A Message from the Rector:
We’re in that time of year when beloved family holiday traditions are brought back to life. Perhaps your family tries new vegetable dishes each year, but there can be only ever be one time-honored stuffing recipe. The first time I joined Chris’ family for the holidays I learned about raisin pie, something I had never heard of before, but which is considered absolutely necessary at the Moore household for Thanksgiving. We look forward to gatherings with friends and family. Many families—probably yours—use the Thanksgiving holiday as a time to buy and decorate a Christmas tree together and to string up the colorful lights on the house and shrubs.
The church—Saint Andrew’s, as well as the wider church—has its own traditions for the holiday season. These include colors, decorations, scriptures, and hymns, and also timing. The timing of the decorations reveal traditions that are beloved and that help tell the great story of the coming of Jesus, the promise of the Kingdom, and the hope for peace on earth.
Church traditions enhance the Christian message, and the core of the Christian message has always been at odds with the values of the world at large. Instead of the rich and powerful, God chooses to be incarnate in a vulnerable family in a remote town at an awkward and critical moment. Instead of promising us that we get “return on investment” in the form of lucrative connections, well-padded portfolios, and medals and certificates for our achievements, we are invited to be humble servants. And instead of jumping right into a Hallmark Christmas with the lights, bells, and cheer of Christmas, the church offers Advent.
You might find the Gospel reading this first Sunday of Advent a little jarring after Thanksgiving. There are no sleeping babies with gentle animals watching. No astounded shepherds and reverent Mary and Joseph. The sanctuary is plainer than usual, and the readings of the first Sunday of Advent are full of apocalypse and warnings. The second and third Sundays of Advent are focused on John the Baptist, an intense and fierce man calling for us to recognize and repent of our sins. And the fourth Sunday of Advent is centered on Mary’s song, the Magnificat, with Mary rejoicing that God’s Kingdom is so utterly at odds with the power and the value of the world. Where is the sweet baby Jesus??? In the church’s tradition, Advent prepares us by bringing out the basic, raw elements that show why we need Christmas and how we get there. Rather than jump right to the story of the Christ child, we listen, reflect, watch, and wait in a world where Christ is not present.
Just as in families, church traditions tell stories. Although we may well bring an evergreen tree into the sanctuary during Advent, it will not be until after the fourth Sunday of Advent that we have lights and decorations. During Advent, the colors will be blue, a color of Mary’s cloak and of waiting and anticipation. There will be fewer decorations than usual. The readings are startling and sobering. The candles on the Advent wreath will not all be lit for weeks, we’ll add only one candle each week. These are ways to reclaim and remember the waiting and the time-before and the time-without, to slow down enough to feel the emptiness that can only be filled by the Holy One, and to reflect on the desolation that marks a world that does not know the love of God.
In short moment between Advent and Christmas is the moment to transform our holy space. Blue changes into gold and white. Plain evergreen on the altar will be replaced colorful poinsettias that blanket the chancel. Beautiful candles and candle holders will be at every windowsill. All the candles will be burning on the Advent wreath and on Christmas Eve every person present will have a candle, emblem of the Light coming into the world. The creche will take the place of pride at the front of the church—the Magi may still be making their way to the Christ Child (they will be added to the creche at Epiphany, which follows the Twelfth Day of Christmas), but the stable is filled with the Holy Family, animals, shepherds and angels. The plain evergreen tree has become a glittering Christmas tree with lights and gold-and-white Chrismons, and greenery will appear throughout the church. And finally we will hear Christmas carols as they should be heard and sung—not on a canned loop at the grocery store, but shaking the sanctuary on the glorious Saint Andrew’s organ with the full voice of the congregation and the choir. We will have moved from preparation to celebration and it will be a Feast Day indeed.
I pray that during this Advent season that as you do all the things that are a part of the tradition of your family and of the wider world, that you will also enter into the centuries-old traditions of the Church during Advent, letting yourself be moved from the plain to the splendid, from the empty to the replete, and from the sober to the joyous.
