St. Dunstan’s Day Celebration and Bishop’s Visitation

Today we celebrate the feast day of our patron saint, the tenth-century English bishop and reformer, Dunstan. Our diocesan bishop, Bishop Steven Miller, will lead us in worship on this special day. At the 9am hour between services, there will be time to meet with the Bishop to share any questions, hopes, or concerns about the diocese and larger church.  At the 10am service, we will also celebrate the confirmation of Colin Marquart. Colin and his family, and Colin’s priest Father Scott Seefeldt, are visiting us from our sister parish Trinity Episcopal Church in Baraboo. Colin is an active member at Trinity, where he participates in youth group, the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew, and as a worship assistant. He is an athlete, volunteer, and mentor in his community, with an interest in computers and engineering. Welcome, Colin and family, and thank you for sharing this blessed occasion with us! Loose plate offerings this Sunday will go to Bishop’s Purse, a fund like the Rector’s Discretionary Fund which the Bishop can use to help various causes in the life of the diocese, to assist people to attend conferences and workshops, and to assist our seminarians and people in preparation for ordained ministry.

Sunday School, 10am: Our Sunday school classes will meet this Sunday during the 10am service. Our “Godly Play” class (ages 3 – 6) will learn about the Mystery of Pentecost, while our “Seasons of the Spirit” class (ages 7 – 11) will hear about the calling of Matthias. All welcome!

Saint Dunstan T-Shirts, $5.00 – BYOS: Bring in a plain T-shirt (at least 60% cotton) that fits you, and the logo “Saint Dunstan: Annoying the Devil since 943” will be applied (in fuzzy blue iron-on vinyl) for $5. Funds raised will go towards purchasing new tubs for our Backpack Snack Pack ministry at Falk Elementary School. Talk to Rev. Miranda with questions. Checks can be placed in the offering plate with “T-shirt” on the memo line.

Christian Formation meeting, Sunday, May 17, 11:45am: Our Christian Formation Committee will meet to review and plan programs, with a special focus on Vacation Bible School. All interested folks are welcome to attend and participate.

Church, Faith, & Life Window Questions: Thanks to all who participated in our online survey! As a next step, some questions are posted on the windows in the Gathering Area. Share your thoughts on a Post-It or by writing directly on the question pages. Everyone is encouraged to respond! Questions will be up through the rest of May.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, May 17, 6pm: A simple service before the week begins.

Younger Adults Meet-up at the Vintage, Sunday, May 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.

Opportunities to Serve…

Join our Vacation Bible School Team! This year’s Vacation Bible School will run from Sunday, August 2, through Thursday, August 6, from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Whether you’d like to cook, act, read a story, plan a project, lead a game, or just be an extra big person to help manage little people, we need you.  Talk with Rev. Miranda to learn more.

Grace Shelter Dinner, Sunday, May 24, 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.

Hoops for Housing, Saturday, August 8: St. Dunstan’s is sponsoring a friendly community basketball tournament to raise funds for Briarpatch, which serves homeless youth in the Madison area. We’re looking for help with referees, concessions, and more! We’re also asking people to think about forming or joining a team. All ages and levels of skill are invited to participate. Each team is invited to raise $100 for Briarpatch through donations and pledges. If you’d like to help out with planning, publicity, or on the day itself, talk with Rev. Miranda.

Backpacks for Teens Without Families: St. Dunstan’s Outreach Committee invites the people of St. Dunstan’s to fill five backpacks, to be distributed to teens in the Madison school district who are homeless and living on their own, to help them through the summer months. Take a card from the display in the Gathering Area and bring the item(s) back by May 24th. Thanks for your generosity!

The Weeks Ahead…

“Fitting Words and Music: The Craft of Songwriting,” Poetry & Spirituality, Sunday, May 24, 9am, Meeting Room: One of our resident poets, Paul Thompson, will lead an exploration of the art of matching meter to song and setting poetry to music. All are welcome!

