A Message from the Rector:
Saint Andrew’s’ Book and Bible group has been reading The Book of Joy, which chronicles a weeklong meeting between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness Dalai Lama XIV. Both men are the spiritual leaders and inspiration of an age; both have led their people against discrimination and even genocide; both have maintained hearts that continually break open to love and find compassion for the peoples of the world, including those who wish them harm. In the middle of reading their book, we watched a video that included clips from their week together. The tenderness and openness of each man was an inspiration, as was the depth of their dismay at the cruelty we inflict on each other—and their conviction that the way to a richer, deeper, life and happier world is to expand the compassion and care we have for each other.
Last week I visited my child Aileen, and in between snowstorms we went on a short drive about 30 minutes north of Missoula to the 1000 Buddhas Garden, a place of worship and learning for Tibetan Buddhists. We trudged through the snow there, looking at the garden, and eventually stopped by the gift shop which had banners with this reflection from the Dalai Lama. I am still digesting it, struck by the juxtapositions and what they say about our world and our values. I’d been thinking about Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain which also has hard-to-hear but important juxtapositions that we heard in church last week, and will hear again next Sunday.
Praying for growth and wisdom, and companions on the quest,
Jen+
We have bigger houses but smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge but less judgment;
more experts, but more problems;
more medicines but less healthiness.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble in crossing the street to meet our new neighbor.
We built more computers to hold more copies than ever,
but have less real communication;
We have become long on quantity,
but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods but slow digestion;
Tall men but short characters;
Steep profits but shallow relationships.
It’s a time when there is much in the window but nothing in the room.
–H.H. 14th Dalai Lama
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.
Pastoral Visitation of the Bishop
On February 23, 2025, the Sunday service at Saint Andrew’s will be led by the Right Reverend Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows. This will be a festive occasion, celebrating the Rites of Baptism and Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, and rich in fellowship at the altar and at the feast prepared for all in Hamilton Hall after the service. We will see you then!
The plate offering that day will go to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. For those who wish to give online: https://onrealm.org/indydio/give/bdfe
Click here for the QR code.
The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
In-Person Sunday Morning Worship Service, February 23, Baptism and Confirmations, led by The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, 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 February 23.
The Latest Updates
SHROVE TUESDAY CELEBRATION (AKA MARDI GRAS)
Shrove Tuesday is March 4 and we will be having our 3rd Shrove Tuesday Celebration with pancake supper, pancake race, and talent show. We’d love to have you show your talent: tell jokes, sing or play, show a magic trick or two, recite a poem. Brian Cox is our MC this year. Please let Brian, Jen+, or Renee know so that you can be put on the roster!
PARISH GAME NIGHT
Mark your calendars for Friday night, March 14, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Justin and Dana Glessner will be hosting game night in Hamilton Hall and providing chicken noodle soup. There will be lots of games available. Hope to see you all there!
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.
WOMEN IN THE BIBLE SERIES
You are invited to join an eight-week “Women in the Bible” study. We will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. from January 29 through March 26. The series is presented by Professor Sandie Gravett. Details are in Hamilton Hall; register by e-mail to kramer501@msn.com with “Women in the Bible Series” in the subject line.
ALTAR FLOWERS
We now have a poster in Hamilton Hall to sign up for altar flowers. You may donate funds to purchase altar flowers in celebration of a birthday, anniversary, special date, or to honor someone who has died. A donation amount is $30 is suggested. 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. It is asked that you get this information to Renee well ahead of time. Thank you!
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 February. 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, February 22 from noon – 2:00 p.m.
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, February 22
• 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
Bruce Baxter, friend of Kathy & Steve Jones
Beth Benedix, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Dan
Debbie
Kim Frank, sister of Pamalee Smith
Katie Gleichman, relative of Jim & Cathryn Ensley
Carole Greenawald
Heather, friend of Jen+
Janet Jenks, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Tom Kaiser, friend of Jen+ & Chris
Linda
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
Logan Murray, grandson of Dave & Sue Murray
Nick
Paul|
Rick
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Skip Sutton
The family and friends of Karen Swalley, friend of Thom & Gwen Morris
Larry Taylor, former member of St. Andrew’s
Dwight Ziegler, uncle of Stephanie Gurnon
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. John’s, Crawfordsville: The Rev. Jason Fortner.
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 Episcopal Church of Brazil.
Birthdays: Patti Harmless, February 28.
Anniversaries: None.
Special Events and Services
