Youth Update

Dear Saints Of Andrew:

First, let me welcome new readers to A-MAIL. We received a bunch of new addresses, yesterday. If you ever want off this list, just let me know. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today.

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Our newest members are:

JOHN & CHRISTY G.

KEITH F.

Welcome!

Baptized yesterday were:

CAMERON JOHN G. and TANNER LEE G.

Parents: John and Christy G.

JAYLIN CHRISOPHER N.

Parents: Michael N. and Amanda F.

We’re So Glad You’re A Part Of The Family of God

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PASTOR NANCY writes: Just to let you know a little about how we stand at this time in our search for a new Youth Director. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee, which will ultimately make the hiring decision for this position, has appointed a Task Force to process applications and make recommendations. Currently we have received three applications. I have talked with each of these people and found them all to have many of the gifts and graces that a Youth Director would require. The Task Force met last night to consider those applications. We are all hopeful that we will have a new person in place soon because we are aware that the new school year is beginning and we need to have an organized youth group with a leader at that time. Whether that will happen exactly in that way is impossible to know as of this date. But I will be working with Michael as he puts together a schedule for youth programming for the fall. We will need assistance from members of the congregation, and most particularly the youth parents, until this process is complete and we have our new director. I also ask all of you to pray that God will send us the person we most need for this ministry.

Just a word I would like to say about Michael. Bruce and I have been so grateful that Michael was here when we came last September. He has always been extremely helpful to us and truly helped us to make a smooth transition here at St. Andrew’s. We are both excited and thrilled that he has received a wonderful new opportunity to serve as lead pastor of another congregation. Of course, we would have enjoyed having him stay, but he has been recognized and offered an excellent new opportunity. I know all of you join me and Bruce in wishing him well and send him off with our love. Don’t forget that we will have a special Sunday to recognize Michael on July 30, with a luncheon after the 10:45 service that morning, followed by a “celebrity roast” of Michael. Watch for more details on this special event.

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KELLY M. TELLS US ABOUT SOME OF THOSE DETAILS:

The Staff Parish Relations Committee is planning a luncheon for Pastor Michael on July 30th, his last Sunday at St. Andrew's. It will begin immediately following the 10:45 service and will go until about 2:00. We'll be catering lunch and asking for "good will" donations to help offset the cost of the luncheon. This will be something you won't want to miss since our lunch is not the only thing that will be "ROASTED" on Sunday...Yes we're planning a very special roasting of Pastor Michael as well as a heart felt send off and congratulations celebration. We hope you all can be there to help make it a memorable event!

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MORE FROM : REBUTTAL TO THE “DOGS” SERMON

I feel it necessary, in the spirit of truth, to tell you what really happened on that morning at the Clutter home outside Holcomb, Kansas. Bruce often wants to make little side trips like this when we are on vacation so I have gotten used to doing these things. It is true that earlier that morning he was stopped for speeding. This was especially hilarious since he rarely drives above 50 miles per hour even on an interstate highway. I am the one who drives too fast most of the time and so the irony of this situation was priceless. It is true that when we got to the Clutter farm there was a large NO TRESPASSING sign at the entrance to the lane leading to the house. It is true that I obeyed that sign and drove no further. It is true that Bruce got out of the car and walked onto the posted property toward the house. The rest of the story (as Paul Harvey would say) is a little different. I was sitting in the car under a shade tree with the windows down, enjoying myself, watching this trespasser walk further down the lane. At one point, just as he was getting out of my sight I saw him turn around and begin to STROLL back toward the car. At first I just assumed that he had done whatever it was he wanted to do and was simply returning. Then I saw that several paces behind him there was a large dog, also STROLLING along the lane. The dog could not have appeared less threatening. It was the perfect picture of a man and his dog out for a STROLL on a beautiful Sunday morning. They continued in this manner all the way to the car. At no time did it appear that this dog was “just short of Bruce’s throat”, unless twenty or thirty feet is your definition of “just short”. Bruce got in the car, the dog sat down and watched us leave and then he turned and went back down the lane. I have not heard the end of it since.

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(If you have no idea what Nancy is talking about, we invite you to visit the St. Andrew’s web site, www.standrewsomaha.net, then click on SERMONS and proceed to “Dogs”. The editor of this epistle stands by every word of that sermon.)

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THIS SUNDAY

July 16, 2006

8:00, 9:15 & 10:45

Nancy preaches on an issue that has surely touched every family in this congregation, at one level or another: “DIVORCE.”

Please note: It was planned before the “Dogs” sermon.

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PASTOR MICHAEL P. writes: United Methodist Day with the Royals is Sunday, July 23^rd. The game starts at 1:35 PM and tickets are $4 a person. If you are interested in going or have questions, please email Michael by noon this Wednesday. mpatzloff@standrewsomaha.net.

PASTOR CHARLOTTE asks: Prayers for Laura W. and family – husband, Eric; daughters, Gabrielle, age 5 and Annelise, age 2; Laura has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, having surgery on July 10^th (friend and neighbor of JoLynn Keplinger). Prayers for Pastor Michael, the adults and youth, who are in Benton Harbor, Michigan on the Youth Trip, from July 14^th through July 21^st.

ARE YOU A NURSE or medical professional trained in Blood Pressure Screening? Then the Health Ministry Leadership Team needs you to be available on August 13^th to take Blood Pressures in the Rotunda between 9 and 9:15 a.m., as well as between 10:15 and 10:45 a.m. We also need you to help us formulate a rotation list of people who would be willing to do the Blood Pressures the 2^nd Sunday of each month. If you would be willing to help with any or all of this, please contact Pastor Charlotte at cmallott@standrewsomaha.net or 431-8560, ext. 18; OR contact Kristin H. at Hammes@cox.net or 445-8748. Thank you!

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Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

COMMENTARY: This is among the passages that inspired John Calvin, back in the Reformation era, to preach and teach the doctrine of predestination. When I encounter a Presbyterian who is visiting our church, I'm likely to say, “It’s clear you were predestined to join St. Andrew’s!” Methodists fall on the free will side of the ledger. I’ve heard people try to straddle the two ideas this way: Suppose a lover sends you a box of chocolates. You were destined to receive the chocolates. But you still have to decide to open and taste. If you don’t like the chocolates analogy, try this: The Lord has chosen you for salvation. What are you going to do about it?

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BRD