Pentecost Sunday All-Ages Worship, Sunday, May 24, 10am: We will share the story of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, and celebrate the Spirit’s continued action among us. Red is the church’s color for this holy day; consider wearing something red for church!

Parish Office Closed, Monday, May 25^th for Memorial Day. If you need to reach the office, Pamela will be in the office on Tuesday this week instead of Monday.

Sunday, May 31, 9am: Discussing End-Of-Life Choices The Rev. Pat Size will talk about advance care planning and the importance of conversations about end-of-life care, and introduce Honoring Choices Wisconsin, an initiative to encourage and support advance care planning. Pat will also preach that morning.

Racial Disparities in Dane County – Guest Speaker: Principal Grace Okoli, Wednesday, June 3, 7pm: Principal Okoli is the principal of Falk School, the school we serve with our Backpack Snack Pack ministry and one of the highest-poverty schools in Madison. She will share about the challenges and hopes as she sees them, and take our questions. All are welcome.

THE WEEK AHEAD… Hat and Tie Sunday, May 10: St. Dunstan’s has a long tradition of inviting folks to dress up for Mother’s Day, with a fancy hat and/or tie. If you’d like to participate, you can wear your own or borrow one from the collection at church. 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. This Sunday we will also take up a special collection for scholarships for the Diocese of Milwaukee’s camp program, Camp Webb. These scholarships help kids from around the diocese to enjoy camp regardless of their financial circumstances. To contribute, write “camp” on the memo line of your check.

United Thank Offering (UTO) Ingathering and Blessing of “Little Blue Boxes,” Sunday, May 10:  If you took home a UTO box and put in some coins in thanksgiving for the blessings in your life, please bring it back on Sunday, May 10, for the boxes to be blessed and sent on their way. You can also make a gift to UTO by placing a check in the offering place with “UTO” on the memo line, as an expression of your gratitude for all God’s gifts and blessings.

Sunday School, May 10, 10am: Our Sunday school classes will meet this Sunday during the 10am service. Our “Godly Play” class (ages 3 – 6) will learn about Saint Julian of Norwich. The older class will explore part of Jesus’ farewell speech in John’s Gospel.

Ascension Eucharist, Thursday, May 14, 5:30pm: Celebrate a festive service on the Feast of the Ascension, with our Thursday evening “Sandbox Worship” community. A simple meal will follow.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE… Tools for Tanzania Update: St Dunstan’s has raised $1100 towards this project of getting improved agricultural tools to the Diocese of Newala, our companion diocese in rural southern Tanzania. The Companion Diocese Committee will continue to work on a plan to get the tools and the training to their destination. Thanks for all your gifts to this very successful fundraiser!

Backpacks for Homeless Youth: Summer can be a difficult season for homeless teens who are supported by school staff and resources during the school year. St. Dunstan’s Outreach Committee invites the people of St. Dunstan’s to fill five backpacks for homeless teens, to be distributed through the Transition Education Program, a program of the Madison school district to support homeless kids and youth. Helpful items include light blankets, flashlights, fast food cards, toiletries, and more. Take a card from the display in the Gathering Area and bring the item(s) back by May 24th; you can place them in the donation box in the Gathering Area, or put them directly in the backpacks, which are hanging outside the Rector’s office downstairs.  Thanks!

Coffee Hour hosts needed in May and beyond!  Please consider being a coffee host. Sign-up sheets for upcoming months can be found in the Gathering Space. For more information, contact Janet Bybee at (608) 836-9755. We are especially looking for contributions towards our festive coffee hour with hosting Bishop Miller on May 17. Thanks for lending a hand.

Join our Vacation Bible School Team! This year’s Vacation Bible School will run from Sunday, August 2, through Thursday, August 6, from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Whether you’d like to help with meals, tell a story or act in a drama, plan an art project or lead a game, or just be an extra big person to help manage little people, we need you. Talk with Rev. Miranda, Sharon Henes, or Evy Gildrie-Voyles to learn more.

