THE NETWORK
March 2009
Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, Pickerington, OH

The mission of Saint Andrew's Church is to provide a spiritual community where all are welcome
to worship, learn about God's grace, and be nourished for service to others.

Vicar's column, March 2009

Rejoice! It's Lent!

Sounds strange, doesn't it? Joy and Lent just don't seem to go together. Lent is the somber season and in popular practice can feel quite funereal. In church, the vestments are the deep purple of a dowager's dress. Our liturgical crosses are veiled and our Alleluias are silenced. Social celebrations are cancelled - or at least curtailed. And instead, our attention is focused on the crucified body of a young man dying in agony on a criminal's cross so that we can be freed from our sins. Our emotions are moved by such words as suffering, sacrifice, passion, and death. This emphasis on the Cross helps us focus on our need for repentance and can move us to acts of self-denial such as fasting.

But it's fair to ask: what can be a proper attitude in this holy season? Take a look for a moment at the Old Testament prophet Joel. He's one of the "minor" prophets, "minor" because of the very short length of his book, but not because of the power of his message. While you could quickly thumb through the Bible and easily miss the book of Joel, there's lot to miss if you do.

Joel begins his prophecy describing a devastating plague of locusts. Then he moves to this fantastic promise of restoration. At the center of his message Joel cries out, "Repent", an appropriate word for Lent. But, just as we do not always comprehend the meaning of "Lent", we frequently fail to understand the meaning of "Repent."

"Repent" conjures up visions of sackcloth and ashes, tear-stained faces of regret, and sinners crying out in sorrow for the mercy of God and others. These are certainly part of the meaning of repentance we find in the Bible; but they aren't the only part. The more basic thrust of the word "repent" is the call of God's people to turn-to return-to God. Like the drill master's "About Face!" it is a call to turn around to face the direction of God.

And here's my point. Repentance is just as much an "up-lift" as it is anything else. God has done something very good and will do something even better in the future. There is pain and sorry and regret in our sins and yet there is also to be joy and hope and celebration that God is waiting for us with open arms to return.

And Joel knows that. From the destruction from locusts and drought and resulting depths of despair, Joel rises in his book to the heights of joy. His first words nearly singe our ears with talk of desolation, but his final words can lift us up with its glorious hymn of promise and renewal.

Repent. Come back to God. God is kind and full of mercy. God is patient with his people and keeps his promises. God is always willing, always waiting, to forgive. God gives and God takes away, but God in the end returns to his people. This is the joy of Lent: the vision of victory in the middle of defeat, the vision of forgiveness in the murky swamps of guilt, the vision of hope in the bleakness of bad decisions and terrible consequences, the vision of life in the valley of the shadow of death.

Weekly Worship Schedule

Sunday 8:00 a.m. Spoken Holy Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Wednesday 12:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Announcements

Happy Birthday to:
Robbin Zaborniak 3/11
Debi Chakeres 3/18
Amy Cox 3/22
Sandy Heren 3/22
Caroline Yang 3/30

COLUMBUS DEANERY LENTEN SCHOOL 2009

St. John's Episcopal Church in Worthington is hosting the Columbus Deanery Lenten School, with courses being held on Tuesdays in March. There are 2-week and 4-week courses being offered. The 2-week courses being offered are Burning Martyrs (meeting on March 10th and 17th), Grace Dances (meeting on March 10th and 17th), Lost History (meeting on March 24th and 31st), and Charity Gestures (meeting on March 24th and 31st). The four-week courses, meeting on March 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st are Climate Change, Lambeth 2008, Icons and Spiritual Life, and Passionate Filmmaking.

HURRY The pre-registration deadline is: February 28th, 2009
Informational pamphlets are available in the Narthex. More information is available from Fr. Paul as well.

Photojournalist Needed:
We need a photojournalist for the newsletter and website. We need someone to take photos at church events and write an article about what took place. If two people want to do this with one person taking photos and another person writing the article, that's OK. If interested, send a message to standnewsletter@yahoo.com and we will get more information to you.

