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Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 1 of 11
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November/December 2016 Issue #74
The Newsletter of Saint Andrew’s
United Methodist Church 1230 Townsend Avenue, New haven, CT 06513
Phone: (203) 467-0117 E-mail:[email protected]
Visit us on the web at: standrewsnh.com
I am not sure Wesley would be too happy listening to the current political
campaigns. Every election season it gets crazy but this one…UFFF, it has really
been over the top. That is why I feel compelled to share my thoughts with you
about this upcoming election.
Voting is a privilege given to the citizens of a country. It is how you make your
voice count and make a difference in the way the society works. It is a civil
right; a lot of people died so you can have that privilege today. Think about it,
not long ago, people of color could not vote, same for women.
You vote because you are an (over 18) American citizen, but most importantly,
you vote because you are a child of God. Your voice reflected on that cast
vote speaks about your faith. Let me explain that.
We Christians believe we were created by God and received salvation
through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. We believe that our Christian journey is
the response to that free Grace from God.
Table of Contents
Pages 1-2:
Pastor’s Message
Page 3:
Connectional Giving
Dates to Remember
Annual Church Conference
Help needed
Page 4:
Bible Study
Sunday School & Nursery
Acolytes
Choir Rehearsal
Many Thanks
Prayers
Pastoral Care
Page 5:
Finance News
Stewardship News
2016 Laity Convocation
Happy Thanksgiving
Page 6:
More Sunday School &
Nursery Notes
Vital Signals
Prayer for Our Congregation
Page 7:
Operation Christmas Child
Page 8:
Order your Poinsettias
Page 9:
Advent Worship Series
Page 10:
Poetry
Page 11:
Upcoming Birthdays
www.facebook.com/churchofSaintAndrews
“I met those of our society who had voted in the ensuing
election, and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they
judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against
those that voted on the other side.” ― John Wesley the
great theologian and founder of the Methodist
movement, wrote in his journal on October 6, 1774, some
great election advice.
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 2 of 11
God's love transforms us, and our response is to live a life worthy of God. We believe we have been entrusted
to care for God’s creation. Ultimately we believe we are accountable to the great commandment to love
God with all our hearts, souls and minds and to love our neighbors just as we love ourselves. Those are the marks
of a Christian, and those are the marks of us as United Methodists.
All aspects of our lives must shine with the love and light of God that we freely receive. That includes the way
we vote.
As you select your candidates, I invite you to be intentional about the reflection of your faith on who you
choose. What is the message the candidates are sending? Is it of unity and respect for the whole country or is
it of hate and discrimination? Do they have the heart for the least, the lost, and the last of our society, or are
they just ignoring the people who need it the most?
When you cast your vote, you are casting the values that represent you. I know, no candidate will match 100%
your values, but you can find the one who represents you the best. Voting with our faith in mind allows us to
shape the world around us. The Church has had a significant impact on the changes of our country. Today it
is fundamental that The Church make its voice heard. SO GO VOTE!
I also want to encourage you not to give in to the awful rhetoric we have been hearing. Don’t engage in the
evil talking and discreditation. Be conscious and respectful of your online posting, don’t continue the rumors
that are tearing us apart. We all have a right to an opinion, and discussing politics can be fun when is done
while reminding ourselves that the person in front of us, the one who is thinking completely opposite from us, is
also a child of God.
Soon enough all the craziness of the news will go away, and we will continue to be the hands and feet of Christ
on Earth.
Happy Voting!
Ximena
Receive updates, prayer requests and what is happening in worship every week.
Subscribe to our mailing list by emailing us!
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 3 of 11
IMPORTANT NEWS
We serve God by serving others; here is what you can do:
Connectional giving — all of us giving together — allows United
Methodists to do together what we cannot do alone. We join in
with United Methodists around the world in 6 special collections
through the year. The money collected goes 100% to a specific
mission designated by the general church. For more information,
go to UMCGIVING.com. Next Collection is November 27, 2016,
World Communion Sunday.
Every first Sunday you can donate to the pastor’s Discretionary
Fund. This money is used by the pastor to help with immediate
needs in the community.
Dates to remember:
Clean-Up Day
Every First Saturday of the month.
Administrative Church Council
November 1, 2016 7:00 PM at the parsonage.
Election Day
November 8, 2016.
Pastor away at National CLM Meetings
November 16 to 18, 2016.
Laity Convocation
November 19, 2016.
Thanksgiving
November 24, 2016. Building Closed.
Christmas Eve Service
December 24, 2016 7:00 PM.
Building Closed
December 26-December 30.
Food Pantry Collection, non-perishable items
are collected during the month. Every first
Sunday of each month all the collected food
items will be taken and delivered to a local
food pantry. Fall and winter months are always
difficult and food pantries are always empty!
