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"LEAD LIKE ANDREW"
Membership Newsletter
Brotherhood of St. Andrew
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Welcome to Our Bi-weekly Newsletter
Volume 86, "LEAD LIKE ANDREW"
Here's our latest edition with prayers of thanksgiving, important news on our new mailing address and other news you can use! Take a look ...
Please share news, tidbits, or notices of upcoming events in your area so we may include them. We also value your feedback on this newsletter and how we may better serve you. Don't hesitate to contact
Dr. Roy Benavides (email Roy)
Jeff Butcher (email Jeff)
or Tom Welch (email Tom).
Submission consideration deadline is
Monday at 8 a.m. for the week of release.
Please share this newsletter with others
in your parish or community.
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** THIS SATURDAY **
December 14 National Council Meeting Via Zoom
The 2024 National Council Meeting will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024, beginning at 11 a.m. EST, by virtual means. The Zoom link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85328413992?pwd=JtnceymQy79l9lGoXSLwKOs7WNM3G6.1
Meeting ID: 853 2841 3992 Passcode: 493631
This is an open meeting to anyone.
Pursuant to the Bylaws, each active chapter is entitled to one vote by a qualified delegate. A qualified delegate is an active member selected to attend the meeting by an active chapter. An active member has fully paid his 2024 membership dues no later than November 30, 2024. An active chapter has submitted its 2023 annual report to National Office no later than November 30, 2024, and at least 50% of its members are current on their 2024 dues as of that same date. Also, the Bylaws require an officer of each active chapter to notify the National Service Center of the identity of the attending qualified active member delegate no later than December 3, 2024, for an accurate list of qualified voters before the meeting begins.
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Directly Speaking
The Year in Review:
What was your story?
By: Executive Director Tom Welch
Dear Brothers, Associate Members, and Friends,
As this year comes to a close, we have experienced another consecutive year with increasing growth of new members. I am hearing about an uptick with in-person worship attendance this year over the last year from across the church as well. A little more on that in our next edition. All of this to say, that means the Spirit is at work. What was your chapter story?
Below we see our Brothers and Associate Members from St. George Episcopal Church in Hampstead, New York, at their Feast of St. Andrew celebration. In our next edition of LLA for 2024 we would like to share similar news and photos from your chapter. Our contact links are at the top of this newsletter.
The last LLA edition for 2024 will be posted on December 23, Monday, rather than the usual Wednesday. This year that Wednesday is the 25th, a huge celebration in our hearts. Please send us your pictures and brief stories about what you did to remember our ministry's Feast Day.
At the end of this edition, make note of all the 2024 Houghteling Chapters for this year. These represent chapters with 75%+ of those members in the chapter current in dues. Bravo!
Special thanks to all of you who have offered contributions to the ministry above membership dues. We could not have made it through the year without them. The only way we are able to provide ministry support is with operational support from the Service Center in Louisville. Your support makes it happen. Thanks!
At this time of year many are experiencing the first holiday season without a loved one. Jesus had something to say about tending to widows, orphans and the suffering. A suffering heart is rarely known. Make the time to reach out with a phone call, an offer to have them join you for a run to the store or a meal. The silence in a home and heart can be deafening to the grieving at Christmas. Share the light and love and simple presence of the promises brought to the world when Christ was born by sharing time with others. Nothing fancy is required.
| Brothers and Associate Members from St. George Episcopal Church in Hampstead, New York, at their Feast of St. Andrew celebration. | |
A special welcome to these new members
joining since November 27:
Senior Members:
David Caragher, Advent (#5454S) Sun City West, AZ
Stanley Smith, Advent (#5454S) Sun City West, AZ
Robert Taylor, St. Mary's (#2187S) High Point, NC
John Parker, Christ (#2219S) Elizabeth City, NC
Mike Boggs, St. Mary's (#2187S) High Point, NC
Richard Hayes, St. George (#5136S) The Villages, FL
Dick Busick, St. Andrew Anglican (#5345) Lewis Center, OH
Steve Bigley, St. Andrew Anglican (#5345) Lewis Center, OH
Christopher McFadden, St. John (#4854S) Naperville, IL
Brandon Martin, Heavenly Rest (#2260S) Abilene, TX
Archie Moore, St. Benedicts (#4945S) Plantation, FL
Nicholas Carryl, St. Benedicts (#4945S) Plantation, FL
Jason Walker, St. Benedicts (#4945S) Plantation, FL
Joseph Martin, St. Benedicts (#4945S) Plantation, FL
Skelly Shelton, St. John (#3816S) Tulsa, OK
Junior Members:
Joseph Edgar, St. Edwards (#5403S) Mount Dora, FL
Luke Gambill, St. John (#3816S) Tulsa, OK
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FIRST WEDNESDAY WEBINARS
Our monthly webinars are always on the first Wednesday of each month at
8 pm/Eastern.
