TONIGHT…

Music and Liturgy meeting, Thursday, April 21, 7pm: We’ll meet to check in on our core liturgical ministries and share ideas for the seasons ahead. All interested folks are welcome!

THIS WEEKEND…

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, April 22, 6:30pm – Please note new location: Join our monthly get-together as we dine at area restaurants and enjoy good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at the Freska Mediterranean Grill at 8310 Greenway Boulevard in Middleton. 

St. Francis House 100th Anniversary Dinner, Saturday, April 23, 4-8pm at St. Dunstan’s: The celebration begins at SFH with Evening Prayer at 5:15 pm, led by Bishop Miller, and the blessing of a large icon. Drazen Dupor, the iconographer, will be on hand to speak about the icon. The celebration continues at St. Dunstan’s, with dinner at 6:30pm. Ample parking will be available at St. Dunstan’s with a shuttle to and from campus for evening prayer. Tickets are $35. Seating will be limited to 100 people. You can reserve your tickets for the evening at www.stfancisuw.org.

Healing Democracy, One Heart at a Time, Sunday, April 24, 9am: We will explore techniques for creating safe spaces in which to talk honestly, strive to transcend partisanship and reconnect as human beings across the political gulfs that divide us. We’ll experiment with five habits that author Parker Palmer believes will help heal our hearts and the collective heart of our nation. All are welcome!

Last Sunday Worship, Sunday, April 24, 10am: 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. This Sunday we’ll receive Jesus’ teaching about the Great Commandment – love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. NOTE: Our 8am service always follows our regular order of worship.

Middle School Lunch & Learn, Sunday, April 24, 12-1pm: Rev. Miranda invites the 10-and-up youth of the parish to meet with her for lunch after church. We’ll dig into faith, Scripture, life, and our questions about all three. We’ll wrap up by 1pm, and we can arrange rides home for the kids if that help parents’ schedules.

Sing Out Loud! Sunday, April 24, 3pm at St. Dunstan’s: Choirs from congregations that support Middleton Outreach Ministries are joining together to present favorite anthems in an afternoon concert on Sunday, April 24th at 3 pm. The concert will benefit Middleton Outreach Ministries. Admission is free, but everyone is encouraged to bring personal care items (soap, deodorant, feminine products, toothpaste, etc.) for MOM to distribute. Cash/checks are accepted, too. Come join us for an enjoyable and participatory afternoon of Song!

Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday, April 24, 7pm: Every fourth Sunday, a loyal group of St. Dunstan’s folk provides dinner for resident at the Grace Church shelter, and breakfast the next morning. See the signup sheet in the Gathering Area to help out.

Work Evening, Wednesday, April 27, 5:30 – 7:30pm: Come eat some pizza and help out on the grounds for an hour or so. We’ll be working down in the woods, to clear out some boxelder and buckthorn that threaten to crowd out some of the plants we like better, like currants and raspberries! Warm clothes appropriate for outdoor work and gloves are recommended. We will have childcare and a movie for non-working kids.

Altar Flowers: April and May dates available! Honor a loved one or a special event with altar flowers. Reserve your special date by writing your dedication on the sign-up sheet. Suggested donation is $35. Write “flowers” on the memo line of your check or on envelope containing cash, or donate online at donate.stdunstans.com.

Coffee Hosts Needed! Please consider being a coffee host. Sign-up sheets for upcoming Sundays can be found in the Gathering Area. Thanks!

St. Dunstan’s Diaper Drive, April 17 – May 8: 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 April 17 until Mother’s Day, May 8. We will donate the diapers to pantries around the area, including Allied Drive Food Pantry, Kennedy Heights, and MOM (if needed). 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 Mother’s Day. Thanks for your support!

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Confirmation Service, Saturday, April 30, 10:00am, at Grace Episcopal Church on the Square: A service of confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church for those who participated in the Madison-area Episcopal parishes’ shared Confirmation class during Lent. One new member of St. Dunstan’s will be confirmed at this service. All are invited to attend and celebrate those committing themselves to our way of faith, and our unity as the Episcopal Church in Dane County!

Men’s Book Group, DATE CHANGE – Saturday, May 7, 10am: The book is English Creek by Ivan Doig. Jack McCaskill accompanies his father on a horseback journey to count sheep onto mountain rangeland allotted by the national forest—a routine yearly duty that leads to the revelation of a long-kept family secret. Events develop over the course of the summer and end in a forest fire that brings the book, as well as the Catskill family’s struggle within itself, to a stunning climax.

An Introduction to Charitable Giving, Sunday, May 1, 11:30am: Come for lunch with several of the folk of St. Dunstan’s who have expertise in the areas of financial management, charitable giving, and taxes. They’ll outline the logistics of different ways of giving to your favorite organizations or causes, different kinds of gifts, and tax implications of giving. Questions welcome too! Folks of all ages and incomes are encouraged to come; child care will be provided.

Healing Prayers: Next Sunday, one of our ministers will offer healing prayers for those who wish to receive prayers for themselves or on behalf of others.

Birthdays and anniversaries will be honored next Sunday, May 1, as is our custom on the first Sunday of every month. Come forward after the Announcements to receive a blessing and the community’s prayers.

MOM Special Offering, Sunday, May 1: 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: pouch/canned meat, sugar, size 6 diapers, meals in a can, ketchup/mayonnaise, canned potatoes (any variety), laundry detergent, non-perishable lactose free milk, plastic grocery bags, paper grocery bags. MOM is always in need of quality bedding and household items as well. Thank you for all your support!

Backpack Snack Pack, Sunday, May 1, 12pm: Every month St. Dunstanites of all ages help pack Backpack Snack Packs for local school children from low-income households, so that they have nutritious snacks available over the weekend. We’ll work in the Meeting Room following the 10am service.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, May 1, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins.

Proclaiming Love in a Polarized World: An Open Meeting with the Bishop, Wednesday, May 4, St. Dunstan’s Church, 6:30 – 8:00pm: Our bishop Steven Miller will be making his annual visit to St. Dunstan’s next month. All members of St. Dunstan’s are invited to an open conversation, over tea and cookies, about how to be witnesses for a loving God in a time of so much polarization and division in our public life.

Words in Season: Mothers – All Kinds, Sunday, May 8: Dear performance and poetry loving members of St. Dunstan’s, join us for a seasonal celebration of words and the spirit. Daniel Hanson and Evy Gildrie-Voyles invite you to bring a poem to share, loosely connected to our theme of Mothers – all kinds: good and bad, yours or somebody else’s, real or metaphorical. If your chosen poem is long, please consider reading a selected portion, to allow time for all to share. We will share our poems in the Nave after folks have had a chance to get a bite to eat at Coffee Hour. All ages are welcome to participate. No memorizing is necessary.

Spring Clean-up Day, Sunday, May 15, 12-2pm: Join us after the 10 am service to put some “sweat equity” into tending our beautiful buildings and grounds. Wear or bring your scruffy clothes and work gloves. Lunch will be provided! A list of tasks will be posted in the Gathering Area by Sunday the 1st. We will also have a Pre-Clean-Up Day on Saturday, May 14, from 9am to noon, to do some prep work for the parish work day and some of the more skilled work needed on our grounds.

St. Dunstan’s Day All-Ages Worship & Hat and Tie Sunday, May 22:  We will celebrate the feast day of our saint, Dunstan, on Sunday, May 22. You’re invited to mark the occasion by dressing up with a fancy hat and/or tie – wear your own or borrow one from the collection at church. We will also take up a special collection for scholarships for the Diocese of Milwaukee’s camp program, Camp Webb. It’s our custom to take photos of the whole congregation after the 10am service that Sunday; we hope you’ll stay a few moments to participate.

Vacation Bible School Dates Set! Our summer Vacation Bible School will take place from Sunday, July 31, through Thursday, August 4, 5:30-7:30pm. Kids ages 3-10 are welcome to participate; kids 11 and up may participate as actors and helpers. We hope these dates are helpful to St. Dunstan’s families making summer plans.

