Volume 57/Lead Like Andrew:

"LEAD LIKE ANDREW"

Membership Newsletter

Brotherhood of St. Andrew

Tom Welch, Editor

Welcome to our bi-weekly newsletter

Volume 57, "LEAD LIKE ANDREW"

It's a quick-read, multi-topic news channel for members to see what is going on, what is planned, and what successes from the previous weeks.

We urge you to contact us with news, tidbits, or notices of upcoming events in your area so that we can include them! We also value your feedback on this newsletter or how your national office is serving you.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with Conrad Jones (email Conrad) , Dr. Roy Benavides (email Roy) or Tom Welch (email Tom) feedback or for sharing newsletter information!

Please share this newsletter with other men in your parish or community.

ALERT:

MINISTRY DUES Renewals coming up!

November is the time when we are asked to pay our $50 for ministry dues so that our Brotherhood can continue its goal of spreading the Good News of the Kingdom through our disciplines of prayer, study, and service. Our dollars support our seven ministries and provide educational opportunities focusing on how each member can use their talent to lead like Jesus. It is He who directs each one of us how to be a servant leader, and our Brotherhood is an instrument in achieving His goal.

Last year some chapters used a November meeting to collect dues, update their rosters, and send in their annual report to our national office. The same meeting was also an ideal time to rededicate their chapter to the purposes of the Brotherhood. The membership committee recommends this method to all chapters this year because it strengthens our sense of common resolve as a community. Call it the “show up chapter meeting.”

As we did last year, the membership committee and your Executive Board wish to recognize chapters who strongly support our ministry by presenting them with the Houghteling Award, named after our founder. The criteria are: 80% of the chapter's roster of members paid dues for 2024 by December 31st, 2023, and provide a chapter report including names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mails of members and a chapter officer roster. This report is critical to maintaining necessary communications info of our membership maintained by the national office. Your chapter’s support of the larger ministry will be recognized by a ribbon honoring your commitment. Why not have a celebration to emphasize the milestone achievement?

Another reminder: last year National President Br. Conrad Jones issued a President's Cup challenge. The Province which had the highest percentage of renewing members against the national rosters received a beautiful gold-cup trophy. Last year it was won by Province III with a renewal rate of 79%! This year will they have to pass the cup on to another province? Who will party this year? Wait and see! Remember, your 2024 Ministry Dues are due BY DECEMBER 31, 2023

Want to do a bit more? Please consider adding some extra dollars, lagniappe, as we say on the Gulf Coast, as a further pledge to our ministry. Remember, The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is designated as THE men’s ministry of the Episcopal Church. We are a fellowship covenant community of Brothers, and your financial support of this ministry is a small token toward what we can accomplish in bringing men and youth to a closer walk with Jesus!

Br. Dick Hooper

Membership Committee Chair

From the Director's Chair

By Tom Welch

"Is anyone among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? The should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord."

(James 5:13-14)

I was reminded of these words during a recent visit with our Honorary National Chaplain, Rt. Rev. Carl Wright (retired). He now lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Last week a USAF chaplain candidate and fellow Virginia Theological Seminary Student, Chris Leung and I joined Fr. Jason Poling (rector at St. James, Pasadena, MD) to bring communion to Bishop Carl. Carl one of those RITE ONE guys! He's living in assisted living centers these days. As the elements were being prepared, the bishop broke out into singing "Let us break bread together." It was beautiful to seen him live out these words from James. Oh, that we could remember to do that when our life circumstances change. It was beautiful to see the tenderness in the eyes of Fr. Jason as he served his colleague. Holy moments indeed. We also had moments of "holy foolishness" with the bishop as he shared much animation with his stories.

Bishop Carl said: "Tell the Brothers I love them and miss them." What a testament to a grateful heart.

Pictured below, left to right: Tom Welch, Bishop Carl Wright, Chris Leung and Fr. Jason Poling.

Your financial support of the Brotherhood helps make this newslettter and all our communications possible. Thank you!

Province II Workshop held at Mercer Center for Theology, Garden City, New York

The most recent in a series of Province workshops was held on Long Island October 28th. Province II President Nick Cox welcomed Executive Director Tom Welch and Field Operations VP Tom Martin. Together they offered a workshop centered on mentorship/discipling and the theme of "Just a Closer Walk with Jesus through the Brotherhood of St. Andrew."

