A Message from a Parishioner:
The St. Andrew’s study group on Tuesday afternoons has, for me, simplified my spiritual journey. Here’s how.
We read and discussed A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren. Having been raised within the rigors of the Catholic Church by Irish Catholics on both sides of my ancestry, for me there are so many “isms” out there: Catholicism, Buddhism, Mormonism, etc. Perhaps that is why I have been reluctant to adopt any specific approach to religion and spirituality. Then McLaren writes: “Jesus came to announce a new kingdom, a new way of life, a new way of peace that carried good news to all people of every religion. A new kingdom is much bigger that a new religion, and in fact, it has room for many religious traditions within it….it was about God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven for all people…before death, on earth, it was a summons to rethink everything.”
Then along came our past Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, in his book that was next up for our study group. Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times with his solution explicit in the very title of the book. “Love isn’t a sentiment – it’s the only thing left to save a community divided…its opposite isn’t hate, its opposite is selfishness…the most destructive force in all the cosmos, and hate is only its symptom. It will destroy the human race by laying waste to our planet. If we let it.”
I’m now thinking much more simply about how Christ walked through the world and embraced everyone! If you find this piece at all interesting or helpful, please joins us at 4:30 on most Tuesday afternoons.
Dave Murray
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 First Sunday After Christmas
In-Person Sunday Morning Worship Service/Christmas Lessons and Carols, December 28, led by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore,10:15 a.m. The beautiful altar flowers today are given by Joanne Haymaker to the Glory of God and in celebration of Joanne and Bob’s wedding anniversary.
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 December 28.
One License #A-741864
CCLI License #22315781
Advent and Christmas 2025 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 24th
Joy to the world! The Lord is come! On this holy night God shines the brightness of the true Light upon the world – we behold Jesus Christ is born! Join us at 5:00 pm for Festal Christmas Eve Carols and a Service of Holy Eucharist at 5:30 pm.
Christmas Day
Thursday, December 25th
Unto us a child is born. Celebrate Christmas with this quiet, intimate morning service at 10:15 am.
Christmastide at St. Andrew’s
The twelve days of Christmas include two Sundays this year. Join us on December 28th for Christmas Lessons and Carols, and Sunday, January 4th for Holy Eucharist.
The Latest Updates
ALTAR FLOWERS ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28
The beautiful altar flowers this Sunday, December 28, are given by Joanne Haymaker to the Glory of God and in celebration of Joanne and Bob’s wedding anniversary.
ST. ANDREW’S ANNUAL MEETING 2026
Please mark your calendars! St. Andrew’s annual meeting will take place on Sunday, February 22, 2026 immediately following the church service. The annual meeting will be preceded by an explanation of our finances on Sunday, February 15 by St. Andrew’s treasurer, Dennis Knuth. Please plan to attend.
NEW VESTRY MEMBERS NEEDED
Vestry members wanted! Serving on the Vestry is an opportunity to help with important decisions concerning the budget and overall workings of St. Andrew’s. Working closely with other Vestry members can lead to making new connections and meeting new people while learning more about the Episcopal Church. St. Andrew’s needs four new Vestry members – two for one year terms and two for three year terms. The terms will begin in February, 2026. Please let a Vestry member or Rev. Jen know if you are interested in serving on the Vestry. St. Andrew’s Vestry currently includes: Karen Hirt Mannon, Jim Ensley, Pam Smith, Dennis Knuth, Page Cotton, and Skip Sutton.
HEALING PRAYER
Most Sundays our intern Meghan will be offering anointing and healing prayer at Sunday services during communion. Meghan will set up a station in the narthex; meet there for general or specific prayers for healing.
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
The Book and Bible Group has begun again, meeting at 4:30 p.m. most Tuesday afternoons with Evening Prayer celebrated at 4:00 p.m. The next one will be Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. You will find the Gospel passages and links to these commentaries on the St. Andrew’s website, last selection under the Connect tab entitled “Book and Bible Group”. All are welcome.
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 add razors, shaving cream, laundry detergent, spray cleaner, and toilet bowl cleaner to your shopping list for the NFP for the month of January. 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, January 31 from noon – 2:00 p.m. 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.
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, January 31
• 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
Jennifer Clarke, friend of Patti Harmless
Diane
Angela Evans
Katie Gleichman, relative of Jim & Cathryn Ensley
Tom Kaiser, friend of Jen+ & Chris
Lynda, friend of Sarah Finlay-Black
Warren Macy
Hansford Mann, friend of Joanne Haymaker
Teresa Masten, friend of Karen & Jim Mannon
Sally Motsch, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Mary Mountz
Sarah Oldstone, sister-in-law of Jen+
The family of Martha Ovall, sister of Ralph Earle
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Deloris Smith, friend of Emily Knuth
Luke Smith, son of Mark Smith
Skip Sutton
Larry Taylor, former member of St. Andrew’s
Donald Voermans, father of Nick Voermans
Dwight Ziegler, uncle of Stephanie Gurnon
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Church of the Nativity, Indianapolis: The Rev. Ben Wyatt, 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 Parish and school in Mithon.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Canada.
Birthdays: Eleanor Knuth, December 28; Richard Cameron, January 3.
Anniversaries: Carl Huffman and Martha Rainbolt, December 28.
Special Events and Services
