In response to many requests for lists of needs that St. Andrew's has
for its growing ministries, we are inaugurating this special page on our
website to keep folks updated on items necessary in and around the
parish. The listing will include as much technical detail as necessary
and the person to contact, if you can help.

Office Computer Upgrades

Two years ago, we were blessed with a memorial gift of a new network server and master desktop system to augment our 13 “station” computers. We are grateful to the Everist family for this very generous gift. But our IT people (Network Technologies) have informed us that two of our computers are on the verge of collapse and one other computer is at an age where reliability and effectiveness are questionable. We also need to update our programming to Office 2007, which our IT folks can do under a master license.

For three new station computers alone (not counting the software upgrade), we need about $4,000. While we budget for computer upgrades each year, that portion of the budget is usually the first to be trimmed or cut to balance our annual budget. That has been the case for the past five years.

If you can help with a donation to upgrade and maintain the church’s computers, please put “computer upgrades” on the memo line of your check. Or, if you are someone who replaces your home computers at a rate that would make Bill Gates proud, we invite your “gently used” computers with the following minimum specs:
   1. Not more than 1 year old
   2. Running Windows XP Pro operating system
   3. Pentium IV or Athalon-class processor
   4. 512 Mb RAM (prefer 1 gig RAM)

Thank you for your prayerful consideration to this critical need! Please contact Emily Davenport if you can help!

Oktoberfest
Fun, Fall Event Designed to Raise Needed Funds

What event brings together fall leaves, steins of beer, oom-pah bands and wiener schnitzel? Why an Oktoberfest, of course! And St. Andrew’s is holding this fun event for members, family and friends on the evening of October 20.

The event, which is a fundraiser for the church's general operating budget, will also feature a live and silent auction.

"Our operating budget is under-funded by more than $120,000," says Ann Renne, Senior Warden. "Unless we find a way to raise funds quickly, many of our programs will be negatively impacted."

The Oktoberfest will be held at HJ's Youth Center from 7 to 11 p.m. (or until the beer runs dry or the band goes home, which ever happens first). Cathy Corey and Meg Townsend are chairing the evening and asking anyone interested in donating items for the auction to contact them by phone or email (contact information listed below.)

"We're hoping to make this an all-church event," says Cathy. "We know everyone has something to give. Our youth can donate babysitting or yard services, families can donate lake house rentals or catered meals, the creative ones in our midst can offer artistic lessons or creations. We hoping to acquire a wide range of items of various values so that everyone -- both adults and kids alike -- can take part in the bidding process."

The Oktoberfest chairs are also looking for additional volunteers to help organize the event. If you are interested in helping (or in contributing an auction item), please contact:

Cathy Corey        phone (913) 381-2812

Meg Townsend   phone (913) 649-5283

Sermon and Liturgy Ministry for the Website and the homebound.

Two years ago, we began a new sermon tape ministry with a used Apple laptop in the sound room of the church and CD's. We have now advanced this ministry to have sermons on our website (see http://www.standrewkc.org/sermon_archive.html). We now realize an opportunity to better serve our homebound with iPod Shuffle MP3 players.  Our needs:

• 15 iPod Shuffle MP3 Players: 512MB
(usually selling for around $70/unit)

This will ultimately allow us to provide MP3 sermons on the website of better quality than our current archives as well as save money on the purchase of CDs for the homebound. Contact John Spicer at frjohn@standrewkc.org if you would like to help.

Building Updates

Three years ago we made "temporary" room and directional signs to help both parishioners and visitors navigate the building. Those "temporary" signs are still in use and showing their age. We need to invest in more permanent, long lasting signs. Our needs:

$3,000 - 3,500 to invest in photopolymer
interior AND exterior signs.

This will allow us to update and improve the look of the interior of our
building and help visitors more easily find their way around our building. Contact Sonja Pecina at sonja@standrewkc.org if you would like to help.