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Next Sunday’s Readings

This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Ascension. This is the day when we retell the story of Jesus departing after his resurrection to be with his Father in heaven. There was something different and special about Jesus after the resurrection. Close friends did not immediately recognize him, and yet he was able to show them the wounds of crucifixion. This brief period of bodily appearances was followed by Jesus’ ascension. Jesus did not die. Having defeated death, he could not die again. Instead, Jesus changed, again, the way he is alive and present for us. Jesus continues to be alive and present to each generation of Christians.

Read Next Sunday’s Lessons here.
 

Last Sunday’s Sermon: Have You Seen the Holy Spirit?

Have you ever seen the Holy Spirit?
Do you know what the Holy Spirit looks like?
We each have an image of Jesus in our minds. He was a man. We can imagine him, even if we don’t know exactly what he looked like.
But what about the Holy Spirit? How do we know and relate to the third person of the trinity?

You can listen to this sermon or read other sermons at my sermon page:

http://revmarshall.com/sermons/

You can read daily reflections at my blog:

http://revmarshall.com/blog/

or by subscribing to my PodCast through iTunes. Simply search for “The Rev. David Marshall” in the iTunes store or follow this link:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id424733629

Faith Can Move Mountains

Dear Friends,

I hope that all of you enjoyed a wonderful and peaceful holiday weekend. We were fortunate to spend our time at our summer home on Whidbey Island and had the added joy of some members of our family joining us. There’s nothing like a visit with the grandchildren to enrich my life, and put a smile on my face.

While on the island we visited the Episcopal church, St. Augustine in the Woods. They are getting ready to dedicate a beautiful new parish hall. We were shown through all the improvements and they are lovely. What impressed me the most however, was the amount of work, dedication and love that the congregation has put into making their addition and dreams come to be. The building is quite lovely, but the pride in it and the joy that the people have, is a blessing. I couldn’t help but think that when people put their heart and heads together, and trust in the Lord, mountains are moved, and great things can be accomplished.

As we plan for our future together at St. Dunstan’s, I know in my heart that we will accomplish many things. The reason I know this is because we have a very special relationship with each other, and more importantly, with God. What will we look like in five years, what exciting programs will we have to offer to each other and to our community, and how will we live into our mission statement and be a service to our community? We have countless opportunities ahead of us and I am anxious to get started.

We have much to be grateful for. We have each other and we have our faith. Faith in faith is pointless, but faith in God will move mountains. I’m ready, are you?

Blessings,
Mary E. Pacher

Vestry Corner

Vestry Meeting RECAP
May 22, 2011

JUNIOR WARDEN REPORT

• May decide to hire someone to do part-time yard work
• Several walls will be painted before stained glass window installed
• Will replace opening in wall between Nursery and Music Rooms.
• Red curtain in Sanctuary must come down due to fire department regulations.  Wallboards will be put up and painted. 
• Curtains in Guild Room will cost $1100 to be fire-proofed.  The ladies are looking into raising money.
• Father Marshall has turned the pilot lights off for the stove in the kitchen
• Will look into what the kitchens current needs are for use.

COMMITTEES:
 
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION:

• Sunday School and Youth Group will finish up the year on June 19^th.
• Volunteers and Ann-Patrice and Sandy will be recognized
• Final planning complete for Vacation Bible Camp still looking for volunteers

 STEWARDSHIP

• Family Game night – raised $1000.  30 people attended.  Would like to see this become a once a month event.

 PASTORAL CARE:

• Reduced number of Eucharistic Visits in April due to a many reasons.
• Care Teams off to a strong start.  26 members.
• Expect to soon add several additional Eucharistic Ministers.
• EV’s have a monthly gathering on the 4^th Wednesday of the month

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Greenwood Food Bank only 3 people from St. Dunstan’s showed up.
• Food Bank changing day to Thursday.
• Harley Wahl to write up an article for Highlights

SENIOR WARDEN REPORT

• Hired part-time Sexton 6 ½ hours a week.
• Encouraged to look at stained glass window.

RECTORS REPORT

• Delighted with the number of guests and visitors each week
• Outlined next steps from Mutual Ministry:
  • 700 door hangers placed
  • Youth Group asked to be greeters
  • Research a PR consultant

            Father Marshall to report back at June meeting
            Demographics to be reviewed

NEW BUSINESS

• Vestry Table at Canterbury Faire
• June Vestry meeting moved to June 19^th
• August meeting site to be determined

TREASURER’S REPORT

Tom Paulson presented his synopsis of the financial items.
 

Word Is Out

The word is out. St. Dunstan’s Church is a lively and engaged congregation, involved in the community, doing God’s work and worshiping God with joy. When I am with other clergy, they ask about our congregation. People have heard. God is at work among us. In a time of economic challenge and social change, when many churches are struggling, St. Dunstan's Church is thriving. We are discovering new ways to express God’s love and, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we are doing God’s work in our lives and the world.

We are blessed, in recent months, with an abundance of guests and visitors at both of our services. I have been very pleased to see the enthusiastic welcome we have offered. I love it when one of you introduces me to one of our visitors. The energy at our coffee hour (at both services!) is wonderful.

When I am meeting guests or speaking with other clergy, I love telling people about our ministries. At a recent clergy group I described our Care Teams and four of the five other priests there asked me to send them a description of this wonderful ministry so that they could start similar programs.

Next week we will celebrate Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit. At St. Dunstan's Church we are blessed to have many signs of God’s Spirit working among us and through us. I hope you will come to this very special service. You can expect to experience the joy of worshiping God with all our hearts, minds and strength. We will baptize a baby and dedicate our new stained glass window. Come, wear red, and help us give hearty thanks. In the process, you will be renewed and encouraged to take God’s love into your life.

Your brother in Christ,

The Rev. David Marshall

Click here to respond to this posting in my blog.
 

Community Engagement

June 10, 2011 6-8 pm: Sorting of Food
June 14, 2011 12-1:30 pm: Personal food distribution

Hope to see you there!
Harley Wahl

Upcoming Events in our Congregational Life