With Gratitude
Saying Yes to God: A Day of Advent Reflection
Upcoming Events
Thank You!
Enhancing Our Worship
Be a Part of the Christmas Pageant!
The Altar Guild Needs You!
Music Notes
Transitions
Changing of the Guards
Remember Your Pledge Cards!
Angel Yoga
New Books in the Nave for Children
Prayer for an Election

 

With Gratitude

There is a new trend that I see happening on Facebook this month. Perhaps because the fourth Sunday of November is Thanksgiving, many of my Facebook friends have declared November a month of gratitude, making daily posts about something for which they give thanks.

One of my favorite writers, Anne Lamott, says that all prayer can be boiled down to two basic types – “Help me, help me, help me,” and “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

One of the church’s first great preachers and teachers, the apostle Paul, was expert at the thank you prayer. Paul was a traveler – he never stayed in one place for very long as he roamed around spreading the message of Jesus. But he kept in touch with his churches by letters, some of which have been preserved and become part of our scripture.

One of the main characteristics of Paul’s letters is that he almost always starts by giving thanks – thanks to God, of course, but also thanks for the various congregations. For example, to the Church in Thessalonica Paul writes, “We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God.”

At all times, Paul gives thanks for the churches, the gathered people of God. Following his tradition, I would like to say I give thanks for you, brothers and sisters. I am thankful for the fruit of the gospel that grows in this place as we come together to worship, to study, to share one another’s griefs and joys.

I am thankful for those of you who willingly give of your time to teach, to sing, to tend the garden, to prepare the altar, to arrange flowers, to bake bread, to fold the Bellows, to assist in worship, to care for those in need. Each of these is an act of love and service, an offering to God.

I am thankful for all who work for justice, who provide shelter for homeless families, who feed the hungry, who speak out at injustice, who bring the concerns of the world to our attention.

I am thankful for our founders, those brave souls who stepped out in faith more than five decades ago to begin a church in this place. And I am thankful for our newest members, who continue to bring new insights, enthusiasm, and energy to our midst.

I am thankful for the children and youth among us, and the laughter and joy they bring to our lives. I am thankful for our staff and vestry, and the many hours of time they give beyond what is required to make sure our music is beautiful, our office runs smoothly, and that the physical and financial needs of the parish are overseen responsibly.

I am thankful for the beauty of this place, for the gentleness with which the buildings rest on the land, for the hawks and geese and foxes and deer and many other creatures who share their home with us, for the beauty of the trees and flowers as they change from season to season.

I am thankful for the financial contributions you make that allow us to be paid, maintain this sacred spot, and spread God’s love beyond our walls across the city and the world.

I am thankful that you heed the words of our closing prayer each week, that you “go forth to do the work God has given you to do,” putting your faith in action in the world.

I especially thank God for the support you give me – your willingness to share your sacred moments of joy and sorrow, your words of encouragement, your comments and questions that show you have listened to my preaching and teaching, even if you haven’t always agreed with it.

For all of these things I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Tricia

Saying Yes to God: A Day of Advent Reflection

Join with members and clergy of St. Dunstan’s, Holy Innocents, St. Anne’s and St. Patrick’s Episcopal churches on Saturday, December 3, for a day of Advent reflection.

This special Advent event will be held at St. Dunstan’s from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.

The reflections will center around Mary and Joseph, who both said “yes” to God, and how we may be open to what God asks of us during this season of preparation for the coming of the Christ child.

The cost for the day is $10. Bring your own lunch. Drinks will be provided. Please make your reservations by November 27. A sign-up sheet will be in the narthex.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, November 6 – All Saints’ Sunday. Come celebrate those who we love who are now part of the “great clouds of witnesses.” Special music by violinist Kerren Berz, concertmaster of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and strings teacher at The Galloway School.

Sunday, November 27 – First Sunday of Advent.
Plan to make Advent wreaths for your home on this day. We will meet in the parish hall at 9:30 a.m. and there will be special music and treats. The sign up sheet is in the narthex. Please bring greenery from your yard for wreath making and your own shears or scissors. The cost of the wreath and candle kit is $15.

Thank you!

Thanks to all who made the annual Flying Pig BBQ a success. Special thanks to our head BBQ guru Geoff Walker and his band of merry helpers: Wells Walker, Steve and Connor Mark, Joseph Henry Monti, and Danny Woodard. Thanks to Rhonda Woodard for making the BBQ sauce, to Claudia and John Gimson for coordinating the set up and clean up, and to all who helped them.

Thanks to all who volunteered to help with Family Promise, especially our coordinators Mimi Gold, Vivian Siggers, and Ellen Taratus.

Thanks to Bruce Lafitte for fixing the big parish hall table.

Enhancing Our Worship

You may have noticed some beautiful new things enhancing our worship services. A new nature banner (portraying the animals and plants of St. Dunstan’s) is a gift from Reneé Kastanakis and Rick Bent in honor of the marriage of their daughter Emily Bent and Tommy Corbin.

