In the Gospel of Luke a story is told of Jesus visiting Nazareth, the town he grew up in. One day he found himself in the local synagogue reading to the elders from the Sacred Writings. At the conclusion of his reading from the prophet Isaiah he declares himself to be the fulfillment of the hopes of Israel. He informs the elders that he indeed is the Chosen One of God; the Messiah. The elders react in shock, horror, anger, and disbelief. How could this Jesus, the one everyone knew to be the son of Joseph the carpenter, announce such a scandalous thing? They wanted to kill him. Jesus then is impelled to assert that no one is a prophet in his (her) home-town. And so it was that Jesus could work few miracles among the people of Nazareth.

For me, this “coming home story” has a familiar ring to it. For many years in my adulthood I had occasions to return to my home and family. And I came home then as a person steeped in the intellectual life, either as a graduate student or college professor. I thus felt that my acumin and knowledge as a sociologist had earned me the right to speak with authority and insight. You could say that I had more than my share of hubris.

However, to my family for whom the world of academia was rather remote, I was thought of as simply “Jimmy” who comes home now and then. I was the eldest of five siblings, and warmly welcomed home, but I was accorded no special esteem, honor or privilege. There was no room in that inn for my erudition, or sociological wisdom. Rather, I was quickly drawn into the family dramas and intrigues that occurred in my absences. And these family matters were often discussed as we gathered around the kitchen table drinking beer and nibbling on Colby cheese and soda crackers. And later in the evening I slept with my three younger brothers in the upstairs well-used dormer that had always and forever been “the boys” sleeping quarters. And we would crack silly jokes and tell stories long into the night.

Oh, I could work no miracles of insight or intellectual feats among my family. But, over time, I grew to appreciate the family bonds that we shared, the old stories we recalled, and still more the pleasure it gave me to be embraced in the hot blasts of their love toward me. There was never a need for a sociologist. My family was most comfortable with me as merely one of the boys, no more or less loved.

If you are a reader as I am of the weekly Putnam County obituaries published in the Banner- Graphic, you often read of a deceased loved one being “called home to their Heavenly Father.” I used to consider such references to the Heavenly Father as rather trite and stale. However, now that I am in my dotage and ever closer to my own obituary in the Banner-Graphic, I have changed my thinking. If it comforts families to think of their deceased loved ones being called home to Heaven, what is the harm? In truth, I don’t know with assurance what happens after we die. But the idea of returning home may be just as good as any other. The Catholic writer Thomas Merton once said, that we come from God, have our being in God, and at our death we return to God. In other words, we are forever within the embrace of God. I would like to think that Merton was right. That at my death I will return to God. And as a bonus, find myself in a Heavenly dormer, looking around, with great hope, for my brothers.

Jim Mannon

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 Worship Service, October 2, 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 2.

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

On October 4 we will continue with our current book, which we began 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.

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

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 an 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 is 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