SNL

This is going to be a big weekend. We've been using the tag line: Live, Laugh, Love God. There will be a lot of laughter around St. Andrew’s on Friday and Saturday evenings, as the Reckless Abandon Players present the annual SABBATH NIGHT LIVE DINNER THEATRE. Otherwise known as The Drama Team, the Players are a delightful group of creative people, who support the congregation throughout the year. Talk about versatility! The same people who will be leading the laughter this weekend gave us The Living Last Supper during Holy Week! Dozens of people have put in countless cumulative hours preparing for Sabbath Night Live. I get to be in three skits, myself, including one featuring the church staff, written by Nancy. The doors open at 6:00; dinner is served at 6:15; the show starts at 7:00. Ticket sales have been terrific. I understand a few additional tables have been added for Saturday and seats are available for Friday. For more information, call Judy Hephner at the church office, 431-8560.

Some of our readers may want to worship with us in the sanctuary at 5:00 on Saturday and then go straight into the Family Life Center for SNL. Whether you’re worshiping on Saturday, or in the 8:30 or 10:00 hours on Sunday, I’ll be excited to share WEDDING AT CANA: Why Nancy Does Most Of The Weddings At St. Andrew’s. I’ve had a lot of fun with this one. It’s a communion Sunday at St. Andrew’s. You don’t have to be a United Methodist or member of this congregation to share the sacrament; this is the Lord’s table.

We have some interesting musical pieces lined up for the weekend. I was up here last night with The Ax Of The Apostles and had fun working on a Jars of Clay song for Saturday. The St. Andrew’s Singers will be with us on Sunday, of course, along with the Bell Choir. The Bells will have a busy day. After playing during the morning communion services, at 3:00, they’ll be presenting an event called BELLS, BROWNIES & BROADWAY. I know your presence would be appreciated. I think that’s happening in the Rotunda. At the same hour, there will be an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, as REID R. receives scouting’s highest award. That’s happening in the sanctuary with a reception following in the Family Life Center. You know the church is a busy place when you have multiple events at mid-afternoon Sunday!

Each week, we’re looking at one of the 23 items in the Gallup Membership Engagement Survey. We’re up to #7: As a member of my church, my opinions seem to count. On the scale of 1-5 (1 = Strongly Disagree; 5 = Strongly Agree), the Gallup Mean/Average score is 3.41. St. Andrew’s beat that, coming in at 3.73. With the United Methodist General Conference currently meeting in Fort Worth, I find myself giving thanks for the “conference” St. Andrew’s held last year, via our worship survey. Congregational input was the critical factor in what’s clearly turning out to be a great decision regarding revamping our worship schedule. Not a week goes by without someone passing along a new idea, “Have you thought about…?” And these are often terrific ideas. Your opinions count at St. Andrew’s, so don’t be bashful about sharing them.

John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him: “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

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BRD