This Sunday
Of demons and spirits
The last thing any of us wants to be is an expert on demons and spirits. It’s possible to have an unhealthy interest in such realities. On the other hand, none of us wants to be unaware of such things. The apostle Paul frequently refers to demonic spiritual “powers” which inspire false religions and oppose and undermine God’s work and God’s people. We live in the same world. The same demonic spiritual powers are at work today. But the same God who overcame them in Ephesus overcomes them in our day. And he does it through the same means he used in Paul’s day: the message of Jesus. Read Acts 19 and gather with the saints for worship on Thursday at 7 PM or on Sunday at 8 or 10:30 AM. The risen Jesus, your Good Shepherd, will protect you, his sheep, from every evil spirit.
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Highlights
Events and ministry news needing immediate attention
Grow in Grace
Grow in Grace—whole church Bible study—is returning on Sunday. Join us for a three-part series called Addressing Mental Health. Here is the schedule:
- May 8—Christian author Bill Woodington will present on his book, Whatever is True: A Christian View of Anxiety. Mr. Woodington is a member of Cross of Christ Lutheran church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
- May 15—Dr. Phil Huebner from Wisconsin Lutheran High School will talk about his book, Who Am I?: Understanding Your Identity in Christ Through Facts Not Feelings. This book was written specifically for teens, but has relevance for all ages.
- May 22—The topic is grief and depression and will feature an interview with a WELS pastor talking about his ongoing battle with depression.
Grow in Grace will be from 9:30 – 10:15 AM in the sanctuary. All three sessions will be recorded and available online through The Weekly.
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Worship
Resources and opportunities for you to worship
Good Shepherd Sunday
Join us this weekend, May 5 & 8, as we continue the excitement of Easter by celebrating Good Shepherd Sunday. We will be reminded in Scripture and song that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, lays down his life for us, his sheep. On Sunday from 9:00 – 10:30 AM, our resident shepherd, Ferron Havens, will bring some of his lambs to St. Andrew. Come and enjoy the lambs outside on the front grass between services.
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Visual Arts summer team
Did you enjoy the cross and backdrop during the Lent and Easter season? Do you have a creative mind or enjoy art? The Visual Arts team will be designing something for the front of the church for the summer months and would love for you to be part of the team. The team will meet Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 PM at St. Andrew. Contact Minister of Worship Naomi Laabs or Visual Arts team lead Sue Martalock for more information.
8 AM Communion Care
There is an opportunity to serve on the 8 AM Communion Care team. This team arrives at church 30 – 45 minutes before the 8 AM service about once a month to set up the bread and wine for Communion. Following 8 AM church, this team then resets for the 10:30 AM service. This is a great and important way for an individual or a family to serve. If you would like more information, contact Minister of Worship Naomi Laabs.
Milestons
Four times a year, St. Andrew welcomes as communicant members the young people who have completed their Confirmation studies with their parents. Last week we welcomed into communing membership these young people:
Shelby Grace Ehlke, daughter of Duane and Lynnda Ehlke | Serving as a Greeter
August Aaron Faessler, son of Aaron and Amanda Faessler | Serving as a Slide Tech and on a Music team
Ryen Joshua Kjenstad, son of Mark and Jessica Kjenstad | Serving as a Greeter
Tyler Maurice Kremer, son of Daniel and Kristen Kremer | Serving as a Greeter
Zachary Richard Maron, son of Brian and Jennifer Maron | Serving as an Usher and on the Audio team
Kaitlyn Paige Mullin, daughter of John and Laurie Mullin | Serving as a Slide Tech
Nolan Jesse Oberloh, son of Jesse and Kari Oberloh | Serving as an Usher
Natalie Margaret Sunjoo Onsager, daughter of Paul and Yvonne Onsager | Serving on the Audio team
Hannah Suzanne Timm, daughter of Jason and Julie Timm | Serving on the Connection Card Assembly team
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 here. 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.
“10,000 Reasons” Matt Redman
“Living Hope” by Phil Wickham
“The Lord’s My Shepherd” by Tim Bode
“Yet Not I but through Christ in Me” by CityAlight
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Nurture
Ways to be connected to Jesus throughout the week in your personal life and with others
Growth Groups
St. Andrew Growth Groups are a wonderful way to nourish the precious gift of faith God has graciously given us and to connect with brothers and sisters in Christ. Summer Growth Groups will begin June 5. Sign up beginning this Sunday. Find more information about St. Andrew Growth Groups here.
Impact
The power of Satan is great. The power of Jesus is greater. Listen to Pastor Erich Schaser from Fox Valley Lutheran High School talk about Revelation 13 on this week’s episode of Impact. You can find Impact here or wherever you listen to podcasts by searching “Kjenstad Impact.”
Fun at the zoo at PowerHour
PowerHour returns May 6 with fun at the zoo! PowerHour is enrichment for children up to age 3 with parents or caregivers. PowerHour happens at 10:30 AM in the gymnasium on the first and third Friday of the month from September through May. Each PowerHour includes creative learning activities, fun stories, sing-along songs, and a message from Jesus. Who can you tell about St. Andrew PowerHour?
