February Nexus Newsletter 2020
Pastor Denise -
What do you know about the South Sound Co-operative? Have you heard of it? If not, my hope is that this article will help you to get familiar with the Co-op.
The SSC is a collection of seven churches; First Olympia, Rochester-Oakville, Shelton, St. Andrew’s, Steamboat Island and Tumwater. Our churches are rural, suburban, urban and include a new church start; all covering four counties. Worship attendance in the individual churches of the Co-op ranges from less than 50 people each Sunday to over 350 people. Our styles of worship are traditional, contemporary and experiential. We are progressive, conservative, experiential, and everything in between. All of our churches are involved in outreach ministries in our various community settings. Some of our churches have declared themselves as Reconciling, and we all welcome those who would like to join together in a journey of faith.
Each one of our churches is special, and each church has been blessed with different gifts. What we all share as a Co-op is a deep love of God and neighbor, a desire to connect with those both inside and outside the church, and a calling to share our gifts in any number of ways. We are better together in sharing God’s love and fulfilling God’s mission.
Over the past few years, the Co-op has been focusing on sharing resources. We are excited about our Co-op-wide Youth Ministry which provides our young people a supportive place to connect, learn, grow, and serve together. The program includes bi-monthly Youth Group meetings, social outings and service /mission projects.
In addition, just as the Co-op shares information on the various activities occurring at the individual churches, we also collaborate on a number of special church services throughout the year, including Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Easter and Blue Christmas.
In a culture that works to isolate us and to push us into smaller groups so that we never hear nor pay attention to the viewpoints of others; the Co-op provides a counter-measure. The Co-op offers ways for our church members to not only build relationships within the churches, but also across the Co-op.
The United Methodist Church is a connected church, and cooperative ministry is an example of this connectedness. I invite you to stay tuned for more Co-op activities that you might find interesting and beneficial. I hope that you are able to take advantage of our shared resources. You can find information on upcoming Co-op activities on the church bulletin board in the front lobby.
Challenge from your Pastor - Something to Consider for Lent
Saturday, February 1st is the first day of Lent. I have a challenge for you! Each day of Lent, remove one item from your closet (or home) that you no longer wear or need and put it into a box or large trash bag. At the end of the forty days of Lent, donate these items to a place that can share them with someone who can really use them!
Meet the District Superintendent
Our D. S. Kathleen Weber will visit St. Andrew’s on Thursday, February 20th @ 1:00pm. All are welcome to come and meet her. We anticipate her visit to be about an hour.
If you have any questions you’d like addressed and are unable to come please get your questions to Rich Green and/or Pastor Denise prior to the meeting.
Up Coming Events
Church Treasurers and Finance Teams Workshop
Saturday, Feb. 1st 4pm-7pm
Sunday, Feb. 9th 1pm - 4pm
Wednesday, Feb. 19th 8am - 11am
The workshops are delivered usning ZOOM. A ZOOM meeting is a web-based video-conferencing meeting, where the presenter will host the meeting and others will login and participate.
Please talk with Pastor Denise if you’d like to join in this web video-conferencing.
Leap Into Abundant Life! - Crest to Coast Missional District Training
First UMC of Olympia
Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM - $10 registration
- clergy and laity are invited to this Leap Day training by the Greater Northwest Innovation and Vitality Team. If you desire vital ministry for your church and community, this training is for you. The day will include engaging worship, practical workshops, and connecting with other United Methodists.
Please contact Pastor Denise if you are interested in attending.
Join us on February 25th for a Shrove Tuesday celebration of Breakfast for Dinner. We will have pancakes plus all the fixins to mark the official end of Epiphany and the start of the season of Lent. Dinner starts at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there.
Just What is Shrove Tuesday?
Shrove Tuesday originated during the Middle Ages. The name "Shrove Tuesday" is derived from the word "shrive," which means to confess and receive pardon. Shrove Tuesday was a day for Christians to clear out all the distractions from our lives so that we are prepared to focus solely on the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ during the forty days of Lent.
Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday has become the last day for celebration and feasting before the period of fasting during the Lenten season. In past centuries, foods such as milk, meats, fats, eggs, milk, and fish were restricted during Lent. Christians had to purge their homes and dispose of these foods prior to Lent as they would spoil over 40 days.
To keep the foods from being wasted, families would have big feasts in order to consume those items and prevent them from being wasted. Shrove Tuesday came about as a way to use as much milk, fats, and eggs as possible before Ash Wednesday.
