SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
Annual Parish Meeting, 9am: Come to hear parish updates, including the 2016 budget, and help elect our parish leaders. All are welcome to attend!
Youth Lunch & Learn starts Sunday, 12 noon! Rev. Miranda invites the 10-and-up youth of the parish to meet with her for lunch after church once a month. We’ll dig into faith, Scripture, life, and our questions about all three. We’ll wrap up by 1pm, and we can arrange rides home for the kids if that helps the parents’ schedules.
Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday, 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.
Coffee Hosts Needed in February: Please consider being a coffee host. Sign-up sheets for upcoming months can be found in the Gathering Area. Thanks for lending a hand!
Survival Kits for Homeless Teens: We are stocking three backpacks with essentials for teenagers who are living on the streets, to be distributed through the Transition Education Program, a program of the Madison school district to support homeless kids and youth. Check out the display in the Gathering Area and take a tag or two for items you’d like to provide. In addition to the individual items, we are looking for a team to assemble three first-aid kits. We would like to gather all items by Sunday, February 7.
Do you love getting books into the hands of readers? Our St. Dunstan’s Little Free Library is seeking a new co-Librarian, or two. The Library sits on the southeast corner of our property, at Old Middleton Road and St. Dunstan Drive, and can be reached by car or on foot through our woods. The Library needs to be checked and restocked (every few weeks in winter, perhaps weekly in nice weather), and this task can easily be shared by a small team of helpers. Members and friends of St. Dunstan’s donate used books to put in our Library. Please talk to Rev. Miranda or email to get involved!
THE WEEKS AHEAD…
Listening Group Gathering, Wednesday, January 27: Are you seeking more clarity, direction, or sense of purpose in your daily life? Would you like a trusted group of spiritual companions to talk and pray with? We are gathering people interested in being part of a regularly-meeting Listening Group. If you’d like to be involved, please attend this meeting, or let Rev. Miranda know about your interest at 608-238-2781.
Taste and See, An Introduction to the Eucharist for Young Children, Sunday, Jan. 31, 9am: This simple little class is geared for kids ages 3 – 7, and your child is welcome, whatever their level of participation or understanding! Parents welcome too. :-)
Candlemas Last Sunday Worship, Sunday, January 31, 10am: We will celebrate Candlemas with a brief story and candle-lighting prayers at the end of our liturgy. Bring your flashlights and emergency candles from home to be blessed!
Recovery Eucharist, Sunday, January 31, 6pm: The Recovery Eucharist, celebrated in many churches, is designed for those recovering from any addiction and for those who support them in their recovery. Elements of the service are drawn from the Book of Common Prayer and the 12 Step readings. Our first Recovery Eucharist falls on the feast day of Samuel Shoemaker (1893-1963), who contributed to the growth of the Twelve Step movement. The Eucharist will be celebrated with grape juice instead of wine. All are welcome; feel free to invite a friend.
Game Night, Friday, February 5, 5:30 – 8:30pm: Join us for an evening of games for all ages. Friends, partners, kids all welcome. Bring a snack to share, or come as you are!
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tuesday, February 9, 5-6:30pm: Great food and fellowship! Join us and bring a friend for a tasty meal. Suggested donation of $5 per adult, $10 per household, kids eat free. If you’d like to help or contribute, see the signup sheets in the Gathering Area.
LOOKING TOWARDS LENT…
Have you been baptized? The Prayer Book tells us, “Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church.” From the earliest years of Christianity, the season of Lent (which begins February 10) was when new Christians studied the faith and prepared for baptism at Easter. If you have never been baptized, or aren’t sure, and would like to learn more about this rite, please contact Rev. Miranda.
Ash Wednesday services will be at noon, 4pm, and 7pm on Wednesday, February 10. The 4pm service is especially intended for kids and families.
Ashes To Go, Wednesday, February 10, 8 – 9am and 2 – 3pm: Our drop-in “Ashes To Go” station will be at Old Middleton Road & St Dunstan Drive, besides our signboard and Little Free Library. Pull over on St. Dunstan Drive or park across the street on Stonefield Rd. Imposition of ashes, prayer, and warm beverages will be available.
Lenten 9am Study Group – Growing a Rule of Life: In this series, offered by the Society of St. John the Evangelist, an order of Episcopal monks, we focus on God as the Chief Gardener of our souls, and we seek out ways to grow into the fullness he desires. This series uses a tool from monastic spirituality called a ‘Rule of Life’ to explore and cultivate our relationships with God, Self, Others, and Creation. To participate, sign up at ssje.org/ssje/growrule/ to receive the daily email prompts, and come to the Meeting Room on Sundays at 9am, starting February 14, for group discussion about our individual work. You’re also free to participate in this series as an individual, without attending the group gatherings.
Lenten Virtual Book Group: Unapologetic, by Francis Spufford. Rev. Miranda invites members and friends to a “virtual book group” this Lent, beginning the third week in February. We’ll read along together during Lent and share reactions and reflections on a Facebook group. We may also plan one or more in-person book discussion sessions as well, if there is interest. If you’d like to participate, please sign up in the Gathering Area, so we can get an idea of how many books to order. Books will be ordered the week following Sunday, February 7. A $10 donation to defray the cost of the books is welcome, but not required. You can also check the libraries for the book or buy it for your e-reader.