ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
RAPID CITY, SD

FOREWORD

This brochure is provided to introduce prospective members to St. Andrew's Church, giving insight to our traditions, strengths, weaknesses and aspirations. The information is compiled from a July 2002 parish survey and reports presented to the Search Committee from the vestry, parish organizations, and individuals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[Background and Facility] 
[Worship Services] 
[Worship Ministry] 
[Outreach Ministry] 
[Adult Programs] 
[Finances] 
[Our Youth] 
[Diocese and Black Hills Deanery] 
[Rapid City] 
[Our Expectations] 
[Vestry] 
[Local Websites] 
[Personnel] 
[Office Address and Phone] 
[Parish Demographics] 
[Mission Statement] 
[Site and Floor Plans]

BACKGROUND AND FACILITY

Our humble beginning, in 1957, grew from the need to have a Sunday school and service on the swiftly growing west side of Rapid City. Twenty-three adults and 47 children met in the Red Barn Restaurant, and completed their own building the following year. By May 1968, St. Andrew's was granted parish status and has flourished and grown to be the third largest congregation in the diocese.

We have recently completed a building addition, with new administrative offices, library and conference room, that connects both the church and the parish hall into one facility. The church, built in 1989, seats 250 and houses a special edition Rodgers 535 organ with internal and external speakers and a Kawai RX 2 grand piano. There is a PA system with lapel and wireless microphones.

The former church building, now the parish hall, is newly remodeled and houses the church school, choir room, kitchen and dining facilities, and is the hub for parish and community activities.

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday: (Rite II Holy Eucharist) 

    8 am - Said Holy Eucharist 
    9:00 am - Sunday school for all ages, K-adult
   10:00 am - Sung Holy Eucharist, followed by coffee hour 

Wednesday

     10 am - Said Holy Eucharist, including the Anointing of the Sick

Seasonal Services

     7 am weekdays - Morning Prayer during Advent and Lent, led by Lay Readers

     4 pm Christmas Eve - Christ Mass (no choir)

    10:00 pm Christmas Eve - Carols

    10:30 pm  Christmas Eve - Christ Mass (choir)

    10:00 am and 7:00 pm - Ash Wednesday, Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

     6 pm Fridays - Stations of the Cross during Lent

Holy Week Services

     7 pm -  Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil 

One evening Taize Service during Advent and Lent

 Youth Sundays are held once a month during the school year when the youth participate as lectors, greeters, ushers, and gift bearers. A nursery is provided for children ages one month to three years.

Other special worship opportunities include Lenten sharing, participation in area ecumenical services on Thanksgiving and Good Friday, and the ever popular Blessing of the Animals.

St. Andrew's Day will be celebrated on Friday, November 22, beginning at 6 pm with  Evening Prayer, followed by supper club at The Golden Phoenix.

WORSHIP MINISTRIES

The worship committee meets monthly from September through May to plan seasonal services and discuss such areas as prayer, movement, music, and environment.

St. Andrew's is blessed to have a strong diaconate with two full time deacons and an active, dedicated laity ministering as Lay Readers, altar guild, acolytes, lectors, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, ushers, greeters and coffee hour hosts.

The music program is an integral part of worship for many members. There are approximately 15 choir members who meet at 8:30 am, September through Pentecost, for rehearsal prior to the 10:00 am service. Currently there are five members who rotate as cantors. Several members provide additional instrumental accompaniment and vocal solos, and are available for special music during the summer services when the choir is on break. 

OUTREACH MINISTRY

Outreach ministries have always been a significant focus of St. Andrew's. Parish members reach out to our community by feeding the homeless at the local Cornerstone Mission, and supporting Church Response, Habitat for Humanity, United Church Ministry, Working Against Violence, United Thank Offering, Church Army, and many more.

"Operation Santa Claus" has provided visits and holiday flowers to our home-bound parish members and the clergy discretionary fund has helped people in need coming to our doors.

ADULT PROGRAMS

St. Andrew's offers a variety of adult education opportunities including a 9 a.m. Sunday morning "Education Hour" for all ages,  weekly Bible study, lay ministry training, along with preparation for baptism, confirmation, and marriage.

During Lent, there is a concentration of activities with discussions offered Sunday mornings between services, a bi-annual Seder supper, and Wednesday evening programs with worship, faith talks and a soup supper jointly shared by the three Episcopal parishes in the city. Following the Wednesday morning Eucharist, a discussion group meets during Advent and Lent.

Other opportunities for parishioners to expand their Christian education include lectures from the Diocesan Niobrara School for Ministry, Education for Ministry and the national Trinity Institute Conference, seen locally by satellite. Different retreats are offered locally and at the Thunderhead Episcopal Center in the Black Hills.

 As a parish family, we interact through many fellowship events and organizations including The Men's Group, the Episcopal Church Women, The Prayer Chain, and The Dinner Club, as well as the occasional potluck dinner. Parishioners also have the opportunity to join national Episcopal organizations, such as the Brotherhood of St. Andrew and The Order of the Daughters of the King.

FINANCES

Our parish members are reliable and pledge on a regular basis using the envelope system. This provides a constant cash reserve to cover the day to day operating expenses. Through the dedication and dependability of the St. Andrew's parishioners, we were able to retire our previous mortgage in less than ten years.

