A Message from a Parishioner:
Welcome the Stranger.
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25: 31-40
It’s a verse (oft quoted and oft ignored) I think of often during my day-to-day working with international students at DePauw. All 400 or so of them.
Welcome the Stranger, I think, copying the I-20, the I-94, the copy of visa and passport photo page. Copying the endless documentation for student after student, again and again and again until the copier runs out of paper.
Welcome the Stranger, I remind myself, reviewing letters from the IRS about missing signatures or missing payments, 4-figure bills from mischarged medical invoices, emails that might be scams. “So here is how we’ll work together on this,” I say, promising to help so that they don’t feel so alone in a new place.
Welcome the Stranger: Sit down and share space and a few moments in my office with a “stranger” who becomes a friend of sorts, a frequent visitor, someone whose language I may not speak but whose name I learn to pronounce, whose family members I hear about and even come to know (and fret over), whose futures I hope for and pray will be beautiful, precious, and wonderful, a flowering of opportunity even though it’s far from home.
Welcome the stranger. Something that, when I was younger, thought meant inviting someone in (Jesus, of course!) for dinner, providing good food and something to drink, companionship and entertainment, but something which has become, in this era—at least for me—about joining forces with people who I might not know but whose worries are the same as mine, who fear the same fears and share the same struggles. And together, we tackle paperwork. We go to the Social Security Office together. We drive to the international food store in Indianapolis. We welcome more “strangers” who are now strangers to DePauw in August, wrapping them with activities and smiles, and bundling them into their new rooms to join the community.
And this time of year reminds me of the way I too have been welcomed and the way that we welcome each other in a world through the simplest of gestures: a hot drink at coffee hour, a wave and a smile at the grocery store, the birthdays and anniversaries and prayers we lift up for one another week to week. St. Andrews, who welcomed me to the world 29 years ago, who taught me to welcome any stranger I meet, who welcomed me back from too many years in New York with love and the kindnesses that knit a community together.
Beth Haymaker
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 Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, November 12, 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 12.
The Latest Updates
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.
WELCOME, WILL PEARSON!
This Sunday we welcome our new organist and Music Director, Will Pearson. Will is a faculty member in DePauw’s School of Music and lives in Greencastle. Steeped in the Anglican musical tradition, Will sang professionally in the Choir of Men and Boys at the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY through his childhood and teens, and has studied organ and historical keyboards at the Eastman School of Music. He has extensive experience as an organist in many different denominations—and we are blessed to have him as our Music Director and organist. Welcome to Saint Andrew’s, Will!
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 Sunday, November 26. Thanks in advance!
SACRED JOURNEYS: LOURDES VIDEO SHOWING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
In honor of Veterans’ Day, we will have a viewing of this video that covers the annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes that is an opportunity for healing, camaraderie, and spiritual renewal for those who have served in the military, many of whom have suffered traumatic injuries. The stories and experiences of the pilgrims is extremely moving. This will be at 6:00 p.m. in Hamilton Hall, a light dinner of soup and bread will be offered.
DIOCESAN YOUTH GATHERING, NOVEMBER 11, 9-5 P.M. EST, ST. PAUL’S, INDIANAPOLIS
We are holding a gathering for youth at Diocesan Convention, open to grades 6-12 throughout the Diocese. This free gathering will have activities that include fun games, activities, a mental health first aid workshop, and puppy play. This is one of the first opportunities youth have to connect with other youth throughout the Diocese as we relaunch Diocesan Youth Ministry. Parents do not need to attend Convention for youth to participate. To sign up, go to https://indydio.org/diocesan-convention/ or email Heather Kenison, Diocesan Youth Director, heather@indydio.org
You can also click on each event name to download flyers: Diocesan Youth Ministry Vision Summit and Diocesan Youth Gathering.
COMMUNION AT THE WATERS, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Once a month Sunday services are continuing at The Waters. The next service will be this Sunday, November 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!
BIBLE AND BOOK GROUP, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 4:30 PM
Our Bible study/books group(s) started up again. We are reading Rachel Held Evans’ Searching for Sundays, a book about “loving, leaving, and finding the church.”
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 @ bennettn71@gmail.com
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, November 18 from noon – 3:00 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 November 18 at the monthly distribution. FYI: Baskets at church are now dedicated for the NFP and not the food pantry.
SAVE THE DATE FOR FEBRUARY, 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.
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, November 18
• Noon to 3:00 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! NOTE: Distributions now take place indoors and participants must provide proof that they live within Putnam County. New hours of operation beginning December 16 will be noon – 2:00 p.m.
Top 3 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
Peggy Angleton
The family of Gabrielle Antonidias, friend of Jen+
Haile Bane, grandson of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
Sharon Bone, friend of Emily Knuth
Douglas Butler, brother-in-law of Claudia Butler
Richard A. Butler, father-in-law of Claudia Butler
Adam Cohen, friend of St. Andrew’s
Anita Edenfield, friend of Skip Sutton
Nathan Elson, friend of Michael Knuth
Bob Fatzinger, brother of Barbara Pare
Cynthia Florindo, friend of Claudia Butler
The family of Adele Rietz Grobe, mother of Claudia Butler
Mae Haymaker, granddaughter of Joanne Haymaker
Kimberley Heithaus, niece of Joe & Jenny Heithaus
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob & Mimi Breese
Thad Jones, brother of Steve Jones
The family of Jane McRae, friend of Claudia Butler
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+
Martha Rainbolt
Gordon Redden
The family of Kathy Sanders, friend of Suzanne Hassler
Elizabeth & Natalie Sheffler, daughter & granddaughter of Page & Narda Cotton
Gloria Smith
Skip Sutton
Karen Swalley, friend of Thom & Gwen Morris
The family of Jerry Taylor, friend of Warren & Connie Macy
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
Dwight Ziegler, brother of Stephanie Gurnon
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. James Church, Vincennes: Ms. Mary Theobold, Senior Warden; The Rev. Mary Becker, Deacon.
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 Church of Mozambique and Angola.
Birthdays: Anna Harmless, November 13; Kevin Moore, November 14.
Anniversaries: None.
Special Events and Services
