Rock Chalk

THIS WEEKEND, April 5 & 6

Saturday, 5:00 (We’re back in the sanctuary)

Sunday, 8:30 & 10:00

Bruce preaching:

PANDEMONIUM: THE VON MAUR SERMON

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I broke out my Jayhawks ball cap this morning, the one purchased at the campus bookstore when my youngest daughter, Laura, enrolled there as a freshman. What a game! The lasting memory will be the Chalmers 3-point shot at the end of regulation, but while the game has changed in many ways since I played it, this remains a constant: if you can’t hit free throws, it’s going to catch up with you.

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Among the paradoxes of my personality is this: In my leadership role, I am not at all bashful about instigating change; while adjusting to the change can create considerable personal stress. I clearly underestimated what was going to be involved in moving the Saturday evening worship service to the Family Life Center. Happily, we learned a lot from the experience and I GUARANTEE YOU that when we next meet in there, on May 9, the look and feel will be very different. Then, in the first service on Sunday, I was rolling merrily along when I realized I had skipped over about four paragraphs of material—and it was pretty good material. I can’t remember getting lost like that since our second Sunday at St. Andrew’s—which, of course, was another time of change and stress. Happily, ten o’clock went off without a hitch, so I must be adjusting at some level. And I am DELIGHTED at the initial response to the new schedule. Even in the glitch-plagued service in the Family Life Center (and, to repeat, we will fix the glitches), there was a sweet-sweet spirit in the room and everyone was incredibly kind. I feel as if we’re in the birth pangs of creating something wonderful, and I appreciate every person who is being supportive, from our musicians, singers and tech team (God bless our tech team!); to the teachers and leaders in our children’s department; and each one of you who are supporting this big change through your gift of presence.

Frankly, if we were going to have a rough weekend (and it’s probably inevitable that we would), I count my blessings it happened when it did, as I had Madeline pictures to fall back on. I’ll want to have my wits about me this coming weekend, as I offer PANDEMONIUM: THE VON MAUR SERMON. This has been percolating since the events of last December and will include written “witnesses” from five of our members who were at the mall that terrible day.

It bears repeating that the reason I’m doing so much of the preaching these days is that NANCY is recuperating from hand surgery. Bless her heart, she went into the surgeon on Friday, hoping to have the cast removed. The cast was removed, all right, immediately replaced by a new one she’ll be wearing for three long weeks. This one is shocking pink.

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MANDY B. introduces the newest members or our church family: Jessalyn and Rodney W. Jessalyn is a nurse at the med center and Rodney is in sales at Stereo West Auto Toys. They have two boys Sage-6 and Colin-4.

ALSO FROM MANDY: As many of you know, we have recently helped a refugee family from Burma by furnishing an apartment, clothing and food. The family has been here for a little less then 3 weeks and are starting to adjust to their new home! St. Andrew’s is continuing their connection with the Sein Chit family of 6 by sponsoring them through the Church World Service. What this means is our church family will help them learn the language and culture and help them become self-sufficient Americans. The family has had a delay with their social security cards and cannot get food stamps until they receive the cards. We will be providing food for them until they receive their cards, probably another week or so. There are many ways to help – you can send money for groceries or other items that may come up (maybe a week or two of bus passes for Sein Chit when he gets a job). We also need people to take them to the grocery store, help them learn how to ride the bus, possibly take them to a job interview, maybe take them to the zoo… The more we can spend time with them the faster they will learn the language and become self-sufficient! Please contact me if you would like more information!

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MICHELLE P. tell us: Patience Circle will be selling Butter Braids frozen bread loafs before and after all services, April 12th &13th and April 19th & 20th. The money raised will help with our mission work. The cost is $8.50 per loaf. You will be able to pick them up at the church on the night of April 30th, and before or after church services on May 3rd & 4th.

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From BOB D.: We need youth who can provide childcare on May 2nd and or 3rd during the Sabbath Night Live performance here at the church. They are offering $15 per night per person, but I think it would be nice if the youth just did it to help out the church. The time commitment would be 5:45pm to 9pm. Youth need to be at least 13 years old in order to baby-sit. Please e-mail Bob to sign up .

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From CHANTELLE H.: Are you retired? If so, St. Andrew’s CEC is looking for you. We are looking for a “grandmother” to come and work in our Infant Room. Hours are flexible, both Full and Part Time. Please call the CEC office at 431-8609 for more information.

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April 19 & 20

Saturday evening, 5:00

The Rainbow Network CELEBRATION OF MIRACLES TOUR

comes to St. Andrew’s.

Bruce preaching: THE ANGEL OF LOS FIEROS

Reception following

Sunday morning, 8:30 & 10:00

CONFIRMATION DAY

Nancy preaching: YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

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Luke 13:1-5

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.He asked them, “Go you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. “Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish, just as they did.”

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BRD