A little more than a year ago, I was not feeling all that optimistic about St. Andrew’s condition and prospects. COVID and the lack of a permanent Rector had worn me out. I was on the search committee for a new Rector, but we were having little luck. Church was beginning to feel like a drain; like I was giving and not getting much back. Leaders from the Diocese and fellow members of the search committee told me that God had the perfect person to lead our church; I just needed to be patient and we would eventually discover them…

…I will admit that my faith doesn’t really work like that. I am terrible at waiting and listening for God’s plan. The notion that the ideal person for St. Andrew’s was out there somewhere and would find us seemed unbelievable and I worried for our congregation’s future. I know it was a tough time for many of us at St. Andrew’s. We’ve lost friends and family. Beloved ones have passed; others moved far away. Challenges piled up and being patient didn’t seem to help. I feared the lifeblood of St. Andrew’s was starting to dry up.

But then something happened that really does seem to me like a minor miracle. Rev. Jen responded to our call. And she is, in her own words, “on fire” to bring life back to St. Andrew’s. We are starting youth instruction for three age-levels! There is well-attended Bible and poetry study, weekly! We are resuming Eucharistic service at The Waters! We’ve started inviting each other into our homes again and showing each other the hospitality we value so much at Coffee Hour! I see new faces every Sunday service! In a very real sense, our prayers were answered.

We have so much to be grateful for. We are building something again, rather than just barely hanging on. But we cannot build on Rev. Jen’s energy alone.

I guess this is where I reveal that I am kicking off this year’s pledge campaign. I will write and speak about different reasons for giving throughout the month, but I wanted to start with the most exciting reason to give to St. Andrew’s this year: we asked God for someone to lead and sustain our Church and she came. The heart of St. Andrew’s is beating again. As our work resumes and grows, there’s no way to avoid the reality that it takes money. Please begin to think about giving this year. There are so many wonderful things happening again, I hope we all find a way to take part.

Kate Berry

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. NOTE: Rev. Jen will be out of the office October 10 – 17.

Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, October 9, led by Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldsone-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 9.

NO TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY – 4:30 P.M. IN HAMILTON HALL

There will be no Bible Study on Tuesday, October 11. On October 18 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.

HOOSIER HOSPITALITY PROGRAM

We have the opportunity to connect international students at DePauw with American culture and life! DePauw’s Hoosier Hospitality Program annually pairs DePauw’s international students with Greencastle families – it’s a way to foster intercultural awareness while building friendships. Families are not asked to provide housing for their host students – only a “home away from home”. Let’s make St. Andrew’s a leading source of host-families for our international student-neighbors. Click here for more details and host application form, and note that the applications are still open! If you have any questions about the programs, please feel free to contact the International Student Affairs at: intlstudents@depauw.edu. Instructor Nagi Fujie, Asian Studies, and Beth Haymaker, International Student Affairs.

COMMUNION AT THE WATERS

Once a month Sunday services resuming at The Waters beginning on Sunday, October 9 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 Grace Episcopal, 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