A Message from the Rector:
The world is coming alive again, and I am giddy every day, just walking by the peonies, Sweet William, bergamot, sweet woodruff, yarrow, iris, bleeding heart, crane’s bill, creeping phlox, hostas, and sedum emerging in our flower beds, the spring green leaves on trees and the tender seedlings of sunflowers, zinnia, and cosmos that are just starting to come to the surface of the potting soil of their container, all to the sound of constant bird song. Every year I am surprised again: I just can’t get over the glory of the season and of the gift of this blessed earth.
Many people experience this rush of joy each spring. It is a joy echoed in the spirituality of the Christian Celtic tradition. A foundation of Celtic spirituality affirms that the way to follow God is through two complementary sources: the letters of scripture, and the bounty and variety of nature. Celtic spirituality is founded in the observation that “…[t]he world is a theophany, a visible manifestation of God…even rocks emanate the light of the Creator.”[1] This world-affirming spirituality was crowded out early by other doctrines in the history of the church, but drumbeat of gratitude and delight in the created world, and the confidence that one can know the Holy One by loving and knowing creation has never died out, and feels particularly apt in our time.
A sign of this renewed appreciation for this spirituality is the growing number of Rogation Day celebrations. Rogation Days were first observed in the fourth century, falling in the Sixth Week of Easter. “Rogation” means “to ask,” and Rogation Day prayers bless the land and pray for fertility and abundance. These prayers are offered not just from the sanctuary, but while on a procession through the physical boundaries of the parish.
On May 5, St. Andrew’s will celebrate God’s creation and the Easter season by observing Rogation Sunday and celebrating a Celtic-inspired Eucharist. For St. Andrew’s’ first Rogation Sunday we will not walk the whole parish (that would go well beyond the parking lot!) but we will have a procession outside to celebrate creation and to pray for this blessed parcel of earth that is in our care. Then we will move inside to a Celtic inspired liturgy that affirms and celebrates the world as a visible expression of God’s light, love, and blessing.
Looking forward to being with you in worship in this growing season,
Jen+
[1] John Phillip Newell, Listening for the Heartbeat of God, New York: Paulist Press, 1997, p. 36a.
Connect With Us
Rector’s Office Drop-In Time
Rev. Jen has set her office drop-in day as Wednesday of each week from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. for anyone who would like to stop in and visit. You are always invited to make an appointment for a time convenient for you. Mondays are her Sabbath day.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, Sunday, April 21, led by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, 10:15 a.m. You can stream the service via St. Andrew’s Facebook Page. Click on this link to view the Live Stream. We will start the Live Stream 5 minutes prior to the start of the service.
Click here for the service booklet for April 21.
The Latest Updates
SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM DINNER
Harriet Moore, Beth Haymaker, and Karen Hirt Mannon are hosting a fundraising dinner on Friday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. in Hamilton Hall to benefit the Summer Enrichment Program. They are planning to buy lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. They are asking for your help with providing one of these items for the dinner. They will be announcing the dinner to the congregation and also inviting members of Gobin Church to join us. They will be asking for a donation at the door with a suggested donation of $20/person. They are asking for your help because they know you care about SEP. If you would rather just come and purchase a meal, that would be great too! If you know of others who might like to help donate food, please let Karen know. Karen’s contact information: karen.hirt.mannon@gmail.com and cell phone number (765) 720-2402. Thanks for all you do! Karen Hirt Mannon
DAVID FIELD CELEBRATION OF LIFE
There will be a Celebration of Life for David Field at the Prindle Institute at DePauw University on Sunday, April 21, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. At 3:00 p.m. there will be time for individuals to share their special memories of David.
HELPERS NEEDED WITH PHONE TREE
We are in need of 6 – 7 people who would like to help with heading up our phone tree that we are establishing. This group of people would be responsible for notifying church members of cancellations of church services due to weather, etc. Please let Karen Hirt Mannon know if you are interested by e-mailing her at karen.hirt.mannon@gmail.com.
SPRING VIRTUAL GATHERING FOR WOMEN
All women are invited to participate in the upcoming “Empowering Women of Faith” virtual gathering on May 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET sponsored by the Diocese of Indianapolis Women’s Ministries Council. Click here to register.
THE DIFFERENCE COURSE – THE ART AND PRACTICE OF RECONCILIATION
This will be on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Zoom. Our friend Demarius Walker will lead five sessions based on Rose Castle Foundation’s Habits of a Reconciler beginning April 17 and running through May 15. The Difference Course presents resources and strategies for the art of Reconciliation which is the heart of reconciling wrongs and repenting – that is, making amends and turning to new paths. For more information, please click link here.
EPISCOPAL 101
Rev. Jen will be offering a five week series beginning Sunday, April 21 and ending May 26 that will explore the foundations of our history, worship, and work in the world. Please contact her or the office if you are interested. The series will be offered on Sundays after church from 11:45 – 12:30. Dates are April 21, April 28, May 5, May 12, and May 26. Please contact Jen+ if you prefer a different time.
ADVENT HOUSE UPDATE!