Singles Luncheon
Meet at the Mayan Restaurant on Yelm Highway on February 19th @ 12:30pm
We invite all adult singles (divorced, widowed, separated, never married) to join us for a no-host lunch and conversation. Questions or RSVP to: Lois Brighten (360) 412-7933
Ash Wednesday
Join us for our Ash Wednesday Service at 7pm on February 26th
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time of penitence, discipline, and renewal. This service begins our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life and reminds of our mortality. The service calls us to heartfelt repentance and forgiveness, and urges us to place our hope in God alone.
Prayer Requests
You are invited to call in your prayer request to the church office (360-491-2030) or to any time of the day or evening. If you get an answering machine, please leave the request or your name and telephone number.
Please pray for God’s peace & presence
St. Andrew’s Families:
—Dave Reed —Jackie Hinchcliffe
—Dick Hinchcliffe —Vi Statler
—Tom Lund —Carol Nichols
—Mary Novy —Jim Martin
—Barbara Hawley —Phil & Pat Latimer
—Dr. John Britcher —Bea Aho
—Sara Lyon —John Clark
—Marian McKusker —Jerry McKusker
Music Notes
Choir has a lot of nice things in the works for Lent & Easter, and we have space for more folks who would like to join. All groups meet on Wednesday evenings: Praise team works from 6 to 7 pm, Choir from 7 to 8:30, and Bells (starting late February) will meet at 6:30 to 7:30 for the Lent / Easter season. We are always looking for more people to participate; please contact myself or any members.
Thank you, and see you next Sunday - Paul
Kitchen Crew Update
The Kitchen Crew has been busy planning for the upcoming year. We are planning dates for events such as “Souper Bowl” Sunday. We will be serving soup and rolls and fruit for both services in honor of the Superbowl.
- us for Game Night, Sunday, February 9th at 4:00pm. We will be serving Baked Spaghetti and Garlic Bread. Feel free to bring desserts or a salad to share.
Welcome Our Church Officers
Lay Leader - Rich Green
Church Council - Gary Skaar
Staff Parish - Janie Stover
Trustees - Ken Russell
Finance - Lois Brighten
Preschool - Barbara Ullmann
NOW - Barbara Clarkson
Education - Heidi Seldomridge
Fellowship - Robin Eagen
Mission/Outreach - Bruce Kauffman
Membership - Sally Bush & Sharlyn Russell
REACH - Maggie Schoengarth
If you have questions about their group or if you would like to join in their group and support their efforts please contact them directly or through the church office.
Children and Youth Ministries
Sunday School Schedule
2/2 grades K-5
2/9 grades K-5 & grades 6-12
2/16 grades K-5
2/23 grades K-5 & grades 6-12
Sunday school for grades K-5 meet during the 11:00 service. Grades 6-12 meet at 10am.
Upcoming Youth Events
2/2 Roller Skating at Skateland, 1:30-3:30
3/1 Indoor Swimming in Shelton
These events are open to youth in grades 4-12. See the back page of the Nexus or you can talk with Heidi or Janie for more info.
Quilters Update
It was good to get back to our regular 4th Tuesday Quilting day. Welcoming new folks made the day extra special. Together we chose patterns and fabrics for Comfort Quilts. We have had generous donations of fabrics that inspire our creativity. We enjoyed a potluck lunch together with fellowship and sharing. Thanks to everyone who came and took projects home to finish. Look for new quilts around the church. Plan to join us on Feb. 25. We can find sewing, pressing, choosing fabrics and patterns.....if you've always wanted to be creative with fabric, we can make that happen. Barbara Ullmann 360-491-2693
Preschool News
February is going to be another busy month as we continue our Letter Recognition adventures. We will celebrate Valentines with a “Mix of Friends” party, we will go on a Heart Hunt and a field trip to High Impact Dance. We will focus on being friends with each other this month and on using our kind, sharing words like “please and thank you”.
Chef Combo will be visiting this month as well as our continued adventures with “Andy Bear” and “Frank the Frog”. These are very exciting friends and it is hard to be patient while waiting for your turn. However, it is a good life lesson that we don’t always get what we want right away. Sometimes we have to wait a little while. We will continue to help encourage and comfort the children as we practice this skill.
We would like to thank all of our parent helpers that have spent some time in our room and outside of our room doing odd jobs for us. Your help is “priceless” and allows us to give the children all of the love and attention they deserve. We are always looking for volunteers/helpers, if you have a few spare minutes or lots of extra time on your hands please let us know… we can keep you busy and would love to have you help us!
