News from St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

CLEAR LAKE SYMPHONY
Our own organist, Matthew Loudermilk, will be featured with the Clear Lake Symphony on Saturday, February 23rd at 7:30 pm at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. See www.clearlakesymphony.org for info and tickets.

NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY
February 12, 2008 On this day, all pancakes at area IHOP restaurants will be FREE - you are asked to give a donation to the Shriner's Children's Hospitals. Don't miss out on this chance to have a great pancake meal with your family and support a very worthy cause!

THANKS
Thanks to Luis Cedeno who volunteered to assist with the website. Thank you to Judy Devine and her niece for donating the King Cakes and cinnamon rolls to the work campers.

CONFIRMATION CLASS FOR ADULTS
The preparation class for adults for Confirmation (2/17/08 @ 10:30 am) will be on Saturday, February 2 at 9 am in room 102. Childcare is provided. The class will end with the practice for the worship service. We will be done at noon. See you there. Jim+ [email protected]

ST. ANDREW'S ACADEMY
St. Andrew's Academy needs teachers (part-time positions). This is a pre-school program. Must be HS grad or GED. Experience helpful but not necessary. BY APPT ONLY. Call Anne at 281-485-3843 on Tuesdays or Thursdays

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

4 Weeks beginning March 3rd

Every Human being gets hurt in ways both big and small, and in turn, we sometimes inflict hurt on others. There comes a time when we face the difficult choice to forgive others and to forgive ourselves. But forgiveness can seem impossible, even undesirable. This study open our minds and our hearts to a new understanding of forgiveness so we can embrace forgiveness as a key to a wholesome and free life.

Leader: Rob Rumph Cost: $6

PUT YOUR GIFTS INTO ACTION

The Next 301 Class (Your SHAPE for Ministry) will be offered by Christine Liberatore starting 2/24 @ 9:15 am. This class is centered on discovering each person's own personal S.H.A.P.E. for ministry (Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, & Experiences). This class is an excellent opportunity to learn more about yourself and to find affirmation that you do have a place in the ministry of the church. [email protected]

WORK CAMP QUARTER CHALLENGE UPDATE

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped support our Work Camp through our Quarter-a-Mile Challenge. To date, we have raised $276.25 - that's 1105 quarters. This places us currently on our map in Charlotte, North Carolina, 30 miles into our RETURN trip!!

For our competition between the groups going, the adults continue to lead with the Senior High having their biggest collection week to date this past Sunday! The current tallies are:

Adults: $134.57

SR High: $76.91

JR High: $64.77

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

1. Help Your Fellow Brazoria County Citizens - In case of a public health emergency the County Health Dept. may need to distribute preventive medications to all the residents of Brazoria County within a 48 hour period. At this time the population of our county is almost 300,000 people and growing. The Brazoria County Health Dept., with its staff of 12 employees, cannot accomplish this enormous task by itself. The county has a plan to accomplish this important mission, but it will require 2500 volunteers. At this time we have almost 1000 volunteers identified and almost 800 of these have been trained, but we still need more. The volunteer orientation is only 3 hours, and no medical training is required. There is no cost to the volunteer to participate.

2. Help Local Youth and Adults - They need Community Service hours. We get free campus care assistance from those who need to do Community service for Honor society or minor infractions. Help someone who may be in the same place as a family member one day. Help St. Andrew's as well.

3. Musical Offering - Play an instrument? Sing? We would love to have you perform something during worship as a special offering.

4. Office Help - Can you give even an hour a week to help out in the office? We'd love to have you here.

5. Substitute - Our church has great Sunday School Teachers. We want them to have time off once in a while. You can help. Will you be available once in a while to sub? Curriculum and support teachers provided.

6. Usher - Would you like to help those who attend worship? Service once a month.

7. Audiovisual - God is calling one person to coordinate a team of audiovisual people for 10:30 am worship. Most of the team is already in place.

Jim+ [email protected]

CAMP INVENTION DIRECTOR
We are looking to hire a Director for our Camp Invention. If you like to organize, advertise, and recruit, this might be the position for you. If intersted, contact Debbie Allensworth at 281-485-3843 or [email protected].

WORSHIP TIMES
Every Sunday 8:00 am: Rite I with organ 9:15 am: Christian Education 10:30 am: Rite II with band

Contacts:

Office: [email protected]

Fax: 281.485.4936

Jim Liberatore: [email protected]

Joe O'Steen: [email protected]

Debbie Allensworth:

[email protected]

SUBMIT ARTICLE
[email protected]

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ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

We had a great meeting on 1/30. Thanks to Merv Taylor, Bobby Nicholls, Debbie Allensworth, David Allensworth, Larry Harbuck, Myrna Harbuck, Ryan Harbuck, Eric Mortenson, Larry Musick and Judy Bettencourt for food donations, cooking, clean up, music and assistance with the presentation.

We discussed our financial picture (good), thanked Barbara Kinsey for her service as Senior Warden, went over "who does what," reviewed the importance of attendance and timely giving to our Quin Challenge, and looked at the upcoming events at St. Andrew's.

If you missed this fun time, copies of the presentation can be picked up at the office.

Jim+

TEXAS HOSPITALITY AT IT'S BEST

It never ceases to amaze me that when we ask for help for someone, how many of our congregation will readily step up and help out. We hosted the contemporary Christian Band "Ives" here at St. Andrew's this week and in preparation for their arrival and stay, we requested some help from the congregation. I want to take a moment to thank the following families for their generosity and support for these guests of ours.

Shannon & Jeff Campbell

Christine & Tom Lusk

Judy & Jeff Bettencourt

John & Kristen Dodge

Shelly& Brett Smith

Jenn & Mark Neitzey

Cook Team for our Pancake Dinner!

