Last week we had the challenge of the other parable of the mustard seed, the one from Luke 17:5-10 where [quote here]

As I was preparing for the sermon, I came across an obituary of Dr. Jane Goodall who recently died at the age of 90.[1] Reporter Catrin Einhorn was sharing memories of a recent interview. In preparation for the interview, the reporter asked people what they most wanted to know from Dr. Goodall, who spent a lifetime studying chimpanzees and advocating for nature. People wanted most to know why Goodall insisted on hope. Dr. Goodall was deeply hopeful about healing the natural world and protecting animals, despite climate change, climate change denial, encroachment on and degradation of habitat, devastating wars, and sheer human cruelty have made challenges to the natural world that feel insurmountable.

Einhorn writes, “I asked [Goodall] about balancing hope — which she found in human intellect, in the resilience of nature, in the power of young people and in the indomitable human spirit — with false hope, sometimes called “hopium.”

Goodall didn’t hesitate.

“Hope isn’t just wishful thinking,” Goodall said, telling us to imagine a long, dark tunnel with a little star at the end representing hope.

“There’s no good sitting at the mouth of the tunnel and wishing that that hope would come to us,” she said. “We’ve got to roll up our sleeves. The Bible says, gird your loins. I love that. I’m not quite sure what it means, but let’s gird our loins. And we’ve got to climb over, crawl under, work around all the obstacles that lie between us and the star.”

Roll up our sleeves.
Gird our loins.
Climb over,
crawl under,
work around all the obstacles that lie between us and the star.

Goodall talked about hope the way Jesus talked about faith. The disciples ask for more faith; Jesus tells them that the faith smaller than the mustard seed is entirely sufficient to do great things in the world. By contrast, faith is not what happens when we finally assent to each point of the Nicene Creed. Faith isn’t a “hopium” for the masses.

Faith is taking on Jesus’ Way of Love wherever you may find yourself. It is serving sandwiches and handing out toilet paper and parking cars at the Non-Food Pantry. Faith in a vocation—whatever that might be, however that might serve others—faithfully lived. Faith is putting YOUR life into practice in the world. Faith is practice, practice, practice. And when you practice, your faith becomes second nature.

So
Roll up your sleeves.
Gird your loin.
Climb over,
crawl under,
work around all the obstacles that lie between you and the star.

Remember that there are always troubles and challenges, that every historical moment demands much of us. And promise me that you will share your spark of faith with me when I need encouragement, and I will do the same for you.

Jen+

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/climate/jane-goodall-interviews.html

A Message from the Senior Warden: Pledge Campaign

We all love stories. Since we were very young, we have been told stories. Stories that entertain us and stories that teach us. Stories about the imaginary and stories about real people. Stories that are full of history and stories about the people that came before us. We even have our own stories.

Our stories bring us together. Each of us has a story to tell, a reason why we found this congregation and continue to participate. Each of us has dreams, ambitions, and great ideas, just as each of us has struggles and moments of difficulty. One of the great things about St. Andrew’s is that we can bring our whole selves, all our story, to this place and to these people, and receive the support, encouragement, and praise that we need. This year, with all that has been going on in the news, in our homes, schools and offices, and ever-shifting economic forecasts, the one constant has been the connections we have formed here in our church.

Now it’s the time of year when we begin to discuss stewardship. This gives us a chance to reflect on the many ways that we are connected to each other. Our theme this year focuses on the stories we tell and the ways we are called to share our words, our actions, our love, and our joy with the world. Our diocesan theme for 2025 is “Tell Out My Soul!” This is from Mary’s Magnificat. In Luke’s Gospel Mary tells us of her encounter with the Divine who informs her that she will bear a child who will change the world. She proclaims her joy: “Tell out my soul! The Greatness of the Lord!” I encourage you to share your joy with us. I encourage you to share your joy with our community.

Each hour spent volunteering, each good idea that you have, each dollar that you donate is transformed through prayer and grace into ministry and mission. We could not be an example of love and compassion in our community without your many and various gifts. When you pray, think about your story, your connection to this church. Would you like to connect in new ways? Do you want to be plugged into a new ministry? We would love to help you find a way to use your gifts volunteering where you can make a difference in our community. Please let me or any ministry chair know that you are interested and we will get you information so you can share your gifts in a new or different way at St. Andrew’s. There will also be a place to write in where you would like to serve on the pledge card that will be mailed to you in a few weeks.

As you pray about how you will share your gifts with us this year, think about how God is calling you to tell out your soul, to spread the Good News far and wide. I look forward to seeing you in church, volunteering with you, and sharing our stories. Tell out my soul! The Greatness of the Lord!

Karen Hirt Mannon, Senior Warden

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: No Drop-In hours October 15. Rev. Jen will also be out of the office Thursday, October 23 – Saturday, October 25.

The Book and Bible Group has begun again, meeting at 4:30 p.m. most Tuesday afternoons with Evening Prayer celebrated at 4:00 p.m. The next one will be Tuesday, October 21 at 4:30 p.m. Gospel passages and links to these commentaries are on the St. Andrew’s website under the Connect tab at the top of the page, last selection under that entitled “Book and Bible Group”. All are welcome.

ALTAR FLOWER CALENDAR

An altar flower calendar is posted in Hamilton Hall. Sign up to sponsor the altar flowers to commemorate a birthday or anniversary, remember a loved one, or in thanksgiving for an important event. We ask a donation to help offset the cost of the altar flowers and other worship expenses. Be sure to tell the office your dedication so that it can be printed in the bulletin. Please make checks payable to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and in the memo field please put this information: Altar Flowers, person’s name, occasion, Sunday date you’d like for the flowers to be on the altar.

VESTRY MEETING MINUTES

If any of you are interested in what your Vestry is doing, there are two copies of each month’s minutes on the music stand in Hamilton Hall. Feel free to read and return!

SHOPPING LIST FOR NON-FOOD PANTRY

Please add Adult Pull-Ups (all sizes) and bed pads to your shopping list for the NFP for the month of October. If you are donating adult pull-ups/briefs, they should be the ones without tabs. We are currently overstocked in adult diapers and period products. Meals and conversation in Hamilton Hall are going well. Patrons are now able to pick out items they most need. Your contributions help our budget go farther in helping meet the needs of those in Putnam County. The next Non-Food Pantry will be Saturday, October 25 from noon – 2:00 p.m. If you can help with this ministry in any way, please contact Harriet Moore or Carl Huffman.

KROGER COUPONS

If you have any unwanted Kroger coupons, please bring them to Hamilton Hall and place in the window ledge near the “Little Library”. We would like to make them available to our Non-Food Pantry recipients so that they might be able to take advantage of them to help extend their food budget. Thanks in advance!

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. 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. 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: