Dear friends,
For a week in the middle of summer we have a lot going on at St. Dunstan’s. First, I remind you that tomorrow will be a special service honoring the 30th anniversary of the founding of Mary and Martha’s Place and the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. It will be a joyful time and I hope you can be there.
It has been fun to watch the last couple of weeks as the piles of school supplies for children in Sandy Springs grew and grew. Thanks to all of you who donated, and a special thanks to Elise McIntyre for delivering them to Solidarity. The pictures below show there was barely room for Elise in her SUV. And we had two smaller deliveries after that. The people at Solidarity were amazed and grateful for your generosity. Many students will have the pleasure of starting school with new supplies thanks to you.
Our study and discussion of Project 2025 will continue this Tuesday at 10 a.m. We’ve had a great turnout of people who want to be educated on the details of this very complex and extensive proposal, reworking government and the relationship between Christianity and government. Voting is an act of faith, and making educated choices is our responsibility. No political party or government is perfect, but which will move us toward the things God cares most about? The purpose of this study is to help us evaluate that.
One of the joys of my job is meeting with Cameron to choose hymns and talk about the liturgy. Cameron spends a lot of time selecting hymns that go with the scripture readings for the day, and choosing service music that fits the liturgical season we are in. Those times together also include conversations about the role of music in the liturgy. We are so fortunate to have an excellent choir and a congregation that sings the hymns and appreciates the music. The purpose of music is to serve and enhance the liturgy and at StDunstan’s we experience that every week. Recently we talked about prelude and postlude music. There is nothing about either of those in the prayer book. The liturgy officially begins with the opening hymn (or the opening acclamation if there is no music) and ends with the dismissal, sending God’s people into the world to do God’s work.
Although the prelude and postlude are not officially part of the liturgy, they serve an important purpose. The prelude music sets the mood, helping people prepare for worship as they enter church. The postlude music traditionally has been background music as we carry out what the post communion prayer and dismissal instruct us to do — to go forth. At St. Dunstan’s that tradition has changed. Instead of going forth most people sit down to hear a performance of beautiful music that is met with applause. This is a tradition that began in the year or so before Covid, and one that Cameron inherited. Several people have told me lately that they feel like they cannot leave after the dismissal, and have to be quiet. Neither of those things are true. The service officially ends with the dismissal. You are free then to leave and talk to friends on the way out. Or, of course, you are free to sit and listen to Cameron’s beautiful performance.
Finally, I read this week that we are experiencing a summer surge in Covid. That has been borne out at St. Dunstan’s. We’ve had at least five people test positive this week. If you are feeling at all ill or have been exposed to someone with Covid please stay home and watch us online. And prayers for all who have tested positive. And remember to keep your vaccines updated!
With love,
Tricia
