We have a new interim  Priest-in-Charge!

The Vestry of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is happy to announce the acceptance of our call of: The Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Schmitt as our new Interim Priest-in-Charge.  Fr. Schmitt will begin his commitment on Friday, July 24.  He will be in residence at the rectory from Friday through Monday each week.  Fr. Schmitt will also serve as the interim Priest-in-Charge for the Church of the Redeemer. Below is a brief bio of Fr. Schmitt. Please welcome him into our community!

The Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Schmitt was born in rural Pennsylvania and raised in the small town of Bath, New York. He comes from a family of avid readers and writers.  Dr. Geoff has been an Episcopal priest for over 35 years and served churches across the country from New England to Arizona, Florida, and Louisiana. Most recently he has served in Lutheran congregations. He is a student of Personality Type and his dissertation is Personality Type as a Road Map to Spirituality. Dr. Geoff has written many songs and poems as well as books, on marriage, and relationships. He is now retired from active ministry and devoting more time to writing. He lives with his wife, Brenda, their parrots and Papillon (dog) outside of Shreveport La. His hobbies include, playing several instruments, chess, origami and travel.

It is now time to honor or remember your friends and family with an Easter Lilly for the service on Easter Sunday.

Pelican Anglican: Playful God, Playful Church

Pelican Anglican: Playful God, Playful Church: Click Here for the Audio See if you can remember when and where you first heard these phrases:  “Ready or not, here I come.” “You’re...

We shall be updating our blog very soon. Please check back with us soon!

Good Friday - 2010

Why do Christians call this day “Good?” How can the day that Jesus died be considered good?

The answer lies in the Good that comes from this day. From this day come Easter and the resurrection! From this day come forgiveness and life everlasting!

As God always does, God draws good from this day. God draws good from whatever ever happens. Perhaps from the worst of all events, God draws the very best.

One of things we often hear said, when something bad happens, is that God caused the bad to teach us something. I don’t believe that for a minute! God does not cause bad things to happen – ever! But, as a result of freedom and our bad choices or the bad choices of others, bad things do happen. We see this truth in the world around us.

Yet, God uses all things for good – even the bad things that happen in each and every life. God draws good from all things. God brings life from death. When we look at our lives, often, the bad events find special meaning because of the good that eventually comes.

This good may not be apparent at first. It may even take years to find, but we usually find it. God takes whatever happens and offers good. Our lives are transformed again and again by this truth and the good that God brings.

Why do we call this day Good? Because God drew from this day, through Jesus death, all the good that we celebrate on Easter Day. God brings forgiveness of sin, and life from death from the events of this day.

We call it good because looking back, we can see what God did with the evil that happened this day and how God transformed it.

We can see how God’s love shown to us in Jesus has the power to change the worst things that happen into the best. We see how God changes the sorrow of this day into gladness. We see how God brings life from death. Amen.

Holy Week and Easter 2010

St. Andrew's and Church of the Redeemer will have a very active Holy Week. This is fitting since it is the climax of the Church's year. Our schedule is as follows:

Palm Sunday:

Holy Eucharist at Oak Woods – 1:00 p.m.
FUEL at St. Andrew’s – 4:00 p.m.

Holy Monday:
Fr. Whit - Holy Week Lunch – 12:00 Noon - First United Methodist Church, Bastrop
Evening Prayer – 6:30 p.m. - Begin Holy Week by joining us as we read Evening Prayer.

Holy Tuesday:
Fr. Whit will be away for the Mass of Collegiality at St. James’ in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Evening Prayer – 6:30 p.m.

Holy Wednesday:
Holy Eucharist – 6:00 p.m.
Adult Education Class – 6:30 p.m.

Maundy Thursday:
Holy Eucharist and Foot Washing – 6:30 p.m. - The Maundy Thursday Liturgy is a beautiful service that includes foot washing. We learn about servant-hood.

Good Friday:
Good Friday Liturgy – Noon - The Good Friday Liturgy remembers the death of our Lord.
Stations of the Cross – 6:30 p.m. - This is a moving service of prayer, reflection and contemplation.

Holy Saturday:
Community Egg Hunt – 10:00 a.m. - Join us in Oak Ridge behind the Masonic Lodge for the hunt!
The Great Vigil of Easter - 7:30 p.m. - This is the Church’s ancient first celebration of Easter. Come and experience this wonderful liturgy.

Easter Day:
Easter Day Holy Eucharist – 9:30 a.m. - A wonderful celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Come celebrate with us!

Please join us and bring a friend!