Son Times Winter 2021

SON TIMES ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH

WINTER 2021/2022

More, Please.

More, Please

Leadership

“More, Please.”

I really can’t remember if my brother and I were strongly encouraged, motivated, forced to eat our vegetables during a meal. Part of me thinks that is not the case, for I have yet to notice a trigger if someone in my life suggests that I eat the broccoli that, somehow, ended up on my plate.

On the other hand, when I think of pizza, ice cream, mini donuts, freshly baked cookies, for that matter, Oreo, the golden kind with a cold glass of milk, one thing comes to mind: “More, Please.” For example, if something is challenging and arduous, we are left wondering: “When will this stop?” If something is painful and demands our full attention, we can find ourselves thinking: “How long, O Lord? How long?”

In a similar vein, that is one of the crazy things about vacation. No matter where one goes, or what one does, when we are away from the usual tasks and stress, the days and/or weeks go by very quickly. One might think that such a phenomenon is, perhaps, a sign that something is amiss or not right in our usual, daily life. Yet when one thinks of time away as being a form of re-creation—it only makes sense that time away with a different schedule and tone would result in a us feeling different—not only while we are away but also when we return.

Advent is a time to prepare, get ready for the season we call Christmas in this place, St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

As long as I can remember being a pastor, I have heard, every

December, members of a church I am serving say: “We need to keep Advent, Advent. We will only sing Advent hymns leading up to Christmas.” Someone else will say, “Why in the world would we relegate the great Christmas hymns to the handful of weeks in the Christmas season? I say we sing Christmas hymns and/or carols until Jesus is born.”

For what it’s worth, when I thought of what we were going to call Advent this year at St. Andrew, all that came to my mind was: I want more of the good stuff that is in the world. We are very aware of all the challenges, the struggles, and the friction that is all around us. I think it would be awesome if, even if for one week at a time, we lift up, we highlight, we strongly encourage all of us, as people of faith, to always be mindful of four things that are intrinsically found in and through Jesus Christ. So, what exactly are we going to be focusing on this Advent. Four things: 1. Hope. 2. Peace. 3. Love. 4. Joy. Of those great and glorious things, I would love to have: “More, Please.”

Be well. God bless.

David Lillejord Senior Pastor

More, Please.

November 28..................... “Hope” December 5.......................“Peace” December 12....................... “Love” December 19.........................“Joy”

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“Notes” From the Music Office

Worship & Music

W

e hear it often these days: the church is shrinking. The need in this world for the church and, more specifically, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is not shrinking. I believe that it is no coincidence that the very things that the world needs the most these days are the things that Jesus gives us: hope, peace, love, joy. In our profit-driven society, we’ve lost much of the richness of the Advent season in favor of going to straight to Christmas because there are products to sell. But my prayer is that we the church will never lose sight of the spiritual aspect of preparing our hearts and minds for Christ’s arrival with an added measure of devotion, prayer, worship, beauty, music, gratitude, generosity. The truth is that our schedules get filled quite quickly and easily in the month of December and it is far too easy to put the spiritual aspects of the season on the back burner. I’m speaking to myself here as well. What does it look like to focus on discipleship during this time and how can I embody hope, peace, love, and joy in a way that makes them contagious to others (is it too soon to use this phrase?)?

Rather than write too much more on this topic, I’d like to share the lyrics to a song I wrote many years ago called “The Yuletide”: Colors dance in frosted window panes And half a world away where hunger reigns There are children sleeping in the wideness of God But the world has forgotten their names Carols skate on icy urban winds And the rich are seeking shelter from the homelessness within While the poor are filled with good things in the wideness of God Giving thanks for their freedom from sin.

May charity’s snowfall blanket the earth As it has in ages past when the yuletide rolled in May God’s mercy be the theme of the joy we share As it has in ages past when the yuletide rolled in, When the yuletide rolled in.

Candles speak of love’s most perfect light Cradled by a virgin and the silver moonlight Jesus, Savior, sleeping in the wideness of God Be earth’s peace sure as heaven’s delight May charity’s snowfall blanket the earth As it has in ages past when the yuletide rolled in May God’s mercy be the theme of the joy we share As it has in ages past when the yuletide rolled in Let the shadows go out as the yuletide rolls in

© 2005 Timothy Graf

May the warmth of this season find you and may it radiate to others through you because of all that we receive from God who loves us.

See you in church!

