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JULY/AUGUST 2018
FROM PARISH ASSOCIATE, SUZANNE MALLOY
Six months. One half-year has already passed since the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow disasters!
This half-year has passed relatively quickly for many of us who escaped harm from nature’s violence. This
same time period has elapsed in excruciatingly slow motion for those whose homes and lives were forever
changed by the destruction of the largest fire in California history, and by the overnight scouring and
alteration of the Montecito landscape.
During these six months, the St. Andrew’s congregation has joined the greater community in recovery
endeavors. Members who participated in the initial rescue efforts are now committed to collaborating with
long term recovery teams to provide assistance to individuals and businesses that have suffered as a
result of the disasters. We distributed N-95 masks to neighbors. We slogged debris alongside Habitat for
Humanity and Bucket Brigade volunteers. We joined the American Red Cross and worked in shelters. We
handed out water to Montecito residents. We raised funds for the Unity Shoppe by hosting the well-
attended Honeysuckle Possums concert. We acknowledged and encouraged our neighborhood first
responders with signs and with the installation of an honoring bench. We renewed our First Aid and CPR
certifications.
As a church, we provided funds to the Presbytery Disaster Response Task Force. As individuals and
families, we gave our time and our money to many local organizations that are working together to repair
the wounds in our community: organizations like Food Bank, United Way, and Direct Relief International.
I thank God for you all, a body of Christ that observes the commandment shared with his disciples after he
knelt and washed their feet:
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love
one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
As a congregation, we strive to demonstrate this love; yet, we have much more that requires our action.
The disaster recovery efforts will go on for years, long after news media has moved on to other events.
And, we mustn’t forget those among us who face daily challenges of being unsheltered, unfed, unhealthy,
undocumented, or unloved. Let us continue to discern how we might better follow the example of the
early church:
“All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and
goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together
in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God
and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were
being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47)
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Session News
SESSION NEWS At its May meeting, Session:
• Heard a report from the Pastor about plans for Pentecost Sunday on May 20, including the burning
of the church Mortgage during worship and Stone Soup Lunch hosted by the children and youth.
• Heard a report from the Pastor about plans for the Session Retreat on June 1-3 at Oak Creek
Ranch. Enrico Manlapig, Westmont professor, was the facilitator again this year.
• Heard a report from the CBT team and approved expenditures from the CBT funds for a weed
barrier for the new landscaping, with appreciation for a donation to help pay for the costs. Other
current CBT projects include a Memorial Garden and new plantings for the rose garden area.
• Approved a grant of $1,200 from the 1997 Endowment Fund for Emma Voigt to attend and
participate in the Westmont Trailhead Program, June 25 - July 6, a two-week residency program.
• Elected Ruling Elder Sandy Thoits as Clerk of Session for a term of one-year, July 1, 2018 through
June 30, 2019.
• Session, acting as the Board of Trustees, elects the following ruling elders as officers of the
corporation: President – Don Vickers, Vice-President – Mona Wise, Secretary - Sandy Thoits,
Treasurer – Scott Eschbach. Term of Office July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
• Session discussed the topic of getting a new welcoming table for the patio on Sunday mornings.
Additional help is sought for the July 1 Family Fun Faire for the BBQ cooking, set up, hosting and
clean up.
• Session did not meet in June. The next Session meeting is Tuesday, July 17.
Sandy Thoits, Clerk of Session
Let us gratefully remember that “every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
(James 2:17)
With gratitude,
Rev. Suzanne,
Parish Associate
2018 Presbytery Meetings
Saturday, September 22 – Paso Robles
Tuesday, November 13 - Goleta
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Our Mission Statement
We worship Jesus Christ together consistent with Reformed/Presbyterian tradition, while:
❖ Learning God’s Word and spreading the Gospel
❖ Supporting each member of our Church family
❖ Caring for others through mission and service throughout our community and the
world
❖ Openly affirming all forms of diversity in leadership, worship and ministry
Our Vision Statement
As God calls us and equips us by the Holy Spirit, we strive to:
❖ Be a loving, connected family-in-faith of all ages
❖ Affirm Christ’s teaching as the source of spiritual nourishment
❖ Grow in discipleship, leadership and service
❖ Share the joy of God’s love with all
THANK YOU FROM PAUL DAVIDSON
To my Sisters and Brothers at St. Andrew’s,
I want to thank you all, with all my heart, for all you have done for
my family and me over the past years. St. Andrew’s was, and is, an
oasis of God’s hope, love, grace and mercy in a world full of
divisiveness. It is because of you, together with God’s guidance,
that I was able to finally be ordained. Thank you, too, for helping to
make my Ordination such a wonderful event.
Each of you will always have a special place in my heart and in my
prayers.
Blessings, peace and thanks,
Reverend Paul Davidson
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JULY BIRTHDAYS 06 – John Gonzalez 07 – Kendall Shinn 08 – Nancy McKenzie 08 – Jeffrey Wootton 10 – Enid Englund 11 – Evan Schindler 15 – Chris Davis 17 – Jim Gilmour 26 – Shelby Malengo 17 – Dana Monk 27 – Lindy Moore 18 – Katie Lefley 28 – Marie Sue Parsons 20 – Ariel Bowers 29 – Scott Eschbach 21 – Louise Carey 30 – Paul Davidson 23 – Laura Lee Henderson 31 – Bob Parsons
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
01 – James Padden-Rubin 03 – Brandon Gonzalez 04 - Barbara Hughes 07 – Joshua Acuna 08 – William Hughes 14 – Kayla Malengo 16 – Cheri Hoeckley-Larsen 18 – Bill Wise 21 – Martha Hitchens 22 – Bob Allbright 25 – Beau Henderson 25 – Andrew Lefley 28 – Bill Oakey
NOVEL BOOK GROUP FOR JULY/AUGUST
Saturday, July 14th – “Catcher in the Rye” by JD Salinger and on Saturday, August 11th – “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson. All meetings are at 10am in the Vos Room. New members welcome!