Associate Member Earleene Sealy and these enthusiastic brothers enjoyed good food and company: Jeffrey Gardner, Wentworth Jeffers, Leonid Chance, Anthony Hinds, Thomas Adams, Richard Williams, Herman A. Clark, Leon Dacon, Michael Amadi, Reggie Scantlebury, Thurman Ransom, Jr., Michael Phillips, Peter Holmes, David W. King, Donald Franklin, Cecil Buxo, Walter Williams, Garfield Da Costa, and James Sisnett.

In Case You Missed It!

Our 2023 National Council Meeting was held virtually October 7, where two business items were approved by your delegates.

A 2024 Operating Budget was approved and will be reviewed again prior to the Triennial in February 2024 once we evaluate our revenue from Membership renewals (due by Dec 31, 2023)
Our Bylaws were edited to replace the term "pledges" with "Ministry Dues" to better reflect the intentions of our requests for membership renewals from our Sr., Jr. and Associate Members.

You can see the full replay of the Council Meeting by clicking on this YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/M5c5JJm5k44

Jesus was the greatest leader of all time. His impact on the world has lasted for over 2000 years and counting. Thousands followed Him as He traveled around with His 12 disciples and healed and preached and taught LOVE in all He did. The Lead Like Jesus program encompasses Prayer, Study, and Service in one succinct package. It fits perfectly into our Brotherhood Mission to bring Men and Youth to a closer walk with Jesus. What an opportunity to learn from a program created by Tony Blanchard and Phil Hodges to Lead Like Jesus! “Don’t delay! Register today or you might miss this opportunity to get this great training with the Brotherhood refunding your registration fee.”

The Lead Like Jesus (LLJ) Encounter program is being offered to Brotherhood members Nov 14, 15, 16 (4 hours per day 11am-3pm Eastern). LLJ aligns with our Brotherhood concepts, and we wish to extend this opportunity to our Brothers.

Through very generous donations, the Brotherhood will fully refund the $199 registration fee (the public price) for the first 20 members who register and complete the three-day Encounter in November.

For More information or to Register Click the link Below

https://leadlikejesus.givecloud.co/nov2023

When asked during registration “where did you learn about this?” enter “Brotherhood of St. Andrew”. This will give us your registration and you will participate with other Brothers in the breakout sections.

Questions, contact

Tom Martin 470-952-9987

John Blossom 920-854-2557

As every man purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or out of compulsion; for God loveth the cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Did you know there are creative ways to support The Brotherhood of St. Andrew? Ways in which The Brotherhood, you and your loved ones all benefit at the same time?

Such giving techniques are called "planned gifts," because with thoughtful planning, you create win-win solutions for you and The Brotherhood.

For more information about “Smart Giving”

CLICK HERE

https://brothersandrew.plannedgiving.org/

Join the Chicago Assembly

in celebrating the Brotherhood’s 140th anniversary at the historic St. James Cathedral where our organization began back in 1883. Enjoy tours of the historic facilities, music by the Shannon Rovers Bag Pipers, and presentations made by the National Brotherhood organization. Refreshments and a luncheon are included after a short business meeting. This all takes place Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Invitations will be sent out in November, but Save the Date!

UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

11/2-11/4

229th Annual Convention of the

Diocese of Virginia in Fredericksburg

11/9-11/11

Diocese of Rio Grande Convention at

St. Alban's, El Paso, TX

11/17-18

Diocese of Chicago Annual Convention

Diocese of North Carolina Convention at

the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem

Registration is open at

https://tinyurl.com/2024Triennial

or download hard copy here to mail with check

Make your hotel reservations at

https://tinyurl.com/2024TriennialHotel

Registration & Reservation Deadline is January 15, 2024

Chapter and Brother News!

Send us pictures and short writeups of what great things are going on in your Brotherhood world! We'd love to share!

Kingfisher Chapter

Shaker Heights, OH

In the month of October, the Kingfisher Chapter of Christ Episcopal Church-Shaker Heights, Ohio, experienced “The Escape Room" as an afternoon chapter outing. The brothers and guests collaborated together to solve the hidden clues for the Al Capone’s Speakeasy exhibit. The Brothers and their guests were Cleveland detectives, and where they had to find evidence to shut down the notorious barbershop ran by Al Capone and his underboss Don Vincenzo. Sadly, the brothers and their guests did not accomplish their task that afternoon.

Membership Updates

(Through 10/31/23)

1,453 Sr. Members paid

including 234 New Members!

554 Life Members

11 Junior Members

35 Associate Members

That's 2,053 Total!

