TONIGHT AND THIS WEEK…
The Longest Night: A Liturgy of Light in Darkness, Thursday, December 22, 6:30pm (dinner at 5:30pm): On December 22th, we will gather together out of the darkness of the season for a quiet, meditative worship service. Feel free to invite friends who might appreciate this time set apart to name the darkness in the world and in our lives, and prepare our hearts for the coming of the light of Christ. Contact Rev. Miranda at 238-2781 with any questions.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services:
Family Service with Pageant, Saturday, December 24, 3pm
Festal Eucharist, Saturday, December 24, 9pm
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, 10am (NO 8am service!)
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE NOTES…
The Parish Office will be closed on Friday, December 23 and will reopen on Monday, January 2nd.
Youth Group will NOT meet on December 23 or 30.
Sandbox Worship will NOT meet on December 29 or January 5th.
Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday, December 25, 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. To learn more, talk with Rose Mueller.
Diaper Drive Update: Many families in our area are struggling financially, and they have to make tough decisions about whether to buy much-needed diapers or groceries or pay their rent. The FoodShare program (food stamps) does not cover diapers, other personal care items, or household cleaners. Imagine needing to change your baby’s diaper, but only having a couple left and no money for more.
Pantries are always looking for large-sized diapers. We held a diaper drive this year and raised $2100! We have donated over 13,200 diapers—enough to diaper two children from birth to potty training—to pantries all over Madison and beyond.
Thank you all for your incredible generosity!
Vestry nominations are open! Would you be interested in serving on our vestry, our church’s governing body? Is there someone else you think would be a great candidate? Job descriptions and a box for nominations are in the Gathering Area. Open nominations will run throughout December. We will be electing two new vestry members in January 2017. Wardens and Diocesan Convention deputies must be elected every year, so candidates for Junior and Senior Warden may also be nominated.
NEXT WEEKEND & BEYOND…
Birthday and Anniversary blessings and Healing Prayers will be given next Sunday, January 1, as is our custom on the first Sunday of the month.
Evening Eucharist, Sunday, January 1, 6pm: Join us for a simple service as the week (and the New Year) begins. All are welcome.
MOM Special Offering, Sunday, January 1: Next Sunday, half the cash in our offering plate and any designated checks will be given to Middleton Outreach Ministry’s food pantry. Here are the current to-ten, most needed items: canned chicken, shelf-stable milk, whole grains; salt, pepper, spices; laundry detergent; vanilla or other extracts; low sugar dried/canned fruits; cooking oil; honey; nuts. Thank you for your generous support!
Epiphany Service of Light, Friday, January 6, 5:30pm: Join us as we share the story of the Wise Men who came to honor the infant Jesus, and of how the light of Christ has spread through time and space all the way to here and now! All are welcome. We’ll share a light dinner after the service; feel free to bring something to share. Talk to Rev. Miranda or Sharon Henes if you’d like to be a reader for this service.
Epiphany Pageant, Sunday, January 15: The children of St. Dunstan’s will present a pageant telling the story of Jesus’ birth and the visit of the Wise Men on Sunday, January 15. There will be a rehearsal after church on Sunday the 8th. All kids are welcome to participate!
Call for Annual Report Submissions: Every year in December/January, we invite our ministry leaders to submit a paragraph or two about what their ministry is and what they’ve done in the past year, and compile those reports into an Annual Report, shared with the congregation in advance of our parish Annual Meeting (9am on Sunday, January 22). This year we thought we’d cast the net more widely. If you have something you’d like to share, as a special moment, thanksgiving, or success to share, whether from a particular ministry or just something from the life of this household of faith, you’re welcome to submit it to . The deadline for all Annual Report materials is Friday, January 13.
Looking for Coffee Hosts for January 2017! Consider being a coffee host and talk with Janet Bybee for more information.