Intergenerational Sunday School, Sunday, July 7, 11:30AM: Stay after church (or come on over!) for a short Sunday school lesson for grownups, kids, youth and elders all together. We’ll hear and discuss the Godly Play Story of Creation, and we’ll be done by noon! This summer while we don’t have regular Sunday school during church, we will try out Sunday school for all ages together on a few Sundays.

Support our High School Youth Mission Trip! Our high school youth group heads out on July 18 for our annual mission trip to Racine. You can support us in a couple of ways!  First, become a sponsor! You’ll get a Thank You postcard from the youth. You can sponsor the trip by writing a check for $25.00 or more with “Youth Mission” as the memo, or by going to donate.stdunstans.com and choosing “Youth Trip Sponsorship.”Second: Bring donations that we can take to the places we’re visiting! Mary’s Room at St. Paul’s, Watertown, welcomes diapers, diaper cream, baby shampoo/soap, baby and toddler socks, and the Hospitality Center at St. Luke’s, Racine, welcomes razors, toothpaste, deodorant, underwear (for men or women), sunscreen, and nail clippers. Bring your donations to the church by Wednesday, July 17! 

Try out Plastic Free July! Plastic Free July doesn’t mean we’ll actually be able to avoid plastic for a month (or even a day!) – but that we’ll take some time to pay attention to plastic, especially single-use plastic, in our lives, and look for steps we can take. This is one way to live into our shared commitment to care for creation. Each week we’ll share an idea or direction for reducing single-use plastics! This week, the invitation is to explore the website, which has videos, a Pesky Plastics quiz, and lots of ideas and resources: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org . Here’s a quote from the Plastic Free July website: “Plastic Free July is an opportunity not only to look at our own plastic use and make individual changes, but a chance to be part of something bigger – to join with others and belong to a movement leading the way in changing both behaviour and policy.”

Come explore our neighborhood! Wednesday, July 10, Marshall Park, 7PM: Our Good Futures Accelerator team invites members of the parish to join us in exploring the streets and neighborhoods immediately surrounding the church. Many of us don’t live close by, and understanding the church’s location better will feed our shared wondering about how St. Dunstan’s might better engage with our neighbors in the future. At each session we’ll gather for brief instructions, head out to walk around for about a half hour (in pairs or one by one), then re-gather for some shared reflection; it should take about an hour overall.  On Wednesday, July 10, we’ll meet by the parking lot at Marshall Park at 7PM. Kids and youth welcome too!

Cookie Church, 6:30 – 7:30PM, Sunday, July 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! (Vespers folks, there WILL be Vespers this evening – Rev. Miranda will be in touch about plans!)

Second Summer Bat Count, Sunday evening, July 14, 8:30PM(ISH): Come hang out and count the bats emerging from the colony on our property. This is part of a statewide bat count to monitor bat populations, so it’s both science and a chance to get to know our (flying) neighbors. All are welcome! You’ll find us behind the main church building. You may appreciate bringing folding chairs or a blanket to lie on, and your favorite bug spray. It’s OK to bring snacks too. Arrive anytime between 8 and 8:30PM – it’s hard to know when the bats will start emerging. We’re usually done with the count by 9:15 or so, when the bats are mostly out and it gets too dark to count.

Summer Evening Drama Camp 2024, July 29 – August 2: Mark your calendars! This year’s Drama Camp will focus on the Biblical story (stories!!) of King David. Kids ages 5 through high school are invited. High schoolers (including rising 9th graders) are invited to participate as youth leaders and helpers and may choose to prepare and present a short portion of the David story as well. We’ll meet from 5:30 – 7:30, Monday through Friday, with performances on Friday; high schoolers may stay till 8PM. More information and registration forms soon! Friends very welcome!

St. Dunstan’s Saturday Book Club, 10 am, August 3, 2024: Join us as we discuss “The Story of More” by Hope Jahren (2020). This will be a Zoom meeting; contact the church for a zoom link. Synopsis “Hope Jahren, an award-winning geobiologist and writer, pens “The Story of More,” an impassioned open letter to humanity regarding our future. Jahren acknowledges our impressive accomplishments but warns of the dangerous consequences of our excessive consumption, particularly in relation to carbon dioxide emissions. She explains the science behind key inventions, such as electricity and automobiles that contribute to climate change. Jahren emphasizes the urgent need for change and offers science-based solutions. “The Story of More” is a concise primer on climate change that urges us to use less and share more for the sake of our planet’s survival.”
Would you like to join one of St. Dunstan’s most important ministry teams? Our Giving Campaign team usually starts its work over the summer, and we’re looking for new members! Useful skills include writing, graphic design, event planning, project management, strategic visioning, and much more! You don’t need to be a “money person.” Around 85% of St. Dunstan’s annual income comes from members’ pledged giving, so this work is truly essential for St. Dunstan’s to sustain and grow our ministries. Let Rev. Miranda know if you are interested or want to learn more.

Prayer List

For all essential workers and healthcare workers:

Carol, Anna, Clara, Jenileigh, Holly, Tim, Kieran, Crystal, Alexis, Carrie, Jim, Jake, Krista, Linda, Sean, Cynthia, Tracy, Mike, Hayden, Cass, Misty, John, Becca, Amy, Jess, James, Debra, Eric, Madelynn.

For those in any need or trouble, especially those on our parish prayer list: Billie, Jenny, Jeb, Bill, John, Pete, Terry, Dan,  Peg, Natalia, Cassia, Steve, John, Joe, Pamela, Matthew, Barbara, Vita, Scott, Sandy, Ben, Michael, Dwight, Kay, Kathy, John, April, Marvalene, Barbara, Bernice, Katie, and Joanne. We pray as well for those living with addiction and those struggling in recovery, and for all those living with mental illness.

For all who have died, especially Ann; and for those who mourn, especially Mary. 

For these people serving our country:

Zoe, Dennis, Liam, Conner, Eric, Luke, Nicholas, Joseph, Diane, and Sam and their families.