A Message from Laurie Hamilton:
Note from Jen+
Laurie Hamilton’s reflection came during a week that I was struggling with preparing a homily on Luke 6:17-26. Matthew’s version of this message, called Sermon on the Mount, has many similarities to Luke’s, especially in the beatitudes, the famous verses that pronounce Jesus’ vision for God’s kingdom in which the last are first—the poor, hungry, sorrowing, hated are all especially blessed. But Luke’s version differs from Matthew in that Luke includes the “woes”—“Woe to the rich, for you have received your consolation,” “Woe to you who are laughing, for you will weep.” As I am among those who are rich, well-fed, laughing, and enjoy social status, these verses are difficult to hear, difficult to navigate, and even scary to consider.
One of the commentaries suggested those who are blessed are in part blessed because they can see right down to the nubs of the structures humans create that are so cruel, and that they are not interested in defending that status quo. They are the change makers who can create a new foundation for human relationships. Laurie’s heartbreaking story brings home the message and the emotion that encourage me to find courage for change.
Black History Month brought me back to the day when Vernon Jordan, DePauw ’57, visited campus.
Vernon was a member of Don’s class and we returned for a milestone reunion. We gathered, along with students, in Meharry Hall where Vernon was the featured speaker.
To begin, he made sure the students were sitting up front as his message was for them.
And then he began…telling a story about his Grandpappy working as a plantation farmer. Grandpappy was 70 years old and Vernon asked him, “Grandpappy, what do you wish you could have done, could have accomplished in your 70 years?”
Grandpappy answered slowly, ” I wish…to have gone to the bathroom…just one time…inside.”
Vernon was shocked because he thought his Grandpappy was going to say “I wish I learned how to read.”
Laurie Hamilton
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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 Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
In-Person Sunday Morning Worship Service, March 2, led by The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, 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 March 2.
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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. Let him, Jen+, or Renee know so that you can be put on the roster!
LENTEN SERIES
We have a range of services and gatherings for Lent, including Wednesday Lenten Series at 12:30 and 6:30 each Wednesday. use the on-line newsletter and a printed sheet outlining Lent and Holy Week to fill your calendar for this wonderful and moving season.
PARISH GAME NIGHT AND DINNER
Save the date for the upcoming Game Night and dinner in Hamilton Hall on Friday, March 14, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Justin & Dana Glessner will be hosting and providing a dinner of chicken noodle soup. There will be lots of games. 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 March. 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, March 29 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, March 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
The family of Vernon Bane, father of Joanne Haymaker’s daughter-in-law
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
Mark Smith
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. James, New Castle: The Rev. Brown Mulimi Mujete.
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 Burundi.
Birthdays: Gwen Morris, March 4; Fred Vallowe, March 5.
Anniversaries: Richard & Claudia Butler, March 8.
Special Events and Services
