There are two kinds of stories and two kinds of readers. One kind seeks to entertain or distract its audience, but not much more. These stories assume the reader is a passive spectator. We in America are exceedingly familiar with this kind of story, and this kind of reader. No matter what form the story takes—a movie, political speech, the cable news programs—there is a distance that remains between the audience and the "performance."

The other kind of story quite simply intends to change its audience. It seeks to transform spectators into actors so engaged in the story they become a part of it. It seeks to so involve the reader that the story begins to read them, to change their own life-scripts.

The scriptures are of the second kind. And the gospel of Mark is especially so.

The 3-year cycle of readings we know as the lectionary takes us through the Gospel of Mark this year (which began the 1^st Sunday of Advent). The oldest of the gospels, Mark was written around the year 70 to a group of Christians living in a Roman city somewhere in the Mediterranean. As such, there are challenges to reading the gospel—and all scripture, for that matter—well.

The first readers did not have the same world view as we have today. They believed in a two-tiered world that was interrelated. The spirit world was as real as the physical world. It saturated the air around human beings. Misfortune and illness resulted from evil spirits penetrating the human body, not from air-borne germs and viruses and other causes that science explains to us much more adequately. Whenever we try to translate a pre-modern worldview into a post-modern mindset, we run into challenges and dangers.

Yet Mark still calls us to be engaged in its story, to become a part of it. And so we begin not as Matthew or Luke, with genealogies, or as John with creation; Mark begins with wilderness and baptism and a call to discipleship—ultimately our discipleship. In the many stories of healing that come along we meet the blind and lame and understand that they symbolize deeper issues that address us all. A danger of our time is to read literally or "scientifically." This was not a challenge for Mark who understands "blindness" and "deafness" as spiritual disabilities, not physical ones. In other words, these maladies speak of the disabilities that cripple our own discipleship and they call us to journey along with Jesus on a radical quest to uncover the root-causes of a people’s problems that we might be delivered from them into new life.

Let’s talk about what it means to enter into this ancient story and still be true to our modern selves. Let’s talk about what it means to be baptized with Jesus’ baptism, to follow him in a world marred by tensions between center and margins. Let’s talk about what it means to sit at his table and drink from the cup. Let’s talk about jubilee, about binding power and sowing hope. And let us, for God’s sake, for our own sake, and for the world’s, explore what it means to be actors in this story rather than spectators.

Grace and Peace,

Suzanne Woodruff shared the joy of having twin girls born into her family

Sharon Andrew’s family had the joy of twin boys. Congratulations to both families.

Karen Lutz family had a safe trip back to Sweden.

We all gave thanks for the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Judy Paulsen’s uncle, Kenny passed.

Diane Schott’s friend, Paul, who was 39 years old and passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack. The Resor’s friend in Idaho, Mrs. Maxine Reddekopp, who was a leader in their community. Dee Thierry’s friend, David Banchero.

PRAYER REQUESTS: "Lord, Hear Our Prayers"

Janice Spoon was readmitted to the hospital in order to get her medications regulated. Sharon Anderson had surgery on Jan. 3^rd.   Marlynne Olson’s mother is in poor health and we remember Marlynne as she travels back and forth to take care of her.   Pat Sharpe’s son is dealing with back problems and doctors may find an alternative to surgery. Midge Lopez’s daughter, Robin, had surgery on January 6^th.   Roger Paulsen’s cousin, Curt, who is recovering from colon cancer. Hospice has been called in for Barbara Glasscock’s dad and prayers for Barbara. Sharon Andrew’s father ‘s cancer has gone to his brain and prayers for Sharon.  Gary Brugger’s mother had a stroke. Harold Mitchell’s sister, Evelyn, is going through chemotherapy.  Ted and Shirley Elder are in Kansas to assist Shirley’s sister, Carole, who had extensive back surgery.

Feb. 05 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Souper Bowl of Caring

Cub Scout Sunday

Feb. 12 6^th Sunday in Ordinatry Time

Race Relations

Feb. 19 7^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Feb. 26 Transfiguration of the Lord

Celebrate the Gifts of Women

That comment piqued Boyce’s curiosity. He wanted to learn more about scouting in Britain, so the boy took him to the British Scout headquarters. He was so enthralled with what he heard there, that he decided to get scouting started in America.

Churches with a Scout troop, whether for boys or girls, are blessed by the troop’s presence. They perform valuable service projects, earn and practice good values, health and survival techniques, discipline, and helpfulness toward others.

Let us offer scouts our gratitude when we see them helping the handicapped, assisting the elderly, directing the flow of church traffic, repairing or painting church property, and assisting us in many and various ways. We all benefit by their presence.

Let us welcome to St Andrew our newly formed Cub Scout Pack #492, Cub Master Tim Ramsey. He may be reached by cell: 425-736-5209.

After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf area, a Catholic priest at Auburn University learned that people in Bayou La Barre had an urgent need for shoes. The following Sunday at worship service, he told the students about the need and asked them—if they could –to bring shoes as soon as possible. He would deliver the shoes himself.

Guess what? At the end of the Mass approximately 200 students brought the shoes they were wearing to the altar and left them. They walked back to their dormitories barefooted.

