A Message from the Senior Warden:
In this third week of Advent, we are meant to pause and reflect on the first half of the season, as well as look ahead to the last weeks. The third week focuses our intention on joy. Joy is a very real and deep happiness that is rooted in faith and trust. The joy that we have and will experience during this season magnifies as we continue to prepare for the coming of Christ, who is full of joy. When we picture Jesus, however, seeing him joyful isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. I am reminded of the following quote by Pope Francis:
“We always think of Jesus when He preaches, when He heals, when He travels, walks along the street, even during the Last Supper. But we aren’t used to thinking about Jesus smiling, joyful. Jesus was full of joy, full of joy. It is His internal joy, the interior joy that He gives to us.”
It is this joyful, smiling, even laughing Jesus that I love. I see this in Willis Wheatley’s drawing of a laughing Jesus.
Because we have shifted our attention to joy, the advent candle this week is pink which marks the shift in tone from penitential reflection to joyful anticipation as Christmas draws nearer. I wish you a joyful week as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ.
As we draw near to you, Lord God, keep us aware of your presence in all we do. Come with power to enlighten us by your grace, that we may live in praise and joy all our days.
Karen Hirt Mannon, Senior Warden
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 Third Sunday of Advent
In-Person Sunday Morning Worship Service, December 15, led by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, 10:15 a.m. This will be followed by Advent crafts. Flower forms are due back today also.
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 December 15.
The Latest Updates
NON-FOOD PANTRY PICK-UP CHANGE
The pick-up date has been changed to Wednesday, December 18 at 4:00 p.m. They have a driver, but need helping hands at Advent House to help unload, unpack, and put up product. Please ask folks to register with you. The job takes less than one hour. (Refreshments, adult and otherwise, will be served… Here we come a wassailing among the leaves so green!)
AED TRAINING SESSION
There will be a training session on how to use the AED awarded to us through a grant from Hendricks Regional Healthcare at the Museum on Thursday, December 19 at 4:00 p.m. Training is expected to take one hour. Please register with Renee in the church office so we can have a head count. The portable AED will be kept in Hamilton Hall.
2025 PLEDGE DRIVE UPDATE – WALK IN LOVE
Parishioner Pledge Drive packets were due back in the office Sunday, November 24. Please return so that the Treasurer and Vestry can begin working on the 2025 budget. Thanks so much for your time, talent, and treasure! You are all such a blessing to Saint Andrew’s!
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!
SACRED POETRY GROUP
Our Sacred Poetry began meeting again. We will meet again on Wednesday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the upstairs room of Advent House. All are welcome!
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
The Book and Bible Group has begun again, meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays with Evening Prayer celebrated at 4:00 p.m. Our next meeting is Tuesday, December 17.
BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND EXPLORATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
Our upcoming Confirmation classes are on December 22 and January 5. Please let Jen+ or Renee know if you are interested!
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 top of the piano in Hamilton Hall. Feel free to read and return!
THIS WEEK’S SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY
Please add baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, and Adult Depends (any size) to your shopping list for the NFP for the month of December. 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, December 21 from noon – 2:00 p.m.
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. 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, December 21
• 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
The family of Vernon Bane, father of Joanne Haymaker’s daughter-in-law
Toppy Beach, sister of Skip Sutton
Beth Benedix, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Kim Frank, sister of Pamalee Smith
Katie Gleichman, relative of Jim & Cathryn Ensley
Carole Greenawald
Troy Greenlee, friend of Thom & Gwen Morris
The family of Richard Hassler, brother of Suzanne Hassler
Janet Jenks, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Tom Kaiser, friend of Jen+ & Chris
The family of Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob & Mimi Breese
Teresa Masten, friend of Karen & Jim Mannon
Sally Motsch, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Mary Mountz
Jeri Mucia, friend of Joanne Haymaker
Tom Mullen, father of Patti Harmless
Marilyn & Leo Nelson, sister & brother-in-law of Joanne Haymaker
The family and friends of Kevin Sanders, friend of Mannon family
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Skip Sutton
Karen Swalley, friend of Thom & Gwen Morris
Dwight Ziegler, uncle of Stephanie Gurnon
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. John’s, Bedford: The Rev. Kelsey Hutto-Ford.
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 Tanzania.
Birthdays: Mike Majors, December 21.
Anniversaries: Larry & Dawna Wilson, December 17; Joe & Jenny Heithaus, December 19.
Special Events and Services
