Challenge Exceeded

THIS SUNDAY
December 24, 2006
CHRISTMAS EVE
One Morning Service, 10:00
Nancy preaching: “ALL WRAPPED UP”

3:00, 5:00, 7:00
CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION SERVICES
Each of these worship experiences will include a message from the Drama Team.
The 5:00 service will feature the Children’s Choirs.
At 7:00, we’ll hear from the Christmas Eve Adult Choir. (See Pam F.’s note below)
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Joining the church on Sunday were LARRY & ANN W. Larry is retired from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Ann is a babysitting grandmother.
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We count 806 in our various worship services on Sunday. Add 162 children and we come up with a total strength of 968.
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This is neat. We met, exceeded—yea, ROARED past our Food Challenge number. If you recall, our challenger had offered match our giving up to $2,000. In fact, we received $4,595. The challenger brought in the $2,000 check this morning, meaning we’ll be sending $6,595 to the food pantry at Pearl United Methodist in downtown Omaha. We’ll publish a complete report on holiday giving next month.
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IF YOU JUST CAN’T REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PASTOR CHARLOTTE PLEDGE CARD, CONSIDER E-MAILING YOUR 2007 PLEDGE AMOUNT TO CAMI P. Or send it via return e-mail and we’ll pass it her way.
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PAM F. writes:

The Christmas Eve Choir will rehearse this Wednesday evening (Dec. 20th) in the sanctuary at 6 p.m. It's not too late to join us----we would love to have more people help us sing for the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service. If you have any questions, please let Pam know.
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From STEVE S.:

Who’s preaching this Sunday?

What are they preaching?

What is going on when & where at the church?

Who do I call about a room reservation?

These questions and many more are answered at www.standrewsomaha.net . The web site is back and adding new material every day. Right now you can read the text of the current week's sermon. Soon you will be able to download an mp3 of the entire service! We have every A-Mail sent out since May of 2006 online!, the website is the 1st place you should go for information and updates! The church calendar is available, and soon the Youth will have their page up & running. To quote a line often stated around this congregation: “As Jesus himself said to Andrew, “Come and see!”
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JUDY H. tells us:

We are in need of ushers for the 3, 5, and 7 PM ushers on Christmas Eve. If you are planning to attend one of these services please consider offering your service to this important function. If you can help please notify Judy or Diana F.
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From SHEILA C.:

Have you resolved in 2007 to find a new way to serve those in your St. Andrew's family? Take a look at BeFriender Ministry! BeFriender Ministers at St. Andrew's provide a listening presence for those in our congregation who may be going through a challenging time in their life - perhaps the loss of a loved one, financial stresses, or their own health issues. Rather than providing answers, BeFrienders serve as companions and confidants through the storm for those they serve. We will be starting a new training class of BeFriender Ministers on Sunday, January 14th from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Classes will meet weekly for eight weeks. To become a part of this class, or to ask more questions about BeFriender Ministry, please contact Pastor Charlotte at the church (Extension 18) or Sheila C.
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MIKE R. passes the following along:
PERSONAL PRODUCTS NEEDED FOR WALTER REED

Stars and Stripes reports that donations are needed for wounded troops who are patients at . The hospital's Family Assistance Center (http://wramc.army.mil/Soldiers/MedFac1/index2.htm ) is seeking shoes, gloves and winter jackets, postage stamps, prepaid phone cards, weightlifting gloves (for wheelchair patients), trousers with snaps or zips along the legs, razors, and prepaid gas or grocery cards. The Center requests that no cash or used items be donated. Donations can be sent to: Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Medical Family Assistance Center; Bldg. 2, 3rd Floor, Room 3E01; 6900 Georgia Avenue, N.W.; Washington D.C., 20307-5001.
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PASTOR CHARLOTTE writes:

JUST ARRIVED – “ADULT CHILDREN OF AGING PARENTS” newsletter. The lead article, “Assessment: Key to Aging Parents’ Well-Being, is just full of wonderful information for any who are facing the challenges of aging parents. A very helpful assessment tool is explained, along with the value of assessment. Check it out on the bulletin board near the coat room. Please feel free to TAKE – READ – AND RETURN.

CHARLOTTE asks: Prayers for Ruth P., who has non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, in addition to stem cell malfunction, requiring very difficult/strong medical treatment (Aunt of Tony K.). Prayers for Laura W., currently receiving cancer treatments and is expecting another child; pray, also, for her husband, Eric and their 2 children.
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Luke 2:8-20

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth & lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace, goodwill among people.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them.
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BRD