An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” Luke 10:25-28

Love God.
Love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus gives the Great Commandments as all of God’s laws in a nutshell. He is then asked “And who is my neighbor?” Our reading for last Sunday was Jesus’ response, the parable of the Good Samaritan.

As you may know, Samaritans were the despised enemies of Jews. Jesus’ parable asks us to imagine the person we would least want help from, and to imagine that person as the one who saves us…Jesus also asks us to imagine showing compassion and kindness and going the second mile for someone from a group we can’t stand.

I am going to guess that we all need practice in loving and being loved by our enemies—practice like piano practice, or weight training three times a week, or learning how to make crème brulée by doing it over and over again until that sugary top turns the perfect crunchy brown. But practicing love seems more elusive than following directions in a cookbook. I was very interested to read an account of two men from India who embraced the goal of loving their neighbor with simple and consistent practice.

One of the men was Hindu; one was Muslim. At the time that they made their commitment to each other there was vicious, brutal, and long-standing hatred between Hindus and Muslims in their city that frequently erupted in horrible violence. A flash point was a mosque that had been built atop the ruins of a more ancient Hindu temple.

These two men decided that, among other things, they would meet once a week for tea, and donate money to each other’s places of worship.

Simple, but perhaps not easy.
Love your neighbor as youself.

I am in awe of the witness of these two men.

They knew each other from work. What ripple effect would there be at work, in their families, in their community when these two men were seen through the year, becoming regulars at a restaurant or café, eating together, being friends, growing in friendship? What kind of witness and impact would they have on their respective fellow Hindus and Muslims who would look at the donor list and realize that a hated enemy was supporting their worship, mission, and religious identity?

My work of the moment is to press hard against being consumed with hatred, disgust, and anger for Them. I pray that I that I practice being gentle and collegial with Them, to practice, practice, practice, and practice, again loving my neighbor.

This coming Sunday the Gospel presents a challenging scenario in practicing loving God. Simple, but perhaps not easy. Stay tuned.

–Jen+

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.

URGENT NEED FOR PARTICULAR NON-FOOD PANTRY MINISTRY

July 23 & July 24, 2025 Volunteers desperately needed to sell State Fair tickets during “Fairs Care” at the Putnam County Fair. The Putnam County Pantry Coalition splits the profit from ticket sales with participating pantries. Last year our portion of the proceeds was able to pay for two months of NFP lunches. Volunteers would work two hour shifts, sit in the shade, chat people up, and sell discounted fair tickets. The majority of customers are 4-H family members who seek out our booth year after year. Please contact Fred Vallowe, (618) 927-6703, for shifts available and sign-up details.

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, July 22. On July 22 we will begin “Love is the Way” by Michael Curry.

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 top of the piano in Hamilton Hall. Feel free to read and return!

SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY

Please add Adult Pull-Ups (all sizes) and bed pads to your shopping list for the NFP for the month of July. If you are donating adult pull-ups/briefs, they should be the ones without tabs. We are currently overstocked in adult diapers and period products. 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, July 26 from noon – 2:00 p.m. If you can help with this ministry in any way, please contact Harriet Moore or Fred Vallowe.

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.

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.

Your prayers are asked for: