As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two broth-ers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into

the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.. Matthew 4:18-20

St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011

1 ~ KnitWits—10am

12 ~ Men’s Breakfast—8am 12 ~ Ladies’ Breakfast ~ 9:30am 12 ~ Vestry—5:30pm 14~ ECW—Noon

15 ~ KnitWits—10am

Important December Happenings Every Sunday @ 10 am ~ HOLY EUCHARIST

Every Tuesday @ 10 ~ DayBreak

Every Wednesday @ 5:30pm~ HOLY EUCHARIST

December 3—ECW Regional Meeting & Brunch

December 17th~ Bake Sale!

December 18th~Annual Meeting ~ After Holy Eucharist

December 30th ~ 6:00pm ~ Steak Dinner

ADVENT AT ST. ANDREW’S Informal celebrations of hope……

This is a special invitation for you to join us in the church’s Parlor during the next several Wednesday

evenings, as we begin to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Lord as the Babe of

Bethlehem. These gatherings are intended to serve as a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the season while providing a sanctuary for the soul.

We gather at 5:30pm……..

Wednesday, Dec. 7th—”A season of preparation!” Where are we? What do we need to do? How are we going to do it? Wednesday December 14th—”Anticipation!” How can we manage it? Wednesday December 21st—”Expectations!”

CHRISTMAS AT ST. ANDREW’S Saturday, December 24th~10:00pm ~ Christmas Eve ~ Holy Eucharist Sunday, December 25th ~ 10:00am ~ Christmas Day! ~ Holy Eucharist

WISHING you PEACE &

JOY this

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

SEASON

St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011 Page 2

May the Light of Hope….

the Promise of Peace…

and the Gift of Love

enter in…

bringing the Blessing of Christmas

today and always.

Blessings Fr. Phil, Melissa, Fran and Billie

St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011 Page 3

Thoughts of a deacon.....

Through Jesus, God comes to mankind. Through Jesus, mankind comes to God.

Advent is ~ A Season of Introspection.....

~ of Preparation..... ~ of Expectation....

~ and of Anticipation.....

Jesus is coming; and the inn, as you well know, is full. Will you make room for him in your families, your daily lives, your hearts?

Maybe that is what Advent is really all about. (Author unknown) Have a thoughtful Advent, a Holy Christmas, & a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Love to you & yours, Melissa

ECW NEWS CORNER

December 2011

Tis’ the season to be busy and joyful and busy and grateful and busy!!! December will certainly be no exception to the rule. November’s meeting gave all of us food for thought. Karen Thomas did a superb job of informing us about the Bridges Out of Poverty program that is forming in Grove. This national movement has a wealth of answers to an age old problem. It is probably the most exciting and innovative solution to help the working poor to come along in a long time. To learn more about how it works and why please attend the orientation meeting to b e held at Newsong Church on Dec. 7th, 9-4pm. Karen , You have blessed all of us with your enthusiasm and dedication. Thank you so much.

Grab your roller skates………..here comes December!!!!!!!!!!

DEC. 3RD 10:00-1:00.. St. Andrew’s Northeast Regional ECW Meeting

Advent presentation by Rev. Debra Jennings followed by brunch.

Once again we are privileged to host the Northeast Regional Meeting of ECW. Robin has done a wonderful job getting the word out to the churches of our area so we hope for a large turn out . Rev. Jennings really draws a crowd and we are excited to welcome her and our state president Jan Ridle. Please contact Robin to see how you can help. It goes without saying that we count on your presence to welcome the ladies of Claremore, Bartlesville, Pryor, Vinita, Miami and Pawhuska.

DEC. 14TH 12:00…ECW Christmas party.

Light lunch will be provided…games played and gifts exchanged. Winner of the Afghan raffle will be decided. Only business to be conducted approval of minutes & Treasurer’s report. Please bring a gift for the Dirty Santa game. $5 max. Homemade gladly accepted.

DEC. 17TH…Bake sale at St. Andrew’s

This will be another fund raising project for the Church…Susie Hickam is chairperson. Our sale will be part of the city wide holiday celebration that day. Bake up a Storm…please.!!!

Yes I am truly Grateful for all of you and all of your efforts…...God Bless…Donna

St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011 Page 4

From the Gift Shop Thank you for your support of the Gift Shop. The glass necklaces have been a hit and Fr. Phil's Discretionary Fund received a check.

