In Better Hands

The Electronic Communications Ministry
of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church
15050 W. Maple Rd.
Omaha, Nebraska, 68116
Bruce Davis, Editor
Web site: http://www.standrewsomaha.net/
Access the monthly newsletter by this link:
http://www.standrewsomaha.net/downloads/Octprint.pdf
LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE GOD
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This should be a memorable weekend. Ever since Natalie Grant performed at St. Andrews—two years ago next month—I’ve wanted to do something with her songs HELD and IN BETTER HANDS. Heather Doll, Craig Bence and the band have been working with the music for several weeks. I’m playing bass; the songs are powerful enough that I have to remind myself to keep hitting the notes, because I get caught up in the material and just want to listen. I have a message that I hope will do justice to the theme—and to a little guy in an incubator in Texas, whose struggle for life has mightily informed this week’s writing experience. People who have seen the manuscript tell me it’s touched their hearts. I invite you read the 5th chapter of Luke in preparation, verses 17-26, in preparation.

This is our second football season since starting the Saturday evening worship service. Last year, there were a lot of 11:00 and 7:00 Husker games, which was good for us. Due to the recent Thursday evening game against my alma mater (I cheered for Nebraska!), NU has had the past couple of Saturdays off. This week, we run into our second 2:30 kick-off of the season. Ouch. It comes with the territory. We’ll have a fine time on Saturday, trusting in the promise that where two or more or gathered (Iowa State fans, folks like that), the Lord will be there also. The Saturday option was designed to give people maximum flexibility in their weekend worship experience, and it’s worked out pretty well, so far. We’ll hope to see you sometime this weekend. Your presence is always an encouragement.

Chances are, in today’s mail, you’ll be receiving an invitation to THE ACTS 10 GYM. I’m looking forward to rolling out the theme this weekend. We’ll see the first of six short films based on themes found in the 10th Chapter of Acts. Each service will start with our theme song: INVITE, GIVE & PRAY. You’ll recognize the tune; I refashioned the words. You’ve been hearing us say this for a couple of months now: WE WANT TO PUMP YOU UP!
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Nancy Davis chimes in: WE WANT TO PUMP YOU UP with our prayer calendar! One of the calendars will be included this weekend in the worship bulletin. You may have also received one with your newsletter this week. We hope all St. Andrews families will use the calendar every day as a way to remind ourselves of the importance of prayer in our lives. If you have children in your home, they will enjoy counting the various objects called for each day and figuring how much money that would be for their prayer boxes. If you don’t have children, you can certainly use the calendar as a way to consider how fortunate you are and how blessed by God. And we can all remember to say the prayer accompanying each day. You can bring collected coins in each week – there will be a place in the rotunda for you to put them. Remember – Prayer Ultimately Matters – so Pray in your homes during this season of sharing and stewardship.
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The Children’s Department is getting involved with the campaign too! Working with our theme “We want to PUMP you up” the children will make Prayer Boxes and learn that:

Prayer
Ultimately
Matters so
Pray

Families will collect money by following a prayer calendar. All proceeds will go to the Open Door Mission.
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I Thessalonians 3:11-13
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Pray with me, please:

Dear God and Father of us all, direct us as we gather this weekend. Some may be thinking about going in another direction, away from your house. If you’d move their hearts in THIS direction, we’d sure appreciate it. It would be a win/win for everybody! Strengthen the hearts of each person praying this prayer. Pump us up! I ask in the name of the Lord Jesus: increase our love for you and for one another. Amen.

BRD