A Message from our Seminary Intern
I vividly remember Bishop Cate Waynick kneeling in a pool of light for my confirmation. She glowed. Perhaps it was only because I was a little misty eyed at this moment, emotional after a long journey of asking hard spiritual questions with a cadre of fellow pilgrims… but there was a radiance all around us that I felt within my body and my soul as I walked down that aisle for her to lay her hands upon me to be confirmed.
That was a little over twenty years ago. I still hold that memory of the moment I said, “Yes.” to living a life worthy of my baptismal covenant with the Episcopal Church. And, I am still dear and close friends with the people who were in my confirmation class.
This year I have the distinct pleasure of helping us gather and prepare for another confirmation ceremony!
During Bishop Jennifer’s visitation to St. Andrew’s in November, our congregation will have a chance to participate in a special moment in our church life: confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation. These important moments of initiation are an opportunity to express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.
This fall, our parish will offer Confirmation classes for youth and adults who are ready to explore the Christian faith more deeply. Below are some questions you might be asking…
Who is this for?
Anyone who feels called to a greater life of ministry or discipleship and feels ready to make a mature commitment to Christ! People participating should be capable of reading and focusing on content for an hour and a half.
Baptism is for all of God’s people. This holy sacrament adopts us as God’s children, members of Christ’s body and church. In your baptism you, or the people around you, make promises to God and the community, and share in citizenship with Christ.
Confirmation is the rite for anyone who has been baptized to make a mature commitment to Christ. Typically, this is for those who are 16 years or older, but if you have a special reason why you would want to be confirmed under the age requirement we can ask the bishop for assistance.
Adults who have been baptized in another church tradition may be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. You may also be baptized and confirmed on the same day! This rite can only be performed by a bishop so is available only on certain times.
Reception is the rite for those who have been baptized and members of another Christian fellowship that is in communion with the Episcopal Church. Again, this rite can only be performed by a bishop.
Reaffirming your faith in The Episcopal Church is a public renewal of your baptismal vows before a bishop. This rite is designed for those returning to the church, seeking spiritual renewal, or recommitting themselves to a discipleship after a period of inactivity.
What are the logistics?
We will host an intentional formation class for people seeking confirmation, reception, reaffirmation, or adult/teen baptism on five Sundays for 90-ish minute sessions to learn and explore together.
● September 13th
● September 27th
● October 4th
● October 18th
● October 25th
● November 1st – rain date, however we will meet on November 1st to go over the service.
The content will be a shared formation for confirmands, those being received, and reaffirmation, so there will be different pathways that we walk together through five weeks: Beliefs and baptism, Episcopal worship, the church and its ministries, and living and practicing the Way of Jesus.
Why would I want to do this?
There are many reasons! Maybe you were baptized as a child but are ready to claim the promises of your baptism as your own. Maybe you were baptized and confirmed, but there’s something new stirring up in you. Maybe you’ve been coming to church for years and have never formally explored what you believe. Maybe you’ve been away from the church and are finding your way back. Maybe you’re simply curious about what it means to follow Jesus in the Episcopal tradition. Maybe someone else in your life wants to be confirmed and you want to be a witness with them. Or… you have your own reason to spend five weeks figuring it out!
This all sounds kind of compulsory…
These classes are a place where you can learn and connect to your own spiritual life and then be prepared to take action. Confirmation is not about conforming you to someone else’s idea of faith. You should bring your own questions and concerns. If at the end you do not feel like confirmation is right for you at this time then that will be respected.
You will be asked to help form a supportive community that honors choices and curiosity, and provides a place for us to explore our faith. We will be having open and honest conversations that will require genuine participation – but if you are confirmed in November it will be by your choice.
Does this cost anything?
This will cost your time, but does not require a financial commitment. Everything will be provided. If you would like to purchase your own source materials, the resources we will be using are:
● The Book of Common Prayer
● Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs & Practices, by Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe
● The Way of Love: A Practical Guide to Following Jesus, by Scott Gunn
● Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer, by Rowan Williams
The sessions are designed to happen in community and fellowship, so being able to attend all of the sessions is highly encouraged, but if you can’t make every session then we can still work together.
Who should I talk to about this?
Contact Meghan McConnell with questions at meghan.mcconnell@gmail.com or call or text 317-627-0568.
If you are curious, ready to grow, or simply have questions, you are warmly invited to join us. Over twenty years ago, confirmation gave me a community, a language for my faith, and a way to say yes to the life I wanted to live. This fall, we’re making space for you to explore whether this might be part of your journey, too.
Meghan
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 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In-Person Sunday Morning Service, August 30, led by Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore,10:15 a.m.You can stream the service via St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Greencastle, Indiana 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 this service.
One License #A-741864
CCLI License #22315781
Godly Play Lessons
We are restarting our monthly Godly Play lessons for children of all ages. We are planning on lessons the final Sunday of the month with working around holidays towards the end of the year.
Godly Play is a Montessori-based spiritual formation method that teaches children the language of Christian faith through storytelling, wonder, and play. We tailor the lesson and message based on the children present any given Sunday. If time allows and it fits the lesson, we also often work on craft projects.
