October 2020 Anchor
Clerks Corner
| Mission Committee |
Coins for Compassion:
As a church we sponsor Kk (aka: Nicholas) through the donation of our change. Kk is an 8-year-old boy who lives in the Ashanti region in Ghana. He has four brothers and three sisters. He loves to watch and play football (soccer). He asks that we pray for him and his family.
Please continue to donate your change in the Coins for Compassion jar on the table in the Narthex. Thank you from the Mission Committee.
Homeless:
Fall has come. The weather is getting colder and it is time to break out the warmer clothing. As you do, if you find items that you are no longer going to wear; please consider donating those items to the New London Homeless Hospitality Center (NLHHC). We have a collection tote at the church, please ensure that all donations are clean and in good shape.
The guests at NLHHC are especially in need of sweatshirts (all sizes), men’s workpants or jeans, socks and soon winter coats for men and women.
I am also collecting:
· Complimentary hotel toiletries
· Walking shoes and boots
· Belts and wallets
· Backpacks and tote bags (gym bag size or larger)
· Small notebooks, calendars and Bibles
· Adult gloves and winter hats to go with the winter coats
If you have any questions please contact Debby Green at d4green@sbcglobal.net.
Operation Christmas Child is an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse.
We fill the shoeboxes with toys and gifts. If you need a shoebox there are a few at the church in the box under the table in the foyer. For more information on what can and what can not go in the box see the flyer on the table in the Narthex or go to: samaritanspurse.org/OCC.
We will collect the boxes and get them to the pick up point. Be sure to label the box for a boy or a girl along with an age range.
The Mission Committee will cover the cost of shipping; all we ask is that you fill a shoebox with gifts for a child. The shoebox can be decorated, but it needs to be able to be opened at the shipping center for inspection. We will begin collecting the boxes the end of October. If you have any further questions, please contact Debby Green
The mission committee has selected the organizations that will benefit from St. Andrew’s dedication to supporting local, national, and international charities.
This year we focused on those who provide food and shelter as the need this year has been much higher than in previous years.
We have chosen organizations that we have traditionally supported and added a few new recipients to the list.
We have emphasized our responsibility to be good stewards of the funds the congregation has entrusted to us and so this year we have investigated all aspects of the charities, such as their corporate reporting to Charity Navigator, Guide Star, and other sources. The research included information on the financial health, the type of services, and their rating on transparency. It was an interesting exercise and we are happy to say that almost all the organizations that we are giving to this year as well as those from previous years fared well.
The annual report will contain the “giving” list. We have completed the allocations for 2020.
Our current emphasis is on investigating volunteer opportunities in our area. We will be putting together a volunteer directory as soon as the information is ready.
The committee has been meeting virtually and will continue to do so until the virus is under control.
If you have any concerns, questions, or would like to sit in on a meeting, please contact me at j.degrooth@gmail.com
Jean Degrooth, Chair
Mission Committee
| Red Cross Blood Drive |
Save the Date! We will be hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, Dec 30th 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. here at church. Please plan to sign up or stop by to donate, the need is always so great. Contact Christine Gentry for more information at: gentry-j-c@sbcglobal.net
| Bible Study Starting |
Romans 12 :
Join us in Studying the pivotal chapter in Romans that answers the question:
How should we, saved by God’s grace, live today?
We will meet on Zoom Only .
For more information contact Dale Green at: orgreen@sbcglobal.net
Mondays, 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Zoom
(some gatherings may go as late as 8:30 based on group conversations)
September 14 – Dec 7
Materials by pastor, author, and teacher,
Chip Ingram will be provided.
We are open during the Coronavirus!
The Office of Early Childhood has limited the amount of children we can have in class. We are required to clean and sanitize the inside and outside environments, toys, and equipment after each use of groups.
Presently we have 30 children enrolled and 5 staff. The children are doing well with the new way that we must comply to remain safe from the virus. We are all now required to all wear masks, staff and children. This is a very different year for us as we navigate school during Covid. Our curriculum does not allow for us to have visitors, go on field trip, or host our annual Children Christmas Crafts, however, the children are getting the same experience and enjoying their time at St. Andrew!
Pat Dalton,
Preschool Director
| Deacon Ministry |
The Deacons would like to thank the congregation of St. Andrew for all of the donations!
Non-Perishable Donations
Your Deacons work all year with Groton Human Services to see what the needs of our community are and the generosity of SAPC is very much appreciated. From backpack supplies to Thanksgiving baskets, your contributions are amazing. The focus now is on non-perishable items for our Grocery Cart – the shelves at GHS are running low and in great need of the following items:
canned goods (all types) spaghetti/pasta
spaghetti sauce mac & cheese
pork & beans ravioli
instant rice laundry soap
instant potato meals instant meals
Please consider picking up a few extra items the next time your grocery shop for our neighbors in need. And please check expiration dates before donating. Thank you!
Saturday, Oct 10 from 8:30-10:30am.
As the season now changes to Fall, the property committee is looking for a few extra hands to help clean up the outside grounds. Tasks include:
Picking up sticks
Pulling Weeds
Cutting back brush
Pruning lower tree limbs
Raking Leaves
You need only bring yourself. However, please feel free to bring a rake, gloves and hedge shears if you have them. Please also bring a mask just in case you end up working in close proximity to others. .
Hope to see you there – many hands make light work!
(Rain date for this event will be Saturday, Oct 31 from 8:30 – 10:30am)
October Deacon for the Month:
AnnMarie Knochenhauer
860.912.7452
The Deacons are the
“hands of the church.”
Please call if you know
of a church member in need.
| SUNDAY WORSHIP 10 AM HAVE THE COURAGE TO OPEN YOUR HEART TO TO EVERYBODY |
Some of you may have noticed a change to the portable church whiteboard with black lettering that is now between the St Andrew sign and Fort Hill Road. For several months it displayed information about worship time, prayer meeting, and our web site address. Because of a suggestion and the concurrence of the session it now displays information about worship time and an inspirational or biblical saying. For example, starting in the middle of September it looks like:
The plan is to change the saying once a month. I have a number of inspirational and biblical sayings BUT I am open to using quotes from members and friends of St Andrew. There are some limitations because of the sign and lettering size. The saying can be 4, preferably 3, lines long and each line can be up to 16.5 letters/spaces long. Normally a space is one normal letter width but can be shortened down to a half letter width. “M” and “W” are a 1.5 letter width and the “I” is a 1/2 letter width.
If you have something you would like to have displayed, talk to or email Joe Jackson at ji.jackson941@gmail.com.
Joe Jackson