We seek God's healing love and share that love with all
by growing in relationship with God, each other, and our neighbors.
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Lent: Into the Wilderness Together
A message from Mtr. Jean Long, Associate Rector
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This Sunday is the First Sunday of Lent.
Lent is a forty-day journey shaped by Jesus’ time in the wilderness. It is not about spiritual heroics or a private spiritual project. It is about paying attention to our lives, our longings, and the steady presence of God.
The wilderness is not only a place in Scripture. It is a reality we recognize in our own lives: moments of uncertainty, times of fatigue, days when we feel stretched thin.
In the Gospel appointed for this Sunday from Matthew, Jesus enters the wilderness. He fasts. He is tempted. And at the end of the story, after the struggle, we hear these words:
“Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.” (Matthew 4:11)
The wilderness is real. The testing is real. Yet so is the tending.
Matthew’s story does not end with the tempter. It ends with angels who minister to Jesus. God does not abandon us to isolation. Care comes, often through the steady presence of others.
The twelfth-century monk Aelred of Rievaulx once wrote of spiritual friendship, “Here we are, you and I, and I hope that a third is Christ in our midst.” Faith was never meant to be solitary. We take that seriously at St. Andrew’s, and it shapes how we will walk these forty days.
We will walk these forty days together in prayer, learning, and reflection.
We invite you to choose one steady practice. Join a Companion Group. Attend Taizé prayer. Participate in our Sunday morning study. Register for Episcopal 101. Use the Lenten devotional. You will find details and registration information for each opportunity further in this email.
You do not need to do everything. This season is not about adding weight to your calendar or pressure to your life. It is about taking one intentional step that roots you more deeply in God and in one another.
The wilderness is real. But so is the care of God, often expressed in the steady presence of companions on the way.
Let us enter this season together.
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HJ’s Café Listening Session
With the recent security challenges at HJ’s and the pause we’re taking with HJ’s Café service on weekdays, clergy, staff, and other leaders are inviting feedback as we discern the future of café ministry. If you have thoughts to share, join us for a listening session at HJ’s at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25. No decisions will be made in the immediate future, but know that the top priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, volunteers, parishioners, and other building users as we live into HJ’s mission of generative welcome.
| | Call our toll-free number 800-808-1625 to listen to worship on your phone! | | |
What is the Season of Lent?
Lent is a 40-day journey of reflection and renewal, rooted in Jesus’ time in the wilderness, that invites us to step away from distractions and ask deeper questions: Who am I, and who is God calling me to be? In the Episcopal Church, we mark this season with purple, a color that symbolizes reflection, transformation, and the deep work of the soul. Lent isn’t just about giving something up; it’s about making space for prayer, self-examination, and acts of love. Wherever you are on your spiritual path, Lent isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up, asking the questions, and letting God meet you on the journey.
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Lenten Sermon Series: Following Jesus Together
In our Sunday Scripture readings this Lent, we’ll hear some of the greatest stories about Jesus: standing up to Satan in the wilderness, teaching the experts how to live by the Spirit, healing the Samaritan woman’s broken self-image, giving sight to a man born blind, and raising Lazarus from the dead. How can we follow where Jesus is leading us? When we try to travel alone, we’re more likely to get lost or stumble on the rocks along the path. But when we turn to those alongside us, the way becomes much more clear … and more life-giving. Through the Sundays of Lent, we’ll find the path Jesus is setting before us, consider how we might be tempted to stray, and give thanks for the companions God gives us on the way.
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Companion Groups: Life Shared, Faith Explored
Many of us are living with questions that don’t resolve quickly, questions about faith, about Scripture, and about how to live faithfully in a complicated and changing world. For some, long-held assumptions feel less certain. For others, faith feels active and alive, but unfinished, still asking something of us.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus meets the deepest questions of faith and life not by sending people off on their own, but by gathering them together. He forms disciples through shared life, conversation, and presence, walking with them as they listen, question, and learn along the way. That same invitation to live and discern together remains open to us today.
