From the Rector
Continuing Our Work of
Perceiving and Plotting the Path Forward
Three Sundays ago, I started a new Sunday School series -- " For Such a Time as This: Answering God's Call Upon Saint Andrew's in This Day " -- through which we are reviewing the work of the Saint Andrew's Mission/Vision/Values Task Force .

I have described the work of the Task Force in the last two Wednesday News "From the Rector" columns -- so I am not going to repeat that again here -- but I continue to be grateful for all those who served on the Task Force with me (Scott Chastain, Erin Culbertson, Chuck Evans, Patty Slay, Riley Owens, Tommy Watson, and Jamie Hinds) as well as everyone who completed the Parish Survey at the end of 2019 -- and those who have participated in the Sunday School class.

Through our Sunday School study (and through the sharing of the draft statements in this space), we have received some helpful feedback and encouragement regarding the draft statements. Tomorrow evening, the Task Force will meet to consider that feedback before sending a final recommendation to the vestry for our monthly vestry meeting this coming Sunday. If you would like to offer any feedback or suggestions, therefore, please get it to me (or another member of the Task Force) before 5 pm tomorrow (Thursday, May 14).

At our May vestry meeting, we hope to be able to adopt finalized versions of the statements that could then, by the Feast of Pentecost, be published on our website as they guide us going forward.

If you haven't been able to attend the class far, here are several documents that you can download and review:







At our final Sunday School class this coming Sunday, we will discuss where we go from here with respect to the Mission, Vision, and Values Statements and how we see them shaping our common life going forward.

Here is the Zoom link for our next Sunday School Class, which will start at 9:30 AM this coming Sunday:


May God's blessings continue to be upon all of you.

Grace & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
LIVESTREAM WORSHIP LINKS
A Prayer of Spiritual Communion
from the Armed Forces Prayer Book (1951)
In union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Thy Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer Thee praise and thanksgiving. I present to Thee my soul and body with the earnest wish that may always be united to Thee. And since I can not now receive Thee sacramentally, I beseech Thee to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to Thee, and embrace Thee with all the affections of my soul. Let nothing ever separate Thee from me. May I live and die in Thy love. Amen.
Livestream Worship Schedule
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - Feast of Pachomius of Tabenissi, Monastic (observed)
6:30 PM Low Mass with Healing Prayers ( via Facebook Live )

Sunday, May 17, 2020 - The Sixth Sunday of Easter  
10:30 AM,   Sung High Mass, Rite I ( via Facebook Live )
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 - Feast of the Ascension (observed)
7:30 AM Morning Prayer ( via Zoom )
6:30 PM Low Mass with Healing Prayers ( via Facebook Live )
Prayer Requests
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
Barbara, Bill, Bobbie, Buddy, Chuck, Corinne, David, Dick, Doug, Eddie, Edward, Ena, Ginger, Hamilton, Hannah, Ian, James, Jane, Janet, Jodi, John-Frank, Judy, Ken, Leigh Ann, Margaret Lee, Mary, Nancy, Nell, Sandy, Tracey, Wade, Weesie, Winnie
To add someone to the Daughters of the King prayer list, please e-mail
daughters1913@gmail.com . There is also wooden box in the Narthex where you can fill out prayer cards. The Daughters will add your names to their prayers. 
Photo Gallery
Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who offered their gardening gifts to make our grounds look so beautiful!
Announcements
Vestry Meeting | Sunday, May 17
12:30 PM | Via Zoom

Our monthly vestry meeting will take place via Zoom following the 10:30 AM Sung High Mass. A Zoom link will be sent out to the Vestry.
Sunday School for Children and Adults
FINAL CLASS OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR
This Sunday | 9:30 AM | Via Zoom
Our Children's Class will conclude for the school year this Sunday with the  Hearts Alive  lectionary-based curriculum. At 9:30 AM, you can join the class via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/486643694. The Sunday School lessons are available via the following links:  Click here for Lower Elementary ,   Click here for Upper Elementary

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SERVED AS
A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER THIS PAST YEAR!!!

Adult Sunday School will continue via Zoom this Sunday at 9:30 AM. You can join via the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/188330793. We will wrap up our review of the work of Saint Andrew's Mission/Vision/Values Task Force.
Quarterly Planning Meeting
Wednesday, May 20 | Noon | Via Zoom

Our next quarterly planning meeting with the leaders of all parish ministries will meet via Zoom next Wednesday. 
Mass Observing the Feast of the Ascension
Wednesday, May 20 | 6:30 PM | Via Livestream

The Feast of the Ascension, which is one of the Principal Feasts of the church year and takes place 40 days after Easter Sunday, is when we mark Jesus being taken up into heaven after his post-Resurrection appearances. Please join us via livestream as we observe the Feast at our 6:30 PM Healing Mass next Wednesday.
Morning Prayer Offering Via Zoom
Every Wednesday at 7:30 AM - Open to All Parishioners
Please join us via Zoom for Morning Prayer on Wednesday mornings! If you are willing to read scripture, please contact Tommy Watson. Each Wednesday at 7:30 AM, you can participate in Morning Prayer via the following link - https://zoom.us/j/593435801 - or by clicking on the button below (at 7:30 AM on Wednesdays).
Sunday Altar Flower and Presence Candle Dedications
On Sundays, we have the opportunity to offer a special dedication of the altar flowers or presence candle in honor, memory, or celebration of loved ones. The cost to the church for altar flowers is now $100 per Sunday, so we are suggesting that donations for dedicating altar flowers be in the range of $50 to $100 to help us cover those costs. The suggested donation for a presence candle dedication is $10.

If you would like to sign up for a Sunday, please see the sign up sheet on the bulletin in the Parish Hall or click on the button below. You may place a check in the offering plate with "Altar Flowers" or "Presence Candle" noted in the memo.
Service Opportunities
Feed Thy Neighbor
During the COVID-19 pandemic, FTN continues to serve a hot breakfast to those who are the most vulnerable in our community every Saturday of the month. Saint Andrew's parishioners handle the third Saturday of each month, and Christ Church, Saint James, and Saint Peter's handle the other Saturdays--with volunteers from the Roe Cassidy Law Firm serving whenever there is a fifth Saturday in a month. Though it's not the usual hot breakfast under current circumstances, our guests continue to be very appreciative.

If you are interested in ways you can help support this ministry, please contact the office.
United Ministries in Need of Food Donations
United Ministries' Emergency Assistance program is fully operational and focused on helping families keep their homes and putting food on the table. At this moment, they need canned meats, pop-top cans (meats/fruit etc.) and 1 lb. bags of rice .   

The pantry is open daily (Monday thru Friday) 8:00 AM until 11:00 AM. If individual church members would like to donate food, it can be dropped off behind the United Ministries administration building at the loading area, located at 606 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC 29601 . The pantry door will be open and someone will retrieve the food.  

For more ways to help United Ministries in responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic, please click button below.