SUNDAY and THE WEEK AHEAD…
Piece Be with You! Please join us between services at 9:00am for a festive, all-parish brunch celebrating the ingathering of our prayers, hopes, and financial pledges for our parish life in the coming year. We will enjoy fellowship, delicious pies, quiches and other offerings.
Anticipating Advent: Advent materials, including candles and prayers for at-home use, will be available starting on Sunday, November 22. Advent is the season of expectation that precedes Christmas, the Feast of the Incarnation; and it is also the beginning of a new church year!
Advent Virtual Book Group: Daring Greatly. Starting on November 22, you’re invited to join a virtual book group. We will read Brene Brown’s bestselling book Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way we Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, and share reactions and reflections in a Facebook group. We may also plan one or more face-to-face discussions if there is interest in doing so. Sign up in the Gathering Area and/or join the Facebook group “Advent Reading Group: Daring Greatly.” Please let Rev. Miranda know if you need help getting a copy of the book. It is readily available at your local library or online, in new, used, Kindle and audio editions.
Grace Shelter Dinner, 7pm: Every fourth Sunday, a loyal group of St. Dunstan’s folk provides dinner for residents at the Grace Church shelter, and breakfast the next morning. See the signup sheet in the Gathering Area to help out.
Thanksgiving Service, Wednesday, November 25, 7pm: There will be a simple Eucharist service on Wednesday evening. All are welcome.
Black Friday Craft-In, Friday, November 27, 1 – 4pm, St. Dunstan’s Church: Tired of the mall? Make stuff. Give it away. This year we’ll host our second annual Black Friday Craft-In, a free public crafting event. If you’ll be in town and would like to volunteer to help out, please sign up in the Gathering Area or email Rev. Miranda. We can use all kinds of volunteers – whether your skill is sewing, woodworking, stamping, paper crafting, smiling at people and saying “Welcome!” setting up tables, or putting cookies on plates.
Last Call – Donations, Names & Addresses for Military and College Student Care Packages: The Youth Group will be creating and sending out care packages early in December. If you have a college student or service member in your network who would like a care package, please provide name and address to Sharon Henes at . Thank you for your support!
Altar Flowers: December dates are available! Honor a loved one or a special event with altar flowers. Reserve your special date by writing your dedication on the sign-up sheet. Suggested donation is $35 (write “flowers” on the memo line of your check or on envelope containing cash).
ADVENT OFFERINGS…
All-Ages Advent Worship, Sunday, November 29, 10am: We will begin the season of Advent with All-Ages Worship, exploring the symbols, stories and songs of this new season together. Before and after the service, craft stations will be available for kids (and non-kids) to make small gifts for their loved ones.
ECW Women’s Day Away, Tuesday, Dec 1: Take the opportunity to share a day in a small near-by community with good shopping and lunch. This year we will be going to Baraboo, leaving the St. D’s parking lot at 8:30am. We will stop in Sauk City for coffee and sweets at Leistra, a long time restaurant with fantastic cinnamon rolls. Then on to Baraboo with maps, store listings and the highlighted lunch location in hand. After lunch, we’ll head home or do a bit more shopping. Please see sign-up on bulletin board. There will be Baraboo information in weeks to come.
The Poetry of Advent, Sunday, December 6, 9am: Bring a favorite Advent poem to share, or simply come to listen and reflect together.
Advent Quiet Day, Saturday, December 12, 1 – 4:30pm: Come spend some time in intentional silence. You may color, read, participate in Advent prayer stations, walk the grounds, sit in silence, or converse quietly in a designated area. We’ll begin and end in prayer. You’re welcome to invite a friend. Talk to Sharon Henes if you’d like to help out with snacks, art, music, or other elements of the day.
Service of Lessons and Music, Sunday, December 13, 10am: Our special Lessons & Music service this Advent will focus on the life and preaching of John the Baptist. A signup sheet for our festive Coffee Hour will be available soon.
Caroling Ministry: Would you like to join a small group of singers, prepare a set of songs and readings, and visit some of our homebound elders to sing for them, one evening near Christmas? Talk with Rev. Miranda or sign up in the Gathering Area to get involved in this new ministry, intended to share the spirit of the holy season and the love of this parish with those who are rarely able to worship with us.
Share your Christmas with our neighbors! St Dunstan’s will sponsor 20 people through MOM’s Sharing Christmas program this year. The tree with gift tags will be up by Sunday, Nov. 22nd. Please take one or more tags and purchase a gift. Wrapped gifts will need to be back at St Dunstan’s on December 13.
IN THE WIDER CHURCH & COMMUNITY…
Camp Webb 2016 (June 19 – 25) is accepting applications now! Camp Webb is an outdoor ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, for children and youth grades 2 through senior high. It is held at a camp outside Elkhorn, WI. Camp tuition is $375 if you register before January 15, with a deposit of $75 due at the time of registration. St. Dunstan’s offers $150 in aid to all our campers, with additional assistance possible. Visit http://www.diomil.org/ministries/christian-formation/camp-webb/ for registration forms. Camp Webb IS EXPECTED TO FILL this year, so apply soon!