The Rev’d Sarah West | visiolectio.com | | |
Dear People of St Andrew’s, Friends and Neighbors,
On May 8, 2025 in the late afternoon, an incident occurred just steps from St. Andrews-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, in which an individual experiencing a mental health crisis was shot by police following a confrontation. The gentleman is in our prayers and expected to survive.
We are grateful that the police and emergency personnel arrived quickly to secure the safety of our community and attend to the individual.
Our preschool acted swiftly, entering lockdown out of an abundance of caution, and all safety protocols were followed. We are grateful for the calm and care shown by staff, teachers, and first responders and we thank God that no children or community members were physically harmed.
We are mindful of the fear this event may stir in our community. Yet our faith calls us to not be afraid, instead leads us to radical compassion and courageous advocacy.
We are committed to working alongside our neighbors, local leaders and our diocese, to seek just solutions—affordable housing, mental health services, and public policies that prioritize human dignity. We urge our wider community to see Thursday’s incident as a call to conscience.
We invite all who are grieving, shaken, or searching for a way forward to join us on Monday, May 12th at 5:00 pm in St Andrew’s Sanctuary for a time of for prayer, processing, and conversation.
May this incident provide us with the strength and courage to turn our emotions into faithful action.
In peace and hope,
Pastor Cyndi Jones
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This Sunday - May 11th
4th Sunday of Easter
Worship Service
10:30 am
Sunday School
Nursery ages 0-3
Godly Play age 3-1st grade
Seekers 2nd-5th grade
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Transition Updates
- Pastor Cyndi Jones began at St. Andrew's as our Interim Priest-in-charge on January 22nd.
- You can contact Pastor Cyndi at pastorcyndi@standrewspb.org.
- Timi Shields has stepped up into the role of Senior Warden.
- The Vestry has approved our Calling Committee slate: David Carlson, Anne Cass, Alex Wu, Cathleen Flowers, Hans Kullberg, and a youth representative: Sam Carlson.
- The Vestry approved the "charge" for the Calling Committee & our Calling Committee was commissioned at church.
- The calling committee co-chairs, David Carlson and Anne Cass, met with Gwynn Lynch from the Diocese to review the calling committee process.
- The Calling committee had their first meeting and have set up Listening Sessions as well as an online survey. Please plan to attend and share your voice.
- Sunday, May 18th, Session “Listening to the Congregation”
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Sunday, May 18th, Session “Listening to the Congregation” (For Youth)
- Sunday, May 25th, Session “Listening to the Congregation”
If you are unable to attend one of our listening sessions or would like to offer additional feedback, please fill out the form from the link below.
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Honoring Our Graduates
Do you have a graduating or promoting student? We would like to highlight them in an upcoming e-news! Please send a photo, what milestone they are promoting/graduating from, and for high school seniors, please send a brief description of achievements and/or next steps to Kari family@standrewspb.org.
Also, graduating seniors are invited to a special luncheon with the Bishop! Contact Kari for more info.
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Registration now open for
St. Andrew's VBS 2025
July 21-25
Limited registration! Only 16 spots.
Open to kids entering 1st-entering 5th grades
Opportunities for youth volunteers
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Documentary Screening: Change, Not Charity
June 1, 12-2 pm
St. Andrew's by-the-Sea
Come watch the PBS documentary about the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and then enjoy a Q&A with our very own Pastor Cyndi Jones, a central figure in the documentary.
| | We have all heard Christ’s parables many times, but do we grasp their meaning? Learn how to grapple with these familiar, yet mystifying stories, by joining the School For Smarties! Several St Andrews congregants have enjoyed taking online classes with the SFS. This summer’s ‘Introduction to The Parables of Jesus’ is offered on Monday nights starting June 2 through July 7 for $150. 12 hours of teaching with a highly qualified and knowledgeable teacher for $150! See the attachment for full details on becoming a Smartie. | |
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Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is a delegation of 10th-12th grade youth from all over the diocese. Delegates meet once a month over zoom, help plan and lead 4 EDSD youth events (Back to School event, Convention, Youth Retreat and Nightwatch), participate in worship around the diocese, and serve as youth leaders for both their congregation and the diocese. Delegates are supported by three YLC mentors during the course of the year.
