Dear friends,
The calendar says it is still summer, but Labor Day signals the start of fall, no matter what the weather is. And this week even the weather is giving us hints that summer is coming to an end. No matter how old we are, or no matter how long it has been since when we were in school, September always feels like the beginning of a new year.
It certainly is that for the church. This Sunday we go back to our “program year” schedule. Worship will be at 8:30 and 10:45, with adult Sunday School at 9:30. Here are some of the special things happening this Sunday as we kick off the new year:
This Sunday is the final day to get your picture taken for the new directory. Photographer extraordinaire Tom Wilson will be here before and after each service to take your photo. If you haven’t had your photo taken PLEASE do so. We want to make the new directory as complete as possible. If you haven’t had your picture taken and cannot be here this Sunday you may email us a photo. Send it to office@stdunstan.net.
After church this Sunday there will be a picnic in the Beech Grove. We’ll supply the fried chicken. Please bring your favorite side dish to share. If the weather is uncooperative we’ll picnic in the parish hall.
“The hope that is in us” is the topic of a new Sunday School series. We live in a time when hope can be hard to come by. Yet scripture tells us that we should always be ready to account for the hope that is in us. We’ll talk about what hope is and is not, what scripture says about hope, the reality of the times in which we live, the grief we may be feeling, and where we find hope in spite of it all. The classes will be led by Tricia and Colin Brown. Join us Sunday at 9:30 in the Founders’ Room for what should be a spirited discussion.
Two of our most treasured traditions are coming up soon. Mark your calendar for the Blessing of the Animals on October 5 at both services. There will not be Sunday School that day. And the annual Flying Pig BBQ will be on October 26. We’ll have one service that day at 10 a.m., followed by the BBQ. More details to come.
Finally, I have an appeal to make to you. Yesterday when I arrived at church Bella was waiting for me on the front steps. I immediately saw she was hurt. She could not put any weight on her front left leg, and her paw was dangling. I scooped her up and took her to the vet. Their x-rays revealed she had a dislocated elbow and needed to see a specialist. Our vet called a feline orthopedist in Alpharetta and told him to expect us. After waiting for a long while (like being in a people hospital ER), we were called back. The doctor showed me the X-rays, which were pretty gnarly. He suggested that they first try to pop it back into place. They did that yesterday afternoon, and Bella spent the night. This morning he called and said that Bella’s elbow had popped out again. The only option left was surgery, which I readily agreed to. She is undergoing surgery this afternoon. After she is discharged she will have to stay inside for about a month. We will set up a room for her with a litter box, food, etc.
You may anticipate what’s coming. All of this is not cheap. So far I have put about $7,500 on my American Express card. That includes the x-rays and pain meds from our vet, the things she’ll need when she comes back, the cost of trying to pop it back in, and a $6,000 deposit for the surgery. That was a low estimate, so it’s possible it will be more, depending on how complicated the surgery is and how long she will be hospitalized.
I know that is an enormous amount of money, but there were two options — surgery or putting her down. To me that meant there was
only one option. Our church cats have become part of the charm and ethos of St. Dunstan’s. They have an important ministry as greeters and evangelists (their pictures on the website have brought more than one person to St. Dunstan’s). They are part of the family.
So here’s the appeal. If you are interested in chipping in to help pay for Bella’s medical needs I and my Amex card would greatly appreciate it. Any amount will help.
And when you’re here Sunday give Beppe some extra pets. He’s a bit lost without his constant companion.
With love,
Tricia