Some years ago, Chris’s mom gave me gave me “An Almanac for the Soul.” It has readings for each season and each day of the year—I have it lying open on my office coffee table. Most mornings I read an entry when I arrive.

Last week these words caught my eye: “The days and nights now move deeper into uncelebrated winter.”

Uncelebrated winter. How different January feels from November and December—even with the light returning, no longer decreasing. In November and December I look forward to Thanksgiving and the satisfaction of sharing a meal with friends and family on a day that asks for nothing but kitchen work and time spent together. December is noisy and cheerful with songs and carols about roaring fires, tinkling bells, lights and ornaments, and the scurry of planning and gift-giving.

We have finally put away our Advent and Christmas decorations (except for the odd thing that pops up in sofa cushions). Now it is just grey, and cold, and we are still a long way from the glory of spring and the warmth of summer. It is definitely a time of “uncelebrated winter.”

I found solace in a meditation from one of our great modern mystics, Howard Thurman. He writes about this uncelebrated time as “fallow time,” reminding me how important it is for the earth to freeze and rest, how snowfall nourishes the soil, that the quiet and the stillness of the season are critical for the health of the soil, as well as for my own heart, mind, soul, and life.

Soon it will be Lent, quickly leading into Easter and beyond.

Today may you savor this fallow time.

Jen+

There is a fallow time for the spirit, when the soil is barren, because of sheer exhaustion. It may come at the end of a long, long period of strenuous effort. It may result from the plateau of tragedy that quietly wore away the growing edge of alertness, until nothing was left but the exhausted roots of aliveness. Perhaps too much anxiety, a too-hard trying, a searching strain to do by oneself what can never be done that way, has made one’s spirit seem like a water tap whose washer is worn out from too much pressure. But there may be the simplest possible explanation: the rhythmic ebb and flow of one’s powers, simply this and nothing more. Whatever may be the reasons, one has to deal with the fact. Face it! Then resolutely dig out dead roots, clear the ground, but don’t forget to make a humus pit against the time when some young or feeble plants will need stimulation from past flowerings in your garden. Work out new designs by dreaming daring dreams, and great and creative planning. The time is not wasted. The time of fallow this is a time of rest and restoration, of filling up and replenishing. It is the moment when the meaning of all things can be searched out, tracked down, and need to yield the secret of living. Thank God for the fallow time!

Deep is the Hunger — Meditations for Apostles of Sensitiveness by Howard Thurman

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.

Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, Sunday, February 11, 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 February 11.

SHROVE TUESDAY/MARDI GRAS PANCAKE SUPPER AND TALENT, FEBRUARY 13

Join us Tuesday evening in Hamilton Hall at 5:30 p.m. for a talent show, pancake race, pancake feast, and preparation of the ashes/firepit. Hope to see you there!

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES, FEBRUARY 14, 12:00 AND 6:30 P.M.

Join us Ash Wednesday at noon for a quiet service or evening at 6:30 p.m. for a chorale service.

FEBRUARY SAVE THE DATES: FEBRUARY 18 AND FEBRUARY 25

The Budget/Finance Meeting will be held Sunday, February 18. The Annual Meeting will be Sunday, February 25. Both meetings will take place immediately following the service. All are invited and encouraged to attend!

PHILADELPHIA ELEVEN DOCUMENTARY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 6:30 P.M.

The Philadelphia Eleven documentary will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, at Korb Classroom of the Fine Arts Center at Wabash College. After the screening Bishop Jennifer will participate in a panel discussion. Nancy Bennett would like to thank you once again for your financial support for the project to show this documentary in our region!

BELL RINGERS NEEDED

The bell is up and running once again! We are in need of older youth or adults who would like to serve as bell ringers. If you are interested, please let Renee or Rev. Jen know and we’ll see to it that you get the proper training.

SECOND SUNDAY DISCRETIONARY COLLECTION

Monies in the loose plate collection on the 2nd Sunday of each month go towards Rev. Jen’s Discretionary Fund used to help the less fortunate in Putnam County. NOTE: Sunday, February 11 loose plate offerings will go toward the Rev. Jen’s Discretionary fund.

VESTRY MEETING MINUTES

Copies of the December Vestry Meeting minutes are available for you all to read. Copies are on top of the piano in Hamilton Hall.

THIS WEEK’S SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY

Please add Bleach, Fabuloso, and Dawn Dish Soap to your shopping list for the NFP. Every little bit helps our budget go farther in helping meet the needs of folks in Putnam County. The next Non-Food Pantry will be Saturday, February 24 from noon – 2:00 p.m. There is a sign-up sheet posted in Hamilton Hall for folks to help with a product pick-up and/or as well as for help on February 24 at the monthly distribution. FYI: Baskets at church are now dedicated for the NFP and not the food pantry.

EVENING PRAYER

Most weeks, the Tuesday Bible and Book group meet at 4:30 p.m. On these Tuesdays, there is a service of Evening Prayer beginning at 4:00 p.m. Don’t be afraid to join in even if you come late.

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. Those who serve bread and wine will mask so that anyone who comes to the altar can feel secure. Decisions on COVID policy have moved from the Reconvening Committee to Rev. Jen and the Wardens.

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 and go from Wednesday to Tuesday, except for Sunday. 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.

Your prayers are asked for: