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Listen to Last Sunday’s Sermon: Live In Love, Act From Love
Last week my mother commented on my article, “Radical Hospitality”, to point out that the first definition of radical in the dictionary is “of or going to the root or origin; fundamental: a radical difference.” Hospitality is radical in that it gets at the root and origin of our faith in God. To receive the stranger and a friend in love, generosity and compassion gets right at the fundamental nature of life in Christ.
Listen to my latest sermon here.
Read Next Sunday’s Lessons
This week we depart temporarily from the lectionary to focus on Christian Hospitality. Our lessons will be:
•1 Kings 17:10-24 – Elijah and the widow
• Psalm 128
• Romans 12:9-21 – the Characteristics of a True Christian
• Matthew 25:31-46 – the Sheep and the goats
If you do not have a Bible of your own, you may read these at the link below.
http://bible.oremus.org
Please Wear a Nametag on Sundays
As a part of our Christian Hospitality series we are asking people to wear a nametag in church on Sunday. If you do not have a nametag, please use one of the temporary paper nametags found on our welcome table. We will have a clipboard on that table so you can request a nametag. Anyone can have a nametag. The new nametags will not be engraved, as these cost between $5 and $9 each. We’ll be transitioning to new nametags using plastic holders and printed nametags, like you might see at a convention.
A Message from the Senior Warden to the Vestry:
I want us to celebrate all that we have accomplished in the past 9 months. We (the Vestry) came together for the first time in January of this year and since then we have made a difference. Kudos to each and every one of you for your dedication and hard work.
Let me review some of the things that we as a team have brought about:
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Because of the successful Fill The Gap campaign, this vestry started the year in the black. We have managed our finances carefully and continue to be in the black. We made the hard decision early in the year to cut staff in order to present a balanced budget to the congregation. Due to the hard work of many, those positions were reinstated.
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We hosted a wine and cheese evening as part of our commitment to having ongoing dialogue with the congregation. We also continue to keep our Vestry Corner updated for the same reason.
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After much research we were able to resolve the columbarium loan issue and put the matter to bed at last.
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We helped to develop and fine tune a new Building Use Policy, keeping in mind the needs and concerns for our renters, such as AA, as well as the best interests of the church.
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We continue to be ever mindful of maintaining our facilities and have taken steps to see they are kept up, including having the moss removed from the roof, installing new lighting, improving our signage and taking care of the grounds and making them more inviting.
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We ran a successful Stewardship Campaign and the total pledged was larger than we thought it would be.
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We have held successful fund raising events, i.e. the recycle event one Saturday in the spring, and more recently, our Murder Mystery Dinner. These events brought in cash for our Operating Fund.
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We have studied together and brainstormed ideas, as we read and reviewed Reggie McNeal’s “Missional Renaissance.” The result of this is that we are now reaching out to the community as we have never done before.
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We participated in an outstanding Mutual Ministry Review, which was lead by Rev. Marta Stedman. By doing the review we were able to discover our successes, and also find areas where we need to do more work.
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Last but not least, we voted to take a giant leap of faith and hire our new organist/choirmaster, knowing that his salary was over our budget for the position for this year. I am pleased to report to you that because of the generosity of anonymous donors, the difference between what we had in the budget and what we needed to cover his salary has been taken care of.
I may have left some things out, but my purpose in doing this is to tell you how very much you as a vestry have accomplished in just a few months. We are beginning to grow and that is exciting. You have worked hard and your love of St. Dunstan’s and your love of God, is the reason that I can sit here before you now and say, ”Job well done.” You are an amazing group of people and I am so very grateful to be a part of this group. Thank you, and God bless you, now and always.
Mary E. Pacher, Sr. Warden
A Message from the Treasurer to the Parish:
I want to share some good news with you and dispel some of the rumors running rampant out there.
We are in good shape. What would have appeared to be two major areas of concern have been addressed and solved.
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The remainder of the Parish Administrator’s salary will be covered by the remainder of Sandra Lamb’s salary. (Sandra has requested to work part-time for personal reasons.)
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The Parish Organist’s salary differential will be covered by anonymous donors.
Finally, the Vestry Fundraising goal was to raise $5000 and at this time, it has raised about $9000.
Again I am very happy to share this good news with you. If we have a MERRY CHRISTMAS GIVING SEASON, we should finish in the BLACK.
Thank you for your generous giving and may you continue to receive God’s Blessings.
YOU WILL FIND A TREASURER’S REPORT ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE VESTRY CORNER.
Respectfully,
Don T. Riccardo
Volunteer Treasurer
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Transcendent, Traditional, Beautiful
Every Sunday, Deacon Jerry, Tim and I drive into the Highlands to the beautiful Henry Memorial Chapel for a simple, beautiful service. I have really come to treasure this service and the people who attend. I’d love to share that treasure with you.
