This Week
Do not fear
Welcome to Advent, the first season of the church year, the four weeks before Christmas. Advent means “coming.” In Advent we celebrate three things: Christ came in the past as a baby in Bethlehem, Christ is coming now as we, his church, gather around his Word and sacrament, and Christ is coming again to make all things new and judge the world in righteousness. To remind us of the season, you’ll notice an Advent wreath in the chancel. The first candle is called the Prophecy Candle, reminding us to wait for Christ to fulfill all his promises. The second is the Bethlehem Candle, reminding us how God brought all things together for the birth of his Son. The third is the Shepherds’ Candle, reminding us of the joy we have in telling others the Good News. The fourth is the Angels’ Candle, reminding us how our Lord cares for us now and how he will return with his holy angels. Advent isn’t just history; it’s also about our lives. When God’s angels appeared to tell the Good News, they began with, “Do not be afraid.” This Advent season, let their words sink deeply into your heart. Take time to ponder what their message means to us, and in worship give your attention to and give thanksgiving for the gift of our gracious God, in his Son, the Savior of the world.
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Highlights
Events and ministry news needing immediate attention
Grow in Grace
Grow in Grace returns this Sunday and next at 9:30 AM in the sanctuary.
- What’s Going On in Israel? | December 3
- Glow in the Dark: Grit, Resilience, and Faithfulness in the Face of Grief | December 10 with Dr. Stacy Jensen from Wisconsin Lutheran College
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Worship
Resources and opportunities for you to worship
Children’s Christmas Program rehearsals
Sunday, December 10, starting at 3:30 PM, the children of St. Andrew and Westside Christian School will present their Christmas program at the Middleton Performing Arts Center. There are a few important rehearsals coming up for those participating:
- Tuesday, December 5, 6 – 7 PM, at St. Andrew (grades 2 – 8 only)
- Saturday, December 9, at the Middleton PAC
- 9:00 – 9:30 AM—Pre-K3 – grade 1
- 9:30 – 11:00 AM—grades 2 – 8
If your child is interested in participating in the program, please reach out to Minister of Worship Naomi Laabs. Practice materials can be found here.
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.
“From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable” by Stuart Townend
“Everlasting God” by Brenton Brown
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” arranged by Paul Mills
“Behold the Lamb of God” by Andrew Peterson
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Nurture
Ways to be connected to Jesus throughout the week in your personal life and with others
Advent
Happy Advent! Advent is a time to prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus on that first Christmas and look ahead to his next coming on Judgment Day. Here are worship and nurture opportunities for individuals and families:
God bless you as you look back on and look ahead to the coming of your Savior.
Advent by Candlelight
Jesus has been given many wonderful names including Savior, Prince of Peace, and King of Kings. At this year’s Advent by Candlelight, women of all ages are invited to reflect on how each name proclaims who Jesus is. Join us on Sunday, December 3, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Bring a friend. Sign up here. If you would like to bake a bundt cake or help serve, please contact Nancy Ninman.
Impact
What does it mean to be religious? What is good religion? What is bad religion? What does it mean to have a relationship with God? Those questions and more this week with Pastor Mike Novotny. You can listen to Impact here or wherever you find podcasts by searching “Kjenstad Impact.”
PowerHour
The PowerHour staff is anxious to welcome parents and their young children to PowerHour. Children up to age three and their caregivers are invited. The next PowerHour is December 1 at 10:30 AM in the gym. The theme is “Sounds of the Season.” Click here for more on PowerHour.
Sunday Children’s Ministries
Plugged into Jesus and Musikgarten will be taking a break after December 10. These children ministries will resume on January 14.
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Service & Outreach
Opportunities for you to live your faith and love for Jesus by sharing Jesus with others
Thank you, St. Andrew
This is from St. Andrew member Seth Veers, who is studying for the public ministry. Seth is in his third year at Martin Luther College. St. Andrew provided him with financial support for the 2023-24 school year.
St. Andrew,
Thank you for your ongoing support in my schooling at MLC. I feel very blessed to be here and to know my church family is praying for me. To be at a school where my faith is fed, encouraged, and growing is a true blessing. Thank you for your support.
