Stained glass of the Parable of the Talents in St Mary Abbot's church on Kensington High Street, London.

Sunday, November 15
The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
Masks required for all services.
Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 25 worshippers
Registration not required.
Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 25 worshippers
Please register in advance here.
Also live-streamed at 10 a.m.
Worship Notes, Sunday, November 15, 10 a.m.

Fr. David Boase, officiating
Drake Depew, Kevin Babb, Eucharistic Ministers
Henry H. Evans, Organist

  • Coffee Hour I via Zoom, following the 10 a.m. service.

  • Coffee Hour II, church lawn, following the 10 a.m. BYO Coffee.

  • A communion station will not occur due to Fr. Ben's absence.
Readings for November 15
The Holy Gospel | Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents

Jesus said, “It is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Make Your Offering
Schedule for the Week of November 15

  • Fr. Ben on break until midweek; Fr. Boase will officiate at Sunday services on November 15;
  • Class with the Rector via Zoom on The Psalms, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
  • Noonday Prayer and Midday Moment, Thursday, 12:05 p.m.
  • Vestry meeting via Zoom, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Looking Ahead
  • New Rector's Class during Advent
  • Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m., Thursday, December 24 (one service)
  • Christmas Day Service, 9 a.m., Friday, December 25
In the midst of seasons that seemingly drag on – we’re looking at you Covid and Ordinary Time – we are in need of landmarks to help us stay on track and keep motivated as we press on.

The church has historically had a number of seasons denoted by holy days and/or dramatic shifts in color or tone of liturgy. For example, this week’s feast of St. Martin of Tours, or Martinmas as it was sometimes known, used to mark the beginning of a pre-Advent for some Christians. The waning days of what we now call Ordinary Time were similar to the Gesima Sundays observed before Lent in previous versions of our own Book of Common Prayer. They were a kind of heads up: Change is coming.

Likewise, in our personal lives, we do well to find similar shifts, moments in time in which we can catch our breath, take a look a little further down the road, and just rest and be refreshed. It may be that we create artificial breaks, like the time off that I am taking even as you are reading this week’s news. It may be an annual tradition or transition at home or work. Whatever it is, try to find a respite for yourself, that you may be recharged physically, mentally, relationally, and spiritually.

I don’t know when Covid will end, but Advent is for all intents and purposes just around the corner. Take some time as we approach the holiday season and get away from the 24-hour news cycle and the latest statistics on public health, politics, and the economy.
Read a book.
Take a walk.
Call a friend.
Spend time in prayer.

Be intentional so that when the present chapter comes to an end, we are ready to turn the page together.

Fr. Ben

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (“A Collect for Guidance”, BCP p. 100)
Stewardship 2021

The Stewardship Committee wishes to thank everyone who has submitted a 2021 pledge as of today, allowing the Finance Committee to begin planning the parish budget for the coming year.

At this point, 47 parishioners have pledged 153,840 for 2021 and the average pledge is $3,496. Treasurer Riley Atwood indicates this pledge total compares favorably with last year but a few more pledges are still anticipated. Pledges can still be submitted online on the parish website or mailed to the church.

Further information about stewardship is available on the parish website here.

2021 Stewardship Committee members: Riley Atwood, Kevin Babb, Marian Smithson, Marilyn Strangeman and Jane Weingartner.
Fall Book Fair Nets $2,834.65

In a year with one normal sale (February), one canceled sale (May), two 50-cent-per-book outdoor sales (July and October), and two sales with COVID limits on customer numbers (August and November) the Book Fair amazingly brought in more than $13,127, a little more than two-thirds of the total raised in 2019. It also provided about three dozen cases of books to schools in Cahokia and Belleville.

Kudos to Mike and Cindy Reinhardt for devising measures to keep shoppers and workers safe and to all who participated in getting ready for and staffing the Book Fair. St. Andrew’s is so grateful for your good work.

A special tip of the hat goes to Mike, who in addition to picking up and evaluating books and bringing the church’s mail and packages inside also helps St. Andrew’s protect the building. He was on hand to discover and help minimize damage from a broken water pipe in April, regularly removes leaves and other debris from lower-level drains and entryways, and has emptied bags of dirt into low spots around the foundation to keep water flowing away from the building.
Thanks, Mike for all you do.
Keeping the Spirit of the
Angel Tree

With the uncertainty of the pandemic, the Outreach Committee has decided to make our Christmas giving as contact free as possible. We will be foregoing our usual Angel Tree and will be giving gift cards.

We realize there will be more need so we are asking for those who can to give generously. Please make your checks to St. Andrew’s and put outreach in the memo line. We know this is early but we have had inquiries and wanted everyone to be informed. Thank you for your support.
-JoAnn Nabe

Diocesan Hymn-Sing

One of the most valued parts of corporate worship is the chance to sing together to praise God. So plan to join Bishop Martins and some of our Diocese of Springfield musicians for the first-ever diocesan-wide virtual hymn sing coming up on November 24 at 7 p.m.! If you own a 1982 Hymnal, have it on hand, but if not, music will be provided on the screen. Save this link to join in the music!
Our New Roof

Thanks go to Parish Warden, Walter Bohn, and Building and Grounds Committee Chair Sue Buckley for overseeing the installation of a new roof on the church and parish addition by roofing contractor Randy Schon. Randy installed a water and ice shield on the entire chapel roof, which should prevent future leaks.
The next time you’re at St. Andrew’s be sure to notice our beautiful new roof, redone with Pacific Wave shingles!
Pictures courtesy of Walter Bohn.
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The St. Andrew's Week-End Update, a weekly emailed newsletter, is designed to update parishioners on church activities. Please send news items to Jane Weingartner
by 11 a.m. on Tuesday to have them appear in the following Friday's newsletter.

Newsletter Editor and Designer, Marian Smithson
Newsletter Editor Jane Weingartner | Newsletter Editor, Marianne Cavanaugh