HELP IS NEEDED! Help our trustees with building
repairs. Contact the pastor or Jamie Lawson.
Join us in our 2016 Operation Christmas
Child campaign. Help us fill many boxes
full with hope and joy for children all over
the world. We will be collecting small toys,
school supplies and $7 per box so they can
be shipped around the world.
You are invited to our annual Church
Conference on Sunday, November 13,
2016, at 10:30 AM. Rev. Ken Kieffer will
be preaching and presiding our
conference after service. Everyone is
welcome and encouraged to attend.
Bring a potluck dish to share.
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 4 of 11
Nicole Morales for helping to
clean and organize around the
church and for making the weekly
PowerPoint.
Morris Penington for delivering our
Food Bank Collections.
Ralph Pickup for taking care of
recycling cans and bottles for our
church.
Here at St. Andrew’s, we believe in
the power of prayer! If you or
someone you know needs to be
prayed for, please contact the
pastor by phone or email.
Pastor Ximena is available for a talk,
prayers and visits; in fact, she would
love for you to invite her to visit.
Please call the office, pastor’s cell
phone, or email to set up an
appointment. Let her know if you or
a loved one is in the hospital.
Are you interested in becoming a
member of our church or do you
want to learn more about us?
Please contact the pastor!
Adult Bible Study
Discovering the Book of Esther
Join us every Tuesday night at 6:00 pm for fellowship
and learning at the parsonage. The book of Esther is
one of only two books in the entire Bible named for
women. Esther contains the story of a beautiful
young Jewess who risked her life to serve God and
save her people.
Sunday School
Children 5 years and older are invited to join
Sunday school class the second, third, and
fourth Sunday of each month.
Do you feel called to be a substitute teacher or
nursery assistant? Please talk to Carol or pastor
Ximena.
Christmas Eve Service
Choir Rehearsal Dates: December
4th, 11th and 18th after fellowship.
Join us for delicious food and
caroling on December 18th after
service!
Keep in your prayers the South Central Emmaus
XXXVI team which is preparing for the next high
school retreat on November 11-13, 2015 at Trinity
Episcopal Church in Seymour. Pray for Javier
Varas and Jean Marco Gamboa, who will serve
on the team. For more information or to sign up
as a prayer angel visit
www.southcentralemmausct.com
Acolytes
The Acolyte program continues with much
success, thanks to Briannah Morales and Brenda
Hermann. The girls look so respectful as they
perform their service to the church.
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 5 of 11
The General Council on Finance and Administration is proud to be
in partnership with Tribute to present UMCmarket.org -- the online
portal designed for United Methodists to shop online at a variety of
retailers who will donate to your local church or other United
Methodist entity, to help you raise funds for
ministry. Visit umcmarket.org, establish your free, online account
and support our church by creating donations.
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support our
church every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop
at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast
selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com,
with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the
purchase price to our church. Make sure you select St. Andrew’s
UMC as your organization!
Stewardship Campaign: Thank you to all that have pledged to St.
Andrews UMC this year. It is with your help that we can fulfill our
operational obligations and be a vital church helping to serve the
community. As of Aug. we again had 21 Pledge Cards turned in this
year. Great Job! Thank you to all that have pledged to our
Stewardship Campaign this year and a great big Thank You to
Pastor Ximena for her wonderful sermons during this time. The
Finance Committee has made the church budget counting on the
pledges we have received and honoring your pledges helps us fulfill
our obligation. Please realize that our pledges only account for
approximately 1/3 of our budget income. That money along with
weekly giving amounts to approximately ½ of our budget income.
The balance comes from the St. Andrews Daycare which pays for
their costs. If for whatever reason you cannot fulfill your pledge,
please talk to me or the Pastor so we can adjust our budget and
your pledge accordingly. If you have not yet pledged and would
like to pledge, please see me or Lucille. Thank you.
John Quimby,
Finance Chairman
WE ARE CALLED…
(FILL IN THE DOTS)
“. . . I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. You are one body and one spirit just as God also called you in one hope.” From Ephesians 4:1-4, CEB
Featuring: Rev. David Gilmore, NYAC Director of Congregational Development & Revitalization • Inspirational Worship • Workshops • Fellowship • Communion •
Please contact Roena Littlejohn with any questions (203) 331-9653 / [email protected]
ALL LAITY ARE INVITED
PLEASE REGISTER EARLY TO
RESERVE YOUR SEAT
SATURDAY,
NOV. 19
8AM – 4PM
2016 LAITY
CONVOCATION
New York Annual
Conference
Registration:
$25 per person
Registration
includes
continental
breakfast, lunch &
book: Transforming
Community – the
Wesleyan Way to
Missional
Congregations
STAMFORD HILTON
1 First Stamford Place Stamford, CT
Register by November 9 at www.nyac.com
FINANCE NEWS
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 6 of 11
More Sunday School & Nursery Notes
The Sunday School started the year studying the occupations of people in the times of Jesus and
earlier. We learned about stonemasons, potters, fishermen and shepherds. The study of shepherds
took us to the 23rd Psalm. Stonemasons taught us about Nehemiah rebuilding the wall around
Jerusalem. The study of potters showed us how going to a potter's house helped Jeremiah speak for
God. From the lesson on fishermen we saw how Jesus called his first four disciples to be fishers of men.
