THIS WEEKEND…

An Open Conversation about Roles for Kids and Youth at St. Dunstan’s, Thursday, April 4, 6 – 7:30pm: This is an initial conversation to begin exploring one of the ideas Rev. Miranda brought home from her sabbatical work on intergenerational worship/church: Kids like having jobs! But not every kid wants to be an acolyte or sing in children’s choir. Let’s brainstorm ways kids and youth could share their gifts as part of our common life at St. Dunstan’s, in worship and beyond. All interested folks (including kids and youth!) are invited. If you can’t attend but have thoughts to share, email Rev. Miranda .

Walking the Stations of the Cross (Indoors), 12pm, Friday, April 5: You are invited to walk and pray the Stations of the Cross in our nave, any time during the season of Lent.  Call ahead to the church office (238-2781) if you want to make sure the church is open when you’d like to come. Rev. Miranda invites you to join her in walking the Stations this Friday, or at 7:15pm on Sunday, April 7.

Saturday Morning Bible Study: Luke devotes a good chunk of his Gospel to Jesus’ last journey to Jerusalem. We’re going to read part of it together, wondering what Luke wants us to hear and see, wondering what following this Jesus is about. Five Saturday sessions 8-10 am starting March 16. If you plan to attend, please let Rev. Miranda or the church office know so we have enough materials (, 608-238-2781). For more information contact Fr Tom.

The Examen: What’s Working? Sunday, April 7, 9am: At the beginning of Lent, Rev. Miranda invited people to try out the Ignatian Examen – the practice of ending each day by prayerfully asking yourself, What was a good moment today? What was a hard moment? If you have tried the Examen (or if you haven’t but are thinking about it!), come discuss what you’re discovering, the challenges and gifts of this practice. All ages are welcome.

Sunday School, Sunday, April 7: We will have Sunday school during our 10am liturgy this Sunday. Kids ages 3 through 6th grade are welcome to join one of our three classes. Please note: there will NOT be Sunday school for elementary aged kids on Palm Sunday, April 14 (an alternative will be available for preschool/kindergarten kids); and there will be NO Sunday school on Easter Sunday, April 21. 

Birthday and Anniversary blessings and Healing Prayers will be given this Sunday, April 7, as is our custom on the first Sunday of the month.

MOM Special Offering, Sunday, April 7: 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 top-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!

Bite Size Climate, Sunday, April 7, 11:50 – 12:10: Many of us are fearful and sad about climate change and its many impacts. An important first step towards change is to be informed citizens who understand the issue and can talk about it with others – since we’ll all need to work together for change. Adults, kids, and youth are all invited to a series of twenty-minute (we promise!) gatherings to watch a short video, talk, and pray together. Over time, we’ll expand our understanding and commitment in bite-sized chunks. We’ll meet in the Meeting Room after 10am worship on Sundays when children’s choir doesn’t meet. Our next date after this Sunday will be April 28.

Neighborhood Stations of the Cross, Sunday, April 7, 1pm or Good Friday, April 19, 2pm:  The Stations of the Cross Walk takes us through Jesus’ journey to the cross as we walk through the neighborhood around our church.  The total walk will be slightly over one mile, and will take about an hour and a half (including stops and readings). We will gather at St. Dunstan’s to begin the walk.

Cookie Church, 6-7pm, Sunday, April 7 and April 14: Cookie Church is simple bedtime church. It is child-centered but not just for kids. We will share singing, story, Eucharist, and a snack. (Yes, there will be cookies.) We end with bedtime prayers and it’s OK to come in your pajamas! We’re trying this out for a season to see what we learn; come try it out with us! Sign up in the Gathering Area if you’d like to make a batch of cookies for us one week. We ask for at least 20 cookies, and it’s OK to drop them off Sunday morning (clearly labeled so they don’t get eaten at Coffee Hour).

Easter Flower & Coffee Hour Sign-Up: Would you like to help with our Easter celebration on April 21? To contribute to our special coffee hour after 10am worship, or to sponsor and dedicate flowers for the Easter services, please see the sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area under the big calendar.

Palm Sunday Reader Sign-Up: If you would like to read one of the parts for the Passion Gospel on Palm Sunday, April 14, please sign up on the sheets on the corkboard near the big calendar in the Gathering Area. You should be a confident reader who can read in a loud voice. Please indicate if you need to see your part ahead of time.

Palm Saturday Intergenerational Gathering: Sign Up to Help! On Saturday, April 13, from 10 – noon, all are invited to get ready for Easter together by preparing our space, our hearts, and our minds. We’ll spend about an hour sharing various activities, then gather for our participatory Easter Pageant at 11am. If you plan to attend and would like to help out with one of our activities, sign up in the Gathering Area under the big calendar!

