St. Dunstan's Weekly Message 
August 27, 2009        

Cancer, leukemia, kidney disease, ALS, COPD, emphysema. These are just a few of the things people in our congregation are facing right now. Today. Grandparents are raising grandchildren. Marriages are struggling. People are out of work, some for months and months. All of these things are happening in our small congregation. Right now. Today. This isn't even a very complete list. And yet, I have never been so filled with hope, love and joy. How can this be?

Jesus calls us into a new kind of life. He calls it eternal life: Life that goes on forever, even when all these diseases, tragedies and problems are happening in our lives. Jesus calls us to hope: the hope of a life so full of God's love that even the grinding, painful realities of life are transformed. We encounter God's love in relationships. We express God's love in relationships. We participate in God's love in relationships.

And so, we come together at St. Dunstan's Church each week to worship together. We participate on ministry teams, contribute to outreach projects, support our Sunday School and youth programs, and give our time as volunteers and as leaders. We care for one another. We take meals to friends who are struggling. We pray with friends who are suffering. We pray to God for healing and for guidance, and we pray in thanksgiving.

And through all this, we are changed, little by little, heart by heart, tear by tear, with trembling, fear, anger, joy and hope. We are becoming God's people. We are discovering the image of God in one another by serving together, by loving, by challenging ourselves to generosity and growth. Real life happens here. Real life comes face to face with hope and, eventually, hope wins.

Many Blessings,
The Rev. David Marshall

We are actively recruiting volunteers for our Sunday School program that begins next month.  It is entitled "Season's of the Spirit," and it is awesome.  Each volunteer will be asked to teach a lesson about once every couple of months, so it is not a big time commitment. Lesson plans and materials will be provided and you will work with one of the teachers.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to be involved with the Christian Education of our young people, share fellowship with our community, and help us to do God's work.  If you are interested, please let me know.

Blessings,
Mary E. Pacher
Chair, Christian Education Committee

Bell Ringers, and those interested in learning about playing, are encouraged to contact either me or Karin Rogers about playing this fall.  Please see the articles on music in the Highlights that appears shortly,  for more information about this exciting opportunity!       Marion

The readings for this Sunday start with the beautiful love poetry of the Song of Solomon, move on to the ethical exhortation of James, and finish with one of Jesus' religious teachings from Mark. I think that the key to all of the readings is in the verses from the Song of Solomon. This love poem, evoking the love of a young bride and groom for one another, reminds us of the kind of love that God has for each of us, and the kind of love God asks of each of us: love that changes our hearts, love that fills us with desire, love that inspires us to care for others. Has your faith changed you? Are you a different person because you follow Jesus? Is your heart being changed as you live out your faith?

The full readings for this coming Sunday can be found at http://www.io.com/~kellywp/YearB_RCL/Pentecost/BProp17_RCL.html

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

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

The Parish Choir is inviting new members to sing with us as we begin the new season. There are openings in all sections. Please consider joining us, and pass the word to others. It is not necessary to be a member of St. Dunstan's. Speak with Marion at coffee hour or call (206-449-5537) about our exciting plans for the year.

Welcoming Shower!  Dawn and Bob Friend will be welcoming a granddaughter into their home early next month. Come and rejoice with them as they embark upon this great adventure: you are invited to a celebratory shower at 6:30 on Thursday, September 3, 6:30 - 7:30 PM. Please contact Marion Anderson (206-499-5537) if you would like suggestions for age-appropriate gifts.

Youth Group at St. Dunstan's. Fr. David and Ann Patrice Riccardo will be co-leading a youth program for high school aged youth on the first and third Sunday of each month, starting September 20^th. The youth will meet from 5:00 - 7:00 PM for faith, fun, food, and Christian service.

St. Dunstan's Annual School Supply Drive for the children of New Beginnings kicks off the first weekend in August. You can participate by purchasing supplies and placing them in the donation box located in the Narthex or by making a cash donation.  Checks should be marked "School Supplies." The drive ends on September 27th.  If you have any questions, call Kathy Newman at 206-365-0677.

Please send announcements to office@st-dunstans-episcopal.us or call the office by Tuesday evening to have them included in the Weekly Message and the Sunday Bulletin. If you would like to make an announcement during the service, please let Father David know prior to the start of the service.