New children’s ministry director
Let the little children come to me. These words of Jesus are fulfilled in many ways through the various children’s ministries at St. Andrew. These ministries will now be directed by Yvonne Onsager, a longtime member of St. Andrew. She will work with Staff Minister Mark Kjenstad as our children’s ministry director. Her primary focus will be oversight of Sunday morning ministries and the planning of next summer’s St. Andrew Science Camp. Please pray for Yvonne as she fills this new position for the next 12 months.

Online worship feedback
Have you used our online worship in the past year? We are looking for your feedback on how you use our online worship services and what we can do to improve your experience with it. If this applies to you, please take this short questionnaire to provide your feedback. Thanks in advance!

Installation Adult Choir
Blend your voice with others to sing God’s praise as we install our new principal and two 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.

Memorial service
Dan and Kallista Fischer are mourning the loss of their preborn daughter, Hannah, earlier this month. They invite you to gather with them for a devotional service at 10 AM on Saturday, August 3, followed by refreshments and a time to visit. “You knit me together in my mother’s womb . . . Your eyes saw my unformed body” (Psalm 139:13, 16).

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 to the Lord, the Almighty” by Dan Kreider
“O Church Arise (Arise Shine)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty, Chris Tomlin
“My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness” by Stuart Townend
“Compassion Hymn” by Keith & Kristyn Getty

College addresses
College does not have to be the time today’s young adults leave their faith behind. We want them to continue with Jesus and his church. 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 join you in encouraging their continued walk with Jesus. Please send addresses to mark.kjenstad@st-andrew-online.org.

Let the Word dwell
When you come to church or read your Bible, don’t just hear the Word of God—think about it. Dwell on it. I know you know that, but we all need encouragement because it is easy to slip into bad habits. A bad habit is to gloss over God’s Word. A bad habit is to read through your worship folder during the reading of God’s Word. Listen to God. Hear what he says, and then dwell on what he reveals to you about yourself and what he reveals about himself. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). Happy dwelling!

Small Talk returns soon
Small Talk is kids sharing the good news about Jesus. Host Rachel Kamin asks questions about the Bible, and the kids take it from there. Small Talk episodes run about 10 minutes and are released four times throughout the year. A new episode on the wonderfully inspiring true story of Queen Esther will be released in early August. You can’t listen to Small Talk without smiling!

Impact
We are too much like Cain. Sin often gets the best of us. We also are like Abel in that the Lord looks on us with favor. Listen to more on the well-known Bible story of Cain and Abel with our guest, Pastor Jon Bilitz from Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel in Madison. You can listen to Impact here or by searching for “Kjenstad Impact.”

Summer mission trips
The half dozen who went to Rock Hill have returned home safely with stories and pictures. Feel free to ask them about their experience.

Earlier this week, another teen group and their leaders drove to Cincinnati, Ohio, to serve at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. Keep them in your prayers as you view their updates on Facebook.

New prison ministry volunteer opportunity
WELS Prison Ministry recently began distributing Bible correspondence courses digitally to inmates. The response has been significant, and the result is lots of opportunities to be a test corrector. This ministry can be done from home and does not involve any direct mail contact with the inmates. Correctors are asked to review tests in batches of 15 and return them to the Prison Ministry office in a timely fashion. Initially, correctors will receive and return the tests by mail, but the goal is to convert much of the correcting to an online option within the next year. If you would like to get more information or get involved, contact [email protected].

August 18 new called worker welcome and picnic
Save the date! The same day they are installed, we will formally welcome our new called workers Dan and Beth Plath and Krista Simmons, all three of whom are serving in capacities at Westside Christian School. We’ll have food and fun starting at noon, as well as opportunities to get to know these new servants.

Looking for a piano?
A St. Andrew family is willing to donate a digital piano to a family who would use it more. It is electric and not overly cumbersome. If you are or know someone looking for a keyboard, contact Pastor Clinton.

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 shows some of the efforts Asia Lutheran Seminary has been taking through the Regional Theological Education Program. The goal is to equip pastors to preach and teach, even if they cannot practically be part of a traditional classroom.

Monthly Mission Partner
July’s partner is Christian Aid & Relief, an organization of our church body whose mission is to reflect Christ’s love and compassion to souls suffering from disasters and hardships. Because of what Christ has freely done for us, we eagerly show we care by offering our time, talents, and treasures to those in need. For a better idea of what CAR does, go to wels.net/relief.