Announcements, May 28

Sunday, May 31, 9am, Discussing End-Of-Life Choices: The Rev. Pat Size will talk about advance care planning and the importance of conversations about end-of-life care. Pat will also preach this morning. Advance Care Planning is a process of understanding, reflecting on, and discussing future medical decisions regardless of age and current health status. All individuals can express and record their healthcare wishes at any time. Remember, healthcare providers cannot respect your choices if they are not known. Come learn more about the Advance Care Planning process and why it’s important. All are welcome.

Saint Dunstan T-Shirts, $5.00 – BYOS: Bring in a plain T-shirt (at least 60% cotton) that fits you, and the logo “Saint Dunstan: Annoying the Devil since 943” will be applied (in fuzzy blue iron-on vinyl) for $5. Funds raised will go towards purchasing new tubs for our Backpack Snack Pack ministry at Falk Elementary School. Talk to Rev. Miranda with questions. Checks can be placed in the offering plate with “T-shirt” on the memo line.

Opportunities to Serve…

Join our Vacation Bible School Team! This year’s Vacation Bible School will run from Sunday, August 2, through Thursday, August 6, from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Whether you’d like to help with meals, tell a story or act in a drama, plan an art project or lead a game, or just be an extra big person to help manage little people, we need you. Talk with Rev. Miranda to learn more.

Hoops for Housing, Saturday, August 8: St. Dunstan’s is sponsoring a friendly community basketball tournament to raise funds for Briarpatch, which serves homeless youth in the Madison area. All ages and levels of skill are invited to participate. Each team is invited to raise $100 for Briarpatch through donations and pledges. If you’d like to help out with planning, publicity, or on the day itself, talk with Rev. Miranda.

General Convention 2015

General Convention Information Session, Monday, June 1, 6:30pm, St. Dunstan’s: The Milwaukee Deputation to General Convention 78 and Bishop Miller will conduct two information sessions in the Diocese in June to present topics, potential legislation and events scheduled for the convention. Come meet some of the deputies and learn what they and the Bishop will be working on this summer in Salt Lake City.

Episcopal 101: General Convention & Episcopal Church Governance, Sunday, June 7, 9am: This summer our denomination holds its triennial gathering, and Rev. Miranda will attend as a deputy from our diocese. Come for an overview of how Episcopal Church governance works, and an overview of the issues before General Convention this year. For an in-depth look at General Convention 2015, come on Mon., June 1!

Prayers for General Convention: Every three years, the Bishops and elected Deputies – both clergy and laypeople – of the Episcopal Church gather to consider issues and new directions in the life of the church, and through democratic process, to make decisions and set directions and priorities. This year we will also be electing a new Presiding Bishop, who is the public face of our denomination and helps run the national church office. Rev. Miranda is one of the elected clergy deputies from our diocese who will be attending General Convention, which takes place in Salt Lake City from June 23 through July 3. Please pray for the Convention, for all bishops and deputies, for the Presiding Bishop candidates, and for the mission of our church.

The Weeks Ahead…

Racial Disparities in Dane County – Guest Speaker: Principal Grace Okoli, Wednesday, June 3, 7pm: Principal Okoli is the principal of Falk School, the school we serve with our Backpack Snack Pack ministry and one of the highest-poverty schools in Madison. She will share about the challenges and hopes as she sees them, and take our questions. All are welcome.

St. Dunstan’s Middle School Youth and Parent Gathering, Friday, June 5, 6-8pm: This is a fun gathering, to get kids and adults together socially. We’ll meet at Vitense Golfland on Whitney Way just south of the beltline. We’ll start with dinner at their little cafe, talk about plans & hopes a bit over our meals, and then play a round of mini-golf. Younger and older siblings are welcome to come along for the ride. For questions, contact Rev. Miranda at or 608-238-2781.

Birthdays and Anniversaries will be honored next Sunday, June 7, as is our custom, on the first Sunday of every month. Come forward after the Announcements to receive a blessing and the community’s prayers.

Healing Prayer, Sunday, June 7: Next Sunday, one of our ministers will offer healing prayers for those who wish to receive prayers for themselves or on behalf of others.

MOM Special Offering, Sunday, June 7: Next Sunday, half the cash in our offering plate and any designated checks will be given to Middleton Outreach Minister’s food pantry. Groceries are welcome gifts too. Here are the top 10 needed items: sugar, cooking oil, cereal, meals in a box, jelly, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers (sizes 4, 5 and 6), and laundry detergent. MOM is always in need of quality bedding items such as comforters, sheets, blankets and towels too. Thank you for all your support!

Evening Eucharist, Sunday June 7, 6pm: A simple service before the week begins.

Church, Faith & Life Conversation, Sunday, June 14, 12 – 1pm: When are you most conscious of yourself as a person of faith, in your daily life? Does your faith support you in hard times? Why do you belong to a church – in five words or less? Come share open-hearted conversation about these and similar questions, with Rev. Miranda and others from the St. Dunstan’s community. This is the final opportunity to participate in a focus group (a loosely-structured, informal group interview) as part of Rev. Miranda’s Missional Leadership Cohort inquiry process. Anyone who’d like to take part is welcome.

Between Church, July 2015: Beginning July 5, you’re invited to simple outdoor worship between our two regular services. “Between Church” will meet from 9:15 to 9:45am, every Sunday in July – and maybe August too. We’ll gather at the stone altar to sing, discuss a short piece of Scripture, share blessings and concerns in prayer, and sing some more. Come as an enrichment to regular Sunday worship, or just enjoy this simple service as your summer worship.