This Week at Saint Andrew's |
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Welcome to our newsletter. We hope to provide current information and keep you connected to our family. |
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Dear St. Andrew’s,
Happy Veteran’s day to all the veterans out there. Thank you for your service and your commitment.
I hope and pray everyone is well. There are 2 things I would like to highlight in this message.
- As many of you know, we are in the midst of our 2021 Stewardship program. A time in which we give thanks to God by the giving of ourselves. Kimberly and Tom have done a wonderful job leading us through this time of discernment. This coming Sunday is Gratitude Sunday. I hope each of you will take the time in the next few days to be in prayer about what you can give. If you could please bring your pledge in this Sunday it would be greatly appreciated by the budget committee. I realize some of you may not be able to attend this Sunday. So if you cannot, please get it in as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tom, Kimberley or me.
- The Women’s Advent Party is December 12th at 5:00 p.m. This year this event will be held at the church. If you have never attended, please do it is a wonderful event.
Grace and Peace,
Peter
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Thursday, November 11, 6 PM Evening Prayer -
- Join us for Evening Prayer. The service will be available through Facebook Live at the St Andrew's Facebook page at 6 PM. Bulletins are available for download here and on the website.
Sunday, November 14, 8 AM & 10 AM Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
- Join us for Holy Eucharist. We will be holding services inside the Church. Viewing will also be available through Facebook Live at the St Andrew's Facebook page at 10 AM. Bulletins are available for download here and on the website.
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Sunday School is Back during the 10am service - follow the A-frame sign to see if we are meeting in the Children's Center building or the Courtyard.
We are very excited to start a new series on "The Messiah Promised." These themes and stories will help kids understand the promise that was passed down through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and eventually David to bring a Savior into the world. After that, we'll detour into a mini-series on the Saints in preparation for All Saints Day, before we head into the Holiday season.
Professional Childcare also available.
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Prayer List Please remember those who need your daily prayers. Prayer requests may be sent to office. The Prayer List can be accessed here.
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Please consider donating to support our ministry. |
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On Tuesday November 4th, St. Andrews mailed out the 2022 Pledge Cards along with a new Stewardship Letter. You should have received these documents in the mail. There are 3 ways to provide your Stewardship information for 2022 to St. Andrews:
- During the Service on Sunday November 14th, you are welcome to come up and place your Pledge Card on the altar, like we have done in the past.
- We have added the option to pledge on-line. Click here to record your pledge on-line.
- You can also mail your pledge to the St. Andrews office located at 4400 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine CA 92604
One additional item we would like you to consider. In the Narthex, we printed out the St Andrew's Step-Up Chart for everyone to view. This chart represents the wide range of generous pledges that we received in 2021. Our hope is that you can identify enough personal examples of where you have been truly blessed and find it in your heart to Step-Up to the next level for your 2022 Pledge.
Thank you in advance.
Kimberley Lakes and Tom Pietryga.
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Alternative Christmas Market |
On Sunday, December 5, 2021, Concern America artisan gifts will be here at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church featuring unique, quality handcrafts that provide us with the opportunity to purchase conscientiously. The gifts we find for special events, holidays, or to brighten our own homes are an exchange of caring with impoverished communities in developing countries. This year we have many new crafts from Bangladesh, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Inspired by nature, these beautifully handcrafted textiles, ceramics and wood products, honor indigenous traditions, and were selected to be reminders that when a Concern America product is purchased we are providing a source of income to materially poor communities; promoting human scale endeavors; eco-friendly work patterns; and fair working conditions.
Concern America, is an international development organization based in Santa Ana, CA. You may view of selection of their crafts on their web site: www.concernamerica.org
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Plan on joining the women of St. Andrew’s as we gather together at the Church on Sunday, December 12th at 5PM to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Click here for more information to signup and RSVP.
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As part of our Annual Adopt A Family Outreach, we will be providing gifts for 5 families associated with our Children's Center. We will be doing this outreach a bit differently. In an upcoming enews there will be a form that will list the items we are requesting. There are clothing items, toys, books, and gift cards for groceries or department stores to select from. Once you have selected the gift you would like to donate, please enter your name and address on the form. All gifts need to be returned to St. Andrew's by Dec 14th so that we can ensure that the gifts are distributed to the families before Christmas. Please wrap the gifts and provide a tag on the gift that designates the family number & boy/girl and age.
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Current Outreach Activities |
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Orangewood Foundation - Outreach |
Between now and November 14 we will be collecting gift cards and food items for the Thanksgiving Food Drive at the Orangewood Foundation. They request that items be placed in a reusable shopping bag. Please bring your items to the Narthex.
Shopping list:
- 1 $25 gift card (to any grocery store)
- 2 cans of corn
- 2 cans of green beans
- 1 can of yams
- 1 box corn bread mix
- 1 box stuffing mix
- 1 box instant mashed potatoes
- 1 can of cranberry sauce
- 1 can of gravy
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United Thank Offering - Outreach - Bring Boxes Back on NOV 14
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The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, individuals are invited to embrace and deepen a personal daily spiritual discipline of gratitude. UTO encourages people to notice the good things that happen each day, give thanks to God for those blessings and make an offering for each blessing using a UTO Blue Box. UTO is entrusted to receive the offerings, and to distribute the 100% of what is collected to support innovative mission and ministry throughout The Episcopal Church and Provinces of the Anglican Communion.