The new Eucharistic Prayer C banner, portraying the “vast expanse of interstellar space” was commissioned with the memorial money given in honor of Dorothy Yates. The matching priest stoles were given by Cathy and Charlie Leake. Both banners and stoles were designed and made by liturgical artist Colleen Hintz. Colleen has also made our Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter banners. To see more examples of her art, go to http://www.fruitofthevine.us/

We also have a beautiful new wooden vase and bowl made by renowned artist Matt Moulthrop. These pieces are a gift from John Lloyd. The flower guild is studying how best to use these exquisite pieces. Look for them soon. To read more about the artist, go to http://www.moulthropstudios.com/matt.html.

Be a Part of the Christmas Pageant!

If you have not had an opportunity to take part in the Christmas story this is the time to do it. This year we hope to have the participation of St. Dunstan members of all ages from 3 to 100 and their friends and families. The pageant is a time for all to experience the birth of Baby Jesus up close and personal and to be present with all that happens on that first Christmas night.

Tom Gibbs has graciously offered to gift his musical talents to our story: Charis Bowling has willingly agreed to lend her commanding voice to the narrative of the story: and last but certainly not least Keith Latimore will make a guest cameo appearance as “the innkeeper.” There is “more room” for angels of all ages, shepherds, and shepherd boys, Mary and Joseph, a shepherd boy named Benjamin, Benjamin’s mother and father, and wise men (of all ages).

The pageant will be presented during Sunday school time on December 18 in the parish hall. At an organizational meeting on November 6th, (during Sunday school) we will get our “cast” of characters together. There will also be a need for help with costuming and sound for the parish hall.

Additional practices will be: November 20, December 4, and December 11. All of these will be during Sunday school. Smaller children (3 years old and under) will not need to be present for all the rehearsals but will need to have a parent present for the organizational meeting and the pageant.

It merits mentioning that St. Dunstan’s famous choir will be adding to the heavenly music during the pageant. Don’t miss this.

Mark your calendars now for the above dates and join us for what we hope will be a special Christmas experience.

The Altar Guild Needs You!

Have you ever wondered how the altar gets set up for services, what the different liturgical colors mean, or what different areas of the church are called? You might be interested in joining the Altar Guild. Guild co-chairs Cathy Leake and Pam Weed invite all current and prospective members to lunch after the 10:45 service on November 13. Please let Cathy know if you can come.

Music Notes

For your St. Dunstan’s parish musicians, Advent and Christmas have already begun; in fact, we’ve been rehearsing the music for a month already. We have a particularly interesting musical lineup for Lessons and Carols, and I will say more about that next month. For now, just mark the date and time: Sunday, December 11, 4 p.m. Our St. Dunstan’s Youth Ensemble will be a special part of this service.

This year, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is also the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the church’s liturgical year. While this weekend is often thought of as a long holiday, the St. Dunstan’s Choir will definitely not be on holiday. We will be singing a special arrangement of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” by parishioner John Morgan, and recently published nationally. In his arrangement, John combines this melody (called “Veni, veni, Emmanuel”) with the tune and text for “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” (called “Picardy”), and the result is simply beautiful. Thank you, John!

Transitions

 Congratulations to Emily Bent and Tommy Corbin on their October 8 wedding.

Changing of the Guards

There are many behind the scenes jobs that go on at St. Dunstan’s that keep things running smoothly. Some of those who quietly do these responsibilities have changed recently.

We thank outgoing Altar Guild Chair Cinda Walker for her faithful service. Cinda is stepping down from that position. Thanks to Cathy Leake and Pam Weed for agreeing to co-chair this important group.

For several years Vicki Ledet has served as our parish registrar (keeping track of people who transfer in and out of the congregation, and recording baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals). As she steps down, Charis Bowling has agreed to assume these duties.

Vicki has also served as coordinator of our communion bread bakers. Thanks to Lori Westphal for taking on this job.

Remember Your Pledge Cards!

Please return your pledge card by November 20 so that the treasurer and vestry can begin work on next year's budget. If you need a card contact the church office, or pick one up in the narthex on Sunday.

Angel Yoga
Gentle yoga classes using chairs
Monday at 6 p.m.
Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

New Books in the Nave for Children

If you have a little one with you in church, you might want to look for the new materials on the table on the left in the back of the sanctuary. We have new books and will soon have language cards for early readers. Here is a brief description of the new books.

  • Let The Whole Earth Sing Praise, by everyone’s favorite children’s book illustrator, Tomie de Paola, this book is based on Psalm 148 and the Benedicite, a beautiful canticle about creation that is from the Apocrypha.
  • Jesus and the Miracle. Part of a series from the United Kingdom, this particular book tells the familiar story of the friends who lower the paralyzed man through the roof to see Jesus.
  • Why Do We Have to Be So Quiet in Church? And 12 Other Questions Kids Have About God, by Clare Simpson. The title may be off-putting to some, but she answers this question by relating it to community and to respect for others. There are questions like “Why do we say ‘Amen’ at the end of everything?” or “What does God look like?”
  • All Night, All Day: A Child’s First Book of African American Spirituals, by Ashley Bryan. This book received a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, as well as a Coretta Scott King Award, and is gorgeously illustrated by the editor.
  • Finally, Thanksgiving Is…, by Gail Gibbons. The text is written for elementary age, but illustrations make it accessible for the younger child. It tracks celebrations of Thanksgiving from the Egyptians, to the Pilgrims, but also to modern-day celebrations.

After worship, please return the books to the table for the next week.

— Susan Hauser

Prayer for an Election

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of this land as we elect a president and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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