THIS WEEK…

Service of Lessons and Music, Sunday, December 10, 10am: Our special Lessons & Music service this Advent will focus on Strangers and Guests in Scripture.

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Vestry Office Hours, Sunday, Dec. 10, 9am: If you have feedback on our capital campaign possibilities, come chat with members of our Vestry (church board) between services on Sunday, Dec. 10! We hope to gather all parish feedback by Monday, December 11.

Take home a hymnal! If you’d like to have a hymnal – or a set of hymnals! – at home, please take one or more of our old red hymnals from the boxes in the back of the church. Sing, play, and enjoy!

Christmas Pageant Practice, Sunday, Dec. 10, 11:30am: Actors with speaking parts are invited to a brief practice session for our Christmas Eve pageant.

Sharing Christmas – St. Dunstan’s style: Please look at the “ornaments” on the window and choose a wish to fulfill for someone in our community. If you took an ornament from the first round of tags (numbered 1 – 40), PLEASE bring it back by this Sunday, December 10! For other gifts, we hope to have wrapped gifts brought to church by Sunday December 17th so we can get them to their “homes” in time for Christmas. Any questions, contact Evy Gildrie-Voyles.

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, December 13, 1:00 – 2:45pm: We welcome everyone who is interested in learning more about contemplative spirituality in the Christian tradition. We meet the second Wednesday of the month for a period of contemplative prayer, after which we discuss a reading from Julian of Norwich, a 14th Century English mystic who has been called “a theologian for our time.”  We would love to have you join us. If you have questions, contact Susan Fiore.

Las Posadas Party, Saturday, Dec. 16, 5pm: Las Posadas (Spanish for “the inns”) is an Advent celebration practiced in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America, revolving around the concept of hospitality. We learn from the Posadas that by welcoming the poor and the needy, we are welcoming Jesus in our midst. Our Posadas will be an opportunity for learning and fellowship, and will have food, music, (small) fireworks, and a (real) donkey! All are welcome!

FOOD SIGNUP: Could you bring a bowl of guacamole or a batch of rice or beans? Sign up in the Gathering Area or let Miranda know!

Coffee Hosts Needed! We are in need of coffee hosts for December 17, 24, and 31 after the 10am service. Please contact Janet Bybee  for more information. Thanks for your service!

Bread for the World Sunday, December 17: Peg and Dan Geisler will share about Bread for the World’s advocacy to reduce hunger in the United States and around the world and how we can be part of it.

#AdventWord – Praying with Images: AdventWord is the Anglican Communion’s global Advent calendar of prayerful images inspired by words like “Awaken,” “Mend,” or “Watch.”. Sign up at www.adventword.org/sign-up to receive a word each day by email, or follow AdventWord on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  You can contribute photos of your own, or just see what others are offering. Follow @stdunstansmadcity on Instagram to see Rev. Miranda’s photographic musings.

Caroling 2017: Last year a group of singers from St. Dunstan’s had a wonderful time visiting a few of our members and singing Christmas carols. We’d like to do the same this year. All ages are welcome to participate. Possible dates include Sunday, December 17; Friday, December 22, or Saturday, December 23. Please sign up and indicate your availability in the Gathering Area, or contact Rev. Miranda.

Christmas Cards for Jail Inmates:  Christmas is a bleak time for those who spend the holiday as inmates of the Dane County Jail. Even a simple message of kindness can bring some joy and hope. Our card-writing Station is now set up opposite the kitchen. You can take a moment to write a message while at church, or take home a couple of cards and the card-writing guidelines, and write at home. These cards will be delivered to inmates through an initiative of our sister parish Grace Church. Our goal is to complete at least 100 cards by mid-December.

Bring Christmas Cheer to St. Dunstan’s! Celebrate what’s important to you with a gift that helps us decorate for Christmas and honors a loved one or a special event. Please see the red Christmas Flowers sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area. Write “Christmas Flowers” on the memo line of your check or on the envelope containing cash. Suggested donation is $25.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, December 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.

Christmas Pageant Practice, Sunday, Dec. 17, 11:30am: Any actors able to attend are invited to a brief practice session for our Christmas Eve pageant. Pizza will be provided!

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, December 17, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins. All are welcome.

Young Adult Meetup at the Vintage, Sunday December 17, 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.

**DATE CHANGE** The Longest Night: A Liturgy of Light in Darkness, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 7:30PM: On December 20, we will gather together out of the darkness of the season for a quiet, meditative worship service. Feel free to invite friends who might appreciate this time set apart to name the darkness in the world and in our lives, and prepare our hearts for the coming of the light of Christ. Contact Rev. Miranda  with any questions.

NO 8AM WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24: This year, the Fourth Sunday in Advent is also Christmas Eve. After consulting with 8am worshipers, we have decided not to have our regular Eucharist at 8am that morning. There will be Advent IV worship at 10am. Christmas Eve liturgies are at 3pm and 9pm.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services:

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sunday, December 24, 10am (NO 8am service!)

Family Service with Pageant, Sunday, December 24, 3pm

Festal Eucharist, Sunday, December 24, 9pm

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, 10am

Christmas Service Helpers Needed! If you would like to be a part of the Christmas services, we need greeters, ushers and refreshments for each of the three services. Please see the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area or contact Pamela at .

TONIGHT…

Revelation Study Group, final meeting, Thursday, November 30, 7pm: (Rev 21-22) “See, I am making all things new.” How does this vision play out, and what might it contribute to our vision for formation and mission? All are cordially invited to the study of Revelation this Thursday at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30pm. This final week focuses on Rev. 21-22. Extra copies of the book in manuscript format will be available. There will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine is facilitating. 

THIS WEEK…

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Parish Presentation, Sunday, December 3, 9am: At this meeting, the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee, along with our consultant and our architect, will present the ideas we’ve been developing in response to the hopes and needs that the parish has named over the past many months. This presentation – and your responses – will help us decide whether to move forward to the Study phase of the capital campaign. Please plan to attend! Child care and refreshments will be provided. If you can’t attend that day, look for materials to come out by email, on our church website, and by snail mail to those who prefer information by that route. Your thoughts and comments are welcome by email at , by phone at 238-2781, or in conversation with a member of our Vestry. Next Sunday, Dec. 10, Vestry members will be available from 9 – 10am for discussion. We hope to gather all parish feedback by Monday, December 11.

Our 10am liturgy will begin at 10:30am this Sunday in order to allow sufficient time for our Capital Campaign Possibilities presentation and discussion. We hope most members will come at 9am for that session.

Advent Begins this Sunday! Advent candles, prayer booklets, calendars and other materials are available in the Gathering Area! Please take whatever you will use.

Birthday and Anniversary Blessings and Healing Prayers will be given this Sunday, December 3, as is our custom the first Sunday of the month. A note on local custom:  Some St. Dunstan’s folk choose to put money in our small wooden “church” to celebrate their birthdays or anniversaries – for example, someone might put in fifty cents or five dollars for a 50th birthday. These funds are used for occasional church projects and needs. There is no pressure to participate; it’s simply a tradition that some enjoy!

MOM Special Offering, Sunday, December 3: This Sunday, half the cash in our offering plate and any designated checks will be given to Middleton Outreach Ministry’s food pantry. Here are a few current most needed items: toilet paper; garbanzo, pinto, and black beans (canned or dried); baking soda & powder, salt, vanilla & holiday spices. Thank you for your generous support!

Falk Friends Pantry Prep, Sunday, December 3, 11:45am: This year we’re partnering with Falk by providing toilet paper, feminine hygiene items, detergent, and other similar items for their pantry. Helpers of all ages are welcome to help pack our Falk Friends pantry bags after the 10:30am liturgy!

