A Message from the Rector:

Remember. Change.

Directly after facing temptation in the desert, Jesus went north to the boonies, to Galilee, to begin his ministry, proclaiming (as it is translated in the Bible) “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”

“Repent” has so many layers of meaning that have accrued through the centuries that it is hard to hear clearly. It is almost a joke word for us today, the stuff of streetcorner preachers shouting at passers-by about the end of the world. But metanoia, the Greek word that is translated “repent,” means to “turn,” and thus to “change,” a different vibe of “repentance” than usual.

Remember that you are dust. Be willing to change.

This is the message of Lent. We have the precious gift of a lifetime made all the more precious because it is limited. Now is the time to live fully. Now is the time to embrace life, change.

Certainly the disciples changed course when called by Jesus, even dropping their nets and leaving their livelihood. On Sunday we’ll hear Abram and Sarai’s call from God to change everything—at their advanced ages!—leaving everything they know and all their kin for life in a new place and newly minted covenant with God. We will also hear questions asked by Nicodemus, who is intrigued, but not ready to drop everything. Nicodemus appears three times in John’s Gospel, in chapters 3, 7 and 19, each time edging ever closer to new life, and then disappearing from the story of the Gospel and into an ending not recorded.

Zen Buddhists talk about two vehicles to enlightenment: sudden enlightenment, where a person’s perspective changes in a lightening flash; gradual enlightenment that comes through practiced habits and change that is so incremental that you only realize it after that fact. In the Christian faith, repenting, changing, transforming are open to us, even without a call to drop everything. Lent is the time to take up a practice that will find you changed at Easter—a blessed time of preparation indeed.

Jen+

Instructed Eucharist 2.0: Rich Tradition, Layered Meanings – We are not worthy…The Prayer of Humble Access

The church I attended in Chicago mixed up the liturgies throughout the month. First Sundays were Rite I, second, third and fourth Sundays were one of the four prayers from Rite II (usually Prayer A or Prayer B), and if there were a fifth Sunday, we said Morning Prayer. The language of prayer and worship is rich and varied, and having these different liturgies in a month is something I still cherish. But on first Sundays, the Prayer of Humble Access found in Rite One right before Communion would unfailingly catch my attention, making me uncomfortable.

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

The Prayer of Humble Access is almost identical to a prayer found in the first BCP, published in 1549. In the Episcopal Church, we don’t use ancient things just because they are old, but because there is some lasting value, some thread of truth that is embedded there that has awakened the spirits and nurtured the souls of people across time and place. The Prayer of Humble Access is not merely a prayer that reminds us that we are utterly dependent on the gifts of God—it also frames both Jesus’ mission, and Jesus’ own change of mind.

Embedded in this prayer are two pivotal Bible passages. The first is from Matthew 8:8, a passage when a Roman centurion whose servant is suffering at home tells Jesus “‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” The second is from Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 when a Syrophoenician woman begs the Jewish Jesus to heal her sick daughter. When Jesus refuses her with an insult, she says to Jesus, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’”

These are striking passages in the Gospels. In both cases the person begging Jesus to use his healing powers are outsiders, non-Jews. I am particularly drawn to Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman’s story because in that moment we see Jesus change, Jesus come into his own about who he is and what his purpose is. A distraught Gentile mother begs Jesus to heal her daughter and Jesus first refuses, telling her that he is here to feed the children, not the dogs. This quick-witted and determined woman claims Jesus’s power despite her outsider status: even dogs eat the crumbs. We see Jesus’ human identity here: after a dismissive and cruel response to an anxious mother, Jesus changes. Admiring the woman’s faith, Jesus heals her daughter.

Lent is a sacred time to remember and to change. We remember that we are dust—and we remember to grasp our moment, this moment, to embrace the opportunity to make change and be changed in this dusty compromised life. All things come to us as gifts of God, we and everything in the world are created ex nihilo, from nothing, and we are the blessed results and recipients of those gracious acts. No matter how good we are or how rich we are or how powerful we are, we cannot create from nothing, and the life we live and all that is in it are gracious gifts, not earned wages. Although it may be framed in an idiom of the past, the language of Rite I’s Prayer of Humble Access invites repentance—and rejoicing.

 

Lent Madness: Who Will Win the Golden Halo?

It’s Lent Madness! If you’ve never played Lent Madness before, now is the time to start. 32 saints of all sorts and characters are chosen each year—through voting, saints make their way through the brackets until one is awarded the Golden Halo on the Wednesday of Holy Week.

There are four brackets:
Ancient and Apostolic
Mostly Monastic
Royals Roundup
Modern Mayhem

From the Lent Madness website (https://www.lentmadness.org/):
The format is straightforward: 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time and people vote for their favorite saint.16 saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo. The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch. If you’re not sure about terminology, check out our glossary. It’s free!

Saint Andrew’s Lent Madness 2023: Play a Bracket—or two!
Go to https://www.lentmadness.org/#Bracket
Fill out a bracket and bring it to church—we’ll copy it and put brackets on the wall.
We’ll have a betting pool, sort of—the money will go to a favorite charity.
Each week we will update findings in the Saint Andrew’s Newsletter.
The grand prize winner who gets the most points will receive a Grand Huzzah of Congratulations and Awe–choose which
charity gets the money put into the betting pool.

For more info, go to the Lent Madness website at https://www.lentmadness.org/ and follow the links. We have a poster sized bracket in Hamilton Hall, and a Saintly Scorecard book that will fill you in on the saints ancient and modern you will find in this year’s bracket.

