Saint Andrew’s Parish Profile
100 Arroyo Pinon Drive
Sedona, Arizona 86336
Welcome to St. Andrew’s!
In the Diocese of Arizona (http://www.azdiocese.org/)
Table of Contents
Living in Northern Arizona-Verde Valley Communities
A Brief History of St. Andrew’s
Parish Life at St. Andrew’s
Worship
Music at St. Andrew’s
Weekday Parish Life
Christian Education; Children, families and adults
Outreach and Pastoral Care
Mission Work
Memorial Court Yard and Columbarium Chapel
Leadership Teams
Who we are
Stewardship
Our dreams for the future
Finances
pg. 1
page
2
3
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10
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13 & 14
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17 & 18
Living in Northern Arizona-Verde Valley Communities
The Verde Valley is roughly defined by the edge of the Mogollon Rim and the Mingus Mountain
range. Most of the Valley is part of Yavapai County, one of the largest counties in the United States –
stretching from Black Canyon City in the south to Sedona in the north, Clarkdale in the west to several
communities on the east side of Interstate 17. Elevations range from about 3500 to 4500 feet above sea
level, giving the valley four distinct seasons. There are several towns and unique unincorporated
communities, as well as several reservation areas belonging to the Yavapai-Apache Nation. Altogether,
there are approximately 70,000 residents in the Verde Valley.
Sedona has the most dramatic
landscape in the valley and thus its
economy is driven largely by tourism. The
largest town in the Verde Valley is
Cottonwood (with a population of about
11,500) which has some light industry and
more affordable housing options than the
greater Sedona area (average housing just
under $200,000 vs approximately $435,000
for Sedona). It is home to a number of
residents who work in Sedona. Also in that
quadrant of the Verde are the towns of
View of Coffee Pot Rock
Clarkdale and Jerome, the latter being
another tourism driven economy known as
a ghost town of copper mining history. There are remains of an ancient Sinagua tribe’s presence in
Clarkdale at Tuzigoot National Monument. The Verde Valley is rapidly becoming known for its vineyards
and wine making and Yavapai Community College has now established a viticulture and enology
program (the first in the Southwest) on its Verde campus in Clarkdale to help meet the needs of the
industry.
On the eastern side of Interstate 17 is the town of Camp Verde, the oldest non Native American
community in the Valley, dating back to the 1860s. Just north of there, still on the eastern edge are
Montezuma’s Castle and Montezuma’s Well, both maintained by the National Park Service as examples
of the occupation by Native American tribes from 600 AD to the 1800s. The Yavapai-Apache Nation still
has a strong presence in this area, including a casino and conference center near Montezuma’s Castle.
Also on that eastern side are the unincorporated communities of Rimrock, Lake Montezuma and Beaver
Creek.
pg. 2
On the northern edge of the Verde Valley is the greater Sedona area, which includes the town of
Sedona (population just over 10,000) and some
unincorporated areas which share the Sedona mailing
address and are included in the school and fire
districts. Most notable of those is Big Park, also known
as the Village of Oak Creek, a community of about
6300 with a very strong sense of itself and a growing
reputation as a premier destination for hiking and
mountain biking. Interestingly, the northern and
eastern edges of the city of Sedona lie in Coconino
County rather than Yavapai County. The Sedona area
View of Bell Rock
offers several public school choices
(http://www.sedona.k12.az.us): Big Park Community
School (K-6), West Sedona School (also K-6), Red Rock High School (7-12) and Sedona Charter School (K8, http://sedonacharterschool.com). There are also several private schools in the Valley including Verde
Valley School which offers an International Baccalaureate diploma.
A Brief History of Saint Andrew’s
We are fortunate to have two
Episcopal Churches in the Verde Valley area.
St. Andrew’s Church was originally a mission
church intertwined with St. Thomas of
Clarkdale. St. Thomas was founded in 1913
when Clarkdale was the hub of the thriving
mining industry in the Verde Valley. In 1957
there were 12 members of St. Thomas who
resided in Sedona and they made a decision
to hold services there. In 1967, a priest was
appointed to serve as the Vicar of the
Episcopal Church in the Verde Valley and the
Saint Andrew's Church
two churches shared a rector and a vestry
until 1989, when we lovingly separated with the blessings of the Bishop. In 1987 St. Andrew’s split over
liturgy and theology. The rector left St. Andrew’s and the Episcopal Church to found a 1928 Prayer Book
parish in the Sedona area. The parishioners who remained grew St Andrew’s into a vital parish under
the leadership of the four succeeding priests.
pg. 3
St. Andrew’s church was built in 1977 by faith,
volunteer labor and donations. The Blanche Henderson
Garden, located between the church and the parish hall,
was built as a memorial to one of St. Andrew’s charter
members and leads to the Columbarium Chapel which
was completed in 1979. The garden, with its shade
trees and water feature, is a peaceful spot for honoring
our loved ones, meditation or just relaxing.