40th Annual Women’s Mini Week – Surprised by Joy! – August 11 – 14, 2016, Camp Lakotah, Wautoma, Wisconsin: This is your time to retreat from your everyday routines, to allow discoveries and friendships to refresh you, to find comfortable activity or blissful quiet. Registration forms are in the Gathering Area. For more information, see the website at www.womensminisweek.org.

Creation Care Task Force Update

Christ wears ‘two shoes’ in the world: scripture and nature. Both are necessary to understand the Lord, and at no stage can creation be seen as a separation of things from God. – John Scotus Eriugena (810-877)

St. Dunstan’s Creation Care Task Force has met twice so far. We’ve explored the deep streams in Scripture and Christian theology that call us to seek and honor God through God’s creation, and that link our wellbeing to the wellbeing of the world. We’ve shared stories and memories of the importance of the natural world in our own lives and spirituality. We’ve tried on John Muir Laws’ definition of “love” as “sustained compassionate attention” and begun to ask ourselves, what could it look like to be a faith community that practices sustained compassionate attention towards the natural world – both the bit of it that “belongs” to us, here at 6205 University Drive, and the larger landscape and systems of which we are a part? We’ll continue that conversation, at both big-picture and nitty-gritty levels, in the months ahead. Please continue to hold our conversations and work in prayer, and look for signs of God’s presence and love in Nature’s overwhelming life and beauty in this spring season!

SUNDAY, APRIL 17…

Healing Democracy, One Heart at a Time, begins this Sunday, 9am: We will explore techniques for creating safe spaces in which to talk honestly, strive to transcend partisanship and reconnect as human beings across the political gulfs that divide us. We’ll experiment with five habits that author Parker Palmer believes will help heal our hearts and the collective heart of our nation. In a year of contentious politics, let’s claim this opportunity to engage in deep conversation and strengthen the ties connecting our faith, our hearts, our convictions and our communities. Watch this space for more details, but please consider participating in the weeks ahead!

Sunday School, 10am: Our 3-5 year old class will explore the story of the Good Shepherd, while our 6 – 10 year old class will learn about Peter’s healing of Tabitha. Our Sunday school classes usually meet on the second and third Sundays of every month. All kids are welcome!

Christian Formation Meeting, 12noon: Gather with us to help us plan our Formation programs for all ages for the months ahead, especially the summer. All interested folks are welcome!

Evening Eucharist, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins.

Younger Adults Meetup at the Vintage, 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.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund: 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.

Coffee Hosts Needed! Please consider being a coffee host. We have an opening on April 24 and several in the months ahead. Sign-up sheets for upcoming Sundays can be found in the Gathering Area. Thanks for lending a hand!

St. Dunstan’s Diaper Drive, April 17 – May 8: 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 April 17 until Mother’s Day, May 8. We will donate the diapers to pantries around the area, including Allied Drive Food Pantry, Kennedy Heights, and MOM (if needed). 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 Mother’s Day. Thanks for your support!

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Vestry Meeting, Wednesday, April 20, 6:45pm: The Vestry is the elected leadership body of our parish. Any members are welcome to attend our meetings, to observe or to raise questions or ideas.

Music and Liturgy meeting, Thursday, April 21, 7pm: We’ll meet to check in on our core liturgical ministries and share ideas for the seasons ahead. All interested folks are welcome!

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, April 22, 6:30pm – Please note new location: Join our monthly get-together as we dine at area restaurants and enjoy good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at the Freska Mediterranean Grill at 8310 Greenway Boulevard in Middleton.

St. Francis House 100th Anniversary Dinner, Saturday, April 23, 4-8pm at St. Dunstan’s: On April 23, St. Francis House celebrates the ministry’s 100th anniversary, a celebration that belongs to all of the Episcopal churches in our diocese and to everyone who has been a part of SFH. The celebration begins at SFH with Evening Prayer at 5:15 pm, led by Bishop Miller, and the blessing of a large icon, gifted to SFH by the alumni family. Drazen Dupor, the iconographer, will be on hand to speak about the icon. There will be displays from different eras at SFH, a short program, and lots of new and old friends. The celebration continues at St. Dunstan’s, with dinner at 6:30pm. Ample parking will be available at St. Dunstan’s with a shuttle to and from campus for evening prayer. Tickets are $35. Seating will be limited to 100 people. You can reserve your tickets for the evening at www.stfancisuw.org.

Last Sunday Worship, Sunday, April 24, 10am: 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. This Sunday we’ll receive Jesus’ teaching about the Great Commandment – love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. NOTE: Our 8am service always follows our regular order of worship.

Middle School Lunch & Learn, Sunday, April 24, 12-1pm: Rev. Miranda invites the 10-and-up youth of the parish to meet with her for lunch after church. We’ll dig into faith, Scripture, life, and our questions about all three. We’ll wrap up by 1pm, and we can arrange rides home for the kids if that help parents’ schedules.

Sing Out Loud! Sunday, April 24, 3pm at St. Dunstan’s: Choirs from congregations that support Middleton Outreach Ministries are joining together to present favorite anthems in an afternoon concert on Sunday, April 24th at 3 pm. The concert will benefit Middleton Outreach Ministries. Admission is free, but everyone is encouraged to bring personal care items (soap, deodorant, feminine products, toothpaste, etc.) for MOM to distribute. Cash/checks are accepted, too. Come join us for an enjoyable and participatory afternoon of Song!

MOM Canstruction,”sCANing the Galaxy!” April 18-24 at West Towne Mall: Teams will be building giant structures made of canned goods and packaged food that will be donated to MOM’s Food Pantry. You may vote for your favorite structure through Facebook and Instagram or at the mall. Canstruction Madison competitions have raised over 160 tons of food over the past five years, and the event helps bring additional awareness of the needs of our community. Check it out—it’s a fun event!

Volunteers Needed for DeCanstruction, Sunday, April 24, 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 18. To help with the “de-Canstruction” work, you must be reasonably able-bodied (but not everybody has to do heavy lifting). Sign up if you’d like to join this year’s team; we are looking for a team of 5 people. Volunteers are invited and encouraged to attend the Awards Ceremony in the mall food court at 6:30pm before beginning our work.

Confirmation Service, Saturday, April 30, 10:00am, at Grace Episcopal Church on the Square: A service of confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church for those who participated in the Madison-area Episcopal parishes’ shared Confirmation class during Lent. One new member of St. Dunstan’s will be confirmed at this service. All are invited to attend and celebrate those committing themselves to our way of faith, and our unity as the Episcopal Church in Dane County!

Men’s Book Group, Saturday, April 30, 10am: The book is English Creek by Ivan Doig.  A long-kept family secret leads to conflicts over the course of a summer that ends in a forest fire and a stunning climax.

An Introduction to Charitable Giving, Sunday, May 1, 11:30am: Come for lunch with several of the folk of St. Dunstan’s who have expertise in the areas of financial management, charitable giving, and taxes. They’ll outline the logistics of different ways of giving to your favorite organizations or causes, different kinds of gifts, and tax implications of giving. Questions welcome! Folks of all ages and incomes are encouraged to come; child care will be provided.

Proclaiming Love in a Polarized World: An Open Meeting with the Bishop, Wednesday, May 4, St. Dunstan’s Church, 6:30 – 8:00pm: Our bishop Steven Miller will be making his annual visit to St. Dunstan’s next month. All members of St. Dunstan’s are invited to an open conversation, over tea and cookies, about how to be witnesses for a loving God in a time of so much polarization and division in our public life.

Spring Clean-up Day, Sunday, May 15: Join us after the 10 am service to put some “sweat equity” into tending our beautiful buildings and grounds. Wear or bring your scruffy clothes and work gloves. Lunch will be provided!