In peace,
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 First Sunday of Advent
In-Person Sunday Morning Worship Service, December 1, 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 December 1.
Giving Tree 2024
It is hard to believe that the holidays are here once again. As in years past, St. Andrew’s will participate in the Giving Tree. Your generosity throughout the years has been outstanding. Putnam County children continue to benefit from your kind hearts. Each child receives three-four gifts; this includes toys and clothing.
Gifts should not be wrapped. The Giving Tree program provides the gifts to the parent/guardian so that he/she can gift them to the children. Wrapping paper and tape are also given to the families so that can wrap the gifts at home.
The deadline to return gifts to Gwen Morris is December 8th. Her hope is that as soon as you have your gifts, please call her to plan your drop-off at 709 Toddson Drive, Greencastle.
If you do not wish to shop, Gwen is happy to shop for you. You can send your checks to her directly or send them to the church made payable to St. Andrews with “Giving Tree” in the memo field and Renee will reimburse her.
Lastly, the link below is Sign Up Genius. It will take you to St. Andrew’s page to sign up for a child and gift you can choose to shop for this season.
Thank you for your open hearts,
Gwen Morris
Cell Phone: 765-720-0105
Home Phone: 765-653-6734
The Latest Updates
2025 PLEDGE DRIVE – WALK IN LOVE
Parishioner Pledge Drive packets for the upcoming year were distributed. Let us know if you did not receive yours. Those were due back in the office by Sunday, November 24. Thanks so much for your time, talent, and treasure! You all are such a blessing to Saint Andrew’s!
KROGER COUPONS
If you have any unwanted Kroger coupons, please bring them to Hamilton Hall and place in the window ledge near the “Little Library”. We would like to make them available to our Non-Food Pantry recipients so that they might be able to take advantage of them to help extend their food budget. Thanks in advance!
SACRED POETRY GROUP
Our Sacred Poetry began meeting again. We will meet again on Wednesday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m. in the upstairs room of Advent House. All are welcome!
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
The Book and Bible Group has begun again, meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays with Evening Prayer celebrated at 4:00 p.m. We are finishing up reading Abraham Joshua Heschel’s, “The Sabbath”. Our next meeting is Tuesday, December 3.
BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND EXPLORATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
Our upcoming Confirmation classes are on December 8, December 22, and January 5. Please let Jen+ or Renee know if you are interested!
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY – SAVE THE DATE!
The Saint Andrew’s Christmas Party will be on Sunday evening, December 8, 5:00 p.m., at the home of Thom & Gwen Morris, 709 Toddson Drive. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. All are invited!
VESTRY MEETING MINUTES
If any of you are interested in what your Vestry is doing, there are two copies of each month’s minutes on the top of the piano in Hamilton Hall. Feel free to read and return!
THIS WEEK’S SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY
Please add baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, and Adult Depends (any size) to your shopping list for the NFP for the month of November. 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, December 21 from noon – 2:00 p.m.
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. 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, December 21
• 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
Toppy Beach, sister of Skip Sutton
Beth Benedix, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Kim Frank, sister of Pamalee Smith
Katie Gleichman, relative of Jim & Cathryn Ensley
Carole Greenawald
Janet Jenks, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Tom Kaiser, friend of Jen+ & Chris
The family of Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob & Mimi Breese
Teresa Masten, friend of Karen & Jim Mannon
Sally Motsch, friend to many at St. Andrew’s
Mary Mountz
Jeri Mucia, friend of Joanne Haymaker
Tom Mullen, father of Patti Harmless
Lucas Murray, grandson of Dave & Sue Murray
Marilyn & Leo Nelson, sister & brother-in-law of Joanne Haymaker
The family and friends of Kevin Sanders, friend of Mannon family
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Skip Sutton
Karen Swalley, friend of Thom & Gwen Morris
Dwight Ziegler, uncle of Stephanie Gurnon
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Timothy’s, Indianapolis: The Rev. Rebecca Nickel, 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 Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.
Birthdays: Stanley Morris, December 2; Clara Everett, December 7.
Anniversaries: None.
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