A Message from the Rector:
In the Gospel passage today, Jesus shows how his project of overturning the status quo and the social structure as we know it is embedded in the most ordinary and commonplace of activities—in this case, eating and drinking. We know the growing anger of the powerful who are being called out for their prideful hopes that the seats they take at a dinner table will show them to be important, high-status, and the envy of all. But in addition to the proposed upheaval of society is another beautiful lesson: God is present in the most ordinary of activities and moments, which is why they are worthy of our attention and praise. One of my seminary professors would begin class with the words, “Let us take a moment to remember that we are always in God’s Holy Presence.”
I have loved reading the prayers of the ordinary that come from the Christian Celtic tradition, known for its homey and down-to-earth focus. Esther de Waal collected these prayers in her book Every Earthly Blessing (Fount Paperbacks, 1991). These prayers sanctify the most mundane human activities:
A woman starts the day by splashing her face with three palmfuls of water in the name of the Trinity.
The palmful of the God of Life
The palmful of the Christ of Love
The palmful of the Spirit of Peace
Triune
Of Grace.
As she makes her bed she had made this prayerful invocation to the Trinity and a prayerful reflection on the span of life itself.
I make this bed
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
In the name of the night we were conceived,
In the name of the night we were born,
In the name of the night we were baptized,
In the name of each night, each day,
Each angel that is in the heavens.
De Waal continues with prayers for stoking the fire that cooks and warms the home, for the porridge placed on the table, and thanks for the pail of milk and the cow and the hand that does the milking:
Bless O God each teat
Bless O God each finger;
Bless Thou each drop
That goes into my pitcher, O God.
As we move between the final hot days of summer and the beginning of cool mornings and evenings of autumn, look for the small and ordinary in your life and make an intention to give blessings and prayer. We are immersed in God as fish are immersed in water; with quiet awareness and intention the most banal becomes sublime.
Jen+
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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 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Morning In-Person Worship Service, September 4 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 4.
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: on August 30 we began reading Garry Wills, What the Gospel Meant, and will continue for the next several weeks. This book explores each of the four Gospels and the particular intentions and concerns of each of the canonical Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
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.
COVID PROTOCOL UPDATE
Given the recent rise in COVID rates, we will send an email 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.
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
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
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
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 Paul’s Church, Richmond; The Rev. Barbara Anne Fisher, The Rev. Barry Cramer.
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 Anglican Church of Australia.
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: Orcenith and Pam Smith, September 5
Worship COVID policy
The volatile nature of COVID makes it necessary to revise policy for gathering. Beginning immediately, so long as Putnam Country COVID rates are designated as low (green) or medium (yellow) by the CDC, we will be mask optional, except for the choir which is in close quarters.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church COVID policy, revised by Regathering Committee and approved by Vestry, May 17, 2022. This policy is subject to revision as COVID continues to evolve. We welcome your feedback on these policies.
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| Putnam County COVID rates | Worship in person | Congregational Singing | Choir Singing | Communion | Coffee Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green (low) | Masks optional | Allowed | Masked | Both kinds provided | Masks optional |
| Yellow (medium) | Masks optional | Allowed with mask | Masked | Both kinds provided | Masks optional |
| Red (high) | Masks required | Only Choir | Masked | Bread only | Coffee hour suspended |
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
GCYG
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