Studio for Creative Hands
Saint Andrew’s is blessed with many parishioners who have a passion for the arts. Our Studio for Creative Hands features separate spaces for pottery, art, and quilting. The Pottery space has two kilns and offers two weekly pottery workshops. Our potters produce artwork for worship and for sale in the community. Our quilters, the Piecemakers, and our knitters, Knitting for Peace, meet regularly to work on individual and group projects. Many of our quilts have been displayed throughout the county and have won numerous awards. For more information on the Piecemakers, please contact Betty Peabody (982-5835).
Adults, children and youth work together on many art projects for fellowship, fun, and to support our Parish Ministries. We have made pottery pet bowls for Pet Blessing and pottery crosses as gifts to the newly baptized and for sale at the Diocesan Convention. We have donated Thanksgiving crafts to a local nursing home, constructed advent wreaths, presented a drama for All Saints’ Day, and drawn the symbols of Christ’s passion for Holy Week.
Small Groups
Saint Andrew’s has many ongoing opportunities for fellowship and fun in small group settings such as our Foyer Groups where parishioners meet and socialize in one another’s homes for a potluck dinner. Monthly events include a Lunch Bunch featuring a light lunch and local speaker on various timely topics, a Book Club and Parish Sunday Breakfasts hosted by our Brotherhood of Saint Andrew Men’s Group. Quarterly, we host Teas for our senior parishioners, and our Saint Andrew’s Travelers take many trips throughout the year.
Food
On Wednesday evenings, adults, children and youth gather together for a meal and programs. Adults listen to guest speakers while the children and youth work on a variety of lessons and projects. Our Lenten Soup Suppers are very popular. These meals are prepared by our parishioners and there is always a large variety of delicious soups and bread to suit even the pickiest eater’s taste.
Events
In addition to these ongoing groups, Saint Andrew’s hosts many special events throughout the year to provide opportunities for fellowship and fun. These periodic events are open to the community and unique to our area.
Our Boar’s Head Festival, celebrating the 12th night of Christmas, has been an ongoing event for over two decades and attracts many visitors from the area who enjoy this medieval celebration. There is music, singing, dancing, elaborate costumes and the presentation of the Yule Log.
Lent preparation includes a Mardi Gras Celebration with a beautiful candlelight dinner in the Great Hall. Each year there is a different theme to encourage costumes, and a show performed by parishioners. Our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Fashion Show and Luncheon are both held in the Great Hall, and our Fish Fry is hosted by the men of the church on our outdoor garden patio. Our Garden Day is an all day event that features a luncheon, garden tours and presentations. Parishioners offer flowers, plants, shrubs and trees for sale.
In 2007, our Country Fair featured a talent show, pottery made in our pottery studio, quilts from our quilting group, garden items from our gardeners, and preserves made by parishioners. In addition to raising money for our church, the remaining items of our Yard Sale were distributed to local charities in support of their missions.
