This Week
Too familiar
In Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus is without honor because he is only a prophet in the minds of so many locals. Far be it from us to trivialize who Jesus is and what he has done. It’s the same story it has been our whole lives, but it’s still amazing and life-changing. Join us this weekend to worship much more than a prophet. 7:00 Thursday night worship resumes, or join us Sunday morning at 8:00 or 10:30.
Matthew booklets for your personal notes and study are available in the atrium at St. Andrew. They contain the text of the Gospel of Matthew and blank space for your writings. Please feel free to take a booklet for yourself and/or a family member or friend.
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Highlights
Events and ministry news needing immediate attention
Call declined
Pastor Kuerth has returned the call to St. Andrew and will remain at Divine Savior in Miami. We thank him for his consideration. Below is the text of his letter to St. Andrew. We will soon announce a date for another call meeting.
Dear Members of St. Andrew,
Thank you for the opportunity to deliberate over the past month your call to serve as one of your pastors. What a privilege to learn about the blessings and opportunities the Lord has placed before you! And what a great ministry team and group of leaders you have there too!
I could see how the needs and opportunities that you expressed to me seemed to match up well with the strengths and experiences that the Lord has given me. That was compelling. However, after prayerful consideration, I believe that it’s best for me to continue serving where I am here in Doral, Florida, with Divine Savior at this time. One factor in this decision is my current, additional responsibility to serve the people of the island of Grenada in the Caribbean during their pastoral vacancy.
I am grateful for all of you who prayed for me and my family as well as everyone who reached out. (You all did a great job of that!) What a blessing to get to know you and hear your passion for your congregation, school, and community.
Exciting days are ahead for your ministry! I’m certain someone will be eager to join you as your pastor of outreach soon, and I’ll be praying that the Lord provides in his perfect timing and way.
In Christ,
Pastor Ben Kuerth
Grow in Grace
When it comes to knowing and understanding God’s will, Scripture has much to say. Some of what we learn is simple. The rest is quite complex, but what Scripture says brings us peace in the complexity. Join us for a two-week Grow in Grace on January 11 & 18 at 9:30 AM in the sanctuary. Childcare will be available in room 102.
Spring Growth Groups
A whole new assortment of Growth Groups is coming to St. Andrew in January. If you have never joined a St. Andrew Growth Group, make 2026 your year to give it a try. To learn more about Growth Groups and to sign up, go here. If you have a suggestion or a question for this ministry, contact Minister for Nurture Mark Kjenstad.
Thank you from called workers
Your St. Andrew and Westside Christian School called workers have received your Christmas gift, and we are humbled by your love. What a year 2025 was, but we are all energized and motivated to press on, in large part thanks to your continued support and encouragement. In the words of the apostle Paul, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” What a blessed partnership it is!
Sincerely, on behalf of all your called workers,
Naomi Laabs, Mark Kjenstad, Clinton Kreuziger, and Daniel Plath
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A Place of Peace
Updates related to the ministry expansion and building project
Construction update
Installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing conduits continue in the walls so drywall can be installed soon. Below you can see the two door frames for the sanctuary as if you’re standing inside the sanctuary looking toward the new atrium. All the gray pipes sticking out of the floor between the doors will be where the AV booth is.
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A Place of Peace giving
Giving can be set up like other offerings. Go to “Give” at the website, and you can set up a one-time or recurring gift. Choose “A Place of Peace” as the “Fund.” If using a check, please put “A Place of Peace” in the memo line. If using St. Andrew offering envelopes, use the designation “Ministry Expansion.”
Even if you didn’t make a formal pledge, you can still give. Every bit helps, as St. Andrew will still carry some debt, and the less debt, the more ministry.
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Worship
Resources and opportunities for you to worship
Thank you
The Spirit moved the hearts of many St. Andrew members last week to help take down the Christmas decorations. So many willing hands helped us get the decorations down, packed up, and back over to storage! Thank you to everyone who had a part in beautifying our church building this Christmas season, whether it was through decorating or helping to pack up the decorations!
Adult Choir resumes
Join your voice with others this year. Adult choir will be singing for worship again on Sunday, February 15. We will rehearse in the Soul Café January 28, February 4, and February 11 at 7 PM to prepare for that Sunday. Hope you can join us! Questions? Contact Minister of Worship Naomi Laabs.
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.
