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TOWER NOTES
Well Resumes Today!
A weekly publication of ST. ANDREW’S UMC  Volume XXV  Number 7  February 13, 2018
722 Robinhood Place  San Antonio, Texas 78209  (210) 824-2465  www.saumc.com  standrews@saumc.com

Ash Wednesday Service

Wednesday, February 14th
7 a.m. & 5:30* p.m.
Family oriented service with imposition of ashes
*Nursery provided at 5:30 p.m.

St. Andrew’s Church & School Sunday at St. Andrew’s UMC

will be closed Monday, February 19, 2018. February 18, 2018
Traditional Worship, 9:30 a.m.
FEBRUARY MISSION: FEED A FAMILY Contemporary Service, 11 a.m.
A grocery list has been created that will feed a family 5
meals. The lists are available in the Church Office or in the
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11
Narthex on Sundays. All are encouraged to “Giving Up Control”
bring groceries to church anytime during
the month. Food will be taken to Agape
Ministry on Lanark. Monetary donations are Easter Lilies
also welcome. Lilies can be ordered for $12 in honor or
memory of loved ones for the Sanctuary this
For Lent, various members were asked to respond to prompts that Easter. Pick up a form on Sunday or call 210-
coordinate with the sermon topics. Below is the first of the series. 824-2465. Orders due by February 26th.
Giving Up Control - submitted by Melissa Benson
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Matthew 4:1-11
Wow. Easier said than done. I find myself praying about the big stuff, but not wanting to bother God with the mundane. I convince myself
that it’s okay for me to control the little things that don’t really matter. I’m guessing this is pretty much the argument the serpent gave to
Eve. “You can handle it. You won’t die!” But, we do. I do. Every time I think I am the one in control I die a little to God. Once we begin to
leave God out of our plans, we are placing ourselves above Him -- and we don’t even realize it.
In Luke 9:23 Jesus reminds “…If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
DAILY, it says. But, we have too much at stake to leave things to chance, right? Our relationships, our careers, our children – we need to
make sure things work out the way we think they should. In Genesis, the serpent convinced Eve that she could be all knowing. Why do we
repeatedly, ignorantly, commit the same sin of putting ourselves above God?
Often this happens because we are doing it backwards. Instead of first going to God with our petitions of prayer, we try to order and plan
our lives -- and when things begin to get muddled or confusing we then pray to God for the outcome that we want. We need to live by
faith instead of trying to manipulate God to our desires. Our desire should be Him. He’s got this. God’s got it all. If we can fully surrender
to God daily, giving Him the big and the little, we can be set free of the burdens we impose upon ourselves.
The good news is that Jesus died for our sins. And, Jesus knows what we are going through. He too was walked through temptation, so
we can turn to Him for help. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need
and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will
guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Who doesn’t want peace?
Tenth Avenue North has a song titled “Control”. If you have the opportunity, listen to the words. It starts as sort of a confession, “Here I
am. All my intentions. All my obsessions. I want to lay them all down.” The chorus goes on with, “God you don’t need me but somehow
you want me, oh how you love me, somehow that frees me to take my hands off of my life and the way it should go.” It closes with, “the
King of Heaven wants me, so this world has lost its grip on me.”
This world does have a grip on us, and the sooner we submit ourselves to God and His plans, the sooner we find peace. Ironically in giving
up control, the one thing we need to remain in control of is our choice – to continually, consciously, and intentionally give up control to
God; every day, in everything. We’ve got to surrender the big, the little, and everything in between. It’s pretty much what we say in the
Lord’s prayer. Let us never get too busy or so consumed with this earthly life to forget what it means:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory. Forever. Amen.
 
Please pray for: The family of Phil Goeken
Birthdays Eleanor Carnes Brandon & Derrick Miller Baby Iris
Here are birthdays for February 15th-21st. John Graham Faith Lytle Paula Graf
If we missed any, let us know!  Emily B. Meecia Little Mike Rogan
 Ashley Roper Carrie Dyer Judy Hagen
15 – Paul Rohlfs, Jr.
Betty Cummings Lindsay Cummings Billy Bass
Larkin Rohlfs 18 – Ashley Blake
Lauren Pavelka Lisa Whitlock Victor Manes
16 – Kathryn Corrigan Robert Scott
Margaret Bass Baby Emmy Melanie
17 – Heidi Barker 19 – Harper Daetwyler
William Bragg Myra Fischer Patsy Scott
Landry Crowell Rosie Picon
k Jennifer Bragg Lyn Selig Tina Smith
Bradley Miller 20 – Kathryn Benson
Jeff Campbell Elenor Phelps Jeff Hetrick
Polly Talley Arianna Douglas
Patricia Sammis Jessie Guerra Bob Lovelace
21 – Nathan Benson
Mona Fizzuoglio Willowdeen Rossner Finn Herrmann
Trey Cunningham
Jerry Springer All military and their families.

“Open the Windows” Home Meetings

Sanctuary Cleaning If you haven’tgyet
in heard
your about the proposed capital improvements for St. Andrew’s,
Preparation for Easter you are invited to
prayers: come to one of the home meetings scheduled below. Call the
Church Office to R.S.V.P. for the date and location that works for you.
has begun! th
 February 19 , 6-7 p.m. at 238 Rockhill, hosted by the Haynes
st
 February 21 , 6-7 p.m. at 2 Osborn Hill, hosted by the Marshalls
Please help if you are able, to do th
 February 26 , 6-7 p.m. at 142 Cave Lane, hosted by the Swaneys
some extra “attention to detail” th
 February 28 , 6-7 p.m. at 326 Tophill, hosted by the Kirks
cleaning in the Sanctuary. th
 March 5 , 6-7 p.m. at 429 College Blvd., hosted by the Boyntons
This work party will be held on: th
 March 7 , 6-7 p.m. at 246 Hillview Dr., hosted by the Blakes
February 24th
th
 March 12 , 6-7 p.m. at 200 Wood Shadow St., hosted by the Bensons
th
 March 14 , 6-7 p.m. at 132 E. Oakview Place, hosted by the Rohlfs
9 a.m.-12 p.m. th
 March 19 , 6-7 p.m. at 3 Osborn Hill, hosted by the Schupbachs
St. Andrew’s Sanctuary Town Hall Meetings presenting the same information will be held at St. Andrew’s
th th
on Sundays, March 18 & 25 from 12-1 p.m. if weekends are 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