From the Rector
2020 Pledge Campaign & Parish Survey Update
“For it is in giving that we receive.” - Prayer attributed to Saint Francis
We are a week and a half into our five-week Annual Stewardship Campaign, which started on All Saints Sunday, November 3rd, and is scheduled to wrap up on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 8th. As of now, we have already received 25 pledges and the total amount pledged is over $107,000. (For reference, when we completed last year's campaign, we had 89 pledges totaling about $255,000 for purposes of planning this year's budget.) Thank you to everyone who has already turned in their pledges!

Given that we already have several new pledges, I am encouraged that, we will be able to reach our goal of 100 pledges and over $260,000 in dollars pledged for 2020. If you do not have your pledge card, you can e-mail the Parish Office to receive one -- or you can complete your pledge online via the following link:
In addition to the Annual Pledge Campaign, our parish survey, which is being used to help guide the work of the Saint Andrew's Mission/Vision/Values Task Force, continues. If you haven't already had an opportunity to complete the survey, you can do so via the following link:
Thanks again to each of you for blessing Saint Andrew's with your participation in our common life -- and for your faithfulness in supporting this community with your time, talent, and treasure.

Grace and Peace,
Fr. Gary+
Worship Schedule
Wednesday,
November 13
Feast of Margaret Queen of Scotland (observed)
6:30 PM Low Mass with Unction and Healing Prayers
Sunday, November 17,
The Feast of Saint Andrew
8:30 AM Low Mass
(Rite II)
9:30 AM Sunday School for Children and Adults
10:30 AM Solemn High Mass with Incense (Rite I)

12:00 PM Annual Parish Meeting with Potluck Lunch
Wednesday, November 20, Feast of Clement, Bishop of Rome
5:30 PM Rosary
6:30 PM Low Mass with Unction and Healing Prayers followed Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament*
*Note: Benediction on the 20th since no Wednesday Mass the next week
Prayer Requests
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
Ann, Audrey, Bambi, Barbara, Bill, Bob, Chuck, Corinne, Eddie, Edward, Ena, Ginger, Hamilton, Hannah, Jean, JoAnn, Jodi, Leigh Ann, Margaret Lee, Mary, Nancy, Nell, Sharon, Weesie, Willlie, Winnie
To add someone to the Daughters of the King prayer list, please e-mail
[email protected] . There is also wooden box in the Narthex where you can fill out prayer cards. The Daughters will add your names to their prayers. 
Announcements
Lay Liturgical Minister Training | This Saturday, November 16 9:30 AM, 10 AM, & 10:30 AM
This Saturday, November 16, in the Church, we will have training sessions for individuals who serve or are interested in serving as lay liturgical ministers in our worship. At 9:30 AM, we will review the 6:30 PM Wednesday Evening Healing Mass. Then, at 10 AM, we will review the 8:30 AM Sunday Low Mass. Finally, at 10:30 AM, we will review the 10:30 AM Sunday Sung High Mass. Folks who serve or are interested in serving as Verger, Server, Thurifer, Torchbearer, Lectors, or Intercessors should plan to attend. Contact Weylin Brown if you have specific questions.
Feast of Saint Andrew | This Sunday, November 17
Parish Annual Meeting with Potluck Lunch
After the 10:30 AM Mass
As has been the custom at Saint Andrew's, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew, our patronal saint, this Sunday as we also hold our Parish Annual Meeting, where we will review the accomplishments of the past year, plan for the upcoming year, and elect new vestry members and diocesan convention delegates. Continuing a more recent tradition, we will also be having a potluck lunch at this year's Annual Meeting. Please sign up below if you have not already.
Nominees for Vestry & Diocesan Delegate & Alternate
In preparation for our Parish Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee (our three outgoing vestry members – Scott Chastain, Sara Conrad, and Jean Knox) has announced the following full slate of nominees for consideration at the Annual Meeting:

  • 3 Full Term Vestry Openings (3 Years): Erin Culbertson, Ethan Cashwell, and Cheryl Banks
  • 1 Partial Term Vestry Opening (1 Year): Joseph Austin
  • 1 Diocesan Convention Delegate (4 Years): Ellen Mays
  • 1 Diocesan Convention Alternate (3 Years): Dick Stanley 

Thank you to all of the nominees for being willing to offer their names in service to Saint Andrew’s and the wider church for these roles. Bios of the nominees can be found via the following link:
Sunday School for Children and Adults
This Sunday at 9:30 AM
For our Children's Class, we will continue with the Hearts Alive lectionary-based curriculum. In addition, for infants and toddlers, we have the Nursery open during the Sunday School hour (in addition to the 10:30 AM Mass). In order to keep these ministries going, however, we need additional volunteers to help with teaching Children's Sunday School and to assist our nursery coordinator, Amanda, in the Nursery . If you are able to do help with Sunday School, please e-mail Father Gary. If you can help in the nursery, please sign up here.

For our  Adult Class, Father Gary will continue with our  lectionary-based Old Testament study. This week, we will continue our study of the Book of Jeremiah and, in particular, this week's Old Testament lesson, Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
Backpack and Blanket Drive 
Saint Andrew’s Mission and Outreach is sponsoring a backpack and blanket drive to assist United Housing Connections with their annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count in January. The PIT Count helps to identify those who are experiencing homelessness in Greenville and the Upstate. Each person identified is given a backpack which includes items to aid them against the harsh winter weather. 800 backpacks and blankets are needed to fill this need. Information about homelessness and boxes for donations are provided in the parish hall. If you would prefer to write a check for your donation, it can be placed in the offering plate. Make your check out to "United Housing Connections" and in the memo line, add “2020 PIT Donation”.