St. Dunstan’s Day All-Ages Worship & Hat and Tie Sunday, May 22:  We will celebrate the feast day of our saint, Dunstan, on Sunday, May 22. You’re invited to mark the occasion by dress up with a fancy hat and/or tie – wear your own or borrow one from the collection at church. We will also take up a special collection for scholarships for the Diocese of Milwaukee’s camp program, Camp Webb. It’s our custom to take photos of the whole congregation after the 10am service that Sunday; we hope you’ll stay a few moments to participate.

Vacation Bible School Dates Set! Our summer Vacation Bible School will take place from Sunday, July 31, through Thursday, August 4, 5:30-7:30pm. Kids ages 3-10 are welcome to participate; kids 11 and up may participate as actors and helpers. We hope these dates are helpful to St. Dunstan’s families making summer plans.

40th Annual Women’s Mini Week – Surprised by Joy! – August 11 – 14, 2016, Camp Lakotah, Wautoma, Wisconsin: This is your time to retreat from your everyday routines, to allow discoveries and friendships to refresh you, to find comfortable activity or blissful quiet. Registration forms are in the Gathering Area. For more information, see the website at www.womensminisweek.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 10…

Guest Preacher: Vivienne Anderson will preach at both services this day. Vivienne is a storyteller, realtor, community leader and former pastor, who can fly, forgive sins, and sell a large house in a single day. We welcome Vivienne to our pulpit and look forward to hearing her reflect on our Scriptures!

Trans Issues 101, 9am: The idea of transgender people is still new (and perplexing) to many of us. Vivienne Anderson, our guest preacher, is a community educator and would like to share her story and answer your questions. We’ll gather in the Meeting Room at 9am.

Sunday School, 10am: Our 3-5 year old class will explore the many styles and meanings of crosses, while our 6 – 10 year old class will reflect on the conversion of the apostle Paul. Our Sunday school classes usually meet on the second and third Sundays of every month. All kids are welcome!

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, 11:45am: 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.

Greeters Needed for the 10am service: If you enjoy making people feel at home, please consider signing up to be a greeter on Sunday mornings. Greeters serve once a month. Here’s a basic job description: arrive 15 minutes before worship starts, greet people as they arrive, help any newcomers or guests find what they need to participate and be comfortable. If you are interested or would like to learn more, sign up in the Gathering Area or talk with Bernice Mason or Rev. Miranda.

Coffee Hosts Needed! Please consider being a coffee host. We have several openings in April and May. Sign-up sheets for upcoming Sundays can be found in the Gathering Area. For more information, contact Janet Bybee. Thanks for lending a hand.

Online Giving Options: If you’d like to make a financial gift to St. Dunstan’s but don’t carry cash or checks, you can give online by visiting donate.stdunstans.com on your smartphone or computer.  You can make a donation in any amount, either as a general gift or an outreach gift (to be passed on to the wider community).  We use Square, a widely-used secure service, to process online donations.  If you’d like to put something in the offering plate to represent your gift, you can pick up an “I Gave Online” card on the way into church.  Regular givers may wish to set up a recurring payment through your bank, which avoids the modest transaction fees that Square charges us. Thanks to all those who contribute financially and in so many other ways to sustain and grow our ministry together here at St. Dunstan’s!

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, April 13, 7:15 – 9:00pm: The Madison-Area Julian Gathering has been meeting for six years, reading and discussing the hopeful theology of St. Julian of Norwich, and practicing contemplative prayer together. Upon having worked our way carefully through Julian’s 14th Century masterpiece of trust and joy in the goodness of God, we’ve decided to start at the beginning and do it all over again! If you’re interested in getting in on the ground floor, please join us!

Easter Season 2016: Healing Democracy, One Heart at a Time – Sundays at 9am, starting on April 17, we will explore techniques for creating safe spaces in which to talk honestly, strive to transcend partisanship and reconnect as human beings across the political gulfs that divide us. We’ll experiment with five habits that author Parker Palmer believes will help heal our hearts and the collective heart of our nation. In a year of contentious politics, let’s claim this opportunity to engage in deep conversation and strengthen the ties connecting our faith, our hearts, our convictions and our communities. Watch this space for more details, but please consider participating in the weeks ahead!

Sunday School, Sunday, April 17, 10am: Our 3-5 year old class will explore the story of the Good Shepherd, while our 6 – 10 year old class will learn about Peter’s healing of Tabitha. All kids are welcome!

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, April 17, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund, Sunday, April 17: 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.

Music and Liturgy meeting, Thursday, April 21, 7pm: We’ll meet to check in on our core liturgical ministries and share ideas for the seasons ahead. All interested folks are welcome!

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, April 22, 6:30pm: Join our monthly get-together as we dine at area restaurants and enjoy good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at the Marrakesh Restaurant at 5510 University Avenue in Madison.

St. Francis House 100th Anniversary Dinner, Saturday, April 23, 4-8pm at St. Dunstan’s: The celebration begins at SFH with Evening Prayer at 5:15 pm, led by Bishop Miller, and the blessing of a large icon, gifted to SFH by the alumni family. The celebration continues at St. Dunstan’s, with dinner at 6:30pm. Ample parking will be available at St. Dunstan’s with a shuttle to and from campus for evening prayer. Tickets are $35. Seating will be limited to 100 people. You can reserve your tickets for the evening at www.stfancisuw.org.

Sing Out Loud! Sunday, April 24, 3pm at St. Dunstan’s: Choirs from congregations that support Middleton Outreach Ministries are joining together to present favorite anthems in an afternoon concert on Sunday, April 24th at 3 pm. The concert will benefit Middleton Outreach Ministries. Admission is free, but everyone is encouraged to bring personal care items (soap, deodorant, feminine products, toothpaste, etc.) for MOM to distribute. Cash/checks are accepted, too. Come for an enjoyable and participatory afternoon of Song!

Confirmation Service, Saturday, April 30, 10:00am, at Grace Episcopal Church on the Square: A service of confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church for those who participated in the Madison-area Episcopal parishes’ shared Confirmation class during Lent. One new member of St. Dunstan’s will be confirmed at this service. All are invited to attend and celebrate those committing themselves to our way of faith, and our unity as the Episcopal Church in Dane County!

Men’s Book Group, Saturday, April 30, 10am: The book is English Creek by Ivan Doig. A long-kept family secret brings tension and family struggles over a summer that ends in a forest fire and a stunning finale.

An Introduction to Charitable Giving, Sunday, May 1, 11:30am: Come for lunch with several of the folk of St. Dunstan’s who have expertise in the areas of financial management, charitable giving, and taxes. They’ll outline the logistics of different ways of giving to your favorite organizations or causes, different kinds of gifts, and tax implications of giving. Questions welcome too! Folks of all ages and incomes are encouraged to come; child care will be provided.

40th Annual Women’s Mini Week – Surprised by Joy! – August 11 – 14, 2016, Camp Lakotah, Wautoma, Wisconsin: This is your time to retreat from your everyday routines, to allow discoveries and friendships to refresh you, to find comfortable activity or blissful quiet. Registration forms are in the Gathering Area. For more information, see the website at www.womensminisweek.org.

THIS WEEKEND…

Outreach Committee Open Meeting Invitation, Saturday, April 2, 8:00am: The Outreach Committee at St. Dunstan’s oversees and coordinates all the many ways that the people of St. Dunstan’s serve those in need beyond our parish, by sharing our time and skills as volunteers and by giving funds and other resources. Outreach Committee meetings are always open to interested folk, but we especially invite those who would like to learn more or get involved to attend our upcoming meeting. We’ll offer an overview of our core ministries, and we’d love to hear about your ideas or passions! We gather with a simple potluck breakfast at 8am, then move into the meeting proper at 8:30am.

Little Free Library Planning Meeting, Sunday, April 3, at 9:15am: We will have a brief meeting to familiarize interested folk with our Little Free Library and discuss how to organize a team to maintain it in the months ahead. All are welcome! 