Praise the Lord!

St. Andy’s Gals will meet on Monday, February 20^th, starting with a potluck meal at 6:30 p.m. Following the meal the annual Valentine’s Gift Exchange of socks will take place. Diapers are also brought for OEC, and this year donations of pencils and pens will be made to Mombasa Primary School.

Information: Trulene Glenn (253) 735-4735 or Karen Mullen (425) 255-2580

Srs./Retirees Luncheon is Thursday,

February 2^nd, 11:30 a.m. Bring a salad, dessert, or favorite food to share.

According to St. Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration, when Jesus was transfigurated two Old Testament characters appeared and seemed to be talking with Jesus.

One represented the Law; the other represented the Prophets. Who were the two men who appeared to Jesus?

Lent begins solemnly on Ash Wednesday and ends joyfully with Easter (Mar 4-Apr 16). The Lenten season provides a rich opportunity for spiritual renewal and self-discovery.

Last year, St. Andrew experienced Lenten worship, study, and fellowship through art. And we want this year’s experience to be a highlight of our church year, too. Join us to choose where this year’s events will lead us. First meeting is expected in late January, early February.

In late December the OEC clothing room was converted to a Holiday Gift Shop with an array of new clothing, toys and small gift items. Donations to this shop came from a number of sources, including the St. Andrew congregation. In two days 686 clients shopped for gifts. The total number in the families of these shoppers was 3,846, of which 2,204 were children.

This highly successful event, which replaced the Adopt-A-Family program, enabled the Agency to serve more clients and children than any previous event. On December 21 the OEC food bank served over 1,000 families.

Currently seven people from St. Andrew do volunteer work at OEC on a weekly basis. Sherril and Jerry Balken, Lois Summers, Anne Vandermay (Midge Lopez in the summer) and newcomer Lorilie Shaw assist in the clothing room. Norm Summers toils away in the office on a computer. Paul Holstine delivers food to nine shut-ins and Maggie McAdams shares delivery of food to six shut-ins. Others from the church have dropped in to lend a hand. A special thanks to all who do volunteer work at OEC.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

February 03 Maggie McAdams

Lorilie Shaw

05 Sean Pearce

06 Susan Patterson

07 Andy Peck

08 Ethel Keirn

11 Harold Mitchell

Indru Primlani

12 Scott Anderson

13 Bethany Eastman

George Jones

17 Teresa Platin

22 Alyson McLean

By Alma-jean Marion

Are you ready for February? That was January that just passed, and if you missed it you were not alone. Sorry to say some folks missed an outstanding month especially here in the life of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. I was one of the fortunate ones, I did experience a worship experience here that I hope is repeated. As one member summed it up, "I feel like I have been to church".

Beginning with a retreat that started last Friday evening and ended on Saturday those attending experienced worship in word and song as well as workshops on the worship experience unlike the past. SAPC was blessed by the giftedness and talents of one Dr. Glaucia Vasconcelos Wiley and her husband Dr. Jay Wilkey. We want to express our appreciation to the Worship & Christian Formation Team for outstanding planning and execution of a very informative and spiritually uplifting experience.

This has been an amazing week! As I was about to put this newsletter to bed I learned of the death of Coretta Scott King, and I felt stunned and saddened. I really had to pray and listen to God rather hard to get myself together. I knew, as much as I wanted my readers to have their newsletter on February 1 that this publication was not ready without mention of the life and contributions of this great Christian woman, mother, wife, and champion for human dignity.

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February is African American History Month, focusing on the future as well as the past acknowledging the good that all kinds of people around the world are doing every day. Let us continue to learn more about one another. We have so much in common. Those who havelived and given have in essence passed the baton to each of us – it is our turn now!

We can be proud of our accomplishments as produced by those before us. The civil rights movement in this country has brought us to where we are now. What new ways and approaches will we be guided by through our faith in Jesus Christ? May we listen as God truly has a plan for all that needs to be done in this life.

Wherein there is much emphasis on the contributions of African Americans in this month of February, may we continue to emphasize that a quality educational experience for all of God’s children is essential to our understanding and peace efforts around the world.

So much has been getting done at Church lately that I confess, it’s taking an effort to keep up! There are new keys, and the Secretary has been signing them out as needed. I understand that Facilities went into overdrive painting and fixing up the interior for this past month’s guests and program. Don Patterson reportedly restored the finish to the piano in the large conference room, and added a fresh new coat of paint to interior walls where needed. Primroses and new table clothes were a nice touch to the conference rooms. Thanks goes to Susie Woodruff, Dana Holstine et al.

The Church Office has a later model PC to house most of the church data needs.

February offers much opportunity for members and friends to get involved in the life of the Church.

As an example, SAPC along with the Mission Dept. will be supporting ARISE Men’s homeless shelter program through the provision of meals. See the wall sign-up sheets in the sanctuary designed by Roger Paulsen. There is a job large or small) for everyone.

Office Hours: M-Th., 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Kim Ellenberg, Secretary

Fri., 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. – Mary Lou Gilbert

Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School (all ages): 9:30 a.m.

Perspective Newsletter Staff:

Editor: Alma-jean Marion

Reporters: JoAnn Peck, Lois Summers & Sharon Griffith