How you can participate in UTO
Each day, reflect on what you are grateful for. As you do so, put a few coins or dollar bills in the UTO box. We’ll collect the boxes on November 14, Gratitude Sunday. If you don’t have a stash of coins, or a UTO box, no problem. On Gratitude Sunday, add a check to the collection plate with “UTO” in the note section. If you use Zelle, please note “UTO” as well. This is a great activity for the children of St. Andrew’s too.
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On Going Scheduled Activities |
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Peace & Justice Committee - Sacred Ground Series, Session 3
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The Sacred Ground series will continue with the fourth session on November 17 from 5-6:30 p.m. This has been a thought provoking series so far on the impact race has on all of us. Please feel free to join us, even if you have missed the first two sessions. If you would like to join us, please let the St. Andrew’s office know. We’ll send out the Zoom link a day or two before the session. |
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We will be meeting virtually for our book group at 11 AM on Weds. We will be discussing the book, The Dream of God: A Call to Return by Verna J. Dozier. If you would like to be part of this group, please contact the office and we will add you to the group. Newcomers are welcome. Noonday Prayer follows the Book Group Meeting.
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Volunteer Opportunity at Woodbridge Manor |
St. Andrew’s volunteers staff a Food Bank for approximately 85 residents at this apartment complex for low income seniors and disabled adults. We receive food donated by local grocers, unpack it and organize it on tables for the residents to “shop” for their groceries. We have a group of loyal volunteers and we can always use more help. If you can help we’d love to have you join us. We meet every other Monday at 10 am. with the exception of federal holidays. It takes about 2 hours. Contact Catherine Sharbaugh for more information.
Upcoming Food Bank dates are Monday, November 1, 15 and 29.
We can always use cardboard egg cartons. Please bring what you can to the church.
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The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 3:00 p.m., currently via Zoom. Prayer Shawl news goes out monthly to all interested. Some ministry members who cannot attend the monthly meeting knit or crochet shawls and prayer cloths at home. If you are a newcomer to Prayer Shawl, please contact Sharon Brooks at [email protected].
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The Men's Group meets virtually on the third Saturday of the month. Please contact Peter is you are interested in joining. |
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In a time of uncertainty, it can be challenging to find time for quiet and reflection. All are welcome to join Stillpoint in a half hour of Centering Prayer any weeknight from 5:30-6. A link and more information on the practice is available at stillpointca.org/still-points.
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Northern California Wildfires |
Sacramento-based KCRA3 News has compiled a list of organizations aiding people affected by the disastrous Dixie and Caldor fires in the northern half of California. Generally, organizations request monetary gifts rather than in-kind items. The charities, including the Red Cross, offer many kinds of support, including housing for the displaced, care for animals fleeing the fire, and care for firefighters and other first responders. Learn more here. |
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On Sunday, August 29, sixteen years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Ida made landfall in the same region. This Category 4 storm brought flooding and damaging winds that caused a loss of water to hundreds of thousands and a loss of electricity to over 1 million people. Episcopal Relief & Development is working closely with the Diocese of Louisiana and other regional partners in what will be a long-term response. Your generous gift will help alleviate suffering for the most vulnerable residents impacted by Hurricane Ida. Please visit episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-relief to make a gift today. |
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Afghan Refugee Resettlement |
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Episcopal Migration Ministries is the refugee resettlement ministry of The Episcopal Church, proudly carrying on a century-old legacy of Episcopal ministries that welcome immigrants and refugees.
If you are interested in learning more about this ministry and providing support please click here..
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Episcopal Relief and Development-Haiti |
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On Saturday, August 14, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the southwest portion of Haiti. This devastating earthquake was followed by Tropical Storm Grace on Monday night and much of Tuesday. More than 1 million people, including more than half a million children, have been impacted by the back-to-back disasters, and the death toll is close to 2000. Episcopal Relief & Development and its partners are responding immediately with direct assistance to vulnerable households in the region, as partners plan long-term recovery. Your generous gift can provide assistance to help people in the wake of these disasters. To assist in these efforts, visit episcopalrelief.org/haiti-relief.
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Vaccination Sites Near Us |
In his recent letter to the Diocese, Bishop Taylor has asked us to pray that vaccination rates will pick up. If you have not been vaccinated and are looking for a vaccine site near you, you may use this link and simply type in your zip code: https://www.vaccines.gov. |
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Orange County has the third largest Asian population in the country and Irvine has the largest number in the county. The rise in hate crimes against those of Asian heritage is alarming and unacceptable and we can do our part to stop such acts. California Penal Code 422.55 defines a hate crime as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim. This includes:
- Disability
- Gender
- Nationality
- Race or ethnicity
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Association with a person or group of persons with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics
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If you know of someone in our church family who is sick, in the hospital or in need of pastoral care please notify the office or clergy. |
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If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office via phone 949-559-4699 or by email [email protected].
The Rev. Peter Browning, Vicar
Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church
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Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church| 949-559-4699| [email protected]| www.standrewsirvine.org |
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