Retirement Celebration for Deacon Sybil, Sunday, April 3, after the 10am service: The Rev. Sybil Robinson is a much-beloved elder of our parish, an Episcopal deacon, and a retired professor of theater and drama. Sybil has proclaimed the Gospel faithfully for us for many years, even at the age of ninety-one. Sybil will soon retire from serving in this capacity, though she will continue to worship with us as she is able. Come join us for a celebration of Sybil’s ministry. Please thank Sybil for the blessing of her beautiful and well-trained voice, all these years!

Backpack Snack Pack, Sunday, April 3, 11:45am: Every month St. Dunstanites of all ages help pack Backpack Snack Packs for local school children from low-income households, so that they have nutritious snacks available over the weekend. We’ll work in the Meeting Room following the 10am service.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, April 3, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins. All are welcome.

Birthday and Anniversaries will be honored this Sunday, April 3, as is our custom on the first Sunday of every month. Come forward after the Announcements to receive a blessing and the community’s prayers.

Healing Prayer, Sunday, April 3: This Sunday, one of our ministers will offer healing prayers for those who wish to receive prayers for themselves or on behalf of others.

MOM Special Offering, Sunday April 3: This Sunday, half the cash in our offering plate and any designated checks will be given to Middleton Outreach Ministry’s food pantry. Groceries are welcome gifts too. Here are the top ten items most needed currently: pouch/canned meat, sugar, size 6 diapers, meals in a can, ketchup/mayonnaise, canned potatoes, laundry detergent, non-perishable lactose free milk, plastic grocery bags, paper grocery bags. Quality bedding items such as comforters, sheets, blankets and towels are always in need too. Thank you for all your support!

Easter Season Reflection Booklets: The young adults of the Episcopal churches of Madison (including two of our own) have written reflections for each day of Easter season. Pick up a booklet to enjoy in the weeks ahead!

Greeters Needed for the 10am service: If you enjoy making people feel at home, please consider signing up to be a greeter on Sunday mornings. Greeters serve once a month. Here’s a basic job description: arrive 15 minutes before worship starts, greet people as they arrive, help any newcomers or guests find what they need to participate and be comfortable. If you are interested or would like to learn more, sign up in the Gathering Area or talk with Bernice Mason or Rev. Miranda.

Coffee Hosts Needed! Please consider being a coffee host. We have several openings in April and May. Sign-up sheets for upcoming Sundays can be found in the Gathering Area. For more information, Contact Janet Bybee. Thanks for lending a hand.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Guest Preacher, Sunday, April 10: Vivienne Anderson will preach at both services. Vivienne is a storyteller, realtor, community leader and former pastor, who can fly, forgive sins, and sell a large house in a single day. We welcome Vivienne to our pulpit and look forward to hearing her reflect on our Scriptures!

Trans Issues 101, Sunday, April 10, 9am: The idea of transgender people is still new (and perplexing) to many of us. Vivienne Anderson, our guest preacher, is a community educator and would like to share her story and answer your questions. We’ll gather in the Meeting Room at 9am.

Sunday School, Sunday, April 10, 10am: Our 3-5 year old class will explore the many styles and meanings of crosses, while our 6 – 10 year old class will reflect on the conversion of the apostle Paul. Our Sunday school classes usually meet on the second and third Sundays of every month. All kids are welcome!

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, April 10, 11:45am: 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.

Easter Season 2016: Healing Democracy, One Heart at a Time – On Sundays at 9am in Easter Season, starting on April 17 (** please note date change **), we will explore techniques for creating safe spaces in which to talk honestly, strive to transcend partisanship and reconnect as human beings across the political gulfs that divide us. We’ll experiment with five habits that author Parker Palmer believes will help heal our hearts and the collective heart of our nation:

1. An understanding that we are all in this together.
2. An appreciation of the value of otherness.
3. An ability to hold tension in life-giving ways.
4. A sense of personal voice or agency.
5. A capacity to create community.

In a year of contentious politics, let’s claim this opportunity to engage in deep conversation and strengthen the ties connecting our faith, our hearts, our convictions and our communities. Watch this space for more details, but please consider participating in the weeks ahead!

Sing Out Loud! Sunday, April 24, 3pm: St. Dunstan’s Choir is hosting a choir festival on April 24^th at 3 p.m., to benefit Middleton Outreach Ministries (MOM). Choirs from MOM congregations will be joining our singers to present an afternoon concert. Please bring personal care or household cleaning items for the MOM pantry. Al Ripp, the Executive Director of MOM will speak to us about MOM’s work in our area. Help spread the word!

St. Francis House 100th Anniversary Dinner, Saturday, April 23, 4-8pm at St. Dunstan’s: On April 23, St. Francis House celebrates the ministry’s 100th anniversary, a celebration that belongs to all of the Episcopal churches in our diocese and to everyone who has been a part of SFH. The celebration begins at SFH with Evening Prayer at 5:15 pm, led by Bishop Miller, and the blessing of a large icon, gifted to SFH by the alumni family. Drazen Dupor, the iconographer, will be on hand to speak about the icon. There will be displays from different eras at SFH, a short program, and lots of new and old friends. The celebration continues at St. Dunstan’s, with dinner at 6:30pm. Ample parking will be available at St. Dunstan’s with a shuttle to and from campus for evening prayer. Tickets are $35. Seating will be limited to 100 people. You can reserve your tickets for the evening at www.stfancisuw.org.

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, April 13, 7:15 – 9:00pm: The Madison-Area Julian Gathering has been meeting for six years, reading and discussing the hopeful theology of St. Julian of Norwich, and practicing contemplative prayer together. Upon having worked our way carefully through Julian’s 14th Century masterpiece of trust and joy in the goodness of God, we’ve decided to start at the beginning and do it all over again! If you’re interested in getting in on the ground floor, please join us!

Men’s Book Group, Saturday, April 30, 10am: The book is English Creek by Ivan Doig. Jack McCaskill accompanies his father on a horseback journey to count sheep onto mountain rangeland allotted by the national forest—a routine yearly duty that leads to the revelation of a long-kept family secret. Events develop over the course of the summer and end in a forest fire that brings the book, as well as the Catskill family’s struggle within itself, to a stunning climax.

An Introduction to Charitable Giving, Sunday, May 1, 11:30am: Come for lunch with several of the folk of St. Dunstan’s who have expertise in the areas of financial management, charitable giving, and taxes. They’ll outline the logistics of different ways of giving to your favorite organizations or causes, different kinds of gifts, and tax implications of giving. Questions welcome too! Folks of all ages and incomes are encouraged to come; child care will be provided.

Vacation Bible School Dates Set! Our summer Vacation Bible School will take place from Sunday, July 31, through Thursday, August 4, 5:30-7:30pm. Kids ages 3-10 are welcome to participate; kids 11 and up may participate as actors and helpers. We hope these dates are helpful to St. Dunstan’s families making summer plans.

40th Annual Women’s Mini Week – Surprised by Joy! – August 11 – 14, 2016, Camp Lakotah, Wautoma, Wisconsin: This is your time to retreat from your everyday routines, to allow discoveries and friendships to refresh you, to find comfortable activity or blissful quiet. Registration forms are in the Gathering Area. For more information, see the website at www.womensminisweek.org.

Maundy Thursday, Tonight, 6pm: in our Maundy liturgy, we will walk through Jesus’ final evening with his friends before his arrest, including a simple shared meal, foot washing (optional), and the stripping of the altar.

• Please bring 30 pieces of change (dimes, nickels, pennies) – or just a handful.
• People of all ages are welcome in this liturgy.

Night watch Vigil Sign-Up: From 8:30pm till midnight on Thursday, March 24, following our Maundy Thursday service, and from 6am till noon on Good Friday, March 25, members of St. Dunstan’s will keep a vigil of prayer in the church, in pairs. Sign up in the Gathering Area for your desired shift. Come in silence, sit or kneel in silence, depart in silence. Reading material will be provided.