Tim Graf Worship and Music Coordinator

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More, Please

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dvent gives us the opportunity for spiritual preparation and refection.

When thinking back on my life, it’s pretty remarkable how my needs and wants have changed. I’m betting it’s much the same for many of you.

Let’s look at it by decade: The 1950’s—We lived in town, in a duplex and then in a house where we took in college kids to help my parents pay the mortgage. I had very few wants—just to be fed, loved, and protected by my parents. We went to Sunday School and my Mom played the organ in our church.

My “More Please” was very short term.

The 1960’s—We moved out of town.

I wanted to drive, to play sports and to go to college. My parents wanted me to do well in school. I obeyed them and did pretty well. We went to church and sat in the “family pew” with my Aunts, Uncles and cousins.

The 1970’s—I graduated college and got a job. Met Rhonda and we got married and started a family. My “More Please” was now focused on my family and a little more long term. Church was regularly irregular.

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Council The 1980’s—The kids wants and needs were now more important than our own.

I wanted more for them—toys, experiences, sports, school, and friends. Church was occasional, but certainly not regular.

The 1990’s—We wanted to get the kids through high school and into college.

I wanted to do well in my job—which ultimately got our family moved to Minnesota. Our “More Please” was building enough for retirement. We started attending Saturday night church with dinner out afterwards.

The 2000’s—We wanted to get the kids settled, married, and have them live close to us. Done. We started Bible Study Fellowship and became more focused on learning the scriptures.

The 2010’s—Material things became less important. Relationships became more important. We focused on our growing family with kids and grandkids. We joined St. Andrew and got involved in Small groups and volunteering.

The 2020’s—Now, we our wants are more peace, more harmony, less acrimony and less polarization. We want less pandemic and more freedom. We find our faith is front and center and more focused on Eternal life than on Material life.

The progression of our “More Please” takes us on a journey that I’m sure many of you also have had. Advent gives us the opportunity to look in the rearview mirror and put into perspective the hope that we have through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jim Smiley Congregational Council

More, Please

Small Groups

Authentic Small Groups: A Story of Support and Gratitude in Time of Grief There are stories of community that appear to me all the time. These stories are of people who find support and encouragement from others. They are networked in ways that give them meaning, brings smiles on their faces, friendships around a shared activity, or a way as faithful Christians to keep faith active, dynamic and growing. While we call these groups ‘small groups’ at St. Andrew, they exist in many shapes and forms.

I had a memorial service recently for a man named Dale. He was 95 years old when he died, so the event was a celebration of a very rich, long life. Back in 2014 his wife had died. Being social and in need of others, he was drawn to people and wanted to stay active. His favorite restaurant was Baker’s Square, so he started going there more and more frequently. Eventually, he was there for nearly every meal of every day.

What drew him there (in addition to pecan pie)?

At the catered luncheon after his memorial service at St. Andrew (yes, we ate pie), I found myself eating at a table of people from the restaurant. There was his frequent server who saw him arrive in the parking lot and made sure food was on order before he got to his table. She really liked Dale at lot. There was a couple who were also frequent guests of the restaurant who had had many a meal with Dale, who were deeply grateful for the chance to know him, enjoy his stories, his silly jokes, and his presence in their community. They will miss him.

I admit that it was an unusual collection of people around the table. But it is special to see how a simple commonality brought these people together in such a way for several years. They were bonded together in a small group. Now, they had gone to a worship service together and were caring for each other in their gratitude and grief.

I would like the experience of bonding with others in a deep way to be the reality for everyone. Many already value it greatly. Small groups are not just family. Not just high school or college friends. But they are a little wider and broader. It is a blessing to stretch and receive this for our lives. I think it is how God designed us. I would like to get you plugged in. Let me know how I can help.

Welcome, Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

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More, Please

Stewardship & Evangelism

More…Jesus Every Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM I meet with a group of dedicated St. Andrew members for the Early Risers Bible Study. We recently studied the story of the Rich Young Man who approached Jesus and asked “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This young man felt he had done everything right —he had followed all the laws and the commandments. What else was there?

Jesus looked at the Rich Young Man and loved him. Then Jesus told him he lacked one thing. He would have to sell everything he had and follow Jesus.

It wasn’t that the young man needed more stuff or more money—he needed MORE JESUS! Now, not everyone Jesus met was told to sell everything he or she had. The lesson wasn’t only about how much money or how many possessions this young man had—it was also about

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what gets in the way of our ability to have more Jesus in our lives.