Entrance to the Columbarium
Parish Life at St. Andrew’s
Parish life at St. Andrew’s is guided by the mission statement found on the wall of the parish
hall, a statement written by the vestry several years ago. St Andrew’s takes mutual ministry seriously.
Together with our priest and deacon, the laity is involved in almost all aspects of ministry.
Each service includes the Prayer of Self Dedication, which we feel speaks to our lives both within
and outside of church activities:
Lord, help us to give ourselves when we are giving. Teach us to give without
thought of receiving, and to receive without thought of giving. Teach us not to
withhold or to withdraw ourselves. Teach us to hoard nothing: love, money, time,
possessions. Make us ready to give, even our life if it is require of us. And while
we have it, use it as an instrument of your peace. Amen
pg. 4
Worship
The Worship Committee is led by our rector
and includes our deacon, verger and other lay
members. At every worship service, all members of
the congregation are considered part of the Body of
Christ. Liturgy, taken from the Greek, means “the
work of the people.”
Our altar guild includes both adults and
youth. Each Sunday, volunteers in the congregation
read the Prayers of the People and the readings.
Our priest preaches most Sundays, and our deacon
occasionally.
St. Andrew’s has an 8:00 a.m. Rite I service
without music and with adult altar servers and
readers.
At the 10:00 a.m. Rite II service, adults and
youth sing in the choir, serve as ushers, crucifers,
candle bearers, lay readers, chalice bearers, and
altar servers along with our verger, deacon and
priest. The Third Sunday of the month is Youth
Sunday, when all the readers and servers are
members of our youth group. We are called to
worship by our beautiful carillon (bells).
Laity and clergy are also involved in weekday
services, including Morning Prayer on Mondays,
Tuesdays and Fridays: sharing readings from
contemplative faith traditions at the Wednesday
Contemplative Eucharist; and co-operating in leading the Thursday Co-op Eucharist, an outgrowth of a
workshop on Emergence Christianity.
pg. 5
On Saturday evenings, our priest,
verger, lay reader, and a pianist lead a Taize’
service that includes singing, praying in
silence, lighting prayer candles, and a
Eucharist. The service draws worshippers
from St. Andrew’s and other faith traditions
and is growing in attendance.
The bi-weekly Monday afternoon
ecumenical Centering Prayer group is led by
lay leaders from St. Andrew’s and other
churches in Sedona.
In 2014, the St. Andrew’s family joyfully celebrated the first same sex wedding at St. Andrew’s.
In 2014 the vestry voted for St. Andrew’s to officially become a “Welcoming Parish” and to welcome all
without bias. In keeping with that commitment, St. Andrew’s hosted Arizona panels of the AIDS Quilt
last winter and held special services in honor of those who have died of AIDS.
On the Sunday closest to St. Andrew’s Day, the
congregation processes
(following verger, cross,
banner, bagpipes and
choir) from the main street
of Sedona to the church. A
Blessing of the Animals
happens each year on the
Sunday near the Feast of
St. Francis.
Music at St. Andrews
The St. Andrew’s family responds well to
a variety of music! At our recent “Parish
Conversation” many suggestions included
wanting music that is contemporary, joyful,
diverse, and uplifting and using folk songs,
guitars, etc. There are also many who like the
traditional hymns sung with organ.
pg. 6
Congregational Singing
Worship music at St. Andrew’s is played and
sung at the Sunday 10:00am Rite II service as well as
the Saturday 7:00pm Taize service. The parish family
happily joins in the singing. (The 8:00am Sunday Rite
I service has traditionally been celebrated without
music).
This summer, we have combined our two
Sunday services into one service beginning at 9:00am.
We are rotating, organ, piano, digital, and
contemporary music and a silent Rite I. Singing of
chants at the Taize’ Service remains unchanged.
Our recently retired music director worked with our rector for 13 years. With both of them
leaving, we are left with some challenges as well as many opportunities! We are listening for feedback
from our members to help determine the future of our music program.
Music Library
The Episcopal Hymnal of 1980 supplies most of the congregational music. Wonder, Love, and
Praise, a 1997 supplemental hymnal is available with more contemporary and gospel-type songs not
found in the 1980 version. The Taize service, as well as healing prayers at the 10:00am service, uses
music from Songs & Prayers from Taize (GAI Publications). A substantial file of diverse anthems is
available for choir. All music presented for congregational use adheres to licensing requirements.