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

#AdventWord – Praying with Images: AdventWord is the Anglican Communion’s global Advent calendar of prayerful images inspired by words like  “Awaken,” “Mend,” or “Watch.”. Sign up at www.adventword.org/sign-up to receive a word each day by email, or follow AdventWord on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  You can contribute photos of your own, or just see what others are offering. Follow @stdunstansmadcity on Instagram to see Rev. Miranda’s photographic musings.

Sharing Christmas – St. Dunstan’s style: We again will be doing a Sharing Christmas tree this year. The wishes will be coming from a variety of sources and will give us a broad range of gift choices to shop for. Please look at the “ornaments” on the window On Nov. 26 and Dec. 3rd and choose a wish to fulfill for someone in our community. We hope to have wrapped gifts brought to church by Sunday December 10th so we can get them to their “homes” in time for Christmas. Any questions? – Connie Ott until Dec. 4th – after that, questions to Evy Gildrie-Voyles.

Caroling 2017: Last year a group of singers from St. Dunstan’s had a wonderful time visiting a few of our members and singing Christmas carols. We’d like to do the same this year. All ages are welcome to participate. Possible dates include Sunday, December 17; Friday, December 22, or Saturday, December 23. Please sign up and indicate your availability in the Gathering Area, or email Rev. Miranda at office@stdunstans.com .

Christmas Cards for Jail Inmates:  Christmas is a bleak time for those who spend the holiday as inmates of the Dane County Jail. Even a simple message of kindness can bring some joy and hope. Our card-writing station is now set up opposite the kitchen. You can take a moment to write a message while at church, or take home a couple of cards and the card-writing guidelines, and write at home. These cards will be delivered to inmates through an initiative of our sister parish Grace Church. Our goal is to complete at least 100 cards by mid-December.

Bring Christmas Cheer to St. Dunstan’s! Celebrate what’s important to you with a gift that helps us decorate for Christmas and honors a loved one or a special event. Please see the red Christmas Flowers sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area. Write “Christmas Flowers” on the memo line of your check or on the envelope containing cash. Suggested donation is $25.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Service of Lessons and Music, Sunday, December 10, 10am: Our special Lessons & Music service this Advent will focus on Strangers and Guests in Scripture.

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Vestry Office Hours, Sunday, Dec. 10, 9am: If you have feedback on our capital campaign possibilities, come chat with members of our Vestry (church board) between services on Sunday, Dec. 10! We hope to gather all parish feedback by Monday, December 11.

Christmas Pageant Practice, Sunday, Dec. 10, 11:30am: Actors with speaking parts are invited to a brief practice session for our Christmas Eve pageant.

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, December 13, 1:00 – 2:45pm: We welcome everyone who is interested in learning more about contemplative spirituality in the Christian tradition. We meet the second Wednesday of the month for a period of contemplative prayer, after which we discuss a reading from Julian of Norwich, a 14th Century English mystic who has been called “a theologian for our time.”  We would love to have you join us. If you have questions, contact Susan Fiore.

Las Posadas Party, Saturday, Dec. 16, 5pm: Las Posadas (Spanish for “the inns”) is an Advent celebration practiced in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America, revolving around the concept of hospitality. We learn from the Posadas that by welcoming the poor and the needy, we are welcoming Jesus in our midst. Our Posadas will be an opportunity for learning and fellowship, and will have food, music, (small) fireworks, and a (real) donkey! All are welcome!

The Longest Night: A Liturgy of Light in Darkness, Thursday, December 21, 6:30pm (dinner at 5:30pm): On December 21st, we will gather together out of the darkness of the season for a quiet, meditative worship service. Feel free to invite friends who might appreciate this time set apart to name the darkness in the world and in our lives, and prepare our hearts for the coming of the light of Christ. Contact Rev. Miranda at 238-2781 with any questions.

NO 8AM WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24: This year, the Fourth Sunday in Advent is also Christmas Eve. After consulting with 8am worshipers, we have decided not to have our regular Eucharist at 8am that morning. There will be Advent IV worship at 10am. Christmas Eve liturgies are at 3pm and 9pm.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services:

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sunday, December 24, 10am (NO 8am service!)

Family Service with Pageant, Sunday, December 24, 3pm

Festal Eucharist, Sunday, December 24, 9pm

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, 10am

Christmas Service Helpers Needed! If you would like to be a part of the Christmas services, we need greeters, ushers and refreshments for each of the three services. Please see the sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area or contact Pamela at .

TONIGHT…

Sandbox Worship, 5:30pm: We’ll share sung prayers for evening, then an exploration of praying together through art. Dinner is provided.

Revelation Study Group, 7pm: (Rev 17-20) When we look at Madison, Washington, Beijing, what do we see? Rev 17-20 looks repeatedly at “Babylon”. Do these chapters have any contribution to make to our vision? All are cordially invited to the study of Revelation this Thursday at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30pm. Extra copies of the book in manuscript format will be available. There will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine is facilitating.

THIS WEEK…

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, November 17, 6pm: Come join us for good food and good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at the Nile, a Mediterranean restaurant located at 6119 Odana Road in Madison. For more information, or to arrange a ride, please contact Kathy Whitt or Debra Martinez.

What Does Racism Look Like, and What Can We Do About It? Saturday, November 18, 10 – 11:30am, at St. Dunstan’s: Eliot Smith is a cognitive scientist who studies and teaches about prejudice and stereotyping. He’ll help us understand what racism is from the perspective of social science, and how we can begin the work of change. All are welcome!

Eucharist with Holy Baptism, Sunday, November 19, 10am:  We will celebrate the baptism of a new member of Christ’s Kingdom, Austin Michael Viste. We rejoice with Jess and Nate!

Piece Be with You! Fall Giving Campaign Celebration Pie Brunch, Sunday, November 19 at 9am: Please join us between services for an all-parish potluck brunch celebrating the ingathering of pledges for our prayers, hopes, and financial pledges for our parish life in the coming year. We will enjoy fellowship, delicious pies, quiches, and other offerings. Please sign up in the Gathering area to bring your favorite pie or quiche. Thank you!

Sunday school, Sunday, November 19, 10am: This Sunday, our 3 year olds to kindergarten class will learn about the Exile and Return, while our Elementary classes will wrestle with the Parable of the Talents.

United Thank Offering, Sunday, Nov. 19: Bring in your United Thank Offering Little Blue Box this Sunday. UTO has been a program of the women of the Episcopal Church for 126 years and has granted millions of dollars over the years – all coming from coins of thanksgiving being given over the year – then gathered together by parishes and forwarded to the national UTO Board for granting. If you do not have a box, there will be some on the entrance table as you go into church. If you would like more information about the program, contact Connie Ott.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, November 19: 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.

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, November 19, 11:30am: All who seek meaning in the journey of parenthood (at any age or stage) are welcome to come for food and conversation. Childcare and a simple meal provided.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, November 19, 6pm: Join us for a simple service as the week begins. All are welcome.

Young Adult Meetup at the Vintage, Sunday, November 19, 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.

Christmas Cards for Jail Inmates:  Christmas is a bleak time for those who spend the holiday as inmates of the Dane County Jail. Even a simple message of kindness can bring some joy and hope. Our card-writing Station is now set up opposite the kitchen. You can take a moment to write a message while at church, or take home a couple of cards and the card-writing guidelines, and write at home. These cards will be delivered to inmates through an initiative of our sister parish Grace Church. Our goal is to complete at least 100 cards by mid-December.

Military and College Student Care Packages: The Youth Group is collecting donations during November to be included in care packages for military personnel and college students. There is a list of suggested items by the donation box. If you have a college student or service member who you would like a care package sent to, please provide name and address to Sharon Henes. The youth will be assembling and mailing the care packages the first week of December. Thank you for your support!

Thanksgiving service, Wednesday, November 22, 7pm: There will be a simple Eucharist service on Wednesday evening. All are welcome.

No Revelation Study Group on Thursday, November 23 as it is Thanksgiving. This gives everyone an extra week to prepare for the last session on November 30, focusing on Rev. 21-22 and the book as a whole.

Black Friday Craft-In, Friday, November 24, 1 – 4pm: This year we’ll hold our fourth annual Black Friday Craft-In, a free public crafting event. If you’re in town, come, and bring friends!

Attending to Scripture in the Anthropocene, 9am, Nov. 26: Between services in November, Biblical storyteller Pamela Grenfell Smith invites you to listen and reflect on a key Biblical story with her as people of the Anthropocene Age, in which human activity is shaping our environment as much as the great natural forces. What happens when we pay careful attention to these stories? How do they sound to us now?

Last Sunday All-Ages Worship, Sunday, November 26, 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.

Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday, November 26, 7pm: Every fourth Sunday, a loyal group of St. Dunstan’s folk provides dinner for residents at the Grace Church shelter, and breakfast the next morning. See the signup sheet in the Gathering Area to help out. To learn more, talk with Rose Mueller.

Help Feed the Students! Sunday, December 3: St. Dunstan’s is providing 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. Rev. Miranda will be in touch to work out whether you want to drop off your food Sunday morning, or deliver it to St. Francis House and meet the students. Thank you! The students really enjoy the home-cooked meals supplied by area parishes or individuals!

Bring Christmas Cheer to St. Dunstan’s! Celebrate what’s important to you with a gift that helps us decorate for Christmas and honors a loved one or a special event. Please see the red Christmas Flowers sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area. Write “Christmas Flowers” on the memo line of your check or on the envelope containing cash. Suggested donation is $25.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Parish Presentation, Sunday, December 3, 9am: At this meeting, the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee, along with our consultant and our architect, will present the ideas we’ve been developing in response to the hopes and needs that the parish has named over the past many months. This presentation – and your responses – will help us decide whether to move forward to the Study phase of the capital campaign. Please plan to attend! NOTE: The 10am liturgy will begin at 10:30 that morning in order to allow sufficient time for our presentation and discussion. If you can’t attend that day, look for materials to come out by email, on our church website, and by snail mail to those who prefer information by that route.

Las Posadas Party, Saturday, Dec. 16, 5pm: Las Posadas (Spanish for “the inns”) is an Advent celebration practiced in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America, revolving around the concept of hospitality. We learn from the Posadas that by welcoming the poor and the needy, we are welcoming Jesus in our midst. Our Posadas will be an opportunity for learning and fellowship, and will have food, music, (small) fireworks, and a (real) donkey! All are welcome!

Tonight – Revelation Study Group, Thursday, November 9: (Rev 8-16) What are all these divine judgments for? What, if anything, does martyrdom accomplish? These are among the many questions we might wonder about in chapters 8-16. All are cordially invited to the study of Revelation this Thursday at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30 PM. This week focuses on Rev 8-16. Extra copies of the book in manuscript format will be available. There will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine is facilitating.

THIS WEEK…

Childcare, Saturday, November 11, 9am-12:30pm: Looking for some child-free time? The middle school youth group would love to spend time with your child this Saturday at St. Dunstan’s. There is no charge, however, any tips will go towards our summer trip.

Men’s Book Club, Saturday, November 11, 10am-12pm: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first published in America in January 1885, has always been in trouble. It was condemned by many reviewers in Mark Twain’s time as coarse and by many commentators in our time as racist. But, according to Ernest Hemingway, it was the “one book” from which “all modern American Literature” came, and contemporary critics and scholars have treated it as one of the greatest American works of art.

Fall Gospel Fest, High Point Church, Saturday, Nov. 11, 7:00pm: Chris and Marian Barnes invite any St. Dunstan’s members to meet at their home at 6pm for snacks and fellowship, then continue on to this local concert. Tickets are $30 ahead or $40 at the door. Contact Chris Barnes at with questions, and read more about the event or buy advance tickets here: fallgospelfest.com.

Attending to Scripture in the Anthropocene, 9am, Nov. 12 & 26: “Anthropocene” – have you heard this word? In Nature, a top-ranked scientific journal, earth scientist Clive Hamilton writes: “[It arises]…from the new discipline of Earth-system science. Earth-system science takes an integrated approach, so that climate change affects the functioning of not just the atmosphere, but also the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the biosphere and even the lithosphere…. [the] human imprint on the global environment has now become so large and active that it rivals some of the great forces of Nature in its impact on the functioning of the Earth system.”  Between services in November, Biblical storyteller Pamela Grenfell Smith invites you to listen and reflect on some key Biblical stories with her as people of the Anthropocene Age. What happens when we pay careful attention? How do they sound to us now?

Sunday School, Sunday, November 12, 10am: This Sunday our 3 year olds to kindergarten class will learn about the Ten Best Ways, while our Elementary classes will explore the meanings of the parable of the bridesmaids who didn’t have enough oil for their lamps.

Christmas Cards for Jail Inmates:  Christmas is a bleak time for those who spend the holiday as inmates of the Dane County Jail. Even a simple message of kindness can bring some joy and hope. Our card-writing Station is now set up opposite the kitchen. You can take a moment to write a message while at church, or take home a couple of cards and the card-writing guidelines, and write at home. These cards will be delivered to inmates through an initiative of our sister parish Grace Church. Our goal is to complete at least 100 cards by mid-December.

Black Friday Craft-In: VOLUNTEERS WANTED, Friday, November 24, 1 – 4pm: This year we’ll hold our fourth annual Black Friday Craft-In, a free public crafting event. We can use all kinds of volunteers – whether your skill is sewing, woodworking, stamping, papercrafting, helping little kids with simple crafts, smiling at people and saying “Welcome!”, setting up tables, or putting cookies on plates. If you’d like to plan and set up a craft station of your own, let Rev. Miranda know, and we have some Michael’s gift cards available to help you cover materials expenses. A new hope this year is to help kids make teacher gifts – your ideas needed! Sign up in the Gathering Area to help out, or email Rev. Miranda at office@stdunstans.com .

Revelation Study Group, Thursday, November 16: (Rev 17-20) When we look at Madison, Washington, Beijing, what do we see? Rev 17-20 looks repeatedly at “Babylon”. Do these chapters have any contribution to make to our vision? All are cordially invited to the study of Revelation this Thursday at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30pm. Extra copies of the book in manuscript format will be available. There will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, November 17, 6pm: Come join us for good food and good conversation among women of all ages from St. Dunstan’s. This month we will meet at the Nile, a Mediterranean restaurant located at 6119 Odana Road in Madison. For more information, or to arrange a ride, please contact Kathy Whitt or Debra Martinez.

What Does Racism Look Like, and What Can We Do About It? Saturday, November 18, 10 – 11:30am, at St. Dunstan’s: Eliot Smith is a cognitive scientist who studies and teaches about prejudice and stereotyping. He’ll help us understand what racism is from the perspective of social science, and how we can begin the work of change. All are welcome!

Piece Be with You! Fall Giving Campaign Celebration Pie Brunch, Sunday, November 19 at 9am: Please join us between services for an all-parish potluck brunch celebrating the ingathering of pledges for our prayers, hopes, and financial pledges for our parish life in the coming year. We will enjoy fellowship, delicious pies, quiches, and other offerings. Please sign up in the Gathering area to bring your favorite pie or quiche. Thank you!