As we move into the Advent and Christmas season, there will be more of many things that will try to get in the way of having more time with Jesus—you know what I’m talking about. They are all fun things and a part of our Christmas celebrations, but if that is all we do, we too will lack one thing.

It is my hope that you will receive much as you celebrate the Christmas season—more joy and laughter, more giving and sharing, most of all may you be blessed by the gifts that come with MORE JESUS! Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism

More, Please

New Members/Giving

More Connections—More New Members!

In early October we had one of the largest new member groups in quite some time—19 households joined St. Andrew.

It was so fun! What was even more incredible were all the connections and common interests the people in this new member group had with each other and with people who are already members.

There were some who joined because they were invited by members of St. Andrew they met in the new complex they had just moved into. Some discovered connections from years past at the New

Member Gathering—a teacher meeting a former student. Some shared they had hobbies I know others in this congregation have (like riding their Harley-Davidson motorcycles) and are ready to find friends to share their hobby with.

The point is, whether you have been a member a long time or are a new member, there are more connections and more friendships waiting to be made in the St. Andrew community.

Our last New Member Gathering is coming up. We will offer a zoom ses-

sion on Thursday evening, December 2nd at 7:00 PM and an in-person session on Sunday morning, December 5th at 10:00 AM. If you know of someone considering St. Andrew and their new church home, invite them to join us at one of these December sessions or to contact Pastor Gail at pastorgail@standrewlu.org.

Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism

One More Gift at Year End Before many of our Christmas celebrations are over, 2021 will come to a close. Our year end results are highly influenced by December giving. It is our hope that we will once again have strong giving at year end.

Even with all that has challenged us this past 18 months, your giving has remained strong and faithful. Thank you to each and every one of you for these gifts. They all make a difference in our ability to offer the ministries we offer. Let’s do everything we can to continue that strength right through to the end of the year.

If you have questions about how to make a special gift at year end, or would like to know how to send a stock gift, make an online donation or a tax-advantage gift, contact John Nolan at jnolan@standrewlu.org and he will be happy to help you.

Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism

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More, Please

Welcome! How May I Help You? At the heart of hospitality is the desire to welcome and serve. To welcome our St. Andrew members and visitors that enter the church with a genuine smile, a warm “Welcome!”, and a heartfelt “How are you doing?”

The larger the church or organization, the greater the importance in doing hospitality well. The practice of making people feel welcomed and cared for helps make a large church feel smaller and more intimate. Relationships begin, small groups are formed, and the ensuing ministry of knowing and caring for each other in that setting is God’s Holy Spirit working through us. All of which can begin with a simple smile!

As we all start to emerge from the recluse of COVID and its variants, there is a desire to once again engage with our church family—our church home. That desire draws us back to worship, fellowship, and a sense of community that cannot be replicated through a computer screen (even though the technology to connect in that way is such a blessing for those unable to attend in person). It is wonderful to once again have folks share a Wednesday evening meal, chat with a donut and a cup of coffee after worship, or enjoy a brew and some conversation at one of the Patio Crawls—together and in person!

Our faith community and our own faith becomes deeper and richer when we are connected with one another through fellowship, service, and hospitality.

We look forward to welcoming you always, but especially during this Advent Season when we ask for “More, Please.” More peace, hope, love, and joy as we all welcome our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ into our hearts!

Burke Hancer Camping Ministry Coordinator

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Hospitality

More, Please

Do You Know?

Do you know?

A new column featuring useful-in-jeopardy information from our teaching pastor.

The Great O Antiphons

One of my favorite Christmas and Advent hymns is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. There’s something about the simplicity, the cozy harmony, and the language that calls out to me again and again each year. And this hymn could not make a more perfect frame for the season of Advent.

The words are some of the oldest liturgical texts of the church, written somewhere around the 6th century originally in Latin. What we know as the hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel was first known as the Great O Antiphons, seven texts addressing the mystery of Christ being born in the flesh. They are traditionally sung in the seven evenings leading up to Christmas.

Seven seems like a perfect number for the number of days in a week but it resonates on many other levels. In the Bible, seven is a number of wholeness, completeness, perfection, or the Hebrew word shalom. This number occurs at the beginning of scripture as God creates the heavens and the earth in six days, resting on the seventh day, the day that The Ten Commandments remind us to “keep holy” or set apart. By framing the story of Christmas with seven poems, the writers are showing us God’s hope for wholeness through this tiny child.

