Dear Friends,
By God’s grace, St. Andrew is having a great year! The summer which is now behind us was filled with blessings ranging from a record-breaking Vacation Bible School to the installation of a new Associate Pastor whose presence among us has already captured the hearts of so many of you. There was music to raise money for the hungry, the Back to School Bash for kids, and our outreach to the Amharic speaking community, that continues to flourish and grow. New people came to worship with us and new chances to experience community around God’s word were introduced in September. We also celebrated our partnership with Bethania Kids. Learn more at bethaniakids.org.
The October calendar also reflects the upcoming blessings of Christ at work among you. We will hear from the leader of the Pastoral Leadership Institute, which exists to strengthen church workers in their ministries. On October 13, we’ll gather for a Member’s Meeting and receive updates on present and future staffing at St. Andrew as well as several other new mission initiatives which are pending or already underway. Mental Health Awareness will be in our thoughts and prayers the following week. And on October 27, which happens to be Reformation Sunday, we’ll celebrate the 70th Anniversary of our congregation as we lift our praises to God in worship and “party” in the Great Room that the afternoon!
Those are just some of the highlights that I don’t want you to miss. But let me also remind you that, throughout the fall and far beyond, St. Andrew will also be a place of comfort for those in sorrow, forgiveness for sinners like us, service to friends and strangers, and celebration of the blessings, joys, and milestones we mark as the children of God.
By God’s grace, St. Andrew is having a great year! I pray that you will prioritize your time in order to be part of it as we remember the blessings of Christ in “ages past” and look forward to even more in the days and years ahead.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hricko