A Message from the Rector:
For the game itself
Last week I came across these words by Sydney Carter* that really stopped me in my tracks:
“In a game of cards or tennis there may come a moment when you cannot possibly win. The same can happen with your hope of a happy marriage or a brilliant career. Can you go on playing still, with no expectation of a win? Yes… That is the way you should have played it from the start. Not for the victory, though you have to strive for that, but for the game itself. Playing is a form of worship. John Donne and George Herbert were ambitious men. Both hoped to serve the state in some high capacity. Both were disappointed. Both became clergymen. A cynic might conclude that they had settled for second best. But can a second best turn out better than the first? Can defeat be met in such a way that it yields a greater prize than victory? Most of us are destined to failure, which is a form of suffering. How to use our suffering, how to turn the lead of our defeat into the gold of something else, is the object of religious alchemy. Not the only one; but the one that most of us are interested in.”
“Most of us are destined to failure…”
What a startling thing to read. But of course we know that things seldom work out the way we planned or expected. All we have is what is in front of us, here, now, and what we make of it. “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time,” sings James Taylor. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young remind us to “love the one you’re with.” To Be*Here*Now* is perhaps the truest form of worship and gratitude for the time and breath we have been granted. Grace, freely given and never earned, is the teaching of Jesus that we have to learn and lean into over and over again.
Carter’s words remind us of something else that is in God’s hands. The future is not ours to own. It will take twists and turns we could not possibly envision; our typical ideas of success and failure are puny and stunted. I was startled to learn that John Donne and George Herbert, two of my very favorite poets, were “failures,” that they wanted to be politicians. Could they have dreamed that their poetry would inspire century after century, sung from hymnals across the world, lifting spirits and hearts in joy? Even as we are in the raw moment of Now, we plant seeds that will become fruit beyond what we can imagine. Our best work is to make the most beautiful, truthful, authentic, compassionate moment of the present, which will form a trajectory to what-may-be as well as grant us one more day fully lived.
Spring is a wonderful season to consider the glorious moment of now—the world changes and disappears so quickly into the long, easy, summer. This spring may you play for the game itself, savoring the breath of this day.
Jen+
* from Sydney Carter, Dance in the Dark
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. NOTE: There will be no drop-in hours on Wednesday, May 15.
The Sixth Sunday of Easter: Rogation Sunday
Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, Sunday, May 5, 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. The flowers on the altar today are given by Steve Gauly in celebration of the life of Pat Gauly.
Click here for the service booklet for May 5.
Introducing Scout Leatrice!
Sara Nimori and Ross Whitten’s daughter, Scout, was anxious to see this world a few months early. After her delivery she has been cared for at Union Hospital in Terre Haute with constant visits from her parents. Sara and Ross wanted to share these photos with you. Scout is gaining weight and strength each day and is now “pushing” four pounds. Their hope is to bring her home in the next few weeks. Once they do get home we will be organizing a Meal Train for them to help with their transition to their new family life. More information will follow.
The Latest Updates
JEOPARDY WATCH PARTY!
Please join us Monday evening, May 6, in Hamilton Hall for the Jeopardy game show airing that evening. Our very own Carrie Klaus is one of the contestants! Airing begins at 7:30 p.m. Light snacks and drinks will be available starting at 7:00 p.m. All are invited to watch!
HELPERS NEEDED WITH PHONE TREE
We are in need of 6 – 7 people who would like to help with heading up our phone tree that we are establishing. This group of people would be responsible for notifying church members of cancellations of church services due to weather, etc. Please let Karen Hirt Mannon know if you are interested by e-mailing her at karen.hirt.mannon@gmail.com.
SPRING VIRTUAL GATHERING FOR WOMEN
All women are invited to participate in the upcoming “Empowering Women of Faith” virtual gathering on May 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET sponsored by the Diocese of Indianapolis Women’s Ministries Council. Click here to register.
THE DIFFERENCE COURSE – THE ART AND PRACTICE OF RECONCILIATION
This will be on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Zoom. Our friend Demarius Walker will lead five sessions based on Rose Castle Foundation’s Habits of a Reconciler beginning April 17 and running through May 15. The Difference Course presents resources and strategies for the art of Reconciliation which is the heart of reconciling wrongs and repenting – that is, making amends and turning to new paths. For more information, please click link here to register and be provided the Zoom link.
EPISCOPAL 101
Rev. Jen is offering a five week series which began Sunday, April 21 and will end Sunday, May 26. This series explores the foundations of our history, worship, and work in the world. Please contact her or the office if you are interested. The series will be offered on Sundays after church from 11:45 – 12:30. Remaining dates are May 5, May 12, and May 26. Please contact Jen+ if you prefer a different time.
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
Most weeks, the Tuesday Bible and Book group meet at 4:30 p.m. We are finishing reading Debie Thomas, “Into the Mess.” 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! NOTE: There will be no bible studies on Tuesday, May 14 or Tuesday, May 21. On May 28 we will begin the new book “Celtic Christian Spirituality: Essential Writings-Annotated and Explained” published by Skylight Illuminations.
THIS WEEK’S SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY
Please add Adult Depends Sizes Large & XL, 4 and 5 year old Children’s Pull-Ups, and boxes of Laundry Sheets to your shopping list for the NFP for the month of May. The laundry sheets are more popular and desirable especially for the older folk as they are much easier to handle than the bottles of liquid. 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, May 25 from noon – 2:00 p.m. Please let us know if you are able to help out in any way.
REV. JEN AWAY
Rev. Jen will be out of the office May 15 – May 21 and also May 30 – June 3. If you should need anything during these times, please don’t hesitate to contact the church office or the Sr. Warden, Karen Hirt Mannon.
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 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, May 25
• 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
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at St. Andrew’s
Rae Boscoe, friend of Henrietta Schwartz
Vernon Bothwell, friend of Warren & Connie Macy
David Bryant, brother of Stephanie Gurnon
Marthe Chandler, friend of Martha Rainbolt
Adam Cohen, friend of St. Andrew’s
Clara Copeland, friend of Jen+
Anita Edenfield, friend of Skip Sutton
Sharon Ellett, friend of Joanne Haymaker
Bob Fatzinger, brother of Barbara Pare
Carole Greenawald
Sister Vickie Griner, friend of Trudy Selvia
Thad Jones, brother of Steve Jones
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob & Mimi Breese
The family of Bernie Knuth, uncle of Dennis Knuth
The family of Don Marple, brother of Martha Rainbolt
Mary Mountz
Tom Mullen, father of Patti Harmless
Marilyn & Leo Nelson, sister & brother-in-law of Joanne Haymaker
Sarah Oldstone, sister-in-law of Jen+
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
The family of Gloria Smith
Skip Sutton
Karen Swalley, friend of Thom & Gwen Morris
Scout Whitten
Deb Wilder, sister of Connie Macy
Dwight Ziegler, uncle of Stephanie Gurnon
Kat and family, friend of Jen+ & Chris
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Philip’s Church, Indianapolis: The Rev. Michelle Roos, 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 Episcopal Church of Brazil.
Birthdays: Henrietta Schwartz, May 9.
Anniversaries: None.
Special Events and Services
