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TOWER NOTES
Well Resumes Today!
A weekly publication of ST. ANDREW’S UMC  Volume XXV  Number 8  February 20, 2018
722 Robinhood Place  San Antonio, Texas 78209  (210) 824-2465  www.saumc.com  standrews@saumc.com

SHOPPING LIST
FEED A FAMILY
CANNED TUNA PEANUT BUTTER
is February Mission  TUNA HELPER SPAGHETTI
Here is the grocery list intended to feed a family 5
CANNED FRUIT CANNED SPAGHETTI SAUCE
meals. Please bring groceries to church before the end
of the month. The food will be taken to Agape Ministry FAMILY SIZE SOUP BAG OF BEANS
on Lanark. Monetary donations are also welcome. CRACKERS FAMILY SIZE MAC & CHEESE

Sanctuary Cleaning Sunday at St. Andrew’s UMC

February 24th, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. February 25, 2018
Traditional Worship, 9:30 a.m.
Easter Lily Orders Due 2/26 Contemporary Service, 11 a.m.
Lilies can be ordered for $12 in honor or memory of Genesis 12:1-4a; John 3:1-17
loved ones for the Sanctuary this Easter. Fill out a form
on Sunday or call 210-824-2465. “Giving Up Expectations”
For Lent, various members were asked to provide a personal reflection of the sermon topics. Below is the next of the series.
Giving Up Expectations - submitted by Elizabeth Eades
Genesis 12:1-4a; John 3:1-17
In my 20s, I lived in a Houston duplex with three other girls. We were all working and seeking God, single and hoping to someday
meet our loves. Because our parents had all gotten married right out of college, we were navigating a new path. We didn’t have many
immediate role models for living godly single lives, for forging a career rather than staying home to take care of children. Were we doing
this right? What were our lives supposed to look like?
One morning I sat in my red quiet time chair reading about God’s call to Abram in Genesis. I was struck by Abram’s quick obedience to
follow God on this long journey. God said to him, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will
show you” (Genesis 12:1). God promises Abram blessings; He promises to make his name great, to make him into a great nation, and to
bless all the peoples on earth through him. The next verse says, “So Abram left, as the Lord told him” (Gen. 12:4a). Abram didn’t ask a
bunch of questions first. He didn’t stall or justify or whine or cower. Abram just did as God asked without knowing the full picture ahead
of him.
I remember that morning in Houston looking at a map to trace where exactly God was asking Abram to go—it was far! A huge journey
with no airplane to whisk Abram to this new land. God was asking Abram to leave everything he knew, to blindly follow on new terrain
through possibly dangerous territories. How long would this take on foot? As I stewed over this question, I heard a voice in my head, a
thought from the Holy Spirit that said, “Time does not diminish the promise or the blessing.” I said it out loud. I wrote it down: Time does
not diminish the promise or the blessing. It didn’t matter how long it took; God had promised Abram a blessing. Time wasn’t a factor.
I seem to forget this lesson over and over. When I wanted to attend graduate school in my 40s, I felt foolish because of my age. Even
though God had provided in every way for this long-held dream to come true, I struggled with thinking I was too old. But God whispered
back at me, “You are eternal.” Our worldly attachments cause us to think in terms of efficient time and chronological order. Meanwhile,
Abram took the long way; in fact, my Bible’s notes say his indirect route to Canaan followed the rivers, rather than trudging through the
desert. What a beautiful picture of God leading Abram by still waters, even if this refreshment takes longer. Our worldly attachments
also make us seek instant gratification—the press of a button on Amazon brings delights to our doorsteps! But Abram took the long way.
God is outside of our version of time. He created our days, our sunrise and sunset, but he is above time. “As the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
We expect our circumstances to align with what we’ve seen from an earthly perspective, but how exciting that God is beyond our
wildest dreams. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, … to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations” (Ephesians 3: 20-21). Thank you, Lord, that your promises and blessings are beyond time. Thank
you that your vision sees beyond our limited view. Help us walk the long paths you have charted for us, even if we can’t see what this
path looks like.
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Please pray for: Chilton Maverick Lyn Selig
Birthdays Eleanor Carnes Brandon & Derrick Miller Baby Iris
John Graham Faith Lytle Paula Graf
Here are birthdays for February 22nd-28th.
Emily B. Meecia Little Mike Rogan
If we missed any, let us know! Ashley Roper Carrie Dyer Judy Hagen
22 – Deborah Cabaza Betty Cummings Lindsay Cummings Billy Bass
Lanelle Murphy Lauren Pavelka Lisa Whitlock Victor Manes
Margaret Bass Baby Emmy Melanie
23 – Kay Osborn
William Bragg Myra Fischer Patsy Scott
k 25 – Catey Perkins Jennifer Bragg Elenor Phelps Tina Smith
27 – Sabrina Adam Jeff Campbell Jessie Guerra Jeff Hetrick
Michael Crocker Patricia Sammis Willowdeen Rossner Bob Lovelace
Mona Fizzuoglio All military and their families. Jerry Springer

“Open the Windows” Home Meetings

Don’t forget to RSVP for a home meeting to learngabout the proposed
in your
capital improvements for St. Andrew’s. All are welcome. Call the Church
St. Andrew's Library
prayers:
Office to R.S.V.P. for the date and location that works for you. Work is currently being done to clean
st
 February 21 , 6-7 p.m., 2 Osborn Hill, hosted by the Marshalls and organize the church library. If you
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 February 26 , 6-7 p.m., 142 Cave Lane, hosted by the Swaneys
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 February 28 , 6-7 p.m., 326 Tophill, hosted by the Kirks
have any personal treasures being stored
th
 March 5 , 6-7 p.m., 429 College Blvd., hosted by the Boyntons there, please make an effort to come and
th
 March 7 , 6-7 p.m., 246 Hillview Dr., hosted by the Blakes retrieve any items that may be important
th
 March 12 , 6-7 p.m., 200 Wood Shadow St., hosted by the Bensons to you. Stop in the Church Office before
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 March 14 , 6-7 p.m., 132 E. Oakview Place, hosted by the Rohlfs the end of the month and they can direct
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 March 19 , 6-7 p.m., 3 Osborn Hill, hosted by the Schupbachs
Town Hall Meetings presenting the same information will be held at St.
you to where articles have been placed
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Andrew’s on Sundays, March 18 & 25 from 12-1 p.m. if weekends are for safe keeping during this process.
better for you.

The mission of St. Andrew’s is to: Scan to Give

GLORIFY God through meaningful, Scan this QR code with your smart phone
engaging, and vibrant worship, and instantly connect to St. Andrew’s
intentionally seek to GROW in faith, and donation page. It can be used for a one
GO into the world as the hands of God. time gift or to set up a regular giving plan.

To submit information for this newsletter, place items in the “Tower Notes” mailbox in the Church Office,
or email submissions to mbenson@saumc.com. Deadline for the week is noon on Mondays.

ST. ANDREW’S UMC

722 Robinhood Place
San Antonio, Texas 78209
(210) 824-2465
www.saumc.com
standrews@saumc.com