Tuesday 4:30 p.m. In-Person & 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible Studies & Lenten Readings

There are two Bible studies: one that meets at 4:30 in Hamilton Hall, the other meets by Zoom at 6:30. Click here for the Zoom link. You can also find the Zoom link on the bottom of the very last page of the St. Andrew’s website.

Connect With Us

Sunday Worship Online Streaming

We have upgraded our Sunday worship online streaming option.

  • First, we have invested in an internet camera that allows for better picture quality and improved sound. This should make for a better viewing and listening experience with a markable improvement in hearing the full range of our music.

  • Secondly, we are moving away from streaming through Zoom and moving to  Facebook Live. We originally chose Zoom for our online worship during Covid due to the collaborative nature that Zoom provides. With our move back to in person Sunday worship, Facebook will allow us to provide a better one-way delivery of our service. We can now Live Stream the service to you, our parishioners, and also make it friendlier for visitors to discover us and worship with us online.

  • Lastly, with our move to Facebook, this will allow us to record and distribute our worship service online in a much more efficient process. This will only benefit St. Andrew’s online presence. The St. Andrew’s Facebook Page will now seamlessly host all of our recorded services for us to view at our leisure. This also provides you the opportunity to share or invite others to discover and worship with us.

You will find our worship service being streamed from our Facebook Page or continue to go to St. Andrew’s website and be redirected from the link on the front page.

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. NOTE: Rev. Jen will be out of the office Tuesday, March 22 so no drop-in hours that day.

The Second Sunday in Lent

Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, March 5, led by 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 at 10:10 a.m.

Click here for the service booklet for March 5.

The Latest Updates

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY – 4:30 P.M. IN HAMILTON HALL & 6:30 P.M. VIA ZOOM

On Tuesday, March 7, our Bible study will continue its exploration of questions about salvation. We will finish Rob Bell’s Love Wins and begin C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce. Beginning March 14, we will look at Marcus Borg and John Crossan’s The Last Week. This book details Jesus’ life from his triumphal ride into Jerusalem to the cross, and will be excellent preparation for the events of Holy Week. The Zoom link can be found on the St. Andrew’s website at the very bottom of the last page. NOTE: No Bible Study on Tuesday, March 21 as Rev. Jen will be away at a conference.

VESTRY NEWS

Congratulations to the three new Vestry members elected at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 26: Karen Hirt Mannon, Tim Jedele, and Jim Ensley. Many thanks also to our representatives for Diocesan convention, Kate Berry and Jim Mannon. And a thousand thanks to outgoing Vestry members for their service: Justin Glessner, Jim Mannon, and Sue Murray. Our next Annual Meeting will be in February, 2024. Please start thinking about becoming a Vestry member in the future!

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, ORGAN RECITAL, 4:00 P.M.

Our wonderful Albrecht von Gaudecker will offer an organ recital at 4:00 p.m. that day. A free will offering will be collected to benefit the Non-Food Pantry.   Details will follow, but please mark your calendars and spread the word!

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, POTLUCK, FUN, & FELLOWSHIP, 5:30 P.M.

Come to Albrecht’s organ recital – and then stay for food, fellowship, and fun! Please bring a covered dish to share and be ready for good eats, good friends, and good times. Our friends from St John’s, Crawfordsville have been invited to join us.

DEVOTIONALS

Forward Movement Day by Day devotionals are available in the narthex. They are an easy way to take on a Lenten practice, reading a reflection and a prayer each day.

NEW ZOOM LINK

The new link can be found on the St. Andrew’s website at the very bottom of the last page. Click on the Zoom icon to join as an attendee.

COMMUNION AT THE WATERS

Once a month Sunday services have resumed at The Waters. The next service will be this Sunday, March 12 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, March 25

• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution and sack lunches will be served. We are very grateful to Kate Berry, Martha Rainbolt, Carl Huffman, Karen Hirt Mannon, and Christiane Wisehart who have worked very hard to obtain supplies for the Non-Food Pantry. Kroger is not able to acquire enough products for us so the items are being purchased from a variety of sources. This is much more expensive. Donations to help offset this extra cost will be gratefully accepted!

Top 3 Needed Items
  • Menstrual Pads
  • Tampons

  • Incontinence (Poise) Underwear – all sizes

Your prayers are asked for:

Haile Bane, grandson of Joanne Haymaker
Gary Barcus, friend 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
Mark Einwich, friend of Joanne Haymaker
The family of Bernice Emrick, mother of Karen Hirt Mannon
Bob Fatzinger, brother of Barbara Pare
Nancy Ferriani, friend of Warren & Connie Macy
Katie Gleichman, relative of Jim Ensley
Alan & Vickie Good, father of Tim Good
David Grueber, stepson of Scott Kissinger
Kimberly Heithaus, niece of Joe & Jenny Heithaus
Shandol Hoover, friend of Dave & Sue Murray
Terumi Imai, friend of Jen+
Kaylee, Ryan, and baby
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob & Mimi Breese
The families of those killed in the Monterey Park shooting, Sara Nimori & Ross Whitten
Mary Mountz
Tom Mullen, father of Patti Harmless
Emmanuel Myril, Karen Hirt Mannon’s son-in-law’s father
Michael Oldstone, father of Jen+
Sarah Oldstone, sister-in-law of Jen+
Pamela & Linda
Gordon Redden
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Gloria Smith
Skip Sutton
Jerry Taylor, friend of Warren & Connie Macy
Beth Thoenen, friend of Jen+
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
The people of Turkey and Syria


Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
St.Paul’s, Evansville: The Rev. Holly Rankin Zaher, 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 Church of the Province of South East Asia.

Birthdays: Fred Vallowe, March 5.

Anniversaries: Richard and Claudia Butler, March 8.

Special Events and Services

Print Friendly, PDF & Email