St. Dunstan's Weekly Message 
February 3, 2010       

We do many things together here at St. Dunstan's Church. We collect food for the food-bank. We collect clothing for the families of prisoners working with Matthew House. We raise money with fairs and rummage sales so that we can contribute to worthy causes. We worship together on Wednesdays and Sundays. We make music together as a part of our worship and when we gather for fun. We study together and we work together to keep our Church home functioning. We offer Christian Education and formation to children and youth through our Sunday School and Youth programs. That's just off the top of my head. I could go on.

The way we do these things is as important as what we do. Each work of worship, mission or service we do serves at least two purposes. The first purpose is the work itself. The second purpose is the transformation of lives - the lives of the people we serve and our own lives. The changes that are taking place in our Sunday School program are a great illustration of this.

Starting last July your Sunday School teachers began making a shift from the role of teacher to the role of director. Ann-Patrice and Sandy have wonderful experience as teachers and they are going to be using that knowledge, experience and wisdom to support our volunteer teachers as we build our Sunday School program.

The biggest reason for this change is that every person who volunteers in a Sunday School class by preparing and leading a lesson, or setting up for an activity, or even welcoming the children into the space is being formed as a Christian. Teaching and volunteering in Sunday School gives us all the opportunity to engage with scripture, consider what it means in our own lives, and what it might mean for the children. Being present with children and youth as they learn and respond to the stories and traditions of our faith brings that faith alive in our own lives.

The way we do church is as important as what we do. We are a congregation because we have been called to do God's work in the world. As we worship, pray, teach, work and celebrate together, every one of our lives will be transformed.

Your brother in Christ,
The Rev. David Marshall

Click here to respond or comment at Fr. David's blog.

We will support this process as a congregation with four Lenten gatherings following the social time after our 9:30 AM service.

• On February 21^st I will lead a group process to help teams get started with the interpretation of their assigned scripture verses.
• On February 28^th we will gather to explore different ways of responding creatively to the scripture verses. You can do finger painting, create a collage, write a poem, compose a song or music, or do some form of sculpture - anything goes as long as you can present your response on the 12x14 inch plywood blank.
• On March 7^th we will hold a work session. We'll provide work space and tables for teams to gather at the church and work on their icons.
• On March 14^th teams will gather to present their completed "stations" to the other teams.

The entire congregation will have the opportunity to admire and pray with our creations at a Stations of the Cross service in the early evening of Good Friday, April 2^nd.

• Mirebalais is a town built for about 10,000 people, and that's what the official population estimates list, but Fr. Joseph estimates that there are really more like 100,000 people living in and around the town. Since the earthquake an additional 60,000 refugees have come into the town. Families with homes are taking in friends and family. Fr. Joseph's mother, like many other residents of Mirebalais, has people living in every room of her house. That's just what people do for one another.
• In some ways, HMP is more than an orphanage. Many of the children they serve have parents, but their parents can't care for them. So, HMP is as much a boarding school as an orphanage. This reflects the social crisis in Haiti. Over 50% of the population is under 20 years old, uneducated, and unemployed. In the long run, this is the problem that must be addressed. That's why HMP feeds, clothes and educates the neediest children.
• The Haiti Micah Project is particularly well positioned to help in the recovery efforts because local leaders in Mirebalais, both civic and private, are on the local board of HMP. This connection helps get work done and decisions made. HMP was set up from the start to have transparency and accountability built in. This structure made it possible to expand the program from 150 children before the quake to 300 today.
• The staff and faculty and most of the students of the medical school in Port-au-Prince were killed when their building collapsed. Fr. Joseph has been sponsoring a young man to become a doctor and he only survived because he did not have afternoon classes. An entire class of doctors was lost and the university is gone.
• I asked Fr. Joseph what are the best ways to contribute to the recovery:
  • ERD is the best way to get money to the Diocese of Haiti. More than half the churches in Haiti have been destroyed.
  • Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer's organization, is very effective and would be another good place to make contributions.
  • Doctors Without Boarders is another very effective organization.

I am grateful for the work Fr. Joseph and HMP are doing. We have collected over $1,300 for HMP in our Haiti Relief basket at St. Dunstan's Church. We will continue to hold the people of Haiti in our prayers.  

Sunday: Holy Eucharist, 8:00 AM, Henry Chapel & 9:30 AM, St. Dunstan's Church

Wednesday: Holy Eucharist, 10:00 AM, St. Dunstan's.

Families With Children. At the 9:30 service we offer Sunday School for kindergarten through middle school children. We also offer nursery care for babies and toddlers not yet ready for Sunday School. Our teachers are dedicated to the safety and Christian education of your children using a lectionary based curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit. Children come back to the service for communion. Children are always welcome in the service.

What REALLY matters?  Some of the central claims of the Christian faith are the source of many discussions and heated debates. But are we debating the right things? Next Wednesday, February 10, at 11:00 AM the God in Real Life group will consider this question Maybe some of our discussions would change significantly if we had more insight into the actual circumstances that surrounded the first people of the Christian movement-if we had a better understanding of the things they did in the context of the world they lived in. Maybe some of the claims of the Christian faith that we typically perceive to be unique aren't really that special at all. And at the same time maybe we don't always put enough emphasis on the things that truly should matter in our lives.

Please take a minute to stop and thank those individuals who have completed their terms of service as members of our vestry. We are deeply grateful to Dawn Friend, Tom Keefer, and Mike Servais for their years of service to the church.

Be a welcoming face for St. Dunstan's! Be an usher!!  Every Sunday our dedicated teams of ushers guide worshipers and help keep our services running smoothly. Please consider whether this would be a meaningful way for you to serve the church and your fellow worshippers. Please speak to Al Bahlkow if you wish to learn more about becoming an usher or Joan Baker to sign up to be a greeter.

Help Raise Operating Budget Funds for our Choir, Sunday School Program and Cash Reserve!  The Vestry is launching 2 new fundraising activities to raise money for our operating budget.  At the moment, we need to raise funds for our 4 Choir Section Leads, Sunday School staff and cleaning service for a full 12 months.  We are partnering up with E Bay's Giving Works to sell items on line.  We will also be working with RECYCLING© Fundraiser, an organization that pays for used cell phones, laptops and jewelry.  Stayed tuned for more information.  Contact Diana Rall at 206-660-9156; dtoshiba@comcast.net.

Vestry Hosted Wine & Cheese Reception, Sunday, February 28, 4:00 PM.  St. Dunstan's Vestry cordially invites members of the congregation to attend this reception.  We are looking forward to meeting and greeting you and answering your questions, listening to your suggestions and thanking you for the privilege of serving you here at St. Dunstan's.  If you have any questions, please contact Diana Rall at 206-660-9156.

Volunteers needed to deliver clothing donations to Matthew House, Monroe, Washington.  This ministry provides clothing for the families of prisoners at the Monroe Correctional Center.  The prison has a strict dress code and often visiting family members need appropriate clothing in order to visit their loved one.  The frequency of deliveries depends upon the amount of clothing donated, but usually happens about once every 4-6 weeks.  Please contact Diana Rall at 206-660-9156 for more details.

Calling all Youth and Sunday School Volunteers!  There will be a meeting of all Christian Education and Sunday School teachers and volunteers next Sunday, February 7, immediately after the 9:30 service.

Think! Then Pray! Then vote!  On February 9 there will be school levy elections in 23 local communities, including Shoreline, Seattle, and Everett.