Sunday school, Sunday, November 19, 10am: Next Sunday, our 3 year olds to kindergarten class will learn about the Exile and Return, while our Elementary classes will wrestle with the Parable of the Talents.

United Thank Offering, Sunday, Nov. 19: Bring in your United Thank Offering Little Blue Box next Sunday. UTO has been a program of the women of the Episcopal Church for 126 years and has granted millions of dollars over the years – all coming from coins of thanksgiving being given over the year – then gathered together by parishes and forwarded to the national UTO Board for granting. If you do not have a box, there will be some on the entrance table as you go into church. If you would like more information about the program, contact Connie Ott.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, November 19: 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.

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, November 19, 11:30am: All who seek meaning in the journey of parenthood (at any age or stage) are welcome to come for food and conversation. Childcare and a simple meal provided.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, November 19, 6pm: Join us for a simple service as the week begins. All are welcome.

Young Adult Meetup at the Vintage, Sunday, November 19, 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.

Thanksgiving service, Wednesday, November 22, 7pm: There will be a simple Eucharist service on Wednesday evening. All are welcome.

Remembrance Station: Consider bringing in a token of one of those saints whom you remember with love and respect, as an extension of our All Saints commemorations. Our Remembrance Station this year will include a place to hang pictures or notes, and a table where you may place a photo or other memento. Please don’t bring in anything precious or irreplaceable. On Sunday, November 26, we will commend these faithful departed to Christ our King.

Help Feed the Students! Sunday, December 3: St. Dunstan’s is providing 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. Rev. Miranda will be in touch to work out whether you want to drop off your food Sunday morning, or deliver it to St. Francis House and meet the students. Thank you! The students really enjoy the home-cooked meals supplied by area parishes or individuals!

Military and College Student Care Packages: The Youth Group is collecting donations during November to be included in care packages for military personnel and college students. There is a list of suggested items by the donation box. If you have a college student or service member who you would like a care package sent to, please provide name and address to Sharon Henes. The youth will be assembling and mailing the care packages the first week of December. Thank you for your support!

Bring Christmas Cheer to St. Dunstan’s! Celebrate what’s important to you with a gift that helps us decorate for Christmas and honors a loved one or a special event. Please see the red Christmas Flowers sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area. Write “Christmas Flowers” on the memo line of your check or on the envelope containing cash. Suggested donation is $25.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Parish Presentation, Sunday, December 3, 9am: At this meeting, the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee, along with our consultant and our architect, will present the ideas we’ve been developing in response to the hopes and needs that the parish has named over the past many months. This presentation – and your responses – will help us decide whether to move forward to the Study phase of the capital campaign. Please plan to attend! NOTE: The 10am liturgy will begin at 10:30 that morning in order to allow sufficient time for our presentation and discussion. If you can’t attend that day, look for materials to come out by email, on our church website, and by snail mail to those who prefer information by that route.

Tonight:  Revelation Study Group, Thursday, November 2: “To whom does the earth belong? Who is the ruler of this world?” Fiorenza thinks that’s the question that drove the production of Revelation, and it’s certainly front and center in chapters 4-7. All are cordially invited to the study of Revelation this Thursday at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30 PM. This week focuses on Rev 4-7. Extra copies of the book in manuscript format will be available. There will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine is facilitating. 

THIS WEEK…

All Saints’ Day, Sunday, Nov. 5: We will celebrate this holy day with an opportunity to remember the faithful departed; renewal of our baptismal vows; and, at our 10am service, a kids’ saint procession.

Piece Be with You! Fall Giving Campaign Celebration Pie Brunch: Please join us on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 9:00 between services for an all-parish potluck brunch celebrating the ingathering of pledges for our prayers, hopes, and financial pledges for our parish life in the coming year. We will enjoy fellowship, delicious pies, quiches, and other offerings. Please sign up in the Gathering area to bring your favorite pie or quiche. Thank you!

Naming our Saints: In anticipation of All Saints Day, please fill out one or more Saint Slips, available in the Gathering Area. Tell us about a saint, well-known or known only to you, whom you remember with love.

Remembrance Station: Consider bringing in a token of one of those saints whom you remember with love and respect, as an extension of our All Saints commemorations. Our Remembrance Station this year will include a place to hang pictures or notes, and a table where you may place a photo or other memento. Please don’t bring in anything precious or irreplaceable. On Sunday, November 26, we will commend these faithful departed to Christ our King.

Birthday and Anniversary blessings and Healing Prayers will be given this Sunday, November 5, as is our custom on the first Sunday of the month.

MOM Special Offering, Sunday, November 5: This 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: toilet paper; heart healthy cooking oil; canned chicken; ketchup and mayonnaise; baking soda & powder, salt & vanilla; boxed meals; cake, brownie & muffin mixes; toothbrush, paste, & floss; laundry detergent; size 4, 5 & 6 diapers. Thank you for your generous support!

Falk Friends Pantry Prep, Sunday, November 5, 11:30am: Our partner school, Falk Elementary School on the southwest side of Madison, now has its own food pantry which is serving families well! However, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items are still in need, as in most pantries. This year we’ll partner with Falk by providing toilet paper, feminine hygiene items, detergent, and other similar items for their pantry. Helpers of all ages are welcome to help pack our Falk Friends Pantry bags after the 10am liturgy!

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, November 5, 6pm: Join us for a simple service as the week begins. All are welcome.

 Helpers Wanted for our Pie Brunch (November 19)! We’ll celebrate the conclusion of our fall Giving Campaign with a potluck pie brunch at 9am, between our two Sunday services. This is always delicious and fun! This year we are looking for a few new helpers who can assist with decorating, set-up and clean-up. If you’d like to help, sign up in the Gathering Area or contact Laura Bloomenkranz.

Childcare, Saturday, November 11: Looking for some child-free time? The middle school youth group would love to spend time with your child on Saturday, November 11, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Dunstan’s. There is no charge, however, any tips will go towards our summer trip.

Military and College Student Care Packages: The Youth Group is collecting donations during November to be included in care packages for military personnel and college students. There is a list of suggested items by the donation box. If you have a college student or service member whom you would like a care package sent to, please provide name and address to Sharon Henes. The youth will be assembling and mailing the care packages the first week of December. Thank you for your support!

Bring Christmas Cheer to St. Dunstan’s! Celebrate what’s important to you with a gift that helps us decorate for Christmas and honors a loved one or a special event. Please see the red Christmas Flowers sign-up sheets in the Gathering Area. Write “Christmas Flowers” on the memo line of your check or on the envelope containing cash. Suggested donation is $25.

Coffee Hosts Needed for November 26: Please consider being a coffee host and talk with Janet Bybee for more information.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, November 8, 1:00 – 2:45pm: St. Julian of Norwich: 14th Century feminist? 14th Century heretic? No, although a reader might at first think so. 14th Century psychologist? Sort of . . . she understood the human heart and, through her sixteen revelations of Jesus, she understood the heart of God. Thomas Merton called her “the greatest theologian for our time.” Come to one of our monthly meetings and find out why — and learn about contemplative prayer. We meet the second Wednesday of each month. We’d love to see you.  For more information, contact Susan Fiore.

Revelation Study Group, Thursday, November 9: (Rev 8-16) What are all these divine judgments for? What, if anything, does martyrdom accomplish? These are among the many questions we might wonder about in chapters 8-16. All are cordially invited to the study of Revelation this Thursday at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30 PM. This week focuses on Rev 8-16. Extra copies of the book in manuscript format will be available. There will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine is facilitating.

