What will ministry at St Andrew's look like in the future?

St. Andrew’s Parish Visitation program represents one of the first ways in which newcomers are greeted by our parish.  When a newcomer completes a pew card, a member of the parish visitation team takes a newcomer packet to their home, along with a loaf of bakery bread.  They may chat briefly, but it is not a pre-arranged in-home visit.  A follow up phone call is made by a staff member to further welcome newcomers.  The current parish visitation team has about 12 members who take turns on Sundays delivering newcomer packets.   

The Sunday Greeters provide a cheerful welcome to worshipers, keeping a keen eye for visitors and newcomers.  Every Sunday, three members of the St. Andrew’s Greeter Program actively participate in greeting and welcoming the regular members and the newcomers to our parish.  The greeters welcome everyone, but focus their attention on the newcomers with a warm smile and a pleasant, friendly manner.  Currently, there are 25 greeters and 4 who have signed up as reserve.    New Greeters are always welcome. 

While various parish outreach ministries share time, talent and treasure with the less fortunate in the greater community and around the world, the Support Committee lends a helping hand to St. Andrew’s own parishioners who are ill, hospitalized or bereaved, or who have just had a new baby.    Members of the Support Committee provide meals where needed, offer assistance with transportation for those who can’t drive, visit those who enjoy company, assist with child care, and offer condolences and help to the bereaved.   But we don’t restrict our efforts only to times of trouble – we even deliver a welcoming wooden stork to the front yard of parish families with new babies!   Please consider becoming part of this vital ministry.  

The St. Andrew's Prayer Guild prays on a regular basis for the parish, its members and ministries, and for the needs of the church, the community, the nation, and the world.  Each member has a prayer list with the names of about 30 St. Andrew’s households, and each member also pays close attention to the names on the parish prayer list.   The group meets periodically to update prayer lists and to discuss approaches to prayer, and members communicate with each other regularly via e-mail.   The Prayer Guild also responds to requests for prayers for individual needs and concerns.    Prayer request cards may be placed in the offering basin or given to the church office; prayer requests may also be submitted online here.  

Like fabric squares transformed into a quilt or yarn knitted into a sweater, the bonds of fellowship are woven into the diverse projects of this group.   Our group continues to create caring quilts for the chronically ill and homebound, as well as the baby quilts for the newest members of St. Andrew’s parish family.   We had stuffed bodies everywhere as we created lots and lots of dolls for the Rag Dolls 2 Love project.  Rag Dolls 2 Love provides huggable cloth dolls to children suffering the effects of war, natural disaster, HIV/AIDS or orphaned around the world.   Our group has a lot of fun reviewing books and movies, sharing vacation photos and debating where to go for lunch while working on group or individual projects.   Bring your project and join us!

FOYER is the French word for hearthside –  that brings to mind a cozy, warm place to relax and eat.  In this spirit, St. Andrew’s joins people together in Foyer Groups:   groups of about 8-11 people who meet once a month for fellowship and a meal.  The meal is usually a dinner at a home, pot-luck style.   Sometimes, Foyer groups decide together to go out to eat.  There is no Bible study or curriculum; the groups are purely social.  Some of the Foyer groups include children.  FOYER groups are always glad to have new members – let Lisa know if you are interested:   Lisaw@standrews.net .

The Daytimers enjoy monthly outings to nearby places of interest.  Among recent destinations were the Spy Museum, the National Museum for Women, the new Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Center, Mount Vernon, Meadowlark Gardens, the David Taylor Model Basin, the Masonic Temple, the Franciscan Monastery in DC for a glimpse of the Holy Land and catacombs, and the Kennedy Center.   The annual White Elephant lunch is always a roaring success with good food, fun people and many exciting gifts.  All are welcome, not just those who are home during the day.  If a Daytimers outing appeals to you and you can take leave from work to attend, please join us!

The Mom's / Women's Fellowship continues to grow in both numbers and activities, such as going out together to see a movie, learning a new craft, and a delicious cookie exchange.  Please consider joining this fun and edifying circle of women.   

The Book Discussion group meets monthly on Monday nights in parishioner's homes to discuss a chosen book of varied sorts--award winning fiction, memoirs, historical accounts, best sellers, and recommendations of friends.  Recent selections include My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult and Good Grief by Lolly Winston.  Each month's selection is announced well in advance in the Sunday NET.  All are welcome.  

In the Fairfax Country Church Softball League [FCCSL], the St. Andrew's Softball Team continues to demonstrate its physical, emotional, and spiritual prowess both on and off the playing field.   And in an astounding turn of events, the Team garnered a 2nd place trophy in the ever-competitive Coed division.  Go up to any team member and they probably won't be able to tell you anything about the win/loss record of the team.  However, they can tell you all about the support for and fellowship with their other team members.  They might also mention the end-of-year team award presentations, the officially-sanctioned fan club, the thrills of victory and agonies of defeat, and the strong and supportive friendships that have developed.  The season runs from early April through mid-July, and St. Andrew's will most definitely be fielding a team for its fourth FCCSL season in 2006.  Contact the Church Office if you are interested in being a part of this great group of St. Andrew's parishioners. 

It’s all about the fellowship! The Men’s Fellowship is founded on a simple idea:  set aside a time and place to get together – make it if you can, no pressure, no strings – the only requirement is a commitment to enjoy the fun and fellowship of each other when we meet.  We have met about once every 6 weeks for such activities as “dinner and a movie”,  “steaks, poker, and pool”, and "a night at a Nats game".    Plans for the future include a bowling night and a possible rafting trip in the Spring.  If you are interested, please join the other 40+ men of the church in the St Andrew’s Men’s Fellowship.  Contact Bob Edmonds at bob.edmonds@verizon.net or the Church office.

St. Andrew’s is hustling and bustling with children of all ages!  From the nursery to the Senior High Youth forum, children are involved in too many activities to count.   To help the families become better acquainted (and learn that people have real names other than “Sara’s mom” and “Joey’s dad”) the parish organizes many activities for families.  Typical activities include the Easter egg hunt, the parish picnic, a morning playgroup, a trip to the pumpkin playground, the St. Nicholas party, Family Movie Night, and the Parents Night Out programs.  There are also several Foyer dinner groups that include families with their children.  Any suggestions for future events for families with young children are welcome!

The St. Andrews Preschool Playgroup brings children and their moms or dads together on Tuesday mornings every week.  Toddlers and babies learn to socialize, play well with the other children, share toys, make crafts, and role play, while their parents use the Playgroup as an opportunity to chat, help each other with common parenting worries, and forge new friendships.  All of St. Andrews' pre-school aged children are welcome to participate.  The weekly group takes turns meeting in participating parishioner's homes.  For more information, contact the Church office.