• Fr. David's Message
• Senior Warden Message
• Community Engagement
• Upcoming Events

Next Sunday’s Readings

Jesus understood his mission and his identity through the stories and teachings of the Bible. The scriptures, particularly the prophets, reveal what God is doing, and has done, to fill all creation with God’s Spirit. Jesus is the fulfillment of all that God is doing. You can see the connection between the prophets and Jesus very clearly in the readings this Sunday.

Read Next Sunday’s Lessons here.

Last Sunday’s Sermon: Making Room

God is always present, pouring out the gift of grace and love. God is always pouring forth the gift of the Spirit, but we are not always able to receive that gift. The stuff of life gets in the way. The worries, anxieties, problems, and distractions of life fill our time and our lives, leaving little or no room for God’s love. This sermon looks at what gets in the way of God’s love and how we can make room for God’s love. This was a very visual sermon. I had a table with a large glass pitcher full of rocks, and another pitcher full of water. As you listen or read this sermon, you’ll have to imagine the illustrations.

Listen to Last Sunday's Sermon Here.

Advent Blessings: a message from the Senior Warden

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent and it was a beautiful time at St. Dunstan’s Church. Our worship service was very moving, with lovely prayers and music. Fr. David’s sermon was very memorable and reminded all of us not to clutter up our lives, especially at this time of year, so that there will be more room for God.

This is the time of year for anticipation and we need to slow down so that we may feel the magic of awaiting and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Our Stewardship campaign continues and moves forward. If you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please do so. We will be creating our budget for next year very soon and we need your support in order to keep all of our programs. Please take care of this, if you have not already done so. Thank you.

This is a busy time for us at St. Dunstan’s and an exciting time as well. Please join us in the various activities and happenings in and around the church. By being involved, you are a blessing to each one of us, and you too are blessed.

May the peace and grace of Christ, live in your hearts today, and forever.

Mary E. Pacher

2011 Stewardship and Budget Update

Thanks to everyone who has turned in their pledge card. As of November 28, we have 76 pledges totaling $156,339. If you have not yet submitted your pledge, please do so as soon as possible as we cannot finalize a 2011 budget until we know how much we have with which to work.  We expect 2011 to be challenging in terms of finances so it is vitally important that we receive everyone's pledge as soon as possible. We'd greatly appreciate pledge cards from anyone who will not be able to pledge because this information is crucial for budget forecasting. On behalf of the vestry,  thanks for your support!

Diana Rall, Stewardship Co-Chairperson

A Note from the Treasurer

Please help us reach our Christmas giving goal of $6000 by paying the remainder of your 2010 pledge on time.

Our 2011 pledge drive is currently about $80,000 short of our goal, which only covers the essentials but meets the rising cost of living. We will have to look at some very hard cuts if we continue to fall short. What can we cut that would least affect the whole church? That difficult decision would be forthcoming if we do not meet our goal.

Thank you for your continued generosity and kindness. May God bless your Christmas and New Year.

Don Riccardo

Repent! (really)

The kingdom of heaven has come near. That’s the heart of the message that John the Baptist brings to the wilderness of Judea. God’s kingdom is here! God is present, radically intervening and affecting the world we live in. God is present and has the power to transform our very lives.

But that is only part of what John says. John is a prophet in the tradition and style of the prophets of old. The prophets speak for God. They come with warnings and predictions and they call us back into relationship with God. So, John says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The kingdom of heaven is here and the proper response is to repent.

Really? Repent? Isn’t that a bit old fashioned? Preachers don’t often stand in the pulpit and preach repentance these days. Does that mean John is irrelevant? Has his time passed? Is John’s message out of date?

I don’t think so. Ask yourself this: Do you feel the presence of God in your life? Do you experience the nearness of the kingdom of heaven? I sincerely hope that you can say, “Yes,” at least some of the time. I suspect, thought, that much of the time you, like I, hunger to be closer to God. We are often much more aware of the absence of God than the presence of God.

We are separated from God and from the kingdom of heaven by the choices we make, by the way we live, and by the culture we live in. I’m not saying you and I are bad people. What I am saying is that we can grow closer to God. We have the opportunity to live in such a way that God’s presence is more evident.

To repent is to turn away from that which separates you from God and from other people. To repent is also to turn towards those things that draw you closer to God and to other people. Repentance is less about admitting how wretched you are, or how sinful you are, and more about choosing to turn towards God.

We repent, then, by choosing to do God’s work in the world. We repent by gathering in joyful worship, giving thanks to God. We repent by choosing to volunteer with our congregation to clean up a local park or restock the shelves at the local food bank. We repent, by choosing to join the pastoral care team and visit people who are need our help and our prayers. When you choose to participate in the life of our congregation, and take that life out into the world, you are choosing to turn towards God.

Repentance is as simple as choosing to do something with your church, or choosing to take a meal to the family down the street where the mother (or father) is sick. Repentance is choosing to live your faith in active ways. Repentance is making the harder choice, and that’s why we need to come together and support one another. The way to God is not easy. The choice to repent, and turn towards God, is almost always the harder choice. Don’t try to do this alone. We are here for you and we need you to be here for each of us as well. The enterprise of Christianity, the mission of following Christ, is not something you can do alone. Surround yourself with people who support living the way of Christ.

Your brother in Christ,

The Rev. David Marshall

Click here to respond to this posting in my blog.

Christmas Worship Schedule

Volunteers needed for Christmas Eve Midnight Service

Please contact the church office if you can assist with parking and helping people get safety in and out of the Highlands Chapel. You may call 206-363-4319 or email office@sdchp.org.   We need at least 4 people who are willing to bring their flashlights and ensure the safety of those attending this beautiful worship service in this uniquely traditional and picturesque space.

Advent with our Youth

This Sunday, December 5th, Sunday School and Youth Group will both meet at 9:30 am. Youth Group will continue after coffee hour with LUNCH and our traditional Sunday First Sunday get together! We will be working on the Christmas Pageant- making props for the program and practicing our readings.

The Youth Group is also selling handmade ornaments to help raise money for their Heiffer Project.  A Youth Group member will be selling the ornaments before and after the service starting this Sunday.

Sandy and Ann-Patrice

Community Engagement

Matthew House Christmas Outreach Update

Time is getting short to make a donation for the Christmas Outreach program. If you plan to donate a gift for a child or Mother, please bring it to St. Dunstan's on or before Sunday, December 12th. Ideas for gifts include clothing such as hats, gloves, scarfs, coats, and sweaters. Gift cards for teens and to grocery stores are wonderful as well. No time to shop? Cash donations are greatly appreciated. Please make your check out to St. Dunstan's and mark it "Matthew House". If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Newman at 206-365-0677 or tokathynewman@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events in our Congreational Life     

Christmas Decorations at St. Dunstan's

In addition to the letter sent out this week, a special flower envelope will be included in this Sunday's  and next Sunday's bulletins for parishioners who wish to make a donation to the decorations for St. Dunstan’s Church and Florence Henry Memorial Chapel in the form of a memorial. As most of you know, a list of memorials and donors are listed in the bulletins used at the 4:00 pm service at St. Dunstan’s and the bulletins at the midnight service at the Chapel. Sometimes these donations are given as a thanksgiving.

Please send in your donations with memorial or thanksgiving designations by December 15th this year so that we will know how much we will have to spend. We will buy only those decorations that we can fund. We are aware of the declining economy and plan to adjust accordingly.

We realize that requests for money are numerous this time of the year, but we have had many positive comments on the look of the church during this season and we hope to be able to continue the festive look for the Twelve Days of Christmas!

Thank you for your help.

St. Marys Altar Guild.