Rarely in a nation's history does so much happen in one week that is of historic proportions, but that is exactly what happened this past week. There was the move against the Confederate battle flag in South Carolina, the Supreme Court passed the Affordable Care Act and new law allowing same-sex marriage, and most, if not all, news outlets broadcast the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, with the eulogy given by President Obama. These events made history and were simultaneously hailed as historic acts to be celebrated or mourned. So, how do we as people of faith respond to these events? How do we as people who are part of the great family - the body of Christ - continue to worship, serve, praise and love one another if we are on opposite ends of a divisive issue?

   I believe we continue to "Put God's Love in Action" just like our VBS theme taught us to do last week. I don't believe that this is a simplistic answer that works only for children. Instead, it is difficult and messy. It is also the message that we regularly teach our children and youth at St. Andrew and that we're called to put into action in our own lives. Alan is in Lebanon doing this very thing through his work with people who are suffering from compassion fatigue and trauma. Our youth are on a mission trip to Nashville, and our children, youth and adults are all invited to join together in July for two days of relationship building and mission work at the Cumberland Children's Home in Denton. The great Reformed tradition believes that what we do in worship carries out into the world. Let's carry God's love out into the world in the name of Jesus Christ.

   Mission Quest is for ALL AGES this year, and we invite and encourage you to join us. Please bring visitors, who might want to discover more about St. Andrew and our mission efforts. Mission Quest is two nights this year | Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8 pm on July 15 and 16. July 15th will include dinner and games for all ages hosted by Children's Ministry. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. We'll provide hot dogs and drinks. On July 16th, come prepared to work as we do whatever mission activity is needed at the children's home. This could include, but is not limited to, painting, yard work, rebuilding a floor, organizing a pantry, or putting in a new bathroom. We need ALL hands of varying skill levels. Please RSVP to Lou Korom lou@saint-andrew.com so we'll know how many to prepare for and expect. We are transformed through our worship and praise in the sanctuary and are then sent out into the world as disciples, putting God's Love In Action!

Grace and peace,

Lisa Patterson

Becca Lawson Preaching July 12
   Becca Lawson Putman, daughter of Barbara and John Lawson, will preach on Sunday, July 12, 2015. Becca was a member of St. Andrew and under our care for a time as she began this journey, and, of course, she has remained in our prayers and supportive embrace the entire way. Becca has recently had a lot of exciting transitions in her life. She graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary and accepted a call to Northville United Presbyterian Church in Northville, NY, where she will be ordained and installed on August 2. If that isn't enough, she recently married Greg Putnam and they are buying a house in Northville and closing two days before her installation. We're grateful that we will get to hear Becca preach on July 12 and meet Greg!  

Worship & Music Conference at Mo-Ranch

   Seventeen children, youth, and adults attended the Mo/PAM Music & Worship conference at Mo Ranch Presbyterian Assembly in Hunt, Texas, the week of June 14-19 and had a great week.  We sang, rang, drummed, chimed, swam, played, and worshiped in the beautiful hill country of Texas.  The weather was pretty perfect, even though it did rain a little, and the children and youth were able to do all their outside activities.  Our favorite new thing in the conference was the drumming classes, where we learned a little about different kinds of drums and got to hit them for a whole hour as loudly or softly as we chose.  We loved it when the drums were incorporated into the worship service, as they were every day in some way.  The children's and youth's clinicians were excellent, which makes for a really good week, and the worship leader brought us thought-provoking messages each day.  In the evenings we gathered and discussed our lowest and highest points of the day and then went up to bed to get ready for another very busy day.  
   Members who went were Tristan Ball, Rylie Glasschroeder, Macy Garcia, Caroline Konkle, Hanna Haddad, Eta Tako, Trey Phillips, Ross Konkle, Hunter Lewis, and Nsoh-nya Tako.  Adult chaperones were Amy Ball, Marissa Glasschroeder, J and Shannon Konkle, and adults who participated in the conference were Jean Harden, Gayle Strange, and Jannette Hindman. 

Highlights of the June Session Meeting
At the June 17th meeting of the Session they:
*    heard that Brandi was welcomed as a new inquirer and Alan was welcomed as the interim pastor at St. Andrew at the June 7th Presbytery meeting.
*    learned that the Membership Committee will hold a men's cake baking contest after the July 19th worship service.
*    heard that the Mission Committee will help support the cost of Alan's trip to the Near East School of Theology in Lebanon, along with the Presbyterian Outreach Foundation.
*    was told that the Worship and Music Committee plans to hold a "hymn sing along" in conjunction with First Presbyterian and Trinity. This will be a kickoff for a campaign to purchase new hymnals. 

