The 2022 SALT Gathering—“Growing Together in Service and Community”—will be Saturday, March 12, beginning at 9 a.m. with registration, light snacks and a time of worship. The program itself is from 9:30 a.m to Noon. If you are involved in ministry at St. Andrew’s, or are looking for a place to serve and connect with your parish family, this retreat is for you! We hope you’ll come away from it inspired to grow with us in service to God and his Church.

We’ll open with a time of worship led by St. Andrew’s musicians, followed by a panel discussion with some of our current ministry leaders who will share their heart and passion for ministry and give you a glimpse into how their ministries in particular fulfill St. Andrew’s purpose and mission. We’ll touch upon the personal benefits and rewards to serving in ministry, look at how St. Andrew’s ministries serve others, and encourage you to participate with us in the mission God has given us to transform the world through Christ—one heart at a time.          

There will also be an opportunity to connect with one another as we break into small groups for discussion on ministry and mission at St. Andrew’s, where you see yourself fitting in to the big picture, and whether God might be calling you to serve—or maybe even lead. Light refreshments will be provided.

This event is open to all youth and adults in the church, and we hope you’ll come away from it inspired to grow with us in service to God and his Church, and experience the sense of community that comes with working together with a common purpose.

Our SALT (St. Andrew’s Leadership Touchstone) gatherings were originally designed to focus on learning to lead like Jesus, and becoming the church with the heart of Christ that we desire to be. While SALT started as a retreat for our ministry leaders, we have more recently opened it to all members of the church who desire to be a part of the work that God in us and through us here at St. Andrew’s.

SALT is not only an acronym, but it also calls to mind Jesus’ command to be salt and light to the world.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)