A Message from the Rector:
I have wanted to walk the Camino of Santiago de Compostela for almost two decades. For much of the month of June, Chris and I travelled the Camino Frances—the French Way—which has become the most travelled path of the many pilgrim paths that end in the city of St James, Santiago.
The paths that Chris and I walked were created by pilgrim footprints beginning in the 11th century. As the Camino grew in popularity, those paths were tended and expanded by governments that saw the value of pilgrims walking (and stopping) in their town. After some centuries of decline, the Camino has become immensely popular again. Today somewhere around half a million pilgrims travel toward Santiago each year. Chris and I met pilgrims from Argentina, South Africa, Philippines, Russia, Australia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, and virtually every European nation, including Hungary and Poland. We found that having a shared purpose and being on the Way together created an expansive space for surprising conversations and encounters, as well as for personal reflection.
It’s a truism that life is like a pilgrimage. We make our way depending on the paths laid by those who travelled before us; we depend on the service and generosity of those who support our efforts along the way; our own personal journey is unique even if the way is shared by thousands of other feet.
But we also make paths when we choose to go in a particular direction. Something that makes the Camino different from other outdoor adventures is that for so many pilgrims there is the stated intention of reflecting on the lives that each of us has imagined living, and also reflecting on the life each of us actually lives. What has changed? What do those changes mean? What might be different in the future? We became aware of how many key passages in the Gospels happen on the road: Jesus and his disciples encountering all manner of people, challenging and being challenged, the call to new purpose and new values. Their Camino was the Way of the Kingdom—lifting up the small, the overlooked; the Way of radical inclusion that was and continues to be so very challenging.
As I walked and reflected and considered where I’ve been and how life has unfolded in the most surprising ways, a few lines from a favorite story kept going through my head:
“Hope cannot be said to exist, nor can it be said not to exist. It is just like roads across the earth. For actually the earth had no roads to begin with, but when many pass one way, a road is made.”*
Our life as Christians—as parishioners at St. Andrew’s, and as Christians who are a part of the committed, questioning people following Jesus throughout the centuries—is to commit to walk the Way of Jesus and the Way of the Kingdom, step by step, always in the faithful hope that “where many pass one way, a road is made.” We pray that by walking the Way of Jesus we will indeed make a path that brings us closer to God and closer to each other, changing us, changing the world, and making a road for those who follow us.
*Lu Xun, “My Old Home,” translated by Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang
Jen+
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 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Morning In-Person Morning Worship Service, July 9, 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 July 9.
The Latest Updates
CHURCH WORK SIGN-UP
There are several inside and outside projects that need doing to maintain our church and grounds and keep them beautiful. Kate Berry, Junior Warden, has compiled a list that can be accessed in the electronic newsletter. Please sign up to do a chore or two, if you are able. Click here for sign-up sheet. Thanks in advance!
NON-FOOD PANTRY BASKET COLLECTION UPDATE
Please note that the collection baskets in church are now being used for Non-Food Pantry donations and not donations to the food pantries. If food donations are received we will see to it that they get to the proper place.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR PENTECOST AND THE SUNDAYS AFTER PENTECOST
During Ordinary Time/Pentecost, for the Great Thanksgiving we will be using Eucharistic Prayer B in the BCP on page 367. The next time you are in church please move your yellow ribbon to this page.
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS?
Every week the St. Andrew’s newsletter has a reflection about life and faith. Most are observations about daily life and where we experience God in the midst of the “same old, same old.” We would love to feature your thoughts – – a few paragraphs that will help us all see more clearly how the Holy One touches us in our ordinary lives. Please let Renee or Jen+ know if you are interested.
FREE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
We still 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.
LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS
The Diocese is offering training for people to become Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEV). This training licenses you to take the blessed sacrament to those who cannot come to church, including residents of The Waters. It is a wonderful way to be church! The next training is on September 7. Please consider being a LEV! Contact the Rev. Mary Taflinger at taflinger@indiodio.org with questions. Register here.
NEW ZOOM LINK
The new link can be found on the St. Andrew’s website at the bottom of the last page. Click on the Zoom icon to join as an attendee for Bible studies and meetings.
COMMUNION AT THE WATERS
Once a month Sunday services have resumed at The Waters. The next service will be Sunday, July 9 at 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. If you’d like to help with this ministry in any way, please contact Rev. Jen or Renee. All are welcome to attend!
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.
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 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.
Non Food Pantry Latest
Saturday, August 26
• Noon to 3:00 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! NOTE: There will be no distribution in July. Distributions will resume August 26 with new guidelines and will take place indoors. Participants must provide proof that they live within Putnam County.
Top 3 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
Haile Bane, grandson of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
Douglas Butler, brother-in-law of Claudia Butler
Richard A. Butler, father-in-law of Claudia Butler
Adam Cohen, friend of St. Andrew’s
Family & friends of Michael Condra
Norm Crampton, former member
Bob Fatzinger, brother of Barbara Pare
The family of Rev. Nancy Ferriani, friend of Jen+
The family of Katelyn (K) Gurnon, sister of Daniel Gurnon
David Grueber, stepson of Scott Kissinger
Kimberley Heithaus, niece of Joe & Jenny Heithaus
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob & Mimi Breese
Mary Mountz
Tom Mullen, father of Patti Harmless
Emmanuel Myril, Karen Hirt Mannon’s son-in-law’s father
Marilyn & Leo Nelson, sister & brother-in-law of Joanne Haymaker
Gordon Redden
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Gloria Smith
Skip Sutton
Jerry Taylor, friend of Warren & Connie Macy
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
Dwight Ziegler, brother of Stephanie Gurnon
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Paul’s Church, New Albany: The Rev. Allan Wallace, 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 in Mithon.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Burundi.
Birthdays: None.
Anniversaries: None.
Special Events and Services
