GO DEEP and Go Wide

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7

STORIES OF INSPIRATION

This summer, we’re highlighting several parishioners who are striving to live out a deeper relationship with God and sharing that relationship with the wider community through time and talent (spiritual gifts).

Get Inspired

PLEDGE TO SERVE

Let us know where you or your family currently serve or plan to serve at church or in the community.

I Plan to Serve By...

SERVE THE CHURCH OR COMMUNITY

There are numerous ways you can volunteer and share your gifts with others at St. Andrew’s or with our community partnerships.

Find a Place to Serve

What is Go Deep and Go Wide?

In January, Father John delivered the State of the Parish address. In that message, he challenged the parish to go deep and go wide in journey, in mission, and in pilgrimage with Christ.

Over the next several months, we invite you to embark upon your own journey to be closer to the Church and Christ. You can take part or expand upon your participation in the many service opportunities the church offers or are available in the community.

No matter what you choose to do, we ask that you prayerfully consider to go deep and go wide in your mission to better the community around us.

I Plan to Serve By...

Stories of Inspiration

Dorothy and Bill Curry

How did you choose St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church?

Both: 36 years ago Bill and I came to STA. At that time we were accustomed to the Presbyterian denomination. We still are called friend by that longtime church home, but it was time to move forward. Visiting many churches, with our then strongest focus on the sermon in tact, thanks to the Holy Spirit St. Andrew’s became our choice.

What kept you?

Dorothy: It is the varied and dear parish family. It’s the liturgy and all its beauty and purposes, beside the sermons It’s the parish, reaching out to learn about and love the world. It’s the fun of discovering and learning together. I was with a group of women who were speaking of their church’s benefits. They asked me, “What about St. Andrew’s?” Took me a short minute to sincerely say, “STA would breathe for me if I needed that”.

Donna Adam and Joy Bower

The Fabric of Life is a quilting Ministry that is very near and dear to your hearts. How and why did it start?

Both: When Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, our Choir Director at the time, Dr. Sharon Hettinger, had family, friends and colleagues that were impacted (as we all did). We were able to make 100 quilts and they were distributed by contacts that Sharon had. The Fabric of Life Ministry was formed.

Next came the Joplin Tornado. We made over 30 quilts and we walked with Fr. Frank in the FEMA park and we went from trailer to trailer handing the quilts and Target gift cards out. At one stop we met a mom and we were talking with her and out from behind mom was a little girl about 4 yrs old and she said can I have one too? Boy did we run to that car and get another quilt. It is about the quilt but it is also what the quilt represents, a HUG.

Gina Heise

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians 2:7: Let your roots grow down unto him and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow stronger in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. What does that mean to you?

Gina: This scripture verse encapsulates the journey I have been on at St. Andrew’s. My faith has grown deeper as I have given myself more time to learn through participating in the Discovery Class and attending Thursday Trailside when possible, spending more time reading scripture, and integrating myself in the St. Andrew’s community through worship and service. By giving me the room to dive into community here at St. Andrew’s, I am putting in deep roots. As a tree grows, its roots develop, and the deeper the roots, the greater its ability to hold on through all the seasons. Trees also grow toward the light and Jesus is the light of the world. If we grow toward Him, we are better able to hold on through whatever comes our way.

Benton Glaze and Ben Wake

How has your journey with Christ evolved from where you were as a small child growing up at STA as opposed to an adult choosing STA?

Benton: My faith journey has definitely evolved. Growing up at STA or any church leads itself to almost a default belief in christianity. A faith or belief untested is a belief that cannot stand up to testing. Life is a long series of being tested. The 6 years I was gone I now realize how much I missed STA and the purpose.

Ben: I think back to Sunday school here at STA and how you grow up. I loved the history part of the church. As you grade up in Sunday school you learn more and “things” make more sense. Honestly, COVID is what really got me more involved, because I worked at home 8-5. The services and the prayers online helped keep me connected. By listening in the digital means, I found myself craving to be in person once we got back. One vivid memory are acolytes on St. Andrew’s Sunday and leading the bagpipers in with the acolytes, it is just awesome. Helping with the acolytes was such a natural fit.

Karen and Craig Lundgren

When someone has a doubt regarding how they can help, I think the village is a place where someone can be part of it to help. It would be hard work for one person by themselves, we all need one another. Do either one of you feel you have been healed, been renewed, or changed your life for the better?

Karen: Yes, when I see a need, and if I help, it makes me feel that I am worthy.

Craig: St. Andrew’s has changed my life for the better. I think this gets back to Stewardship. I have been thinking about this, as to why we ended up at STA. Stewardship is more than just tithing, more than just time and talent. It is about, for me, being responsible managers and respectful of the resources God has entrusted to us.

Susan Paynter and Meg Townsend

Do you ever have doubts about what you as one person can do to make an impact on the world?

Susan: I know I can’t fix the world, but I also know that any step I take can help make the world just a little better.

Meg: I feel it must be okay, even if I’m only impacting a few lives in small ways. I believe human beings belong to each other, and that keeps me moving forward.

Kim James and Cathy Vozzella

Do you ever have doubts that livestreaming is as impactful as in-person worship?

Cathy: … For me, livestreaming is not the same as being in person, but I think the livestream is very important to reach people when circumstances make it so they are unable to attend in person or to give people the opportunity to see what St. Andrew’s is offering when looking for a church home.

Kim: One year during the Easter service, the Messiah was being sung and it was amazing (the best I had ever heard), and if we were not livestreaming there would have been many people that would not have heard that service. We now have people online that are part of a community for one another. People that maybe live close, but for health reasons cannot attend, and people that live in the middle of Kansas and are not going to drive four hours for an in-person service…

Serve at Church or in the Community!

There are numerous ways you can volunteer and share your gifts with others. You can take the path of serving the world by greeting people on Sunday mornings at church, reading with students at Gordon Parks Elementary, making lattes at HJ’s Youth and Community Center, or help a local not-for-profit.

Serve at Church

Serve Our Community Partnerships

I Plan to Serve By...