And a special thank you to Holly Warnowicz for her help in coordinating with the band!

Finally, I want to thank all of you in the congregation who either supported this event by buying tickets and coming out or who took that extra step and invited a friend to come and join them for the evening. What an awesome time. Thank you!

CAMPAIGN OF KINDESS

Each year, during the Lenten season, we embark on a Campaign of Kindness to show Jesus' love throughout our community. This year we will have 5 collection Sundays for charities in our area and we will be handing out our Kindness Cards again and encouraging everyone to thoughtfully do Random Acts of Kindness throughout their weeks.

Sunday, February 17^th Undie Sunday for Star of Hope Shelter

We will be collecting new, packaged underwear for men, women, and children for the shelter - there is a competition between the men, women and children to see which group contributes the most.

Sunday, February 24^th Pet Food Collection for Pearland Animal Shelter

Sunday, March 2^nd Diaper Day - Collection for CASA

We will be collecting diapers (especially sizes 4-6) and diaper wipes for CASA - these will be distributed through their centers throughout Houston for children in Foster Care.

Sunday, March 9^th Teddy Bears Sunday for Shriner's Hospital

We will be collecting new stuffed animals to be distributed to children in Shriner's Children's Hospital in Houston.

Sunday, March 16^th (Palm Sunday) Book Orders for Head Start

We will be taking book orders to be donated to the Reveille Head Start Center.

DO YOU HAVE FINANCIAL PEACE?

Statistics: 55% of Americans sometimes or always worry about money. 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. 90 % of divorces are attributed to financial stress.

Financial Peace University will make you laugh and cry and change the way you look at money. It will motivate you and better yet teach you the baby steps to regain your financial footing.

Financial Peace University will start on Sunday, March 30 from 6:00 till 7:30 pm. Childcare provided. In this time we will talk about:

� Getting out of debt

� Living on a Plan (Budget)

� Relating with your Spouse on Money

� Investing

� Retirement

The cost of this 13-week New Edition positive life change is $105.00 per family. Your new life of peace will be well worth it. This cost is good for any Financial Peace Class anywhere and covers both spouses, if applicable. Mark Neitzey, graduate of Financial Peace, will facilitate the class. Contact Mark at [email protected] if interested.

DISCOVERING EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY
8 Weeks beginning February 3rd This DVD led class reflects on how, through our everyday life, we can all gain a truer sense of community, find greater satisfaction in our work, and come to a deeper knowledge of what it means to be human. Through Telling Our Stories Through Finding Our Place Through Everyday Activity Through Prayer and Ritual Leaders: Joe O'Steen/Bruce Nied Cost: $10

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
6 Weeks beginning February 24th Work. For most people, it's a necessity. For some, it's a passion. And for others, it's a four-letter word to be avoided as much as possible. But for all of us, only one perspective on work really matters: God's. Leader: Jim Liberatore Cost: $12

YOUTH GARAGE SALE

Need to make space for new stuff? Save your

junk for us! St. Andrew's Youth are having a garage sale

Saturday, March 8. The kids are raising

money for building supplies and travel to

Monroe, NC to repair homes for the elderly and

disabled there.

� Items should be in good working

condition.

� Furniture, toys, tools, household items,

and blue jeans for all ages.

� No other clothes, please.

� Bring items to church beginning Monday,

February 18th.

If you are discarding now and storage is a

problem, please contact us so we can try to

find a place to keep your things until then.

All proceeds go towards Workcamp 2008, a

weeklong service adventure that St. Andrew's

Youth will be participating in. Your support for

our youth is greatly appreciated!

Roxie & Ed Woodward [email protected]

James & Amanda Maslonka [email protected]

MEELS ON WHEELS - FEB 11TH - 14TH

Scheduled Drivers for St. Andrew's Meals on Wheels Week of February 11th-14th are below. If you are not able to drive on your scheduled day, please contact Judy Bettencourt at 713-500-9754 or at [email protected] as soon as possible so a substitute can be found.

Route 1

Mon - The Neitzeys

Tue - Bendel Rushing

Wed - Robert & Donna Mabry

Thur - Chris Pulse

Fri - Hita Dickson

Route 2

Mon - Joel Burton

Tues - Shelley Smith

Wed - Nan Rasor

Thur - Cynthia Rowatt

Fri - Vic & Marsha Reed

Thanks!

Judy

FINANCIAL REPORT

Finances as of December 31st

Through the end of December expenses were slightly over budget but income increased during the holiday season.

Actual Budgeted Difference

Disbursed $ 379,834 * $ 377,604 $ 2,230 over budget **

Receipts $ 363,229 * $ 382,604 $ 19,375 under funded

Long Term Debt $725,390.28

* Includes repayments, all short term loans have been repaid

** Operating bank balance 1/1/2007 was $13,187.21

Please be sure to note if your contribution is designated giving on your check's memo line. All undesignated checks go into operating to cover general budgeted disbursements.

Questions?

Beth Bishop [email protected]

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Happy Birthday Kristen Dodge; Alexander Bose; Susannah Bettencourt; Samantha Pulse; Barbara Laverell; Jeff Hanneman; Barbara Kinsey; Cary McDonald; Savannah Lohec; Barbara Bissonnet; Keith Forsyth; James Nester Happy Anniversary James and Jenna Cooper Missed yours? email the office at [email protected]

BAPTISMS
Aldo Enrique Vazquez, Jr 1/27/08 Holden Thomas Cowan 2/03/08 Shannon Marie Cowan 2/03/08

NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS
New Members Todd & Susan Bolin, sons Hudson & Carter Brett & Shelly Smith, son Jakob Worrell Rob & Melissa Porter, son Nicholas & daughter Brittany Returning Members Kim Christensen, daughter Dani, sons, Jason & Zach Todd & Lori Whistler Paula Unroe