THIS WEEKEND… 

Islam from the Heart of our Muslim Neighbors: Forthright Questions and Honest Answers, Saturday, April 22, 9am – 1pm, hosted by St. Dunstan’s Church: This event, organized by a coalition of local advocacy groups, will be a unique opportunity to meet local Muslims and to ask questions about the practices and beliefs of Islam, to address the many misconceptions that fuel our divisions.

Men’s Book Club, Saturday, April 22, 10am: The book is All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren. Warren wrote the book in 1946 to enormous critical acclaim and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1947. It’s about Huey Pierce Long, Jr., self-nicknamed The Kingfish, who was an American politician who served as the 40th governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and as a member of the United States Senate from 1932 until his death from assassination in 1935. There is something about Huey, his combination of magnificent abilities and a genuine if primitive idealism with bottomless corruption and lust for power, which fascinates the literary was well as the political mind.

Clergy Presence during Rev. Miranda’s Travel:  Rev. Miranda will be away from April 23 through May 2. Father Tom McAlpine will celebrate and preach on Sunday, April 23, and Father John Rasmus will celebrate and preach on Sunday, April 30. If you need the care or counsel of a priest during Rev. Miranda’s absence, you may reach Father Tom  or Father John at (608) 238-2781.

Acolyte training, Sunday, April 23rd at 9:00 am: All aspiring acolytes are welcome. This is a refresher course for our continuing acolytes as well.

Sunday School, Sunday, April 23, 10am: Our 3-5 year old class will explore the Faces of Easter, while our elementary classes will learn about Jesus’ visit to his disciples after he rose from the dead. Our Sunday school classes usually meet on the second and third Sundays of every month. All kids are welcome!

Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday April 23, 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.

Weeders Wanted! While we allow much of our property to flourish on its own terms, we do try to keep the garden beds in front of the church, around our sign, and outside the windows of the nave looking pretty and tidy. Would you like to help by taking responsibility for one of these areas for the growing season? A visit every couple of weeks should be enough, and you’re welcome to share the work with a buddy. A “Weeders Wanted” signup is in the Gathering Area.

Volunteers Needed for DeCanstruction, Sunday, April 30, 7:00pm: Help take apart the giant sculptures built from cans and boxes of food, as part of this year’s CanStruction competition, a food- and fund-raiser for Middleton Outreach Ministry. This year’s CanStruction will take place at West Towne Mall, and structures can be viewed there all week, starting Monday, April 17. To help with the “de-Canstruction” work, you must be reasonably able-bodied (but not everybody has to do heavy lifting). Sign up in the Gathering Area if you’d like to join this year’s team; we are looking for a team of 4 – 6 people.

Looking for Coffee Hosts for the month of May! Please consider being a coffee host. Contact Janet Bybee  for more information.

Looking for Greeters: Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s off to work we go! Well it’s really not work, more like fun. We’re looking for some of you who might be interested in Greeting on Sunday mornings at the 10am service. Let Bernice Mason know.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Gospel of John Study Group Last Session, April 26, 6:30-8:30pm at the McAlpine’s: This year the Daily Office Lectionary has us reading the Gospel of John from the last week of Epiphany through the second week of Easter. All are welcome as we conclude our reading of this challenging and important Gospel. We meet at the McAlpine home in Fitchburg; check your directory or call the church office at 238-2781 for more information.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, April 28, 6pm: Come join us for good food and good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at Cocina Real at 2518 Allen Blvd. in Middleton.

Outreach meeting, Saturday, April 29, 8-10am: All are welcome to join our conversations about how St. Dunstan’s can best serve the world with our resources and our hands. We begin with an optional potluck breakfast at 8am.

Last Sunday All-Ages Worship, Sunday, April 30, 10am: Our last Sunday worship will focus on the Gospel story of two disciples’ walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Father John Rasmus will preach and celebrate. Our last Sunday worship is intended especially to help kids (and grownups who are new to our pattern of worship) to engage and participate fully. NOTE: Our 8am service always follows our regular order of worship.

How Shall We Care for Our Waters? Creation Care Open Meeting, Sunday, April 30, 9am OR 11:30am: Caring for God’s creation is a core aspect of St. Dunstan’s mission and identity. To live this out, our parish Creation Care Task Force invites us to set two or three simple, achievable goals for better environmental stewardship each year. For the first year of this practice, we have identified Water as the focus – as in the water that sustains life, the water of our beautiful lakes, the waters of baptism! At this open meeting, we’ll briefly explore local and global challenges related to water, and choose 2 – 3 simple steps we can take, as individuals and/or as a parish, to be better stewards of water. If you have questions, or can’t attend but have ideas, talk with John Laedlein.

URINETOWN, May 4 – 6 at 7:30pm at the Middleton Performing Arts Center:  In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he’s had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Urinetown is a darkly humorous satire which raises keen questions about freedom and survival. Members of St. Dunstan’s with an interest in creation care are encouraged to attend. Tickets are $10 ($8 students and seniors) and can be purchased at https://mhswi.booktix.com . A group will attend together on Thursday night, May 4.

Spring Clean-Up Day, Sunday, May 7, 12-2pm: Join us after the 10 am service to enjoy a time of shared work on our beautiful grounds, tidying them up and preparing for the growing season. A list of tasks will be posted in the Gathering Area ahead of time. Wear or bring your scruffy clothes and work gloves. Lunch will be provided! A list of tasks will be posted by Sunday, April 23rd.

– Lunch Host(s) Needed for Clean-Up Day! Would you like to prepare a simple meal to feed our workers? We could use your help. Food expenses can be reimbursed. Contact Rev. Miranda at 238-2781 or .