A Reflection from our Pledge Drive Coordinator:
It is not an original or particularly profound thought that the Kingdom of Heaven might be here now, rather than something we are rewarded with after we die, or something Christ will single-handedly usher in sometime in the chronological future.
The notion that we could be, or already are, living in the Kingdom seems to be a paradox of the Good News. If only we accept it, God is with us and the Kingdom is at hand! If only we accept it, we all are given miraculous responsibility. Individually we are likely to see only slivers of the larger picture, and collectively we may emphasize differing beliefs and theologies. Yet the instructions for following Christ are relatively clear, if only we accept it.
To me, living as if the Kingdom of Heaven were already here would mean having the faith, or if you prefer, the courage, to do the things Christ asks us to do, especially the crazy things. If I had the faith (or courage), I would throw parties for the poor, ill, and forgotten instead of my friends and family. I would sell my possessions and give the proceeds to others. In short, I would fully, deeply understand that money does not keep me safe from trouble and pain and I would trust that God provides me better than I can provide myself.
That is a faith that, honestly, I am too afraid to embrace. But, I want to feel, at least, that I am heading in the right direction. For me, that means giving what I can, both financially and with my time. As a church, pledge season is the time we consider these questions of faith and responsibility and, hopefully, decide to “magnify these gifts” in anticipation, in gratitude, and in sight of the Kingdom of Heaven that is already here.
Pledge cards will be sent out this week! Please keep an eye out for yours and contact Kate Berry if you have any questions about how (or, more importantly, why) to give to St. Andrew’s this year.
With love,
Kate Berry
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. Also, she has chosen Mondays as her Sabbath day.
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Morning In-Person Morning Worship Service, October 23, 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. NOTE: This is a new ID number as of April 4, 2022 so be sure to enter the new information!
Click here for the service booklet for October 23.
The Latest Updates
ALL SAINTS’ DAY
We will be celebrating All Saints’ Day on November 6. (The actual day for All Saints’ is November 1; we celebrate the following Sunday). It will be a big day! We anticipate two baptisms, Jubilee and Amelia Majors, and ask you to keep them in your prayers as we continue preparing for the baptisms.
We also will be remembering those we love who are in God’s nearer presence. We will have several ways of remembering: the Necrology, a list of the departed read aloud during the service; an ofrenda which is a special table/altar where you can put messages, tokens, and things loved by the deceased as a way of showing love and affection, and a craft after the service where we will create votives with a picture of those who are missed on them. Stay tuned!
PHOTO FOR ALL SAINTS’ TALL VOTIVES
On All Saints’ we will have materials to make votives with your loved ones’ picture on them. We will need a photo that we can print on a xerox machine. Please send your pictures (hard copy or jpg) to the office; we will have them ready and printed for the craft on November 6.
NOVEMBER 6: ALL SAINTS’ CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF SUE MURRAY
On All Saints’, we are sure to sing a favorite hymn, “I sing a song of the saints of God” which tells us that we meet saints every day–“in shops or at tea”–or in Vestry, diocesan meetings and the sacristy in Altar Guild. At All Saints’ coffee hour on November 6 we will be celebrating our local saint Sue Murray’s leadership and compassionate heart. Stay tuned for more details…
FAVORITE HYMNS
Rev. Jen would like to compile a list of hymns that are most loved by the congregation. Hymn selection is based on the lectionary and season of the year, and we would like to include your favorites in our choices!
UPCOMING PLEDGE DRIVE
Please be on the lookout for your annual Pledge Drive letter and forms toward the end of this month. Kate Berry is the Pledge Drive Coordinator this year. Forms are due back November 21.
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, October 25 we will continue with our book, which we began on September 27, Anne Lamott’s Travelling Mercies (Knopf, 1999). Travelling Mercies is a memoir about Lamott’s most unlikely conversion to Christianity, and her struggles and revelations in following the Christian path. All are welcome! Rev. Jen can find you a book if you are interested.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We need a volunteer each week to be in the Elementary Youth classroom. Our director, Macie Barker, will teach the class; the volunteer will be there as a part of safe church procedures. Please consider this occasional ministry.
COMMUNION AT THE WATERS
Once a month Sunday services have resumed at The Waters. The next service will be Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 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!
COVID PROTOCOL UPDATE
We continue to change, responding to both our county’s current CDC designation but also by the severity of the current variant. Currently 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, October 29
• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution and sack lunches will be served. We are very grateful to Kate Berry, Martha Rainbolt, Carl Huffman, Karen Hirt Mannon, and Christiane Wisehart who have worked very hard to obtain supplies for the Non-Food Pantry. Kroger is not able to acquire enough products for us so the items are being purchased from a variety of sources. This is much more expensive. Donations to help offset this extra cost will be gratefully accepted!
Top 3 Needed Items
Your prayers are asked for:
The family of Jack Angleton, brother of Peggy Angleton
Haile Bane, grandson of Joanne Haymaker
Beth Benedix, friend to many of us at Saint Andrew’s
Lee Bird, nephew of Lucy Wieland
Douglas Butler, brother-in-law of Claudia Butler
Richard A. Butler, father-in-law of Claudia Butler
Cynthia Cornell
Bernice Emrick, mother of Karen Hirt Mannon
The family of Robert E. Fatzinger, Sr., father of Barbara Paré
Nancy Ferriani and the family of Bob Ferriani, friends of Warren and Connie Macy
Katie Gleichman, relative of Jim Ensley
The family of Mary Ellen Gurnon, aunt of Daniel and Stephanie Gurnon
The family of Roxanne Harrison, friend of Jen+
The family of Bob Haymaker
Shandol Hoover, friend of Dave and Sue Murray
Terumi Imai, friend of Jen+
Lisa Breese Kincaid, daughter of Bob and Mimi Breese
Grayson Lyons, great nephew of Peggy Angleton
The family of Winkie Mitchell, friend of Jen+
Mary Mountz
Bryan Murray and the Murray family
Lucas Murray, grandson of Dave and Sue Murray
Gordon Redden
The family of Margaret Sammons, friend and colleague of Jen+
The family of Jordan Sanders, sister of Jim Ensley
Mike Schmidt, brother of Renee Hood
Elizabeth and Natalie Sheffler, daughter and granddaughter of Page and Narda Cotton
Gloria Smith
The family of Susan Stewart, friend of Jen+
Skip Sutton
Karen Swalley, friend of Joanne Haymaker
Jerry Taylor, friend of Warren and Connie Macy
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Saint Thomas, Franklin; The Rev. Whitney Smith.
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 Anglican Church of the Congo.
Birthdays: Peggy Angleton, October 27; Stephanie Gurnon, October 27; Fiona Good, October 29.
Anniversaries: None.
THE COMMON CUP, INTINCTION, AND FULL COMMUNION
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
GCYG
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