Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Proper 25, Year C)

In This Issue

Fr. David's Message
Community Engagement
Upcoming Events

Last Sunday’s Sermon

Last Sunday we were treated to a series of skits by some brave members of our congregation illustrating some of the ways we can extend welcome to guests and visitors who visit our congregation. Noticing and welcoming visitors is a meaningful way to express the love God has given us. I have not posted the audio recording of this sermon as the skits had to be seen to be truly appreciated.

Check back here next week for another sermon recording.

Read Next Sunday’s Lessons

As we put our faith in God we ask, what is God’s will for my life? This question implies that we have something to do. We have some part to play in God’s work of creation. But how much does that depend on our efforts, and how much on God? We can easily focus on our own work and forget that the real creator is God. This week’s readings remind us that, even as we respond to God by striving to do God’s will, God is the primary actor. God is the rock on which we depend. If we find ourselves praying primarily for and about ourselves, maybe we are missing this point. (There are lots of options in this Sunday’s lessons. We’ll be reading from Sirach, Psalm 84, 2 Timothy and Luke.)

Read Next Sunday's Lessons here

Nametags on Sundays

As a part of our welcoming spirit, 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 printed nametags found on our welcome table. We also have a clipboard on that table where you can request a nametag. We have had 3 requests so far. We have received anonymous sponsorship to continue with our engraved nametags. Therefore, we will continue to collect names through Advent, and order new ones as we begin the new church year.

Enriching our Worship

St. Mary's Altar Guild at St. Dunstan's is delighted to announce a gift to the parish of a set of neogothic, French brass 19th Century candlesticks. The beautiful candlesticks will arrive in about two weeks, when they will be blessed and used for the first time at the Eucharist.

00000001 3

Greetings from the Treasurer:

I am happy to say that this is the first time in my memory, here at St. Dunstan’s that we don’t have to worry about asking for more money to balance the budget.

Keep up the good work. Think positive. Let’s grow this Church together.

May God’s Blessings continue for you and yours.
Don Riccardo
Treasurer

A Note about Building and Grounds Security

Over the past couple of weeks, we have arrived at the church in the mornings to find the gates not locked and secured. The master key to the building also locks the master lock on the chain for the gates. The chain has to be looped around both bars of the gates and then the lock needs to be secured into the chain. Please take an extra minute before leaving events that occur in the late afternoons or evenings to lock the gate(s) to the parking lot behind you. Thank you for your attention to this detail.

Greetings from Camp Huston!

Women’s Getaway Retreat, January 14-17, 2011-Calling all women to enjoy a weekend away with friends, the great outdoors, and a warm fire to keep cozy by! Let Huston’s hospitality take care of the work so you can have time to chat, hike, or simply relax. A chaplain, massage therapist, and certified yoga instructor will offer opportunities to rest, contemplate, and revitalize. Two night and three night stay options available. Visit

www.huston.org.

or contact the Huston office for more information. A registration form will be available soon!

Oktoberfest- Christian Hospitality

On Friday evening at 6:30 pm St. Dunstan's Church presents the annual Oktoberfest Dinner, hosted by the St. Agnes Guild. The preparations for this feast started long ago. Earlier this week the entire church was filled with the smells of cooking as the food preparation began. On the night of the party we will have fabulous food, music and fellowship.

Most of you already know about this. I’m not writing to encourage you to come (though I hope you will). I’m writing about Oktoberfest because of what it reveals about our congregation. Whether it is a Shrove Tuesday feast, a Medieval Murder Mystery Dinner or Oktoberfest, St. Dunstan’s knows how to throw a dinner party!

For the past year or so we have been asking ourselves what God is calling this congregation to become. There is a group of people that has been meeting for several months, studying Ephesians together, and discerning a mission statement for our congregation. One of the major steps of that process is to ask, what gifts has God given us? What do we do well? What makes our hearts sing? Consistently, at the top of that list, we find three things: beautiful worship, music and our dinner parties. There’s more to the list, of course, but the parties like Oktoberfest are right there at the top.

