When asked to write about my experience in the newsletter this week, I felt it only right to bring a little bit of my home church to my newfound home in Greencastle. I was pretty young when I had one of my first “God moments” as some would call that opened my heart to Jesus, and I have to thank my priest and chosen grandfather, Fr. John Roof. After a particularly rough week at school, I was less than thrilled to drag myself to church Sunday morning. Fr. John was known for repeating stories in his sermons when he swore he felt someone needed them. This specific week, I decided to skip Sunday School. I had no idea I would finally hear his famous “cookie story” for the very first time. While I can’t do the story full justice, I feel it fitting to share that story with you:

Fr. John had taken a sabbatical and chose to travel to Israel. On his way home, he was stuck in an airport waiting for his layover. He happened to sit down right next to the most easily flustered woman in existence, lucky him. As they are sitting in an awkward silence, John takes out a sandwich bag full of cookies and opens up the bag. As soon as he does, the woman next to him rips them out of his hand and berates him for being an unjust priest, daring to steal from an innocent woman. She was insistent that he stole her cookies and demanded an apology. Fr. John obliges and apologizes. After she had eaten every last cookie in front of him, she opened her purse and pulled out an almost identical sandwich bag packed full of cookies. She turned to him, mortified, and asked why he didn’t defend himself, why he let her eat all of his cookies knowing he never stole hers. He simply replied “It seemed like you needed them more than me” with a little chuckle and went about his day. He used this story to talk about patience, about kindness, and about loving your neighbor, even when you don’t want to share your cookies.

Fr. John was the most loving, patient man I’ve ever met. I seriously don’t know how he did it. I took his story to heart that day, and begrudgingly tried to be more patient and charitable in life, in the way an elementary school kid knows how (mostly sharing the cookies my mom packed in my lunch with my friends… but hey, it was a start). I have since learned that patience is not an easy feat, and I continue to work on it with the cookie story in mind. He always said that part of the fun of life was learning how to live it in a way that reflects Jesus. I think I have a long way to go, but I do admit that I find fun in trying. As an adult, I’ve found myself revisiting that story quite a bit, as well as others of his. There is a saying he always ended service with, that I think is only right to leave this with as well. He always said, “if you take nothing from church but this, I’ve done my job: keep the love going, keep the love growing.” As I try to keep love going, I encourage you to do so as well.

Macie Barker

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. NOTE: There will be no drop-in hours on October 25 or November 1 as Rev. Jen will be out of the office.

Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, October 29, led by The Fr. Bill Wieland, 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 October 29.

3RD QUARTER CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

Contribution statements have been mailed to households that are tracking behind in their annual pledge as we close out the year. If households are up to date or tracking well, we will not send statements in order to save postage and printing cost. If you would like to receive a statement and did not, please reach out to the church office and we can either email or mail your household statement. Year end annual statements will be mailed in January, 2024 for tax record purposes.

2024 PLEDGE DRIVE – ROOTED IN ABUNDANCE

Annual Stewardship Campaign letters will be available for pick up after this Sunday’s service. If you can’t make it Sunday, your pledge packet will be mailed to you. Please prayerfully consider your pledge and also serving on a ministry group. Please return forms to the church office, collection basket, or by mail by Sunday, November 26. Thanks in advance!

REV. JEN OUT OF OFFICE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24 – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Rev. Jen will be away at CREDO from October 24 – 30, then in California for her father’s memorial through Friday, November 3. NOTE: There will be no drop-in hours or book studies during this time.

DIOCESAN YOUTH MINISTRY VISION SUMMIT, OCTOBER 27, 4-8 P.M. EST, ST. CHRISTOPHER’S, CARMEL

We are relaunching Diocesan Youth Ministry for the first time since 2019, and we’d love your voice as we build it! Diocesan Youth Ministry has traditionally consisted of diocesan youth retreats, youth leadership programs, and parish support. We are eager to build a youth ministry program designed by teenagers for teenagers. To sign up, go to https://indydio.org/youth/ or email Heather Kenison, Diocesan Youth Director, heather@indydio.org

BISHOP’S VISITATION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 10:15 AM

Bishop Jennifer will be visiting St. Andrew’s on November 5. She will be joining us for the All Saints’ celebration and for our brunch in honor of Albrecht. She will also hold a Q & A right after the service as the brunch is being set out. Please bring your questions and comments – and your party hats! Following the brunch, she’ll be meeting with Vestry members.

ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 10:15 AM

On All Saints’ Sunday we will read the names of those we remember who are no longer with us – those who died in the previous year, and also those who are on our heart. Please send Renee the names you would like read out loud at the All Saints’ service. If you would like to make a votive candle for a loved one, please bring a photo or computer picture to be printed.

BIBLE AND BOOK GROUP TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 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.” The next gathering will be Tuesday, November 7.

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.

THIS WEEK’S SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY

Please add body wash, 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, October 28. 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 October 28 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.

COMMUNION AT THE WATERS

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

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: