St Andrew's Parish

Warden’s Letter, February 2011

lynn — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:15:16 +0000

From the Desk of the Warden

My dearest brothers and sisters in Christ,

It has been a very interesting year here at the spiritual oasis of University Heights. We have had members come and go; we’ve had weddings, funerals, baptisms and the beginning of our centering prayer group. So all in all it has been a pretty good year for us.
Personally I had an interesting year dealing with the trauma of a home fire and beginning anew, but with the help and encouragement of the St. Andrews family and the diocese as a whole, I came through it with a new look at life and a greater belief in the power of prayer. I wish to personally thank each and every one of you for your prayers, financial donations and help in the actual move to my new home at the Hotel Lenox.
St. Andrews has gone through some changes also throughout the year. During 2010 we officially were given the designation of having national historic status, which is quite a wonderful achievement. Having this status will open up more avenues for more grant monies to help us fix up and transform St. Andrews, the building, and bring us into the future. The future of St. Andrews is still in our hands, what do we feeling is the best use for the building and the future of our congregation. We cannot stay in a dormant state of the same old, for that will lead us to closing the doors permanently. We must discern the path that St. Andrews must take to keep the building and congregation vital, if we do not we are just going to keep spinning our tires and not move each in our journey.
My hope for St. Andrews the congregation and building is for forward thinking movement. Our thoughts need to be local global thinking, of greener times and prayer for the world and community as a whole. We need to open our doors and ourselves to new ideas and new thoughts if we want to stay in the building we have come to cherish so as our place of worship. I feel we can do that and our journey has just begun, I hope I am not proven wrong.
I wish each and every one of you a wonderful and peaceful Christmas season and I hope your lives grow and flourish in the New Year. God bless each and every one of you.

Yours always in the Service of Christ,

Michael Maciejewski
Warden

Pictures from the Bishop’s Visitation

lynn — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:39:36 +0000

A small boy receives a blessing after his Baptism

Congregants & Bishop after Baptism

Our Rector, the Bishop, and our Rector's spouse

The Warden on the Fire

lynn — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:45:47 +0000

A New Day Begins
By Michael Maciejewski
Warden, St. Andrews Buffalo

As I looked out the window of my hotel room onto a car filled highway off ramp and knew my life would never be the same again. The days of knowing exactly what was going to happen day after day, week after week, the home I learned to tolerate was gone and I had to start fresh. How to do it, how to begin again, to make new memories when there is a fear of this happening again. The pictures, memorabilia, papers, books, my “stuff” that I collected over the years was gone, my security blanket was no longer there. It’s not a real blanket, I never really had one of those, but my comfort zone had been violated and that would be hard to build again.
Fire is really an amazing implement of destruction, it’s beautiful to look at, but deadly to anything that gets too close to it. My apartment unfortunately got too close to it, my apartment never caught fire directly, the apartment above mine did, and oh what a fire it was. Thick acrid smoke billowed down the stairs and hallways from its location, leaving ruin in its path. Everything that the smoke touched would never be the same, my apartment, my stuff, the building and I will never be the same.
How do you get through a situation like this, depend on the Red Cross for help? No. Depend on the government agencies to help you? No. What you need to depend on is the Lord. The Lord God Almighty guided me through the darkness and smoke into the light of a new day. It is a journey that is just beginning and with his help I will grow from this experience and become an even better me.
The journey began with the reaching out of my church family, my connection to the goodness of the Lord, the compassion of the Lord. Sarah, my rector and friend, the rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Buffalo, was the first who gave me a call of hope. A cell phone call, one of the few things I was able to salvage from the wreckage of my apartment that fateful day. She let me know that my church family will be there for me, I already knew my mother would be there, she always has been, but my family of faith was there too. She joked saying that the parish will fill my next with furniture and supplies as a housewarming gift. Little did I really know that that was going to be reality?
I am getting ahead of myself though, the next people that I talked to were Mark and Angie, two of the most intelligent, sweetest and giving friends a person could have. The first thing they asked me after, “are you okay?” was “what do you need?” Amazingly a couple of hours later they came to my hotel with a care package of food and clothing items. They made me feel like I was someone special, though I am just a faithful follower of Christ and a hospitality worker; they made me feel like a king.
Those moments will never leave me until the day I die. I never realty felt that I was worthy of my position and accolades until then. I felt like Sally Field at the Oscars: “You like me; you really, really like me!” Since that day I have gotten many well wishes, prayers, financial and spiritual help along the way from my St Andrew’s family and people too numerous to mention. The help truly came from the Lord through my most amazing family of faith and my family of birth. My love and gratitude will be never ending for all who helped me along the first steps of new journey of life. Some may say that it’s just getting a new apartment, but I am rebuilding and creating a new life from the ground up and I am going to try not to look back. Through the Lord all things are possible, my new life and home that will be filled with new and donated gifts are proof of that.