Children’s Ministries Family Day
Come investigate! Have you been suspicious about what happens in the gym on Sunday mornings? Search out the truth this Sunday! Plugged into Jesus Pre-K3 – grade 5 as well as Spark kids and their families are invited to the gym from 9:20 – 10:20 AM for games, singing, a skit, and snacks, all around the Bible lesson “The Fall-Short Report: The Twelve Spies.” This will be a great time to explore activities with your kids and uncover the truth about God’s love for families! We hope to see you! Questions? Contact Jane Dew.
Musikgarten
Join other families and friends of infants and toddlers on Sunday at 9:20 AM to move to music and rhythm. This will be our last session for the year. See you next fall! Questions? Contact Mrs. Karen Hong.
FUEL | High school ministry
Learning form God’s Word with some summer fun awaits FUEL! We will get together for a hike and Bible study and a campfire and Bible study. For now, high school students are encouraged to attend Grow in Grace, with a special encouragement to attend on May 15 to listen to Dr. Phil Huebner talk about his book written to help teens find their identity in Christ. He is a terrific speaker with an encouraging message!
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Service & Outreach
Opportunities for you to live your faith and love for Jesus by sharing Jesus with others
Spring work day
This Saturday, May 7, 8 AM – 12 PM, St. Andrew will be tidying up the property, repairing the lawn along the parking lot edges by adding soil and re-seeding, and cleaning up around the rock beds. If you are interested in digging in and helping out, please contact Aaron Faessler.
Call news
We have called Pastor Matthew Westra to serve as our Pastor for Service and Outreach. Pastor Westra currently serves Living Promise Lutheran Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Pray for him and his wife, Rachel, and their three children, Noelle, Andrew, and Avery. May God bless their deliberation and build his kingdom through their decision.
Dear fellow saints at St. Andrew in Middleton, Wisconsin,
Grace, mercy, and peace.
Sunday afternoon I was telephoned by your congregation president and informed that you have extended a call for me to serve as your Pastor for Service and Outreach. I am humbled by this call. With Isaiah I say that “I am a man of unclean lips” and I know that I do not deserve the privilege of ministry that you have offered to me. It is only through the grace and mercy of God that I can serve, and I am thankful that you would offer to me the opportunity of sharing “Jesus Christ crucified” among you.
As I and my family consider this call, please pray for me and my wife, Rachel; my seven-year-old daughter, Noelle; my five-year-old son, Andrew; and our three-year-old daughter, Avery. In the weeks ahead I look forward to speaking with many of your leaders. I am excited to hear what challenges and blessings God has placed before all of you and how you see my work fitting into your plans. Please feel free to contact me if you would like. My phone number is 513.252.5137, and email address is [email protected].
Having celebrated Easter, we are reminded of the victory that is ours and the privilege of proclaiming that victory to our hearts and into our communities. This risen Savior is still the one who works all things in the church for his glory and for the good of his people.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Matt Westra
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May Monthly Mission Partner | Central Africa Medical Mission
This month our Monthly Mission Partner turns our eyes and prayers to the medical missions of Africa, where medical aid is used to share the good news of Jesus. Last year the Medical Mission celebrated 60 years of ministry and medical aid to Africa. To find out more, go to their website, or read an article about them in Forward in Christ.
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Serving This Week
Serving Jesus at St. Andrew this week, May 5 & 8, 2022
Musicians
Lead musician: Kim Gnewuch
Vocalist: Brandon Luppen, Kim Marshall
Guitar: Jon Povich
Drums: Justin Beck
Cello: Rachel Fricke
Saxophone: Wayne Utke
Ushers
Thurs: Jim Pease
8:00 AM: Brad and Josh Hougaard
10:30 AM: Greg and Zach Yunger
Lay Readers
8:00 AM: Ron Kerr
10:30 AM: Curt Kephart
Communion Assistants
Thurs: Andy Bindl
8:00 AM: Ron Kerr, Dan Kremer
10:30 AM: Brandon Brickner, Clayton Grow
Communion Care
Thurs: Amy Kohlstedt
8:00 AM: Sue Martalock
10:30 AM: Lee Ford, Carrie Pasch
Greeters
Thurs: Sharon Saxby
8:00 AM: LoToya and Mia Murray
10:30 AM: Patina Hooten, Isabelle Volberg
Slide Tech
Thurs: Alex Bindl, Naomi Laabs
8:00 AM: Tammy Mielke
10:30 AM: Victoria Volberg
Audio
Video
Elijah Grow
Connection Card Assembly
Hill family
Offering Caretakers
Andy and Lisa Bindl
Children’s Ministries
Musikgarten: Karen Hong
Plugged into Jesus: Amy Beier, Jane Dew, Nikki Hill, Jonas Hill, Hill family, Chris Hougaard, Rachel Kamin, and Spark middle school students
Spark: Lance Hill
Growth Group Leaders:
Justin Beck, Jared Dammann, Jane Dew, Mark Kjenstad
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