RETREATS

I’ve been the Diocesan Coordinator for the BStA in the Diocese of the Rio Grande since my ordination in 2001. Since Roy Benavides lives in the DRG, together we have done an annual retreat every year since then with a couple of exceptions. This year our retreat was on prayer and the retreat leader was The Rev Dr. Adam D. McCoy, OHC, Order of Holy Cross and an Episcopal Benedictine. The Retreat was at the Norbertine Spiritual Center in Albuquerque and was attended by brothers from New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The time with Father Adam was wonderful and the Center beautiful, spiritual and welcoming. The time could not have been more beneficial and pleasant.

We prayed four times a day using the app, “Mission St Clare – Praying the Daily Office” on our phones and finished the retreat with Holy Eucharist. We chanted one Evening Prayer with the Norbertine priests, thanks to Father Adam being monastic, and were always welcome to join them. This was special to all the Brothers St. Andrew in attendance. The sanctuary had the altar in the center and the congregants sat on four sides. It was modern and attractive (see photo).

The Retreat was organized into five sessions with Father Adam making presentations and the brothers adding to the conversation. Father Adam was impressed the brothers were so willing to share. Most of us read “The Work of Prayer: A Manual for Those Who Would Pray Well” by James O. S. H. Huntington, OHC and one session was devoted to the book.

I encourage all to attend retreats. I think it helps become what God would want us to become, that is kinder, better people with a better relations with God. Let me give a brief sampling of the wisdom of Father Adam and the power of prayer as it affects the BStA as encouragement:

The purpose of Prayer is the Purpose of Life: Getting into a relationship with God.
Most people find it easy to ignore the Spiritual World. Prayer is a way to bridge this gap.
A good worship service is a pre-test of heaven; when everyone comes together in love and fellowship. We need unity; we need a sense that we are one with one another. We feel joy and unity when we are one with one another. What kind of community are we if we put up barriers? Praying for one another can help us be aware of one another.
A fruit of prayer is an awareness of who we are.
We can choose to be in sync with the energy of God through prayer.

“I became serious about prayer thanks to Brotherhood St. Andrew,” reported Brother Chris Matthews of Houston.

I’ll see you at a BStA Retreat!

Rev. Br. Tom Bates

Church of the Good Shepherd

Silver City, NM

WHY??

In the beginning of October, I received an email from Br. Conrad Jones asking me to explain, "Why I am a member of the Brotherhood". At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this. But then I received a second email from Br. Conrad.

I am the third son of an Episcopal Priest, who served Episcopal churches in Holdenville, Oklahoma; Big Spring, Texas; Orange and Stafford, Virginia; and retired to Seattle, Washington. I was born in Big Spring and stayed in Virginia when my parents moved to Seattle.

I am married for the second time having lost my first wife to cancer. I am a father of two children and grandfather of three grandsons. My late daughter had my oldest grandson and my son had two.

I have held almost every position you can in a church except being in the Choir. I have been on the Vestry, Church Treasurer and Senior Warden. I have been a special treasurer twice for building a new three-story building and making repair payments following an earthquake. I am one of three trustees who control the investment of $5 million. I was co-sponsor of the Youth Group for over 25 years.

For the past four years I have been Vice-Director for our Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrews. During the pandemic, I have been running the Zoom Program to keep our Brothers together. We will be having our 200^th Zoom Meeting by the time this is published. I also have the responsibility of making sure we stayed in good standing with the National Brotherhood.

We have Brotherhood meetings every Tuesday morning at 7 am. We begin each meeting with breakfast together, followed by our devotion, then our business meeting, then our Bible study and ending the hour with closing devotions.

As you can see, I have been an Episcopalian all my life. I have been a member of the Brotherhood off and on since 1986. I have not missed a meeting since I retired in June of 2015.

I am in His service,

Br. J. Harold A. Boyd

St. Stephen's, Culpepper, VA

Recognizing Our

Sustaining Members

Sustaining Members refers to Brothers who have made a commitment to offer a monthly (or quarterly) donation to the Brotherhood over and above their regular Sr. Membership dues or a Life Membership.

Many of us do make additional donations throughout the year (Ex: special appeals, purchase of the Sweepstakes tickets, etc.), but this a pledged commitment of recurring donations in a regular, consistent recurring donation throughout the year. It represents a commitment to financially support our ministry on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Thanks be to these Brothers for their commitment to financially supporting our ministry

throughout the year.