Here's the link:
BStA Monthly Webinar Link
January 8, 2025
Speaker to Be Announced on December 23
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In Case You Missed Previous Webinars,
here are some recent ones:
December webinar with
Kush Varshney, Ph.D. discussing
some basics of Artificial Intelligence, large language models, AI alignment, trust, empathy, dignity, and moral psychology
Click here for a replay
November webinar with
Rev. Ken Howard discussing
"Missional Assessment: The Power of Knowing Your Congregation and Your Community"
Click here for a replay
October webinar with
Rev. John Blossom discussing
"Smart Giving"
Click here for a replay
September webinar with
Rev. Sandra Albom discussing the
Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church
Click here for a replay
August webinar with
Karen Weeks, President of Episcopal Cursillo Ministry
Click here for a replay
July webinar with
Marketing Consultant Elizabeth Coluby
Click here for a replay
June webinar with Rev. Jay Sidebotham talking
about "The Signs of Life"
Click here for a replay
May webinar featuring the
Human Trafficking Update by Rev. Brian McVey
Click here for a replay
April webinar with
BISHOP JEFF W. FISHER
Bishop Suffragan in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas
and the bishop for the east region of the diocese
TOPIC:
LINK: "WHAT MEN WANT TO HEAR"
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AND IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.................
More Personal & Chapter Development
WEBINARS offered on 2nd TUESDAYS with two different sessions, at 7 and 8 p.m. (same link)
Through the efforts of our Growth, Renewal, and Development Committee, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew is pleased to share opportunities for deeper involvement by all among our ranks. Here is a brief outline of webinar topics that will be provided in the months ahead. We ask that you pray for their growth, your involvement in them, and ideas to share with us.
The following is the Zoom Schedule for each night's two, 1-hour sessions for next month ... more to come:
January 7, 2025
7 p.m.--New Member Orientation Segment IV--
Members Duties/Responsibilities; Devotional Handbook
Jeff Butcher, Dick Hooper
8 p.m.--Chapter Officers: Chapter Development Guide
Jeff Butcher, Roy Benavides
Register for the sessions at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUldeyqqTMpGNJUGeLFxXHnqIWVg5EFOnJ6#/registration
After registering, you will receive the Zoom link for the session.
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ALERT: MINISTRY DUES
by Dick Hooper, Membership Chairman
November is the time when we are asked to pay $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 in 2025. 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 how our brotherhood is an instrument in achieving his goal.
Last year some chapters used a November meeting to collect the next year's dues, update their rosters, and send in their annual report to our national service center in Louisville. The same meeting was also an ideal time to rededicate their chapter to the purposes of the Brotherhood. The membership committee commends this method to all chapters this year because it strengthens our sense of common resolve as a community. We call it the “show up chapter meeting.”
Individual Brothers may also make a payment using our website with debit card, credit card or Pay Pal AND, new this year, you can set your renewal as an automatic yearly recurring donation by checking the "Make this a yearly donation" box. Another way to renew your annual ministry dues is to mail a $50 check directly to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew at P.O. Box 1382, Louisville, KY 40201.
As we did last year, the membership committee and the National Council wish to recognize chapters who strongly support our ministry by presenting them with the Houghteling Award, named after our founder. The award criteria requires:
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making sure 75% of the chapter membership have paid dues for 2025 in a timely manner by January 31, 2025, AND
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providing a 2024 annual chapter report including names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mails of members and an officer roster either online or printed, completed and mailed no later than January 31, 2025.
Last year 46 chapters met the criteria and were so recognized.
This report is critical to maintaining necessary records for the smooth operation of the national organization. Your chapter’s support of the larger ministry will be recognized by an emblem honoring your commitment to be placed on your banner. Why not have a celebration to emphasize the milestone?