lynn — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:25:12 +0000

THE ST. ANDREW’S SEPTEMBER NEWS

Dear Members of the Community of St. Andrew:
This newsletter begins the effort to move St. Andrew’s communications to the internet and allow the Propers (readings) for the month to be listed for all to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest! Copies of the E-News will be made available at church for those who do not have web access. The intent is to get news out once a month. At this time there is no particular order of priority in the posting. There will inevitably be other emails sent out as concerns and possibilities arise, stay connected!
Let Us Love One Another as Christ Loved Us,
Mother Sarah+
Reception for Deacon Shirley
Deacon Shirley is retiring to her home in Texas. Deacon served St. Andrew’s for many years and is beloved by the people of St. Andrew. A reception in her honor is being held Sep 18 (7-9 PM) at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in North Tonawanda; 61 Payne Avenue. Please call Sandy to let her know if you’re planning to attend.

ALL CARE PHYSICAL THERAPY to care for our grounds!
In exchange for the use of our parking lot, All Care Physical Therapy has consented to help St. Andrew’s by mowing and taking care of the landscaping of our church property. Please offer prayers of Thanksgiving for All Care. We are so blessed!

Use of Our Space
St. Andrew’s is in discernment with the Buffalo Mindfulness Community about use of our space. Several parishioners met with members of their community last weekend. Mother Sarah learned Mindfulness (or Vipassana) meditation from an Episcopal priest at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY. Holy Cross was the first indigenous religious order in the United States. One of the rare stained glass windows of the founder, of Holy Cross, James Otis Sargent Huntington, is in our chancel. In the 30’s, Holy Cross brothers used to come to St. Andrew’s on preaching missions. (Please note the Celebration of the Holy Cross (9/14) listed on the calendar below and keep the Order of the Holy Cross in your prayers). Others in the Episcopal Church who practice this form of meditation are Brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, including the Bishop of Massachusetts. Buffalo Mindfulness is also looking at other sites. Please keep their community and ours in prayer for our mutual discernment.

Getting Rid of Stuff/Making Room for the Future
Our Getting Rid of Stuff/Making Room for the Future Sale was a great success. Running for only 3 hours, we got rid of a lot of stuff, but not just “got rid of”, were able to provide goods and give aways for: a start up church, families with furniture and household goods and students with furniture. Joe was on hand in the kitchen with home made goods for our visitors; Carrie, Virginia, Barbara, David, Bobbie, Fr. Stephen and Mother Sarah were on hand to assist folks as needed and Angie accompanied our activities practicing the piano! The highlight of the day was getting to know folks in the neighborhood, especially students from all over the world. Many expressed interest in having an place and opportunity for university students to get to know each other by gathering in interfaith conversation.

Giving to Journey’s End
St. Andrew’s has also made contact and provision to give much of what we no longer need but could be of use to Journey’s End Refugee Center a reality. Virginia is the contact for this initiative.