Many people love the language of the 1928 Prayer Book and the more penitential worship of those older rituals. Well, that language still exists in our prayer book, and in our worship at St. Dunstan’s Church. The 8:00am service at the Henry Memorial Chapel is Holy Eucharist, Rite I from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This service has an opening hymn and a Gospel procession hymn led by Tim Drewes on the beautiful Bond Organ. I generally do the same sermon at this service as I do at the 9:30 service.
The King James language of the older liturgies is quite beautiful and fits wonderfully with the chapel and its 19th century architecture. The beautiful marble altar table is against the wall, so the priest celebrates the Eucharist facing away from the people. This is meant to convey the transcendence of God, as we all raise our eyes towards the altar and the cross and the heavens. The Henry Memorial Chapel is a beautiful jewel of a worship space with a world-class organ, exquisite woodwork, stenciled paint on the walls, and stained glass windows. If you are looking for a service that is quiet, traditional, and finished in under an hour, consider going to the 8:00am chapel service. We would love to have you join us for this beautiful worship.
Access and parking are quite simple. If you need wheelchair access or have limited mobility, please park in the space next to the chapel. Otherwise, there is parking on the road, next to the golf course, and in the traffic circle for the school across the street. To find the chapel, simply continue past St. Dunstan’s Church on 145th, through the light at Greenwood, and then turn right at 3rd (next to the golf course). You will pass through the gate to the Highlands (to the left of the gatehouse). Just tell the gatekeeper you are going to the chapel. Then keep right through the next two intersections. At the third intersection, turn left and you will see the chapel on the hill to your left. There are small white signs at every intersection pointing the way to the Chapel and parking.
In both the Henry Memorial Chapel and at St. Dunstan’s Church, the community of St. Dunstan’s prays, sings, and worships, united by our love of God and one another. Whether using the King James language or the more contemporary poetry of more recent prayers, we are joined as the Body of Christ when we gather at the Lord’s Table, and we are sent forth to be Christ’s heart and hands for the world.
Your brother in Christ,
The Rev. David Marshall
Click here to repond to this posting in my blog.
Community Engagement
A Message from Warren Broderick about the Greenwood Food Bank:
When I took our weekly offerings to the Greenwood Food Bank, the manager expressed sincere thanks to St. Dunstan’s of the Highlands Episcopal Church for our continued support of this vital program. She told me how empty their shelves were. She said that the amount of food donations coming in had decreased—that now the major source of food donation was from the federal government. She said the need for food donations is greater today than it has ever been. More and more individuals are coming to the food bank because they are hungry. Many have lost their jobs and been unable to find work. Others have lost their homes to foreclosure, and still others are trying desperately to stretch their meager funds to provide for their families.
Won’t you please help us increase the amount of our food donations to this important ministry? Consider how you might increase what you donate. Every bit helps. Give whatever you can; just bring it with you when you come to church and we will deliver it to the food bank for you. If you would prefer to make a cash donation, just mark the envelope or check made out to St. Dunstan’s with the words “Food Bank.” Food donations are just another way St. Dunstan’s provides support to our community. Give generously—the hungry are always with us.
Upcoming Events in our Congreational Life
LAST SUNDAY TO BUY OKTOBERFEST TICKETS is this Sunday, October 17 after the service in the Narthex. Single Adult tickets are $12, and Family Packages for 2 adults and children under 12 are $30, or one adult and children under 12 are $18. Reservations are required to be paid by Tuesday, October 19.
New Parish Rosters are available in the Narthex on Sundays. If there are any further corrections or additions, please contact the church office @206-363-4319 or office@sdchp.org.
God In Real Life Bible Study Group will meet Wednesday October 20. This group meets Wednesday mornings from 11:00am to noon and is exploring the ways we encounter God, receive God’s blessings, and how we respond to God in our every day lives. Please plan to join us as we continue our study one of the prophets, Micah. Just as we discovered with our in-depth look at Jonah, expect to discover new challenges and beautiful rewards as we open ourselves to God’s will.
The Canterbury Faire at St. Dunstan’s will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. Two of the most popular rooms at the Faire are the coffee bar with the bake sale and the Book Room. We are hoping the great cooks of our parish will assist us with donations for the bake sale, and all parishioners will help with donations of used books. Assorted homemade cookies (2” to 2 ½”) are needed, along with pies, breads, muffins, candy and tarts. Jams and jellies are also popular. Please bring your bake sale donations to St. Dunstan’s on Friday, November 5, between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm or on Saturday, November 6, before 9:30 am, using the lower entrance. Please bring any used books with you to church on Sundays, or a member of the St. Agnes Guild can arrange to pick them up if you have a large number to donate. Please contact Ann Patrice Riccardo @ 206-363-3994 or dtap3@msn.com for more information.
Gal's Needlework Night Out are on Tuesday nights at 7:00 PM in the Narthex. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 26. Women of all ages invited. Let's share our knowledge, show-off our talent and encourage and support needlework arts here at St. Dunstan's. Contact Diana Rall: 206-660-9156 or dtoshiba@comcast.net
Dessert with the Marshalls will resume over the next few months. If you would like to be a host, please contact Mary E. Pacher @425-374-8846 or cmpacher7@comcast.net.
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