Gerald Manley Hopkins: "The world is charged with the grandeur of God."

The Reverend Kip Ashmore, Celebrant

Deacon Mark Klamer, Homily

October 23

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

+The Holy Eucharist+

Rite I 8 a.m. | Rite II 10 a.m.

Masks are optional.

8:30 - 11:30 a.m. - child care in the nursery.

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite One

9:00 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal | Confirmation/Reception Class

9:15 - Adults - Morning Prayer & conversation in Pearson Hall

10:00 a.m. - Church School, Lower Level

10 a.m. service in person & streamed via Facebook Live.

Coffee hour following the service

11:15 discussion of survey #2, Pearson Hall

Sunday Readings

• Sirach 35:12-17
• or Jeremiah 14:7-10,19-22
• Psalm 84:1-6
• 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
• Luke 18:9-14

During October, Stewardship Month, Deacon Mark Klamer has been speaking to us about stewardship in the ultimate sense and our role as stewards of God's resources. Last Sunday, October 16, he focused on gratitude: "Our lives as faithful Christians are chock full of reminders of gratitude." He then moved to a concept that is central to our life itself:"...each breath, each heartbeat, each moment of time, each fragment of existence, was [is] completely, absolutely dependent on God. Without God sustaining it, all of creation, all of reality, could wink . . . blink . . . out of existence." 

Deacon Mark then reminded us that God is the "total, underlying reality of all things." Also, "We share in God, who is Beauty, Justice, Goodness, Kindness, Wisdom . . . and Love. God does not have those qualities, He is these qualities, He is the essence of these qualities. From him, all such things in creation flow." Read his complete sermon by clicking the link below. 

Make Your Offering!

• Online: standrews-edwardsville.com/stewardship/
• Mail: Send your check to St. Andrew's Treasurer, at 406 Hillsboro Avenue, Edwardsville 62025.

Return your pledge form by Sunday, October 30, so it can be blessed at the altar on Sunday, November 6!

The Week of October 23

• Sunday, 11:15 a.m., survey two discussion in Pearson Hall
• Monday through Friday - Daily 8 a.m. morning prayer and 5:30 p.m. evening prayer in the chapel.
• Friday - 7 a.m. - AA Meeting in Pearson Hall.

Looking Ahead

• Sunday, October 30, return 2023 pledge forms
• Tuesday, November 1, All Saints Day
• Tuesday, November 1, 7 p.m. parish zoom meeting
• Thursday & Friday, November 4 - 5 - Fall Book Fair
• Sunday, November 6, pledges are blessed at the altar

As I am writing this, I have just returned from the Annual Synod of the Diocese of Springfield, which took place over the past two days at the Cathedral in Springfield. This was Bishop Burgess' first Synod. Beverley Watkins and I represented St. Andrew's, and Deacon Mark attended as a member of the clergy of the Diocese. 

In his Synod address, Bishop Burgess emphasized the importance of mission in all geographic areas of the Diocese. He identified five towns in the Diocese that are potential sites for church plants. The Synod passed the 2023 Diocesan budget, and also adopted legislative amendments to restore the use of the terms "parish", "mission", "vestry", and "bishop's committee" in our governing documents. I was honored to be elected as one four lay deputies to the next General Convention of the Episcopal Church, which will be held in 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. This will be my tenth General Convention. 

Materials relating to Stewardship were sent out earlier this week. As you consider your financial commitment to St. Andrew's for the coming year, I ask that you prayerfully consider the place of stewardship in your life, reflecting particularly on the sermons that Deacon Mark has given over the past several weeks. Please return your pledge form by October 30.

After the 10 o'clock service tomorrow, we will have the second of two meetings to discuss the results of the congregational surveys that were completed last month. Parishioners are invited to attend the meeting to learn the results of the surveys; to expand upon their earlier survey responses, and to comment on areas that may not have been covered in the surveys.

St. Andrew's is scheduled to participate in the Edwardsville Halloween Walk next Saturday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to noon at City Park, adjacent to the Library. Six members of St. Andrew's have volunteered to staff our exhibit. Please stop by as the children of Edwardsville engage in some early trick-or-treating.

On Tuesday, November 1, at 7 p.m., we will have another bi-monthly ZOOM parish open forum to discuss matters of concern to parishioners. The Zoom call information will be sent out to the parish mailing list Monday morning. 

 Second Survey Meeting on October 23

Plan to pick up a favorite from the coffee hour table of treats then pull up a chair for a discussion of the second survey related to the upcoming search for a new rector at 11:15 this Sunday.  This survey asked for parishioner opinion related to various characteristics of a parish priest. Survey response data was shared via email on Friday and a link to the survey summary is below.

Book Fair, November 4 and 5

The final book sale of 2022 occurs Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5. Friday will be a reservations-only sale from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday will be open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Volunteers are needed to help with the sale. Please contact Cindy Reinhardt at 618-656-1294 if you can help. As usual, the sale accepts cash and checks only.

Parish News and Notes

• The recent Quilt Guild Garage Sale brought in $1930 and $549 of this went to the parish General Operating Fund to help with maintenance expenses of the church.  Many thanks to the Guild!

• The ECW jewelry sale that occurred on the same day as the Guild Garage Sale netted $573 which raised their checking total to $4,135. ECW made a significant donation to the recent improvements in Pearson Hall (kitchen flooring, carpet tiles) so this helps their treasury.

• Congratulations to Relay for Life for another successful book sale at Parkfest this year. Coordinator Elizabeth Donald expressed thanks to everyone who helped with their special sale to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. The leftover books went to SIUE Phi Kappa Phi (for distribution to Little Free Libraries), SIUE Head Start, and Metro East Literacy Project.

• Reporting of the October 16 Vestry meeting will occur next Saturday.