September 11, 2001: I heard of the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center as I was walking across campus to my class in the Green Center. I was stunned but continued on and went to my classroom. We were scheduled to talk about some works of John Donne (1572-1631), beginning with “Meditation 17”. The classroom was completely quiet as I entered – unusual for that group. So without comment I asked the students to read aloud from the meditation: “No man is an island, entire of itself.” When they finished reading through the text, there was a still silence in the room. But the tone had shifted. I could tell that they were feeling connected to one another. I began to silently meditate and the room remained quiet for several minutes. Then I said, “Class is dismissed. Those of you who want to go listen to the news or want to check on family and friends, please feel free to leave. I will stay a while longer.” Several of the students stayed in the classroom, some of them rereading Donne’s meditation. I found myself praying that this terrorist attack would bring us together and that we must work toward having a country in which everyone recognized that we were all connected and that we all belonged here. “This land is your land; this land is my land. …This land was made for you and me.”

Here are some quotations from Donne’s meditation:
“All mankind is of one author and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language, and every chapter must be so translated. God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice; but God’s hand is in every translation, and his hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again for that library where every book shall lie open to one another…”

“No man is an island, entire of itself: every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main… Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and, therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.”

Martha Rainbolt

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.

Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, November 26, 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 November 26.

YOUTH GAME AND CRAFT DAY: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

All are invited for an afternoon of Advent crafts, games, and a potluck lunch on December 10 at approximately 11:45 a.m. Youth from Gobin will join us after the service for a festive afternoon of fun and fellowship. Details to follow soon.

GIVING TREE

We will receive the Giving Tree tags this week. 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. Please sign up HERE on SignUp Genius and 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. Andrew’s. 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 6. If you have your gift at an earlier date it is okay to bring them to me at your convenience. My phone number is 653-6734 (H) or 720-0105 (C). Thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness. Blessings, Gwen Morris.

EVENING PRAYER

Most weeks, the Tuesday Bible and Book group meet at 4:30 p.m. 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.

2024 PLEDGE DRIVE – ROOTED IN ABUNDANCE

Annual Stewardship Campaign letters have gone out. If you did not receive yours, please contact the office. Please prayerfully consider your pledge and also serving on a ministry group. Return forms to the church office, collection basket, or by mail by this Sunday, November 26. Thanks in advance!

BIBLE AND BOOK GROUP, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 4:30 PM

Our Bible study/books group(s) started up again. We are reading “Belonging” by Karoline Lewis.

TWO PARISHES – ONE GAME, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29

Folks from St. Andrew’s, Greencastle and St. John’s, Crawfordsville will gather at Wally’s (inside Sparks Center, Wabash College campus) between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. for fellowship and sustenance before the start of the 7:00 p.m. game. Save your voice so you can cheer for your favorite team! No RSVP necessary – just come and have fun! FYI – No tickets required for the game. Let Jen+ or Renee know if you plan to attend. We will have a carpool for those who are interested! Questions? E-mail Nancy Bennett at bennettn71@gmail.com

COMMUNION AT THE WATERS, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

Once a month Sunday services are continuing at The Waters. The next service will be Sunday, December 10 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!

THIS WEEK’S SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY

Please add bleach, Laundry Detergent, and adult incontinence pads/underwear to your shopping list for the NFP. Every little bit helps our budget go farther in helping meet the needs of folks in Putnam County. The next Non-Food Pantry will be Saturday, December 16 from noon – 2:00 p.m. There is a sign-up sheet posted in Hamilton Hall for folks to help with a product pick-up and/or as well as for help on December 16 at the monthly distribution. FYI: Baskets at church are now dedicated for the NFP and not the food pantry.

SAVE THE DATE FOR FEBRUARY 21, 2024

The Philadelphia Eleven documentary will be shown at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at Korb Classroom in the Wabash College Fine Arts Building. After the screening Bishop Jennifer will participate in a panel discussion.

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. 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: