As you might imagine, I have been thinking a lot lately about why we are asked to support our church financially. There are many things I want to see our money sustain and help build at St. Andrew’s. I want to make sure we can always pay Rev. Jen and Renee and Albrecht and pay them well. I want to ensure that our building and grounds remain beautiful. I want to help fund our ministries and projects. And I want to have money to throw parties and events where we can spend time together. But, I actually think that all of these things are the secondary benefits of pledging. I think we are asked to give, not because of what we do with the money, but rather, what giving does to us; it softens our heart. There is a wonderful Russian movie called Stalker. In it, the titular character, a spiritual man who guides broken people to a magic room that is supposed to grant their sincerest wish, prays, “But, above all, may they believe in themselves and become as helpless as children. For softness is great and strength is worthless. When a man is born, he is soft and pliable. When he dies, he is strong and hard. When a tree grows, it is soft and pliable. But when it’s dry and hard, it dies. Hardness and strength are death’s companions. Flexibility and softness are the embodiment of life. That which has become hard shall not triumph.” We think of both money and hardness as a protective shell, but, spiritually, both can imprison. Focusing on the outcomes of our donations, while logical, misses the spiritual work we do as we consider and (hopefully) follow through on giving money to the church. When we do this, we practice letting go of the Earthly things and open our hands instead to the gifts of Heaven.

With love,

Kate Berry

Meditation:
The Communion of Saints. A Fellowship of Love and Prayer

In the Apostles’ Creed we proclaim, “I believe in the Communion of Saints.” In so doing we acknowledge that we are supported and sustained by a vast fellowship of love and prayer. The men and women who have gone before us and passed through the door of death continue to be present with us.

We often think of saints as those who have been officially acknowledged by the church for their exemplary lives. However, participation in the communion of saints is not reserved for those who have been formally declared saints by the church or commemorated in the church calendar. In the New Testament the term “saint” is broadly applied to all who belong to the community of faith. A family member, a teacher, a friend, a companion of one’s heart may have touched our lives in such a way that they continue beyond death to be an inspiration, a guide, and a source of blessing. The Holy Spirit, who is the minister of communion, binds us together in a relationship that remains unbroken by death.

–Frank T. Griswold

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. 

Sunday Morning In-Person Morning Worship Service, October 30, 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. 

Click here for the service booklet for October 30.

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 by Monday, October 31; we will have them ready and printed for the craft on November 6.

OCTOBER 30TH BOOKMARK MAKING WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Macie will be way this Sunday (her sister’s wedding!). We need a few volunteers to work with the elementary school youth to make bookmarks that will be placed in the BCPs. It’s an easy craft–2 pieces of precut cardboard, colored ribbon, glue, and a heavy book to press down the finished product–and will be very useful to our parish. Please let Renee or Rev. Jen know if you can help this Sunday.

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. Cathryn Ensley has a card from the parish that you are welcome to sign. A light lunch and celebration will follow the service before we turn to our votive candle craft.

FELLOWS RAKE AND RUN ON NOVEMBER 6

Civic Fellows members will rake leaves for Putnam County residents who need assistance or cannot rake leaves themselves on Sunday, November 6 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Click here for the link that has a QR code that will take you to the registration form. Please reach out to civicfellows@depauw.edu with any questions. You can also call (812) 549-4313 or (765) 346-2241.

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!

2023 PLEDGE DRIVE

Your annual Pledge Drive letter and forms should have arrived in the mail by now. 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, November 1 we are returning to a regular Bible Study for the next few weeks. All are welcome! The reading is Luke 20:27-38.

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.

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:

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