Another reminder: last year former president Conrad Jones presented a cup to Province III recognizing those brothers having the most Houghteling chapters supporting our ministry. This year will they have to pass the cup on to another province? Who will party this year? Wait and see!
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. Be proud and support this honor to the Brotherhood.
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BSTA Members Weekly Floating Group Reunion
WE NEED YOUR HELP AND LEADERSHIP
You are invited to participate in forthcoming BSTA Weekly Floating Cursillo Group Reunions by Province.
The will be a Zoom format (Zoom URL below) reunions on Wednesdays each week at a time to be set by leaders and participants in each province. We are looking for leaders in each province to help us set these dates. Please contact your province president, Jeff Butcher, Roy Benavides, or Tom Welch about scheduling the Reunion Groups.
We will require participants to Register in advance for each of these meetings:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUldeyqqTMpGNJUGeLFxXHnqIWVg5EFOnJ6#/registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Thursday Night Bible Study Via Zoom
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, The Brooklyn and Queens Assemblies, and The Diocese of Chicago wish to remind you to join the weekly Bible Study on Thursdays, 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/6 p.m. MDT/ 5 p.m. PDT. Joining this group will allow you to continue to gain deeper knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the Bible.
Due to Christmas and New Year's Day, the final study session for 2024 will end on Thursday December 19. This ever-expanding network of Christian family communities resumes on Thursday following the week of New Year's Day which is January 9. We thank you for your patience and understanding with this important change. If you have questions, please email nychibiblestudy@gmail.com.
LOGIN INFORMATION
1. By COMPUTER DEVICE:
Click HERE to join the Bible Study Lesson on ZOOM
Sacred Ground
BIBLE STUDY ID: 448 502 7479 (no password necessary)
2. By PHONE:
646-876-9923
ENTER ID#: 448 502 7479, THEN PRESS #
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Instructions for Accessing
BStA Member Only Portal
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SCRIPTURAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS
VP Dick Hooper and the Membership Committee of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew have an addition devotion for the Stations of the Cross. This is service is in addition to our Devotional Handbook. It is timely and well done. We urge chapters to include this service with your routine devotions during your time together as Brothers Andrew. The Power Point and Service is available on the Prayer page of the BStA website or you can download the guide here.
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WE WANT YOU TO BE ON OUR TEAM!
Sustaining Members refers to those Brothers who make a routine, recurring monthly (or quarterly) donation over and above their annual ministry dues or a Life Membership. As a non-profit, 501c3 organization, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew depends on your support to bring Christ to men and youth throughout God’s kingdom.
Many Brothers do make additional donations throughout the year (Ex: special appeals, purchase of the Sweepstakes tickets, etc.), but this is a pledged commitment of recurring donations in a regular, consistent recurring donation throughout the year. It represents a commitment to financially support our ministry continuously throughout the year.
To join this important team, commit to a $5 or $10 (or more!) monthly donation by either mailing a monthly check with the memo "recurring donation" to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew National Office at P.O. 1382, Louisville, KY 40201 or make a recurring donation online with a credit or debit card or PayPal at
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZTS6U2C8AK75N
Make sure you check the "Make this a monthly donation" box after you enter the monthly amount! (see graphic below) Your monthly contribution is important, if not critical, to the ongoing vitality of our ministry to men and youth.
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Thanks be to these Brothers for their current commitment to financially support our ministry
throughout the year with a sustaining donation.
David Adams, Ron Argo, Roy Benavides, John Blossom, Jeff Butcher, Evans Clements, Ellis Clifton, Morris Evans, Eric Fisher, Peter Gilmour, Jerry Guthrie, Jack Hanstein, Eric Haralson, Billy Harrison, Ken Holloway, Dick Hooper, Conrad Jones, Walt Joyce, Rob Kirschner, Leland Metheny, James Miller, Tom Nichols, James Peckham, David Penley, Lyn Reavis, Kenny Sallee, Gordon Shumard, Arthur Simpson, Tom Simpson, Frederick Stevens, Justin Streeter, Ray Talbird, John Thompson-Quartey and Tom Welch.