Men’s Book Club, Saturday, November 11, 10am-12pm: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first published in America in January 1885, has always been in trouble. It was condemned by many reviewers in Mark Twain’s time as coarse and by many commentators in our time as racist. But, according to Ernest Hemingway, it was the “one book” from which “all modern American Literature” came, and contemporary critics and scholars have treated it as one of the greatest American works of art.

Fall Gospel Fest, High Point Church, Saturday, Nov. 11, 7:00pm: Chris and Marian Barnes invite any St. Dunstan’s members to meet at their home at 6pm for snacks and fellowship, then continue on to this local concert. Tickets are $30 ahead or $40 at the door. Contact Chris Barnes with questions, and read more about the event or buy advance tickets here: fallgospelfest.com.

Attending to Scripture in the Anthropocene, 9am, Nov. 12 & 26: “Anthropocene” – have you heard this word? In Nature, a top-ranked scientific journal, earth scientist Clive Hamilton writes: “[It arises]…from the new discipline of Earth-system science. Earth-system science takes an integrated approach, so that climate change affects the functioning of not just the atmosphere, but also the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the biosphere and even the lithosphere…. [the] human imprint on the global environment has now become so large and active that it rivals some of the great forces of Nature in its impact on the functioning of the Earth system.”  Between services in November, Biblical storyteller Pamela Grenfell Smith invites you to listen and reflect on some key Biblical stories with her as people of the Anthropocene Age. What happens when we pay careful attention? How do they sound to us now?

Sunday School, Sunday, November 12, 10am: Next Sunday our 3 year olds to kindergarten class will learn about the Ten Best Ways, while our Elementary classes will explore the meanings of the parable of the bridesmaids who didn’t have enough oil for their lamps.

What Does Racism Look Like, and What Can We Do About It? Saturday, November 18, 10 – 11:30am, at St. Dunstan’s: Eliot Smith is a cognitive scientist who studies and teaches about prejudice and stereotyping. He’ll help us understand what racism is from the perspective of social science, and how we can begin the work of change. All are welcome!

Black Friday Craft-In: VOLUNTEERS WANTED, Friday, November 24, 1 – 4pm: This year we’ll hold our fourth annual Black Friday Craft-In, a free public crafting event. We can use all kinds of volunteers – whether your skill is sewing, woodworking, stamping, papercrafting, helping little kids with simple crafts, smiling at people and saying “Welcome!”, setting up tables, or putting cookies on plates. If you’d like to plan and set up a craft station of your own, let Rev. Miranda know, and we have some Michael’s gift cards available to help you cover materials expenses. A new hope this year is to help kids make teacher gifts – your ideas needed! Sign up in the Gathering Area to help out, or email Rev. Miranda at office@stdunstans.com.

Creating for a Cause, Holiday Art Fair for MOM, Saturday, December 2 (10am-5pm) and Sunday, December 3 (11am-4pm) in the MOM Food Pantry at 3502 Parmenter St. in Middleton: Come enjoy a wonderful art fair with local artists. The Brass Arts will perform holiday classics on Sunday from 1-3pm. Partial proceeds will go toward ending hunger. Entry is free! For more information go to artfair.momhelps.org.

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Parish Presentation, Sunday, December 3, 9am: At this meeting, the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee, along with our consultant and our architect, will present the ideas we’ve been developing in response to the hopes and needs that the parish has named over the past many months. This presentation – and your responses – will help us decide whether to move forward to the Study phase of the capital campaign. Please plan to attend! NOTE: The 10am liturgy will begin at 10:30 that morning in order to allow sufficient time for our presentation and discussion. If you can’t attend that day, look for materials to come out by email, on our church website, and by snail mail to those who prefer information by that route.

TONIGHT…

Revelations Study Group, starts tonight at 7pm: All are cordially invited to a study of Revelation beginning this Thursday, October 26 at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30 PM. We’ll meet for five weeks (skipping Thanksgiving week), focusing this week on Rev 1-3. Some copies of Revelation in manuscript format are available in the Gathering Area; there’s also a signup sheet so we’ll know how many additional copies to print. Each week there will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine will facilitate.

THIS WEEK…

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, October 27, 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 Pasqual’s Cantina, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. in the Hilldale Shopping Center. For more information, please contact Kathy Whitt or Debra Martinez.

Capital Campaign Forum: “How We Got Here,” 9am, Sunday, October 29: Maybe you’re new to the parish, maybe you’ve been waiting to tune in until it seemed like something might actually happen, maybe you just need your memory refreshed about how and why we came to be talking about a possible capital campaign at St. Dunstan’s. Come at 9am next Sunday for a refresher on our process and progress so far, from 2015 to the present! And bring any questions you may have for the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee. (Reminder: Plans and options for the campaign will be presented to the parish on Sunday, December 3.)

Last Sunday All-Ages Worship, Sunday, October 29, 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.

Naming our Saints: In anticipation of All Saints Day, please fill out one or more Saint Slips, available in the Gathering Area. Tell us about a saint, well-known or known only to you, whom you remember with love.

Helpers Wanted for our Pie Brunch (November 19)! We’ll celebrate the conclusion of our fall Giving Campaign with a potluck pie brunch at 9am, between our two Sunday services. This is always delicious and fun! This year we are looking for a few new helpers who can assist with decorating, set-up and clean-up. If you’d like to help, sign up in the Gathering Area or contact Laura Bloomenkranz.

Coffee Hosts Needed for November: Please consider being a coffee host and talk with Janet Bybee for more information.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Revelation Study Group, Thursday, November 2: “To whom does the earth belong? Who is the ruler of this world?” Fiorenza thinks that’s the question that drove the production of Revelation, and it’s certainly front and center in chapters 4-7. All are cordially invited to the study of Revelation this Thursday at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30 PM. This week focuses on Rev 4-7. Extra copies of the book in manuscript format will be available. There will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine is facilitating.

All Saints’ Day, Sunday, Nov. 5: We will celebrate this holy day with an opportunity to remember the faithful departed; renewal of our baptismal vows; and, at our 10am service, a kids’ saint procession.

Remembrance Station: Consider bringing in a token of one of those saints whom you remember with love and respect, as an extension of our All Saints commemorations. Our Remembrance Station this year will include a place to hang pictures or notes, and a table where you may place a photo or other memento. Please don’t bring in anything precious or irreplaceable. On Sunday, November 26, we will commend these faithful departed to Christ our King.=

Birthday and Anniversary blessings and Healing Prayers will be given next Sunday, November 5, as is our custom on the first Sunday of the month.

MOM Special Offering, Sunday, November 5: 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: toilet paper; heart healthy cooking oil; canned chicken; ketchup and mayonnaise; baking soda & powder, salt & vanilla; boxed meals; cake, brownie & muffin mixes; toothbrush, paste, & floss; laundry detergent; size 4, 5 & 6 diapers. Thank you for your generous support!

Falk Friends Pantry Prep, Sunday, November 5, 11:30am: Our partner school, Falk Elementary School on the southwest side of Madison, now has its own food pantry which is serving families well! However, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items are still in need, as in most pantries. This year we’ll partner with Falk by providing toilet paper, feminine hygiene items, detergent, and other similar items for their pantry. Helpers of all ages are welcome to help pack our Falk Friends Pantry bags after the 10am liturgy!

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, November 5, 6pm: Join us for a simple service as the week begins. All are welcome.

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, November 8, 1:00 – 2:45pm: St. Julian of Norwich: 14th Century feminist? 14th Century heretic? No, although a reader might at first think so. 14th Century psychologist? Sort of . . . she understood the human heart and, through her sixteen revelations of Jesus, she understood the heart of God. Thomas Merton called her “the greatest theologian for our time.” Come to one of our monthly meetings and find out why — and learn about contemplative prayer. We meet the second Wednesday of each month. We’d love to see you.  For more information, contact Susan Fiore.