All children are invited to attend. Right now we are unable to offer nursery care. We are need of an
adult supervisor for the class. If you would like to help, please see Pastor Ximena or Carol Tripp.
The mission of The United Methodist Church is to “Make Disciples of Jesus
Christ for the transformation of the world” (Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 22:36-40).
This mission is achieved through vital congregations that equip and
empower people to be disciples of Jesus Christ in their homes and
communities around the world.
Our Vital Signs
The Vital Signs Dashboard is a tool developed by Brick River through GCFA. This tool allows us to track our
weekly worship attendance, professions of faith, small group participation, missional participation and
financial giving for our congregation. It is a tool designed to help congregations follow their progress on
the goals that they set for each year, based upon the goal-setting challenge initiated by the Vital
Congregations work. It is in response to the Call to Action to focus on fostering and sustaining an increase
in the number of vital congregations effective in the mission of The United Methodist Church:
Date Worship Attendance
Small Groups Attendance
(week)
Pledges & Offerings
Charitable Giving
New Members
10/16/16 52 7 $651 $31 0
10/9/16 42 6 $1042 $40 0
10/2/16 41 0 $1093 $73 0
9/25/16 32 5 $665 $0 0
9/18/16 43 12 $626 $5 0
9/11/16 51 17 $653 $86 0
9/4/16 45 6 $819 $59 0
8/28/16 41 7 $1085 $5 0
8/21/16 34 8 $536 $0 0
Prayer for Our Congregation
Dear God, I thank you for all the ways you are present in my life, especially today I thank
you for Saint Andrew’s United Methodist Church and all the ways you are present among
us. Lord, I ask for all the leaders of my church today, I ask that you guide us to be the
church you want us to be. Transform us O Lord, so we can truly be your hand and feet on
earth. Lord, I pray for the health and growth of St. Andrew’s UMC, I ask that you heal our
hearts and give us a courageous spirit so we can reach out to the ones that need to hear
the Good News. Lord, I ask for my brothers and sisters who are not yet in our midst; Lord,
send us all the people that no one else wants, but you are calling to follow you, and help
us to welcome them as you have welcomed us. Send your Holy Spirit to us so we can
transform the world in Jesus’ name. Give me the strength to love you with all my heart soul
and mind and to love my neighbors as myself. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 7 of 11
To purchase one or more plants to help decorate the church, please complete the form below and
place it in the offering plate, mail it to the church, or give it to Carol Tripp by, December 11th, 2016.
Each plant will cost $10 and may be paid with the order. Checks should be made payable to St.
Andrew's United Methodist Church. Please print as neatly as possible, and indicate whether you wish
to take your plant following the service on Friday, December 24, or donate it.
Please note that each poinsettia donated is for one name or one couple’s name (as in “John and
Jane Smith.”) Please do not list more than one name/couple’s name per plant donated.
Your Name: ______________________________________________________________
(As you want it to appear in the Christmas Eve Bulletin)
Telephone # (in case of a question) __________________________________________
Number of Plants: ___________
Thanks to everyone in the church, we have continued to add to our inventory of items for the shoeboxes of
our Operation Christmas Child program. Our members have donated items for the boxes and some money
towards the $7.00 cost to ship each box. We have a way to go before we can meet the goal of providing
shipping for the 70 boxes we are trying to fill. There are envelopes on the side table for those people that are
able to put a few dollars in towards the shipping costs. Please put your name on the envelope so we can add
your donations on your annual statement for income tax purposes.
On Sunday, November 6 we will have our PACKING PARTY after the coffee hour at the Parsonage where
people will pack the boxes for the children. If you have any questions please call John at 203-248-1556.
Thank you and God Bless You.
The Quimby family
GIFT IDEAS TOYS:
small matchbox style cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A
Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
pens, pencils, crayons (24 pack) or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators,
coloring and picture books, etc.
HYGIENE ITEMS:
toothpaste, individually wrapped bar soaps, combs.
OTHER:
Hard candy and lollipops (individually wrapped), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy
jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries).
DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-
date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow-globes or glass containers;
aerosol cans.