Currently, we are paying off a loan for the new addition. Our five year "Let's Connect!" fund drive is nearing the end, and we will need to explore new options to help with further debt reduction.

OUR YOUTH

St. Andrew's has a dynamic Christian education program devoted to the needs of our parish youth to live with Christ in their daily lives in an ever-changing world. Parish volunteers guide all ages up through middle school, using the Episcopal Children's Curriculum with themes incorporating biblical, theological, historical, liturgical, spiritual and ethical teachings. The children also express their faith through music with performances throughout the church year.

Sunday School classes run for approximately 45 minutes, meeting at 9 a.m.

During the summer, the three Episcopal churches in Rapid City join together to organize and run the Vacation Bible School, with St. Andrew's hosting the venture every other year. Located in the Black Hills, the Thunderhead Episcopal Center, the diocesan camp, provides the ultimate church camp experience.

            The Youth Group consists mostly of middle school teens, however high school students are always welcome. They have their own space in the lower level of the Parish Hall.  This area was  recently renovated and was creatively painted by the youth members to reflect their varied personalities.         

The group meets one evening a month for a fun activity such as ice skating or watching a video and eating popcorn.  A Sunday afternoon in the month is slated for a more educational experience.

            The Youth Group has made gifts and delivered them to our home-bound parishioners and were enthusiastic participants  in the Big Brother, Big Sister Bowl-a-thon last year

DIOCESE AND BLACK HILLS DEANERY

The Diocese of South Dakota encompasses the entire state. Of the ninety-three congregations, sixty-three are primarily Native American. There are nine deaneries in the diocese, with the diocesan offices and cathedral in Sioux Falls, in the eastern part of the state. Because of its central location, many of the meetings take place in the state capital of Pierre, located on the Missouri River.

In addition to the Diocesan Convention, which takes place in the fall, the Niobrara Deanery (made up of all the Native American congregations in the diocese) gather in the spring for the Niobrara Convocation. Customarily held on the reservations, the convocation has been an important gathering for the Dakota (the dialect spoken east of the Missouri River) and Lakota (spoken west of the Missouri river) people for many years. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend both gatherings each year.

Our current bishop, Creighton Robertson, is the first Indian diocesan bishop.

St. Andrew's is one of nine congregations making up the Black Hills Deanery. The Deanery Council, which handles all deanery business, consists of ordained and lay members. The Dean is appointed by the bishop, and all other members are elected.

There are two other Episcopal churches in Rapid City. Emmanuel is a program-sized parish and has been in existence for over a century. St. Matthew's is a small parish and ministers primarily to the Lakota people. The city parishes cooperate on many joint projects.

RAPID CITY

St. Andrew's is located in Rapid City, the second largest city in South Dakota. Known as the "Star of the West," it is the region's commercial, cultural, and medical center, and the gateway to the Black Hills with nearly a million acres of breathtaking scenery, recreational opportunities, and America's famous attraction, Mt. Rushmore.

OUR EXPECTATIONS

St. Andrew's is a healthy parish with much to give. We look to increase our numbers, especially among young families, to help us grow into the future. We hope to expand our religious education opportunities, not only for our young children, but reaching our teens and adults alike. We want to grow spiritually, learning about Christ and his church, not only inwardly, but also by encouraging our members to reach out in service to others.

THE VESTRY 

The Reverend Kathy Monson Lutes, Rector

The Rev. Virginia Bird, Deacon

The Rev. Marty Garwood, Deacon

Shelli Vallis, senior warden 
Chuck Mickel, junior warden
Bernice Jones, Treasurer

Bob Dunfee, Bookkeeper

Rob Cress, Barbara Donnelly, Kelly Flory, Alan Glover, Ken Hanna, Marla Harvey, Lois Howe, Connie Lane,  Richard  McNeil, & Larry Sharkey.                                            

LOCAL WEBSITES 

www.standrewsepiscopalchurch.org 
www.state.sd.us 
www.rapidcity.com 
www.rapidcityjournal.com 
www.kevn.com 
www.kotatv.com 
www.msnbc.com/local/knbn

ADDRESS & PHONE 

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
3435 West South Street 
Rapid City, SD 57702 
Office (605) 343-4210 Monday-Friday 9 am- 12noon

Office@standrewsepiscopalchurch.org

 
 

PERSONNEL 

Rector: The Reverend Kathy Monson Lutes

PARISH DEMOGRAPHICS 

• 2001 Baptized Members - 258 

• Others who are active but Communicants in good standing - 242  

• not recorded as members - 8 

• Communicants in good standing (under age 16) - 48 

• Average Sunday attendance - 116 

• Sacraments and services: Sunday Eucharist - 100  

• Morning Prayer on Weekdays - 59 

• Weekday Eucharist - 73  

• Taize Service - 2 

• Private communions - 222  

• Confirmations - 9 

• Marriages - 2  

• Burials - 7 

• Baptisms - 9
  

MISSION STATEMENT 

The mission of St. Andrew's Church is to be a supportive family by serving as the Body of Christ. We provide a warm and friendly place for flexible worship, Christian education, spiritual nurture and growth, pastoral care, outreach and fellowship, so that we can experience the joy of living our faith.

  SITE PLAN

FLOOR PLAN

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
910 Soo San Drive • Rapid City, South Dakota 57702
605-343-4210 • e-mail: office@standrewsepiscopalchurch.org