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NOTES FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE:
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I will be out of the office from May 29 through June 11. If you have anything urgent during that time, please reach out to Pastor Matt or Pastor Ethan.
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I will return emails and phone calls as soon as possible after I return.
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GIFT PLANNING: A good gift plan within an estate includes inheritance for family and gifts to ministry. As you consider an estate gift to your favorite ministry, should you talk with ministry leaders in this planning? Sometimes prospective donors forget to remember that all things belong to the Lord. You may want privacy so as not to brag about your gift. But in reality, you are simply directing God’s things to God’s things. Your LCMS Foundation Associate Gift Planning Counselor can help facilitate conversations with ministry leaders. Contact Ray Pagels by phone at 847-226-2262 or email [email protected]
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FOOD PANTRY UPDATE: 148 households visited the St Paul of the Cross food pantry in April. Most needed items are cold cereal, pancake mix and syrup, canned mixed vegetables and plain WHITE rice (l lb.). Thank you for your continuing support!
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MYRA UPDATE: It has been a busy couple of months for Myra and her team of handlers and ministry partners. In April, she made 37 visits plus attended chapel, Saturday evening and Sunday services. In May, there were 38 visits plus chapel, Saturday and Sunday services. Myra also had some time to make a visit to the spa and be pampered. Of course, every month also includes a team meeting and some refresher training for Myra and her handlers. What exactly do Myra’s visits entail? Well, there’s the wagging tail that comes with all the petting, hugs, and compliments as she moves from person to person assuring that no one misses her. While pets and hugs and compliments are all very nice, Myra’s job is so much more. During every visit we experience one or more “God Moments”. One of those “moments” presented itself during Myra’s monthly visit to Avantara in Park Ridge. She visited with Claudia, a patient requiring skilled nursing care. This was Claudia’s first meeting with Myra whom she learned was from St. Andrews. Following the visit Claudia left a voice message for Pastor Matt telling him Myra’s visit was the “best thing I could ever ask for….and she really lifted my spirits.” Claudia went on to say that Myra was so sweet, kind and just a doll and was doing such a valuable service. She shared that she recently lost her dog and had been asking for “dog therapy”. She remembered Myra’s name but didn’t get the names of her handler/ministry partner but wanted it communicated to them how much the visit and conversation lifted her spirits and that everyone would be in her prayers. She also suggested Myra should get some “extra sausages or even some salmon” because that is what Bella (her dog) liked. She was so very thankful and reiterated how much she needed such a visit. Encounters like the above occur quite frequently and are always rewarding to the handlers and ministry partners, reminding us why we do what we do! It is particularly rewarding when someone takes the time to communicate how meaningful the visit with Myra was. The Comfort Dog Ministry is such an integral part of St. Andrews and a means of outreach in the community and beyond. The team is in great need of additional Ministry Partners right now and if you think you might be interested in participating, please talk to Joanne August or contact her at [email protected]. If you would like we can arrange for you to “shadow” a team member on a visit and that may help you decide if this is the right volunteer opportunity.
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MISSION OF THE MONTH: Chicago’s St. Matthew Lutheran Church has been around since 1871 when a group of German Lutherans formed the congregation to welcome and serve the German immigrants who settled in the Pilsen neighborhood. Now Pilsen is predominantly Hispanic, and many of the church’s neighbors are either homeless or unemployed. Responding with love to these neighbors, St. Matthew offers hot meals every Tuesday and Thursday through the St. Matthew Soup Kitchen, El Comedor San Mateo, which is our mission of the month for June.
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PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR PRAYERS:
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Frank Brant Avila, Janet Reich, Carol Claybaker, Gigi Breitzman, Livia Grace Gallo, Daniel Avila, Sr., Richard Claybaker, Eleanor Claybaker, Richard Avila, Carol Mraz, Laura Peter, Jeanette Peter
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View our livestream broadcast here:
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LAST WEEK'S ATTENDANCE AND FINANCIALS
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Weekly Giving Report and Worship Attendance for this week will be provided in the Friday email for June 19.
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A Message from Pastor
As we gather information from the surveys which are continually being sent out, I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to give us your feedback, thoughts, challenges, and kudos. Your communication with us does make a differnece, and we are working hard to be good stewards of your time and feeback.
Your feedback indicates that both preaching and music are very important to St. Andrews. With that in mind, we are combining these two ideas into our Summer Sermon Series (or maybe I should say Psummer Psermon Pseries!). The Book of Psalms is an ancient songbook written largely by King David. Join us each week this summer as we go through the PSUMMER OF PSALMS. Each week Pastor Ethan and I will be looking at important Psalms that summarize one of the major themes of the different sections of this songbook. As we relate the Psalms to the Gospel readings and to our lives today, we will go on a journey of learning, singing, and praising God together! We start this weekend!
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In Christ,
Pastor Matt Hoffmann
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Sunday School Teachers Needed!
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Join our Sunday School team! We're looking for volunteers to team up to help teach our Sunday School program. High school volunteers welcome. Contact [email protected]
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Church & School - Join Us On August 23!
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Church congregation and school families, please join us on Sunday, August 23!
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Women's Fellowship
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Join us for Women's Fellowship on August 20 from 6:30-8:30 PM! We will gather in the Narthex.
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Men's Fellowship - August 2026
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Don't miss this month's Men's Fellowship at Pastor Matt's on August 20th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Bring a snack, a friend, and your lawn chair for a great evening! Check the Church App for more details.
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Sponsor Chancel Flowers - Online Ordering Available
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Honor a loved one or celebrate a special milestone by sponsoring chancel flowers. Each arrangement is $47, and you can now order online through the Church Center App.
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How the Sausage is Made (Sermon Study) - August 12, 2026
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Pastor Matt has a converstation with Rev. Dr. Ken Chitwood about Psalm 130. Dr. Chitwood serves as a Professor in Germany, a researcher all over the world, a journalist, and yes, a Lutheran Pastor! Listen in as we talk about the parts of this short Psalm which make us thing and point us to Jesus.
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Jesus Keeps No Records
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We keep records of everything, and it is a good thing we do! We need to pay taxes, update Passports, make sure payments are made on our utilies, etc. But what about a record of the bad things - of our sins? In Psalm 130 we learn that God does not keep a record of our sins. But how can …
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More Than We Expect
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Pastor Ethan takes on the beautiful prayer of Psalm 110 this week, wherein King David describes what to expect from the coming Messiah. David sees a Savior Who reigns eternal, Who rules with power, and Who presides as priest and mediator for His people. David sees someone unimaginably greater than himself - He sees The King Jesus. Listen in to …
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CHURCH OFFICE 847-823-6656
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Nichole Wandel, Office Administrator
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Matthew J. Hoffmann, Pastor
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Ethan Luft, Associate Pastor
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Jordan Holliday, Director of Music
Christa Neve, Director of Comm. and Media
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Greg Lendy, Contemporary Worship
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SCHOOL OFFICE 847-823-9308
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