Instruments
Musical instruments include a Rodgers 2manual church organ. (Sufficient cable was
provided to enable the console to be moved to
the altar area). The church owns three pianos, a
Kimball upright in the Parish Hall choir room and
two in the church. While the upright piano in the
church is better suited for console conducting, the
“baby grand” Baldwin can be requested. St. Andrews
also owns a set of 2.5 octave hand chimes that are used
for special accompaniments. We have enjoyed
numerous guest performers who provided a wonderful
addition to the core music program.
pg. 7
Weekday Parish Life
As ministers of the Church, both clergy and laity
attempt to live out the good news of God’s love not only
at church but in the world. The Men’s Group meets
monthly to build community and enjoy a barbeque.
Many of our parish family members volunteer
countless hours in our parish. They are members of the
vestry, church treasurer, and various committee
members. Others work in the vegetable garden, help
the parish administrator in the office, and take care of
the church’s property. They serve as coffee hour volunteers and provide a feast in the parish hall after
funerals. The Mary-Martha Fellowship discusses a book to inspire their spiritual growth, share a meal,
and pray for all those who are on the parish prayer list.
Nearly everyone takes part in our annual, joyful,
and exhausting rummage sale. This 2 day event has been
running for many years and draws a large following from
around the Verde Valley and even appeals to many out-ofstate visitors. The significant funds raised are used for
many ministries, including the Community Supper and the
Sedona Literacy Center.
During Lent, various groups in the congregation
prepare and serve a simple Wednesday night supper prior
to an adult education program.
St. Andrew’s has a store, the Ravens’ Cache,
which sells artwork made by members of the
congregation, including jewelry, and photo and art cards.
Episcopal Church key chains and dog collars, beautifully
shaped Arizona stones, and used books on religious
topics are also sold. The artists donate part of the
proceeds to the work of the church.
Christian Education: Adults
On Sunday mornings between the two services, our deacon, leads Bible Challenge, Read the
Bible in a Year. Participants read assigned passages from the Hebrew Scriptures, a Psalm, and a reading
from the Gospels in order to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Bible. The class includes
a lively discussion of the readings.
A Wednesday morning Greek class is taught by a retired professor of classical studies. The
group has studied Greek classics as well as the Gospel of John.
pg. 8
The Lunch Bunch reads and discusses various books under the leadership of the rector and lay
leaders. Topics covered in recent years include an introduction to Judaism (using a Teaching Company
DVD) taught by Rabbi Shai Cherry, Embracing Emergence Christianity: Phyllis Tickle on the Church’s Next
Rummage Sale, Richard Rohr’s book Everything Belongs, Thomas Keating’s The Mystery of Christ. The
current study is Like Dating, Only Worse: Rethinking the Ministerial Search Process combined with a
Bible study of passages about calls to ministry and times of change.
Wednesday Soup Suppers during Lent are followed by classes led by the rector or lay leaders.
Classes have included a program on gifts for ministry; Embracing an Adult Faith with Marcus Borg and
Tim Scorer; and Spirituality: Islam and Christianity. Each year, we hold a weekend workshop led by an
outside speaker such as Phyllis Tickle, Roy Hoover, Stephen Patterson, Bernard Brandon Scott, and
Tryshe Devney.
Our rector teaches a class on the Episcopal Church, “Episcopalian 101,” for those interested in
being confirmed or received. St. Andrew’s also has a lending library focusing on contemplative prayer,
biblical studies, and other spiritual reading.
Christian Education: Youth
St. Andrew’s Children’s Program has a part-time youth minister. The youth program currently
involves 9 pre-teens and 5 teens. Youth meet in the parish hall at the beginning of the 10am Eucharist,
to read the Sunday’s lectionary readings, followed by “interesting discussions about how so many
stories in the Bible can be translated into the contemporary world.” After this class, the young people
join the congregation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The 3rd Sunday of each month is Youth Sunday.
At the 10 o’clock Rite II service, our young people
participate as lay readers, altar servers, Eucharistic
ministers, ushers and members of the altar guild. They
enjoy being an important part of the church’s ministry.
St. Andrew’s youth program focuses on helping
our young people learn that “God loves them and that
St. Andrew’s is their home.” They work together to
present pageants which help bring a Gospel story alive
for the congregation. To raise funds for the Episcopal
youth camp near Prescott, they help fix and serve the
annual Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner, hold an annual
car wash, and create and sell Mother’s Day cards. Each
year, during a Sunday service, some of our young
people have shared how attending summer camp has
had a powerful impact on their lives.