UPCOMING DATES
2018 Ruling Elder and
Deacon
Discernment and
Training Program
1. Saturday, July 21, 9:30AM - 1:00PM – Second Training Program. Taking the Lead. For Elders and
Deacons. Location: Diana Lee’s home. Lunch included. Opportunity for learning about being an
elder and deacon, small group sharing, discussion on decision making.
2. Sunday, August 12, 11:00AM – 12:00 Noon – Third Training Program. Checking In. For Elders and
Deacons. Location: At the church. Sharing of experiences, ideas and questions.
3. Tuesday, August 21, 6:00PM – Session Dinner and Meeting. Incoming Elders and Deacons are
approved for ordination/installation.
4. Sunday, August 26, 9:30AM – Ordination/Installation of Incoming Elders and Deacons, during the
worship service. Term of service begins.
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PENTECOST CELEBRATION
May 20th
MORTGAGE
BURNING A
SUCCESS!
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BENCH
DEDICATION
for
Neighborhood First
Responders
on
Pentecost Sunday
CHOIR SINGING TO
FRED WALTERS
MAY 27, 2018
Thank you to all
who came out to
sing to Fred!
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HOW'S YOUR CENTS-ABILITY?
My mom and I are enjoying the routine of placing our coins in the Cents-Ability container we
made at the May luncheon. On September 16, we will be bringing a donation to St. Andrew's
that represents our commitment to sharing our resources with those in the world who do not
have food security. The prayer we learned, "Lord, for those who have hunger, give bread. For
those who have bread, give a hunger for justice" is written on our offering can. It has been a
good discipline for us to remember those in need as we rejoice in our ability to share a meal
together.
People have told me that their cans are getting full! Ours too! We have been using one penny to
represent each of our daily meals. When we run out of our stash of pennies, we will be counting
the contents of the container, making a note of the amount, putting those same pennies back in
the "available" stash, and continuing on with our addition of pennies to the can. When it is full
again, we will be repeating that process. At the end of the summer, we will add up all the sums,
multiplying it by 10 (an amount we decided on when we started, so that our actual donation will
be 10-cents-a-meal). The resulting donations (in the form of cash or a check to St. Andrew's - so
we don't bury our offering counters in thousands of pennies) will be brought to church on
September 16th to be sent to the Presbyterian Hunger Program.
We hope that you will join us in making giving for hunger & justice a habit in your home.
Julie Sommers
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STONE SOUP LUNCHEON SUNDAY,
MAY 20
SUMMER
MUSICIANS
NEEDED
The Worship Team is seeking
special music for the summer
Sundays when our choir is taking
a break. The choir will sing on
July 1st
and August 5th
. If you
would like to share your gift of
music with the congregation on
any other Sunday this summer,
please contact Christopher Davis
at 619-405-3218 or
Serving meals at Transition House with JOY
the third Friday of each month!
Thanks Diane, Tom, Susan and Lydia for June service.
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ADULT ED NEWS
Coming this Fall
The Challenge Of Paul, Theme 3: Paul & Justice
• Session 1 Baptism as New Creation
• Session 2 War and Slavery
• Session 3 War and Patriarchy
• Session 4 Saint Thecla
Theme III, PAUL & JUSTICE, focuses on what Paul understands the “life in Christ” to mean.
Paul describes Christian baptism as “dying to the values of Roman society and rising into a new life in
Christ in which there is neither Greek nor Jew, Male nor Female, Slave nor Free.” Radical Paul, says
Crossan, taught early Christians that to be alive in Christ is to be dead to the normal hierarchies that
characterized Roman life and the Roman world.
Dr. Crossan describes a fundamental Roman confidence in a world where the victor stands over the
vanquished and the conqueror stands over the conquered. Jesus, radical Paul would say, rejects that
worldview and invites all into a community of mutuality, equality and justice.
Meditation for JULY/AUGUST
“Sometimes I go to church with the attitude that I am doing you a favor by showing up, Lord.
Sometimes I sit in my pew waiting for something I dislike so I can go away unmoved,
unrepentant, unchanged. Sometimes I show up only to find out how you can improve my life.
Forgive me, Father, for making my body get up and attend church while allowing my heart and
mind to stay asleep.
Forgive me for taking your mercy without giving you my love.
May I not allow myself to grow fat and weak by consuming all your blessings for my own
enjoyment and pleasure, but instead help me to grow strong by turning all your blessings into
words and acts of unselfish praise.”
By Julie Ackerman Link
From: 100 PRAYERS – INSPIRED BY THE PSALMS
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Ice Cream Social a Tasty Treat!
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VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH AUDIO
& VISUALS
We are in need of volunteers to run the
audio and visuals at the 9:30am Sunday
service at St. Andrew’s. Training will be
provided. If you can help (for audio),
please contact Dave Sommers at
[email protected] or 805-708-7108
or Michael Padden-Rubin at
[email protected] or 805-
682-7891, or (for visuals): Sandy Thoits
Thank you!
NEW MEMBER/INQUIRER
CLASS
Saturday, September 15
9:00am – 2:00pm
At the church.
If you are interested or
have any questions,
please contact
Pastor Brett Becker or
Sandy Thoits
DEADLINE FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
Please submit articles and photos by Tuesday, August 21st,
as the Newsletter is going out on August 30th
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Dr. Brett Becker, Pastor
4575 Auhay Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Phone: 805-967-6327
Fax: 805-967-9530
Web: www.standrewspcusa.org
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/standrewssb
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
4575 Auhay Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