Meals for Enters Household, via St. Dunstan’s Care Network, Late April: Did you know that St. Dunstan’s has a Care Network that helps provide meals for those in our parish family who may need them while they go through a life-changing event?  Right now Bill and Betty Enters would appreciate help with some meals while Betty recovers from surgery following an arm injury. Right now, a few more meals in the weeks after Easter would really help.  If you are interested in joining our network, to help out with this or future opportunities, go to http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/652914/ and join our network. Meal calendars for sign up will be posted as they are created. If you know (or ARE) someone in the parish who could benefit from this service, please contact me, Shirley Laedlein.  Thank you!

 

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Seeking Sponsors for our Kids & Youth! Your $25 sponsorship helps one of the children or youth of St. Dunstan’s attend Camp Webb or our summer youth mission trip. Each shareholder will receive a postcard from one of our kids or youth, during their time at camp or on the youth mission trip. We also plan a late summer social event for kids and sponsors, when kids can share about their trips.  You can contribute with a check in the offering plate with “Camp Sponsorship” on the memo line, or online at donate.stdunstans.com .

Madison-Area Julian Gathering Wednesday, April 10, 1:00 – 2:45 PM: St. Julian of Norwich: 14th Century heretic?  No, although a reader might at first think so.  14th Century psychologist?  Sort of . . . she understood the human heart and, through her sixteen revelations of Jesus, she understood the heart of God.  Come to one of our monthly meetings and learn about contemplative prayer.  We meet the second Wednesday of each month.  We’d love to see you.  For more information, contact Susan Fiore, ObJN.

Maundy Thursday (April 18, 6pm) Meal Sign-up: Our Maundy Thursday liturgy includes a shared meal as we remember Jesus’ final meal with his friends before his crucifixion. Sign up in the Gathering Area to contribute lentil soup, hummus, lives, or other items. Thanks for all your offerings!

Prayer Watch Following Maundy Thursday Service: There will be a prayer watch following the Maundy Thursday service until midnight and then resuming at 6 AM until the noon day service on Good Friday with 30 minute increments. This is a time to spend a quiet period of prayer, meditation, reading, strolling through the stations of the cross. The sign-up sheet is on the shelf under the calendar. If you do not have a key to the church contact the office or Connie Ott.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, April 26, 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 The Village Green at 7508 Hubbard Ave., Middleton. For more information please contact Kathy Whitt.

“The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,” Book Group Discussion, Saturday, May 4, 10am: The monthly Saturday morning book group will meet to discuss an award-winning book of science and history, examining the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes. St. Dunstan’s members with an interest in ecology and creation care are invited to join the regular Saturday group to discuss this book. To participate, read The Death and Life of the Great Lakes (Dan Egan, 2017) by May 4! If you’d like to buy the book and cost is a barrier, talk to Rev. Miranda. Please note, the Saturday book group has traditionally been known as the “Men’s Book Group” but it is open to everyone!

Middleton outreach Ministry (MOM) Needs Clothing Donations: Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) has a clothing closet with gently used clothing available at no cost for their clients. Their racks  for infants and toddlers are quite low at this time. During your spring cleaning, if you find any clothing for newborn to 4T that you no longer need please consider bringing them to church and we will deliver them to MOM. Questions? -Connie Ott or Janet Bybee.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES… 

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2019: SAVE THE DATES – AUGUST 4 – 8! Plans are just starting to take shape but we expect to spent a lot of time outdoors, and to invite the adults of St. Dunstan’s to join our kids and youth for shared learning and fun, as we did in 2018. Mark your calendars!

Seeking Sponsors for our Kids & Youth!  Your $25 sponsorship helps one of the children or youth of St. Dunstan’s attend Camp Webb or our summer youth mission trip. Each shareholder will receive a postcard from one of our kids or youth, during their time at camp or on the youth mission trip. We also plan a late summer social event for kids and sponsors, when kids can share about their trips.  You can contribute with a check in the offering plate with “Camp Sponsorship” on the memo line, or online at donate.stdunstans.com .

Camp Webb 2019 (June 16 – 22) is accepting applications now! Camp Webb is an outdoor ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, for children and youth grades 3 through senior high. It is held at a camp outside Elkhorn, WI. Camp tuition is $400, with a deposit of $100 due at the time of registration. St. Dunstan’s offers $150 in aid to all our campers, with additional assistance possible; contact Rev. Miranda for financial assistance. http://www.diomil.org/forming-disciples/children-youth-and-family-ministries/camp-webb/ for registration forms. Camp Webb IS EXPECTED TO FILL this year, so apply soon!

Women’s Mini-Week, August 8 – 11: The mission of Women’s Mini-Week is to provide an annual retreat event for adult women, offering refuge, friendship, relaxation, and fun. Mini-Week combines opportunities to learn with fellowship, spiritual exploration and delicious food as we invite all women to participate as much or as little as they would like and need. Mini-Week is held at a beautiful lakeside camp in northern Wisconsin. Many members of St. Dunstan’s have attended, planned, and led, over the years. Visit womensminiweek.org to learn more and make Mini-Week part of your summer plans.