St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Who knew studying the scripture could be so much fun?!! It was this past Sunday!

We are using the curriculum Teen Text which takes one of the scriptures heard in church that morning and then pulls it apart -- offering context, explaining the story and drawing from our young people the importance of the story.

One of the most powerful parts of the time together was when our young people were asked to reflect upon whether they know of people who have been disregarded or "cast aside" due to a physical problem. This was the situation in the scripture story - of King Naaman having leprosy and being asked to bathe in the river 7 times to be cured. Several of our young people had stories of friends who had been made fun of or excluded due to their physical illness so they could understand the pain which Naaman felt and the desire to be made well. 
Children and youth of all ages are invited and encouraged to come to scripture study. It is an important part of their faith formation and we are delighted to be able to offer it-- plus they have fun together! 
Thanks for Joining Us
Thank you so much to all of you who stayed after church and worked in our gardens and joined us for a fabulous Oktoberfest Parish Potluck. We are so grateful for all your help. The gardens were weeded, perennials cut back, trees and shrubs trimmed, and leaves raked. It was a lot of fun and we all felt we were doing something to make a difference to our church life. We also are grateful for those who work year round tending to our gardens. Your contribution to our ministry of hospitality is invaluable and so very much appreciated. To see more photos of our "Sweaty Sunday", please go to our website.
Preparing for Sunday
October 20th
This Sunday we will engage with an Instructed Eucharist at the 10 a.m. service. Here's a preview of why we're doing this ---

“In short, with Christ’s presence known in the breaking of bread comes everything that is Christ: forgiveness, life, salvation, his whole life and ministry, his death and resurrection, and all of the blessings that come to us thereby.” - Jonathan Linman , Holy Conversation: Spirituality for Worship.
An Instructed Eucharist is a gift of sharing in our usual service of Holy Eucharist in a different way, intentionally taking time to embrace both new information and the time to reflect and wonder that is not a part of the service as prescribed in our Book of Common Prayer. Many Instructed Eucharists focus solely on basic information about the service and the church as a whole, but ours today is taking more of a turn towards spirituality and how we might use a spiritual lens to deepen our understanding of that part of our service known as Holy Communion.
Our corporate celebration of the Holy Eucharist on the Sabbath lies at the very heart of our faith and practice, and we know that Jesus instituted this sacramental meal at the Last Supper and commanded us to share in this as a primary way of experiencing his presence among us for always. As the quote above teaches us, we all meet Christ in different and wonderful ways in the sharing of Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist and through this meeting are strengthened and nourished for both witness and mission, until we come together to again be fed. Recognizing and affirming how and why we do this is important and worthwhile, both as individuals and as a community of faith.

To learn more about How2charist, which offers a digital experience of an Instructed Eucharist, please click here.

Engaging with the Scriptures
The parable in this Sunday's text is quite complicated, almost comical, and certainly lends itself to multiple ways it can touch our hearts. I encourage you to read the lessons in advance and allow them to begin to work on your heart.

To read the scriptures, please click here.
Worship Ministers
8 a.m.
Crucifer: Bill Gawors
Greeter: Aly Howard
Lector: Nichol Free
Celebrant & Preacher: Mother Barbara Eucharistic Minister: Nichol Free Subdeacon: Dina Carter Ishler
Verger: Mike Stitt

10 a.m.
Altar Guild: Christina Luo, Bill Gawors, Sue Davis, Samantha Davis
Gospel Bearer: Joseph Luo
Greeters:
Acolytes: Shannon O’Donnell, Neiley O’Donnell, Jonathan Luo
Lectors: Andrew Smeltz, Roseann Sysko
Celebrant & Preacher: Mother Barbara
Subdeacon: Dina Carter Ishler
Eucharistic Ministers: Andrew Smeltz, Mary Grace Shearer Counters: Lori Horst, Jean Shepherd
Coffee Hour: Edna Guido, Jennifer Romine
Verger: Mike Stitt 

Please note - - we are in need of greeters for Sunday at 10 a.m. If you are able to step in this role, please do!

Diocesan Convention is now!
(today and tomorrow)
This year at diocesan convention, we are collecting donations for The Beacon Clinic for Health and Hope in Harrisburg. The Beacon Clinic is a faith-based, FREE primary healthcare clinic serving the uninsured and underserved in the Greater Harrisburg communities. They provide health education and the promotion of health and health care to adults 18 years and older. For more information, visit http://beaconclinicpa.org/
Shaped by Faith focuses on the invitation to discern the future of our diocese together, in the next two years.

Our keynote speaker will be American Architect, Duo Dickinson, Jr. Both prolific and protean, George A. “Duo” Dickinson identifies as a building architect who writes. His varied accomplishments include awards, books, articles, radio programs, teaching, lectures, exhibitions, and community work.

Dickinson graduated with a bachelor of architecture in the fall of 1977. He opened his solo architecture practice 30 years ago in southern Connecticut. More than one-third of his work starts as pro bono for nonprofit organizations and often finishes for whatever funding is available, including approximately 80 homes for Habitat For Humanity in New Haven, Connecticut.