Beginning in Lent, St. Andrew’s will offer Companion Groups, small groups that will gather monthly to reflect on Scripture and on how faith is intersecting with everyday life. Between gatherings, participants will spend time with Scripture using shared reflection prompts provided by the church. Group meetings will offer space for reflection, listening, and prayer.
Details at a glance:
Adults, middle school-aged youth, and high school-aged youth at St. Andrew’s are invited to take part in shared reflection and conversation. Groups will begin meeting in March and will gather monthly. Sign-ups are open now through the First Sunday of Lent.
How to sign up:
Fill out a sign-up form here, complete a paper sign-up form available in the narthex, or contact Mtr. Jean at jean@standrewkc.org.
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Lenten Devotional: Five Minutes With God
Coming soon: Our Lenten devotional, Five Minutes With God, invites you into a simple, meaningful daily practice without adding burden to your plate. With brief readings and reflection questions, the guide helps you engage Scripture, prepare for Sunday worship, and grow in relationship with God—both in personal prayer and through conversation with others. If you haven't received a copy in the mail, pick one up in the entryway as we begin our Lenten journey together.
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Lenten Study Opportunity
Do you have a love–hate relationship with Lent? Are you looking for something deeper than a “giving up chocolate” approach? Join us for a four-week Lenten exploration of spiritual practices from The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life. Together, we’ll reflect on Sacred Reading, the Daily Office, the Ignatian Examen, and a different kind of fasting—practices designed to nurture spiritual growth in everyday life.
When: Sundays, Feb. 22, Mar. 1, Mar. 8, and Mar. 15, 9:15–10:00 a.m.
Where: St. Andrew’s (location TBA)
Who: Limited to the first 24 participants
Leader: Carolyn Johnson
To participate and receive a free copy of the book, sign up after church at the desk near the Jewell Room or email Carolyn Johnson at carolyn.swede@gmail.com.
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Parish Care Coffee Hour
On Sunday, Feb. 22, Parish Care and the Prayer Bead Ministry will be hosting coffee hour. To enhance your prayers during Lent, we would like to offer you a set of your own prayer beads and prayer card if you don’t already have one. Come by our table in the Jewell Room during coffee hour to select your set while supplies last. Donations to cover the cost of beads are appreciated.
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Contemplative Ministries Commission
Rooted in the ancient Christian traditions and guided by the wisdom of the mystics, the Contemplative Ministries Commission at St. Andrew’s seeks to nurture a community centered in the transforming presence of God. We aim to cultivate stillness, inner healing, and holy attentiveness, encouraging all people to awaken to their true identity in God and to the sacredness of all creation.
Weekly Offerings
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Sacred Spaces, a time of community and centering prayer or meditation, is held weekly on Tuesdays from 6-6:30 at HJ’S Youth & Community Center. A virtual option is also available. On 4th Tuesdays, the time of prayer and meditation is followed by a brief talk and discussion.
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Sacred Spaces Book Discussion, following Sacred Spaces on 2nd Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30. On March 10, Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating will be discussed.
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Yoga, Thursdays, 5:30 - 6:30, at HJ’s Youth & Community Center, join us for a gentle, slow-flow yoga, focusing on mindful stretching, strengthening, and breathing. Yoga can help us shift our attention to internal exploration and become a tool for spiritual growth. We strive to embody a “peace that passes understanding,” offering spaces of silence and spiritual companionship.
We invite all into the journey from self-preoccupation to communion, from fragmentation to wholeness, and from contemplation to action. For more information, contact Mtr Rita Kendagor or vestry liaison, Ann Holliday.
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Birthday Card Ministry
St. Andrew’s sends birthday cards to parishioners throughout the year as a simple way of staying connected within our parish community. We are looking for several volunteers to join our current team and help with this monthly ministry. Writers are scheduled by month, and cards may be written at church or taken home, whatever works best for you. All materials are provided.If interested, please contact Mtr. Jean at jean@standrewkc.org.
