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"LEAD LIKE ANDREW"
Membership Newsletter
Brotherhood of St. Andrew
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Welcome to Our Bi-weekly Newsletter
Volume 69, "LEAD LIKE ANDREW"
It's a quick-read, multi-topic news channel for members to see what is going on, what is planned, and what successes from the previous weeks.
Please share news, tidbits, or notices of upcoming events in your area so we may include them. We also value your feedback on this newsletter and how we may better serve you. Don't hesitate to contact
Dr. Roy Benavides (email Roy)
Jeff Butcher (email Jeff)
or Tom Welch (email Tom).
Submission consideration deadline is
Monday at 8 a.m. for the week of release.
Please share this newsletter with others
in your parish or community.
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The Brotherhood of St. Andrew's
Annual Sweepstakes Campaign
Number two of the now-annual Brotherhood of Saint Andrew Kingdom Builder Sweepstakes has arrived. Kind of exciting, too! Your ticket packet should have arrived in the mail by now. (If you haven't received it, call the National Office at 502-450-5640.) All you do is sell your tickets and return the completed stubs with the funds by postmark of midnight, May 15, 2024, to the National Office. The monies raised will advance God's Kingdom through BStA's seven mission ministries: Discipleship & Mentoring; Restorative Justice (Prison); Scouting & Youth; Veterans; Racial Reconciliation, Recovery; and Social Justice.
The Live Drawing will occur over ZOOM on May 29 at 8 p.m. EST. (Please note that the tickets were incorrectly printed with May 20 as the drawing date.) Five winners drawn will receive five percent of the total amount raised after printing, mailing, and marketing expenses. This year, the Stewardship and Generosity Commission will reward the chapter of each of the top three salespeople. The chapter will receive Brotherhood merchandise credit towards any inventory item(s) in the following denominations: $150-1st Place, $125-2nd Place, and $100-3rd Place.
If you have not received your tickets or need more tickets, questions, or assistance, call the National Office at 502-450-5640.
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Monthly Webinar
May 1st, 2024
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COMING MAY 1st
HUMAN TRAFFICKING UPDATE
National Study Pending
Fr. Brian McVey
Reverend Brian McVey '90, an Episcopal priest by way of a financial broker, has become a leading advocate in the fight to abolish human trafficking, working alongside his parishioners and other activists to rescue victims, support survivors, educate the public, and lobby all levels of governmental and ecclesiastical power.
Call it indentured servitude, call it human trafficking, or call it slavery, as McVey does.
His advocacy has even garnered the attention of Canterbury and Rome: McVey was tapped to be one of 20 members of the ecumenical Consultation on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, held at the Vatican in November 2014.
For additional information: https://www.hsc.edu/brian-mcvey-90
Our monthly webinars are always on the first Wednesday of each month at 8 pm/Eastern.
Here's the link:
BStA Monthly Webinar Link
In Case You Missed It!
BISHOP JEFF W. FISHER
Bro. Jeff Fisher, Bishop Suffragan in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and the bishop for the east region of the diocese Webinar Presentation April 3rd.
TOPIC:
LINK: "WHAT MEN WANT TO HEAR"
Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Craig Coleman, Program Manager
Alzheimer's Association
replay can be found here
January webinar featuring Rev. Can. Scott Gunn,
Executive Director of Forward Movement
Click here for a replay
February webinar with Rev. Matthew S.C. Olver
Executive Director and Publisher
The Living Church
Click here for a replay
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From the Director's Chair
By Executive Director Tom Welch
The Big Break Out
Eastertide greetings, dear readers! If your car is like mine, it’s covered with a yellow hue right about now. Not even the pollen can lessen the joy to this time of year. In our tradition we are in the “Great 50 Days of Easter.” It’s a time when we see an uptick in chapter and church activity. Research shows that more than half of new members to a church join within 60 days of Easter ... not Christmas. So, how do we make the most of that?