Hoops for Housing, Saturday, August 8: St. Dunstan’s is sponsoring a friendly community basketball tournament to raise funds for Briarpatch, which serves homeless youth in the Madison area. All ages and levels of skill are invited to participate. Each team is invited to raise $100 for Briarpatch through donations and pledges. If you’d like to help out with planning, publicity, or on the day itself, talk with Rev. Miranda or Evy Gildrie-Voyles.

THE WEEKS AHEAD… Women’s Mini Week 2015 – Early Bird Registration Discount Ends May 15! Mini Week will be August 13 to August 16, at Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, Wisconsin. This year’s theme is “Surprised by Joy!” For registration materials and to answer questions, visit the website: www.womensminiweek.org.

Racial Disparities in Dane County – Knowing, Caring, And Acting: Our conversations about racism continue on Wednesday, May 13, at 7:15pm. All interested participants are welcome. A selection of handouts from our first series of conversations is now available in the Gathering Area.

Community Teach-In: Young, Gifted & Black, Saturday, May 16, 1pm, hosted by St. Dunstan’s: The Young, Gifted & Black (YGB) coalition has gained attention locally over the past year by speaking out strongly on issues of racism and racial disparities, policing and incarceration. Several area churches are hosting “Teach-In” events with YGB, as an opportunity for them to share their perspective and concerns, and for attending church and community members to listen and ask questions.

St. Dunstan’s Day Celebration and Bishop’s Visitation, Sunday, May 17: We will celebrate the feast day of our patron saint, the tenth-century English bishop and reformer, Dunstan. Our diocesan bishop, Bishop Steven Miller, will lead us in worship on this special day. At the 9am hour between services, there will be time to meet with the Bishop to share any questions, hopes, or concerns about the diocese and larger church.

Sunday School, May 17, 10am: Our Sunday school classes will meet next Sunday during the 10am service. Our “Godly Play” class (ages 3 – 6) will learn about the Mystery of Pentecost, while our “Seasons of the Spirit” class (ages 7 – 11) will hear about the calling of Matthias. All children are welcome to participate.

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

Younger Adults Meet-up at the Vintage, Sunday, May 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.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, May 29, 6pm: 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 Biaggi’s, 601 Junction Road, Madison. For more information or to arrange a ride, please contact Kathy Whitt at or call Debra Martinez at (608) 772-6043 by May 25.

General Convention Information Session, Monday, June 1, 6:30pm, St. Dunstan’s: The Milwaukee Deputation to General Convention 78 and Bishop Miller will conduct two information sessions in the Diocese in June to present topics, potential legislation and events scheduled for the convention. Come to meet some of the deputies (including our own Rev. Miranda) and to learn what they and the Bishop will be working on this summer in Salt Lake City.

Parish Picnic, Sunday, June 7, 12:00pm: Come for good food and good conversation at our annual June parish picnic.  We’ll have good food and fun activities for all ages. The picnic will happen rain or shine. Mark your calendar and watch for more details!  

Vacation Bible School, August 2 – 6, 5:30 – 7:30pm (with a 7pm pickup option for younger kids): We had a lot of fun with Vacation Bible School last summer, and plan to do the same this year! Our theme will be “Message Received: Hearing God’s Call.” Using drama, art, and games, we’ll explore the stories of five people called by God, from the Old and New Testaments, and how we hear God’s call today. Dinner is included. Mark your calendar and spread the word – and if you’d like to help out, talk with Rev. Miranda!

“Church, Faith & Life” Parish Survey – Open Through Sunday, May 3: Thanks to all who have already taking our simple survey! If you have not, please take a few moments to fill out the parish survey about how your faith is part of your daily life, and how your church connects with your faith. The survey will close after this coming Sunday. Click this link to get to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/StDunstans2015

THIS WEEKEND… Makers’ Guild, Saturday, May 2, 2 -4pm: Bring your own current handwork – sewing, knitting, painting, beadwork, whatever! – or help out with creating “Pentecost boxes” for the kids of the parish, as we look towards the Feast of Pentecost on May 24.  All are welcome!

