How Will We Live in Christ?
For the past year we have been asking ourselves who and what God is calling us to be as a congregation. Another important question is, “How will we live in Christ?”
Sunday worship is the first and most important way we express our love for God and the first way that most people will get to know us. We love the ancient rituals of the Church that we find in the Book of Common Prayer. We appreciate the beauty of traditional hymns and anthems. We experience the sacred mystery of God’s love in the sharing of communion.
The second way we relate to God is as neighbors. Our congregation has been blessed for a purpose. We are working to discover the specifics of our mission with vestry leadership, supported by a small study group, and in our conversations together.
The third way we relate to God is to let the world know who we are and to invite them to share in our mission. We accomplish this through our Web site, this weekly message, our monthly Highlights newsletter, street banners, and our lit signboard. We are always exploring new ways to communicate with our neighbors, to get to know them, and to find ways to be a blessing.
The priorities we use to guide and develop our congregation flow from the scriptural imperative given by Christ: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Let’s continue to ask ourselves who and what God is calling us to be and how we will live that mission.
Your brother in Christ,
The Rev. David Marshall
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Advent Worship: Ancient Ritual and Sacred Mystery
Worship is experienced on many levels - as poetry, prayer, scripture, and music. For the four weeks of Advent, our bulletin is being redesigned to use the prayer book and hymnal. Therefore, the worship is designed to free us to listen rather than reading every word of the service. The entire service is contained in the Book of Common Prayer. The bulletin will contain only those words or songs necessary for a visitor to respond with us in prayer.
If you wish to read along with the Bible lessons, copies will be printed and available at the back of the sanctuary. We will produce comprehensive bulletins for our festival services.
The staff of St. Dunstan's Church is striving to create beautiful, authentic worship that respects the expectations of this congregation. Advent is a short season, only four Sundays, and your feedback about our worship is very important and very welcome: please speak with Deacon Jerry, our music director Tim, or Fr. David.
Christmas Eve Worship – Safety Concerns
The late service this year on Christmas Eve is planned for St. Dunstan's Church rather than the Henry Memorial Chapel. Last year we experienced complete blackness as we exited the chapel after the service. It was very dangerous, with people struggling to see the path, descend cement steps, and find their cars. This year the staff chose to hold the Christmas Day service at the chapel, when there will be natural light to see as we drive to the chapel and find parking. We will celebrate the late Christmas Eve service at our church with our well-lit parking lots and walkways.
Click Here To View our Advent and Christmas Schedule
Community Engagement
Food Bank Volunteer Night Friday, November 12
Last Friday evening nine representatives of St. Dustan’s parish gathered at the Greenwood Food Bank to participate in the monthly volunteer night. Our task was to take 50 boxes full of donated food and sort the cans into categories in preparation for distribution to the community.
The work itself was easy, and it was an extremely uplifting experience to work with the volunteers from other organizations in the area. Everyone worked together as one family of volunteers. Working together provides many hands which makes light of difficult tasks.
In addition to our weekly food drives here at St. Dunstan’s, this type of volunteer activity serves as part of our outreach program to help others in our neighborhood and to let the community be aware that St. Dustan’s is part of that community. The next work party is scheduled for Friday December 10th from 6 – 8pm. Would you consider participating with us and enjoying the fun of those two hours? Please contact Warren Broderick @ 206-362-3217 or alabord727@msn.com if you would like to join us.
Matthew House Christmas Outreach Update
Our Christmas Outreach Program is off to an amazing start! Two large boxes of toys have already been donated and we still have until December 12th to wrap things up. If you'd like to participate, here is the basic information:
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purchase a gift for a child or Mother
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leave new, unwrapped gifts in the Matthew House Christmas box in the narthex
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if gift requires batteries, please include a set
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gift wrap, bows, ribbons and tape donations should be left in Christmas box in the narthex
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cash donations to St. Dunstan's should be marked "Matthew House Christmas Outreach"
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Newman at 206-365-0677 or tokathynewman@gmail.com.
Upcoming Events in our Congreational Life
2011 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Thanks to everyone who brought their 2011 pledges to the ingathering on Sunday November 14th. The "Stone Soup" lunch following services was well attended and the food was terrific. Thanks to everyone who helped with set up and clean up and a special thanks to Josef and Liz Hinkofer for organizing and preparing the meal.
As of the 14th, we have 64 pledges totaling $126,389. We're off to a good start! If you've not yet submitted your pledge, please do so as soon as possible--we cannot finalize a 2011 budget until we know what we've got to work with. 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 also greatly appreciate pledge cards from folks who will not be able to pledge in 2011, because this information is crucial for budget forecasting. On behalf of the Vestry, thanks for your support!
What's Up with the Youth Group?
We will be doing the Greenlake Gobble K-5 Run for 3.5 miles on Sunday, November 21st to benefit the Union Gospel Mission. THANKS for your support!
Sandy Lamb and Ann-Patrice Riccardo
Nametags on Sundays: Be sure you request a nametag if you do not already have one. We have a clipboard on the welcome table where you can request a nametag. We will continue to collect names through Advent, and order new ones as we begin the new church year.
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