Received for Sale of Property
A check for the sale of the back lot has been received. We can claim this as living authentically into our vision statement of being a transforming agent for university heights. A back yard for children far exceeds becoming a repository for Fraternity House debris! Speaking of Fraternity House debris: I have spoken to Matthew, a member of Alpha Sigma Phi. Matthew no longer lives in the house but has volunteered to make sure our lot is cleaned up every Sunday morning. However, should you ever come to church and find debris or broken glass in the parking lot, please call Buffalo Police Non-Emergency: 853-2222. The Police will come only if someone is on site.

Centering Prayer
Fr. Stephen will continue with our offering of Centering Prayer at 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Those who have participated have found this very beneficial in reducing stress. And, our prayer to be open to God seems to be being answered. See following:

Making Space for Others
Over the past the past four months, as the St. Andrew’s community has been reshaping, focusing and opening, many conversations have begun about the Mission of the St. Andrew’s Building. Later in October, we will be hosting a conversation with those in our neighborhood, city and university about a Global Buffalo initiative. Stay tuned and keep this in your prayers.

Note the New Toilet in the Men’s Room!
Thank you Barbara for making this happen!

Sunday Leaflets
Elaine is taking a break and will no longer be preparing our Sunday leaflets. Thank you Elaine for all of your consistent and hard work in making sure we had leaflets without an administrator! Mark and Angie have volunteered to take on discerning how we might best provide for leaflets and/or readings. Until the decision is made, we will continue by using the Book of Common Prayer with page numbers and hymns announced. While we are on this topic: Let us offer our fullest prayers of thanksgiving for Angie’s ministry of music! We are truly blessed.

OUR NEW LIFE
Since Archbishop Terry’s visit June, 26, we have gained a new sense of community and direction. To this end, during August, Mother Sarah has been teaching and preaching about Baptism and the Emergent Church in her Sunday sermons. In September, in his sermons Fr. Stephen will incorporate teaching on The Eucharist. In October, Mother Sarah will focus on The Book of Common Prayer and Our Liturgy and, in November, Mother Sarah and Fr. Smith will alternate preach and teaching while weaving in reflection on Anglo-Catholicism: its heritage, St. Andrew’s heritage in the movement and what recoveries of practice may be most vital for the Church today.

EMAIL CONVERSATION ABOUT ST. ANDREWS
By now you should all have the group list of emails for the Community of St. Andrew and received the email from Mother Sarah inviting you into conversation as to the needs and wants for your spiritual life and the church. Please respond with your comments to the group email list. This will enable us to be in an online conversation and come to common understanding together. (Again, if you prefer your response to be anonymous, you may reply to Mother Sarah alone and your thoughts will be discreetly integrated).

OUR NATIONAL STATUS
As well as gaining listing on the National Historic Register, St. Andrew’s has now become a Partner Parish with the Episcopal Church Foundation. Not only will this enable us to gain support from ECF, we will be contributing to the development of the Episcopal Church by sharing our experience.
From: Donald Romanik
Executive Director of Executive Director of the Episcopal Church Foundation
August 25, 2010
We are pleased to consider St. Andrew’s Church in Buffalo as a partner parish of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF). Through this relationship, ECF will remain in regular contact and communication with the congregation as it continues to discern its future and as ECF lives into its mission of helping Episcopal communities of faith develop leadership and raise resources for ministry. Together, ECF and St. Andrew’s will be about the work of transformation, growth and responding to God’s call in very practical and innovative ways. We may also develop models and best practices that can be replicated and shared with other congregations with similar challenges and opportunities. We look forward to walking with you on this journey.
www.epsicopalfoundation.org

Lay Readers
For those who are reading aloud in church, and any others who may be interested, following are the lessons for the Sundays in September. A hint for lay readers: look at the reading on the lectern as soon as you come to church; make sure you know exactly where it is in case a page needs to be turned; if the next reading is on another page than the reading you read, please turn the page for the next reader. Go through the text at home and at church before services and make sure you know how to pronounce any odd words and all the names!