Good Friday Liturgies, Friday, March 25, 12 noon and 7pm: A solemn liturgy recalling Christ’s death on the cross. Our 7pm service is followed by the Good Friday Wake, a one-hour vigil in which we honor Jesus’ death and remember our own beloved dead. Reflect on the poetry, art, and Scripture of Jesus’ death and the grief of his friends. Hot cross buns and tea will be served.

Friday, March 25, 4pm, Children’s Good Friday Service: This service is best for kids ages 3 to 10. We will walk the Stations of the Cross together, exploring the story and what it means to us.

The Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday, March 26, 8pm: The Easter Vigil is one of Christianity’s most ancient and beautiful liturgies: fire and water, music and art, darkness and light, death and resurrection! Please bring bells and noisemakers. We will use INCENSE at this liturgy. The Great Vigil liturgy is appropriate for adults, youth, and older kids; it is about two hours long.

Easter Sunday, Sunday, March 27, 8am & 10am: Celebrate Easter with the St. Dunstan’s community! After each service, there will be an Easter egg hunt for children. Visitors and guests are very welcome!

Easter Season Reflection Booklets: The young adults of the Episcopal churches of Madison (including two of our own) have written reflections for each day of Easter season. Pick up a booklet to enjoy in the weeks ahead!

Holy Week Offerings:  As is our custom, offerings made during our Holy Week services will go to support particular agencies and ministries. Maundy Thursday offerings will go to Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) here in Madison. Good Friday offerings will go to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Easter Vigil offerings will go to Episcopal Relief & Development. Thank you for your generosity.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Outreach Committee Open Meeting Invitation, Saturday, April 2, 8:00am: The Outreach Committee at St. Dunstan’s oversees and coordinates all the many ways that the people of St. Dunstan’s serve those in need beyond our parish, by sharing our time and skills as volunteers and by giving funds and other resources. Outreach Committee meetings are always open to interested folk, but we especially invite those who would like to learn more or get involved to attend our upcoming meeting. We’ll offer an overview of our core ministries, and we’d love to hear about your ideas or passions! We gather with a simple potluck breakfast at 8am, then move into the meeting proper at 8:30am.

Little Free Library Planning Meeting: On Sunday, April 3, at 9:15am we will have a brief meeting to familiarize interested folk with our Little Free Library and discuss how to organize a team to maintain it in the months ahead. All are welcome! 

Retirement Celebration for Deacon Sybil, Sunday, April 3^rd after the 10am service: The Rev. Sybil Robinson is a much-beloved elder of our parish, an Episcopal deacon, and a retired professor of theater and drama. Sybil has proclaimed the Gospel faithfully for us for many years, even at the age of ninety-one. Sybil will soon retire from serving in this capacity, though she will continue to worship with us as she is able. Come join us for a celebration of Sybil’s ministry. Please thank Sybil for the blessing of her beautiful and well-trained voice, all these years!

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, April 3, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins. All are welcome.

Birthday and Anniversaries will be honored next Sunday, April 3, as is our custom on the first Sunday of every month. Come forward after the Announcements to receive a blessing and the community’s prayers.

Healing Prayer, Sunday, April 3: Next Sunday, one of our ministers will offer healing prayers for those who wish to receive prayers for themselves or on behalf of others.

MOM Special Offering, Sunday April 3: Next Sunday, half the cash in our offering plate and any designated checks will be given to Middleton Outreach Ministry’s food pantry. Groceries are welcome gifts too. Here are the top ten items most needed currently: pouch/canned meat, sugar, size 6 diapers, meals in a can, ketchup/mayonnaise, canned potatoes, laundry detergent, non-perishable lactose free milk, plastic grocery bags, paper grocery bags. Quality bedding items such as comforters, sheets, blankets and towels are always in need too. Thank you for all your support!

Easter Season 2016: Healing Democracy, One Heart at a Time – On Sundays at 9am in Easter Season, starting on April 10, we will explore techniques for creating safe spaces in which to talk honestly, strive to transcend partisanship and reconnect as human beings across the political gulfs that divide us. We’ll experiment with five habits that author Parker Palmer believes will help heal our hearts and the collective heart of our nation:

1. An understanding that we are all in this together.
2. An appreciation of the value of otherness.
3. An ability to hold tension in life-giving ways.
4. A sense of personal voice or agency.
5. A capacity to create community.

In a year of contentious politics, let’s claim this opportunity to engage in deep conversation and strengthen the ties connecting our faith, our hearts, our convictions and our communities. Watch this space for more details, but please consider participating in the weeks ahead!

Sing Out Loud! Sunday, April 24, 3pm: St. Dunstan’s Choir is hosting a choir festival on April 24^th at 3 p.m., to benefit Middleton Outreach Ministries (MOM). Choirs from MOM congregations will be joining our singers to present an afternoon concert. Please bring personal care or household cleaning items for the MOM pantry. Al Ripp, the Executive Director of MOM will speak to us about MOM’s work in our area. Help spread the word!

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, April 13, 7:15 – 9:00pm: The Madison-Area Julian Gathering has been meeting for six years, reading and discussing the hopeful theology of St. Julian of Norwich, and practicing contemplative prayer together. Upon having worked our way carefully through Julian’s 14th Century masterpiece of trust and joy in the goodness of God, we’ve decided to start at the beginning and do it all over again! If you’re interested in getting in on the ground floor, please join us!

SUNDAY,  MARCH 20…

Palm and Passion Sunday, March 20, 8 and 10am: We begin our liturgy with a Palm Procession, recalling Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, then proceed to the reading of the Passion Gospel according to Mark. This is a solemn, powerful service, and our doorway into Holy Week. People of all ages are welcome in this liturgy.

Sunday School, 10am: This week, we invite kids, ages 3 to 6, to come down to our Godly Play classroom for the Faces of Easter lesson, an exploration of the Easter story for young children. Kids, ages 7 and up, are invited to remain in church for the reading of the Passion Gospel, then go out for a time of responding to the story in their classroom.

Easter Flower Sign-Up – Last Chance: Thanks for your dedications and gifts! The deadline for dedications is this Sunday, March 20. Flower donations may also now be made online at giving link, donate.stdunstans.com.

Middle School Lunch & Learn, Sunday, March 20, 12-1pm: Rev. Miranda invites the 10-and-up youth of the parish to meet with her for lunch after church once a month. We’ll dig into faith, Scripture, life, and our questions about all three. We’ll wrap up by 1pm. Rides home can be arranged for kids who need them.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, March 20, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins.  All are welcome.

Younger Adults Meet-up at the Vintage, Sunday, March 20, 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.

EASTER WEEK…

Maundy Thursday, Thursday, March 24, 6pm: In our Maundy liturgy, we will walk through Jesus’ final evening with his friends before his arrest, including a simple shared meal, foot washing (optional), and the stripping of the altar.

• Sign up in the Gathering Area if you’d like to contribute to the meal or help with cleanup after the service.
• Please bring 30 pieces of change (dimes, nickels, pennies) – or just a handful.
• People of all ages are welcome in this liturgy.

Night watch Vigil Sign-Up: From 8:30pm till midnight on Thursday, March 24, following our Maundy Thursday service, and from 6am till noon on Good Friday, March 25, members of St. Dunstan’s will keep a vigil of prayer in the church, in pairs. Sign up in the Gathering Area for your desired shift. Come in silence, sit or kneel in silence, depart in silence. Reading material will be provided. Talk to Connie Ott with any questions.

Good Friday Liturgies, Friday, March 25, 12 noon and 7pm: A solemn liturgy recalling Christ’s death on the cross. Our 7pm service is followed by the Good Friday Wake, a one-hour vigil in which we honor Jesus’ death and remember our own beloved dead. Reflect on the poetry, art, and Scripture of Jesus’ death and the grief of his friends. Hot cross buns and tea will be served.

Friday, March 25, 4pm, Children’s Good Friday Service: This service is best for kids ages 3 to 10. We will walk the Stations of the Cross together, exploring the story and what it means to us.

The Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday, March 26, 8pm: The Easter Vigil is one of Christianity’s most ancient and beautiful liturgies: fire and water, music and art, darkness and light, death and resurrection! Please bring bells and noisemakers. We will use INCENSE at this liturgy. The Great Vigil liturgy is appropriate for adults, youth, and older kids; it is about two hours long.

Easter Sunday, Sunday, March 27, 8am & 10am: Celebrate Easter with the St. Dunstan’s community! After each service, there will be an Easter egg hunt for children. Visitors and guests are very welcome!

Holy Week Offerings:  As is our custom, offerings made during our Holy Week services will go to support particular agencies and ministries. Maundy Thursday offerings will go to Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) here in Madison. Good Friday offerings will go to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Easter Vigil offerings will go to Episcopal Relief & Development. Thank you for your generosity.

The Great Three Days (Triduum)

Thursday, March 24 – Maundy Thursday – 6:00pm: Maundy Meal & Worship

Friday, March 25 – Good Friday – 12pm, 4pm & 7pm: Good Friday services.  Children are encouraged to attend the 4pm service

Saturday, March 26 – Holy Saturday –  8pm: Great Vigil of Easter

Sunday, March 27 – Easter Sunday – Egg hunt for children follows both 8am & 10am services

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Outreach Committee Open Meeting Invitation, Saturday, April 2, 8:00am: The Outreach Committee at St. Dunstan’s oversees and coordinates all the many ways that the people of St. Dunstan’s serve those in need beyond our parish, by sharing our time and skills as volunteers and by giving funds and other resources. Outreach Committee meetings are always open to interested folk, but we especially invite those who would like to learn more or get involved to attend our upcoming meeting. We’ll offer an overview of our core ministries, and we’d love to hear about your ideas or passions! We gather with a simple potluck breakfast at 8am, then move into the meeting proper at 8:30am.

Retirement Celebration for Deacon Sybil: The Rev. Sybil Robinson is a much-beloved elder of our parish, an Episcopal deacon, and a retired professor of theater and drama. Sybil has proclaimed the Gospel faithfully for us for many years, even at the age of ninety-one. Sybil will soon retire from serving in this capacity, though she will continue to worship with us as she is able. We will have a celebration of Sybil’s ministry on Sunday, April 3. Please thank Sybil for the blessing of her beautiful and well-trained voice, all these years!

Easter Season 2016: Healing Democracy, One Heart at a Time

On Sundays at 9am in Easter Season, starting on April 10, we will explore techniques for creating safe spaces in which to talk honestly, strive to transcend partisanship and reconnect as human beings across the political gulfs that divide us. We’ll experiment with five habits that author Parker Palmer believes will help heal our hearts and the collective heart of our nation:

1. An understanding that we are all in this together.
2. An appreciation of the value of otherness.
3. An ability to hold tension in life-giving ways.
4. A sense of personal voice or agency.
5. A capacity to create community.

In a year of contentious politics, let’s claim this opportunity to engage in deep conversation and strengthen the ties connecting our faith, our hearts, our convictions and our communities. Watch this space for more details, but please consider participating in the weeks ahead!

SUNDAY,  MARCH 13…

Sunday School, 10am: Our 3-5 year old class will be learning about the Faces of Easter, while our 6 – 10 year old class will discuss the day’s Gospel lesson, Mary’s act of devotion in washing Jesus’ feet.

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, 11:45am, DOWNSTAIRS: All who seek meaning in the journey of parenthood are welcome to come for food and conversation. Child care and a simple meal provided.

Spring Cleaning – on the inside of the Church, 12pm, Hearty Coffee Hour 11:45am: Come and help get the Church ready for Easter and spring. We’ll have a hearty coffee hour at 11:45 am and then use a little elbow grease. See the task sheets in the Gathering Area.

Towards Discipleship Conversations, February/March: How do we, the people of St. Dunstan’s, understand and live out discipleship, following Jesus in daily life? We’ll approach this big question through conversation about some smaller and simpler questions. Please participate and share your thoughts and experiences! The Towards Discipleship will be sharing our questions with many existing groups in the congregation over the next few weeks. There will also be two open sessions for anyone to attend:

Sunday, March 13, 7 – 8pm (dessert provided)

Saturday, March 19, 12 – 1pm (light lunch provided)

If you’d like to hear more about this project and Rev. Miranda’s work with the Missional Leadership Cohort program. Thanks!

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

The Stations of the Cross in Downtown Madison, Friday, March 18, 12pm & 5pm: Walk the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross on the streets of a modern city.  As we walk the fourteen traditional Stations of the Cross, we will reflect together on how we can trace those events in the geography of Madison today – our issues, stories and struggles. We will start on the sidewalk near the Federal Courthouse, across from the Overture Center, and end in the garden at Grace Church on the square. The total walk will be about 1.5 miles, and it takes about 1 hour. Come at noon or 5pm, as your schedule permits. All are welcome.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, March 18, 6pm: Join our monthly get-together to dine at area restaurants and enjoy good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at Max’s Farm Table, 2831 Parmenter Street, Middleton. 

“Palm Saturday”, Saturday, March 19, 10am – 11:30am: Kids, parents, grandparents and friends are invited to make Easter crafts and communion bread, and to take part in a gentle, age-appropriate and participatory telling of the whole Easter story, presented by the youth and adults of our church. This event is best suited for kids ages 3 to 10; our Middle Schoolers are invited to help present the Easter pageant. All are welcome!

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, March 20: 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. Please give generously.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, March 20, 6pm: A simple service before the week begins. All welcome.

Younger Adults Meet-up at the Vintage, Sunday, March 20, 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.

Retirement Celebration for Deacon Sybil: The Rev. Sybil Robinson is a much-beloved elder of our parish, an Episcopal deacon, and a retired professor of theater and drama. Sybil has proclaimed the Gospel faithfully for us for many years, even at the age of ninety-one. Sybil will soon retire from serving in this capacity, though she will continue to worship with us as she is able. We will have a celebration of Sybil’s ministry on Sunday, April 3. Please thank Sybil for the blessing of her beautiful and well-trained voice, all these years!

HOLY WEEK…

Palm and Passion Sunday, March 20, 8 and 10am: We begin our liturgy with a Palm Procession, recalling Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, then proceed to the reading of the Passion Gospel according to Mark. This is a solemn and powerful service, and our doorway into Holy Week. People of all ages are welcome in this liturgy.

Easter Flower Sign-Up – Last Chance: Thanks for your dedications and gifts! The deadline for dedications is Sunday, March 20. Flower donations may also now be made by way of our online giving link, donate.stdunstans.com .

Maundy Thursday, Thursday, March 24, 6pm: We walk through Jesus’ final evening with his friends before his arrest, including a simple shared meal, foot washing (optional), and the stripping of the altar.

• Sign up in the Gathering Area if you’d like to contribute to the meal or help with cleanup.
• Please bring 30 pieces of change (dimes, nickels, pennies) – or just a handful.
• People of all ages are welcome in this liturgy.

Night watch Vigil Sign-Up: From 8:30pm till midnight on Thursday, March 24, following our Maundy Thursday service, and from 6am till noon on Good Friday, March 25, members of St. Dunstan’s will keep a vigil of prayer in the church, in pairs. Sign up in the Gathering Area for your shift. Come in silence, sit or kneel in silence, depart in silence. Reading material provided. Talk to Connie Ott with any questions.

Good Friday Liturgies, Friday, March 25, 12 noon and 7pm: A solemn liturgy recalling Christ’s death on the cross. Our 7pm service is followed by the Good Friday Wake, a one-hour vigil in which we honor Jesus’ death and remember our own beloved dead. Reflect on the poetry, art, and Scripture of Jesus’ death and the grief of his friends. Hot cross buns and tea will be served.

Friday, March 25, 4pm, Children’s Good Friday Service: This service is best for kids ages 3 to 10. We will walk the Stations of the Cross together, exploring the story and what it means to us.

The Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday, March 26, 8pm: The Easter Vigil is one of Christianity’s most ancient and beautiful liturgies: fire and water, music and art, darkness and light, death and resurrection! Please bring bells and noisemakers. We will use INCENSE at this liturgy. The Great Vigil liturgy is appropriate for adults, youth, and older kids; it is about two hours long.

Easter Sunday, Sunday, March 27, 8am & 10am: Celebrate Easter with the St. Dunstan’s community! After each service, there is an Easter egg hunt for children. Visitors and guests welcome!

SUNDAY,  MARCH 6…

Healing Prayers will be offered for those who wish to receive prayers for themselves or others.

Birthday and Anniversary will be honored today, as is our custom on the first Sunday of every month. Come forward after the Announcements to receive a blessing and the community’s prayers.

MOM Special Offering: Today, 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: pouch/canned meats, variety of cereal, fresh produce, cooking oil, meals in a can, soup, newborn and size 6 diapers, laundry detergent, toothpaste, ketchup/mayonnaise. MOM is always in need of quality bedding and household items, as well. Thank you for all your support!

Backpack Snack Pack Prep, 12noon: The kids and families of St. Dunstan’s are invited to prepare Backpack Snack Packs to help local school children from low-income households to have nutritious snacks available over the weekend. We’ll work in the Meeting Room at St. Dunstan’s following the 10am service. A meeting of the BPSP team will follow.

Evening Eucharist, 6pm: A simple service before the week begins. All are welcome.

Easter Flower Sign-Up: If you would like to sign-up to sponsor and dedicate flowers for the Easter services, please see the yellow sheet in the Gathering Area. The deadline for dedications is Sunday, March 20. Thanks for your dedications and gifts!

Coffee Hosts needed for Special Easter Coffee, March 27! Please see the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area if you would like to bring something for the Easter coffee after the 10am service.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Towards Discipleship Conversations, February/March: How do we, the people of St. Dunstan’s, understand and live out discipleship, following Jesus in daily life? We’ll approach this big question through conversation about some smaller and simpler questions. Please participate and share your thoughts and experiences! The Towards Discipleship will be sharing our questions with many existing groups in the congregation over the next few weeks. There will also be two open sessions for anyone to attend:

Tuesday, March 8, 5:30 – 6:30pm (light dinner provided)

Sunday, March 13, 7 – 8pm (dessert provided)

Saturday, March 19, 12 – 1pm (light lunch provided)

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, March 9, 7:15 – 9:00 PM at St. Dunstan’s: At a Julian Gathering we support each other in the practice of contemplative prayer and contemplative spirituality. They are open to all who want to deepen their life of faith through the practice of contemplative prayer, for beginners as well as those already practicing.

Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God, Thursday, March 10 – Kids & Families, 4 – 5:30pm; Adults, 6 – 8pm. We will share a simple dinner in between sessions, for participants in both groups. This event is both a crafting session and retreat for theological reflection on the themes of Lent. We will make crosses out of found objects. All skill levels are heartily welcomed. Thanks to those who have already contributed “found objects” for the project; more are welcome!

Sunday School, Sunday, March 13, 10am: Next week, our 3-5 year old class will be learning about the Faces of Easter, while our 6 – 10 year old class will discuss the day’s Gospel lesson, Mary’s act of devotion in washing Jesus’ feet.

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, March 13, 11:45am, DOWNSTAIRS: 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.

Spring Cleaning – on the inside of the Church, Sunday, March 13, 12-2pm, Hearty Coffee Hour 11:45am: Come and help get the Church ready for Easter and spring. We’ll have a hearty coffee hour at 11:45 am and then use a little elbow grease. To sign-up, see the task sheets in the Gathering Area.

The Stations of the Cross in Downtown Madison, Friday, March 18, 12pm & 5pm: Walk the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross on the streets of a modern city.  As we walk the fourteen traditional Stations of the Cross, we will reflect together on how we can trace those events in the geography of Madison today. We will start on the sidewalk near the Federal Courthouse, across from the Overture Center, and end in the garden at Grace Church on the square. The total walk will be about 1.5 miles, and it takes about 1 hour. Come at noon or 5pm, as your schedule permits. All are welcome.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, March 18, 6pm: Join our monthly get-together as we dine out and enjoy good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at Max’s Farm Table, 2831 Parmenter Street, in Middleton.

“Palm Saturday”, Saturday, March 19, 10:30am – 12pm: Kids, parents, grandparents and friends are invited to make Easter crafts and communion bread, and to take part in a gentle, age-appropriate and participatory telling of the whole Easter story, presented by the youth and adults of our church. This event is best suited for kids ages 3 to 10; our Middle Schoolers are invited to help present the Easter pageant. All are welcome!

The Great Three Days (Triduum)

Thursday, March 24 –  Maundy Thursday. 5:30pm:  Maundy Meal & Worship

Friday, March 25 –  Good Friday. 12pm, 4pm & 7pm: Good Friday services  –  Children are encouraged to attend the 4pm service.

Saturday, March 26 – Holy Saturday. 8pm: Great Vigil of Easter

Sunday, March 27 – Easter Sunday.   Egg hunt for children follows both 8am & 10am services.

Men’s Book Club, Saturday, March 26, 10am: The book is “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson, the visionary founder and executive director of the Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Lenten Study Group – Growing a Rule of Life, 9am, & every Sunday in Lent:  Sign up at ssje.org/ssje/growrule/ to receive the daily email prompts, and meet at 9am on Sundays for discussion.

All-Ages Worship, 10am: 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.

Poetry in Season, 11:30ish: Bring a poem that fits the season – in the church or the wider world – to share. Participants of all ages are welcome. We will share our poems in the Nave, after grabbing some Coffee Hour treats.

Middle School Lunch & Learn, 12-1pm: Rev. Miranda invites the 10-and-up youth of the parish to meet with her for lunch after church once a month. We’ll dig into faith, Scripture, life, and our questions about all three. We’ll wrap up by 1pm, and we can arrange rides home for the kids if needed.

Help feed the students! St Francis House Dinner, Sunday, February 28: We still need a non-vegetarian dish, and a side dish or two, to fulfill our commitment to provide dinner for the St. Francis House community this weekend. We are asked to provide food for up to 15 people, and we are invited to attend worship with the students at 5pm. If you can help, please contact Rev. Miranda.

Grace Shelter Dinner, 7pm: Every fourth Sunday, a loyal group of St. Dunstan’s folk provides dinner for resident at the Grace Church shelter, and breakfast the next morning. See the signup sheet in the gathering area to help out.

Easter Flower Sign-Up: If you would like to sign-up to sponsor and dedicate flowers for the Easter services, please see the yellow sheet in the Gathering Area. The deadline for dedications is Sunday, March 20. Thanks for your dedications and gifts!

Stations of the Cross in Lent, every Thursday at 7:15pm and every Friday at noon: We will walk the Stations of the Cross together in our nave. You may also walk and pray the Stations on your own at any time the church is open; call 238-2781 before you come. Our Stations booklet is based on Scripture and readings from Christian tradition.

Coffee Hosts needed for Special Easter Coffee, March 27! Please see the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area if you would like to bring something for the Easter coffee after the 10am service.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Lenten Retreat for Women, “Recognizing God’s Voice,” Saturday, March 5, 9:30am – 3:30pm, at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 670 East Monroe Avenue, Hartford, WI , Hartford, WI US 53027: The Rev. Paula Harris, rector at St. Luke’s, Madison and an active Spiritual Director, will lead this retreat for women. To register send $25 payable to Dio. Milwaukee ECW, along with your name, phone #, address, and parish affiliation to: Micki Hoffmann c/o 53 E. Rogers Street, Hartford, WI 53027. Deadline is March 1^st. There will be a van leaving from St. Dunstan’s.