Black Friday Craft-In: VOLUNTEERS WANTED, Friday, November 24, 1 – 4pm: This year we’ll hold our fourth annual Black Friday Craft-In, a free public crafting event. We can use all kinds of volunteers – whether your skill is sewing, woodworking, stamping, papercrafting, helping little kids with simple crafts, smiling at people and saying “Welcome!”, setting up tables, or putting cookies on plates. If you’d like to plan and set up a craft station of your own, let Rev. Miranda know, and we have some Michael’s gift cards available to help you cover materials expenses. A new hope this year is to help kids make teacher gifts – your ideas needed! Sign up in the Gathering Area to help out, or email Rev. Miranda at .

Men’s Book Club, Saturday, November 11, 10am-12pm: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first published in America in January 1885, has always been in trouble. It was condemned by many reviewers in Mark Twain’s time as coarse and by many commentators in our time as racist. But, according to Ernest Hemingway, it was the “one book” from which “all modern American Literature” came, and contemporary critics and scholars have treated it as one of the greatest American works of art.

Attending to Scripture in the Anthropocene, 9am, Nov. 12 & 26: “Anthropocene” – have you heard this word? In Nature, a top-ranked scientific journal, earth scientist Clive Hamilton writes: “[It arises]…from the new discipline of Earth-system science. Earth-system science takes an integrated approach, so that climate change affects the functioning of not just the atmosphere, but also the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the biosphere and even the lithosphere…. [the] human imprint on the global environment has now become so large and active that it rivals some of the great forces of Nature in its impact on the functioning of the Earth system.”  Between services in November, Biblical storyteller Pamela Grenfell Smith invites you to listen and reflect on some key Biblical stories with her as people of the Anthropocene Age. What happens when we pay careful attention? How do they sound to us now?

 What Does Racism Look Like, and What Can We Do About It? Saturday, November 18, 10 – 11:30am, at St. Dunstan’s: Eliot Smith is a cognitive scientist who studies and teaches about prejudice and stereotyping. He’ll help us understand what racism is from the perspective of social science, and how we can begin the work of change. All are welcome!

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Parish Presentation, Sunday, December 3, 9am: At this meeting, the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee, along with our consultant and our architect, will present the ideas we’ve been developing in response to the hopes and needs that the parish has named over the past many months. This presentation – and your responses – will help us decide whether to move forward to the Study phase of the capital campaign. Please plan to attend! NOTE: The 10am liturgy will begin at 10:30 that morning in order to allow sufficient time for our presentation and discussion. If you can’t attend that day, look for materials to come out by email, on our church website, and by snail mail to those who prefer information by that route.

Sandbox Worship, tonight: We gather at 5:30 for simple evening prayers, learning about gargoyles, and a shared supper (provided). All are welcome at this informal & intergenerational gathering.

THIS WEEK…

Giving Campaign Kickoff and Parish Talent Show Sunday, October 22, 11:30-1pm: Our fall Giving Campaign starts with a Talent Show, at which members of St. Dunstan’s will have the opportunity to share their skills. A light lunch will be served. Come see the accomplishments of fellow parishioners and enjoy the show!

Sunday School, Sunday, October 22, 10am: This Sunday, our 3 years olds to kindergarten class will have a special music time, while our Elementary classes will continue the story of Moses’ relationship with God during the years in the wilderness after the Exodus.

Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday, October 22, 7pm: Every fourth Sunday, a loyal group of St. Dunstan’s folk provides dinner for residents at the Grace Church shelter, and breakfast the next morning. See the signup sheet in the Gathering Area to help out. To learn more, talk with Rose Mueller at (608) 836-1028.

Helpers Wanted for our Pie Brunch (November 19)! We’ll celebrate the conclusion of our fall Giving Campaign with a potluck pie brunch at 9am, between our two Sunday services. This is always delicious and fun! This year we are looking for a few new helpers who can assist with decorating, set-up and clean-up. If you’d like to help, sign up in the Gathering Area or contact Laura Bloomenkranz.

Safeguarding God’s Children Training, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 5:30 – 8:30pm, St. Francis House Episcopal Student Center: Safeguarding God’s Children is a required training for all those who work regularly with children and youth, and for those in elected parish leadership. If you believe you need this training, please plan to attend, and register at this link:  http://www.diomil.org/safeguarding-gods-children-class-with-trainer-registration-form/. Dinner will be provided.

Revelations Study Group, starting Thursday, October 26 at 7pm: All are cordially invited to a study of Revelation beginning this Thursday, October 26 at St. Dunstan’s after Sandbox, 7-8:30 PM. We’ll meet for five weeks (skipping Thanksgiving week), focusing this week on Rev 1-3. Some copies of Revelation in manuscript format are available in the Gathering Area; there’s also a signup sheet so we’ll know how many additional copies to print. Each week there will be some historical orientation, but we’ll mostly focus on trying to hear the text together today. Fr. Tom McAlpine will facilitate.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, October 27, 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 Pasqual’s Cantina, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. in the Hilldale Shopping Center. For more information or to arrange a ride, please contact Kathy Whitt or Debra Martinez.

Help us Solve the Bible Mystery! St. Dunstan’s has a big, old, leather-bound St. James Bible and Aprocrypha. It was printed in 1868 at the University Press in Oxford. There is an inscription in calligraphy inside the front page which says, “St. James, Vienna, A.D. 1871”. Do you know who gave the Bible to St. Dunstan’s or anything about it? Or do you know someone who might have more information? Thanks for your help.

Coffee Hosts Needed for November: Please consider being a coffee host and talk with Janet Bybee for more information.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Capital Campaign Forum: “How We Got Here,” 9am, Sunday, October 29: Maybe you’re new to the parish, maybe you’ve been waiting to tune in until it seemed like something might actually happen, maybe you just need your memory refreshed about how and why we came to be talking about a possible capital campaign at St. Dunstan’s. Come at 9am next Sunday for a refresher on our process and progress so far, from 2015 to the present! And bring any questions you may have for the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee. (Reminder: Plans and options for the campaign will be presented to the parish on Sunday, December 3.)

Last Sunday All-Ages Worship, Sunday, October 29, 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.

All Saints’ Day, Sunday, Nov. 5: We will celebrate this holy day with an opportunity to remember the faithful departed; renewal of our baptismal vows; and, at our 10am service, a kids’ saint procession.

Remembrance Station: Consider bringing in a token of one of those saints whom you remember with love and respect, as an extension of our All Saints commemorations. Our Remembrance Station this year will include a place to hang pictures or notes, and a table where you may place a photo or other memento. Please don’t bring in anything precious or irreplaceable. On Sunday, November 26, we will commend these faithful departed to Christ our King.

Black Friday Craft-In: VOLUNTEERS WANTED, Friday, November 24, 1 – 4pm: This year we’ll hold our fourth annual Black Friday Craft-In, a free public crafting event. We can use all kinds of volunteers – whether your skill is sewing, woodworking, stamping, papercrafting, helping little kids with simple crafts, smiling at people and saying “Welcome!”, setting up tables, or putting cookies on plates. If you’d like to plan and set up a craft station of your own, let Rev. Miranda know, and we have some Michael’s gift cards available to help you cover materials expenses. A new hope this year is to help kids make teacher gifts – your ideas needed! Sign up in the Gathering Area to help out, or contact Rev. Miranda.

Men’s Book Club, Saturday, November 11, 10am-12pm: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first published in America in January 1885, has always been in trouble. It was condemned by many reviewers in Mark Twain’s time as coarse and by many commentators in our time as racist. But, according to Ernest Hemingway, it was the “one book” from which “all modern American Literature” came, and contemporary critics and scholars have treated it as one of the greatest American works of art.

