News
Live Stream of Sunday 10 a.m. Service March 29, 2020
Member Dick Lewellen Shares Bible Passages To Encourage Us In Difficult Times
Live Stream of Sunday 10 a.m. Service March 22, 2020
A Message from Senior Warden Barbara Richardson
Find St. Andrew's LIVE on Facebook Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
March 16, 2020
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
We are committed to your spiritual well being and pastoral needs during this uncertain time.
Although we can’t worship as a family in person, we do have the option to worship together virtually!
St. Andrew’s will broadcast its 10:00 a.m. Sunday service LIVE on Facebook Live.
To tune in, you simply need to log on to Facebook (if you have an account), and visit St. Andrew’s Facebook page. You will see a post that says St. Andrew’s is “Live.” Click this post and watch!
Once the service is completed, the video is saved to our Facebook page and will also be posted, along with the Sunday bulletin, on the Parish News page of St. Andrew’s website: www.standrewslwb.com/news.
For those without a Facebook account or access to a computer or mobile device, we are happy to mail you a copy of the bulletin. If you would like to create a Facebook account for yourself, you can follow these four easy steps here.
Again, the church office will remain open until further notice. If you need to speak with staff, please call the office at 561-582-6609 or email standrewslwb@gmail.com rather than visiting in person.
Please hold our church family and our community in your prayers and know that the transforming love of Jesus is alive and well. Our love for Him and one another will bind us together and guide us through this time of crisis. As always, with faith, hope and love, together we shall see one another through this challenging time.
Blessings to You and Yours,
Barbara R. Richardson, Senior Warden
What is PEACE?
March 2020
PEACE is an organization made up of 19 congregations from around Palm Beach County that have come together to address the injustices in our community. We are diverse in race, religion, geography and socio-economic status; however, our strength comes from our unity and commitment to stand together to make real changes happen in our community.
PEACE is not based on one religious belief or affiliated with one denomination or ministry. Our work is primarily focused on local (county & city) work and while we deal with the criminal justice system occasionally our work is not solely focused on the Justice system of courts and jails.
Our vision comes from Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” We want justice to be just as central to our congregations as mercy and faithfulness. We define doing “justice” as changing the systems that create the need for charity or mercy works. For example, PEACE focused on bringing jobs to the Glades so that there would be fewer children going to be bed hungry in our community. By changing the economic system, we can stop people from ever needing to access charity. We respect the vital role charity and mercy works play in our community but our goal is to be able to create such a just society that there is no need for food pantries, homeless shelters, etc.
What has PEACE Won?
In the years since St. Andrews has been part of PEACE, we have won the following:
- A 60% reduction in out-of-school suspensions
- A Wage Theft program that has recovered over $1.2 million for more than 1200 victims
- A Glades Hiring Incentive Program that has provided 100s of local jobs for Glades’ residents
- $2.4 million to go towards building affordable housing
- Preventing the arrest of over 23,000 children state-wide through mandatory Juvenile Civil Citations
- Getting the Sheriff to accept Consular IDs and saving over 500 people from an unnecessary arrest
What is PEACE currently working on?
Homelessness: We have a homelessness crisis and the fastest increasing populations are children and the elderly, this includes
- A 91 year-old woman just showed up at the Lewis Center, she had outlived her savings and had been on the streets for 3 weeks sleeping between a dumpster and a building, hiding for protection
- A 63 year-old woman sleeping under the tree across from “Farmer Girl” restaurant. She lost everything after her husband’s slow death from cancer ate though their savings. She does clean-up work at construction sites to get enough money to eat
- A mother of 4 was just turned away from the Lewis Center because her and her children have a car to sleep in so they aren’t homeless enough to qualify for the limited services the county does offer
Community IDs: Everybody deserves the dignity an ID provides, without an ID you cannot access basic services and can face an arrest, called a custodial arrest, just to prove who you are. Those in need of an ID include:
- An undocumented man with diabetes. He can pay for Insulin but without an ID no hospital will see him and give him the prescription and without an ID he can’t pick up medication anyways
- An undocumented mom who didn’t have an ID so was too scared to register her children for school
- A homeless man who didn’t have an ID so couldn’t access his owed benefits
Police-Community Relations: Far too many of our African-American and Hispanic neighbors live in fear of the police due to their experiences and stories with Police unfairly stopping them for minor or no reasons. This includes:
- A Puerto-Rican who was driving to work on Indiantown Rd when 2 police cars stopped her. After running her license, she asked why they stopped her. One officer replied, with cars going by in the background, we are stopping all cars on Indiantown today. The officers then let her go without a warning or ticket.
