O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1
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St. Dunstan's Weekly Message |
| The Earth's Rotation Has Changed |
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The earthquake in Chile this week was so strong that the Earth's rotation has changed. The Wall Street Journal reports: The earthquake that struck Chile was so powerful it shifted the planet's axis enough to make it spin slightly faster, meaning our days will be shorter by 1.26 millionths of a second, ... (See http://online.wsj.com/) Sometimes the events in our lives are so profound that they change our world. Some grief and loss is so profound that we never get over it. There is no such thing as "closure" when someone you love dies. The world is changed. The very reality of life is different. We don't get over or past that kind of grief. We learn to live in the new reality. When the earth shakes that hard, hard enough to change the length of days, life is changed forever. In this season of Lent we are invited to look at the earthquakes of our lives realistically. Lent leads up to Good Friday when we remember Jesus' death on a cross after his betrayal by his own people. The rotation of the Earth certainly changed on that day. We are not looking for closure or cheering up. Life doesn't really work that way. Jesus doesn't come and show us all how to live sunny, happy lives free from trials, struggles and grief. Jesus comes into our lives as they are. Jesus is God's blessing to us in real life, this life. Jesus continued (and continues) to be God's blessing to humanity even after the injury and insult of his execution. Jesus was resurrected and he blessed the disciples, again and again. Then he charged them to take that blessing to the whole earth. That's our mission as the Church. That's why we do what we do at St. Dunstan's Church. That mission, Jesus' mission and ours, is even more important after the earth quakes. God calls us, with our broken hearts and our imperfections, to be a blessing to the world.
Your brother in Christ, Click here to respond or comment at Fr. David's blog. |
| They Call it "Churchitis" |
| That's what they said in the Emergency room at Northwest Hospital when they were attending to our dear sister Elizabeth Ann after she fainted in church. Churchitis. They see enough people on Sunday mornings that have fainted that they have made up a name for the condition. So, if you feel faint or light-headed, sit down. Even during the Gospel. Just sit. Standing and kneeling in worship are always optional.
We were fortunate that Elizabeth Ann's condition was nothing more serious than fainting. She's pretty sore and she's need some dental work, but she's going to be fine. Thanks be to God for that. I spoke with Elizabeth Ann today and she asked me to thank all of you for the cards and prayers. She is very grateful for your love and consideration. We can learn from this experience and be better prepared in the future. Arrangements are under way to get a new wheelchair that will be stored in a convenient location. We are reviewing and updating our first-aid kit. We are also going to create some simple emergency procedures to be followed in case of a medical or other emergency during worship or an event at St. Dunstan's Church. |
| Work on Your Stations of the Cross Project After Church |
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Stations of the Cross is moving right along. We are getting ever closer to sharing our creativity with one another as we continue our walk with Jesus in the final days of His life. This Sunday, March 7th, we will have large tables available for you in the Narthex so that you may have an opportunity to work on your illustrations of your scripture. Please bring any materials with you that you will be using and take advantage of this time to work with one another as you create your icon. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch and spend as much time as you like. This will be an exciting time for all of us to put our thoughts about our scripture into an artistic display. It is also an opportunity for fellowship and sharing. Remember to bring your boards, your materials, your ideas, your enthusiasm and your smiles. It will be a great time for all of us Mary E. Pacher |
| Empowering Saint Dunstan's Sunday School Volunteers |
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Monday night, Father David, Mary E. Pacher and the two of us had a dinner meeting about the Sunday School Program at Saint Dunstan's. |
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Read This Sunday's Sermon: The Telescope Rediscovered |
| Last week one of the lessons of the parable of the telescope was that we have to look through the telescope to see heaven. It is not enough to look at the telescope. I taught that the season of Lent is like that telescope. If we look through Lent, if we follow the practices of Lent we can see heaven. Lent is an instrument that the ancient church created to help us grow closer to God. We are taking Lent out of the museum, out of the glass case, and looking through the eyepiece in search of heaven. But guess what? To use this telescope, we have to be willing to go into the darkness. |