Attending to Scripture in the Anthropocene, 9am, Nov. 12 & 26: “Anthropocene” – have you heard this word? In Nature, a top-ranked scientific journal, earth scientist Clive Hamilton writes: “[It arises]…from the new discipline of Earth-system science. Earth-system science takes an integrated approach, so that climate change affects the functioning of not just the atmosphere, but also the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the biosphere and even the lithosphere…. [the] human imprint on the global environment has now become so large and active that it rivals some of the great forces of Nature in its impact on the functioning of the Earth system.”  Between services in November, Biblical storyteller Pamela Grenfell Smith invites you to listen and reflect on some key Biblical stories with her as people of the Anthropocene Age. What happens when we pay careful attention? How do they sound to us now?

Math Help: We believe that church should be a place where people can bring the questions they’re wrestling with. For some people, that might be, what on earth is going on in my child’s math homework? We have some willing, math-literate adults in the congregation who’d like to help you and your child make sense of math. If this would be helpful to you, please email me at office@stdunstans.com, and we’ll work on scheduling a Math Night at St. Dunstan’s.

Capital Campaign Possibilities: Parish Presentation, Sunday, December 3, 9am: At this meeting, the Capital Campaign Discernment Steering Committee, along with our consultant and our architect, will present the ideas we’ve been developing in response to the hopes and needs that the parish has named over the past many months. This presentation – and your responses – will help us decide whether to move forward to the Study phase of the capital campaign. Please plan to attend! NOTE: The 10am liturgy will begin at 10:30 that morning in order to allow sufficient time for our presentation and discussion. If you can’t attend that day, look for materials to come out by email, on our church website, and by snail mail to those who prefer information by that route.

Online Giving Options: If you’d like to make a gift online, visit donate.stdunstans.com on your smartphone or computer to make a donation in any amount. 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. 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!

THIS WEEKEND…

Diocesan Convention, Saturday, October 14, 9am – 4:30pm at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin:  Please hold our delegates and all delegates in prayer as we gather for prayer, sharing, and the legislative work of our diocese.

Eucharist with Holy Baptism, Sunday, October 15, 10am:  We will celebrate the baptism of a new member of Christ’s Kingdom, John Christopher Outrakis. We rejoice with Christina, JB, and brother Nicholas!

Sunday School, Sunday, October 15, 10am: This Sunday, our 3 year olds to kindergarten class will learn about the Exodus, while our Elementary classes will explore the story of the Golden Calf.

Youth Group Fundraising for GSAFE: Our Middle School Youth are creating a team to walk in the GSAFE Trick or Trot 5K on Sunday, October 15. GSAFE is an organization committed to support and leadership development for GLBTQ+ kids and allies, training educators, and other educational and advocacy work to ensure that GLBTQ+ kids are safe and supported. Our youth group hopes to raise $500 as a team. You can contribute by putting cash or a check in the envelope in the Gathering Area, or online here: https://runsignup.com/Race/34896/Donate/kWxUi9YS2zd7i5Wr

Bread for the World Sunday, October 15: We are invited to participate in Bread for the Word’s annual Offering of Letters, to advocate to our politicians for programs that will reduce hunger in the United States and around the world. This year’s legislative focus is our national budget.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, October 15: 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.

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, October 15, 11:30am: All who seek meaning in the journey of parenthood (at any age or stage) are welcome to come for food and conversation. Child care and a simple meal provided.

Candle-Lighting Service to Honor Infertility, Pregnancy & Infant Loss, Sunday, October 15, 6pm: October 15 is widely observed as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. We will hold a simple liturgy, with Eucharist and candle-lighting, to mark the day. All are welcome; feel free to invite a friend. NOTE: If you cannot attend, but have a name you would like to have read at the liturgy, please email Rev. Miranda.

Young Adult Meetup at the Vintage, Sunday, October 15, 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.

Helpers Wanted for our Pie Brunch (November 19)! We’ll celebrate the conclusion of our fall Giving Campaign with a potluck pie brunch at 9am, between our two Sunday services. This is always delicious and fun! This year we are looking for a few new helpers who can assist with decorating, set-up and clean-up. If you’d like to help, sign up in the Gathering Area or contact Laura Bloomenkranz. 

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, October 27, 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 Pasqual’s Cantina, 702 N. Midvale Blvd. in the Hilldale Shopping Center. For more information or to arrange a ride, please contact Kathy Whitt or Debra Martinez.

Giving Campaign Kickoff and Parish Talent Show Sunday, October 22, 11:30-1pm: Our fall Giving Campaign starts with a Talent Show, at which members of St. Dunstan’s will have the opportunity to share their skills. A light lunch will be served. Come see the accomplishments of fellow parishioners and enjoy the show!

Last Sunday All-Ages Worship, Sunday, October 29, 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.

All Saints’ Day, Sunday, Nov. 5: We will celebrate this holy day with an opportunity to remember the faithful departed; renewal of our baptismal vows; and, at our 10am service, a kids’ saint procession.

Remembrance Station: Consider bringing in a token of one of those saints whom you remember with love and respect, as an extension of our All Saints commemorations. Our Remembrance Station this year will include a place to hang pictures or notes, and a table where you may place a photo or other memento. Please don’t bring in anything precious or irreplaceable. On Sunday, November 26, we will commend these faithful departed to Christ our King.

Math Help: We believe that church should be a place where people can bring the questions they’re wrestling with. For some people, that might be, what on earth is going on in my child’s math homework? We have some willing, math-literate adults in the congregation who’d like to help you and your child make sense of math. If this would be helpful to you, please email me at office@stdunstans.com, and we’ll work on scheduling a Math Night at St. Dunstan’s.

Online Giving Options: If you’d like to make a gift online, visit donate.stdunstans.com on your smartphone or computer to make a donation in any amount. 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. 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!

IN THE COMMUNITY….

PFLAG Madison meeting, Sunday, October 15, 2-4pm: Parents, families, friends and allies united with LGBTQ people are welcome to come to our monthly meeting at the Friends Meeting House, 1704 Roberts Court in Madison. The topic is “Our Lives”. For more information, go to www.pflag-madison.org.

LECTURE SERIES: The Legacies of the Reformation— the Continuing Relevance of the Protestant Reformation for Contemporary Christianity & Culture, 4pm, Grace Church: In this year when we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, traditionally dated as beginning with Martin Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, Grace Church is sponsoring a lecture series at 4pm on Oct. 1, 8, and 29 reflecting on the continuing relevance of the Protestant Reformation for contemporary Christianity and culture. The lectures will be held in the Cornelia Vilas Guild Hall at Grace Church, and the series will conclude with a Choral Evensong at 5pm on Nov. 5 in the church. For more information, contact Peggy Frain at .

We got this news in late August, and announced it in church at the time. But at that point, the granting agency hadn’t yet publicly announced this year’s recipients, so we were asked not to share widely. Now we can celebrate more openly!  – MKH+

Dear friends,

Back in the spring, we shared with the congregation that we were writing a grant application to the Clergy Renewal grant program. That program makes large grants to support clergy and congregations during the clergyperson’s sabbatical. A sabbatical is a time of rest and exploration away from the parish for a clergy person who’s been in one parish for seven or more years.