The YLC application is a two-set process which includes the completion of both a youth application and a nomination form by a congregational leader. Applications will be open from April 30-May 30th 2025 and Nomination forms will be open from April 30-June 1st. You can find more information and the links to the forms on our website.
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Opportunities to Get Involved
Altar Guild: Would you like to help behind the scenes to prepare the sanctuary for Sunday services? Creativity, artistry and floral arranging skills are a bonus.
Finance committee: Do you have a background in finance or an interest in numbers? We are looking for someone to help with our 2024 audit and parishioners to serve on our Finance Committee.
Liturgical planning committee: Are you a creative and spiritual individual who would like to use your gifts to serve the church? Do you have an interest in having a voice in the planning of our worship services? Do you love liturgy? If so, join us for our next liturgical planning meeting, where we will be discussing Pentecost.
If you are interested in any of these volunteer roles, please send an email to Pastor Cyndi and let her know!
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Rebel Women Bible Study
Every Wednesday 9:30-10:30 am in the Sanctuary
The Bible is full of women who bucked the status quo. Ruth, Naomi, Deborah, Jael - meet the real women of the Bible. No experience reading the Bible? No problem! We approach these stories with curiosity and encourage doubt, questioning, and wrestling with the text.
Discover that "biblical womanhood" is all about risk, strength, and justice for the marginalized.
Come connect with other women asking big questions and seeking support on their spiritual journey.
Email pastorcyndi@standrewspb.org for more information.
| | Happening in the Neighborhood: | | |
Dances of Universal Peace at St. Andrew's
We are excited to announce that the San Diego Dances of Universal Peace group will be bringing their spiritual practice to the St. Andrew's sanctuary on the second Sundays of the month. Learn more about the Dances of Universal Peace here. What a blessing to share our sacred space with them. All are welcome to join and try out this spiritual practice of chant, live music, and movement.
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Support Saturday Meal Service
Every Saturday morning, Jodie and her team of volunteers set up their folding tables in front of St. Andrew's and feed anyone who is hungry. This past Saturday, they fed 80 people a hearty breakfast.
Jodie and her team from small potatoes foundation have been serving meals on Saturdays at St. Andrew's since June 2024. Their organization is dedicated to offering nourishing and wholesome meals to those facing hardships.
Check out this note from Jodie:
"We deeply appreciate your generosity in allowing us to use your church lawn as a space to feed our guests. Your support truly helps us in our mission to serve those in need. We are dedicated to making a significant impact on the lives of our neighbors facing adversity and food insecurity. We believe a meal made with love is a tangible way to show compassion and understanding. If you’re able, please consider making a donation to help us continue feeding our neighbors in
need. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to making a lasting impact.
From our bustling kitchen, Chef Jodie"
Scan the QR code to give directly to small potatoes foundation. We're so grateful for Jodie and her team, and for the difference they make in our neighborhood.
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Call Your Representatives and Ask for Ceasefire in Gaza
“People of faith and goodwill can organize and address our governments to call for humanitarian aid to flow freely to those in desperate need in Gaza; for the release of all hostages; for an end to all targeting of children and other civilians; and for a de-escalation of violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.” - Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
As death, destruction, and violence continue in Gaza, we urge you to lift your voices and do everything possible to put pressure on all parties for an immediate and sustained ceasefire.
We are not helpless in the face of the world's horrors. Takeon a new spiritual practice: every day, call your representatives and ask them to call for an immediate ceasefire, access to humanitarian assistance to end starvation and avert any further risk of famine, and urge the release of hostages.
You can click this link to go to the Episcopal Public Policy Network website, which has a script for contacting your representatives, as well as a form you can fill out right on the site.
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Donations Needed for Border Ministry
Our diocese is continuing to respond to the needs of those seeking asylum at the US/Mexico border and being held in open-air detention sites and awaiting transport at the airport. The diocese prepares 200 sack lunches every Monday at the Cathedral at 3 pm to be distributed, and are asking for the following:
- jelly
- packaged snacks like: potato chips, protein bars, fruit gummies
- brown paper bags
- sandwich bags
Please drop off donations at church on Sunday.
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