February 15, 2024

Pastor's Column

Ash Wednesday arrived yesterday as Lent began with imposing ashes and remembering God’s love. As we hear the words, "from dust you have come and to dust you shall return," we remember the God who creates us, follow us all the days of our lives, and then greets us at our death. God’s love not only claims us, but also lays the foundation for our relationships with each other. During Lent, our "Lenten Love" preaching series will reflect on God’s love for us and how we love each other. We will be exploring biblical stories to highlight different aspects of love. As you might expect, the biblical stories are not always fairy-tale stories of love, but sometimes complicated and challenging. As we move through these stories, we also will put together a puzzle in worship that highlights the various aspects of love. Each week, a piece will be added until we complete the puzzle on Easter morning. If you would like to have a puzzle at home, you can pick one up in the Narthex (children’s ministry has one set aside for each family of young children). As we move from Ash Wednesday to Easter, I hope you will find time to reflect on the love you share with others and the love God has for you.

Yours in Christ,

Richard

Sermon Series

February 18

First Sunday of Lent

"Lenten Love: Covenantal love"

Genesis 9: 8-17

February 25

Second Sunday of Lent

"Lenten Love: Divine love"

Genesis 25: 19-31

March 3

Third Sunday of Lent

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

"Lenten Love: Complicated love"

I Samuel 18: 1-5

March 10

Fourth Sunday of Lent

“Lenten Love: Power dynamics”

I Samuel 18: 17-30

The "Lenten Love" preaching series will explore various aspects of love and each week we will build our puzzles of love in worship.

Lenten Love Jigsaw Puzzle

Pick up your Lenten Love Jigsaw Puzzle in the narthex. It will mirror the puzzle we are putting together in worship each Sunday.

Two types available (please choose one):

• Clear plastic folder contains eight small envelopes of jigsaw puzzle pieces totaling 72 pieces. Completion of each week’s puzzle pieces will reveal the Lenten love word of the week from the Bible.
• White envelope contains eight puzzle pieces to create a full image of Lenten love using each Sunday’s love word.

Sunday School

Sunday, February 18

Westminster Youth Ensemble

9:00am

Children's Choir Room

Presbyterian 101

Beginning Sunday, February 18

9:15am, Parlor

Presbyterian 101 will meet on Sunday, February 18, in the Parlor at 9:15am. Rev. Dr. Lisa Patterson will lead the session “We Presbyterians” and a tour of the church. This session is open to anyone interested in church membership or those who would like a refresher course in what it means to be Presbyterian.

Preschool

9:30am-10:30am

Room 100

Children’s Sunday School

K-5th Grade

9:30am-10:30am

Media Room

Middle School

9:30am-10:30am

The Den

High School

9:30am-10:30am

The Den

Classes for Adults

Coffee and Covenant

Karen Jones and Alison Plunkett McStravick

Library, 9:30am

Pastors’ Class

Richard Culp and Lisa Patterson

Room 206/208, 9:30am

Pathfinders

Beth Ann and James Black

Room 205, 9:30am

Pathfinders Class will begin a Lenten study of Susan Robb's book, Remember: God's Covenants and the Cross. We'll cover Chapter 1, Noah: God's Covenant with Creation.

Worship Service

Sunday, February 18

10:45am

Super Wednesday

Wednesday, February 21

Dinner at 5:30pm

Menu: Chili, cheese and crackers, mixed fruit, cake

Activities for Children

Nursery for infants & preschoolers,

Room 102, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Noel Choir, grades K-1st, Children’s Choir Room, 

Kirsten Trachsel, 6:00pm

Covenant Choir, grades 2nd-5th,

Children’s Choir Room, 

Kirsten Trachsel, 6:20pm

Recreation Grades K-1st, Malicia Curran, 6:20pm

Activities for Youth

Middle School and High School

Rec Center and The Den @ 6:00pm-7:30pm

Activities for Adults

Stump the Pastors!

6:30pm, Fellowship Hall

Do you have a burning theological question you always wanted to ask a pastor? Richard Culp and Lisa Patterson are ready for all your questions! Come prepared to ask in-person or send us an email before Wednesday with your questions, and we will answer them on February 21. Email questions to [email protected] or [email protected].

Women’s Book Study

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Amy Cole and Amy Fair

January 11-April 26, Library

The Wave

Terah Hatter and Wade Hatter

Room 205

Chancel Choir Practice

Adult Choir Room

7:30pm

Diaconate Congregational Caregiving Ministries

Prayer Ministry

Are you, a family member, or friend in need of prayers? You may have called our pastors or the church office for your prayer need to be included on the list of prayer concerns in the Sunday Bulletin. In addition, the Congregational Caregiving Ministries of the Diaconate has Prayer Teams made up of members of the congregation, including Stephen’s Ministers and Deacons who pray for those who request prayers. Beginning this Sunday, there will be prayer requests forms in the pews as well as in the Prayer Room, near the Oak Street entrance. These requests are private and can be placed in the offering plate which will be transferred to the prayer box in the Prayer room. You can also contact Ronda Skelton at [email protected] or 817-980-7090 about your prayer concern, or if you are interested in becoming a member of one of the prayer teams.