Let's keep it going! Judy Kemper has graciously supplied us with several of her gorgeous beaded bracelots - a couple include earrings. The cost is $50.00 each and 20% of each sale goes to the Discretionary Fund.

Thank you Judy! I'm sure we ALL would love to have one of her creations. Please be sure to browse the glass case for your selection!

Packets of 12 assorted greeting cards are now available—$3 per pack. You’ll find them in the rack—easily identified as they are wrapped with a ribbon!

Christmas is almost upon us so watch for the boxed Christmas Cards - the price will be $4.00 per box as always. GOOD SHOPPING & HAPPY HOLIDAYS Karen Shepardson

Your invitation is in the mail.

As the New Year begins and the old one ends, we hope to spend it with you our dear friends.

A steak dinner is slated for the menu that night, with salad, potato, and dessert that’s just right.

The cost is $25.00 for each steak you buy, with friends and food you must give a try. We need to see you on that special night,

raising funds for St. Andrew’s is our goal in sight. December 30th, at 6:00 social hour starts,

6:30 is dinner with all of its parts. So return the response card enclosed to fill out,

and we will expect you without any doubt.

Acolyte Appreciation

I am button busting proud of our young (and sometimes not-so-young) acolytes. There service at the altar is a blessing to our wor-ship experience. Thanks as well to Tom White for nurturing the flock and building up the ranks. Each year the Diocese invites all the acolytes to The Cathedral in OKC for a Festival. This year’s event will be on March 24th. I hope all our acolytes have the op-portunity to attend this celebration of their special ministry.

Caribbean Cruise Tickets will be on sale up to the very last minute. Right now your odds are very good.

Quick!! Buy a couple more tickets and pack your bags for some fun in the sun.

Speaking of traveling. If you and your family are out and about over the holidays...remember your church. Keep us posted on your travels. Let us know where you are and what’s happing. When you visit another church in another town, save one of their service bulletins or pick up one of their news-letters. Better still, pack one of ours to share along the road. And above all else…REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE, AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR!

Go in peace….

Advent is Adventure

A Few Loose Ends CALENDAR GIRL: There is still time for you to be up-to-date, hip, slick and cool by starting off Advent with your very own personal “Episcopups Calendar for 2012”. This will keep you and your family timely and in tune with all the important dates, feasts and festivals during the year to come. As a special bonus, our own celebrity, Cinderella Lawrence graces the month of December with one of her more endearing poses. At $8.00 per, they are a bargain.

THE GREENING OF THE CHURCH: The Altar Guild has announced the annual “Greening” to take place on Thursday December the 22nd, at 10:00 am. This is a time of remarkable transformation. The nave becomes a place of awe. If you would like to lend a hand (and they do need a few taller types and ladder steady folks) put this in your schedule.

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: The month of December has yet to attract hosts and hostess for the Coffee Hour. This doesn't need to be a big deal (cookies and such are fine) but it is essential to the expression and joy of our expres-sion of fellowship. Sign up and serve. You will be glad that you did.

Page 5 St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

REVENUE PROPOSED 2012 BUDGET

Pledges (60 pledging units) 112,500 Non-pledge (Loose plate offering + gifts etc) 37,500 150,000

Expenses PROPOSED

2012 BUDGET Current 2011

Budget

STAFF

Clergy 47,500 47,500 Payroll Expenses 17,685 17,685 Sexton 6,000 5,818 PARISH LIFE EDUCATION Adult Education 500 2,666 Children 500 2,000 Nursery - Pd by ECW $780*

Publications 120 0.00 Stewardship 500 174

Vestry workshop 120 180 EFM 350 0.00 FACILITY MAINTENANCE Building Repairs/Mntnce 650 400 Building Misc. Supplies (light bulbs, sprin-kler etc) 150 137 Lawn Care 3,600 3,600 Equipment Repair/Mntnce 200 Utilities 8,000 5,054 HOSPITALITY MINISTRIES Parish Dinners/Receptions 500 Kitchen supplies 500 864 Cleaning Supplies 300

Nurture (inc bday cards) 1,000 987 WORSHIP 1,604 Worship Supplies (Bread/Candles/Wine) 350 Acolyte 200 100

