Parables & Softball

THIS SUNDAY, February 25, 2007
Nancy Davis preaching:
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
"Beating People Up, Passing People Up, Helping People Up"
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I was excited about the strong turnout for our Ash Wednesday events. VERY impressive!
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I like Friday afternoons. There's not much activity in the office, and it's a great time to get caught up. The only staff person I've seen since I arrived around 12:30 is Cami, who stuck her head in to suggest we pray the bad weather will pass us by this weekend. Cami, of course, is our Financial Administrator. When attendance is down, giving, of course, suffers with it. We were hurt by a bad weather Sunday in January and another this Sunday would potentially make for a dismal February financial report.
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While appreciating and sharing Cami's concern, I'm hoping the weather will permit members and friends of St. Andrew's to hear the first in our Lenten sermon series on the Parables of Jesus. Nancy starts this Sunday with "The Good Samaritan." I've been working on "The Parable of The Manager" and "The Parable of The Empty House", to be preached March 4 &11 respectively. I guarantee thee: If you make it a point to be with us on the Sundays of Lent this year, you‚ll know more about the ministry of Jesus than you know now. I'm fascinated by how much I'm learning in putting these sermons together.
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DAVE S. WRITES: It looks like Becky L. and I will head up a Co-Ed Slow Pitch softball team if there is enough interest. Here is what we anticipate:

Metro Omaha Softball LLC
1. Co-Ed Slow Pitch Class D or even Class E (recreational) depending on who we get initial commitments from
2. We are looking to have a minimum of 8 gals and 6 guys.
3. We anticipate playing on Monday evenings.
4. Cost is $350 plus the $16 per game for other fees. With 14 people it should be around $40 - $50 per person. That is not including a potential for shirts.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, CONTACT DAVE OR BECKY, OR SEND A REPLY TO E-MAIL TO BRUCE AND I'LL PASS IT TO THEM.
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ERIC H. writes: There will be a short organizational meeting for the St. Andrew's Men's softball teams this Sunday afternoon in the Family Life Center at 4:30pm. Please bring $50 payable to St. Andrew's, sign the official OSA registration form and get more information about the upcoming season.
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>From BOB D.: Attention HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: The Bea Shannon Memorial Scholarship is a tribute to a fine Christian woman whose membership in the United Methodist Church spanned nearly seven decades. One award in the amount of $500.00 will be awarded to a graduating High School senior by the United Methodist Women. All seniors should apply for this scholarship! Applications will be available at the youth table located in the Rotunda or by contacting Bob Davis. Applications will be accepted until 5pm March 20, 2007. Please return applications to Bob Davis‚ mailbox in the church office.

PASTOR CHARLOTTE tells us: Alice K. will be 100 on March 2nd. She has been a very caring and generous friend of St. Andrew's since our beginning. Please join in a card shower for her in honor of this milestone in her life. Address: Crowell Memorial Home, 2455 S. 22nd St., Rm. 48, Blair, NE 68008-1980. Be sure to identify that you are with St. Andrew's it will really give her a lift. Charlotte also asks: Prayers for Rev. Joe Jones, recovering from heart bypass surgery (friend of their family).
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Luke 10:30-37 Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ŒTake care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.‚ Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?" He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go
and do likewise."
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BRD