In September, St. Andrew’s announced its yearlong effort to draw the circle wide, offering acceptance, care, and support to our neighbors and those who have too often been excluded in society and in our churches. Draw the Circle Wide, the name of this initiative, finds its inspiration from a hymn written by the Rev. Gordon Light, an Anglican Church of Canada priest, who wrote a hymn of the same name.

In the past few weeks, the people of St. Andrew’s have been busy drawing the circle of love and support wider and wider in events like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk and deepening our partnership with Hillside Elementary.

Thanks to the generous donations of many, we’ve helped Hillside Elementary stock their Tiger Ticket Store, which helps encourage and reinforce a positive environment for learning in school–an important issue when many youth are struggling with screen time and mental health concerns.

We will continue to deepen and expand these community partnerships so stay tuned for more information on how to connect and join us in drawing the circle wider and wider.

Just some of the many donations we’ve dropped off at Hillside Elementary since the school began!