St. Andrew’s Connection
‘Building a community together that explores faith & experiences God’ 

St. Andrew’s Online

March 5, 2014

Today – Ash Wednesday Worship @ 7pm

‘He came and found them sleeping…’

Read Mark 14: 37-41

Near Gethsemane there is a cave where some believe the disciples were told to wait while Jesus went into the olive grove to pray that night. Perhaps he did not want them to see him in distress. But before going into the garden, Jesus asked his three closest companions, Peter, James and John to go with him, revealing to them how deeply grieved he was and asking them to ‘stay awake with me. Then he went a little further into the garden to pray by himself.

Jesus fell to the ground to pray; but then, after a period of time, he went back to Peter, James and John. Jesus repeated this pattern – praying alone and returning to the disciples – three times, each time on his return he would find that his companions had fallen asleep. I suspect that this vignette shows the fear that or the very real likely-hood that Jesus’ followers will ever be asleep when Christ most needs us.

In the New Testament, ‘being awake’ is a phrase used to describe being spiritually ready to receive Jesus in your life and to do what the Lord needs from us whenever he needs us. It entails a watchfulness and a way of paying attention to what is happening around us, to the needs of others and to the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Lent 2014, which begins today, is a great time to prepare yourself for whatever Jesus is calling you to. Make yourself ready!

Blessings,
Pastor Melissa

Lent

Lent is the 40 days (excluding Sundays) prior to Easter during which  we recall Jesus’ walk to the cross, preparing our hearts  for reconciliation with God and the joy of resurrection.

We begin our journey on Ash   Wednesday, this year that’s March 5, in a brief worship service. We will pray for forgiveness and the mending of all that has separated us from God in our lives. We receive the mark of ashes, symbolizing ‘death,’ forgiveness and God’s grace on what has been before and celebration of our new life in Christ.

Participating in special worship services, Bible studies and mission projects during Lent can help draw you closer to Jesus, set good habits for following in Jesus and  help you more fully experience the JOY of EASTER!

Mark your calendar:

March 5 - Ash Wednesday

March 9 or 10 - begins our Lenten Study

April 13 - Palm Sunday

April 17 - Holy Thursday Drama

April 20 - Easter Sunday

Sunrise Worship ~ 6:30am
Breakfast ~ 9:30am
Egg Hunt ~ 10:00am
Worship ~ 11:00am

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Lent is the season of repentance, self-examination, and awareness of the hurts of the people in our community and our world. A fun way to do this is to simply  follow our Lenten calendar for the 40 days of Lent. Each day you are reminded of the broad gap between living a life with many privileges as compared to the lives of so many in our world. The whole family can participate. Follow the instructions and  collect the change that will go towards helping those who have little. The offering will be collected Easter Sunday, April 20 (or you can drop by the office).

Our offering this year will be split between “One Great Hour of Sharing” and our FOR Kids/Food Bank program. One Great Hour of Sharing is a program of UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Gifts provide refuge and relief to some of the world’s most vulnerable people during times of distress. Last year $65,358 was given by churches within the Pacific Northwest Conference. The FOR Kids/Food Bank program provides nutritious meals for  local children on weekends during the school year who otherwise are likely to be hungry. Our church is committed to help these children. We are thankful for the food and money you donate, but the need continues to rise. Please, join in the Lenten journey. Follow the Lenten calendar and help children and families near and far.

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Children’s Books: In support of the South Sound Reading Foundation, St. Andrew’s is collecting gently used or new books for toddlers through age 18. Children’s ‘board books’ are especially needed. Please place in bin across from Pastors Office.

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Used or New WHITE sheets: to make into bandages for medical health clinics in rural Congo. Place in bin across from Pastors’ Office

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Announcement

Wanted: Nursery Attendant St. Andrew’s is hiring a new Nursery Attendant. Must be 18 or older, CPR certified or willing to attend training and pass a national background check. Attendant works 3.5 hours each Sunday (8:45am - 12:15pm), $10 an hour. Must love kids. Send resume or fill out an application in the Church Office.

**************Mission Opportunities**************

 FORKids Backpack program

NEEDED:  Protein/Meat, Shelf – stable Milk and Cold Cereal.

Items we collect Year Round

Besides food for the school bags and the Food Bank we collect:

Aluminum Cans – we recycle and the $ goes for Missions. Place in the small house to the left of the dumpster in parking lot.

Hygiene items – for homeless. Especially needed are trial size soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste. Also toothbrushes, toilet paper, diapers, and feminine product. Must be new still in packaging. Place in ‘Donation’ bin across from Pastors’ Office

Plastic Shopping Bags & Empty Egg Cartons that hold a dozen eggs: Food bank could use your clean plastic shopping bags and empty egg cartons to use in passing out food to families. Please put in the Food Bank bin just inside the Sanctuary doors.

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Come Sing with us!  

Rehearsal are Wednesdays:

9am Worship Combo -  5:45pm
11am Vocal Choir - 7:00pm

Bell choir will begin again in March. Interested in playing contact Maggie.

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