Godly Play lessons take place upstairs in the Murray Suite of Hamilton Hall during the first half of the service. The children start the service in Hamilton Hall and then will come into the service usually during the peace.
Here are the dates for the remainder of 2026
- August 30
- September 27
- October 25
- November 22
- December 20
The Latest Updates
Mark your calendars–Lake Eucharist Sept 20
Our annual Lake Eucharist (and Awesome Potluck Brunch) on Raccoon Lake at the Jedeles’ lake house is scheduled for September 20th, rain date September 27. The service will be begin as usual at 10.15, but hospitality will be more expansive than usual, both in terms of food offerings and entertainment. Bring your sunhat, folding chairs, and swimsuits!
PRAYERS FOR OTHERS
If you have prayers that you would like offered on Sunday–prayers of thanksgiving, for those in trouble or sickness, or those who have died and those who grieve, please call in or send an email to Michelle. The names will be said aloud on Sunday for four consecutive weeks and then cycled off. If you would like the prayers continued, please tell Michelle and the names will be added to the long-term prayer list.
HYMN NAMES IN THE BULLETIN
In the coming weeks, you may notice a change in the way that hymns are designated in the service bulletin. The information at the bottom of the hymn includes a hymn name in capital letters. The hymn that begins “Jesus Christ is risen today” is set to the tune Easter Hymn. The tune for “Come, Thou Fount” is Nettleton. “Let all mortal flesh” is set in our hymnal to the tune Picardy, and both “Love divine, all loves excelling” and “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” are set to Hrfrydol.
Our reasons for this change are simply pragmatic: the hymn names are shorter than the first lines, and fit better into our bulletins. But there is also a certain skill—and pleasure—to identifying tunes as well as words, in part because it highlights the artistry of the person who wrote the music. Be sure to look this week for this new feature to our bulletins.
BOOK AND BIBLE GROUP– ***on a break until after summer***
We will be taking a break through the summer from our Tuesday afternoon gatherings. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements for occasional gatherings of Pub Theology when we will gather to share snacks, a cold drink, and conversation. Evening Prayer will still be celebrated at 4.00 pm on most Tuesdays.
EVENING PRAYER
Join us for Evening Prayer in the sanctuary on Tuesdays at 4:00. Evening Prayer is a wonderful service to wind down the day and move into the evening hours.
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
On Wednesdays at 1:00, we gather for about a half hour in quiet contemplative prayer. A leader introduces the prayer and a bell is chimed; we sit in prayer for twenty minutes until another chime sounds and then close with a spoken prayer. Feel free to come in any time between 1:00 and 1:20 to pray in silence in a lovely sacred space.
ALTAR FLOWER CALENDAR
An altar flower calendar is posted in Hamilton Hall. Sign up to sponsor the altar flowers to commemorate a birthday or anniversary, remember a loved one, or in thanksgiving for an important event. We ask a donation to help offset the cost of the altar flowers and other worship expenses. Be sure to tell the office your dedication so that it can be printed in the bulletin. Please make checks payable to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and in the memo field please put this information: Altar Flowers, person’s name, occasion, Sunday date you’d like for the flowers to be on the altar.
VESTRY MEETING MINUTES
If any of you are interested in what your Vestry is doing, there are two copies of each month’s minutes on the music stand in Hamilton Hall. Feel free to read and return!
SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY
Please see the Non-Food Pantry Latest section of the newsletter for items most in need for this month. 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. Please scroll down to view the distribution dates and latest updates. If you can help with this ministry in any way, please contact Harriet Moore or Carl Huffman.
KROGER COUPONS
If you have any unwanted Kroger coupons, please bring them to Hamilton Hall and place in the window ledge near the “Little Library”. We would like to make them available to our Non-Food Pantry recipients so that they might be able to take advantage of them to help extend their food budget. Thanks in advance!
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.
Non-Food Pantry Latest
Saturday, August 29
• 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 at St. Andrew’s
+Tom Breidenthal
Jennifer Clarke, friend of Patti Harmless
Cindy Crawley, cousin of Karen & Jim Mannon
Michael Greising and family, brother of Narda Cotton
Tom Kaiser, friend of Jen+ & Chris
Lynda, friend of Sarah Finlay-Black
Teresa Masten, friend of Karen & Jim Mannon
Trevor and Christy Moore, friend of Karen and Jim Mannon
Sally Motsch, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Gordon Redden
Gene Shaw, brother-in-law of Patti Harmless
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Deloris Smith, friend of Emily Knuth
Jenny Smyth, niece of Patti Harmless
Luke Smith, son of Mark Smith
Skip Sutton
Eugene Swanger, friend of Jen+
Larry Taylor, former member of St. Andrew’s
Donald Voermans, father of Nick Voermans
Edwina Vose, friend of Jen+
Catherine Waggoner, friend of Jen+
Dwight Ziegler, uncle of Stephanie Gurnon
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Christopher’s, Carmel, The Rev. Cara Spaccarelli, The Rev. Spencer Ruark
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 Parish and school in Mithon.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Church in the Province of the West Indies
Birthdays: Nick Bullen, August 27; Trudy Selvia, August 30; Daniel Gurnon, September 2
Anniversaries: none
Special Events and Services