- An African-American pastor was leaving church late following an event at the church. An officer pulled him over as he was leaving the parking lot and asked him what he was doing in this area so late at night. The officer threatened to search his car. He explained that he was the pastor and locking up the church. The officer then let him go.
Upcoming Events:
Rally – March 9th at 7:00 at St. Juliana Catholic Church
Action – March 30th at 7:00 at the South Florida Fairgrounds
We invite all of you to join us and stand with hundreds of your brothers and sisters to address these serious problems in our community.
MEET THE NEW VESTRY MEMBERS
February 2020
Edward Z (Peter) Wronsky, Jr.
Peter and his spouse Roy Bartolomei moved to Florida from New York in 2001 and joined St. Andrew's in 2007. He served on the Vestry from 2011 to 2014. An architect, Peter designed homes and retirement communities. His current practice, based in Lake Worth Beach, focuses on home renovations in the West Palm Beach area. Peter is the Secretary of the Board of Directors/Operating Committee of St. Andrew's and St. James' Residences in West Palm, and active in his homeowner's association. Peter is committed to St. Andrew's community involvement and its dedication to providing a church home where all are truly welcome.
Jean Howard
Jean and her husband Willie have been attending St. Andrew's for five years. They previously worshipped at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church. Jean brings eight years of experience leading Education for Ministry (EFM) classes to our church. She also demonstrates her commitment to opposing gun violence through photography. A documentary photographer and arts integration teacher, Jean earned a Master's degree in photojournalism from Ohio University. She brings a deep faith and an affinity for thoughtful listening and discernment to the Vestry.
Mary Beth LaBrecque
A chance meeting with Father Paul Rasmus about 5 years ago introduced Beth to the caring community of St. Andrew's. Their support was invaluable following the loss of her spouse. An artist by avocation and a commercial artist by profession, Beth earned a Master's degree in art from Notre Dame University. She was also a pastor's wife for many years in another denomination and taught art courses as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College. Beth's skills in public relations, advertising and electronic and print media will benefit the church.
Elizabeth Bragel (Libby) Bukley
The newest member of our Vestry, Libby has a long and happy history at St. Andrew's. Born and raised in South Florida, she spent the majority of her youth at St. Andrew's, including six years of camps at Kanuga. Baptized here in 1988 and confirmed in 1998, she served as an acolyte through high school. Recently recruited to the choir by her Dad, Ron, she is happy to be involved again at St. Andrew's and looks forward to using her network of family and friends with connections in local high schools to stimulate interest in St. Andrew's youth program. Libby is an employee of AV-Worx, resides on Singer Island and enjoys the beach and Florida living.
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
January 2020
Did you ever wonder how the candles were always burning for every service? Who makes sure there is water in the water cooler? Aside from those tasks, Lee E. Powers also changes the altar linens, places the flowers on the altar and oversees the maintenance and security of our facility? Lee Powers does these things among the many other tasks he undertakes each day. Lee has served as an acolyte for 39 years. That is correct—not a “typo”! He was chosen St. Andrew’s Acolyte of the Year for 2017 in recognition of this amazing record of service.
Lee was baptized here in January of 1968 and has continued active membership in St. Andrew’s since that time. He and came to work full-time as sexton at St. Andrew’s in Lake Worth Beach in April of 2008.
Aside from the many daily tasks which he accomplishes, Lee also serves as a valuable institutional memory. He has an uncanny memory for the rituals, routines, supplies, equipment and service providers for all that goes on at St. Andrew’s. He will identify a key to any door without hesitation.
A resident of Lake Worth Beach for 34 years, he moved to Hypoluxo in 2002. A graduate of South Grade Elementary School, Lake Worth Junior High and Lake Worth High Schools, he is also employed as a package handler at the UPS facility in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Lee and his brother were raised by his mother as a single parent from the age of three years. He recognized his mother and maternal grandparents by donating the beveled glass door leading from the Rector’s office to the Memorial Garden in their memory. An invaluable asset to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Lee sets a fine example of dedication and commitment to our church and church family.
November 1, 2019
Dear Family of St. Andrew's,
The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. As we come to the close of this liturgical year, we find ourselves in a time of thanksgiving and reflection of God's blessings in our lives, both personally and as a church family. As Episcopalians, we are a people accustomed to giving thanks as a community which finds deepest meaning in the Eucharist, our Great Thanksgiving. The Eucharist is central to our faith and our lives, and we believe that the Bible is the word of God, and we are people of the Word. As "the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement", as Presiding Bishop Michael Curry often describes us, we must decide what that means and what we believe we are called to do. We spend our lives discerning the answer to this question for each of us and determining our unique personal response to God's call.