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Ride Ministry at St. Andrew’s
Thanks to a generous estate gift from parishioner Tina Norton, we’re excited to launch a new Ride Ministry to help parishioners get to worship, church events, and even medical appointments. In partnership with Lyft, rides will be available at no cost to you.
To request a ride, simply email rides@standrewkc.org (or call the church office if email is a challenge) with your name, phone number, pickup location, destination, and times. You can also complete an online form here.
Mtr. Rita Kendagor and Brittany Conge will coordinate your ride and ensure you’re connected with a driver.
| | Can't make it to church this Sunday? Remember that St. Andrew's broadcasts each worship service to our website and our YouTube Channel. You can also catch the sermon the following week on our social media channels. Check out our Linktree for your preferred way to connect with worship http://linktr.ee/standrewskc. | | | |
Jesus With You . . . at Home
If you're worshipping at home, you can pick up consecrated wafers to use during our celebrations of Holy Eucharist. They're available in a basket in the narthex, or from the office, anytime the church is open. If getting out is a challenge, we'll be happy to deliver wafers to you. Just contact Mary Sanders (by email or at 816-523-602, ext. 110) about arranging delivery.
If you need help connecting to St. Andrew’s Online to participate in worship opportunities, but your computer is giving you trouble, just contact Deacon Adam James or 816-352-2742 for assistance.
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Hearing-Assist Devices
You may have noticed a stand of headphones as you come in from the porte-cochere on Sundays. These are hearing-assist devices that amplify the sound system during worship. If you would like to use one, just pick it up as you come in!
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Seed Packaging with KCCG
Thank you to all who came to support the KCCG seed packing day! 25 people packaged 6,300 seed packages, the most volunteers we’ve ever had and the most seeds we’ve ever packaged.
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Celebrating St. Patrick – Music of Lent and Ireland
Join us on Sunday, March 22 at 5:00 PM for an evening of sacred and Irish music featuring the St. Andrew’s Parish Choir. The program includes Lenten anthems by Mozart, Elgar, and Howells, alongside beloved Irish folk songs such as Down by the Salley Gardens, The Rakes of Mallow, and Wearing of the Green. Organists Dr. Jacob Hofeling and Dr. Thomas R. Vozzella will perform on St. Andrew’s mighty Aeolian-Skinner/Quimby pipe organ. A light reception with Irish libations and treats will follow.
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Trinity Guild Meeting and Luncheon
You are cordially invited to join the ladies of the Trinity Guild for our next luncheon meeting on Thursday, Feb.26th at 10:30am. Our speaker this month will be a representative from the historic Union Cemetery. Come and learn about the place where many of KC’s early residents are buried. RSVP to jtk810@aol.com.
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Featured Artist: Elena Lence Talley, Clarinet
Join us on Sunday, March 1 as we welcome Elena Lence Talley of the Kansas City Symphony as our featured artist. Principal Music Librarian of the Symphony since 1992 and an accomplished clarinetist, Elena brings a deep love of chamber music and a wealth of musical experience to her performance. We’re delighted to share this special musical offering with you.
| | Children, Youth & Young Adult Ministry | | Contact Veronica Wiebold for questions about children, youth, or young adult ministries. | | |
Sunday School
Our classrooms are located in the Children’s Wing. Signs in the church entryway will help you find your way to each room. Each room is identified by a brightly colored door—look for the matching heart color to help guide you:
- ❤️ Nursery (Infant–3 years) – Christa McLaughlin
- 💛 Yellow Room (3yrs -Pre-K) – Sally Cox
- 💚 Green Room (Kindergarten–1st Grade) – Sarah Thompson
- 💙 Blue Room (2nd–4th Grade) – Veronica Wiebold
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All Youth Spring Kickoff – February 22
All middle and high school youth are invited to our Spring Kickoff on Sunday, February 22, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at HJ’s Community Center. This gathering marks the start of our spring programming and will include a preview of what’s ahead, time for conversation, and space to reconnect as we begin something new together. We hope all youth will join us!