Music 100 728 Choir Robes/Albs 200 0

Dry Cleaning 75 ADMINISTRATION Computer Mntnc (inc ACS) 300 1,191 Printing (includes bulletin inserts) 720 613 Copier 540 541

Phone 1,500 1,475 Postage 440 575

Supplies (office) 1,800 2,347 Insurance 8,600 8,501 Workers comp 500 785 Yellow pages 200 502 Diocese - Mutual Ministry 25,000 15,535 Outreach 5,000 2,152

Travel/Convention 1,250 1,626 Other Operating Exp 650 4,660 Loan Payment 14,400 150,000 130,000

Vestry Notices Hear Ye + Hear Ye

ANNUAL MEETING: This year’s annual meeting will be held on December 18 immediately following the 10:00 service. This meeting is always impor-tant, and this year is no exception. The agenda will be full and the discussions of how we choose to move forward into 2012 will be on the table. This is the one time during the year when the clergy and the laity come together in renewal , reflection and rededication to our common mission and ministry. Please try to attend your annual meeting.

VESTRY ELECTIONS: Nominations are open for the election of five individuals to serve the vestry in the year to come. Three of the positions are one year terms and two of the positions are for two year terms. If you are interested, or if you want to place a name in nomination, please do so on or before December 12, 2011. The candidates must be ac-tive members of the church, supportive of the church’s mission and various ministries and willing to faithfully serve in the administration of the church’s affairs.

BUDGET: On an annual basis the congregation is challenged to accept an operating budget that guides the church’s activities for the year to come. You will note to the left of this column the PRO-POSED BUDGET FOR 2012. You will notice as well that the proposed budget is substantially in-creased over what this year’s budget calls for. Which by the way is still beyond what our actual revenue and expenses will indicate. In short, the challenge for 2012 is real and the stakes are high. Please take the time to review our PROPOSED BUDGET and where you see concern, let us know. We are all called to be good stewards of what God has so abundantly placed under our care. There-fore, as a community of faith we must respond to the needs of the budget while we continually strive to find savings in the mists of a challenging econ-omy.

PLEDGING: Your pledge is essential. It is essen-tial for the church to define it’s budget. And it is essential for you to fully and joyfully find peace in a Life in Christ.

St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011 Page 6

DECEMBER WORSHIP SCHEDULE & ASSIGNMENTS SUNDAY—10:00AM WEDNESDAY—5:30PM

December 4 The Second Sunday of Advent Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8 Greeters: .................... Scott & Debbie Potter Altar Guild: ............... Carolyn Williams, Connie Haugen Lay Readers:.............. Susie Hickam, Karen Thomas Acolytes: ................... Corinna Archer, Laly Xiong Vestry Counters:........ Pete Churchwell, Thurman Thomas Coffee Hour Hosts: ... OPEN Prayer Minister:......... Bud Lawson

December 21—St. Thomas, the Apostle Altar Guild: ......Debbie Potter, Susie Hickam, Melissa Harris Lay Reader: ......Fran Rahn

December 11 The Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Canticle 15; I Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 Greeters: .................... Jim & Sandy Rodriguez Altar Guild: ............... Carolyn Williams, Connie Haugen Lay Readers:.............. Bev Lawson, Alan Shelton Acolytes: ................... Patsy DeVoe, Virginia Plank Vestry Counters:........ Tom White, Dale DeVoe Coffee Hour Hosts: ... OPEN Prayer Minister:......... Carolyn Williams

December 18 The Fourth Sunday of Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 Greeters: .................... Bob & Bobbie Carlson Altar Guild: Debbie Potter, Susie Hickam, Melissa Harris Lay Readers:.............. Connie Saxton, Pete Churchwell Acolytes: ................... Sophie Combs, Heather White Vestry Counters:........ Roby French, George Kirkpatrick Coffee Hour Hosts: ... OPEN Eucharistic Visitor:.... Karen Thomas Prayer Minister:......... Alan Shelton

December 25 The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:8-20 Greeters:……………. Jim & Susie Hickam Altar Guild: ...... ........ Debbie Potter, Susie Hickam, Melissa Harris Lay Readers:………...TBA Acolytes: ................... TBA Vestry Counters:........ Susie Hickam, Dennis Deakins Coffee Hour Hosts: ... OPEN Prayer Minister:......... Darlene McCullah