For more information contact Cindy Henry , Sara Conrad, or Rusty Infinger .
Christ the King Sunday | November 24
Bishop’s Visitation with Baptisms & Confirmations
Our diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo, will be visiting Saint Andrew's on Christ the King Sunday, and we plan to have a Baptism & Confirmation Service at the 10:30 AM Mass, where we are looking forward to baptizing Charlotte Jade Lever, daughter of Thomas & Lillian Lever. In addition, we currently have about eight individuals who are planning to be confirmed or received or to reaffirm their baptismal vows.
Confirmation/Reception Classes Now Underway!

Last week, we started our confirmation/reception classes, and participants are attending three sessions as outlined below (with the option of attending each session on either a Wednesday or Sunday).

  • Session 1 – Introduction: What is Confirmation? - Choose ONE - Wednesday, 11/6 at 5 pm OR Sunday, 11/10, at 12:30 PM
  • Session 2 – The Episcopal Church & the Essentials of the Faith - Choose ONE - Wednesday, 11/13 at 5 pm OR Sunday, 11/17, at 1:30 PM
  • Session 3 – Preparing for the Rite of Confirmation - Choose ONE - Wednesday, 11/20 at 5 pm OR Saturday, 11/23, at 2:00 PM 

Please pray for those who are preparing for this important step in their journey in Christ.
Ordination of Michael Cannon (son of Fr. Charles Cannon)
to the Priesthood
We are delighted to be able to share the news that the Rev. Deacon Michael Cannon, the youngest son of our former rector, Fr. Charles Cannon, will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, November 23, at 11:00 AM, at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Tampa, Florida . Please have Michael in your prayers as he prepares to made a priest in God's Church.
Parking Update
With the repaving and repainting of the Pendleton Street Baptist Church (PSBC) parking lot (the lot that is adjacent to the church), all of the parking spaces in that lot are now marked with white numbers -- so Saint Andrew's parishioners no longer need to worry about yellow vs. white vs. red spots in that lot . For your information, based on our agreement with PSBC, we are able to use that parking lot as follows:

  • Sundays - All available spots are open to folks who are coming to Saint Andrew's for worship.
  • Weeknights & Saturdays - All available spots are open to folks who are coming to Saint Andrew's for worship or other church-related activities. (Availability may be limited due to baseball or other events.)
  • Weekday Business Hours - Up to five open spots (preferably the spots closest to the stairs from the parking lot) are available for Saint Andrew's parishioners and staff here for church-related events. (If we foresee the need for more than five on a particular weekday, we will notify PSBC to obtain their permission for additional spots.)

Please note that, in addition to available on-street parking, we continue to have access to all of the "permit only" spots on the ground floor of the Homewood Suites Hotel on all weeknights and weekends (including Sunday mornings).

For all of this parking, we encourage folks to have a Saint Andrew's parking sticker visible in their rear window. If you do not have a sticker, please contact the parish office to get one . Finally, if you ever get a parking envelope/ticket while using the PSBC lot for a church-related event, please do not pay it. Instead, bring it to the parish office so that we can notify PSBC and have the ticket canceled.
Upcoming Safe Church Training Opportunities
Safe Church training is important for anyone volunteering in children's ministries, or doing any lay ministry, such as lay eucharistic visitors, involving potentially one-on-one ministry within the parish. We encourage all parishioners, especially those in positions of leadership - such as vestry members and other ministry area leaders, to get Safe Church certified.

We are offering a Safe Church training session here in January:

  • Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church
  • Sunday, January 12, 1 PM to 4 PM - Register via e-mail to [email protected].

Please make sure to let our parish office know if you sign up a class at a location other than Saint Andrew's. More info on Safe Church Training here.
Sunday Altar Flower and Presence Candle Dedications
Every Sunday, 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
Nursery During 9:30 AM Sunday School and 10:30 AM Mass Every Sunday
Staff member Amanda Abreu oversees our Sunday morning nursery during the 9:30 AM Sunday School hour and the 10:30 AM Mass. Each week, we need at least one parish volunteer to serve with Amanda as our second nursery caregiver. If you have gifts for working with infants and young children--and have “Safe Church” training, we could use your help!
Join the choir! Wednesday evening rehearsals at 7:30 PM
This is a reminder to any interested Saint Andrew's Church friends or members that our regular Wednesday evening choir rehearsals are held in the Parish Hall after the 6:30 PM Mass. If you know of any prospective new choir members, bring them along with you! If you need transportation to rehearsal and or church, or if you have questions, please e-mail our organist/choirmaster John Gilbert.
Sunday Coffee Hour Refreshments
We are blessed to be a growing parish, and one of the ways that we offer hospitality to our many visitors is through our coffee hour after the 10:30 AM mass every Sunday. Please consider signing up for a Sunday on one of the sign up sheets hanging on the parish bulletin board. 
Feed Thy Neighbor on Saturday Mornings
Feed Thy Neighbor is a cooperative effort of the Episcopal community in Greenville. Parish volunteers from Saint Andrew’s, Saint Peter’s, Saint James and Christ Church feed the homeless each Saturday from 7:30 to 8:30 AM in the Saint Andrew's Parish House. The Third Saturday of the month is Saint Andrew's particular responsibility. Come and join us! Set-up and cook team start at 6:30 am. Clean up team start at 8:00 am. Individuals interested in this ministry opportunity, please contact the office at 235-5884.