Newsletter:
Are you interested in submitting anything for the monthly newsletter? Please forward your information to standnewsletter@yahoo.com. You can also leave it in the newsletter mailbox in the narthex

Bread Bakers:
Bread bakers are desperately needed. There are only 3 bread bakers currently making bread for the 10am service. If you are interested in becoming a bread baker, please contact Richard Hollinger for the recipe at rhollingr@excite.com or you can call 614-991-5656. It only takes about 20 minutes or so to make the dough, and about 10 minutes to bake. It's a very simple recipe

Sunday School News:
During the Spring Sunday School Rotation, the following Sundays there will NOT be Sunday School: March 22nd (Confirmation Sunday), April 5th (Palm Sunday), April 12th (Easter Sunday), May 10th (Mother's Day), and May 24th (Memorial Day weekend).

The Christian Formation Committee would like to thank the second rotation teachers. Heather Ferguson, Edith Carr, Toks Ogungbadero, Bill and Angie Barker and Amy Cox for their hard work and dedication this rotation. They have done a wonderful job and we can see the results on February 22 at the youth service, where their students will showcase their talents.

PLEASE plan to attend the 10:00 service on February 22, 2009 and support our children.

SMCAP training has been renamed Safe Church
Safe Church Training is coming to the Columbus area on the following dates and locations. Below is information from the Diocese of Southern Ohio. The program costs $15 and generally runs from 9am to 3pm.

February 28th Christ Church- Springfield
March 21st All Saints- New Albany
May 7th St. Matthew's Westerville
July 18th St. Phillips's Columbus

Our self imposed deadline is quickly coming up, so please sign up on the diocese website: http://www.diosohio.org or by calling 513-421-0311 Please see Father Paul for more information.

Who must have Safe Church Training?
The Diocese of Southern Ohio requires Safe Church Training for:
o All clergy
o All employees of congregations (including secretaries, organists and sextons)
o anyone who regularly works with youth groups, whether paid or volunteer
o All licensed Eucharistic Visitors
These groups should also have background checks and/or reference checks.
The diocese recommends training for:
o Sunday School teachers
o Vestry or Mission Council members

What meets the Safe Church Training requirement?
The training provided by trainers who are trained and approved by the Diocese and using materials provided by the Church Insurance Company relating to prevention of Misconduct and Abuse in a Church context.

Upcoming Events:
February 22nd - Youth Sunday & Norman Rockwell Exhibit Outing after 10 am service
February 25th Ash Wednesday services at 12:30pm and 7:30pm
March 22nd- Bishop Breidenthal Visitation
April 5th Palm Sunday
April 12th Easter Sunday
May 3rd Spring Cleanup - 9am Service ONLY that day - Cleanup of gardens and yard after service followed by a Pancake Breakfast put on by the Men's Group
May 10th Mother's Day, Flowers for all mothers
May 31st - Final Youth Sunday & End of Church School Year

Upcoming Youth Gatherings
March 20th- 23rd DSO YOUTH RETREAT
St. James Westwood's (Cincinnati) Youth Group is hosting a diocesan youth retreat. The focus of this youth retreat is participating in a 30 hour famine as well as learning and becoming more aware of the Millennium Development Goals the Episcopal Church has adopted. While participating in the 30 hour famine the youth will raise money for World Vision and its ministries along with service projects for here in our own Diocese. The weekend will contain worship, ministry and fellowship, also a trip to play laser tag and mini golf. The retreat is for all 7th-12th graders. The cost is $30 per participant. If we have more than 4 youth attending we will need to send an adult chaperone. Any questions please contact Zack Cornelissen; acornelissen@yahoo.com (513)680-1205 or Susan Highley (614)237-0257.

April 24th-26th - God's Mission: Our Ministry, 2009 Youth Spring Retreat for grades 7-12 at Procter Camp and Conference Center!!! Cost: $50, scholarships are available upon request, please contact Rob Konkol (youth@diosohio.org) if you are interested!
Theme: We will look at the many ways that we can engage in ministry in our churches, our communities and our world. We will worship, play, and learn about how God calls us to put our faith in action! Come join us for an amazing weekend retreat that will energize you and challenge you to get involved in God's mission! Don't forget to bring your friends!!!
How to Register:
https://diosohio.wufoo.com/forms/procter-spring-youth-retreat/

Volunteers Needed:
Greeters, Ushers needed for Ministry Schedule. Please contact Elaine Vaughan, 614-837-2668, or email her at beadcatz@aol.com if you are interested in participating. Remember kids can help out ushering, or greeting as well. And how about some adults coming forward to acolyte? See Fr. Paul if you are interested! (It could be fun!)