Episcopal 101: Anglican Prayer & Spirituality, Sunday, May 3, 9am: Join Rev. Miranda to explore the breadth of ways of prayer within Episcopal and Anglican Christianity.

Birthdays and anniversaries will be honored next Sunday, May 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, May 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, May 3: Next Sunday, half the cash in our offering plate and any designated checks will be given to Middleton Outreach Minister’s food pantry.  Groceries are welcome gifts too. Here are the top 10 needed items: canned meat (tuna/turkey/chicken), boxed pasta, boxed flavored potatoes (au gratin, etc.), toilet paper, sugar, oil, canned pineapple, canned fruit cocktail, saltine crackers, and dish soap. MOM is always in need of quality bedding items such as comforters, sheets, blankets and towels too. Thank you for all your support!

Spring Clean-Up Day, Sunday, May 3, 12 – 2pm (rain or shine!): 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.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, May 3, 6pm: A simple service before the week begins.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE… 

Backpacks for Homeless Youth: Summer can be a difficult season for homeless teens who are supported by school staff and resources during the school year. St. Dunstan’s Outreach Committee invites the people of St. Dunstan’s to fill five backpacks for homeless teens, to be distributed through the Transition Education Program, a program of the Madison school district to support homeless kids and youth. Helpful items include light blankets, flashlights, fast food cards, toiletries, and more. Take a card from the display in the Gathering Area and bring the item(s) back by May 24th.

Coffee Hour hosts needed in May and beyond!  Please consider being a coffee host. Sign-up sheets for upcoming months can be found in the Gathering Space. Thanks for lending a hand.

Join our Vacation Bible School Team! This year’s Vacation Bible School will run from Sunday, August 2, through Thursday, August 6, from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Whether you’d like to help with meals, tell a story or act in a drama, plan an art project or lead a game, or just be an extra big person to help manage little people, we need you. Talk with Rev. Miranda to learn more.

Hoops for Housing, Saturday, August 8: St. Dunstan’s is sponsoring a friendly community basketball tournament to raise funds for Briarpatch, which serves homeless youth in the Madison area. All ages and levels of skill are invited to participate. Each team is invited to raise $100 for Briarpatch through donations and pledges. If you’d like to help out with planning, publicity, or on the day itself, talk with Rev. Miranda or call 238-2781.

THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Racial Disparities in Dane County – Knowing, Caring, And Acting: Our conversations about racism continue on Wednesday, May 6, at 7:15pm. All interested participants are welcome. A selection of handouts from our first series of conversations is now available in the Gathering Area.

Hat and Tie Sunday, May 10: St. Dunstan’s has a long tradition of inviting folks to dress up for Mother’s Day, with a fancy hat and/or tie. If you’d like to participate, you can 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.

Bible Study, “Dwelling in the Word”, Sunday, May 10, 9am: Adults and youth are invited to gather in the Meeting Room for an opportunity to engage in some of the holy stories of Scripture with our minds, hears and Imagination.

United Thank Offering (UTO) Ingathering and Blessing of “Little Blue Boxes,” Sunday, May 10:  If you took home a UTO box and put in some coins in thanksgiving for the blessings in your life, please bring it back on Sunday, May 10, for the boxes to be blessed and sent on their way.

Sunday School, May 10, 10am: Our Sunday school classes will meet next Sunday during the 10am service. All children ages 3 to 11 are welcome.

Spirituality of Parenting Lunch, Sunday, May 10, 12noon: 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.

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, May 13, 7:15 – 9:00 pm at St. Dunstan’s: Thomas Merton called Lady Julian “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.

