August 18, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Holy Eucharist, 8 a.m., Rite I
The Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m., Rite II

Bishop Daniel Martins, officiating
Fr. John Thorpe, assisting

Child Care 9:45 a.m.
Worship notes

The Collect:
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruit of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. A men.

This week’s lessons: Jeremiah 23: 23-39; Psalm 82; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56

Epistle
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
The Gospel | Luke 12:49-56

Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!

From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
Schedule for the week of August 18

Sunday, August 18, Vestry meets with Bishop Martins and Search Committee.
Tuesday, 10:00 a.m., St. Julian of Norwich Prayer Group

Highlights of the August 14 Vestry Meeting

  • Senior Warden Liz Edwards reported that Fr. Thorpe will assist the Bishop on Sunday, August 18; officiate on August 25; then begin officiating weekly for Sunday services on September 1 (one month earlier than previously announced).
  • It was determined that the Holy Family figures found in the closet off the nursery will be retained in that location until further notice.
  • A draft of the Facilities Use Policy was presented. Further discussion will occur at the next vestry meeting.
  • Marian Smithson reported that the second phone line, 618-656-7286, will soon be removed by ATT as it is no longer needed for a fax machine.
  • It was moved and approved that Eucharistic Ministers will return to reading the Lessons at the pulpit.
  • It was moved and approved that sale of the gravel parking lot across from the church will not be considered until a new rector is called.
  • Riley Atwood, Treasurer, reported on the progress of the transition from YCG Accounting to APLOS.
  • Andy Mills and Marian Smithson, 2019 Stewardship Committee Chairs, agreed to begin meeting with that committee to plan for an October Stewardship campaign.
  • Velma Schmidt resigned as Vestry Clerk and Marty Cavanaugh volunteered to fill the position.
Remembering Ione Kolm Pence

Not many at St. Andrew's knew that Ione Pence, who died recently, was a published poet whose work appeared at one time in Poet Lore , America's oldest poetry journal. Because of the interest I expressed in her writings, Fr. George shared two booklets of her poems with me: Rose-Trimmed Calling Cards (1979) and Behind My Eyes (1977). I enjoyed many of her poems, but opted to share ones that related to this season, summer, and place, Madison County. I hope you enjoy reading them. I did! -Marian Smithson
The Past as Prologue (I)

Two statues flank the entrance to the U.S. National Archives in Washington, D.C. On the base of one is inscribed “Study the Past;” on the other appears “What is Past is Prologue.” Maya Angelou made essentially the same point when she said, “You can’t really know where you are going unless you know where you have been.” That’s why it may be useful for us to reflect on our past as a parish, particularly our last half-century, as we attempt to chart our future under a new rector.

The rectorship of Fr. Michael D. Pullin (1969-1973) is a good starting point and is within the memory of our most senior members. Pullin was called to St. Andrew’s following the sudden death of Fr. James H. Pearson in 1968 but stood in stark contrast to the monk-like Pearson. When interviewed by the Edwardsville Intelligencer shortly after his arrival, he expressed the hope that he might start a motorcycle club while at St. Andrew’s. Whether that was a statement of serious intent is not clear.

In any case, our archives contain no evidence of packs of leather-clad Episcopalians burning up the streets of Edwardsville. If St. Andrew’s can’t boast of a motorcycle club, a number of other “firsts” marked Pullin’s tenure. In October 1969, for the first time in its history, our church played host to a diocesan synod. Other firsts included the presentation of a recorded performance of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Jesus Christ, Super Star” in the church nave, as well as “guitar masses” accompanied by folk songs. These, Pullin noted ruefully, attracted few parishioners.

Some firsts were of greater significance and more lasting effect than the strumming of guitars in the nave. With the election of Eleanor Godfrey in January 1969, women were admitted for the first time to the Vestry as full voting members. Two years later, Roy Peterson joined her as the Vestry’s first African-American. For the first time, too, girls were permitted to serve as acolytes.

These reforms reflected the tide of social and cultural change sweeping the country in the sixties and seventies. There was, of course, a sexual component of that process as well. Whether or not rumors of swinging times at St. Andrew’s were true, Pullin himself was not a model of marital rectitude and departed St. Andrew’s under a cloud of scandal serious enough to have driven some members from the church. His tenure came to an unhappy end in 1973 and was followed by a long period during which the parish was served by supply priests and lay readers.

The problematic Pullin years and their aftermath proved to be the prologue to the long and happy rectorship of Fr. Stephen Weissman. Still, parish life might have been enlivened and membership increased had Pullin’s proposal of a motorcycle club been implemented. How does “Hell’s Anglicans” sound? -Jim Weingartner
Bishop 2
Announcements

Bishop Daniel Martins Visits August 18
The Right-Reverent Daniel Martins, Eleventh Bishop of Springfield makes his annual visit to St. Andrew’s on Sunday, August 18. Bishop Martins will preach and officiate at both services and join parishioners at Coffee Hour following the 10 a.m. service. He will also meet with the Vestry and the Search Committee.

Church School Teachers Needed
The St. Andrew’s Church School program invites parishioners to volunteer to teach during the 2019-2020 academic year. Church school occurs each week from the beginning of the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass until after the homily. Each volunteer commits to teaching for one month during the year. Church School resumes September 8. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please e-mail Nichole DeWall at dewall.n@gmail.com .

Book Club Resumes in September
Book Club will resume, Monday, September 16. Our book selection is Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. Come and join in the discussion. –Pat Rudloff
The St. Andrew's Week-End Update , a weekly emailed newsletter, is designed to keep parishioners up to date on church activities. Please send news items to Editors Marianne Cavanaugh and Jane Weingartner by 11 a.m. on Tuesday to have them appear in the following Friday's newsletter.