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!

Easter Lillies

If you would like to make donation for lillies as a memorial or gift for the church's Easter celebration, now is the time. Please contact Ken Brodie or Fr. Whit to make your donation and specify who is to be remembered. There will also be a sign-up sheet at the church and an envelope for your contribution.

Thanks for your help in making our church beautiful at Easter!

Holy Week and Easter

Please join us for one or all of the following chances to worship during Holy Week and on Easter:

Palm Sunday:
Holy Eucharist - 9:30 a.m.
Stations of the Cross for Teenagers – 6:30 p.m.

Holy Monday:
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.

Holy Wednesday:
Holy Eucharist – 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 - 4:00 p.m.
This is the Church’s ancient first celebration of Easter and traditionally includes baptism. 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!

Bishop's Visitation

Bishop MacPherson will make his annual visit to St. Andrew's and Church of Redeemer on March 8, 2009. Because he is visiting both churches, we will have a simple early brunch at St. Andrew's beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Following the Eucharist, the Bishop and Fr. Whit will travel to Redeemer for the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist. Redeemer will also host a small reception for the Bishop following their worship.

Members of both churches are encouraged to attend one or both of the events. Stay tuned for more information.

Bishop's Ball

All college, high school and middle school students in the Diocese of Western Louisiana are invited to attend this annual event hosted by the Bishop and his wife, Susan.

This year's event will be held on February 14, Valentine's Day from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Alexandria. Complimentary bus transportation is provided and our bus will leave from Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe at 4:00 p.m. We will return late that evening.

Cost of Admission is 2 canned food items (to be donated to the local food pantry). For more information contact Fr. Whit.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Shrove Tuesday (named for the shriving or confession and absolution of the faithful) is the Church’s name for the day proceeding Ash Wednesday. Most of us in Louisiana know it as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. It is one last day to celebrate before the more penitent days of Lent. On Tuesday, February 24, 2009, St. Andrew’s will host its Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. We’ll have the pancakes, sausages, juice and coffee and ask you to bring your favorite toping or syrup. Join us at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall!

Ash Wednesday Liturgies

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009. St. Andrew’s will have two liturgies that day. The Ash Wednesday Liturgy with Eucharist will be held at Noon and 6:30 p.m. Join us for the imposition of ashes and Eucharist as we begin our Lenten preparation.

A Letter from the Altar Guild Chair

Dear Members and Friends,

As you may or may not know, I have been asked to chair the altar guild of St. Andrew's Church. It is the time of year that we need to make a new schedule of the upcoming year. I would like to ask anyone who would like to serve our Lord and our church in this way to please let me or Fr. Whit know.

I personally have found that serving God in this way is very meaningful and fulfilling, It only takes a small amount of time and effort to serve in this way.

I would also like to ask you all that if you have a special occasion in which you would like to serve on the altar guild or if you would like to provide flowers please contact me and I will be glad to help you.

Ken Brodie

Calendar Now Online

St. Andrew's current calendar of events will now be posted at the bottom of this page.

To add an event to the calendar, just contact Fr. Whit or Ken Brodie.

New Co-Editor

Ken Brodie will also be editing and contributing content to St. Andrew's weblog now. This along with our newsletter improvements should help keep the church informed about upcoming events and news. Look for posts with my name on them and be sure to let me know if you have something to contribute to our blog.

Chistmas Liturgies

Join us at St. Andrew’s and Church of the Redeemer as we celebrate Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Please refer to the list of times below – we are sure you will find these worship services a way to deepen your Christmas celebration.

Christmas Eve Holy Communion at 5:00 p.m. with reception following at Church of the Redeemer, Oak Ridge.

Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at St. Andrew's in Mer Rouge - Hymns begin at 10:45 p.m. and Holy Communion begins at 11:00 p.m.

Christmas Day - Holy Communion at 11:00 a.m. St. Andrew’s in Mer Rouge.

At all the Christmas Eve and Christmas day liturgies the loose offering (along with checks so designated) will go to the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana. The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana has distributed millions pounds of food throughout the twelve parishes in Northeast Louisiana. Please give generously!

Have a very merry Christmas!

Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Schedule

St. Andrew's will offer a wide variety of worship opportunities from Palm Sunday through Holy Week and Easter. Please take note of these liturgies and join us to deepen your Easter worship.

Palm Sunday, March 16:
Holy Eucharist – 9:30 a.m.
Stations of the Cross for Teenagers – 6:30 p.m.
This is something new this year for the youth. It is a Stations of the Cross liturgy geared to the concerns of teenagers.

Holy Monday, March 17:
Evening Prayer – 6:30 p.m.
Begin Holy Week by joining us as we read Evening Prayer, part of the Church’s daily office.

Holy Tuesday, March 18:
Fr. Whit will be away for the Mass of Collegiality at St. Timothy's in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Holy Wednesday, March 19:
Holy Eucharist – 6:00 p.m.
Adult Education – 6:30 p.m.
We continue our study of Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler.

Maundy Thursday, March 20:
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, March 21:
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, March 22:
Community Easter Egg Hunt – 10:00 a.m.
Join us in Oak Ridge behind the Masonic Lodge for the hunt!
The Great Vigil of Easter - 8:00 p.m.
This is the Church’s ancient first celebration of Easter and traditionally included baptism. Come and experience this wonderful liturgy.

Easter Day, March 23:
Easter Day Holy Eucharist – 9:30 a.m.
A wonderful celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Come celebrate with us and sing!

Ash Wednesday Liturgies

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008. St. Andrew’s will have two liturgies that day. The Ash Wednesday Liturgy with Eucharist will be held at Noon and 6:30 p.m. Join us for the imposition of ashes and Eucharist as we begin our Lenten preparation.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Shrove Tuesday (named for the shriving or confession and absolution of the faithful) is the Church’s name for the day proceeding Ash Wednesday. Most of us in Louisiana know it as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. It is one last day to celebrate before the more penitent days of Lent. On Tuesday, February 5, 2008, St. Andrew’s will host its Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. We’ll have the pancakes, sausages, juice and coffee and ask you to bring your favorite toping or syrup. Join us at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall!

Annual Meeting and Brunch

St. Andrew’s Church will hold its Annual Meeting and a Brunch on Sunday, January 20, 2008 following the liturgy. We will elect an new Vestry member, Diocesan Convention Delegates and approve the 2008 Budget. We will also talk about our goals and plans for the year. Please join us!