Our youth are also involved in outreach
ministry. Next summer, they will participate in an
outreach mission to Baja, Mexico. They will be led by a
parish member who has a long history of working with this outreach ministry.
pg. 9
LOOKING AHEAD to improve Christian Education
Our younger adult members tell us that they enjoy programs after work, on week-ends or on
Sunday, as well as programs of short duration. These are things that can revitalize our parish and more
fully blend our generations. Our teens, have requested separation into junior high and high school ages
for Sunday School. We have discussed various youth programs which can enhance worship.
Pastoral Care and Outreach
At the end of the 10am Sunday Eucharist service, we pray, “Father, send us out to do the work
you have given us to do.” At St. Andrew’s, we take our ministry in the world seriously.
Our rector is the primary director of Pastoral Care. Our deacon, lay eucharistic visitors, and the
Community of Hope (COH) members assist the rector with pastoral care of the housebound, sick, and
dying. Clergy and lay eucharistic visitors visit the ill and housebound. Lay volunteers help lead a
communion service each month for local assisted living and nursing home residents. Members of the
prayer chain pray for the sick and volunteers welcome newcomers. A member of the vestry sends letters
out to the many visitors who worship with us on Sundays.
In 2014 St. Andrew’s was assigned a deacon who provides on-going care to many elderly and
sick parishioners in their homes and in the hospital and also leads various support groups. Our deacon is
a member of COH and is responsible for assigning members of COH to parishioners who would benefit
from this extra care.
The COH at St. Andrew’s consists of 10 church members who are trained and commissioned to
provide pastoral care in daily life. In this ministry of ‘presence’, members serve in any setting where
“adults, youth or children are sick, in crisis, at risk, or underserved---especially the poor, the homeless,
the imprisoned and the elderly” (COH Lay Pastoral Caregiver’s Notebook). COH members are trained in
“Safeguarding God’s Children”, the diocesan program for recognizing and preventing child abuse. Most
are trained in Emergency Mental Health services. COH members meet monthly in the Circle of Care for
renewal and review of ongoing work.
St Andrew’s hosted the AIDS
quilt, held a World AIDS Day
remembrance service, and opened the
church for all to honor those who have
passed from this disease. Our priest
and deacon began visiting the main
tourist area of Sedona (known as
Uptown) on Ash Wednesday and have
distributed “Ashes to Go” to over 40
people in one year.
For many years, St. Andrew’s
has been an Episcopal Jubilee Ministry
Center. In keeping with our Core Value
of “Love to help and help to love”, St.
Andrew’s members have been involved
in many outreach ministries.
pg. 10
Other Mission Work and Community Outreach
Clergy and laity from our church, have joined churches around the diocese in visiting and
worshipping across the Mexican border. We have participated in visits to a Navajo Episcopal mission.
Our parish family joins with members of the Sedona Mexican community to celebrate the Day of the
Dead with remembrance altars, a Mexican dinner, music and dancing. Our clergy and parishioners
helped start an interfaith Thanksgiving service over 20 years ago which is a testament to the
community’s acceptance of multiple faith journeys.
Parish members minister to the greater
Sedona community at the weekly Monday night
Sedona Community Supper that feeds about 75
people including senior citizens, families with young
children and the homeless. Members of St.
Andrew’s take turns preparing the suppers along
with other Sedona churches, the synagogue and
civic organizations. We strive to create an
atmosphere wherein all those attending can feel
like family. Some attendees have begun attending
Sunday services.
On the first and third Mondays of the month, a room in the parish hall houses the Arizona
Attorney General’s Sedona Satellite Office, where trained laity from the parish assist victims of civil
rights abuse and consumer fraud.
Our deacon leads a new group called Caring for Caregivers, which provides an opportunity for
caregivers to discuss coping strategies. She is also a member of the Mental Health Coalition of the
Verde Valley and has organized meetings at St. Andrew’s to support the coalition, including a Mental
Health First Aid class held in response to the increasing number of suicides in recent years.
In 1988, several parishioners of St. Andrew’s developed a one-on-one tutoring program for local
second and third graders who were performing below grade level. The
success and appreciation for this free and helpful program has been
shown in the enthusiasm of parents, students, teachers and school
administrators – and celebrated when we see a former student’s name
on the honor roll or for another achievement. One member of St
Andrew’s has faithfully volunteered with the program since it began –
another directs and coordinates the all-volunteer, true grass roots
program. For more information, visit www.sedonaliteracy.org.
