Shifting Sands

I am so blessed to be serving a congregation of such gracious people.  So many of you have asked about how the transition is going and how much you are looking forward to meeting my family.  In this upside-down world we live in in this COVID-19 era, sometimes the best I can answer is that the sands keep shifting.

When I first came to St. Andrew's, I needed to start (in March) before we sold our house (in April).  At that point, Leticia was working on getting her medical licensure (as a doctoral level nurse practitioner) secured in Virginia.  Then due to the world pretty much blowing up, her job asked her to stay through August, so we sold the house and she (and Elizabeth) got a short-term lease on a house in Columbus, anticipating a move to Virginia then.  Then her job asked her to stay through October and so we went through the arduous task of moving from the rental house when the lease ended to another short-term lease (through October) on an apartment.  Apparently, the administration at Leticia's job assumed she was staying through the end of the year, though that was not Leticia's understanding, thus the apartment lease only through October.

In the meantime, Leticia was notified that she had been accepted into an eighteen-month academic (essentially a Masters) program focusing on mental health.  Already having so many academic credentials, she really debated whether to enter the program, but this was now the third time she had been accepted and told me "I keep coming back to it."  In the realm of theology, I know what that sounds like: discernment - not just to an academic program or a job, but a calling to a vocation.  This is something she really does need to pursue and I fully support it.

The unfortunate thing, as we have since learned, is that even after securing her medical licensure in Virginia, Leticia's program does not have arrangements with anyone in Virginia for her to complete her clinical hours and thus she cannot do the program if she moves to Virginia.  Consequently, she will remain in Indiana for the duration of her program.  I, of course, have only just begun at St. Andrew's and, with the impact of COVID-19, under highly unusual circumstances.  It isn't feasible at this point for me to consider relocating again (and the only Episcopal Church in Columbus is the one I just left), so I will remain at St. Andrew's until the Spirit directs otherwise.  This is certainly not ideal and not what we were anticipating when this saga began last year, but it's an upside-down world at the moment and what we simply have to deal with.  (Anyone have a little garage apartment they want to rent to a quiet tenant?)

I am appreciative of everyone's interest and graciousness and especially Anne's support as we try to navigate these shifting sands.  Like everything else in these crazy times, we'll make the best of it and be thankful for God's faithfulness through it all.

Marc

Action Gospels

We are quickly coming to the end of the Church Year; the last two Sundays, culminating with Christ the King Sunday, have Gospel lessons that focus on Christian action.  This Sunday is the parable of the talents:  one person got five to work with, another two, and another just one.  Five and two were able to double their investment of money, time, and sweat equity.  The person with one talent did nothing – he was, sadly, fearful of failure.  The following Sunday has the well-known Gospel: “I was hungry and you gave me food…” and the converse “I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat….” Even in the midst of our collective suffering, we have the call to reach out beyond ourselves.  With prayerful consideration, we can find ways to do the greatest possible good with our resources.  Then, on Christ the King Sunday, we will know who, indeed, is King of our hearts.

Brad Norris
Minister of Music

Flexibility and Virtual Christmas Services

As we approach our regathering, let’s be like Gumby:  Flexible!

Dear friends,

The Covid-19 pandemic has created havoc in our lives in many different ways.  The world over, people have had to modify all kinds of plans and adapt to ever-changing situations.  That’s certainly been true for us at St. Andrew’s over the past months, and I anticipate that it will hold true for many months to come.

As we lay plans for our November 29 regathering, I ask each of you to take to heart the need for us all to be flexible in our interactions and also, as always, to be kind to one another. 

In a recent meeting, our staff talked about what a fluid time this is, with new information coming out daily.  Led by our Health and Safety Officer Joel Duregger, our parish staff and leaders are working hard to prepare for the regathering by ensuring that all necessary protocols are in place.  We are also incorporating into our plans all new diocesan guidance as we receive it. 

One happy piece of new guidance is that a few choir members, wearing special masks, will be allowed to sing during our worship service.  What a blessing that will be!  (Please note that for safety reasons, congregational singing is still prohibited.) 

There will doubtless be more changes to our plans as the days go by.  One of my favorite lines in the BCP is this petition from a Compline collect:  “…that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness” (pg 133). Yes indeed.  May we rest in God’s eternal changelessness, and may we be as flexible as Gumby!

Special Virtual Christmas Services

After much thought and prayer, I have decided that our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services this year will be virtual, rather than in-person.  Even though we will have regathered for worship by then, the protocols don’t allow for anywhere near enough seating for the number of people who usually come.  There is no perfect solution, but doing the services virtually allows for the most people to participate.

Our wonderful staff and I are already hard at work planning three very special services to help us celebrate Jesus’ birth:

• A Children’s Christmas Eve Service, complete with special music from Brad; cameos by some of our parish children; a retelling of the Christmas story using beloved creche sets; and a child-friendly liturgy.
• A Traditional Festive Christmas Eve Service, making use of our rich Book of Common Prayer liturgy and beautiful music from Brad and other musicians.
• A Simple Christmas Day Liturgy, straight from the Prayer Book.

You will definitely hear more about these special services in coming days, but I wanted to let you know as soon as possible that our Christmas services will be virtual.  This also gives our musicians, flower guild, and altar guild time to make and implement plans to add their beautiful gifts to our worship.

 --- Anne

How Are You Doing?

I wonder how everyone is doing - I mean how are you really doing?  We've had several months of trying to figure out how to live and function in circumstances we haven't, in our lifetimes, had to deal with on a national and global level before and it seems we are settling into whatever we call a new normal at this point, even if just a bit.  From simple life chores like going to the grocery to travel to Communion, I think by-and-large most folks are doing the best they can, but aside from the devastating impact on peoples' livelihoods, physical health, and the number of deaths, together with the widely recognized overly-stressed culture that we already lived in pre-COVID, the collateral damage on mental health is taking such a toll that even the World Health Organization has recommended not initiating a societal-wide lockdown to contain the virus, even as record daily cases continue to be reported. 

I don't have an answer beyond suggesting that we continue to be diligent in following protocols, reminding us that there are resources for those struggling with whatever is troubling, and that the community of faith that is St. Andrew's stands ready to continue to respond in love, as we have been.

 

Marc

A Few Thoughts on Stewardship

I have been a parishioner at St. Andrew’s for two and a half years, but I have been an occasional visitor for at least 25. I used to visit when I came to Virginia in the summers to see my family.  St. Andrew’s has become like a family to me, as well. When I was new, I could not get over how everyone talks to each other and knows each other. I had never had that in any church before.  People checked on me all the time even before the coronavirus. People care about me and look out for me. When it became too hard for me to come up to the altar for Communion, Bill and the other servers came to me for “drive-by service” at my pew. Once, I accidentally dropped the host in the wine, so they started helping me out by intincting it for me. And now that everything is shut, I still get phone calls, letters, and even care packages from people at church. I am especially happy that now we can receive Communion and that parishioners go out of their way to bring it to me. I feel special, and remembered, and loved.

I miss being with you at church, and especially the music. We are so lucky to have Brad and such talented musicians. We are also lucky to have Anne and Marc and the vestry who genuinely care for us.  I love our community and am grateful for our church family. Thank you for who you are in my life! 

Marge Rand