| Read Next Sunday's Lessons |
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Last week we heard, and even experienced, that darkness comes to us whether we like it or not. Life is marked by tragedy, grief and loss. There are many sources of darkness. Sometimes, by our own actions and omissions, we bring darkness into our lives. Whatever the source of the darkness and whatever kind of darkness we are experiencing, God is there for us. Jesus came into the darkness of human existence to give us access to God's grace and love at the most difficult of times. |
| Parish Events and Announcements |
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Sunday: Holy Eucharist, 8:00 AM, Henry Chapel & 9:30 AM, St. Dunstan's Church Wednesday: Holy Eucharist, 10:00 AM, St. Dunstan's. Families With Children. At the 9:30 service we offer Sunday School for kindergarten through middle school children. We also offer nursery care for babies and toddlers not yet ready for Sunday School. Our teachers are dedicated to the safety and Christian education of your children using a lectionary based curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit. Children come back to the service for communion. Children are always welcome in the service. Hey, God, are You really paying attention to me? On Wednesday at 11:00 AM the God in Real Life group will talk about answered prayer. Many of us have experienced times when we've prayed but it felt as though God wasn't listening. Other times we-or someone else-has prayed and the situation did change. Does God answer prayer? What if there's more to prayer than just God listening and answering? Maybe if we understood how Jesus prayed, our expectations would change. What do you say to someone facing death? Or a parent who has lost a child? Last January St. Dunstan's offered a series of discussions on end of life issues. The leader of these important and well received classes, Hospital Chaplain Trudy James, will be back on Wednesday, March 24 at 7:30 to lead a single session on how to talk with those facing tragedy. This is a topic important to all ages, and all ages are encouraged to attend. A free-will offering will be collected to cover expenses. Share the joy of the Easter Season by sharing Easter Baskets The Parish of St. Dunstan's will once again participate in an outreach program to benefit New Beginnings, a local shelter for women and children who are the victims of domestic violence. On Palm Sunday, the Sunday School children will assemble baskets full of goodies that will be delivered to the shelter in time for Easter. You can be a part of this project very simply. Either make a cash donation (checks payable to St. Dunstan's and marked "Easter Outreach") or purchase a new item and place it in the Easter Outreach box found in the Narthex. The very last Sunday to donate is March 28th. Ideas for Children: coloring/activity books, crayons, jacks, jump ropes, bubbles, small cars, small balls, small stuffed animals, balsa wood gliders, barrettes and scrunchies, small story books. Ideas for Moms: book of stamps, bus pass, phone card, pen and memo pad, small address book, purse-sized sewing kit, journals, compact umbrellas, gum. Ideas for Both: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, shampoo, hand lotion, mouthwash, chapstick, combs and brushes, Easter candy. If you have any questions, please call Kathy Newman at 206-365-0677. Clean your house, help the environment, and support St. Dunstan's! St. Dunstan's Vestry is conducting a recycling fundraiser for operating expenses and to create a cash reserve. Simply donate your used consumer electronics, used inkjet cartridges and unwanted, broken or mismatched jewelry to be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations. 100% of the proceeds will help fund operating expenses for the church. There is a designated area for donations in the narthex, or call to arrange pick-up of large items. Don't keep it a secret! We all know St. Dunstan's is a warm, welcoming, supportive community, but when guests walk into the church all they know is how they are greeted.. Please consider joining our wonderful team of greeters. Contact Joan Baker and say you will become a part of the team that gives visitors their first taste of St. Dunstan's hospitality. What's your response to HIV/AIDS, Fear, Isolation, Loneliness, Addiction, & Shame? Multifaith Works CareTeam Volunteers offer practical care, emotional support, and nonjudgmental listening to people living with HIV/AIDS and/or recovering from addiction. Our next volunteer training is March 20. To find out more contact us at 206.324.1520 ext. 226 or visit www.multifaith.org. |
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