You can find a full reading of these seven poems on the interwebs all over. But you can also listen to them with settings by amazing composers like Arvo Pärt and Bob Chilcott. One of my favorite interpretations, however comes from seven sonnets that Episcopal priest and poet, Malcolm Guite wrote.

A short pair of lines to tempt you to go out and buy his marvelous book entitled Sounding the Seasons: Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year:

Seven O Antiphons O Sapientia—O Wisdom Wisdom is a common theme in scripture and our early church ancestors envisioned Christ as Lady Wisdom found in Proverbs 8.

O Adonai—O LORD Relying on ancient tradition of not pronouncing the four letter name given by God to Moses, this poem ties Jesus to the God of Israel.

O Radix Jesse—O Root of Jesse Isaiah dreams of a spring that will shoot up from a chopped off tree, the root of Jesse, once dead now brought to life.

O Clavis David—O Key of David The key of the royal line of David, also the key to forgiveness of sin and freedom for all in captivity of any kind.

O Oriens—O Dayspring The first light of the morning, breaking through the darkness, peering around the corners and showing us the way.

O Rex Gentium—O King of Nations A king who rules with a power made perfect in weakness and a vision of peace and justice for all people.

O Emmanuel—O God-With-Us The lines we know best. Come Emmanuel, and move into our world, our lives, our stories.

Come to be born, to bear us to our birth, To touch a dying world with new-made hands And make these rags of time our swaddling bands.

Matthew Fleming Pastor of Teaching & Young Adults

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More, Please

Church Anew

Church Anew Over the past three months, Church Anew has been creating an amazing resource that is now launched and into the world called Old & New. It is a seven-part Bible study series for personal and congregational use featuring dynamic presentations by some remarkable local leaders. We wanted to introduce you to a few of them. You can find more about this new resource on the Church Anew website: www.churchanew.org.

Matthew Fleming

“God is calling you into connection, into relationship, into communal wisdom, and trust that is found in moving into the unknown together,

Pastor of Teaching & Young Adults

remembering what has been,

Quotes from Old & New speakers

and being made new.”

Rev. Meta Herrick Carlson

“It is from a posture grounded in repentance that we can move towards meaningful policy change, cultural

“God is still calling,

transformation, and the

but how are we listening?”

healing of the world’s

Christine Belfry

soul wounds.”

Rev. Tyler Sit

“It is something, to be able to hope for a better tomorrow and to pray for the courage to face it.”

Deacon David Rojas Martinez

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More, Please

Spirit in the Pines

Spirit in the Pines Continues to Shine How many times have you heard this said: what a blessing Spirit in the Pines Camp is? I know this is not a new statement for many of us at St. Andrew. I have said it before myself many times over my now over 8 years of time at St. Andrew. The ministry of the camp, year after year, has engrained itself into the spiritual lives of our young people for nearly a generation now. Even after summer comes to a conclusion, the ministry of Spirit in the Pines continues to make waves in the faith lives of our youth.

It was a privilege for me to help lead the High School Confirmation Retreat to camp in October, an annual pilgrimage for our Confirmation class that is taking on rich and faithful traditions all its own. With this year’s class dramatically affected by the pandemic, we designed the time to be extra fun, good camp food,

and relationship building. Camp does these things really well.

The rich traditions of Confirmation Retreat stand out as something to share.

Prayer Around the Cross is held on Saturday evenings. Students assembled in silence around the cross. Then, the gentle strumming of a guitar provided a rhythmic backdrop. Leaders shared words to encourage silence and reflection as well as encouraged authentic prayers of need, hope and expectation. Students lit their own candles in prayer. Many students stayed in the peaceful space long after others had left.

Another rich tradition at Confirmation Retreat is the invitation of each student to write on small stones. For ten years, a jar has been collecting stones written on by Confirmation students on retreat. During the final service on Sun-

day morning of the retreat, students are invited to write a word on a small colored stone. They could write the name of someone for whom they are praying.

Or, they could write one word to describe their faith. Each student took their turn writing their own word and the placing the stones in a jar. Preceded by other year’s classes, this layer of green stones represents the class of 2021. The jars are stored in the lower lodge for next year.

As we consider “More, Please” in this Son Times issue, we give thanks for all the faith experiences camp gives to campers. Join me in this gratitude.