Warden’s Letter 5/10

lynn — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:28:18 +0000

From the Desk of the Warden

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Now that the cold winds and snow of winter have ended we are now entering a new season of life here at St. Andrews. We will still have to deal with some harsh weather changes including the heat of bills from the gas and electric companies along with insurance, building upkeep and of course the ever rising water bills. There are also good weather changes too in the return of our rector Mother Sarah and the designation of the Nation Historic register which will open up opportunities for grant monies, so all at St. Andrews is not bleak.
There are a lot of things that must be worked on here at St. Andrews if we want to keep the doors from closing. First we must go out and Shepard more members into our fold and bring back some of our lost sheep. Secondly, we have to look to others for financial help to bring the church building of St. Andrews into the 21st century, which means going after grants. The process of grant writing is not an easy one, but for our life and continuance, it is essential for our process of survival and dare I say growth of the parish.
Thirdly, we have to learn as a parish how to be self reliant, lay lead not rector led. This will be a process of trial and error but I feel we can do it. Fourth, we must keep up our pledges as well as we are able, the pledge money and our weekly offering plate are what is keeping us alive or on slow weeks makes life that much more difficult.
The upcoming weeks and months will be challenging, maybe even scary at times but I feel we can still move St. Andrews on to the next level of life of the parish. Please help me and the other members of the vestry along this journey so it may not be a bumpy ride but a journey with many wonderful sights and a many fine foods to feed the soul. God bless each and everyone one of you.

Yours in the service of Christ,

Michael Maciejewski
Warden

Christmas Letter

lynn — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:39:38 +0000

St. Andrew’s

The Episcopal Church in University Heights

3105 Main Street

Buffalo, NY 14214

Christmas 2009

Beloved of St. Andrew’s

This Christmas finds us not unlike those who found themselves present at the First Christmas, the birth of the Christ Child. We, and the world, seem to not quite know what is going on much less what it may mean. “How do we bring a child into this world?” was inevitably a question 2009 years ago and is still one many have today.

Our St. Andrew’s questions are: What is going on with our church (Anglican Communion, Episcopal, Diocese of WNY and St. Andrew’s) and what does any of it mean? All the while, we need to ask and live into the question: how do we embody The Church in the world; St. Andrew’s in the in the neighborhood, city, county, state, country and globe in which we live today.

The Good News is we are not alone. Many churches, both nationally and globally, are in similar situations. We are, however, interesting enough in our pursuit of just how we respond to the questions asked above to become a Case Study for the lay led Episcopal Church Foundation. Donald Romanik, ECF President was very impressed with his conversation with the several of our congregants he met with he this past November. Reflecting on our past and present will bring us greater clarity for our future, whatever that may be.

We have one concrete thing as fact (no pun intended!): the final proposal draft for St. Andrew’s application to be listed on the National Historic Register is nearing completion. We have the most competent of all persons writing our proposal, a team well respected in the field as well as the newly energized Preservation: Buffalo, Niagara. The National Secretary who leads decision-making has already visited St. Andrew’s and brings assurance our being listed on the NHR will come to pass.

What does this means for St. Andrew’s? As well as having national and state recognition at this particular time in our region when Historic Preservation is one of the driving forces for tourism and development, we become more of a safe anchor for the troubled neighborhood in which we live.

Over the past several years we have drawn many local, national and international figures to our plight, and the gift of St. Andrew’s. Many are now notably aware and respect our church building was given in thanksgiving and witness for the life and ministry of Charles Henry Brent, a first citizen of Buffalo and a first citizen of the world. Many perceive the vision he brought into this world, which is embodied in the spirit of St. Andrew’s is about to burgeon again in the multifaith, multicultural world in which we now find ourselves. When the time is right and we can make our NHR status known, we will be able to draw upon these relations to assist us in going the next leg of our journey.

Meanwhile, there are innumerable grants which NHR status will enable us to apply for: primarily those for securing the foundation of our building, upgrading our plant and expanding our initiative towards going “Green.” Contacts are already being made.