Welcome New Members
We are delighted to welcome you as members of St. Andrew’s
Donna Brooke
Rainy Fausnaught
Mark and Sandy Hohn (Mark will be baptized on Feb 9th during first service)
Tracy and Traci Slay
Doug and Gini Thomas
Bob and Dolores Todd
Bob and Sandy Wolf
Happy Birthday
2-Joyce Scheuerman
7-Gretchen Borck
10-Paul Duncan
12-Dan Dickey
12-Jim Kreiger
12-Pat Latimer
13-Nancy Lovrien-Kauffman
14-Jim Loomis
14-Ken Russell
15– Heather Seldomridge
20-Shirley Atwater
20-Gary Skaar
21-Sandy Wolf
22-Glenn Gerth
22-Kyrian MacMichael
22-Bob Wolf
25-Betty Gluth
26-Lois Brighten
Happy Anniversary
6-Duane & Barbara Ullmann
17-Jim & Mary Loomis
If we missed your birthday or anniversary, or if you are new to our congregation, please call the church office (360-491-2030) or write it on your attendance card Sunday so we can update our records.
Volunteers
February 2nd
Lay Reader 1st Service: Barbara Clarkson
Lay Reader 2nd Service: Bruce Baldwin
Coffee Hour: Barbara Ullmann, Betty Cain-Mills, Julie Sedgwick, Lois Mae Best, Sharlyn Russell
February 9th
Lay Reader 1st Service: Virgil Clarkson
Lay Reader 2nd Service: Lois Brighten
Coffee Hour: Sally Bush, Janie Stover, Linda Clark, Heidi Seldomridge, Maggie Schoengarth
February 16th
Lay Reader 1st Service: Bruce Kauffman
Lay Reader 2nd Service: Rich Green
Coffee Hour: Robin Eagen, Sybil Thompson, Mary Jean Grimes, Kyrian MacMichael, Jane Leppert, Barbara Clarkson
February 23rd
Lay Reader 1st Service: Barbara Ullmann
Lay Reader 2nd Service: Dayton Grimes
Coffee Hour: Jan Green, Marian McKusker, Karen Langlois, Dorothy Tyler, Virginia Stephens, Earl Cabe
Thank you to all of our Worship Helpers!
Scriptures - February Sermon Series
February 2nd
Matthew 5:1-12
Holy Communion
February 9th
Matthew 5:13-20
February 16th
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Pastor Chris Knight Preaching
February 23rd
Exodus 24:12-18
Transfiguration Sunday
Co-op Youth Group Gatherings
Fellowship Outing Dates
Save the Dates:
Sunday, March 1 - Indoor Swimming @ Squaxin Wellness Center (70 SE Squaxin Ln, Shelton, WA).
Saturday May 2 - Movie Afternoon in Shelton
Sunday June 7 - End of the year Celebration @ TBD location
A special note about April
We are hoping to send youth to CONVO in May as well as begin fundraising for a 2021 summer mission trip. One of the ways we fund raise is through an annual talent show! Due to spring break & where Easter falls this year we have decided that April 5 (1st Sunday) will be a Palm Sunday/Easter themed youth group gathering at Olympia First. Tea & Talents will be at Olympia First on Sunday April 26 (4th Sunday). Details forthcoming.
South Sound Cooperative Fellowship Activities
1st Sunday of the month, various locations, 1:30pm-3:30pm. Open to all 4th-12th graders.
Sound South Cooperative Youth Group
4th Sundays of the month @ First Olympia, 1:30pm-3:30pm. Open to all 7th-12th graders.
Dungeons and Dragons Group
Open to 9th-12th grade youth, D&D group meets on the 1st & 3rd Sundays from 4pm-7pm at First UMC Olympia.
Steamboat Island Youth Group
1st Thursday Fries & Floats - Meet at Red Robin in Olympia for honest conversation. Open to high school juniors an seniors. 6:30pm-8pm
2nd Thursday Game Night at St. Christopher's 3:30pm-5:30pm
4th Thursday Youth Group at Pastor Heather's House (4512 Shellridge Rd. NW), 3:30pm-5:30pm
Shelton Youth Group
Wednesday nights 5:30pm - 7pm at Shelton UMC. On 3rd Wednesdays youth group expands until 8pm, 7pm-8pm special invitation for LBGTQ+ teens & allies.