Here’s the summary statement from our application – it’s written in first person, but many of you helped develop the idea or encourage the process:

“For my sabbatical, I want to develop my approach to including children in the worship of my Episcopal parish, by visiting four churches that are integrating children into worship in transformative, life-giving ways.  I will use these site visits, supported by reading and interviews, to both glean new ideas and to develop and articulate a fuller sense of the possibilities and purpose of including children in the weekly worship of a congregation. On our travels, my family will join me as participant observers and partners in the project. While I’m  away, my parish will undertake a renewal project of their own: a season of activities focused on deepening cross-generational friendships within the parish. Their work will dovetail with my project to help us grow further as a meaningfully and joyfully age-diverse worshipping community.”

Well, friends – we got the grant.

What that means is that sometime in the next 18 months, I will take about three months away, with my family, for study and rest and travel and play. You’ll do your part too, then we’ll come back together to share what we’ve discovered and see how our experiences shape our ongoing ministry together.

While working on this grant proposal, we came to really appreciate how this program sees the sabbatical as a mutual good for the clergyperson and the congregation. We were invited to think concretely about how I’d bring my learnings home, and how the congregation could do something playful and renewing too, during my time away. It won’t just be pressing “pause” here. We’ll make sure we have really good leadership in place, both clergy and laypeople, and I expect it’ll be a joyful and productive season all around.

I know all this may cause a little anxiety for some people. You may miss me; I know I’ll miss you. You may worry about leadership in my absence. You may have seen a clergyperson use a sabbatical as a step towards leaving. You may wonder how this intersects with the timing of our proposed capital campaign (the short answer there is, I’m not going anywhere until we’re at a point where it’s OK for me to leave!).

All I can offer is that I’m not really worried about any of that. There’s lots to figure out, but we have plenty of time, and we have terrific leadership in this parish, and we’re going to figure it out and do it well.

I wasn’t at all sure whether we’d get the grant, but I always thought we were good candidates, because the application says that the best candidates are churches where there’s a strong, trusting partnership between parish and clergy. And I think we have that.

So: thank you for your support, your ideas, and your prayers. There probably won’t be any more news about this for a while, because we can’t start making concrete plans until we’re a little clearer on whether and when the capital campaign is moving forward. But feel free to ask questions, and if you’d like to read the whole grant proposal, let me know.

In gratitude,

Rev. Miranda

Here’s a little more about the grant program:

St. Dunstan’s is one of 146 congregations across the United States selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Established by the Endowment in 2000, the program’s grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities. Ministers whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal. The approach respects the “Sabbath time” concept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, immersive arts and cultural experiences, and prayer.

THIS WEEKEND…

Sunday School Special Guest, Heidi Ropa, Sunday, October 8, 10am: Heidi is the chair of the Haiti Project, a partnership between the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee and the church and school of St. Marc’s in Jeannette, Haiti. Heidi will visit our elementary Sunday school classes to tell them about St. Marc’s School, then greet the conversation at Announcements during the 10am service. Learn more about the Haiti Project at haitiproject.org. Our Godly Play class will meet as usual. Their story will be the Great Family.

Falk Friends Pantry Prep, Sunday, October 8, 11:30am: Our partner school, Falk Elementary School on the southwest side of Madison, now has its own food pantry which is serving families well! However, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items are still in need, as in most pantries. This year we’ll partner with Falk by providing toilet paper, feminine hygiene items, detergent, and other similar items for their pantry. Helpers of all ages are welcome to help pack our Falk Friends Pantry bags after the 10am liturgy!

Blessing of the Animals Service, Sunday, October 8, 3pm: People and creatures are invited to a short service of song, story, and prayer.  Animals should be on a leash or in a carrier. Stuffed animals are welcome as well. Spread the word and invite a friend!

Youth Group Fundraising for GSAFE: Our Middle School Youth are creating a team to walk in the GSAFE Trick or Trot 5K on Sunday, October 15. GSAFE is an organization committed to support and leadership development for GLBTQ+ kids and allies, training educators, and other educational and advocacy work to ensure that GLBTQ+ kids are safe and supported. Our youth group hopes to raise $500 as a team. You can contribute by putting cash or a check in the envelope in the Gathering Area, or online here: https://runsignup.com/RaceGroups/34896/Groups/407541

Helpers Wanted for our Pie Brunch (November 19)! We’ll celebrate the conclusion of our fall Giving Campaign with a potluck pie brunch at 9am, between our two Sunday services. This is always delicious and fun! This year we are looking for a few new helpers who can assist with decorating, set-up and clean-up. If you’d like to help, sign up in the Gathering Area or contact Laura Bloomenkranz.

Sign up now for our Parish Talent Show on Sunday, October 22! The Talent Show follows the 10am liturgy; lunch is included. What will you share? A poem, a song, a dramatic monologue, a unique skill, a dance? A sample of art, craft, tinkering, building, study or science? Group acts are encouraged. Signup sheet is in the Gathering Area.

Altar Flowers: fall dates available! We are back to our regular Altar Flower process: flowers will be ordered from the church’s florist. 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.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, October 11, 1:00 – 2:45pm: 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. Nearly forgotten for 600 years, Julian’s insights and gentle wisdom are becoming ever more widely known and appreciated. Each Julian Gathering meeting includes time for contemplative prayer, fellowship, and reading/discussion of Julian’s book.  We meet the second Wednesday of each month.  For additional information, contact Susan Fiore.

Just Mercy – A Conversation, Wednesday, October 11, 7pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4011 Major Avenue, Madison: A great opportunity at our sister parish on the east side, to learn more about systemic racism and criminal justice. A representative of MOSES and a special guest, Cecelia Klingele, UW Law professor and lawyer, will also be present to add their perspectives. Our Bishop has invited the people of this diocese to read and discuss the book Just Mercy, as part of a church-wide commitment to anti-racist learning and action. But you don’t have to read the book to attend this event!

Diocesan Convention, Saturday, October 14, 9am – 4:30pm at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin:  All are welcome to attend all or part of the convention! The morning will be devoted to worship and book discussion based on “Just Mercy.” The afternoon session will be the ‘business’ session. Visitors are asked to register. To learn more and register, go to http://www.diomil.org/about-us/diocesan-convention/. There will be a Pre-Convention informational meeting at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on the East side, on Wednesday, October 4, at 7:30pm.

Sunday School, Sunday, October 15, 10am: Next Sunday, our 3 year olds to kindergarten class will learn about the Exodus, while our Elementary classes will explore the story of the Golden Calf.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, October 15: 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.

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, October 15, 11:30am: All who seek meaning in the journey of parenthood (at any age or stage) are welcome to come for food and conversation. Child care and a simple meal provided.

Young Adult Meetup at the Vintage, Sunday, October 15, 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.

Bread for the World Sunday, October 15: We are invited to participate in Bread for the Word’s annual Offering of Letters, to advocate to our politicians for programs that will reduce hunger in the United States and around the world. This year’s legislative focus is our national budget.

Candle-Lighting Service to Honor Infertility, Pregnancy & Infant Loss, Sunday, October 15, 6pm: October 15 is widely observed as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. We will hold a simple liturgy, with Eucharist and candle-lighting, to mark the day. All are welcome; feel free to invite a friend.

NOTE: If you cannot attend, but have a name you would like to have read at the liturgy, please email Rev. Miranda at .

LECTURE SERIES: The Legacies of the Reformation— The Continuing Relevance of the Protestant Reformation for Contemporary Christianity & Culture, 4pm, Grace Church: In this year when we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, traditionally dated as beginning with Martin Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, Grace Church is sponsoring a lecture series at 4pm on Oct. 1, 8, and 29 reflecting on the continuing relevance of the Protestant Reformation for contemporary Christianity and culture. The lectures will be held in the Cornelia Vilas Guild Hall at Grace Church, and the series will conclude with a Choral Evensong at 5pm on Nov. 5 in the church. For more information, contact Peggy Frain at .