Jesus was often found at a dinner celebration. The Pharisees criticized him for enjoying wine and meals too much and for not being more critical about who he would eat with. When we gather around tables to a feast with friends and neighbors we are following in Jesus’ footsteps.

Obviously, just throwing a party does not make us Christians. The context, setting, intention and the prayers are what make this event special.

The context of Oktoberfest is our church congregation. We are inviting friends to join us in joy and fellowship as lovers of and followers of Jesus.
The setting is our church hall – the Narthex and Guild room. We are inviting people into the space we reserve for worship, study and fellowship to participate joyfully in our shared life as Christians.
The intention of this evening is both fellowship and fundraising for outreach ministries. The St. Agnes Guild is the primary outreach organization of our church. Their fund raising goes to doing God’s work in the world in practical, meaningful ways.
Finally, the prayers of this night will be for the love and presence of God.

Your brother in Christ,

The Rev. David Marshall

Click here to repond to this posting in my blog.

Correction
In last week’s article, “Transcendent, Traditional, Beautiful,” I mistakenly wrote that the organ in the Henry Chapel was built by Bond. It was actually built by Brumbaugh, and is renowned for its qualities as a small, tracker organ.

Community Engagement

Donations continue for the Greenwood Food Bank. Non-perishable items can be left in the big wooden box to the right of the entrance to the Narthex. Please keep in mind that many of these persons do not have microwaves, ovens, stoves, or refrigerators to prepare and store food items. If you have any questions, please contact Warren Broderick @ 206-362-3217 or Al Bahlkow @ 206-282-4431.

Upcoming Events in our Congreational Life

Acolyte Training session will be held after the service Sunday, October 24. If you are interested in participating in the worship services as a crucifer, acolyte, torch or banner bearer, please plan to join us or contact Mary O. Pacher @ 425-271-6179 for further 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

God In Real Life Bible Study Group will meet Wednesday October 27. 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.

2011 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN - "STONE SOUP ECONOMICS": Please join us on Sunday, October 31 for the Stewardship Kickoff. Stewardship packets will be mailed out the week of October 25. Ingathering will be on Sunday, November 14, with a "Stone Soup" meal after the 9:30 service.

An important goal of the 2011 Campaign is to promote community awareness about St. Dunstan's. We're asking everyone to participate in one community service activity during October-November. Contact Diana Rall @ 206-660-9156 or dtoshiba@comcast.net if you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities:

Ronald Bog Park Clean Up & Restoration-Saturday mornings Oct. 23, Nov. 6 and Nov. 20, 9 AM - Noon
Ronald Bog Park Clean Up & Restoration- Wednesday morning Oct. 27, 9-11 AM
Greenwood Food Bank Volunteer Night-Friday evening, Nov. 12, 6-8 PM

The Canterbury Faire at St. Dunstan’s will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. This year we have added some new vendors and a great twist! Having trouble trying to think of Christmas presents or Stocking Stuffers? The 6th of November is not too early to start tucking away those special presents.

We have our traditional antiques and collectables, while our vendors will be displaying woodworking, jams, jewelry, photography, cards, American Doll clothes, knitted items, candy, paper jewelry, wine lamp shades, tote bags, scarves, almonds, beads and leather.

Finally and not least, visit some specialty rooms, specializing in unique Treasures and an exhibit of Christmas decorations, plus a good old fashioned “stuff room”.

Plan to spend the day, starting first with a visit to the “Coffee Bar”. After your shopping, sit down to “The Bells” and “Madrigalia” music groups, with a homemade LUNCHEON of either Mulligatawny or Bean Soup, hot bread, cookies, coffee or tea.

For any further information, feel free to contact Lou Gardiner @ 206-362-6024 or our church office @ 206- 363-4319.

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.