A Message from the Rector:

Dear Friends:

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has a wonderful book called “Crazy Christians” which presents Christianity as upside-down, inside-out teaching of Jesus that makes no sense in the “normal” world. In the first centuries after Jesus, this off-balance counter-culturalism of Jesus-followers was obvious. Christians did things and stood for values that from the point of view of Roman society and culture were simply bizarre. Christianity was disparagingly called “the religion of women and slaves,” an indication of who had the most to gain from its counter cultural vision. Christians were persecuted because they were so far outside of the norms of polite, patriotic, and socially acceptable behavior.

The challenge for twenty-first century Christians is just about the opposite to that of the first centuries. It is obvious that over the centuries Christianity has become a dominant social force; abuse of power and wealth are evident in the lives of many Christians and our institutions. Yet that crazy, counter-cultural, and even disturbing core of the Gospel is still evident, and it is still transformative.

The provocative and disturbing words of Jesus in Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 14:25-33, tell us that to follow Jesus disciples must give up their possessions and turn even from their family. The words are Jesus’ attempt to tell potential followers the true cost of his path. Through the Gospels Jesus tells us that the process of opening “family” to all—opening our hearts and our communities so that we all may be One—is a process that requires us to learn to love others as much as we love our blood relatives. It is about loving people older than us as much as we love our parents and grandparents; loving people our age as much as we love our sibs, cousins, friends, and co-workers; and loving those younger than us as much as we love our nieces, nephews, and even our own children and grandchildren. This includes “other” people who are dirty, unbalanced, criminal, and obnoxious.

As I said on Sunday, I frankly don’t know if I am up to this task. What I do know is that I am compelled by those who have tried, those who are a model and an inspiration to me—and so I keep at it. I want to be ready so that when a terrible choice presents itself I will be brave and practiced enough to make the right decision: the loving decision rather than the reflexive, self-protective decision. I know I need to try and fail and try again so that my heart, body, mind, and soul learn mercy and compassion for the human family, not just my own family.

The humorous and wise Paradoxical Commandments, written originally by Kent M. Keith, are a kind of homey and amusing thumbnail on what that trying, failing, and trying again consist of. These “commandments” have found their way into many formats, including musical settings and poetic styling. The Paradoxical Commandments sum up for me what practicing Jesus’ crazy form of family building—of including and loving everyone—looks like in practice. Here are two formats for you, one in the form of aphorisms that are adapted from Keith’s original list, one a lyrical song by the Roche Sisters. Enjoy.

Jen+

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da295fOMNw8 The Roche Sisters, “The Paradoxical Commandments-Anyway”

P.S. There is a story that Mother Teresa adapted the Paradoxical Commandments and had them painted on the wall of her children’s home in Calcutta. I’m never sure about such attributions, but do love the story, so if you are interested, here is that piece. It also has Keith’s original list. https://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/motherteresaconnection

The verses below reportedly were written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her.

Some sources say that the words below were written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s own room. In any case, their association with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity has made them popular worldwide, expressing as they do, the spirit in which they lived their lives.

They seem to be based on a composition originally by Kent Keith, but much of the second half has been re-written in a more spiritual way. Both versions are shown below.

___________________________________________

1. The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

____________________________

2. The Original Version:

The Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.

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. Please note that she will not be available Wednesday, September 14 as she’ll be away at a Diocesan event for clergy. Also, she has chosen Mondays as her Sabbath.

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, September 11 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 September 11.

The Latest Updates

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY – NEW BOOK ON FOUR GOSPELS AT 4:30 P.M. IN HAMILTON HALL

Alas! They didn’t listen up! But there is help: the Tuesday Bible Study group is reading Garry Wills’ What the Gospel Meant, which explores each of the four Gospels and the particular intentions and concerns of each. Tuesday we dove into Matthew; this coming week we will read the chapter on Luke. All are welcome; let Rev. Jen know if you’d like to attend and we will get the reading to you.

Our next book will be 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. This is another book found on used book sites for about $5. We will begin Travelling Mercies in late September/early October. Order your book and plan to join us!

GERALD MANLEY HOPKINS POETRY GROUP TO GATHER BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 15

A group is gathering to read and enjoy the poetry of Gerald Manley Hopkins. We will begin on Thursday, September 15 in Hamilton Hall at 11:30 a.m. Please bring a brown bag lunch!

HIGH SCHOOL EVENT

Attention High Schoolers! There will be an Episcopal Youth Event—EYE—in 2023 from July 4-8 in College Park, MD. This brings in youth from around the church—22 nations or territories—and is inspiring and heart-lifting. If we have interested youth, I will certainly plan to go. Please pray about this and consider making your plans next summer to include EYE, which happens only once every three years.

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/dates-announced-for-national-international-episcopal-youth-events/

LIKE PLAYING WITH COMPUTER ART?

At occasional points in the season, we will be making 8.5×11 posters to invite the DePauw and Greencastle communities to events at St. Andrew’s. If you like messing around with fonts, shapes, colors, and the “design” tab on your computer, we’d love your help in creating these posters. Let Renee or Rev. Jen know if you are interested.

COVID PROTOCOL UPDATE

Given the recent rise in COVID rates, we will send an e-mail each Friday to alert you to the protocol of the coming Sunday. Please be prepared to be masked; masks will be provided at the doors for your convenience. We pray that this current variant pass soon, and that those who are infected are quickly restored to health. Decisions on COVID policy will be made by Rev. Jen and the Wardens.

PARISH BRUNCH, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

You are invited to a parish brunch at the Oldstone-Moores’ after church September 11. No need to bring anything! We are across the street in the big white house, 601 East Seminary Street.

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 Saint Andrew’s, 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, September 24

• Noon to 3:00 p.m.
There will be a drive through distribution coordinated by Alex Roehrkasse 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
  • Menstrual Pads
  • Tampons

  • Toilet Paper

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
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
Judy Lepper, aunt of Trudy Selvia
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
Sydnor Thompson, brother of Harriet Moore


Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
Saint John’s Church, Speedway; Becky Douglas, Senior Warden.

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 Church of Bangladesh.

Birthdays: Kate Berry, September 15; Harvey Cummings, September 17; Jane von Gaudecker, September 17

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

Most research has shown that the common cup transmits fewer microorganisms than intinction. Counter-intuitive perhaps; the problem with intinction is that some fingers make contact with the chalice and/or wine and the possibility of fecal-oral transmission. I’ve collated several articles for those of you who’d like to read up on this.

  1. From Living Church (an Episcopal magazine): Click here https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2020/02/29/germs-viruses-and-the-common-cup-is-intinction-safer/
  2. The 1943 article by W. Burrows and ES Hemmens about use of silver chalice as safe for communion. It is on JSOTR; I can get the full article if you want it. Click here
  3. 1998 CDC statement Risk of infectious disease transmission from a common communion cup. Click here
  4. Anne LaGrange Loving, “Controlled Study on Intinction: a safer alternative”. Click here
  5. 1995 controlled study concludes that intinction appears to be less likely to transmit disease (but also notes that this depends on the microbes on the hands of parishioners and priest). Click here https://www.jstor.org/stable/44536847 (another JSTOR article if you’d like me to access it for you).

GCYG

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