Jesus didn’t grow into his full stature as a human being until the age of 33. Nor did full recognition of who it is he was and is (and which is an ongoing eternal process of discovery) emerge. So it is with our lives as individuals and the life of The Body of Christ, also, the Church.

This Christmas, I invite you to “keep the faith” not just in Christ Jesus, but in yourselves, in St. Andrew’s and more so in God for all God has given and continues to give us. In “opening our eyes to see God’s hand at work in the world about us” may we see more clearly where God’s hand is leading us and all we have to be thankful for. When we are thankful, we become thankful givers. And paradoxically, as Jesus always is, the reverse is true, sometimes in giving our eyes are opened to receive.

I leave you with the words of Lao Tzu, a philosopher of ancient China: “To know when you have enough is to be rich beyond measure.” This Christmas, look and see where you and St. Andrew’s has “enough” and how very rich we truly are.

Yours in Christ,

The Revd Sarah Buxton-Smith

Rector

The card enclosed is from Bethlehem. It is a picture of the spot where it is believed Jesus was born. When there, if you lie down flat, you can put your face over the space and breathe in the air.

It seems to come from the navel of the world.

PLEASE COME TO CHURCH SUNDAY DECEMBER 27

FOR A VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY CONVERSTAION

FOLLOWING THE 10:30 SERVICE

Find out more about Mother Sarah’s Sabbatical,

Fr. Stephen’s time with us while she is apart,

new leadership emerging at St. Andrew’s

and opportunities for growth and development.

Sacred Songs for a Sacred Feast

lynn — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:42:53 +0000

Sacred Songs for a Sacred Feast
A Gala Choral Concert and Dinner

Pentecost Sunday: May 31st 2009
Concert at 4 oâ€™clock in the afternoon
Dinner at 6 oâ€™clock in the evening

The Schola Cantorum of St. Andrewâ€™s Church makes their Concert Debut,
singing works of Sir Edward Elgar, John Ireland, Roland E. Martin, Paul Manz, CÃ©sar Franck, Richard Shephard, Arlen Clarke, William Roger Price, Gabriel FaurÃ©, George Mabry, and St. Andrewâ€™s resident Pastoral Musician, Peter Davis.
Following the Concert, a fabulous feast for dinner featuring Mother Ellenâ€™s renown authentic Tuscan Pasta Sauce, together with wine and non-alcoholic beverages, salad, bread, and dessert!

All proceeds benefit the ministries of St. Andrewâ€™s Church.

Advance Sale Tickets Only!
Concert and Dinner:
$20.00 Regular Admission
$10.00 Children under 12, Students and Senior Citizens (62+)
Tickets available from the Parish Office or from any Schola Member.

Call, e-mail or visit our web site for more information.
musicatstandrews@aol.com or www.standrewbuffalo.org
PRESENTED BY ST. ANDREWâ€™S CHURCH AND
THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Holy Week and Easter at St. Andrew’s

lynn — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:59:17 +0000

Palm Sunday Masses

Contamplative Low Mass at 8:00 AM

Procession & Sung High Mass at 10:30 AM

Maundy Thursday

Sung High Mass at 7:00 PM

Vigil Following in the Lady Chapel

Good Friday

Good Friday Liturgy & Mass of the Pre-Sanctified at 7:00 PM

The Great Vigil of Easter

Kindling of the New Fire, Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows, and the First Eucharist of Easter at 7:00 PM

Easter Sunday

Contemplative Low Mass at 8:00 AM

Festival Sung High Mass at 10:30 AM

Brent Evensong & Benediction

admin — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:47:12 +0000

Please join the St Andrew’s community in our annual service celebrating the founder of our parish, Bishop Charles Brent.

Monday, March 30, 2009, 6:00 p.m.

Guest Preacher: The Revâ€™d Canon Kenneth Kearon
Secretary General of the Anglican Communion
Presiding: The Rt. Revâ€™d J. Michael Garrison, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Western New York

Reception Following.

Free Will offering designated towards developing WNY Diocese Chapter of the world-wide Compass Rose Society of the Anglican Communion.*

Bishop Brentâ€™s Cope graciously on loan from St. Paulâ€™s Cathedral.

Come celebrate the life of Charles Henry Brent, 4th Bishop of WNY, Founder of the First Faith & Order Commission hear and meet Canon Kearon; learn first hand about the Windsor Covenant process and the evolution of a new and developing Faith & Order Commission.

*The Compass Rose Society of the Anglican Communion works to support two of our instruments of unity: the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Consultative Council; and also (akin to Episcopal Relief and Development) responds to human need throughout the Anglican Communion.

Download a poster for this event.

Michaelmas Letter

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:41:58 +0000

September/October 2008

Beloved in Christ,

As noted in my last letter, the details of managing our situation change daily. My letters attempt to convey the point of â€œwhere we are nowâ€ on a monthly basis so we may have roadside markers for our ongoing journey in faith.

Our â€œLastâ€ Evensong was a tremendous success. Sunday was a beautiful celebration of our past five years of offering Evensong & Benediction to the glory of God and outreach in providing the wider diocesan and civic communities opportunities to hear voices from the larger Church. We have also successfully raised awareness of and financial support for local, national and global need. Our free will offering from this evensong generated support for Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation whose focus is to end world poverty, as well as, for St. Andrewâ€™s.

Thank you to Peter Davis and our Schola: Angie Fulk, Mark Fulk, David Nuijens, Michael Maciejewski, and Mother Ellen Brauza and Fr. Harry Grace who joined them in singing. Thank you also to our faithful Acolytes: Matt Buettgens, Virginia Collier, Sheldon Collymore, Andrew Jacobs and Sweetie Wiggins; Readers Michael Lodickand Angie Fulk; and Reception Team led by Elaine Lodick.

It has been a joy for the St. Andrewâ€™s community to gather in such a way and our offering of who it is we are and invitation to join in worship has brought appreciation and respect from many. One attendee from last Sunday writes: â€œA most beautiful and uplifting service this afternoon at St. Andrewâ€™s. My wife and I were so glad to have been able to make it. The modern liturgy never seems to get so far off the ground. The homily too was so thoughtful and appropriate to the occasion. And, despite the grand organ and Neo-Gothic surroundings, something about being there with ardent participants made me think of what the primitive church must have been like. Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness, as they say.â€ And, after spending the weekend with us, our Guest Preacher has been writing in her parish newsletter about her time with us saying â€œSt. Andrewâ€™s is the experience of being in a church who knows what matters most.â€

Our 2^nd Auction: Church Artifacts following Evensong generated over $1,000.00 for St. Andrewâ€™s. What was left went to Clergy Day, October 1^st where another $1,000.00 was generated. The beauty of dispersing our treasures in this way is they are going to friends who will value and use them, know St. Andrewâ€™s and wish to support us. The â€œauction/saleâ€ is ongoing. In my next letter, I will publish a list of supporting parishes that purchased a tangible reminder of St. Andrewâ€™s and remember us in prayer.

Please know nothing we use on a regular basis has been sold. Some of our high-end items (also unseen for many years) await appraisal before de-accessing. Remember, nothing of essence to who we are and our regular worship has been or will be sold.

Thank you to Shirley Magee who worked with me to determine the items able to be let go and Barbara Northan who has worked so diligently to set up our second (as well as first) auction. From the first auction, thank you, also, to other members of the Auction Team: Joe Wisnet co-chair, Elaine Lodick, Matthew Buettgens and Carrie Zoda; Marley Becker, Virginia Collier, Bobby Dean, David Nuijens, Robert Kapchan, Kevin Rung for assisting; and Peter Davis for the wonderful background music. September 28^th was a delightful afternoon and also found more friends for St. Andrewâ€™s.

To obtain further income, we continue working with auctioneer Cash Cunningham who offered to look at what he might be able to sell for us.