“Cornerstone” by Hillsong
“I Believe” by Phil Wickham
“Jesus, Messiah” by Chris Tomlin
“Ancient of Days” by CityAlight
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Nurture
Ways to be connected to Jesus throughout the week in your personal life and with others
Impact
Luke records the story of Simeon’s encounter with eight-day-old Jesus. Professor Paul Koelpin from Martin Luther College is our guest to help us learn from this true story. While in Luke 2 we will also read about Anna the prophetess and her reaction to seeing the Christ Child. You can listen to Impact here or by searching for “Kjenstad Impact” wherever you listen to podcasts.
Children’s ministries
Plugged into Jesus returns this Sunday. This ministry is for four-year-olds through grade 5. PIJ begins at 9:30.
Musikgarten, Spark, and FUEL are off until January 25. Spark and FUEL kids are encouraged to help with childcare or attend Grow in Grace. Contact Miss Nolte about helping with childcare.
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Service & Outreach
Opportunities for you to live your faith and love for Jesus by sharing Jesus with others
First Group begins January 25
Interested in learning more about Christianity? About St. Andrew? Maybe even joining the St. Andrew family? In this group, you will gain an overview of the Bible, see the difference God’s powerful Word makes in our lives, and get your questions answered. The next session will be on Sunday mornings at 9:30 beginning January 25. Contact Pastor Clinton for more information.
How can you serve?
The One Body, Many Members survey is a tool for you to let St. Andrew know how you might like to serve. Some are recurring; others are situational. The responses have been used successfully many times, allowing lots of members to find new or different ways to serve. Please consider refreshing your survey or completing it for the first time.
One Body, Many Members Survey
Monthly Mission Partner
Our January partner is Institutional Ministries, a WELS organization that ministers to inmates in various ways. Find more information about this ministry at their website.
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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
Basketball fills the gym
We are in the midst of basketball season at Westside Christian School. We are very excited about some changes that have gone on in the gym over Christmas break to help our basketball teams. We got four new basketball hoops for our gym. This will allow us to have two practices going on simultaneously. It also allows us to have a couple more hoops for all the players to use.
We are so thankful for the Friends of Westside who provided the funding to make this goal a reality. Thank you also to Mr. Murphy, WCS’s Athletic Director, for organizing the installation of the hoops over Christmas break. Hope you have a chance to stop in and see the hoops or even make it to a game. Go Wave! |
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Call for grade 5
St. Andrew called Miss Heather Schmidt to teach grade 5 at Westside next year. We are anxiously awaiting her response. Please keep Miss Schmidt and all our teachers in your prayers. |
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Serving This Week
Serving Jesus at St. Andrew this week, January 8 & 11, 2026
Musicians
Lead musician: Melissa Dyer
Vocalists: Melissa Dyer, Trudi Jo Halvorson
Guitar: Carter Buechner, Jon Povich, Colin Shafer
Drums: Scott Fanello
Saxophone: Jane Povich
Greeters
Thursday: Dan and Sarah Arndt
8:00 AM: Joe Kotecki and Georgia Siler family
10:30 AM: Luis Mendoza-Cruz and Ashley Otto family
Ushers
Thursday: Greg Bleck
8:00 AM: Brad Hougaard, Mark Roloff
10:30 AM: Cole Brickner, Pete Zimpelman
Lay Readers
Thursday: Mitch Hutter
8:00 AM: Paul Wittkamp
10:30 AM: Dick Smith
Communion Assistants
Thursday: Mitch Hutter
8:00 AM: Jeff Grim, Levi Schriefer
10:30 AM: Clayton Grow, Jim Teteak
Communion Care
Thursday: Amy and Alayna Hutter
8:00 AM: Chris Hougaard
10:30 AM: Stephanie Grow
Audio
Thursday: Naomi Laabs
Sunday: Terry Jacobs
Slide Tech
Thursday: Dan Fischer
8:00 AM: Maddy Hougaard
10:30 AM: Jacob Miller
Livestream Video
Dan Wasmer
Hospitality
Thursday: Amanda Taticek
8:00 AM: Heidi Wolf
10:30 AM: Claire Mann
Connection Card Assembly
Joe and Denise Henningfield
Offering Caretakers
Laurie Engel, Carrie Pasch
Children’s Ministries
Plugged into Jesus: Renee Carlson, Kaitlyn Mullin, Emma Nolte, Jane Povich
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