St. Dunstan’s Day Celebration and Bishop’s Visitation, Sunday, May 17: We will celebrate the feast day of our patron saint, the tenth-century English bishop and reformer Dunstan. Our diocesan bishop, Bishop Steven Miller, will lead us in worship on this special day. At the 9am hour between services, there will be time to meet with the Bishop to share any questions, hopes, or concerns about the diocese and larger church.  

Men’s Book Club, Saturday, May 23, 10:00 am, at St Dunstan’s: The book is “A Rule against Murder” by Louise Penny. The story begins in summer at an isolated luxury inn where the main characters are celebrating their wedding anniversary. Enter the wealthy Finney family and other surprising guests. When a terrible summer storm leaves behind a dead body, it is up to Chief Inspector Gamache to unearth secrets long buried and hatreds hidden behind polite smiles. As the waiters on the east coast say “ENJOY”.

Ladies’ Night Out, Friday, May 29, 6pm: 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 Biaggi’s, 601 Junction Road, Madison.

Parish Picnic, Sunday, June 7, 12:00pm: Come for good food and good conversation at our annual June parish picnic.  We’ll have good food and fun activities for all ages. The picnic will happen rain or shine. Mark your calendar and watch for more details!  

Vacation Bible School, August 2 – 6, 5:30 – 7:30pm (with a 7pm pickup option for younger kids): We had a lot of fun with Vacation Bible School last summer, and plan to do the same this year! Our theme will be “Message Received: Hearing God’s Call.” Using drama, art, and games, we’ll explore the stories of five people called by God, from the Old and New Testaments, and how we hear God’s call today. Dinner is included. Mark your calendar and spread the word – and if you’d like to help out, talk with Rev. Miranda!

PARISH & COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES… Community Teach-In: Young, Gifted & Black, Saturday, May 16, 1pm, hosted by St. Dunstan’s: The Young, Gifted & Black (YGB) coalition has gained attention locally over the past year by speaking out strongly on issues of racism and racial disparities, policing and incarceration. Several area churches are hosting “Teach-In” events with YGB, as an opportunity for them to share their perspective and concerns, and for attending church and community members to listen and ask questions. If you cannot attend the May 16 event, but would like to hear more, ask Rev. Miranda about other dates and locations.

Healing the Heart of Democracy: An Evening of Music & Reflections by Parker Palmer and Carrie Newcomer, Saturday, June 6, 7:30pm, at the Monroe Arts Center in Monroe, WI: This is a remarkable event that invites us to reflect together on seeking the common good across all that divides us, as our nation moves into another highly-charged political season. Rev. Miranda plans to attend and would love for some other St. Dunstanites to join her. Carpooling is possible (Monroe is about an hour away). Tickets to the event are $10 adults, $5 for 18 & under, and assistance is possible if the cost is prohibitive. Talk with Rev. Miranda to learn more, or read about the event here: https://www.monroeartscenter.com/eventdetails?eid=121

Calling all Church Women! Women’s Mini Week 2015, August 13 to August 16, at Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, Wisconsin: You are invited to the 39th Annual Women’s Mini Week. This year’s theme is “Surprised by Joy!” For registration materials and to answer questions, visit the website: www.womensminiweek.org or email us for an invitation at . More information and registration forms are in the Gathering Area.

Spring 2015 Chocolate Making is postponed. New dates to be determined.

THIS WEEKEND… Episcopal 101: Holy Times & Seasons, Sunday, April 12, 9am: An ongoing exploration of the Episcopal Church for new and long-time members. All are welcome!

Sunday School, Sunday, April 12, 10am: This week, our 3-6 year old class will explore Jesus as the Good Shepherd, while our 7-11 year old class will play with John’s story of Jesus’ appearance to his disciples after he rose from the dead. All kids are welcome, & parents can come too if they like!

 United Thank Offering: The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a church-wide Episcopal ministry that invites people to take home a “blue box”, and put in a coin or bill when we have a moment of gratitude for the many blessings of our lives. We will gather in our “blue boxes” on Mother’s Day, May 10. The funds collected are given to mission and development projects all over the Anglican world, including in our companion diocese of Newala in Tanzania. For more information, visit the UTO station in the Gathering Area.