To assist in generating more income for St. Andrewâ€™s PLEASE JOIN THE VESTRY FOR A PARISH WORK DAY SATURDAY OCTOBER 4, 9:00- 12:00 when we will clear out other hidden areas of the church and parish house in preparation for auction estimates as well as a Rummage Sale of items no longer needed. Deacon Ed Ihde will also be working to winterize our property so we may save on heat and water expense this winter. Our time together will close with Noonday Prayer at 12:05.

Moving forward towards next years budget, the vestry has also begun to look at cost cutting measures:

Altar Flowers Flowers not paid for have cost us approximately $1,500.00 annually. In consultation with Adele Becker, we encourage everyone to offer flowers for all occasions on both Christmas and Easter.

Parish Administrator position. Peter has now assumed those responsibilities as a Pastoral Associate for Administration and Music at the cost of his Director of Music position. (Good News: Lynne Jones has accepted the position she was offered in the Financial Aid office at Canisius College).

Cathedral Corporation has provided us with Stewardship envelopes. Barbara Northan is looking into a less costly way for the parish to assist parishioners in keeping track of contributions.

Sunday Leaflets You may have noticed, we keep to our summer process of using/recycling worship folders for the liturgical season, including a weekly insert with lessons typed out and hymns and announcements listed.

Buffalo News Advertising Breaking a contract would cost us more than keeping what we have, we are now keeping our advertising to the minimum.

Insurance Negotiation is underway with the Diocesan Insurance agent to see if the diocese may be willing to assume this expense.

Phone System We are looking to simplify.

Printer We are comparing the cost of ending our contract prematurely vs. managing a less costly way of copying.

Fair Share We have informed the diocese we are no longer to pay our assessment.

Heat To save on heating, our office will be open only Tuesday and Thursdays beginning the week of November 2^nd. The Church sanctuary will be kept at 45 degrees to keep pipes from freezing and organ pipes in order. The Undercroft will be heated on Sundays keeping our worship space comfortable.

A special thanks always to Judy Zimmett, Treasurer!

Other cost-saving measures will be considered at the October vestry meeting as we begin to design this fallâ€™s Stewardship â€œCommitment Campaign.â€

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW:

Commitment Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, November 23^rd.

We are invited to make a commitment of time, talent and treasure to

St. Andrewâ€™s for 2009.

Other news:

Our Diocesan Standing Committee has been met with as well as representative of the Trustees and our Bishop. They and the clergy of the diocese are impressed with our efforts and the faith and commitment of the community of St. Andrew as we continue on this journey. As we lead in what many other parishes will be facing, I have been invited to be a part of setting up a task force to assist others in handling such matters with the grace they see us exhibiting. I am proud of the respect for St. Andrewâ€™s as we navigate through this time.

Our parish house is â€œon the marketâ€ the church building is not. We continue to work with finding partners in ministry for the parish house, a buyer who will respect what the parish house has meant and work with us for a good relationship, particularly in shared parking. When the time comes, the money generated will assist in moving our church offices into the church building.

Our church building is now in the process of being appraised for qualification for the National Historic Register. Designation as such would afford St. Andrewâ€™s to also be on the New York State Register. How much does this cost? Nothing. We have had an offer from a member of the national board, a friend of St. Andrewâ€™s, to write the proposal pro bono and for that we are grateful. This status we hope to obtain would not limit us in the same way as does local preservation and would afford us the ability to apply for grants for maintenance as well as redevelopment of space. The question naturally arises: what if we need to sell the building? Should that time come, being on the National Historic Register provides the purchaser with a highly desirable tax credit. If the building is sold to a non-profit agency, they would likely value historic designation.

Though it seems as if we are at a crossroads not knowing which way to turn nor what may lie ahead, it feels as if we are rounding a corner. This dynamic is a signpost of the spiritual journey. It seems the more we are willing to let go and let go of, the more we allow God to enter our space. In this season of Michaelmas where we are mindful of angels, they seem to be appearing on every side.

With love in Christ,

Mother Sarah