A Message from the Rector
Some time in my mid-twenties I began to feel that I just didn’t know how to pray—and also was certain that there must be one way to do it, and that someone could teach me. I asked my priest for help—and he did—but not in a way that answered the question once and for all. I’ve learned that prayer is as much an orientation as it is a practice, and like any practice, you have to do it over and over and over again, in all kinds of moods and places and moments.
I’m always on the lookout for descriptions and advice given by others on how to pray, in part because most people who write on this subject acknowledge the challenges. In my summer reading I came across this beautiful description of prayer from Pádriag Ó Tuama that I’ve been waiting to share with you. The quote comes from the very end of his book In the Shelter, p. 245.
Peace and blessings,
Jen+
Neither I nor the poets I love have found the keys to the kingdom of prayer and we cannot force God to stumble over us where we sit. But I know that it’s a good idea to sit anyway. So every morning, I kneel, waiting, making friends with the habit of listening, hoping that I’m being listened to. There, I greet God and my own disorder. I say hello to chaos, my unmade decisions, my unmade bed, my desire and my trouble. I say hello to distraction and privilege, I greet the day and I greet my beloved and bewildering Jesus. I recognize and greet my burdens, my luck, my controlled and uncontrolled story. I greet my untold stories, my unfolding story, my unloved body, my own body. I greet the things I think will happen and I say hello to everything I do not know about the day. I greet my own small world and I hope that I can meet the bigger world that day. I greet my story and hope that I can forget my story during the day, and hope that I can hear some stories, and greet some surprising stories during the long day ahead. I greet God, and I greet the God who is more God than the God I greet.
Hello to you all, I say, as the sun rises above the chimneys of North Belfast.
Hello.
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. Also, she has chosen Mondays as her Sabbath.
The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, August 21 led by Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, 10:15 a.m.
You can connect to the service via Zoom. Click on this link to connect. If you have not used Zoom before, you will be prompted to download Zoom, go ahead and do that. When you enter the meeting you should be able to see and hear others and others can see and hear you. If you come in a little late, please listen for a moment before speaking. In order to see everyone, go to Gallery view (upper right on PCs and upper left for Macintosh). When we get started everyone except the speaker will be muted. If you are reading or playing music, please be sure to unmute yourself.
If you are connecting via telephone dial 301-715-8592 and when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 858 0497 0006 and press #, then enter the password: pray and press # again. NOTE: This is a new ID number as of April 4, 2022 so be sure to enter the new information!
Click here for the service booklet for August 21.
The Latest Updates
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY AT 4:30 P.M. IN HAMILTON HALL
On August 23, we will be reading and discussing the Gospel passage that is assigned for the following Sunday. The Gospel passage for Sunday, August 28 is Luke 14:1, 7-14. You can find the week’s Bible readings at lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL. Beginning August 30, we will begin reading Garry Wills, What the Gospel Meant. All are welcome.
NEW PHOTOS NEEDED
We are in need of updated photos for the St. Andrew’s website so please remember to take pictures of any events or happenings and send them into the church office. Thank you!
CALLING ALL ACOLYTES!
We will have acolyte teams serving beginning in September. Acolytes help with worship, from lighting candles and ringing bells to carrying the Gospel and leading with the cross. Please let Renee or Rev. Jen know if you are interested.
COVID PROTOCOL UPDATE
Given the recent rise in COVID rates, we will send an email each Friday to alert you to the protocol of the coming Sunday. Please be prepared to be masked; masks will be provided at the doors for your convenience. We pray that this current variant pass soon, and that those who are infected are quickly restored to health.
PARISH BRUNCH, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
You are invited to a parish brunch at the Oldstone-Moores’ after church September 11. We are across the street in the big white house, 601 East Seminary Street.
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 Saint Andrew’s, 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, August 27
• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution coordinated by Alex Roehrkasse and sack lunches will be served. We are very grateful to Kate Berry, Martha Rainbolt, Carl Huffman, Karen Hirt Mannon, and Christiane Wisehart who have worked very hard to obtain supplies for the Non-Food Pantry. Kroger is not able to acquire enough products for us so the items are being purchased from a variety of sources. This is much more expensive. Donations to help offset this extra cost will be gratefully accepted!
Top 3 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
The family of Jack Angleton, brother of Peggy Angleton
Haile Bane, grandson of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
Lee Bird, nephew of Lucy Wieland
Douglas Butler, brother-in-law of Claudia Butler
Richard A. Butler, father-in-law of Claudia Butler
Bernice Emrick, mother of Karen Hirt Mannon
The family of Robert E. Fatzinger, Sr., father of Barbara Paré
Nancy Ferriani and the family of Bob Ferriani, friends of Warren and Connie Macy
Katie Gleichman, relative of Jim Ensley
Mary Ellen Gurnon, aunt of Daniel and Stephanie Gurnon
The family of Roxanne Harrison, friend of Jen+
The family of Bob Haymaker
Shandol Hoover, friend of Dave and Sue Murray
Terumi Imai, friend of Jen+
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob and Mimi Breese
Judy Lepper, aunt of Trudy Selvia
Grayson Lyons, great nephew of Peggy Angleton
Mike Majors Sr., father-in-law of Renee Majors
Mary Mountz
Bryan Murray and the Murray family
Lucas Murray, grandson of Dave and Sue Murray
Gordon Redden
The family of Margaret Sammons, friend and colleague of Jen+
The family of Jordan Sanders, sister of Jim Ensley
Mike Schmidt, brother of Renee Hood
Elizabeth and Natalie Sheffler, daughter and granddaughter of Page and Narda Cotton
Gloria Smith
The family of Susan Stewart, friend of Jen+
Skip Sutton
Karen Swalley, friend of Joanne Haymaker
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Saint David’s Church, Bean Blossom; The Rev. Mary Bargiel, Rector.
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 Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria.
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: Dave and Sue Murray, August 22
Worship COVID policy
The volatile nature of COVID makes it necessary to revise policy for gathering. Beginning immediately, so long as Putnam Country COVID rates are designated as low (green) or medium (yellow) by the CDC, we will be mask optional, except for the choir which is in close quarters.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church COVID policy, revised by Regathering Committee and approved by Vestry, May 17, 2022. This policy is subject to revision as COVID continues to evolve. We welcome your feedback on these policies.
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| Putnam County COVID rates | Worship in person | Congregational Singing | Choir Singing | Communion | Coffee Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green (low) | Masks optional | Allowed | Masked | Both kinds provided | Masks optional |
| Yellow (medium) | Masks optional | Allowed with mask | Masked | Both kinds provided | Masks optional |
| Red (high) | Masks required | Only Choir | Masked | Bread only | Coffee hour suspended |
THE COMMON CUP, INTINCTION, AND FULL COMMUNION
I would like to discuss our returning to communion by wine via the common cup.
Background: The Diocese of Indianapolis has stated that we may return to full communion (both bread and wine), but that receiving the wine can be by common cup only. Several parishioners have had questions about this. Here’s what I’d like you to know at this point.
- The Vestry voted and approved our new COVID guidelines recommended by the Regathering Committee.
- We might use the words “full communion” to indicate that we are finally back to both bread and wine, but it has ALWAYS been true that taking either one is a complete communion. You do not need both to fully commune.
- The choice is yours, Eucharist by Eucharist. You can decide to let the cup pass because you have a cold; if you are worried about others you can pass; you can wait until we return to intinction. Just cross your arms over your chest—or just shake your head and quietly demur.
Yours in health, restoration, liturgical engagement, and literature review,
Rev. Jen
GCYG
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