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NOTES: Some people have already been busy and we do not need any more pencils, washcloths, cap erasers,
pencil sharpeners, 8 X 10.5 spiral bound notebooks, tennis balls and bead necklaces (like used at Mardi Gras).
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 8 of 11
To purchase one or more plants to help decorate the church, please complete the form below and place it in the offering plate, mail it to the church, or give it to Carol Tripp by, December 11th, 2016. Each plant will cost $10 and may
be paid with the order. Checks should be made payable to St. Andrew's United Methodist Church. Please print as
neatly as possible, and indicate whether you wish to take your plant following the service on Friday, December 24, or donate it.
Please note that each poinsettia donated is for one name or one couple’s name (as in “John and Jane Smith.”) Please do not list more than one name/couple’s name per plant donated.
Your Name: ______________________________________________________________
(As you want it to appear in the Christmas Eve Bulletin)
Telephone # (in case of a question) __________________________________________
Number of Plants: ___________
In Memory of: _____________________________________________________________
In Memory of: _____________________________________________________________
In Honor of: ______________________________________________________________
In Honor of: _____________________________________________________________
I wish to take my plant(s) home
l wish to donate my plant(s)
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 9 of 11
Join us every Sunday at 10:30 AM Advent Worship Series
Unwrapping God’s Greatest Gift
11/27/16
God is Expectant
Scriptures: Isaiah 9: 6-7 & Luke 1: 39-45
12/4/16
God is Dangerous
Scriptures: Nahum 1: 3-5 & Matthew 2: 1-3
12/11/16
God is Jealous
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6: 13 & Luke 10: 27
12/18/16
God is Faithful
Scriptures: Isaiah 49: 15-16 & Matthew 1: 21
12/25/16
A Season of Joy
Scriptures: Psalm 96 & Luke 2: 8-14
Just as the first wrapped gift beneath the Christmas tree marks the new season, so the birth of Jesus on
Christmas Day signaled that God’s hope and salvation and redemption plan had come into the world.
In Jesus, God gift-wrapped himself in human flesh and was born in a stable so he could come and live
among us and offer us life and salvation that we could never gain on our own.
Join us this Advent as we unwrap God’s greatest gift, our Savior Jesus.
Join us on Christmas Eve at 7:00 PM for our traditional candle light service.
Advent will start on Sunday, November 27, and we will start an exciting new
Advent worship sermon series, Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected.
Prepared and piloted by The Woodlands United Methodist Church in
Houston, this joyful program explores some of God’s unexpected qualities,
presented over the four weeks of Advent, plus Christmas Day:
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 10 of 11
Poetry
St. Andrew’s 1892- 1942
_______________________________
Here on this corner, by Almighty blest,
Where roads lead yonder, north, east, south and
west,
Where cross the crowded, fevered ways of life,
Amid these days of bloodshed, war and strife,
St. Andrew’s stands, serene, rock-like and strong,
Unmoved, unhurried in the rushing throng.
They built far better than ever knew,
That earnest flock, that faithful, saintly few;
They fashioned more than these material things,
These walls of weathered brick where ivy clings,
This dwarfed, square belfry-tower that stands
roof high,
That brownstone cross uplifted toward the sky.
These things are but the outer, earthly shell;
Around, above, within, our God doth dwell.
Now fifty years have sped their storm-tossed ways
Down echoing corridors of yesterdays,
But through them all St. Andrew’s church has stood
Four-square for Christ, Peace, Truth and
Brotherhood.
Nov. 20, 1942 Paul H. Stevens
Written by Nicole Morales
To a Snowdrop 6/13/15
What fair flower blooms each year
ere the heads of daffodils rear,
ere the end of winter's frost,
ere rebirth of nature's loss,
ere the trees sprout buds anew?
Ne'er they knew, how you grew!
When thy fragile head doth bloom
fresh from mother nature's womb.
Newborn snowdrop, in which we see
that He who made us all made thee.
If the hand of God above
filled thy petals meek with love,
How then have I nerve to mourn:
In His Spirit too, I'm born!
As thou push through ground and snow,
without stop or fret thou does grow,
so shall I too press on along
the path His hand hath placed me on.
Saint Andrew’s Messenger November-December 2016 Page 11 of 11
Saint Andrew’s United
Methodist Church
1230 Townsend Avenue
New Haven, CT 06513
PHONE:
(203) 467-0117
E-MAIL:
Visit us on the Web at:
standrewsnh.com
www.facebook.com/church
ofSaintAndrews
Saint Andrew’s
United Methodist Church
1230 Townsend Avenue
New Haven, CT 06513
November/December
November 2016
07 Rhoda Sta. Maria
11 Yvonne Lynch
25 Lucille Drummond
26 Guillermo Morales
December 2016
09 Eli Arvelo
12 Lois McDonald
14 Ximena Varas
19 Morris Penington