We are heading into the end and the beginning—the end of the liturgical year (one more
Sunday in Year C, the year we read primarily from the Gospel according to Luke) and Advent,
which is the start of the next (we’re heading into Year A, during which we primarily read from
Matthew’s Gospel). The Gospel readings of this time always take me by surprise: even after all
this time each year I am anticipating triumphant kings, expectant mothers, and sweet
babies—what I get is collapse and apocalypse.

Our passage from Luke last Sunday has the disciples admiring the glory of the vast and lavishly
ornamented Temple in Jerusalem—and Jesus telling them that the Temple would be thrown
down, stone by stone in the midst of giant upheaval and cataclysm. His admonition? Stay calm
and faithful, despite the terrors of the time (Luke 21:15-19).

One commentator, Rev. Mary Gearhart, likens this moment to Jesus setting a table right in the
middle of the chaos and sitting down to be with us, among us. The testimony Jesus that tells
his disciples will come to them is the testimony that God fulfills the promise to be with us
always. She came to this startling image in another place of chaos—of chaotic emotions and
lives shattered—a visit to a prison. She writes this:

I could never really imagine the confusion of those days of Jesus in Jerusalem, on his
way to the cross nor the thickness of the images of the eschaton that he’s teaching, until I
found myself at a table that turned my world upside down. It was a family table in a large
visitation room in a medium security prison, where I was visiting a family member who
had been incarcerated.

One Saturday a month, the families of inmates were allowed to bring a fast-food prepared
meal to share with their loved ones. After an extensive check-in procedure, a search of
the commercially prepared food we brought, a frisk of the inmates, families of all sizes,
shapes and color gathered around those same oblong tables as the ones we sit around for
church potluck dinners in our fellowship hall.

As we opened our Subway sandwiches, I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of fast
foods being opened, somehow connected to every family’s story of ethnicity, culture, and
geography. I saw some families pray before they ate, others stoically looking past one
another in shame, some families were connecting like a rich and boisterous family
reunion, and others spending more time crying with their hands held than picking up
sandwiches to eat.

Families don’t find themselves at these tables without knowing the pain that Jesus was
revealing in Luke’s gospel. They don’t set a table in a medium security prison without the
famine of love, the plague of disobedience, the sting of betrayal and storms that rage
inside and out.

And yet, as I observed the broken body of Christ shared at each of those oblong tables, I
remembered that Jesus has set his table here as well. He promises the words and wisdom
he has given us of a day of healing and restoration that rises us out of all brokenness and
pain we can ever imagine.

(Rev. Amy Gearhart, “Words and a Wisdom,” Day 1, found at
https://day1.org/weekly-broadcast/5d9b820ef71918cdf200373b/words_and_a_wisdom

For all of the splendor of sumptuous places, high culture, and exquisite moments, there is a
deep grace and beauty that the practice of Christian faith comes over and over again to a
mundane, necessary, universal-across-time-and-culture moment: sitting at a table and eating a
meal.

We are always in God’s holy presence. Our bodies require that we eat regularly. If we can
learn to be present to God and to each other as we eat and drink—as we commune—we will
learn to nourish body, spirit, and soul, whether at a Rockwell-esqueThanksgiving feast, at places
of sorrow, or gathered at an altar for the Eucharist.

May we learn to plumb the grace of the holy ordinary as we live out our lives, day by day by day.

Jen+

Chrismon Tree Project for Elementary Youth

The Chrismon tree is a holiday tradition started by a Lutheran woman in the 1950’s, but has since spread to multiple denominations, including the Episcopal Church. The Chrismon tree is an evergreen Christmas tree that represents a sense of eternal life provided in Christ. The tree is decorated a bit differently from an original Christmas tree in the sense that it only uses clear or white lights, and all the ornaments, called Chrismons, are made of white and gold materials, representing Christmastime liturgical colors.

The word “Chrismon” was made up by a woman named Frances Spencer and combines the words “Christ” and “monograms.” The Chrismon ornaments are all symbols that have meaning behind them relating to Christ, the Holy Trinity, and terms familiar in the Advent season. It is traditional for Chrismons to be handmade, so to better understand why it is they are displayed in the first place. Some common Chrismons are a cross, a crown, a shepherd’s crook, hands in prayer, a scroll, etc.

Making Chrismons is one of my favorite memories of growing up in my home church. Since the ornaments are all homemade, it was always an interesting challenge of creativity when finding what materials to use. Common materials for us were as simple as paper, toilet paper rolls, cardboard, and of course, every kid’s favorite, glitter glue. Bringing in the finished product to show my classmates was something to look forward to every week, even if it might have sparked some friendly competition between us. The different ornaments all hold specific meaning and making them allowed me to better understand the symbolism behind them. This was always exciting, especially because I would have the opportunity to relay that information to my congregation. By the end of the Advent season, you have a full tree made of handmade ornaments and a better understanding of common Christian symbols. These are easy to make at home as well, but the community coming together to decorate a tree for the congregation is always very rewarding.

