Good Morning from the Church Mouse

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

16 Pentecost, Proper 20, Year A

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Join us at 10:30 a.m. this Sunday for our live zoom Sunday Service.

Log into the zoom session on our webpage.

The Service bulletin will be posted on the website

and available here later in the week.

Please print the bulletin

before the Service begins

as we cannot show the bulletin as a part of our live Service.

We will have a live stream service by zoom this Sunday with only a skeleton crew actually in St. Andrew's. We are not having an in-person worship service.

Our wonderful Skeleton Crew will be:

Rev. Mary

Brad Rickelman ...... Reader

Porter Matlock ........ Acolyte

Jay Boyington ..........Video Technology

Gerry Frank ..............Organist

Altar Guild Member

Pastoral Care Greeter

While this is not what we hoped for, we are fortunate that we have the volunteers, the technology, and the support of the St. Andrew's community to allow us to worship safely.

Be safe and be well.

Rev. Mary

Dear People of God:

The Bishop’s guidance is to follow the local color-coded map of COVID-19 spread risk for our area. When schools are doing virtual learning because of elevated COVID-19 percentages we will have Zoom, live stream, or outdoor services.

Loving our neighbors in this extraordinary time of pandemic means we are trying to put into practice the respect, affection, benevolence, goodwill, and concern for the welfare of ourselves and our neighbors. Today, we offer the extension of this love by the wearing of a mask that covers our mouth and nose. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We offer this support in the humility of being courteously respectful of others public health, affirming the inherent worth of all persons.

We endeavor to be wise leaders dedicated to not harming another. What we do is critical if we are to live life well, and living life well means taking responsibility for some behaviors, so we can have a purposeful existence and good relationships that create a strong community.

In addition, we are utilizing guidelines prepared by the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma for our church; to include temperature check, masks, social distancing, sanitizing of hands and buildings, among other items. No food or drink is allowed in our facilities and none will be served. There will be no singing until further notice.

Be safe and be well.

Rev. Dr. Mary J. Korte, Interim Rector

[email protected]

Happy 8th Birthday Eleanor!

Our Daily Bread Stillwater

This Friday begins our trial mobile market. This is a way for OSU students who are struggling with food insecurity to get a little extra assistance, without needing to leave campus. Guests will leave with a reusable bag packed with items they choose from our "market".

Sept 18 - 19 ....... 9 am to 11 am

Top Level of the Student Union Parking Garage. Bring your OSU I.D.

Are you age 13 (or older) and interested in learning more about confirmation? Please send a message to Rev. Mary and let her know.

Episcopal bishops grapple with life in a COVID-19 epicentre

Since the first cases appeared there in early spring, the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the United States. The Centre for Disease Control reports, at writing, that there have been more than 3.8 million cases in the country and upwards of 180,000 deaths caused by the virus.

For leaders in the U.S.-based Episcopal Church, this unprecedented time has been a test of leadership, wisdom and patience. Click here to continue reading.

August note from St. Andrew's Financial Committee and Rev. Mary:

August giving was down from July and down from August of last year. Expenses were curtailed, with the Church in a shutdown mode, but a $3800 deficit was incurred for the month of August. Once again the funds received from the Federal CARES program allowed us to continue to be positive for the year to date.

We understand the hardship and financial stress the COVID pandemic has been for everyone. We recognize and understand, an individual can do and give only what is prudent for their circumstance. Whatever support you can give will be deeply appreciated.

You can make your offerings or contributions through Tithely , make arrangements through your bank to have a check mailed to the church, or just drop a check in the mail (P.O. Box 938, Stillwater, OK 74076).

Stay safe and God be with you.”

St. Andrew's has a new address for receiving mail: P.O. Box 938, Stillwater, OK 74076

How would you caption this photo?

"I will clobber you if you actually do what you're contemplating!" ...... Gerry Frank

"The joys of raising children!" ....Karen Dean

"Where is your mother?" .....Debi Hodson

EYC (Episcopal Youth Community)

We welcome all youth in grades 6-12 to join us. We will begin this year meeting virtually over Google Groups.

This year for EYC is going to be a little different. With all the challenges our youth are experiencing at this time due to COVID-19, we want to create a safe space for our youth to be able to share and explore the unique challenges they are experiencing framing them in how can their faith and God’s love can help them through these unique times. We invite our youth and their parents to share with our youth ministry leaders the challenges they are facing. This will allow us as a group to explore some of the direct challenges they are facing during this very unique times.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Stephen Baker at 405-990-0028.

Looking forward to seeing all our youth.

St. Andrew’s EYC Team

The other night I was reviewing all the different words we use in my native language to indicate family relationships. There are a lot. We have different words, for example, that siblings use for one another depending on gender and whether they are younger or older. It can be confusing and it is complicated, but these words are there for a reason. My ancestors were specific about each relationship because each family relationship is unique. They exist by sacred design because one of our jobs in creation is to create family, whether with those who share our DNA or with those who share our vision. Our bond with one another is not just by accident of birth. We are connected by something profoundly sacred. However we define our family: we are meant to be in those exact relationships for a reason. The link we have with so many people who are part of our story is a miracle and a mission, no matter what language we speak.

The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston,

a Native American elder, author, and retired Episcopal Bishop of Alaska.

A Seed A Day

Seed of Encouragement

Faith is the key! Have faith... Step out on faith... Walk in faith... Live in faith. In order for our faith to endure and to withstand the different seasons and challenges we are faced with, our faith has to be tested, built up and strengthened. In order to build our faith, we have to consistently feed our faith a diet that consists of what God says in His Word. The more we feed our faith the promises of God, the more confident we will be that we will receive what He has promised... even if at the moment we don't see it.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message... Romans 10:17a

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God... Hebrews‬ ‭11:1, 6‬a

Forward Day by Day, MONDAY, September 16

Ninian, Ember Day

John 1:22-23 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about ourself?” [John] said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘“Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.

When I was a young adult minister, I had the privilege of listening to a lot of people discerning their vocations. Some were called to holy orders; far more were confirmed in the ministry of the laity. Some were called to strive for equality and environmental stewardship, to teach, build, encourage, or counsel.

When the calling was clear, the individuals weren’t talking about themselves but about the world they were being called to create. That clarity was beautiful to witness. Their vocation was an invitation to see the possibility through their own eyes and to be swept up in the change. Just as John the Baptist pushed back against those who wanted to know who he was, may we also put our own glory down and instead raise up our voices in proclaiming the coming of the Lord.

MOVING FORWARD: Do you know someone who is discerning their vocation? Plan to have coffee or lunch with them this week.

PRAY for the Dioceses of Muranga South (Kenya) and Zaki-Biam and Ikwerre (both in Nigeria)

Ps 72 * 119:73-96 | Job 42:1-17 | Acts 16:16-24 | John 12:20-26