Recycling:
St. Andrew's now has a paper recycling bin from Abitibi Recycling in our parking lot closest to the Fire Station. We are collecting all forms of paper - your junk mail, catalogs, magazines, newspapers, office and fax papers, white envelopes with or without windows. Not only is this a wonderful Environmental Stewardship program, but we can also earn money for all the paper that is collected - and the more we recycle the more we earn. So tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers to simply drop their recycling paper items into our bin as they pass by the church.

Items they can't use - any cardboard (if in doubt, tear it, if it is brown or gray inside it is cardboard), cereal, soda, milk cartons, tissue or paper towels, phone books, plastic, or glass. Please BAG your shredded items (they tend to scatter when the bin is picked up). Yes it is ok if that bag is plastic.

Ongoing Fund Raisers (that aren't hard at all)
St. Andrew's receives a penny for every search done through Goodsearch. (Simply use Goodsearch instead of Google). Plug in St. Andrew's as the recipient - make sure it is the right one.

St. Andrew's receives a percentage of sales from Goodshop - similar to Goodsearch. If you are shopping on line, check and see if the store you are going to is in Goodshop.

We recycle ink-jet printer cartridges - there is a box for these in the Narthex.

Gordon Foods gives us a percentage as well when you shop with them and give them St. Andrew's name so your purchase can be applied to our total at the end of the year.

Mitten Tree Update: From Fairfield County Job and Family Services: Thank You.

Dear Elaine,
Please extend our gratitude to your congregation for their donation of hats and gloves - they certainly were a blessing!
Jenny Ruff, Community Resource Coordinator.

We sent to Fairfield County Family Services 29 hats, 12 ear warmers, 73 pairs of gloves, 16 scarves, 9 pairs of mittens, 3 hat & mitten sets, 3 hat/glove/scarf sets, 20 pairs of socks and 1 hooded sweater.

Coming in April:
For the next newsletter, we hope to have articles about the Annual Meeting/Birthday party with pictures, and an introduction to the new Vestry members. New committees were formed and we hope to have a description of what the new committees are and who the chairperson is for that committee. We would like any articles for this newsletter by March 20th sent to standnewsletter@yahoo.com or left in the Communications mailbox in the Narthex.

We are looking for the NAMES of a few good men and women who are serving in our Armed Forces.
Friends, family, neighbors or co-workers - anyone you know of. We would like to pray for them by name as they go about the task of defending our Country whether at home or abroad. Please provide names to Fr. Paul or Tim Vaughan. (email or phone - Fr. Paul - frpauloh@aol.com, 614-837-6841 or Tim timjv22@aol.com, 614-837-2668.)

HANDY LITTLE BIBLE VERSE CHART
God has a positive answer:

YOU SAY	GOD SAYS	BIBLE VERSES
"It's impossible"	All things are possible	Luke 18:27
"I'm too tired"	I will give you rest	Matthew 11:28-30
"Nobody really loves me"	I love you	John 3:1 6 & John 3:34
"I can't go on"	My grace is sufficient	II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15
"I can't figure things out"	I will direct your steps	Proverbs 3:5- 6
"I can't do it"	You can do all things	Philippians 4:13
"I'm not able"	I am able	II Corinthians 9:8
"It's not worth it"	It will be worth it	Roman 8:28
"I can't forgive myself"	I Forgive you	I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1
"I can't manage"	I will supply all your needs	Philippians 4:19
"I'm afraid"	I have not given you a spirit of fear	II Timothy 1:7
"I'm always worried and frustrated"	Cast all your cares on ME	I Peter 5:7
"I'm not smart enough"	I give you wisdom	I Corinthians 1:30
"I feel all alone"	I will never leave you or forsake you	Hebrews 13:5

God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.

Directory Updates
The Church Directory will be printed again in March.
We would like to have everyone's information by Sunday, March 8th.
We would like to have your Name, Address, Home Phone, Cell Phone, Email Address, Children's Names and Everyone's Birthdays (just Month and Date).
Please Fill Out a Form, found in the Narthex to complete any Missing Information.
Completed forms can be left in Elaine Vaughan's mail box in the church office.

Directory Form

Name:

Address:

Phone: Home:

Cell:

Email: (include all family members email addresses - so they can get the church weekly enews and monthly newsletter)

Children:

Birthdays: (of all family members- month & day)