Per Brian Cox, our Advent House community project is exciting and making great headway. The bathroom and new stairs are completed, and lighting is finished. We now need your help to clean and paint the upstairs bedrooms and hallway. Join us, whether as a family or individual, for some good old fashioned fun. No painting expertise necessary; all supplies will be provided in the room. Let’s come together and make a difference for our St. Andrew’s family and community. Macie Barker and her sorority have also teamed up to help with the painting!
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Most weeks, the Tuesday Bible and Book group meet at 4:30 p.m. We are currently reading Debie Thomas, “Into the Mess.” On these Tuesdays, there is a service of Evening Prayer beginning at 4:00 p.m. Don’t be afraid to join in even if you come late!
THIS WEEK’S SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY
Please add Adult Pull-Ups Size Large, 4 and 5 year old Children’s Pull-Ups, and boxes of Laundry Sheets to your shopping list for the NFP for the month of May. The laundry sheets are more popular and desirable especially for the older folk as they are much easier to handle than the bottles of liquid. Meals and conversation in Hamilton Hall are going well. Patrons are now able to pick out items they most need. Your contributions help our budget go farther in helping meet the needs of those in Putnam County. The next Non-Food Pantry will be Saturday, April 27 from noon – 2:00 p.m. Please let us know if you are able to help out in any way. FYI: Baskets at church are now dedicated for the NFP and not the food pantry.
APRIL LOOSE PLATE SUNDAY COLLECTIONS FOR SEP
Monies in the loose plate collection on the 2nd Sunday of each month normally go towards Rev. Jen’s Discretionary Fund used to help the less fortunate in Putnam County, but this month all loose plate collections for all Sundays will go towards Greencastle’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) which benefits youth enrichment and support through the summer. You can still donate to the SEP by including a note in the memo field on your check made payable to St. Andrew’s and by coming to the SEP dinner on April 19th which suggests a $20 donation for a lasagna dinner.
FREE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
We have some large print Day by Day daily devotionals in the sanctuary that you are free to take home for your personal devotions–and if we know that people would like copies, we can order the right amount. Many of you may also appreciate the on-line version of Day to Day. Click here.
ON-GOING COVID PROTOCOL
We continue to respond to both our county’s current CDC designation and to the current variant. Masking is optional. Decisions on COVID policy have moved from the Reconvening Committee to Rev. Jen and the Wardens.
Prayers and Reflections for This Week
We have heard that the daily reflections and scripture readings provided during Lent were appreciated. The meditations are written by persons from Gobin UMC and Beech Grove UMC. They will be in the newsletter each week and go from Wednesday to Tuesday, except for Sunday. Whether you enjoy these every day or as the Spirit moves you, may this resource continue to bring you spiritual food for the journey. Blessings!
Click here to view the readings and accompanying links.
Non-Food Pantry Latest
Saturday, April 27
• Noon to 2:00 p.m.
There will be a distribution in Hamilton Hall and light lunches will be served inside. We are grateful for all those who have worked so hard to obtain supplies for the Non-Food Pantry. Items are having to be purchased from a variety of sources making it much more expensive. Donations to help offset this extra cost will be gratefully accepted!
Top 3 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
Haile Bane, grandson of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at St. Andrew’s
Sharon Bone, friend of Emily Knuth
Rae Boscoe, friend of Henrietta Schwartz
Vernon Bothwell, friend of Warren & Connie Macy
Cara & Leo Paul, niece and great nephew of Fred Vallowe
The family of Rick Cassara, friend of Dave & Sue Murray
Chance Charters, friend of the Majors family
The family of Mandy Charters, friend of the Majors family
Adam Cohen, friend of St. Andrew’s
Clara Copeland, friend of Jen+
Anita Edenfield, friend of Skip Sutton
Sharon Ellett, friend of Joanne Haymaker
Bob Fatzinger, brother of Barbara Pare
Carole Greenawald
Thad Jones, brother of Steve Jones
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob & Mimi Breese
The family of Don Marple, brother of Martha Rainbolt
Mary Mountz
Tom Mullen, father of Patti Harmless
Marilyn & Leo Nelson, sister & brother-in-law of Joanne Haymaker
Sarah Oldstone, sister-in-law of Jen+
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Gloria Smith
Skip Sutton
Karen Swalley, friend of Thom & Gwen Morris
The family of Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
Scout Whitten
The family of Marion Visoskas, sister of Pat Baylis
Deb Wilder, sister of Connie Macy
Dwight Ziegler, uncle of Stephanie Gurnon
Kat and family, friend of Jen+ & Chris
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Postulants and Candidates for Holy Orders: The Rev. Cory Irwin, Ms. Carolin Frueh, Ms. Meghan McConnell, Mr. Bryan Furuness, Mr. Tyler Regnier.
Our companion dioceses: The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil: The Most Rev. Mauricio Jose Araujo De Andrade, Primate of Brazil and Bishop of Brasilia. The people and Diocese of Haiti and Saint Andre’s in Mithon.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Australia.
Birthdays: None.
Anniversaries: Sara Nimori and Ross Whitten, April 24.
Special Events and Services
