What's Happening at St. Andrew Community

Monday, August 3, 2026

A few minutes with Ed ~



I step on the bathroom scales every day to check my weight. I’m sure a lot of you do the same thing. I do it because experience has taught me that if I don’t check my weight every day, it is easy to get off track and suddenly end up 5 or 10 pounds heavier. Sadly, checking my weight doesn’t automatically lead to weight loss, but it does help me avoid weight gain. It’s much easier to shave off that extra pound than to suddenly discover that you need to lose 10 pounds just to avoid buying a new wardrobe.

There is a spiritual equivalent to this daily physical check. St. Ignatius was one of the great spiritual teachers of the early church. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits. Among other things, the Jesuits are known for spiritual formation through spiritual exercises, a set of meditations and prayers developed by Ignatius. One of these exercises is the Examen prayer.

The Examen is a prayer done at the end of the day to help keep us close to God. It is a reflection on the spirits that have stirred our thoughts, emotions, and actions during the day. What Ignatius calls the false spirit is the inner pull away from God’s plan and away from faith, hope, and love. What Ignatius calls the true spirit is the inner pull toward God’s plan and toward faith, hope, and love. We can identify which spirit we are under by reflecting on whether our thoughts and actions left us in a state of desolation or a state of consolation.

Paying attention to our spiritual condition is important because it is so easy to get off track. You can easily find an Examen prayer online. Here is one I got from Chat GPT: “Lord, thank you for the gift of this day. Help me to see it as you see it. Thank you for the moments that brought me peace and joy. Show me where I responded to your love and where I turned away from it. Forgive me for my failures, heal what is wounded, and deepen what is good. Give me the grace to love you and my neighbor more faithfully tomorrow. Amen.” Stop and reflect for a moment after each sentence.

Try it and stick with it for a while. You will find it helpful.

~~`Ed

It looks like the heat will never end! Just a hot carryover from July. Please stay cool and hydrated!!

Unity Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 8/4 at 5:30 p.m.

Worship & Music Ministry Group Meeting will be held on Sunday, 8/9 at 11:15 a.m. 

Building & Grounds Ministry Group will meet on Wed. 8/12 at 5:30 p.m.

Fellowship, Education, & Nurture will meet on Wed. 8/12 at 5:00 p.m.



Sunday Morning Snacks — Thanks to everyone below for their help on upcoming Sunday mornings! We always appreciate your kindness! Have a very blessed week!


• Aug 9— Kathy Crane
• Aug 16— Debbie Mahoney
• Aug 23— Judy Haley
• Aug 30 —*5th Sunday Pot Luck!*



Collection for August 19.

One Love Bags has started.

We need everything. 

Thanks for your help!

Join the ladies' Stitchers group every Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Dawn Lo classroom! This welcoming group invites members, friends, and family, beginners and experts alike, left- and right-handed crocheters to come join in on the fun!

Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the church from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For further information, please call (903)235-7890.

Women's Bible Study is held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 10:30 am, led by Quita Russell and Jackie Farmer. For further information, please contact Quita or Jackie.

Clean Air Al-Anon will be meeting every Tuesday evening from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. For further information, please call (915)522-5575.

www.standrewpres.org

The e-news and calendar are now attached to

our web page.

There is also access to a current directory

if you are a member.

If you have forgotten your sign-in, contact the church office.