God bless, Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

More, Please

Holiday Giving

Holiday Giving Expands Awareness and Generosity The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each year and I follow this announcement with interest. Sometimes, it is awarded people who I know. American Presidents have been awarded it, most recently President Obama in 2009. There are organizations fighting for causes like the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in 2013. Sometimes, the people or organizations who win the award I have not heard of. I don’t think I am out of touch. I heard that one reason why awards are given to lesser known causes are Nobel’s efforts to make people aware of impacting works of peace in lesser known areas of the world. By drawing attention to them through the award, further interest and support goes to these causes.

When we go about the task of choosing partners for Holiday Giving, we have familiar entities in our community that we support. That PROP $30 gift cards from Target is on the list is no surprise given our long partnership with food drives and other offerings as they support to the needs of people in our community. We adopted again families at Cornerstone (caring for those suffering from abuse). Gifts for Seniors is back by popular demand, too.

Two projects were selected to provide new and special focus on areas that needs our attention. We all followed the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban this past summer. Afghan Friends of our American efforts faced enormous odds as the country descended into chaos. Lutheran Social Services Refugee Services is uniquely poised to care for the incoming 450 Afghan families entering the Twin Cities starting in October of 2021. Helping with housing costs is a huge first step in providing hope for their future. Funds are just the beginning, as LSS has programs like Circle of Friends. If inspired to help, a group of people at St. Andrew could form up a Circle of Friends around one of these families in 2022 to help welcome and assimilate them into Minnesota life. If interested, let me know.

The other project inviting a new direction for St. Andrew is our partnership with Zion Baptist Church and their “All Our Good Holiday Giving” gift giving outreach to their north Minneapolis neighborhood.

Since the murder of George Floyd, A More Just World at St. Andrew has encouraged St. Andrew to delve into the places where expanded relationships and understanding are needed. Race relations is one of those areas. To be included in Zion’s ministry to the Black neighborhood surrounding their church through the program is a privilege. We look forward to watching, listening, and learning as we support Zion.

Thank you for keeping an eye with me on the needs of our community, both familiar and new. Together we learn and make a difference for the sake of Christ.

In partnership, Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

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More, Please

Early Learning

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those that hear the word of God and keep it.”

Luke 11:28

More, Please…

The words “more, please” are repeated over and over each day in the Early Learning Classrooms. The immediate connection to the phrase “more, please” that comes to mind in the Early Childhood world is to think about children gathered around a table to eat asking for more; even the youngest of children learns the phrase “more, please” with sign language.

We as a community are blessed to be able to ask for more.

Much like our prayers to God, we ask and God answers. As we approach the season of Advent it is natural to think about more. More gifts, more decorations, more time. It can be a challenge to focus on more connections, more grace, and more patience. The latter is what we practice in our classrooms and focus in on daily. There are many moments when the children remind us what is really important and keep us accountable for giving grace to those around us. Follow the example of the children that surround you and take a moment to focus on connections, grace and patience.

Melanie Eggers Childcare Director

Melinda Eddihi Childcare Assistant Director

Kathi Wieman Preschool Director

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More, Please

Children’s Ministry

“All I Want Right Now Is…” Last year around this time during the pandemic I found myself saying “all I want right now is; to go back to school, to hug my grandparents, to work with children again, etc.”. All I wanted was to go back to normal. I missed the normalcy and routine of my everyday life.

But before the pandemic I took all of those things for granted. They seemed as though they were something that was always going to be there. Rather than asking for more family time or more time at school, I found myself saying “all I want right now is; to grow up faster, live on my own or eat everything I want without gaining weight”! I was asking for things that were inconsequential.

Now, as we slowly go back to normal, I find myself asking for something else I missed during the pandemic… my faith community. “All I want right now is to grow deeper in

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my faith with my Church.” During the pandemic I missed going to church in the mornings and worshiping with others. Now we have that opportunity back! We have to take advantage of being able to worship all together in the same space again. Because quite truthfully, the next time is not promised.

During the season of Advent we have opportunities for children and families to take advantage of to grow deeper in their faith. During Sunday School we will continue to learn the important ministry of Jesus. And on Worship Sundays our families can worship together with our congregation. Keep an eye out for other amazing ways to engage with our church community.