For the past three years we have struggled on some fronts as a ministry, yet we continue to see new member growth increasing at 16 percent or more (as of April 8) since the onset of 2022. Many of the conversations, both in-person and otherwise, at diocesan and larger events in which I have been engaged, I knew would have a slow, progressive return on investment ... so to speak. Much of it has been two to four years in the making. Here at Virginia Theological Seminary, I am hearing from classmates about area churches all experiencing upticks in attendance not seen in years. Earlier this month in our April webinar, we heard from our new National Chaplain, Rt. Rev. Jeff Fisher (one of four Suffragan Bishops in the Diocese of Texas) about five things all men want to hear. If you missed it, the link to our recent webinars can be found at https://brothersandrew.net/events/#monthly-webinars online. These webinars, along with a host of other items, can be found on our website.
Part of what Bishop Fisher was sharing with us is the value of connection and the hunger of mentorship. This webinar, as can all of our webinars, could be a talking point at your next chapter meeting or other education class/session at your church. Many a Sunday school lesson involves webinars these past several years. Bishop Fisher knows nearly all of the dozen seminarians from the great state of Texas who are here at the seminary. I think between the two of us we can get a new generation of priests excited about ministry to men. Will you join us in prayer over that, please? Thanks so much.
The point is this--we have a story to share. We have a listening heart. We have a desire to grow our churches. That starts with nourishment to the members we have now. Not just the Brotherhood members, but the entire church family. When we do this, that often leads to a healthier parish life in general.
Yes, this is a time for the big break out of activity from pollen on our automobiles to nourishing the soul with the renewable energy Easter brings. Sometimes we can get caught in a rut from things in which we think we cannot break out. That can stimy our joy, progress, healing and growth. We may feel we can never break out of some things. We don’t have to. That’s because Christ can break into every corner of our lives if we but ask Him. From there He can take us places we could only imagine before. That’s a big break out worth celebrating not just during the Great Fifty Days of Easter, but all year!
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Introduction to Discipleship
By Darron Kendrick,
VP of Discipleship and Mentoring
Each time someone is baptized in our Church (St. Peter & St. Paul, Marietta, Georgia), we all stand and renew the Baptismal Covenant (BCP, pp304-305). The mission of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew of Prayer, Service, and Study is deeply rooted in the Covenant, for in this pledge we are asked if we will continue the Apostolic teaching in fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers. Will the good news of God in Christ be shared by our word and example? Will we see Christ in all persons, strive for justice and peace, respect each other’s dignity by loving our neighbors? Will we resist evil, repent, and return to Christ when we fail?
In summary, we are pledging to be Disciples of Jesus- to make God the center of our lives and to treat our fellow men and women as equals, if not higher, than our own love for ourselves.
The principle of the Covenant we make before God will be the driving force behind our ministry of Discipleship. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, named for the man who brought others to meet Jesus, is positioned to be a light in the darkness of our times, to bring the gift of light, the Holy Spirit, to others through our discipleship. The opportunity we have is enormous. People are still thirsting for the freedom, peace and joy that comes from meeting- and living with- Jesus. We will share this gift.
If anyone of you Brothers is interested in being part of the ministry of Discipleship and Mentoring, please drop me a note. I would love to hear from you. Contact me at disciple.mentor@brothersandrew.net.
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SCRIPTURAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS
VP Dick Hooper and the Membership Committee of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew have an addition devotion for the Stations of the Cross. This is service is in addition to our Devotional Handbook. It is timely and well done. We urge chapters to include this service with your routine devotions during your time together as Brothers Andrew. The Power Point and Service is available on the Prayer page of the BStA website or you can download the guide here.
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REMINDER:
MINISTRY DUES renewal time is NOW
It is never too late to remain in good standing!
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RENEW HERE!
or mail with check to the National Office at
620 South Third Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Annual Ministry Dues are:
Senior Member (men age 21 & older) -- $50
Junior Member (youth under 21) -- $10
Associate Member (women) -- $25
or
become a Life Member for one-time ministry dues of at least $1,000
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2024 Membership Updates
(Through 4/16/24)
1,205 Sr. Members paid
including 123 New Members!
401 Life Members
4 Junior Members
33 Associate Members
That's 1,643 total!
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Recognizing Our
Sustaining Members
Sustaining Members refer to Brothers who have committed to offering a monthly (or quarterly) donation to the Brotherhood in addition to their regular senior membership dues or a Life Membership.