Macie Barker, Youth Director

Giving Tree

We have received the Giving Tree tags for this year. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this organization, it is for children in need living in Putnam County to receive Christmas gifts. Each child receives an article of clothing, a toy, and one other item. We have created a Sign Up Genius that you can choose a gift/gifts for a respective child. Our assigned children range from 2-15 years of age. If you would rather not shop you can make a donation and we will do the shopping for you! If you choose this option you can give me your donation at church or mail them to me at 709 Toddson Drive. The checks can be made out to me or to St. Andrews. When you enter the Sign Up Genius there are fifty one gifts entered. All gifts must be unwrapped. The limit for each gift is $25.00. Please bring your items to church or deliver to my house by December 4^th. If you have your gift at an earlier date it is okay to bring them to me at your convenience. My phone number is (765) 653-6734 (H) or (765) 720-0105 (C). The link is below for Sign Up Genius. Thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness.

Click here for link.

Blessings,

Gwen Morris

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. Also, she has chosen Mondays as her Sabbath day.

Sunday Morning In-Person Hymnfest Service, November 20, led by Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, 10:15 a.m.

You can connect to the service via Zoom. Click on this link to connect. If you have not used Zoom before, you will be prompted to download Zoom, go ahead and do that. When you enter the meeting you should be able to see and hear others and others can see and hear you. If you come in a little late, please listen for a moment before speaking. In order to see everyone, go to Gallery view (upper right on PCs and upper left for Macintosh). When we get started everyone except the speaker will be muted. If you are reading or playing music, please be sure to unmute yourself.

If you are connecting via telephone dial 301-715-8592 and when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 858 0497 0006 and press #, then enter the password: pray and press # again.

Click here for the service booklet for November 20.

YOUTH RAKE & CHURCH GAME NIGHT

Friday, November 18, 4:30 p.m., arrive at church to rake leaves and invite friends, family, and people you don’t know very well to join you. Bring your favorite game. At 6:00 p.m. dinner will be provided and then it is time to GAME. Fun for all!

UPDATE ON MAUREEN CARKEEK

Our good friend, Maureen, is going to be spending a little time at Mill Pond. If you’d like to drop her a card or line, the address is 1014 Mill Pond Lane, Greencastle, IN 46135 and the phone number there is (765) 276-0322.

ADVENT WREATHS

Sunday, November 20, we will make Advent wreaths during coffee hour. We need a guesstimate to buy candles, wreath frames, and greens. Please let the church office know if you plan to make one.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

The Visual Commentary on Scripture (VCS) is an on-going publication that uses art, theology (theology is basically “talking about God”), and scripture to experience and understand the Bible in new ways. In Advent, VCS has a specially designed four group sessions for a striking and beautiful way to engage Advent. If you are interested, let Rev. Jen know: we can plan an in-person and/or on-line (or on-line hybrid) four week series using these resources. We will set up a special Bible study for Advent. If you’d like to access VCS yourself, the website is: https://thevcs.org/

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

The Non-Food Pantry would love to have cookies again this year! They will be putting them in the NFP treat bags for distribution on Saturday, December 17. If you bake them ahead of time you are welcome to store them in the St. Andrew’s freezer or bring them just before that date. Thanks in advance!

2023 PLEDGE DRIVE

Please return your forms by November 21 so that we can begin to put together a budget for 2023. Many thanks to those who have already returned their pledge cards.

HELP NEEDED WITH CHORES ON THE PROPERTY

Brian Cox, Junior Warden, has compiled a list of small jobs still needing done on the property before winter sets in. Please sign up to complete a task or two to help lighten the load. Click here for the list. Thanks in advance for helping keep St. Andrew’s beautiful!

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY – 4:30 P.M. IN HAMILTON HALL

On Tuesday, November 22 we will be reading and discussing Matthew 24:36-44. You can find the week’s readings at lectionarypage.net. All are welcome!

SACRED POETRY GROUP

On Thursday, November 17 at 11:30 a.m. the group will continue reading the poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The youth are up to some fun – learning about Christian symbols and making Chrismon ornaments. Join them by being an occasional volunteer! Once you have completed your Safe Church training, all you have to do is show up – Macie and Jen+ have everything prepared. The youth come into the sanctuary for the Peace.

COMMUNION AT THE WATERS

Once a month Sunday services have resumed at The Waters. The next service will be Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. This will be a special service with carols and music from our youth. 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.

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:

I would like to discuss our returning to communion by wine via the common cup.

Background: The Diocese of Indianapolis has stated that we may return to full communion (both bread and wine), but that receiving the wine can be by common cup only. Several parishioners have had questions about this. Here’s what I’d like you to know at this point.

• The Vestry voted and approved our new COVID guidelines recommended by the Regathering Committee.
• We might use the words “full communion” to indicate that we are finally back to both bread and wine, but it has ALWAYS been true that taking either one is a complete communion. You do not need both to fully commune.
• The choice is yours, Eucharist by Eucharist. You can decide to let the cup pass because you have a cold; if you are worried about others you can pass; you can wait until we return to intinction. Just cross your arms over your chest—or just shake your head and quietly demur.

Yours in health, restoration, liturgical engagement, and literature review,

Rev. Jen