Dear friends,
What a great time we had at the annual Flying Pig BBQ on Sunday! The food, the music, the entire atmosphere was joyful. There are so many people who worked to make the day such a success. Thanks to our BBQ chef John Gimson and his band of helpers: Michael Hill, Steve Hauser, Ben Thomas, Todd Wilson, Diego Orozco, and Chad, Caleb, and Reid Thompson.
Thanks to Marshall Kress, Claudia Gimson, Bill Reece, Shirley Morgan, Lisa and Tom Wilson, Susie and Jon Throop, Jessica Peoples, Cathleen Hackett, and Beth Brand for coming in Saturday to help set up and decorate. Thanks to Lindsey Reece for staffing the ticket table. Thanks to Jessie Leydon and her band for the great music, which added to the fun. Thanks to Dolores Waye and her team of helpers for cleaning up. And finally, thanks to everyone who came, brought a side dish, and had fun. The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it are opportunities to share what we have with others. As we have for the last several years, we will provide bags of the makings of Thanksgiving side dishes for our friends at Emmaus House, which serves the community around the old Turner Field. We have committed to providing 50 bags, which must be at the church by Sunday, November 16. The list of ingredients and sign up sheet are at this link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FACAA28AA8-59943122-holiday
Christmas for Our Refugee Family
In Cameroon, our refugee family celebrated Christmas by going to church on Christmas Eve, praying and singing carols. Afterwards, they shared what food they had with family and friends. They had heard of “Pere Noel” but he never came to Cameroon. Some people decorated for Christmas, but our family did not have any money to spend on decorations.
This year we want to provide gift cards so family members can shop for each other as well as help them decorate their homes for Christmas. Our goal is $1600. If you wish to contribute, please designate on your check or on an envelop with cash that your gift is for the “Refugee Family Christmas.” (We will use the funds to purchase the gift cards—please do not contribute gift cards themselves.) In addition, if you have any Christmas decorations in excellent condition that you would like to donate, please put them on the bench just outside the church offices. The deadline for both funds and decorations is Sunday, November 23.
If you would like to take some of the adults of the family Christmas shopping for them to use the gift cards at stores other than Walmart (the only store accessible on the bus line), please let Suzanne Johnson know.
In addition to these holiday needs is a more immediate concern. Unless Congress takes action (highly unlikely since House members are taking an extended paid vacation), food stamp benefits will end tomorrow. That means that millions of people across the country, including a million in Georgia will no longer receive food stamps. For families living on the edge, already hurting from rising food costs, this is a catastrophic event. Demands on food pantries will skyrocket. Ever since its beginning during the pandemic in 2020, St. Dunstan’s has been a supporter of Solidarity Food Pantry in Sandy Springs. You can support them in two ways. One is to donate funds at www.solidaritysandysprings.org. Another is to bring food to St. Dunstan’s and we will get it to them. Below is a list of most needed items. And also know that people who are not here legally are never eligible for food stamps. But Solidarity serves anyone who walks through their doors.
Here is what’s needed:
- Cheerios or Granola
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Pasta
- Spaghetti
- Spaghetti Sauce (plastic jars from Aldi are awesome)
- Diced Tomatoes
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Chicken
- Canned Pineapple
This Sunday is All Saints’ Sunday, the day that we remember those we love who are no longer with us. As part of the service we read the names of parishioners who have died in the past year, and of everyone buried in our memorial garden. If you have a name you’d like to be read that doesn’t fit into either of those categories send it to me.
The actual All Saints’ Day is November 1. It’s a fitting day for a funeral for long time member Sheila Woodard. The service will be at 2 p.m., followed by burial in the garden.
And finally, remember that this Saturday we go back to standard time, which means turn your clocks back an hour when you go to bed. Otherwise you’ll be here very early for Sunday services.
With love,
Tricia