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2024 Houghteling Chapters
Congratulations and THANK YOU to all our chapters achieving designation as a Houghteling Chapter with over 75% of their rosters being current in 2024 annual pledges! They are:
Advent Sun City West AZ
All Saints Baldwin NY
Christ Clinton MD
Christ Covington LA
Christ Pensacola FL
Christ Cathedral Lexington KY
Church of Ascension Knoxville TN
Church of Ascension Miami FL
Church of Good Shepherd Friendswood TX
Church of Our Savior Palm Bay FL
Church of Resurrection East Elmhurst NY
Church of Transfiguration Opa Locka FL
Emmanuel Athens GA
Emmanuel Virginia Beach VA
Holy Comfort Spring TX
Holy Trinity Decatur GA
Holy Trinity Hot Springs Village AR
Pohick Lorton VA
St Agnes Miami FL
St Andrews Fullerton CA
St Andrews Downers Grove IL
St Barnabas Tullahoma TN
St Benedicts Plantation FL
St Davids Cambria Heights NY
St Edwards Lawrenceville GA
St Francis in the Fields, Harrods Creek, KY
St James Apostle Conroe TX
St Johns Naperville IL
St Josephs Boynton Beach FL
St Kevins Opa Locka FL
St Lukes Louisville KY
St Marks Islip NY
St Marks Brooklyn NY
St Pauls by the Sea Jacksonville Beach FL
St Peter and St Paul Marietta GA
St Peters Kerrville, TX
St Peters Rialto CA
St Philips Brooklyn NY
St Stephen/St Martin Brooklyn NY
St Stephens Culpeper VA
St Timothys Centennial CO
St Uriel Sea Girt NJ
St Lukes San Antonia TX
Trinity Fredericksburg VA
Trinity Elkton MD
Trinity Mattoon IL
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140+ Reasons to Celebrate!!
We now have 140th anniversary coffee mugs, ink pens and ball caps available to celebrate our story and spread the news. They are a great way to welcome new members, introduce yourself to prospective members and as a “thank you” for time spent with talking to your rectors and other clergy. The mugs and pens link from which to order is:
Chapter Supplies - Brotherhood of St. Andrew (brothersandrew.net)
The caps link from which to order is:
Apparel - Brotherhood of St. Andrew (brothersandrew.net)
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JOIN US IN PRAYER EACH WEEK
Mid-Week
Mid-Day
"12:00 Central Time"
Prayers
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 that is 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 your prayer tank!
Please join us every week when you can to recharge your prayer batteries!
The Zoom link for Mid-Day Prayers 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/85663208398?pwd=UG0vTkJ2OXAwKzBEdGpYcTBCanZEZz09
If you'd like to help lead, pick an empty date and contact 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: Click Here
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REMINDER:
It is never too late to remain a member
in good standing!
RENEW HERE
or mail a check to the National Office at
P.O. Box 1382, Louisville, KY 40201
Annual Ministry Dues are:
Senior Member (men age 21 & older) -- $50
Junior Member (young men under 21) -- $10
Associate Member (women) -- $25
or
become a Life Member for one-time ministry dues of at least $1,000
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Ministry News!
Keep up with Brotherhood news via the monthly
St. Andrew's Cross newsletter found on the website at
St. Andrew's Cross Archives
and or via FACEBOOK at
https://www.facebook.com/brothersandrew.net
Scouting and Youth
Racial Reconciliation
Social Justice
Veterans
Recovery
Restorative Justice
Discipleship and Mentoring
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We need stories from Chapters and Ministries
Kathy Copas, our editor, would like to include more news of chapter events and ministry meetings or events. If you have something to share, please send it to
editor@brothersandrew.net
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Prayer Requests
If you have a personal prayer request, please contact (502) 450-5640 to submit your requests.
Learn to Pray the Anglican Rosary
PRAY THE ANGLICAN ROSARY
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Some Current Reading by Brothers
Signs of Life: Nurturing Spiritual Growth in Your Church
by Jay Sidebotham
by Susan Mettes, David Kinnaman - foreword, et al.
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
by
Richard J. Foster
What are you currently reading?
Do you have any book recommendations?
Does your chapter have a book study?
Write to us and give us the title and author so we can share it with your Brothers!
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This newsletter was made possible thanks to your generous financial support.
Thanks so much!
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Podcast Suggestions
Brothers looking to grow spiritually may find Podcasts from Forward Movement as a strategy to add to their “rule of life,” enhance their walk or drive time, or add to their daily or weekly study and prayer. The following link is to Forward Movement Podcast, which gives you several options to add to your podcast app.
Click Here for Podcast from Forward Movement
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