St. Dunstan's Weekly Message 
May 26, 2010       

On Sunday we observed Pentecost. We experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in our worship and especially in the stories we shared. The sermon time included an invitation to turn to a fellow worshiper and share the story of a spiritual experience. Telling the story of our spiritual experiences takes us back to that special place or time. Hearing other people's stories can be even more inspiring. In my role as priest, I am privileged to hear many stories. I have heard people's stories of quiet conversion and prayers answered. I have heard stories of healing, both physical and spiritual, and I have heard stories of charismatic experiences.

One friend, years ago, shared the story of an angel that appeared to him and to his wife. The angel was 15 or 20 feet tall and was fully visible to both of them, even though they were inside their house.

Another friend described being visited personally by Jesus. At a particularly difficult time in her life Jesus came to her. He appeared in her room on many evenings. He listened to her and encouraged her and then he was gone. Sounds like a story of a certain locked room.

Yet another friend, this one a wise mentor and teacher, described a conversation he had with Earl in the sacristy before a service. That wasn't unusual. He had been speaking with Earl before the service for years. Earl helped set up for services and was a Eucharistic Minister, helping serve the cup at communion. The thing is, Earl died several days before this last conversation.

Spiritual experiences are not rare. Most of our experiences are not as fantastic as these but we all have experiences of the mystery and transcendence of God's Spirit. Spiritual experiences, even when they are literally a mountain top experience, are not about achieving some sort of high. They are not about feeling good or feeling elated. We seek the Spirit because living in the awareness of God gives a different quality of life. When we watch for the Spirit and celebrate the Spirit and tell one another of our encounters with the Spirit, our lives are enriched.

Spiritual experiences are not rare. God is always present. When we are attuned to that presence, the world is a more beautiful place. When we thank God and give praise to God, we draw closer. When we share the story with others, we become more aware of and attuned to the Spirit all around us. We draw closer to one another and to God.

Your brother in Christ,

The Rev. David Marshall

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The Sunday after Pentecost is always Trinity Sunday. I suppose that is a little like always reciting the Nicene Creed after the sermon. If the preacher gets too enthusiastic, the Creed will remind people of the basic theology of the Church. If the congregation get's too inspired on Pentecost, talking about a theological construct that no one understands will calm them down (or put them back to sleep). The way we usually talk about the Trinity is complex, theological and full of philosophical jargon, but we don't have to do that. Before there was the concept of the Trinity for bishops and theologians to debate, there was God the Father and Creator, God the Son and Redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit and Sustainer. These three are all in the scriptures. We experience all three as we follow Jesus, love God and are inspired by the Spirit.

Read the full lessons here.

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.

Congregational Life

The Wisdom of the Ages, the Enthusiasm of Youth. On Sunday, June 6^th, the Sunday School and Youth Group will lead us all in worship. This is an exciting event as our young people take on the roles of ushers and lectors and lead us in a thoughtful and meaningful service.  They have written new Prayers of the People and will introduce lovely new music to all of us. Experience with us our children's work, inspiration, and love of God.

Enjoy Dessert with Fr. David & Alice! There are still openings for hosts to invite their congregational neighbors for dessert, coffee, and tea. We have dates available in June and will skip July when the Marshalls are on vacation. If you would like to be a host, please contact Mary E Pacher at (425) 374-8846, Lu Gardiner at (206) 362-6024, or Ann-Patrice Riccardo at (206) 363-3994

Graduation Time!  Is anyone in your family graduating from high school, college or a special training program this spring? We would like to honor their achievement by listing them in the Highlights. Please include their name and yours and their relationship to you (child, grandchild, nephew, niece, etc.), the institution from which they are graduating, the degree and area of specialization and future plans.

Happy Holiday! The church office will be closed next Monday, May 31, in observance of memorial Day.

Giving Works through eBay.  The Stewardship Committee is organizing a May test-run of fundraising through Giving Works. There are two ways for us to raise money: 1) eBay sellers can elect to donate a percentage of their sales to St. Dunstan's, or 2) St. Dunstan's can sell items donated by the congregation. If you have something you would like to donate, please contact Diana Rall (dtoshiba@comcast.net - 206-660-9156).

Murder with St. Dunstan! Save September 17 for a fundraising murder mystery dinner and auction. The mystery play will be set in the time of St. Dunstan, as will the menu. Would you like to participate in the play? Solicit auction items? Help cook or serve?  We'll need actors, musicians, costumes, props, cooks, servers, etc.  Please contact Dawn Miller (kris_ten@live.com) or Diana Rall (dtoshiba@comcast.net - 206-660-9156).

Hot Dogs and Hospitality this Saturday. Camp Huston will be hosting a Free Open House BBQ this Saturday, May 29th from 10:00am to 4:00pm! Take this opportunity to tour camp, ask questions, meet the staff and enjoy a hot dog with friends!  Then be sure to check out Camp Huston's Parent Forum at www.camphuston.wordpress.com, A place for parents and guardians to learn more about camp and connect with each other.  Questions? Call 360-793-0441 or email info@huston.org.

Adult Education

Discover the message behind the whale. The Wednesday 11:00 AM God in Real Life Bible study group has begun a close study of the book of Jonah. Start out by enjoying the fun story, and then go beneath the papier-mâché  whale of Sunday School to find the deeper messages.