Backpack Snack Pack Prep, Sunday, March 6, 12noon: The kids and families of St. Dunstan’s are invited to prepare Backpack Snack Packs to help local school children from low-income households to have nutritious snacks available over the weekend. We’ll work in the Meeting Room at St. Dunstan’s following the 10am service. A meeting of the BPSP team will follow.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, March 6, 6pm: A simple service before the week begins.

Towards Discipleship Conversations, February/March: How do we, the people of St. Dunstan’s, understand and live out discipleship, following Jesus in daily life? We’ll approach this big question through conversation about some smaller and simpler questions. Please participate and share your thoughts and experiences! The Towards Discipleship will be sharing our questions with many existing groups in the congregation over the next few weeks. There will also be two open sessions for anyone to attend:

Tuesday, March 8, 5:30 – 6:30pm (light dinner provided)

       Sunday, March 13, 7 – 8pm (dessert provided)

       Saturday, March 19, 12 – 1pm (light lunch provided)

If you’d like to hear more about this project and Rev. Miranda’s work with the Missional Leadership Cohort program, ask her at 238-2781. Thanks!

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, March 9, 7:15 – 9:00 PM at St. Dunstan’s: Open to all who want to deepen their life of faith through the practice of contemplative prayer. Each meeting includes time for contemplative prayer, fellowship, and reading/discussion of Julian’s book.

Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God, Thursday, March 10 – Kids & Families, 4 – 5:30pm; Adults, 6 – 8pm. We will share a simple dinner in between sessions, for participants in both groups. This event is both a crafting session and retreat for theological reflection on the themes of Lent. We will make crosses out of found objects. All skill levels are heartily welcomed. Thanks to those who have already contributed “found objects” for the project; more are welcome!

Spring Cleaning – on the inside of the Church, Sunday, March 13, 12-2pm, Hearty Coffee Hour 11:45am: Come and help get the Church ready for Easter and spring. We’ll have a hearty coffee hour at 11:45 am and then use a little elbow grease. To sign-up, see the task sheets in the Gathering Area.

“Palm Saturday”, Saturday, March 19, 10:30am – 12pm: Kids, parents, grandparents and friends are invited to make Easter crafts and communion bread, and to take part in a gentle, age-appropriate and participatory telling of the whole Easter story, presented by the youth and adults of our church. This event is best suited for kids ages 3 to 10; our Middle Schoolers are invited to help present the Easter pageant. All are welcome!

Vacation Bible School Dates Set! Vacation Bible School will take place from Sunday, July 31st – Thursday, August 4, from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Kids ages 3 – 10 are welcome to participate; kids 11 and up may participate as actors and helpers. We hope these dates are helpful to families making summer plans.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21…

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering: 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.

Lenten Study Group – Growing a Rule of Life, 9am, & every Sunday in Lent:  To participate, sign up at ssje.org/ssje/growrule/ to receive the daily email prompts, and come to the Meeting Room on Sundays at 9am for group discussion about our individual work.

Sunday School, 10am: This week, our 3-6 year old class will be learning about some of Jesus’ parables of growth, while our 7-11 year old class explores the covenant between God and Abraham.

Christian Formation meeting, 12noon: Our Christian Formation Committee will meet to review and plan programs, especially for Easter and beyond. All interested folks are welcome to attend and participate.

Evening Eucharist, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins.

Younger Adults’ Meetup at the Vintage, 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.

Lenten Virtual Book Group Begins Feb. 21: Unapologetic, by Francis Spufford. Rev. Miranda invites members and friends to a “virtual book group” this Lent, beginning the third week in February. We’ll read along together during Lent and share reactions and reflections on a Facebook group. We may also plan one or more in-person book discussion sessions as well, if there is interest. Questions? Talk with Rev. Miranda.

Stations of the Cross in Lent, every Thursday at 7:15pm and every Friday at noon: We will walk the Stations of the Cross together in our nave. You may also walk and pray the Stations on your own at any time the church is open; call 238-2781 before you come. Our Stations booklet is based on Scripture and readings from Christian tradition.

Do you love getting books into the hands of readers? Our St. Dunstan’s Little Free Library is seeking a new co-Librarian or two. The Library sits on the southeast corner of our property, and can be reached by car or on foot through our woods. The Library needs to be checked and restocked (every few weeks in winter, perhaps weekly in nice weather), and this task can easily be shared by a small team of helpers. Members and friends of St. Dunstan’s donate used books to put in our Library. Please talk to Rev. Miranda or email to get involved!

Coffee Hosts needed for Special Easter Coffee, March 27! Please see the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area if you would like to bring something for the Easter coffee after the 10am service.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Men’s Book Club, POSTPONED to Saturday, February 27, 10am: The book is “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, February 26, 6:30pm: Join our monthly get-together as we dine at area restaurants and enjoy 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.

Our kid-inclusive All-Ages Worship this month will be Sunday, February 28, at the 10am service. 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.

Poetry Reading, Sunday, February 28, 11:30ish: Bring a poem that fits the season – in the church or the wider world – to share. Participants of all ages are welcome. We will share our poems in the Nave, after grabbing some Coffee Hour treats.

Middle School Lunch & Learn, Sunday, February 28, 12-1pm: Rev. Miranda invites the 10-and-up youth of the parish to meet with her for lunch after church once a month. We’ll dig into faith, Scripture, life, and our questions about all three. We’ll wrap up by 1pm, and we can arrange rides home for the kids if that helps the parents’ schedules.

Help feed the students! St Francis House Dinner, Sunday, February 28: St. Dunstan’s will provide dinner for the St. Francis House community in a few weeks. We are asked to provide food for up to 15 people, and we are invited to attend worship with the students at 5pm.  Vegan and gluten-free options are welcome (that’s easier than you think: a veggie stew over rice, bean chili …). Please sign up in the Gathering Area if you can help with the meal, or contact Rev. Miranda.

Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday, February 28, 7pm: Every fourth Sunday, a loyal group of St. Dunstan’s folk provides dinner for resident at the Grace Church shelter, and breakfast the next morning. See the signup sheet in the gathering area.

Lenten Retreat for Women, “Recognizing God’s Voice,” Saturday, March 5, 9:30am – 3:30pm, at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 670 East Monroe Avenue, Hartford, WI , Hartford, WI US 53027: The Rev. Paula Harris, rector at St. Luke’s, Madison and an active Spiritual Director, will lead this retreat for women. To register send $25 payable to Dio. Milwaukee ECW, along with your name, phone #, address, and parish affiliation to: Micki Hoffmann c/o 53 E. Rogers Street, Hartford, WI 53027. Deadline is March 1^st. There will be a van leaving from St. Dunstan’s.

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, March 9, 7:15 – 9:00 PM at St. Dunstan’s: These meetings are open to all who want to deepen their life of faith through the practice of contemplative prayer. Each meeting includes time for contemplative prayer, fellowship, and reading/discussion of Julian’s book.

Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God, Thursday, March 10 – Kids & Families, 4 – 5:30pm; Adults, 6 – 8pm. We will share a simple dinner in between sessions, for participants in both groups. This event is both a crafting session and retreat for theological reflection on the themes of Lent. We will make crosses out of found objects. All skill levels are heartily welcomed. Thanks to those who have already contributed “found objects” for the project; more are welcome!

Spring Cleaning – on the inside of the Church, Sunday, March 13, 12-2pm, Hearty Coffee Hour 11:45am: Come and help get the Church ready for Easter and spring. We’ll have a hearty coffee hour at 11:45 am and then use a little elbow grease. To sign-up, see the task sheets in the Gathering Area.

“Palm Saturday”, Saturday, March 19, 10:30am – 12pm: Kids, parents, grandparents and friends are invited to make Easter crafts and communion bread, and to take part in a gentle, age-appropriate and participatory telling of the whole Easter story, presented by the youth and adults of our church. This event is best suited for kids ages 3 to 10; our Middle Schoolers are invited to help present the Easter pageant. All are welcome!