757
That’s not an airplane; that’s how many pounds of food, clothing, and household items St. Andrew gathered throughout November and donated this week. Thank you for your selfless and generous giving that will surely result in local lives being enhanced. And thanks to our donation deliverers.
The recipient of that donation was Way Forward Resources (formerly MOM), which is also our December Mission Partner. The community need is ongoing, and our support of such an organization signals that we care about people, body and soul, just as Jesus himself did. Learn more about Way Forward Resources at their website.
Mission London
This just in! An effort to help establish our sister church in London (yes, the one in England) is looking for adult mission teams. Many more details will emerge soon, but if this is something you might consider for June or July 2024, please let Pastor Clinton know you are interested.
National mission trips | Save the date January 21
Opportunities to “serve the world” well outside of Dane County are yours for the taking this summer. Through mission trips, teens and adults will grow in their faith, encourage others, and share the love of Jesus through various acts of service to congregations and communities outside of St. Andrew. Learn more at the informational meeting at 9:30 AM on Sunday, January 21.
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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 updates
This past Sunday, St. Andrew called two individuals to join our ministry of Westside Christian School, beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Jenny Schopper was called to serve as a middle school ELA and special education teacher. She is a 5th grade teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran School in Menomonee Falls. Jared Rathje was called to serve as principal. He is currently the principal at Trinity Lutheran School in Caledonia. You can read his call letter below.
Dear Members of St. Andrew and Westside Christian School,
This past Sunday I received the divine call to serve as the principal of Westside Christian School. I am excited to learn more about the ministry and the opportunities the Lord has placed in front of the family of believers in Middleton.
I have spoken with a few of the leaders at your church and school and have received the packet of materials including the call document on Monday (11/27). The information enclosed provided a very clear and complete description of the work carried out in our Lord’s name at your school. I will continue to prayerfully read through the material to become more acquainted with the ministry, and I look forward to hearing from others as well.
I am thankful to consider both calls that I now hold and am humbled and blessed to be able to do so. I ask for your prayers for myself, my family, and for the work at Trinity, as I consider the calls the Lord and his people have placed before me. I will also be praying for you and the work done at St. Andrew and Westside Christian School.
“I thank God for all of you,” “because of your partnership in the gospel.” (Philippians 1:3-5)
In Christ,
Jared Rathje |
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Serving This Week
Serving Jesus at St. Andrew this week, November 30 & December 3, 2023
Musicians
Lead musician: Kim Gnewuch
Vocalists: Sarah Kuschel
Guitar: Chad Schaal
Drums: Natalie Onsager
Piano: Isaac Heckmann
Trumpet: Ian Eberle
Ushers
Thursday: Phil Otto
8:00 AM: Brad and Josh Hougaard
10:30 AM: Greg and Zach Yunger
Greeters
Thursday: Dan and Sarah Arndt
8:00 AM: Joe Kotecki and Georgia Siler
10:30 AM: Homan family
Communion Assistants
Thursday: Andy Bindl
8:00 AM: Paul Onsager, Todd Treichel
10:30 AM: Brandon Brickner, Clayton Grow
Communion Care
Thursday: Cheryl Utke
8:00 AM: Chris Hougaard
10:30 AM: Stephanie Grow
Slide Tech
Thursday: Alex Bindl
8:00 AM: Andrew Onsager
10:30 AM: Jacob Miller
Audio
Naomi Laabs
Livestream Video
Elle Bolstad
Hospitality
Thursday: Amanda Taticek
8:00 AM: Heidi Wolf
10:30 AM: Yvonne Onsager
Connection Card Assembly
Brittany Engel
Offering Caretakers
Laurie Engle, Carrie Pasch
Children’s Ministries
Musikgarten: Karen Hong, Ellen Soukup
Plugged into Jesus: Isaac Heckmann, Annika and Ellie Jafferis, Mark and Laura Westphal
Spark: Jessica Bohl and Hilary Griswold
Growth Group Leaders
Jared Dammann, Jane Dew, Amy Heckmann, Mark Kjenstad
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