Br. James Miller, Br. John Streeter, Br. David Adams,

Br. Evans Clements, Rev. Br. Ellis Clifton, Br. Nick Cox, Br. Cecil Buxo, Br. Walt Joyce, Br. Leland Metheney,

Br. Louis Surles, Br. John Blossom, Br. Eric Fisher,

Rev. Br. John Thompson-Quartey, Br. Arthur Simpson, Br. Oliver Evans, Br. Peter Gilmour, Br. Ken Holloway, Br. Roy Benavides, Br. Conrad Jones, Br. Ed Milbrada, Br. Ray Talbird, Br. George Shumard, Br. Jeff Butcher, Br. Tom Simpson, Br. Dick Hooper, Br. Eric Haralson, Br. Tom Welch, Rev. Br. Ed Bartle, Br. David Penley,

Br. John Fitzgerald, Br. Billy Harrison.

Can you commit to a $5 or $10/month (or more) donation to this ministry and community of men that you belong to? That's less than a lunch at McDonald's! It is important, if not critical, to the ongoing vitality of our ministry to men and youth. If you'd like to discuss more, email me by clicking here: conrad.jones@brothersandrew.net

sent to you!

Members At Large

(MAL) News!

Bro. Lyn Reavis hosts a monthly zoom "breakfast" meeting for Members At Large (MAL). Using the Brothers Andrew Devotional Handbook, the meeting ritual begins with our Chapter Devotional. His Life Line format focus on Study, Prayer, and a Commitment to Service in each members local parish or community. The Study usually considers a Saint from the church's liturgical calendar. Members At Large or anyone interested in the Brotherhood is invited. Check our Members Newsletter "Lead Like Andrew" for more information about the zoom link and schedule. Otherwise, the session usually falls on the third Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. (Central Time). Bro. Lyn can be reached at lyn.reavis@brothersandrew.net.

Mark Your Calendars For

These Upcoming Events!

BROTHERHOOD MONTHLY MEMBER WEBINAR

Tune in to our

next webinar

Wednesday, November 1 at 8 p.m. (EDT)

Our November Webinar guest is author Susan Mettes. Susan is a Duke graduate and recently wrote a resent high interest book “The Loneliness Epidemic.” Susan is a behavioral scientist with extensive prior experience conducting research for faith-based organizations. She is currently an associate editor for Christianity Today and has written many articles for this and other publications. The Loneliness Epidemic “offers insight into why people experience acute loneliness and what Christian communities and leaders can offer in response.” The book is a valuable resource for those who feel lonely or who want to help someone who feels alone. “Guided by current research from Barna Group, behavioral scientist Susan Mettes illustrates the profound physical, emotional, and social toll of loneliness in the United States. Surprisingly, her research shows that it’s not the oldest Americans but the youngest adults who are loneliest and that social media can actually play a positive role in alleviating loneliness. “The Loneliness Epidemic” highlights the role that belonging, friendship, closeness, and expectations play in preventing loneliness. It also offers meaningful ways the church can minister to lonely people, going far beyond simplistic solutions—like helping them meet new people—to addressing their inner lives and the God who understands them.

Upcoming Webinars:

December 6th

Rev. Scott Gunn,

Executive Director

Forward Movement

forwardmovement.org

January 3rd

Very Rev. Dr. Ian Markham,

Dean

Virginia Theological Seminary

vts.edu

February 7th

Rev. Matthew S.C. Oliver,

Executive Director and Publisher

The Living Church

livingchurch.org

JOIN US IN PRAYER EACH WEEK

Mid-Week

Mid-Day

Pray Day

Join us...

What better way to level set during the middle of the week? We will hold a weekly Wednesday noon (CDT) prayer time over ZOOM open to all Brothers and guests. Let's pray for the Brotherhood, for our Brothers, and even share some stories of how Prayer has impacted you or someone you know!

We can all spare 20 minutes in prayer. It's like stopping at the faith service station to fill up your prayer tank!

Please join us every week when you can to recharge your prayer batteries!

The Zoom link can be accessed by clicking here.

Copy and paste this Zoom link into your calendar so you can join us for 20 minutes

every Wednesday at 1 pm EST/noon CST/11 am MST/10 am PST!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89341488609?pwd=RStUSjJKbVF2eVY2c2cxMHpRTm9Pdz09

If you'd like to help lead, pick an empty date and contact conrad.jones@brothersandrew.net or roy.benavides@brothersandrew.net

It's simple...we already have the script made out (in our devotional handbook or the Book of Common Prayer)!

Prayer Leaders Schedule

Ministry News!

Scouting and Youth

Racial Reconciliation

Social Justice

Veterans

Recovery

Restorative Justice

Discipleship and Mentoring

Information Resources!

We need stories from Chapters and Ministries

Our editor Kathy Copas really would like to include news of chapter events and ministry meetings or events. If you have something to share, please send to

editor@brothersandrew.net