Sarah Dorr Children’s Ministry Coordinator

More, Please

Confirmation

Confirmation Ministry Anchors Programs for 6–8th Graders There are many highlights to Confirmation ministry at St. Andrew. Where do I start? Our newsletter theme, “More, Please” seem appropriate when we consider the 215 students currently enrolled in the program! Our three time slots of 8:00 AM, 4:45 PM or 7:00 PM have been convenient for our students and families. While I would welcome a few more small group adult leaders into the mix (we make it pretty easy; let me know if you are interested), our leaders are doing a great job helping the students connect with each other. I want to share two particular highlights of this fall to me.

First, the partnership we have with SW Transit is noteworthy as is the attitude of Kevin and Dawn, our AM and PM bus drivers respectively. When designing the program each year, a key component is bussing the students back and forth from Central Middle School (CMS) and St. Andrew. Without it, it would not work. The warm attitude and eager support given

by Dawn and Kevin through SW Transit brings a smile to my face. They care about our kids. They care about our community.

Thank you to my friends and to SW Transit. Did I mention that they are providing their services for free?

Also, I am always pleased to link up with families in the community who desire to join the program. I look forward to getting emails from parents like I did from a woman named Mimi. They are new to Eden Prairie. Her daughter noticed her new friends getting on a SW Transit bus after school. After learning the bus was taking other CMS students to St. Andrew for Confirmation, she wrote to ask if her daughter could be with her friends for our program. They had not yet found a church home. Suffice it to say that her daughter began the program this past week.

Our bus drivers and the expanding programs make me smile.

It is good to smile. It is an answer to the prayer: “more, please.”

God bless, Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

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More, Please

B

efore I worked at St. Andrew I worked as a long term substitute teacher in a Spanish immersion school. I worked with a nonverbal student who would use sign language to communicate with me. I knew a few basic signs that my mom taught me when I was younger. I knew stop, now, be careful, home, sit, and of course the sign my dad was always signed, stupid. The good thing was because my mom had worked with me at a young age I was able to have some conversations with this student. But the most used sign between us was more. He would always do more, either more time outside, more snacks, more time playing with the trains. He always wanted more and would point toward what he wanted more of.

When I think of my life, I am just like this student, I am always wanting more. Sometimes I think about if I had a genie like in the movie Aladdin what I would I wish for. What would you wish for if you had a genie? Think about this for a moment and think about what you would like more of in your life. Would you be like Aladdin and wish for the more wealth and status or would you wish for something else? I think about this past year and think of the wishes that I would make. I know it was a difficult year but I also think it taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I do enjoy having more free time in my daily life. I also learned how important it is to make 15

High School Ministry

others a priority and check in on them. I learned that what I want more of, is more balance in my life. More balance by adding more time with my family and friends. More balance by adding quiet time for myself and naps. More balance in my faith life by adding devotionals into my daily routine. We all have something that we want more of in our lives and possibly need more of. What is that need for you?

If your need is faith we have that here. We have more going on at St. Andrew again. Our rooms are filled and we are planning for the future. We look forward to having you joining us at St. Andrew and see everything that is going on. From WNYG to our High School Bible Study. Or event like Feed My Starving Children to Timberwolves games, we are excited to have you join us. But most of all we are excited to see how you have been doing, to reconnect after a long year and to get ready for this Holiday Season. We cannot wait to see you here at St. Andrew and I encourage you to find the more you need in your life and to trust that God will provide for it.

TJ Helgren High School Ministry Coordinator

More, Please

Visitation Ministry

What worked for Ollie can work for others!

Three months ago our two grandsons, 16 and 14, decided that one of their ‘good deeds’ for the summer would be to care for a ‘rescue dog.’ Little did they know that the little puppy would be transported from Kentucky since Minnesotans are more willing to help care for these sick puppies. Ollie looked emaciated with open sores all around his muzzle, weepy eyes, worms and a lethargic spirit.

When one thinks of puppies, he usually visualizes a creature that’s full of play, scampering around the house etc. Ollie was quite the opposite with little appetite, no energy and in need of lots of care. The family named him Ollie, which is short for Oliver who in the Dickens’ tale is a homeless boy who lacks food, family, love, and security. That was Ollie!

After lots of TLC, a proper diet, many Veterinarian bills, ointment on his sores several times a day, Ollie began to put on weight and the sores on his muzzle began to heal and he started to have that “puppy energy,” which meant lots of running and biting and playing and then taking long naps. Ollie looks a lot like a Dachshund to us but fully capable, on a full run, to dash across the room and make a hearty leap that the most accomplished gymnast would be proud of, and land on your lap. Of course, such excitement results in lots of licks on anything he can reach on our body but often our faces. Lo, the day came a few weeks ago, when Ollie was to be given to a family who wanted a

puppy. Our grandsons would get to meet the family and decide which one would get Ollie. As it turned out, they couldn’t imagine giving Ollie up or wondering how abandoned he’d feel once again. Of course, as they cared for Ollie all those weeks, they became totally attached to him. Needless to say, Ollie has found a home right where he is and he’s happy as can be. He’s home and his little face seems to say, “More, please!”