We are now preparing to discern how God is calling St. Andrew's to move in mission and ministry in our community and beyond in 2020. God continues to call us to touch more lives with Christ's love to further establish His Kingdom through our faithful response to His call. Jesus calls us to take the long view, to trust in God's righteousness and rest in His care. We are reminded of this in the tenth chapter of Mark's Gospel: "Jesus, looking at the man, loved him and said, you lack one thing; go, sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
All that we have accomplished at St. Andrew's is but a fraction of what we could accomplish with Jesus' call to us in mind: "But seek first God's kingdom and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Your prayerful consideration of your pledge for 2020 will absolutely make a difference in the change that we at St. Andrew's will make in the lives we touch. The degree to which we consecrate our time, talent and treasure in the coming year will demonstrate how we have heard His words.
Blessing on you and yours,
Barbara S. Richardson, Senior Warden
P.S. Please complete your pledge card and submit it by mail or at the service you attend by December 1st.
On Saturday, November 9, 2019, St. Andrew's threw a fabulous Bahamian BBQ to raise money for the Bishop's Appeal towards hurricane relief for the Bahamas after hurricane Dorian.
Genuine Bahamian recipes, an open bar, entertainment and great conversation made for a wonderful event and almost $1000 was raised for this great cause.
What St. Andrew's Means to Me
by Jim Winters
Jim Winters
When I was asked to write about what St. Andrew's means to me for the monthly newsletter. I had only one request - that it would be for the November newsletter. There are probably thousands of reasons why I would choose November, but I am reminded that about 7 years ago, Fr. Paul asked me to speak to the congregation on a Sunday in November, right around Veterans Day, about what St. Andrews means to me. The theme I spoke about then was my life in the Marine Corps, having recently returned from a difficult deployment early that year. When I joined the Corps,I learned that I would live by and train to was a belief in "God, Country, and Corps" - The Marine Corps.
It is easy to see why I choose the month of November; most people will say it is because the Marine Corps' birthday is celebrated on November 10th every year. That explains the "Corps" portion of "God, Country, and Corps". The "Country" part is also easy, as Veteran's Day is celebrated on November 11th every year, accounting for the "Country" in "God, Country, and Corps". St. Andrew's has been more than supportive of my Marine Corps career and I am forever grateful for the prayers and blessings from my St. Andrew's family during my two deployments to Afghanistan. I was gratified that the church was there for Cindy and our son William in my absence. I am also extremely honored to be surrounded by so many veterans at St. Andrew's and appreciate the recognition given them for their service to and sacrifices made for our Country.
Then the questionremains: " Jim, how does God fit into your November request?" Well, that one is pretty simple for me also, but might not be as obvious as a national holiday or as a grand military tradition. To me, it is so much more than that. My wife’s birthday is November 9th. Cindy is, and has always been, there for me in good times, bad times and hard times. No matter what I have thrown her way she has always been there for me.
The God in "God, Country, and Corps" to me has always been “Family”- The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost. My wife, my children, my sisters, my parents, all my friends, my Brothers in Arms and all my brothers and sisters in Christ are all family. We are all God’s children and we belong to one Family.
What does St. Andrews mean to me? It means Family, I know my family at St Andrews will always be there with me in times of celebrations and will be there with me in my darkest hours to light the path. We will be there for each other and for whoever walks through our doors or into our lives. All are welcomed. Amen
Integrity Palm Beach Trip to Ancient Spanish Monastery
May, 2019
In May 2019, more than 60 parishioners joined members of Integrity Palm Beach on a coach ride to North Miami for a guided tour of the reconstructed ancient Spanish Monastery, St. Bernard de Clairvaux. Originally constructed between 1133-1141 A.D. in Sacremenia, near Segovia, in northern Spain, this Cistercian monastery remained active until the 1830s, when revolutions closed its doors to religious life. In 1925, William Randolph Hearst purchased the Cloisters and the Monastery's outbuildings. The structures were dismantled stone by stone, bound with protective hay, packed in more than 11,000 wooden crates, numbered for identification and shipped to the United States. Reconstructed and given to the Episcopal Church in the 1960s by Colonel Robert Pentland, Jr., the parish Church of St. Bernard de Clairvaus is again and active and growing congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida.
Participants enjoyed the a box lunch picnic, toured the parish grounds and even enjoyed a magnificent organ recital! Enjoy these photos from that wonderful day of fun and fellowship.
