Weekly parish news and Sunday service information
Sunday, January 31
The Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany
Masks and social distancing required for in-person attendance.
Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 10 worshippers
Please sign up in advance here.
Facebook Live audio also available.
Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 10 worshippers
Please sign up in advance here.
Facebook Live at 10 a.m.
Worship Notes, Sunday, January 31, 10 a.m.
Fr. Ben Hankinson, officiating, Henry H. Evans, Organist

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

Communion station at 12 p.m. on the rear church lawn.
Readings for January 31
  • Old Testament - Deuteronomy 18:15-20
  • Psalm 111
  • The Epistle - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
  • The Holy Gospel - Mark 1:21-28
The Holy Gospel |Mark 1:21-28

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Make Your Offering!
Schedule for the Week of January 31

  • Deadline, 2020 Annual Reports, Sunday, January 31.
  • Deadline, Eucharistic Min./Lector, Server, schedule response, Jan. 31.
  • Evening Prayer, Sunday, 7 p.m.+
  • Compline, Monday, 7 p.m.+
  • Holy Eucharist, Feast of The Presentation, Tuesday, 7 p.m.+
  • First Anniversary of Fr. Ben's first Mass at St. Andrew's!
  • Noonday Prayer, Wednesday, 12:05 p.m.+
  • Noonday Prayer, Thursday, 12:05 p.m.+
  • Morning Prayer, Friday, 9: a.m. +
  • Week-End Update Newsletter, Saturday, delivered midday
  • Compline, Saturday, 7 p.m. +
+ Designates a Facebook Livestream service
Looking Ahead
  • Ash Wednesday, February 17, services at 12 noon and 7 p.m.+
  • First Sunday in Lent, February 21, services at 8 and 10 a.m.
  • Easter Sunday, April 4, services at 8 and 10 a.m.
  • Annual Meeting, first or second Sunday in May (tbd)



Lenten Preparations: Gesimatide, A Pre-Lent
 
In the season ahead, we will take time in this column to look at various facets of our upcoming Lenten preparations for Easter. This week, we will take a moment to consider an ancient custom of a now bygone era: Gesimatide.
 
Some may be worried that Fr. Ben is now making things up for the sake of filling space in the weekly newsletters. But fear not, the 'Gesimas are real and, despite their infrequent practice in the modern-day church, present an interesting and potentially fruitful topic for our corporate consideration.
 
The three Sundays before Ash Wednesday formed a sort of pre-Lenten observance. The first of these, which happens to be this coming Sunday, is Septuagesima. On this Sunday, some of those practices that we presently associate with Lent used to begin in many churches (e.g. omitting Alleluia and Gloria, fasting, using purple). Following this, the next two Sundays leading up to Ash Wednesday would be Sexagesima and Quinquagesima.
 
More than outward appearances, these last weeks leading up to Lent served as a mirror into which we might look through the collects and lessons, considering the cost of discipleship and those hindrances which presently beset us. This chance to examine our consciences and our actions help to plan and form the disciplines which we may undertake in the 40-day pilgrimage to come, thinking on what we might prune away in order to make room for that which is more beneficial and fruitful.
 
Rather than being caught off guard spiritually by a liturgically sudden Ash Wednesday, Gesimatide helps us to prepare. Much like the need to prepare for a full and fruitful confession by taking stock of the whole of our spiritual lives, the weeks which lie ahead of us help us to prepare for a full and fruitful Lent, all with the hope of Easter set before our eyes, the great and glorious prize of the days ahead of us and of our very lives.

Fr. Ben+
To My Church Family
Thank you for your generous gifts and support. You are a true blessing in my life.
I am so lucky to have my Church Family and feel incredibly blessed.
Sincerely, Kathy Cochran
National ECW: 2021 Lenten Series on Women

The Episcopal Women History Project, EWHP, is presenting a series via Zoom telling the stories of six women who have made an impact on the Episcopal Church. The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Barker, President of EWHP, will be the emcee. The series will begin on Thursday, February 18, (following Ash Wednesday) and continue on February 25 and March 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 3 p.m. each Thursday. Advance registration is required. Register here if you will be attending.

The first session on February 18 will be led by Dr. Joan Gunderson, Historian and Archivist, whose presentation is titled "Constance Baker Motley: Doing Justice." Information on the remaining sessions is available here.
Parish Reminders
  • If you would like to receive monthly e-news from the Diocese of Springfield, send an email request to Hannah Dallman, at communicator@episcopalspringfield.org .
  • Glen-Ed Pantry welcomes contributions to help restock their pantry shelves. Your check should be made payable to the Pantry with "St. Andrew's" on the memo line. Pantry address: 125 Fifth Avenue, Edwardsville, IL, 62025.
  • Parishioners may request automatic withdrawal of pledge payments by sending a request for information to info@standrews-edwardsville.com.
  • The 2020 Annual Meeting reports submitted by January 31 will be shared with the parish via email by mid-February. Booklet copies may be available at our May Annual meeting.
  • Individuals eligible for Phase 1B who completed the Madison County Vaccination Registration Survey will receive a scheduling link or a phone call for an appointment. 50,000 residents have registered.
St. Andrew's Communications
Communications Coordinator and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief, Marian Smithson
Newsletter Editor, Jane Weingartner | Newsletter Editor, Marianne Cavanaugh