THIS WEEK….
Ascension Eucharist, Thursday, May 30, 7pm: We will hold a simple Eucharist for the Feast of the Ascension. If you choose, you can stay afterwards (or come around 8:30pm) to count bats, as our first Bat Count of the season. (St. Dunstan’s participates in statewide monitoring of bat populations by counting the bats that live on our property a couple of times per summer. We’ll also count bats on Friday evening the 31st at around 8:30; the bat monitoring project would like us to do two nights in a row this summer!)
Join the Saint Paint Studio mural project!!! Before the St. Dunstan’s Church Foundry Building is under construction for renovation, we will create a mural of our chosen Saints on a wall in the Foundry Building. Trace your Saint on a wall. Paint your Saint. Celebrate our Saints! Saint Paint Studio activities will occur from May 30-July 7, 2019. Look for exact times of Saint Paint Studio activities in Sunday Church announcements. It will be easy and fun! You are invited to imagine a Saint. If you asked a Saint for help what would she do for you? What special costume would your Saint wear? Does he have a special skill? Do they use special tools to perform their helpful skill? Do they have a favorite animal? Questions about Saint Paint Studio activities? Email Deborah Sproule.
Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, May 31, 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 Oliva Restaurant, 751 N. High Point Rd. For more information please contact Kathy Whitt.
Parish Picnic & Nave-Clearing Bee, Sunday, June 2, 11:30AM: As part of our parish renovation, the floor in the Nave (worship space) will be refinished starting on June 3. So after church on June 2, we’re going to Empty the Nave! The floor of the nave & side rooms will need to be as clear as we can get it. Many hands make light work so we’re going to have fun with it, and combine it with our annual Parish Picnic! We’ll provide hot dogs, buns, and drinks. Bring a side dish or dessert to share – and a picnic blanket for those who are comfortable sitting on the ground or floor. (We’ll have some tables available as well.)
Summer All-Ages Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting, Thursday, June 6, 6pm: Our evening camp this summer (5:30 – 7:30, August 4 – 8) will focus on finding God in Creation. We have some ideas taking shape, but there’s room for more – ideas and people to help! If you’d like to help plan or help prepare and lead an activity, please join us on Thursday the 6th. Kids & youth welcome too. Pizza will be provided. Talk with Rev. Miranda or Sharon Henes.
THE WEEKS AHEAD…
Pentecost Sunday Worship, June 9: On this feast day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, and celebrate the Spirit’s continued action among us. Red is the church’s color for this holy day; consider wearing something red for church. 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.
Do you like to help bring Scripture to life? We often use various techniques to make our Sunday scriptures more understandable and engaging, ranging from simple costumed drama, to dramatic reading with different voices, to wordless pantomime to accompany spoken text. Would you like to help? Rev. Miranda plans to assemble an email list of people (all ages welcome!) who enjoy helping present Scripture dramatically, to facilitate planning and spread the fun around. Talk with Rev. Miranda to join the list. Thanks!
It’s Time to Update our Parish Directory! If you are new to St. Dunstan’s and would like your address and contact information to be in our church directory, or if you have a change of address or contact information, please let our Office Coordinator Ann know at 608-238-2781 or . Our church directory is shared with members; it is not posted publicly.
Annual Budget Update, May 2019
Last month, our first-quarter financial update showed a deficit of about $13,500 on the income side. We have good news: our income has recovered almost entirely, thanks to members’ and guests’ generous and faithful giving. As of the end of April, our total income is just $1300 under budget. That’s a tiny percentage of our income and well within the normal range. So while we remain watchful with our parish finances, we are feeling confident and comfortable. Pick up a May Annual Budget Update sheet for more information, and watch for our parish-wide midyear financial update in July. And thanks to all who sustain the common life of this community of faith, with financial gifts, time, skill, resources, love and prayer!
Update on our Church Neighbors Foundry414: For several years we’ve shared space with Foundry414, a friendly and open-minded non-denominational church. Foundry meets in the Parish Center, which will be renovated this summer for use as youth group space (lower level) and meeting and community space (upper level). Starting on June 2, over the summer, Foundry will be meeting in our nave and Meeting Room on Sundays at 4:30pm. Please help leave the church tidy for them, and if you have a reason to stop by on a Sunday evening, be respectful of their space. Thank you!
Acolyte Refresher Training & Celebration, Sunday, June 9, 11:30AM: All St. Dunstan’s acolytes are invited! We’ll go over what we do in worship, to refresh our memories and give us a chance to ask any questions; then we’ll celebrate a great year with pizza and treats. We’ll wrap up by around 12:30, and rides home can be provided – talk with Rev. Miranda or Sharon Henes if that would be helpful.
Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, June 12, 1:00 – 2:45 PM: Julian of Norwich was a 15th Century English mystic and anchoress. Little is known about Julian’s life, but she wrote a book, as far as we know the first in English written by a woman, about a series of revelations which opened her to the depths of God’s unconditional love for us in Jesus Christ. Julian’s insights and gentle wisdom are becoming ever more widely known and appreciated. At a Julian Gathering we support each other in the practice of contemplative prayer and contemplative spirituality. Each meeting includes time for contemplative prayer, fellowship, and reading/discussion of Julian’s book. For additional information, contact Susan Fiore, ObJN.
Young Adult Meetup at the Vintage, Sunday, June 16, 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.
St. Dunstan’s LGBTQIA+ & Allies Campfire, June 21, 6:30pm: As part of our continuing intergenerational exploration, we will be having a potluck s’mores bonfire on June 21, at 6pm, for anyone who feels they are in the LGBTQIAA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, and/or allies) community. This is a safe space and time deliberately created to sit around a bonfire, eat soup and s’mores, and visit about your personal experiences within this community, as LGBT+ people, family of LGBT+ people, and friends of LGBT+ people. All ages are not only welcome, but encouraged. Feel no pressure to identify with any label at this event, but feel free to talk openly about your experience if you want to. Dinner provided (soup and rolls), BYFSS (bring your favorite smores supply!). Questions? Talk to Rev. Miranda or Michelle Der Bedrosian.
Summer Flower Sign-Up: From June through August, 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, in your own gardens, or on the church grounds. 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.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES…
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2019: SAVE THE DATES – AUGUST 4 – 8! Plans are just starting to take shape but we expect to spend 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.