We are very blessed with the faithful service of our prayer teams to the prayer life of St. Andrew and for showering our congregation and those we love with prayers. As you have an opportunity, thank these members of the prayer teams and their leaders.

Prayer Team 1

Stacey Corneilus, Leader

Andrea Godwin-Stremler

Jan Hillman

Vickie Armstrong

Mark Lewis

Prayer Team 3

Karen Dower, Leader

Stephen Ministers

Prayer Team 2

Betty Culp, Leader

Jane Lewis

Dottie Tillman

Linda Heilig

Prayer Team 4

Vera Odei, Leader

Sue Carrico

Mary Taylor

Lauri Goldston

Women’s Lenten Book Study

Wednesdays at Noon

through March 27

Group Leader: Lisa Patterson

Book: Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most

Books Available in the Narthex: $16

Join this lively discussion group as we discuss and share our thoughts on the book topic and the experience of our lives. All our welcome! Class will be in-person with a Zoom option. Questions? Contact Lisa Patterson at [email protected].

Women’s Retreat, March 22-23, 2024

Living in Wholeness, "Our unveiled gaze receives and reflects the brightness of God until we are gradually turned into the image that we reflect.” 2 Cor. 3:18

Rev. Dr. Melissa Hunter

Join us at Lone Oak Retreat Center for overnight retreat to experience a time focused on living in wholeness with a community of women of all ages. We will study, worship, laugh, craft, relax, eat, and grow together as women of faith who struggle, fail, try, share, accept, and learn together. Presentations on the retreat theme will be done by Rev. Dr. Melissa Hunter. We will also create together, have time alone - if desired, enjoy fellowship time, share meals, and eat lots of snacks. Join the retreat for renewal, growth, restoration, and time away. Rooms: 3-5 per room ($135); double room, only 5 available ($175 each); and single room, 5 available ($210). Questions? Ask Lisa Patterson at [email protected].

Life Works Clothing Drive

Life Works is currently collecting items of clothing for their annual clothing drive. Donations can be brought to the church office or Fellowship Hall. Clothing items will be distributed to those needing clothing at an event at St. Andrew on Saturday, February 24 from 9:00am-3:00pm.

The Children's Place Fundraiser

The Children’s Place at St. Andrew is hosting a gift card raffle fundraiser. Each bundle of gift cards is valued at at least $500! Tickets cost $10 each (or 6 for $50, 12 for $100). Purchase at www.thechildrensplacedenton.com Monday, February 12, through midnight Thursday, February 29. 

You can also purchase raffle tickets in person at the school’s 40th birthday celebration in the Recreation Center gym from 2:00pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, March 3. Winners will be announced at the party!

Share our raffle on your social media account, and get a free ticket. Just send a screenshot of your social media post to [email protected] with the subject line SOCIAL MEDIA POST FOR RAFFLE. Bundles will be mailed to winners who live outside of Denton.

Catching up with Caitlin

The following is from Caitlin Culp's latest blog post. To read it in its entirety and see her photos, please click on this link:  https://catching-up-with-caitlin.blogspot.com/2024/01/ruach.html

Photos Requested for the Church Directory

If you were not able to have your photo taken in November by Re:Member, you can submit your photo to the church directory. Re:Member, the company producing the directory, allows for photos to be submitted for $20 apiece. Unfortunately, due to the policy of Re:Member, we can only accept photos that are self-taken. Professional photos from another company or those taken in the last church directory are not allowed. Please send photos to Lou Korom, [email protected] no later than Sunday, February 18!

Items Needed for Our Daily Bread

The diaconate is collecting items for Our Daily Bread. Items may be donated in the box in the Narthex. Current needs are: bottle water, canned vegetables, canned soup, canned Chef Boyardee, canned stew, mac and cheese cups, Rice-a-Roni cups, sugar, Gatorade, travel size shampoo, travel size conditioner, travel size toothpaste, travel size deodorant, cough drops, chapstick, tissues, men's pants (size 36W), men's shirts sizes (2XL and up).

Give-a-Meal - $2.29

St. Andrew donated $1,451.00 to the Give-a-Meal program in January! Thank you for supporting the needs of those who are experiencing food insecurity during this time. A monetary donation of $2.29 feeds a person in need for a week. Donations can be made by mail or online. Please write Give-a-Meal-a-Month on your envelope or check when giving by mail. To give online, visit standrewdenton.com/give and be sure to choose Give-a-Meal from the fund options to the right of your monetary donation.

Screen Printed St. Andrew Items Available Now!

St. Andrew is partnering with online retailer Bonfire to make these screen-printed offerings available anytime through their online store. A small amount of each item will go toward communications projects in the future. Visit the link below to see our storefront!