Our parish nurse provides a Blood Pressure Clinic between the 8am and 10am services on
Sundays. She also volunteers with the Transitional Care Program at Verde Valley Caregivers to assist
people at home who are just out of the hospital and at risk of returning to a hospital.
pg. 11
Memorial Court Yard, Columbarium Chapel, and Labyrinth
The memorial courtyard and fountain provide a quiet
place for spiritual renewal and contemplation. The
Columbarium Chapel, located in the courtyard, provides a
quiet place for reflection. Our Labyrinth is located in the
front of the church and symbolizes our walk through life.
Leadership Teams (clergy, lay staff, vestry, finance, stewardship, & more)
Clergy, a small lay staff and many highly talented volunteers make St. Andrew’s a vital
congregation. One of the first tasks for our new rector will be shaping the entire leadership structure to
support our future needs.
We have nine vestry members. The Executive Committee, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and
Treasurer work with the rector to implement vestry-approved policies. The Finance Committee, whose
members have relevant financial backgrounds in corporate and academic settings, support the vestry
with fiscal management and investment advice. The Stewardship Committee leads our new approach to
sustainable giving.
pg. 12
Who we are:
pg. 13
pg. 14
Stewardship
Early in 2015, St. Andrew’s 2016 Stewardship Committee embarked on a new comprehensive
campaign which used the principles set forth in the book, Fearless Church Fundraising by Charles Lafond.
The author encourages parishioners to set their hearts on the path to gratitude and generosity as a gift
back to God. The committee emphasized the need for parishioners to contribute their time, talent, and
treasure and also showcased St. Andrew’s many ministries and programs. One successful component of
the campaign was Ministry Minutes where parishioners shared personal testimonies of how the parish
has helped them in their life and Christian walk.
The current Stewardship Committee is building
on the success of the 2016 campaign, which saw an
increase in the number of pledges and the amount
pledged, by expanding upon the ideas that worked.
Parishioners are becoming more aware of St. Andrew’s
many ministries and the effects they have on their
spiritual lives. The emphasis on gratitude and generosity
is taking the fear out of giving and putting it in a more
positive light.
Putting the “Fun” into Fundraising
The 2016 operating budget includes expected
income of $11,500 from Shindigs. Parish members are
encouraged to support Shindigs by sponsoring events and/or
attending events. All revenue generated at Shindig events
goes into the church's operating fund which supports the
ministries of the church.
Some of the
Shindigs we have
held include: a four
course dinner with
Four Course Dinner with Music
lovely background
music, an afternoon of classical piano and string music by a
parishioner and her grand-daughters, “Danson under the Stars”
with music and hors d’oeuvre in the garden and a live auction,
Danson Under the Stars
a family-style spaghetti dinner in the Parish Hall, and a boardgame afternoon in the parish hall. In October 2016 we will
have a wine tasting shindig featuring wines from the Verde Valley.
pg. 15
Our dreams for the future
On April 24th more than 70
parishioners gathered at the parish
hall to discover our God-given gifts
and how to use them to minister in
the community. We also shared our
dreams for the future.
As members of the Body of
Christ growing in faith and practice,
we established the following goals to
transform lives and strengthen the
ministry of Jesus Christ at St.
Andrew’s.





To enrich and support our children and youth ministries.
To strengthen the financial health of St. Andrew’s.
To increase fellowship and build community with all age groups.
To sustain our core values of being inclusive, open and welcoming.
To develop an excellent and varied music program to support our worship – a program
which will include contemporary, joyful music as well as more traditional music.
We are searching for a rector who embodies our core values of inclusiveness, acceptance,
forgiveness, and a sincere, welcoming attitude; someone who is loving and wise, warm, humorous and
open-hearted. We seek someone who can lead us on a spiritual journey and bring us closer to living
Christ’s gospel in our daily lives; someone who is a spiritual shepherd who values and can enhance a
variety of spiritual paths and who is on their own spiritual journey. We seek someone who is
progressive yet respectful of our history. S/he must be able to deal creatively with change and the
discomfort and, sometimes, conflict that arises from change. S/he must be a good listener (so that
people feel heard, not just listened to) – someone who will mentor us as well as shepherding us.
pg. 16
Finances
Over the last three years, St. Andrew’s has been able to increase our operating reserve fund
significantly. Our stable congregation, lack of debt and success in our Stewardship Drive have positioned
us well for the near future. Our slight current budget deficit is a reflection of anticipated expenses
associated with the rector search process. Our Endowment Funds are relatively new so are still in the
“growth stage.” Currently their values are too small to contribute toward any significant capital projects
or operations assistance.
pg. 17
pg. 18