In This Issue
Next Sunday’s Readings
This week we read the story of Jesus walking on water. It is a testimony to faith, as Peter tries to walk toward him but falters. We all try to walk toward Jesus across the many waves of illness, stress, and other crises in our lives. Will our faith be strong enough to open our hearts to Jesus? or will we falter, as Peter did, and need His saving grace?
Click here to see this coming Sunday’s Readings.
A Special Message from Father David
The Marshall family just returned from Northern California, where we joined Alice's extended family to celebrate the life of her dear grandmother, known to us as Nana Helen. We held a memorial gathering with the extended families of all three of Nana Helen's daughters. At the end of our time together we shared memories and hopes for the future.
Helen was married to John DuBose for 69 years. Grandpa John died just a few months short of their 70th anniversary. As people shared their memories of John and Helen on Sunday, I was delighted to hear my own experiences echoed. One of the grandchildren stood and said that when he and his wife-to-be were considering marriage, they pointed to John and Helen and said to each other, "We want a marriage and relationship like theirs." That is exactly what Alice and I said to each other when we were 20 years old. We looked at the love between John and Helen, and promised to one another that we would grow old together with the kind of love for one another that we saw in them. In an age when many marriages fail, John and Helen loved each other dearly to the end of their lives.
On our way home from the memorial, Alice recalled a scene from the late years in their marriage. She was visiting John and Helen in their San Francisco home just before they moved into an assisted living facility. Helen had fallen and broken her arm. John was having problems of his own, and was using a hospital bed in the living room because he could not get up and down the stairs. As Alice was sitting with John, Helen came slowly down the stairs, being helped by a physical therapist. Nana Helen was bent and bandaged and bravely struggling to navigate each step. Looking at his wife with devotion, Grandpa John said to Alice, "Isn't she beautiful?"
At the memorial on Sunday, I was filled with hope and gratitude as I watched the grandchildren, most of them parents now, honor Helen and John. There was a clear sense that we, the grandchildren of this beautiful couple, were now to take on the responsibility of being that example and source of love and strength for our children and grandchildren.
Thank you for your prayers, cards and the support to take the time off to attend this memorial. I am grateful for the community of St. Dunstan's. I'll see you all when I return from my vacation on August 23rd.
Your brother in Christ,
David
Caring For Each Other
Dear Friends,
Last Sunday, my daughter-in-law and best friend, Mary O. and I served as Eucharistic Visitors and took communion to Betty Conover. It was Betty's birthday and we said prayers with her for her birthday, and for her healing. Betty's daughter was there and the four of us worshipped together. We also took communion together and it was lovely. Mary O. and I took a birthday card to Betty, and signed it "From your friends at St. Dunstan's". She was very touched. I know that several of you have visited Betty and so has Father David, but today was special for her. It was her birthday, and she is into her nineties. She sends her love to all of you.
I have taken communion to several people the past two years. Being a Eucharistic Visitor is another example of who we are at St. Dunstan's Church. We are a congregation that loves and cares for each other. We may not always agree on some things, but we do agree that we are here to help, love and care for each other. Evidence of that caring shows in our Care Teams, our helping with Tent City 3 work, and our gentle touch of someone's hand as they are going through hard times.
We care about our church as well and work hard to keep it beautiful. Several people worked last Saturday to beautify our campus. Thank you to all of you who were here with our Building and Grounds Team.
We are blessed in so many ways. Each one of you brings something special to us. Alone we can do little. Together we can move mountains and work miracles. Praise God! May we live every day with thanksgiving in our hearts and praise on our lips. Let our lives be a testimony to His love and His grace.
Blessings,
Mary E. Pacher
Mid Summer Sunday School and Youth News
A Very Special THANKS to you all for your support of our Heifer Project throughout the academinc year. With your support, the Youth Group raised $927.00. With the money we were able to purchase the following:
One Cow
One Ilama
One Sheep
Three Honeybee hives and combs
Two Flocks of Chickens
After purchasing this, we had $27 left over for the organization to use as they felt best. Again, THANKS to each of you for your support of our varied projects this past school year.
Youth Group- SAVE THE DATE- Friday, September 16 into Saturday, September 17. We will be having our opening "overnight retreat" on Whidbey Island at the home of Mary and Charles Pacher. More details to follow, but please get that date on your calendars!
We hope you are having a WONDERFUL relaxing and fun-filled summer! We will be registering both Sunday School and Youth groups for the new academic year on Sunday, September 11.
Take Care!
Sandy and Ann-Patrice
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Ministering to Others
While Father David is away on a well-deserved vacation, we will be having a guest writer for his weekly column. Today I am that guest writer and I would like to joyfully celebrate some of our new ministries here at St. Dunstan's.
A year or so ago, we introduced prayer shawls to the congregation. This is a wonderful ministry where each one of us can take an active part as we come forward, touch the shawls, say a prayer and know that the shawls will help someone going through a difficult time. I personally have presented three of the shawls and the prayers, faith and comfort, that we all experience, is lovely. If you know of someone who would like to receive a prayer shawl, please let Diana Rall or myself know.