The theme of our Advent Season at St. Andrew is More, Please! Advent is all about preparing our minds and hearts for the miracle of God becoming one of us. It’s a season of anticipation of gifts given and received but let little Ollie be a reminder to us that TLC, kindness and unconditional love can restore a life, give unexpected hope to someone, and, at the same time, fill our hearts with more joy and peace than we imagined.

Everybody hurts about something and the best treatment for that is kindness and caring for each other. Jesus said, “I have a new commandment for you—love one another as I have loved you!” That’s pretty simple and always needed. That kind of care totally saved a puppie’s life and transformed him from neglect to a healthy, happy creature. Isn’t that what we want too? All I can say is, More Please!

Roger Schindel Visitation Pastor

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More, Please

A More Just World

A More Just World Continues to Address Needs of Our Time On Wednesday evening, October 29, we had a conversation at St. Andrew unlike anything we have ever had before. The purpose of this conversation was to start a dialogue on the subject of the LGBTQ+ Community and the Church—our church—the church called St. Andrew. Many people have been living with this subject in the classroom, at work, or within their families. It is important to talk about it.

We want to thank those who partnered with all the St. Andrew pastors to have this conversation—thank you Steve & Nancy Hagen, Jen & Laura Hoffer, and Kaylee Schwab for sharing your authentic stories, for helping us learn what the church can do to embrace and support members of the LGBTQ+ Community and welcome one and all as members of the body of Christ. In January we begin a study of the book Outside the Lines: How Embracing Queerness Will Transform Your Faith by Mihee Kim-Kort.

This is the work of A More Just World. The purpose of this ministry is to help us learn about the injustices in our neighborhood, our communities and in the world. The work of A More Just World began about 18 months ago as we talked about racism and bias following the murder of George Floyd.

It is time to highlight other areas in our society in need of our faithful attention, including the LGBTQ+ Community.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, December 17th at 6:30PM we will learn more about the challenge of single moms in our community. Struggling with lack of time, issues with poverty, and the strong desire to be a good parent, social worker and founder of the Friendship Project, Krystal Queen speaks from personal experience about the daily struggles of single parents and how support and encouragement is received. As we continue into 2022, we will learn more about mental health, poverty, and homelessness.

There is much to learn and much we can do to work for A More Just World. Join us for the conversations, book studies and service opportunities as we listen, learn and grow together.

In Christ’s Service, Gail Bach Pastor of Stewardship & Evangelism Pastor Peter Johnson Pastor of Service & Small Groups

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20–30-Somethings The 20-30-somethings have been grateful for collaboration with the pastoral staff and the work of A More Just World in the ongoing work of LGBTQ+ welcome and inclusion, including the recent session on Wednesday, October 27. Our monthly gatherings continue if you would like to join us you can always contact Pastor Matthew at pastormatthew@standrewlu.org to get involved in the fun and fellowship.

More Christmas Red… It’s hard to believe—but its that time again when we are taking orders for Poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary for Christmas. We missed the beauty of all the red and green around the altar, so are excited to bring back more color, more beauty, and more smiles on the faces of our worshippers this Christmas. If you would like to place an order in honor of, in memory of or in celebration of any person or event, please do so by going on-line and placing your order for the 8” red poinsettia. The deadline for orders is Thursday, December 9th. Cost is $15 per flower. Thank you for your contribution as we prepare to celebrate Christmas at St. Andrew.

Advent &

Worship Times Bluegrass Christmas Sunday, December 5, 9:00 & 10:30 AM Ugly Sweater Sunday Sunday, December 12, 9:00 & 10:30 AM “The Savior’s Birth” Sunday, December 19, 9:00 & 10:30 AM I Won’t Be Home for Christmas Monday, December 20, 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Friday, December 24 1:00, 2:15, 3:00–Wiggle & Worship, 3:30, 4:45 & 10:00 PM Christmas Day Saturday, December 25, 10:00 AM Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 26, 9:00 & 10:30 AM

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