Youth Group Sundays at HJ's
- Middle School Youth Group (5th-8th grade): 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
- High School Youth Group (9th - 12th grade) 5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m.
| | Are you a young adult looking for community at St. Andrew's? We'd love for you to be a part of our 20s/30s group. Join us on Sundays after the 10:15 service for discussion at HJ's Community Center. On the third Sunday each month, join us for brunch after the 10:15 service. Contact Tim Dodderidge at dodderidget@gmail.com or 913-904-4069 for more details. | | Adult Christian Formation | | |
Episcopal 101
Thursday nights, Feb. 19 through March 26, 6-7:30 p.m.
Café 9:15
Sunday morning, 9:15-10 a.m.
Christian Journey
Sunday, 8:45-10 a.m.
Men's Lectionary Group
Thursday, 7:30-8:30 a.m.
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The Sacred Way
Sundays in Lent, 9:15-10 a.m.
Sacred Spaces
Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m.
Tai Chi for Beginners
Monday, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Good Book Club
Daily
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You can mail your gifts to the church, give online, or text STANDREWKC to 73256.
Send a Venmo gift to @StAndrews-EpiscopalChurch. Be sure to notate your intention for the gift.
| | St. Andrew's is here for you. | | |
Please remember that St. Andrew's is here for you. If you are in need or you are aware of another parishioner in need of assistance, please email Mtr. Rita Kendagor, assistant rector. You can also submit a request online or call the church office at 816-523-1602.
Send us your prayer requests through a form, our Facebook page,
or by texting PRAYER to 816-312-5152.
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Thaddeus
Bill
Melina
Steve H.
Gail
Peter
Corbin
Carol
Austin
Joanna
Frances
Steve
Wendy
Scott
Allie
Rick
Walt
Katie
Bennett
Quincie
Dick O.
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Erin K.
Sally
CC
Elizabeth
Katie
Kaden
Penny
Maggie R.
Larry S.
Kathleen S.
Tom
Carol
Gretchen
Andrew
Dennis
Amanda
Stefani
Steve
Frances
Tim
Carolyn H.
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Bret
Robbie
Jack
Rozzie
Cindy
Thomas
Shana
David P.
Jamie P.
Taylor M.
Mason & family
Jim
Grant
Carrie
Jerold & Isaac
Laura (Lolly)
Frank
Peggy
DeVette
| | If you wish to add or remove a name, please notify Erin Lemanski no later than Sunday at noon for the Prayer List to be updated each week. Names will be listed for six months, unless otherwise stated. Thank you! | | |
Worship is in person and livestreamed each Sunday.
Friday at 12 p.m. – Noon Eucharist – Watch here
Sunday at 8 a.m. – Rite I Holy Eucharist – Watch here
For those who find spiritual comfort and strength in the rich Elizabethan language of centuries-old worship, our early-morning service of prayer, Scripture, a sermon, a musical solo, and time-honored hymns, is the perfect way to start your Sabbath.
Sunday at 10:15 a.m. – Rite II Holy Eucharist – Watch here
Worship the Lord in the beauty of Scripture, a sermon, and prayers for ourselves and our world. Glorious hymns, organ, and choral music intertwine with the spoken parts of our celebration. We offer online Children’s Chapel via Zoom before 10 a.m.; and in-person Sunday school during the 10 a.m. service.
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Bulletin & Messenger Deadline
The publication deadline for the Saturday Messenger and Sunday bulletin is on Sunday at noon one week before publication.
Material received after Sunday at noon will be added to the next week's publications.
Please submit material to Erin Lemanski (erin@standrewkc.org)
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