Another ministry that is making a difference in the lives of many is our new Care Teams. There are many people involved in the Care Teams, and they are in contact with fellow parishioners and friends who need support and love during an illness, death or any other reason. The response to this has been overwhelming, and if you would like to be involved as a member of a Care Team, please contact Karen Tynes. We would love to have you.
Our most recent ministry is the preparation of meals for Tent City 3. Joseph Hinkofer and his team of many, meet every other week in our kitchen here at St. Dunstan's, and prepare meals to take to the homeless at Tent City 3. These are God's people and for whatever reason, they have fallen on hard times and need our love and our support. I am so please that so many of you have become a part of this new ministry. There are ways that you too can help, by joining us in the kitchen, contribuiting financially to buy protein, or taking part in bringing the meals to Tent City.
There are many wonderful things going on at St. Dunstan's and many people are involved with helping others. These new ministries have come from within our own congregation and they continue to grow and blossom. This year we developed our new mission statement, and it is so gratifying to see us working towards what that statement says. We are making a difference to our friends and neighbors, and we are actively doing what I believe God is calling us to do. Each one of us has been blessed with many gifts and talents and to be able to share those gifts, is the greatest gift of all. You will find an abundance of love and joy by doing so, not only in the lives that you help, but in your own life as well.
May God bless you now and forever.
Mary E. Pacher
Community Engagement
 Annual School Supply Drive: St. Dunstan’s annual school supply drive kicked off August 1st and runs through the last Sunday in September (Sept. 25). Just drop new school supplies in the box marked “School Supplies” located in the narthex. All supplies will be donated to homeless students. If you have any questions, call Kathy Newman at (206) 365-0677.
Suggested Supplies:
Backpacks (larger sizes in dark colors are needed for older students), lunch boxes, notebook paper, 3-ring binders, spiral notebooks, report covers, scissors, rulers, protractor, compass, glue or glue sticks, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, markers, pencil boxes, and scientific calculators.
Our next meal at Tent City will be Tuesday, August 9th. If you would like to get involved, come the the St. Dunstan's kitchen at 3:00 pm on the 9th. Contact Josef Hinkofer @ 206-399-6479 for more information on this exciting ministry of feeding at St. Dunstan's Church.
Greenwood Food Bank continues to need donations over the summer months, especially for those families with children. Please continue to bring in food. The next volunteer night to help sort food will be Tuesday, August 9 from 6-8 pm.
Upcoming Events
Father David will be out of the office on vacation through August 22. He will be back in the office on Tuesday, August 23. Father David’s normal business hours will resume Monday August 29th by appointment only, Tuesday-Thursday from 9am until closing. His normal day off is on Fridays. Please refrain from leaving phone messages for the rector during his time away. If you have a pastoral emergency, please contact Deacon Garman @ 206-364-4707 or the church office @206-363-4319.
The Narthex floor will be refinished on Friday August 19 and Saturday August 20. This area will be closed during this time to allow the floor to dry. If you can help the Buildings and Grounds team with this effort, please contact Lyn Donivan, our Junior Warden, @ 425-591-5915.
Flower Donations are needed for the month of August. Sundays available are August 14 and 21. If you would like to give the flowers either of these Sundays, please sign the Flower Chart outside the sanctuary doors or call Sunny Holt @ 206-417-3062.
Mark your calendars for the Fall Kick-off on Sunday, September 11, 2011. Following the 10 am service at St. Dunstan’s, there will be a picnic, games, and music. Our Sunday School and Youth programs will begin the church year on this special Sunday. Come and join in the fun, as well as participate in the many valuable ministries within our church community.
Vestry Corner
Last Saturday was a beautiful day in Shoreline and perfect for our outdoor work party. Thank you Lyn Donivan, Paul Holt, Chris Johns, Mary O. Pacher, Glen Pacher, and Liz Hinkofer for all of your hard work. The main focus for the day was to make the church property more visible from the street, as well as to trim back the vines growing over the pathways. We went to work with our various weed whackers, long-handled pruning clippers and loppers to attack the various blackberry brambles and some low hanging tree limbs. Speaking for myself, I can say there were a few moments when I thought the blackberry vines had grabbed me and had no intention of letting go, but in spite of it, I felt like I had accomplished something for the church and rather enjoyed looking at the trees and the different ways they grow in an up close and personal way. We even bantered some ideas around about how we could turn the blackberry brambles into a positive if we only harvested the berries. Our lush and growing grounds do remind us of the closing prayer we say each Sunday starting with the phrase "God of Abundance...".
Taking part in a work day like this is also satisfying in another way. When you take part in helping with a work day like last week, or help in the kitchen at an event, or clean up the book room for the bazaar, it gives a sense of ownership. The church's property is our church property; the dishes used at event our own dishes; the rooms downstairs, while used for specific things, also belong to all of us too. We have all reveled at the magic that happens each year when St. Agnes transforms the church building into a Mardi Gras scene or a festive Canterbury Faire. As members of the church community, taking ownership of our facility and grounds is a very tangible way we can all support the church and each other to make our church a more welcoming community.
Liz Hinkofer |
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