Many of us do make additional donations throughout the year (Ex: special appeals, purchase of the Sweepstakes tickets, etc.), but this a pledged commitment of recurring donations in a regular, consistent recurring donation throughout the year. It represents a commitment to continuously support our ministry throughout the year financially.
Thanks be to these Brothers for their commitment to supporting our ministry financially.
Throughout the year.
Br. James Miller, Br. John Streeter, Br. David Adams,
Br. Evans Clements, Rev. Br. Ellis Clifton, Br. Nick Cox, Br. Cecil Buxo, Br. Walt Joyce, Br. Leland Metheney,
Br. Louis Surles, Br. John Blossom, Br. Eric Fisher,
Rev. Br. John Thompson-Quartey, Br. Arthur Simpson, Br. Oliver Evans, Br. Peter Gilmour, Br. Ken Holloway, Br. Roy Benavides, Br. Conrad Jones, Br. Ed Milbrada, Br. Ray Talbird, Br. George Shumard, Br. Jeff Butcher, Br. Tom Simpson, Br. Dick Hooper, Br. Eric Haralson, Br. Tom Welch, Rev. Br. Ed Bartle, Br. David Penley,
Br. John Fitzgerald, Br. Billy Harrison, Br. Tom Nichols, Br. Ron Argo.
Can you commit to a $5 or $10/month (or more) donation to this ministry and community of men that you belong to? Many brothers also make an annual contribution above dues. It is important, if not critical, to the ongoing vitality of our ministry to men and youth. If you'd like to discuss more, email us by clicking here:
admin@brothersandrew.net
Sign up today and have your appreciation gift sent to you!
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JOIN US IN PRAYER EACH WEEK
Mid-Week
Mid-Day
"12:00 Central Time"
Prayers
Join us...
What better way to level set during the middle of the week? We will hold a weekly Wednesday noon (CDT) prayer time over ZOOM that is open to all brothers and guests. Let's pray for the Brotherhood, for our Brothers, and even share some stories of how Prayer has impacted you or someone you know!
We can all spare 20 minutes in prayer. It's like stopping at the faith service station to fill your prayer tank!
Please join us every week when you can to recharge your prayer batteries!
The Zoom link for Mid-Day Prayers can be accessed by clicking here.
Copy and paste this Zoom link into your calendar so you can join us for 20 minutes
every Wednesday at 1 pm EST/noon CST/11 am MST/10 am PST!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89341488609
If you'd like to help lead, pick an empty date and contact roy.benavides@brothersandrew.net
It's simple...we already have the script made out (in our devotional handbook or the Book of Common Prayer)!
Prayer Leaders Schedule: Click Here
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Ministry News!
Scouting and Youth
Racial Reconciliation
Social Justice
Veterans
Recovery
Restorative Justice
Discipleship and Mentoring
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We need stories from Chapters and Ministries
Kathy Copas, our editor, would like to include more news of chapter events and ministry meetings or events. If you have something to share, please send it to
editor@brothersandrew.net
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Prayer Requests
If you have a personal prayer request, please contact (502) 450-5640 to submit your requests.
Learn to Pray the Anglican Rosary
PRAY THE ANGLICAN ROSARY
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Some Current Reading by Brothers
Signs of Life: Nurturing Spiritual Growth in Your Church
by Jay Sidebotham
by Susan Mettes, David Kinnaman - foreword, et al.
Peace in the Last Third of Life:
A Handbook of Hope for Boomers
by
Paul F. M. Zahl
What are you currently Reading? Do you have any book recommendations?
Does your chapter have a book study?
Write to us and give us the title and author so we can share it with your Brothers!
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This newsletter was made possible thanks to your generous financial support.
Thanks so much!
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Podcast Suggestions
Brothers looking to grow spiritually may find Podcasts from Forward Movement as a strategy to add to their “rule of life,” enhance their walk or drive time, or add to their daily or weekly study and prayer. The following link is to Forward Movement Podcast, which gives you several options to add to your podcast app.
Click Here for Podcast from Forward Movement
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