December 14 Altar Guild: ......Carolyn Williams, Connie Haugen Lay Reader: ......Donna Lawrence

December 7 Altar Guild: ......Carolyn Williams, Connie Haugen Lay Reader: ......Karen Thomas

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

& ANNIVERSARIES

Please call the office if we’ve missed your special date

2 Ruth Wilson 4 Melissa Harris 5 Homer Kemper 6 Sunny Uttley 7 Mason Deakins 12 Judy Kemper

17 Paula Stephenson 17 Sophie Combs 21 Susie Hickam 25 JESUS CHRIST Bud Carver

14 Leffen & Bonnie Pflug

DECEMBER 24, CHRISTMAS EVE—10:00pm Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20 Altar Guild: ... All Lay Readers:.. David Mandeville, Karen Thomas, Acolytes: ....... Corrina Archer, Laly Xiong, Sophie Combs, Heather White, Jackson Clarkson Vestry Counters:........ Roby French, Tom White, Reception Host: ......... OPEN Prayer Minister………Bob Carlson

December 28– The Holy Innocents Healing Prayers Altar Guild: ......Debbie Potter, Susie Hickam, Melissa Harris Lay Reader: ......Karen Thomas

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 10 am KnitWits 12N AA 8 pm AA

2 9:30am-Bible Study

3 8:30am--Choir 10:00—Regional ECW Mtg & Brunch

8 pm AA

4 9 am CE 10 am HE

5 10 am SPG 12:30 pm Alanon 8 pm AA

6 10 am DayBreak 5:45—EFM

7

8 12N AA 8 pm AA

9 9:30am-Bible Study

10 8:00am—Men’s Breakfast 9:00am—Choir 9:30am—Ladies’ Breakfast 8 pm AA

11 9 am CE 10 am HE

12 10 am SPG 12:30 pm Alanon 5:30 pm Vestry 8 pm AA

13 10 am DayBreak 5:45—EFM

14 ECW-noon 5:30 pm HE

15 10 am KnitWits 12N AA 8pm AA

16 9:30am-Bible Study NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

17 9:00am—Choir 8 pm AA

18 9 am CE 10 am HE

19 10 Am SPG 12:30 pm Alanon 8 pm AA

20 5:45—EFM

21 5:30 pm HE & Healing

22 8pm AA

23 9:30am-Bible Study

24 9:00am—Choir

10 pm Christmas Eve Holy Eucha-rist

25 10 am-CHRISTMAS DAY—HOLY EUCHARIST

26 10 am SPG 12:30 pm Alanon 8 pm AA

27

28 5:30 pm HE

29 8pm AA

30 9:30am-Bible Study 6:00pm—Social Hour 6:30pm—New Year’s Steak Dinner

31 9:00am—Choir

Page 7 St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011

EFM—Education for Ministry SPG—Serendipity Prayer Group GSA—Girl Scouts of America AA—–-Alcoholics Anonymous HE—–-Holy Eucharist ECW—Episcopal Church Women CE—–-Christian Education

DECEMBER 2011

St. Andrew’s Net for December, 2011 Page 8

MISSION STATEMENT Where We are Called by God ~

t o Worship, to Serve, to Learn... In Community

JESUS CHRIST ~ the Head of the Church

THE RT. REV. EDWARD J. KONIECZNY ~ Bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma

THE REV. PHIL LAWRENCE ~ Vicar of St. Andrew’s

THE REV. MELISSA HARRIS ~ Deacon

FRAN RAHN ~ Parish Secretary

BILLIE KURTZ ~ Organist & Music Director

Office Hours ~ 9am —1 pm, Monday through Friday

Phone ~ 918-786-4113

ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 555 EAST 3rd STREET GROVE, OK 74344

VISITOR’S COPY

From the Parish Register Strengthen, O Lord, your servant Darline with your Holy Spirit; empower her for your service and sus-tain her all the days of her life. Amen. Congratulations to Darlien Campbell who was confirmed under

the seal of Bishop Ed at St. John’s Vinita on November 20, 2011. Lou, may the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you, direct and uphold you in the service of Christ and his kingdom. Amen. Congratulations as well to Lou Campbell who reaffirmed his faith at

St. John’s Vinita on November 20, 2011. May Lorraine’s soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Sarah Lorraine Niehus May 14, 1919 + November 22, 2011