Church family, are we living into our vision? Are we striving to meet our mission? If not, why not? and how can we reach the goals we have set for ourselves both personally and collectively?

Mission Statement

To love and serve God and our neighbor, by striving to meet the needs of God's people.

Vision Statement

To be a Christian community of faith where love lives, love works, to spread the good news of God's grace and mercy.

We look awesome family!!

Our history is too much to be contained in one month! Check out the PDF by clicking on the link below. There is a wealth of information for you to expand your knowledge.

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS/Anniversaries

See what's happening this month.

The Season of Lent

Lent is a 40-day (excluding Sundays) liturgical season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, running from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. It symbolizes Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, focusing on repentance, self-reflection, and preparation for Easter. Key pillars include deeper prayer, fasting/abstinence, and charity to strengthen one's relationship with God. 

Key Pillars of Lent

• Prayer: Increasing time spent in reflection, scripture reading, and attending services like the Stations of the Cross to deepen one's relationship with God.
• Fasting & Abstinence: Denying physical desires (e.g., giving up sweets, social media, or eating less) as an act of self-discipline and to remember Jesus’ sacrifice. Specifically, Catholics abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays.
• Almsgiving (Charity): Giving to those in need (money, time, or talents) as a response to God's grace and as a way to serve others.

Key Dates & Practices

• Ash Wednesday: Marks the beginning of Lent, symbolized by receiving ashes as a sign of repentance.
• 40 Days: Represents the time Jesus spent in the desert, symbolizing a period of testing and preparation.
• Purpose: To turn away from sin, deepen spiritual life, and focus on the Resurrection.

Thank you to everyone for making our Annual Meeting and fellowship successful. We make a great team! As a result, we are officially changing the service hours.

Bible Study-9:30 AM to 10:15 AM

Worship Service- 10:30 AM

In addition, we would like to congratulate our newly elected Vestry Members: Dr. Roderick Adams, Dianne A. Smith, and Andrea Porter. By God's grace, we welcome you to our leadership cadre and look forward to serving with you. The Vestry also elected its Senior Warden, Carmen Wildgoose, and its Junior Wardens, Dianne Smith and Darcel Arrington.

We also thank members Jerome Rubin, Les Blakemore, and Lois Jackson for the service they each rendered during their elected term, which has expired.

365 AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY 365

The Vestry will meet Tuesday,January27 at 7:00PM via ZOOM

Current Vestry News

St. Andrew's 2026 Vestry members. Senior Warden- Carmen Wildgoose, Junior Wardens- Darcel Arrington and Dianne Smith, Lois Jackson/clerk, Dr. Giesele Greene, Andrea Appling, Andrea Porter, Dr. Roderick Adams, Will Kessell, and Brenda Shepherd.

New Picture Coming

Vestry Summary January 27, 2026

Vestry Members in Attendance via ZOOM: Andrea Appling, Lois Jackson, Jerome Rubin, Carmen Wildgoose, Giesele Greene, Darcel Arrington, Will Siefert-Kessell, Brenda Shepherd.

Exused absence: Les Blakemore,

We began the meeting with prayer and Bible study. Following the Check-in, the

Clerk Lois Jackson presented the November minutes, which were accepted as

presented with corrections.

January 27, 2026 

Meeting Summary 

Meeting Purpose

To approve the 2026 budget and review key church initiatives.

Key Takeaways

• 2026 Budget Approved: The Vestry approved a $203,550 income, $246,245 disbursement budget, projecting a $42,695 deficit. This follows a successful 2025, which ended with a small surplus despite a projected $44k deficit.
• Property Development Opportunity: The Cleveland Restoration Society invited St. Andrews to partner on redeveloping two adjacent East 46th Street properties. This could create a larger, more attractive parcel for a developer.
• Annual Meeting Prep: The Vestry is finalizing the annual meeting, including a new Bible study evaluation, a revised 2026 calendar, and a push to recruit chairs for key events like Anniversary Sunday and Family Unity Day.

Topics

2026 Budget Approval

• The Vestry approved the 2026 budget, which projects a $42,695 deficit.
• Projected Income: $203,550
• Projected Disbursements: $246,245
• Key Income Assumptions:
• General Pledge: $122,000 total.
• $112,200 from 38 pledge cards.
• $10,000+ from non-pledging parishioners, now formally budgeted.
• St. Andrews Foundation: $27,000 grant.
• Key Disbursement Assumptions:
• Diocesan Assessment: $30,000 total.
• $6,000 to cover the 2025 balance.
• $24,000 for 2026 ($2,000/month estimate).
• New Line Item: "Adoptive Bill Offerings" was created for transparency on utility assistance funds.
• 2025 Performance: The church ended 2025 with a small surplus, a significant improvement over the projected $44,080 deficit.
• Actual Income: $198,976.53
• Actual Disbursements: $215,324.74
• 
  

The Vestry members are trusting in God to bring all ideas and necessary functions to fruition.

In Christ,

The Vestry