Jan 24

St. Andrew's Shield

“...above all taking the Shield of Faith ..” Ephesians 6:16

Volume 52, Number 2 January 24, 2007

From the Pastor’s Heart

“Creative waiting” is a good characteristic to develop. Seldom has that been more apparent than this past week. Some of us could not get out of our homes for a week; others could manage a trip to the store, but no further.

So how did you wait out the storm? What did you do while you waited for the streets to become safe to drive, or the pavement safe to walk? Much is said in the Bible about waiting, but my favorite is this:

“My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning.” Psalm 130:6

When I get impatient, and find it hard to wait, I remember these words. Then I sit in silence, listening for God, or I find a way to keep busy. I’d be interested in hearing your stories. How did you wait while we were iced in? And, most importantly, where was God in that waiting?

Waiting together!

Pastor Ann

St. Andrew’s Serving Schedule
Greeters:
Jan 28	Rob and Mari Turley
Feb 4	Dick Balser
Acolyte:
Jan 28	C. J. Griffith
Feb 4	David Ross
Ushers:
Jan 28	Donna Lee and Betty Weigel
Feb 4	Larry and Anna Mark
Refreshments:
Jan 28	Bob and Jan Talbott
Feb 4	Anne Spitzmiller and Irma Burton

COMING SOON….

The new church directory will be available very soon. We are printing it off now and should have it ready for distribution in a week or two.

Pancakes - Pancakes

February 3^rd is the day – 7:30 – 10:30 is the time. Y’all come!

FROM THE TREASURER

A reminder that while the Church service was cancelled on January 14, unfortunately our bills and financial obligations continued. Members are urged to remember their pledges to St. Andrew's for the month of January. We are entering 2007 at least $4,000 short because of the weather.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Women in the church should mark your calendars for PW Cluster meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Broken Arrow on March 24; Spring Gathering at First Presbyterian on April 21.

More info later.

Dear friends at St. Andrew's,

As some of you already know, we have been visiting other congregations, and have decided it is time to change churches. We have appreciated your welcoming, supportive spirits while we have been here, and look forward to continuing the many friendships we have formed. We believe there are exciting opportunities presenting themselves to St. Andrew's and believe the future holds spiritual growth for us all.

Kris Farnsworth and Mike Pryor

SERMON SCHEDULE

Sermon Series “Fears of our Lives”

January 28 Jeremiah 1:4-10 Being Alone

February 4 Isaiah 6:1-8 Failing

February 11 Job and Luke 6:17-23 Suffering

February 18 Romans 14:7-0 Dying

February 25 Luke 4:1-13 Letting Go

March 4 Genesis 15:1-12 Living in Darkness

March 11 Luke 13:1-5 When Others Die

March 18 Luke 15:11-32 Old Dreams Die Hard

March 25 John 12:1-8 Grieving and Moving On

April 1 Luke 19:28-40 Riding Into a New Life

UPDATE ON POSSIBLE SALE OF BUILDING AND OUR FUTURE TOGETHER

v We are having an appraisal made of our property to compare with the offer which The Little Light House made. When that process is complete, the Session will call a meeting of the congregation to vote whether or not to proceed with selling them our property. The middle of February would be the very earliest date we could have this kind of meeting.

v We discovered that we don’t own 5 acres after all – it’s more like 2.8 acres (or 123,000 square feet, plus or minus) which would reduce the selling price.

v Our General Presbyter, the pastors of two other Presbyterian congregations and a few of their elders have met with our pastor plus some Focus Team and Session members to discuss the possibility of creating a “partnership” to be located in one of their buildings. Although more specific information was presented at the called meeting of the congregation on January 21, we cannot print it publicly because members of the other congregations are not yet aware of these conversations. However, the Sessions and staff of all three congregations are interested in exploring the future together.

v If this proceeds as we are discussing it now, the three congregations would retain their separate identities and all of their staff. We would find ways to combine many of the ministries we have in common, continue the ministries that cannot be combined, and even add new ministries. Since our conversations are in the beginning phase, and there are no models for us to follow, details have not been worked out.

v The three pastors believe God is actively involved in this adventure! All three of our congregations have had surprise gifts which were not in our plans. Yet all these things appear to be “working together for the good of [us] who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:29).

v We will continue to keep you informed as events unfold. Keep us all in your prayers!

New Officers Elected

A called meeting of the congregation of St. Andrew’s was held immediately after worship, in the Sanctuary, on Sunday, January 21 for the purpose of electing officers.. Following is the list of Elders and Deacons who were elected to serve and their term of office:

Elder, Class of 2008 Elder, Class of 2009 Deacon, Class of 2010

Lisa Griffith Lee Pauli Beverly Clark

Richard Balser Diana Henderson

Karen Kriner Becky Balser

Valerie Parker

If you have to miss worship on any given Sunday, you can find both the bulletin and the sermon on the web. Webmaster, Emerson Parker, adds them to our website each week, and adds The Shield on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Our address is www.standrewstulsa.org.