In this season of reading Luke’s Gospel, I’ve realized that you could make the case that Christian practice is largely about eating. In the Great Commission in Matthew 25 Jesus tells us that when we feed the hungry, we feed him. So many saints have dedicated themselves to making sure that the hungry are fed—that is, putting needed nutrients into hungry bodies. But Jesus shows us a second level of feeding, one that is transformative of the soul: the importance of table fellowship with simple feeding.

Jesus is eating all the time! He eats with everyone: with sinners like the tax collectors Levi and Zacchaeus and with the upright like the pharisee who invited him to dinner in this week; with men and women; with dear friends like Mary, Martha and Lazarus and with enemies from across the border in the Gentile lands; at weddings in Cana and at Passover meals in Jerusalem; in wheat fields with his disciples and at fancy feasts with leaders in the community and feeding 5,000 and 7,000 at a sitting in the remote countryside. He eats with others so often that he is accused of being a drunkard and a glutton in Luke 7:34 and Matthew 11:19.

We need to eat or we will die. That simple necessity—eating—can be made holy through table fellowship which is transformative, and that nurtures not only body but spirit.

There is something profound about that-which-is-necessary becoming that-which-is-transcendent. I often feel that transformation when Chris and I are eating a meal with family or friends, sharing stories, enjoying jokes, teasing each other. I also feel it at communion. I spent some years away from the church, and when I returned what moved me most was simply watching the congregation come to the altar, week after week, people coming to receive. I loved that some needed crutches or canes or help, some danced their way up while holding a family member’s hand, some sedately making their way forward, week after week after week. At another church we attended there was a Special Class, a group of developmentally disabled adults. One member of the class frequently started worship by coming to the altar, kneeling on the ground, and bending her head all the way down, staying there for long minutes in deep, extended reverence.

Chris and I loved having table fellowship with many of you in our home a few Sundays ago, even if it was crowded and a little hot. As we become more settled in the Greencastle community, we look forward to multiple opportunities to share table fellowship with you—simple food, simple fellowship, around the altar, around the ordinary tables of Hamilton Hall and eateries in Greencastle. And I am so happy to tell you that through the encouragement and work of Kate Berry and Claudia Butler St. Andrew’s will again be offering Sunday Eucharist at The Waters once a month. I know how much I have savored communion when I have not been able to go; I am so glad that we share communion, worship, and fellowship to those not able to make it to the Seminary Street sanctuary. Our first Sunday Eucharist at The Waters will be Oct 9 in the afternoon. You are most welcome to join the feast.

May we all be attuned to the rich life that can emerge from the simplest and most necessary of actions.

Jen+

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.

Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, September 25, 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 September 25.

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY – 4:30 P.M. IN HAMILTON HALL

Our next book, beginning September 27, 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 book will make you think, wince, and laugh. You can buy this book new, and also on used book sites for about $5. Order your book and plan to join us! Rev. Jen has two used copies, each for $5.

GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS POETRY GROUP TO GATHER

The sacred poetry group decided to continue gathering to discuss and enjoy poetry. We will be meeting Thursday, September 29 at 11:30 a.m. in Hamilton Hall to continue our exploration of the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins. Please bring a brown bag lunch if you wish!

PROGRESSIVE DINNER SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

Join us for a stroll down Seminary Street and a four-course dinner! On Saturday evening, October 1, the Fun & Fellowship group has planned a progressive dinner. We have several St. Andrew’s members who live near one another along East Seminary Street between Bloomington St. and Wood St. and they have graciously offered to host a course. Our dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. with starters at the home of Dave & Sue Murray (514 E. Seminary St.). The first course will be hosted by Rev. Jen and Chris Oldstone-Moore (601 E. Seminary St.). Justin & Dana Glessner will be serving the main dish (639 E. Seminary St.), and we will go to Martha Rainbolt & Carl Huffman’s home (707 E. Seminary St.) for dessert around 7:30 p.m. For more information or if you’d like to contribute to the dinner in any way, please contact Justin or Dana Glessner or Renee at the church office.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

As we search for a Christian Formation Director (aka Sunday School teacher) for the elementary aged youth, we would also like to find volunteers to help. To follow Safe Church guidelines, we will have two adults in the classroom. If you can help one or two Sundays, let us know.

Heads-up: For the month of November, the elementary youth will be creating detailed Advent calendars for their home (and maybe one for the parish). We will use a resource that dives into the symbolism of the season, which lets teacher and youth learn a lot while creating these calendars. If you’re interested in such projects, volunteer for that month and make your own calendar as well.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL

We’re still getting names for a paid Sunday School/Christian Formation Director. This person will lead the youth in a prepared lesson that is discussed with Rev. Jen the week before, so the teacher will not have to create the lessons. The teacher will also plan occasional fellowship events like going to Scoops. We will pay $12/hr. for a total of 4 hours per week. Please contact Rev. Jen if you have any leads!

HOOSIER HOSPITALITY PROGRAM

This year DePauw University welcomed it’s biggest ever group of international students from more than 25 countries and they are very excited to make new friends! DePauw has set up a program that extends to the Greencastle community to build intercultural friendships: Hoosier Hospitality Program (HHP). HHP annually pairs DePauw’s international students with Greencastle families to promote intercultural exchange. It’s a chance for for international students to develop a deeper understanding of and experience American culture and life – and an amazing opportunity for both host and host family to foster intercultural awareness while building friendships. Families are not asked to provide housing for their host students – only a “home away from home”. 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. Let’s make St. Andrew’s a leading source of host families for our international student-neighbors.

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

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 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.

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