Opportunities to Serve:

Mission Week: August 4-10, 2024

Annual Alternative Gift Fair in December.

Free Noon Meal

Partnering with Lebanon County Christian Ministries, St. Andrews hosts a Free Noon Meal every second Saturday of every month.  Different groups at St. Andrews (e.g. Deacons, Praise Team) take turns coordinating the meal. It is served from noon to 1:00PM. Besides providing a nutritionally-sound lunch, it gives members of St. Andrews an opportunity to meet people outside the congregation. Many servers have mentioned how when they see some of the people outside of the meal, they have been able to connect with them again.

Local Mission Work

The Mission Committee puts together local service projects right here in Lebanon.  These project days have included: Rail Trail clean up, painting parking meters, packing lunches for children during the school year and in the summer, baking cookies for the Rescue Mission, spending a day with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteering with Jubilee Ministries.  It is a joy to work together to serve our community.

National Mission Trip

In July of 2017, St. Andrews sent a team of 20 to Harrisonburg, VA.  We worked together packing items to ship to missionaries around the world, bagged corn at the centralized food bank, and worked on a non-profit farm.  The team also spent a morning drawing nearer to God in a silent retreat, and broke bread together with the good food served at Massanetta Springs.

Opportunities to Give:

Mission Spotlight

Every month the Mission Committee chooses two items needed at the local food bank for our ‘Spotlight.’  All are encouraged to pick up these two items and bring them to St. Andrews.  This is a regular practice that allows us to share with others and to give back.

Monthly Mission Spotlights:

April is toothpaste and deodorant

May is olive oil, ketchup, mustard, & mayonnaise (no glass jars please)

Giving at Christmas

Angel Tree

During Advent, there is a Christmas Tree in the Gathering Area, with ornaments each holding a ‘Christmas Wish’ from a youth or child under the care of Lebanon County Children and Youth Services.  Tags are taken, and return in the form of wrapped gifts for the youth and children of this community.

Alternative Gift Fair

On the First Sunday in December the Mission Committee hosts an Alternative Gift Fair in Snyder Hall.  Fair Trade items are available to purchase, a table is set up to sign Christmas Cards for shut-ins, and organizations such as Heifer International, Eliminate Tetanus, Medical Benevolence, Mentor a Mother, World Vision, and Lebanon County Library are at the fair and offer opportunities to give in the name of a loved one.                       

Special Offerings

Throughout the year, St. Andrews participates in four of the Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA)

One Great Hour of Sharing

Is taken on Palm Sunday.  This offering is spread around the world, to those in need, and those who have been through natural disasters.

Pentecost

This offering is taken in May or June, around Pentecost.  40% of this offering stays local, and goes to benefit children and youth at risk.

Peacemaking

The peacemaking offering is taken on World Communion Sunday, the first week of October.  25% of this offering benefits local peacemaking work.

Christmas Joy

The Christmas Joy offering is taken in December.  This offering assists the Board of Pensions and Presbyterian-related schools.