Chancel Flowers for July 19
   There is still time to sign up to give chancel flowers for July 19. Sign up on the roster outside the church office or call Lynn Carrico at 940-387-7088. 

Second Annual Men's Cake Bake
   On Sunday, July 19, in the Narthex following the 10am worship service, all men are encouraged to bring a cake by 9am that morning for judging.  Awards will be given to Best Decorated, Best Tasting, Most Unusual and Grand Prize Winner. 

   After the success and fun of last summer's "coffee hour" after Sunday worship, we will do it again this summer! Each Sunday different groups will provide some treats for you to share. If possible, please use disposable plates/dishes for the treats.  If the plate/dish is not disposable, you may pick it up in the Narthex workroom later, so please make sure your name is on it. Extras will be frozen for later use and not wasted.

July 5 - H  July 12 - I,J,K,L July 19 - M July 26 - N,O,P    August 2 - Q,R

August 9 - S   August 16 - T,U,V  August 23 - W,X,Y,Z     August 31 - Memb. Committee

Help With the Apple Tree Project
   The Community Outreach Committee is sponsoring the Apple Tree Project at Saint Andrew to help needy children be ready for the start of school for 2015-16.  This citywide project coordinated by Interfaith Ministries is a program for the community to help low-income Denton ISD children receive school supplies, shoes, and school clothing for the start of school.  The Apple Tree Project will begin on June 7 and continue through July 19 at Saint Andrew.  You can help in 2 ways: (1) by donating money through your offering directed on your envelope to the Interfaith Ministries Apple Tree Project or (2) by choosing a child's name from the apple tree in the Narthex and buying 2 sets of clothing for him or her. 

Did You Know?
   Rachael Rosenberg is spending 8 weeks this summer in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, as a recipient of the Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program. She leaves from Washington, DC on June 13th and will return August 13th before beginning her junior year at American University in Washington, DC. The CLS program is part of an initiative by the State Department to promote the learning of critical languages by American students while supporting intercultural dialogue and understanding. Rachael will be living with a Russian host family and taking intensive Russian language courses at the intermediate level five days per week at Lobachevsky State University in Nizhny Novgorod with a diverse group of American students.
   Sarah Rosenberg is traveling to Italy and Greece from June 18th to July 6th as part of a People to People delegation. People to People was begun in 1956 by President Eisenhower. His hope was that young people of different countries would meet and get to know each other, fostering lasting peace and making a difference. She is really looking forward to staying a couple of nights with a host family in Crete! Sarah will take part in a service project by planting seeds and plants in a protected natural area. The delegation will also meet with a priest at the Vatican and tour the catacombs of Rome.  It will certainly be an amazing experience!
   Sofie Geday will be leaving for home at the end of June. But before she goes she will visit South Texas and The Grand Canyon. She has had an eventful year here, participating in band and track, as well as a full school load. She will miss her church family and the youth group and will take many new experiences back with her to Denmark. 

Thank You
Dear St. Andrew Staff and Congregation,
   Chuck and I would like to thank you all for your prayers and beautiful plant arrangement you sent to us during his illness.
   Your thoughtfulness and support was and is greatly appreciated.
   Thank you all again.
Liz and Chuck Whitaker

   George has asked me to thank everyone who prayed for him the week of his wrist surgery. He had a procedure to repair a torn ligament. He will recover 80% of his grip-strength and 20% rotation of his left wrist. Thank you and God bless you for your prayers.
Jane Jaegerman

To my church family at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church,
   I can not begin to thank everyone enough for all the love, support and prayers these past seven months. I truly felt the presence of strength, peace and patience on a day-to-day basis.
   My thanks to Leigh Kitchens for brightening Mom's hospital room from flowers from the church service. My thanks to Pat and Lloyd Bennett who befriended Mom when they were in rehab together. And many thanks to Lisa who provided that spiritual touch needed during her stay at the different medial facilities.
   I am truly grateful for my church family. Your kind words, cards and e-mails were appreciated after Mom's passing. Thank you for reaching out to our family in our time of need.
Sincerely,
Robin Hines  

Be a AFS Host Family
   St. Andrew has been approached by AFS to try to find host families for foreign exchange students for the 2015-2016 school year.  The organization provides cultural exchange opportunities for the Denton area communities and the host family along with the visiting student.  The students will be enrolled in Denton area high schools and will be in Denton from August to the end of June. They have their own spending money and have health insurance through AFS.  
   It is not necessary to host the student for an entire year, you may host a semester or even a 6-12 week time period.  It is not necessary to have high school age children in the home in order to be a host.   
   If you might be interested in hosting a student, you can go onto the AFS website ( www.afsusa.org) for additional information about being a host family.  You can also contact the Lewisville-Denton hosting individual Rebecca Cartier at rcartier@afsusa.org or by calling 646-381-3328.