September 6, 2023

September 6, 2023

This Week

Sex in the Bible, part 1
Song of Songs doesn’t show up on many lists of preaching texts, but it’s in the Bible so it shows up at St. Andrew. We’re in a worship series on the Poetical Books of the Bible and that includes Song of Songs. As you read the love poem that is Song of Songs, you learn that God is not anti-sex at all. God created sex, not Satan. Sex isn’t dirty, filthy, and disgusting. God intended his gift of sex to be a thrilling, physical, biological happening that’s also spiritual. Yes, it’s personal and private but we are not ashamed to discuss that which God was not ashamed to create. It’s a discussion that’s healthy for men and women, married and single, young and old. Oh, you’re worried that you haven’t gotten it right and might feel out of place for this one? You’ll be in good company; no one in church has gotten it right all the time. And no one in church has out-sinned the grace of God. Let’s listen, learn, and have that conversation this Thursday at 7 PM or on Sunday at 8 or 10:30 AM.

Worship

Resources and opportunities for you to worship

Adult choir returns September 20
Blend your voice with others to sing God’s praise. We’ll rehearse at 7 PM on Wednesdays in the Soul Café to sing for worship on:

  • Sunday, October 1 (rehearsals will be September 20 & 27).
  • Sunday, October 29 (rehearsals will be October 18 & 25).

High school-aged and older are welcome to attend. Questions? Email Minister of Worship Naomi Laabs.

Milestones
Pastor Loren Fritz was called to his heavenly home on Sunday, September 3. Pastor Fritz was serving as a pastor in Prairie du Sac in the early 70’s when he led an effort to canvas the area of Middleton (mainly cornfields with a few housing developments at the time). The result was met with interest by the WELS Mission Board which approved a church plant that became St. Andrew in 1975. Let us give thanks to the Lord of the church for the life and work of Pastor Fritz and thank him for the eternal life his servant now enjoys. Here is the obituary.

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.

“God So Loved” by We the Kingdom
“His Mercy Is More” by Matt Papa, Matt Boswell
“How Deep the Father’s Love” by Stuart Townend
“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” by Chris Tomlin

Nurture

Ways to be connected to Jesus throughout the week in your personal life and with others

Growth Groups
Fall Growth Groups have begun. St. Andrew Growth Groups provide many worthwhile benefits including accountability, encouragement, community, and Christian friendship. If you didn’t join a group this time, consider joining in January when we will offer a new lineup.

WELS Campus Ministry
Do you have a student away at college? Tell them to look into WELS Campus Ministry at their school. It’s an effective way to meet new friends who love Jesus and to stay connected to what matters most.

Impact
Don’t leave Jesus. That’s a simple theme for the book of Hebrews. Join us as we look at this fascinating epistle. This week’s guest is Pastor Greg Lyon of Wisconsin Lutheran College. You can listen to Impact here or on popular podcast platforms by searching “Kjenstad Impact.”

PowerHour
Our next PowerHour is September 15 at 10:30 AM with the theme “Things That Go!” The PowerHour staff is anxious to welcome you and your child. Children up to age three and their caregivers are invited. Click here for more on PowerHour.

Sunday Children’s Ministries
Musikgarten and Plugged into Jesus return Sunday, September 10. Musikgarten is for children up to age three and Plugged into Jesus serves children 4K – grade 5.

Musikgarten: Please consider how many adults are in the room when deciding if both parents or one parent will attend from your family.

Plugged into Jesus: There will be a registration form to fill out when you bring your child for the first time.

Send your questions to Staff Minister for Nurture Mark Kjenstad.

Service & Outreach

Opportunities for you to live your faith and love for Jesus by sharing Jesus with others

Monthly Mission Partner
Preparing to be a called worker in the public ministry of the gospel is no small task. It involves at least a college degree and often ministerial education at the high school level. St. Andrew offers financial assistance to those who attend one of these schools that prepares them for those callings: Luther Preparatory School in Watertown; Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota; and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon. The video below describes the purpose and shows some of the activity of Martin Luther College, where currently two St. Andrew members attend.

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. August’s video describes a merging of three churches in one area actually being a benefit and allowing for more and more efficient ministry. View the WELS Connection video below.

Serving This Week 

Serving Jesus at St. Andrew this week, September 7 & 10, 2023

Musicians
Lead musician:   Kim Gnewuch
Vocalist:               Sarah Kuschel, Brandon Luppen
Guitar:                  Terry Jacobs, Jon Povich
Drums:                 Natalie Onsager
Flute:                    Sarah Wendorf
Piano:                   Isaac Heckmann

Ushers
Thursday:           Jim Pease
8:00 AM:             Brad and Josh Hougaard
10:30 AM:           Greg and Zachary Yunger

Greeters
Thursday:           Ron and Piri Kerr
8:00 AM:             Dan and Tyler Kremer
10:30 AM:           Michelle Teteak, Isabelle Volberg

Communion Assistants
Thursday:           Ron Kerr
8:00 AM:             Dan Kremer, Edward Murray
10:30 AM:           Levi Schriefer, Jim Teteak

Communion Care
Thursday:           Naomi Laabs
8:00 AM:             Chris Hougaard
10:30 AM:           Emily Schriefer

Slide Tech
Thursday:           Alex Bindl
8:00 AM:             Dan Fischer
10:30 AM:           Mia Teteak

Audio
8:00 AM:             Todd Kleman
10:30 AM:           Ben Kleman

Livestream Video
Dan Wasmer

Hospitality
8:00 AM:             Kristen and Annika Jafferis
10:30 AM:           Kim Volberg

Connection Card Assembly
Brittany Engel

Offering Caretakers
Andy and Lisa Bindl

Children’s Ministries
Musikgarten:            Karen Hong, Ellen Soukup
Plugged into Jesus:  Renee Carlson, Mark and Laura Westphal, Lauren Figi, Natalie Spillman, Amelia Povich
Spark:                      Jessica Bohl

Growth Group Leaders:
Pastor Clinton, Pastor Hunter, Ben Carlson, Jared Dammann, Jane Dew, Jonathan Fricke, Andrew Fritz, Brian Fritz, Amy Heckman, Brad Hougaard, Ron Kerr, Mark Kjenstad, Sue Martalock, Nancy Ninman, Levi Schriefer, Jim Teteak, Wayne Utke, Bill Walther
Posted in The Weekly