THIS WEEKEND…
Creation Care Opportunities: Home Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale, Alliant Energy Center, Saturday, May 13th, 10am – 2pm: Members of St. Dunstan’s who have installed home compost or rainwater collection systems may be able to help you put your own system in place! Pre-order at https://rainreserve.com/madison to guarantee availability. Learn more at this link.
Native Plant Sale, UW-Madison Arboretum, Saturday, May 13th, 9am – 2pm: The sale will take place at the big tent on the lawn in front of Curtis Prairie, near the Visitors Center. Native plants generally require less care and are more environmentally sustainable.
Guest Preacher, Sunday, May 14: We welcome Hal Edmonson as our guest preacher this Sunday. Hal was raised in Madison, a stone’s throw from St. Dunstan’s, and is currently pursuing his M.Div. at Harvard Divinity School.
Sunday School, Sunday, May 14, 10am: This Sunday, our 3 year olds to kindergarten class will learn about the Good Shepherd and World Communion, while our elementary classes will learn about the apostle Stephen and his faithful service.
Driving through Countryside Lane: Please take extra care and drive slowly on our neighbors’ roadway during this period of road construction. Our neighbors are not used to a lot of traffic and extra consideration will show we care and appreciate this access.
What Are Your Languages? On the feast of Pentecost (this year, June 4), we read part of the Acts of the Apostles reading in many different languages. Is there a language that’s part of your heritage or story, that you’d like to have included? Talk to Rev. Miranda by Friday, May 26.
Summer Flower Sign-Up: From June through August, we are trying something new with our altar flowers. We invite members to sign up to *bring* flowers, instead of ordering them through our florist as usual. During these months, local flowers are readily available, at the farmer’s market or in your own gardens. We are planting some flowers on the church grounds as well, which can certainly be used! If you’d like to contribute flowers, simply sign up for your chosen Sunday. You can still make a dedication, and we will include it in the bulletin as usual. You may use your own vase, or one of the vases here at church. Please take your flowers home, or give them to a friend, after the 10am service. Questions? Talk with Gail Jordan-Jones or Rev. Miranda.
St. Dunstan’s Second Annual Diaper Drive, May 14 – June 18: Imagine having to choose whether to pay rent, pay utilities, buy food, or buy diapers for your baby or toddler. Nearly 1 in 3 American families struggle to afford enough diapers, which cannot be purchased with food stamps. Learn more by reading today’s bulletin insert. We are having a diaper drive for sizes 4, 5, and 6 from Mother’s Day, May 14 to Father’s Day, June 18. We will donate the diapers to pantries around the area, including Allied Drive Food Pantry and MOM. You can shop around for a great deal ($.20 or less per diaper) or make a check or online donation to St. Dunstan’s designated for the Diaper Drive and let our skilled diaper shoppers do the shopping! We’ll dedicate all our gifts on Father’s Day. Thanks for your support!
Would You Like to Learn how to Tackle a Tree? As one way to approach the many dead trees on our Pine Island, we could take a group to learn about how to remove dead trees – and what to do with them afterwards – at TimberGreen Woods in Spring Green. The date of the training is TBD and could depend on our group. Sign up on the interest sheet in the Gathering Area or talk with Rev. Miranda at 238-2781. Read more about TimberGreen Woods here:
http://timbergreenforestry.com/Full%20Value%20Forestry.html
THE WEEK AHEAD & BEYOND…
St. Dunstan’s Day All-Ages Worship & Hat and Tie Sunday, May 21: We will celebrate the feast day of our saint, Dunstan, on Sunday, May 21. It’s the 60th anniversary of our parish’s founding and naming! You’re invited to mark the occasion by dressing up with a fancy hat and/or tie, serious or playful. Wear your own or borrow one from the collection at church. Easter Sunday saw a fine array of bowties on our members; can we top that number? We will formally welcome new members on this festive day. It’s our custom to take photos of the whole congregation after each service that Sunday; we hope you’ll stay a few moments to participate.
Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, May 21: Half the cash in our collection plate, and any designated checks, will go towards the Rector’s Discretionary Fund this day and on every third Sunday. This fund is a way to quietly help people with direct financial needs, in the parish and the wider community. Please give generously.
Making Our Grounds an Eternal Home: Discussing a Columbarium for St. Dunstan’s, Sunday, May 21, 9am: At St. Dunstan’s, members are welcome to scatter the ashes of their loved ones on our grounds, with the intention that those ashes become part of the soil of this place. We do not currently have a place or a practice for interring ashes in urns in a columbarium of some sort. Interested members are invited to a conversation about the legal and logistical differences between scattering ashes and interring urns, with the goal of establishing whether there is a desire among our congregation to create a columbarium here. If you have questions or input and can’t attend the meeting, talk with Sharon Bloodgood or Rev. Miranda.
Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, May 21, 11:30am: All who seek meaning in the journey of parenthood (at any age or stage) are welcome to come for food and conversation. Child care and a simple meal provided.
Evening Eucharist, Sunday, May 21, 6pm: Come join us for a simple service before the week begins. All are welcome.
Young Adult Meetup at the Vintage, Sunday, May 21, 7pm: The younger adults of St. Dunstan’s are invited to join us for conversation and the beverage of your choice, at the Vintage Brewpub on South Whitney Way. Friends and partners welcome too.
Ascension Eucharist, Thursday, May 25, 5:30pm: Celebrate a festive service on the Feast of the Ascension, with our Thursday evening “Sandbox Worship” community. A simple meal will follow.
Christian Formation Committee Meeting, Thursday, May 25, 7pm: Our Christian Formation Committee will meet to review and plan our summer and fall Christian Formation programs. All interested people are welcome to attend and participate.
Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, May 19, 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 Sai Ba Thong at 6802 Odana Road in Madison. For more information, please contact Kathy Whitt or Debra Martinez.
Retirement Celebration for Martin, Sunday, May 28: Martin Ganschow, our Organist & Choir Director, is retiring from his role here after seven committed and fruitful years. We will celebrate Martin’s service and thank him with a festive coffee hour on May 28.
Teen Clothing Drive for GSAFE: Do you have clothing collecting dust in your closet? Eager to support transgender teenagers struggling to build a wardrobe that makes them feel confident? Swing by St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, May 28th between 1pm-4pm to donate your gently used, teen-friendly clothing to GSAFE’s Youth Leadership Board for their clothing swap events! Not sure if your apparel and accessories are teen-friendly? Bring them by and let our teen volunteers be the judge. You’re welcome to bring donations ahead of time, as well. St. Dunstan’s is glad to host this event, to support GSAFE in their important work supporting kids in Madison’s schools.
Parish Picnic, Sunday, June 11, 12:00pm: Come for good food and good conversation at our annual June parish picnic. We’ll have good food and fun activities for all ages, including our favorite face painter! If you’d like to help with games or activities, contact the office at or 608-238-2781. The picnic will happen rain or shine. Mark your calendar and watch for more details!
Vacation Bible School: The Story of Jonah, July 30 – August 3: Our Vacation Bible School this summer is planned for Sunday, July 30, through Thursday, August 3. We’ll meet in the evenings – likely 5:30 to 7:30pm, as in previous years. Keep these dates in mind as you make your summer plans! Kids ages 3 to 10 are welcome to participate; middle school and older kids will be involved as actors and helpers.