This Week
Drawing the line
Do you remember COVID? Unless you’re a newborn or have a failing memory, of course you do. Remember the unknowns, the fear, the divisiveness, and the decisions? Leaders of St. Andrew prayed often as we entered that season that the Lord would guide us to make decisions that would reflect our love for Christ and his people, weak or strong. COVID is in the rearview mirror, but we’ll always have to make decisions that have potential to hurt or help. Where do you draw the line? Don’t expect pat answers; expect the God who cared enough to die for you to guide you. Read Romans 14 and join the gathered saints for worship Thursday night at 7 or Sunday morning at 8 or 10:30.
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Highlights
Events and ministry news needing immediate attention
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.
Thank you for the feedback
Thank you so much to all those who took a few minutes to fill out the feedback form regarding our online worship services. The Worship team is excited to use this information to help make improvements to this important ministry.
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).
Milestones
Jacob Wotruba and Heleana Jackowski were united in marriage last Saturday. In August, Jacob will begin his second year at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, where he is in the pastoral track to prepare for entrance to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and after that, God-willing, to serve as a pastor. Heleana is a Middleton native who is excited to join Jacob on this path toward ministry and one day serve along with him in a congregation. May the Lord bless them on this journey.
Emery Claire Lindholm was baptized into Christ last Sunday. Kaitlin (Hackbarth) and Dane Lindholm were united in marriage at St. Andrew five years ago. We give thanks that the Lord has blessed them with a child and that he has blessed Emery with new life and salvation through his work in Holy Baptism. We look forward to serving their family with God’s Word and sacraments for their continuing growth in 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.
“Who You Say I Am” by Hillsong
“Because He Lives” by Matt Maher
“Children of the Heavenly Father” arranged by Thomas Keesecker
“I Am Not My Own” by Skye Peterson
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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.
Growth Groups
The fall lineup of St. Andrew Growth Groups is almost ready to be revealed. Look for it very soon. In the meantime, if Growth Groups are new to you, click here to learn more.
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.
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 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 August 7. You can’t listen to Small Talk without smiling!
Impact
Drifting away on a boat on a beautiful summer day sounds quite appealing. Drifting away from Jesus? Not so much. Pastor Greg Lyon from Wisconsin Lutheran College is here to talk about that and other teachings pulled from Hebrews 2. You can listen to Impact here or by searching for “Kjenstad Impact.”
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Service & Outreach
Opportunities for you to live your faith and love for Jesus by sharing Jesus with others
Summer mission trips
The Cincinnati group has returned. See lots of pictures of all the mission trips in this gallery. One more mission team will head to Brandon, South Dakota, next month.
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Service Opportunity | Childcare
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.
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].
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
Let it shine
This summer, the school gymnasium floor was cleaned and varnished, and it looks great! It is ready for the many uses our gym serves for our WCS students from physical education classes, sports practices, and games, to a cafeteria each day for lunch. This is one of those spaces at Westside that is busy from the beginning of the day until the end. What a blessing to have such a fine facility for our students! |
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Serving This Week
Serving Jesus at St. Andrew this week, August 1 & 4, 2024
Musicians
Lead musician: Kevin Meske
Vocalists: Melissa Dyer, Trudi Jo Halvorson
Guitar: Pastor Clinton
Drums: Natalie Onsager
Cello: Rachel Fricke
Saxophone: Wayne Utke
Greeters
Thursday: Ellen Soukup
8:00 AM: Amy Beier, Kate Thiele
10:30 AM: Dick Smith, Susan Wright
Ushers
Thursday: Dave Rortvedt
8:00 AM: Mark and Kyler Roloff
10:30 AM: Sabastian Murray, Pete Zimpelman
Communion Assistants
Thursday: Dick Bernards
8:00 AM: Jack Murphy, Casey Weiss
10:30 AM: Paul Onsager, Jim Teteak
Communion Care
Thursday: Glennda Brandt
8:00 AM: Kylie Roekle
10:30 AM: Susan Wright
Audio
Naomi Laabs
Slide Tech
Thursday: Dan Fischer
8:00 AM: Paul Pucci
10:30 AM: Micki Ross
Livestream Video
Thad Molling
Hospitality
Thursday:
8:00 AM: Michelle Murphy
10:30 AM: Yvonne Onsager
Connection Card Assembly
Henningfield family
Offering Caretakers
Phil and Dawn Otto
Growth Group Leaders
Pastor Clinton, Daniel Dammann, Jared Dammann, Paige Fricke, Pastor Hunter, Mark Kjenstad, Paul Onsager, Ashley Renstrom
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