Ushers & Greeters Needed! These are two simple roles that are very important to helping welcome visitors and newcomers, and making our worship run smoothly. Once a month, could you commit to coming to church fifteen minutes early and helping out?  Serve with a family member or friend. Just one more team of both ‘Ushers & Greeters would fill out our schedules. See the signup sheets in the Gathering Area for more information.

Coffee Hour hosts needed in April and beyond!  Please consider being a coffee host. Sign-up sheets for upcoming months can be found in the Gathering Space. Thanks for lending a hand!

THE WEEK AHEAD… Vestry meeting, Wednesday, April 15, 6:45pm. Any members are welcome to attend.

Thursday Evening Worship in Easter Season: Following the resurrection of Jesus, many of his friends encountered him – at a shared meal, on a lakeshore, walking along a lonely road. In Easter season, at the Sandbox, our Thursday evening informal worship & supper gathering, we’ll be sharing stories of where we’ve encountered Jesus on our journeys. Come hear about another person’s life of faith, or share a part of your own. All are welcome. Worship is at 5:30pm every week, with a simple meal provided afterwards.

Sunday School, Sunday, April 19, 10am: Next week, our 3-6 year old class will learn about the Eucharist and some of the things we use in church, while our 7-11 year old class will work with the story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus.  All kids are welcome, & parents can come too if they like!

Racial Disparities in Dane County – Knowing, Caring, Acting: Our second series of conversations about racism will focus closer to home, as we study the Race to Equity report and other indicators of racial disparities in Dane County, and begin to look for ways we can help create a fairer future. The next series will begin on Sunday, April 19, at 1pm, and Wednesday, April 22, at 7:15pm. All interested participants are welcome. A selection of handouts from our first series of conversations is now available in the Gathering Area.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, April 19, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund Offering, Sunday, April 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.

Game Night, Friday, April 24, 6pm: Join us for an evening of games for all ages. Friends, partners, kids all welcome. Bring a snack to share, or come as you are!

Outreach Committee Meeting, Saturday, April 25, 8-10:30am:All are welcome to join our conversations about how St. Dunstan’s can best serve the world with our resources and our hands. We begin with an optional potluck breakfast at 8am.

Sunday, April 26, 9am: “Sing THAT one at my funeral!” Many of us have a list – on paper or in our heads – of hymns and songs we’d like sung or played at our funerals. Bring one of your favorites (or an open mind, if you don’t have a “list) and we’ll talk together about what those songs mean to us and the ideas about life, death, and resurrection they contain. This is our Spirituality & Poetry session for April. Simple funeral planning forms will also be available to complete here or take home.

Sunday, April 26, 11:45am: Wills for Young Families. Attorney and St. Dunstan’s member Mark Rooney will offer a gentle and user-friendly introduction to this topic, as a special gathering of our regular parents’ lunch group.

DeCanstruction, Sunday, April 26, 7:30pm: 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 20. 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, and work alongside other St. Dunstan’s folks and friends from Madison Vineyard Church.

Spring Clean-Up Day, Sunday, May 3, 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!

Parish Picnic, Sunday, June 7, 12:00pm: Come for good food and good conversation at our annual June parish picnic.  We’ll have good food and fun activities for all ages. The picnic will happen rain or shine. Mark your calendar and keep an eye out for more details!

PARISH OPPORTUNITIES… Books Needed for Little Library! With warmer weather many more people are stopping by for a new “read” and we have few books to supply the library. If you have books to donate, please bring them to St. Dunstan’s and put in the labelled box in the Gathering Area. Thanks!

Maundy Thursday, Thursday, April 2, 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.

Good Friday Liturgies, Friday, April 3, 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, gathered around an icon of Jesus in the tomb. 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, April 3, 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.

Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 4, 8pm: 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, April 5, 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!

Birthdays and Anniversaries, Sunday, April 5: It is our custom to use the first Sunday of each month to pray for those with birthdays and anniversaries in that month. Please come forward when invited, during the Announcements, to receive the congregation’s prayers and good wishes.  Some people choose to put a donation in the little wooden church in thanksgiving for the occasion; those donations are passed on to charitable causes in the wider world.

Healing Prayer: On first Sundays, during Communion, one of our ministers will be available for those who seek prayers for themselves or on behalf of others.

Evening Eucharist, Sunday, April 5, 6pm: Join us for a simple service before the week begins.

Spring 2015 Chocolate Making Sign Up: Our Spring Chocolate Event will be after Easter this year. Mark your calendars for Friday evening, April 10, 6-8pm and Saturday, April 11, 9am-12noon. An order/signup sheet is in the Gathering Space, below the big calendar. Sign up by April 5 (Easter Sunday)!

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. It is helpful to our tellers, who count our donations, if you indicate on the memo line which agency you are supporting. Thank you for your generosity.

THE WEEK AHEAD…

Thursday Evening Worship in Easter Season: Following the resurrection of Jesus, many of his friends encountered him – at a shared meal, on a lakeshore, walking along a lonely road. In Easter season, at the Sandbox, our Thursday evening informal worship & supper gathering, we’ll be sharing stories of where we’ve encountered Jesus on our journeys. Come hear about another person’s life of faith, or share a part of your own. All are welcome. Worship is at 5:30pm every week, with a simple meal provided afterwards.

Madison-Area Julian Gathering, Wednesday, April 8, 7:15-9pm, at St. Dunstan’s: The Madison-Area Julian Gathering will begin meeting again after our winter break.  Please come and bring Spring with you!

Episcopal 101: Holy Times & Seasons, Sunday, April 12, 9am: An ongoing exploration of the Episcopal Church for new and long-time members. All are welcome!

Sunday School, Sunday, April 12, 10am: This week, our 3-6 year old class will explore Jesus’ Jewish roots in the story of the Synagogue and the Upper Room, while our 7-11 year old class will play with John’s story of Jesus’ appearance to his disciples after he rose from the dead. All kids are welcome, & parents can come too if they like!   

Books Needed for Little Library! With warmer weather many more people are stopping by for a new “read” and we have few books to supply the library. If you have books to donate, please bring them to St. Dunstan’s and put in the labelled box in the Gathering Area. Thanks!

Calling all Church Women! Women’s Mini Week 2015, August 13 to August 16, at Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, Wisconsin: You are invited to the 39th Annual Women’s Mini Week. This year’s theme is “Surprised by Joy!” For registration materials and to answer questions, visit the website: www.womensminiweek.org .

Your help is needed to complete the Community Build at Canstruction® Madison 2015!  You can be a superhero by purchasing a “Can of Hope” for our Superhero Phone Booth which will be built in the mall center court. For every $10 donation, you can submit one name to be featured on the label of a Superhero Can. One can make a difference®.  One Can® to prove that every act of kindness makes a difference. Thanks to a generous donor, the first $5,000 in donations will be matched!  Give hope today.

A BIG THANK YOU to all the volunteers who cleaned in the Meeting Room, Gathering Space, Atrium and Nave last Sunday.  Thanks to all for making the church shine, and thanks to our fearless leaders, Joanne and Helen!

THIS WEEKEND… The Stations of the Cross in Downtown Madison, Friday, March 27, 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 1.2 miles, and it takes about 45 minutes. Come at noon or 5pm, as your schedule permits. All are welcome.   

“Palm Saturday”, Saturday, March 28, 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. All are welcome!

Palm and Passion Sunday, March 29, 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.

Backpack Snack Pack, Sunday, March 29 after church: The kids and families of St. Dunstan’s are invited to join our Madison Vineyard Church neighbors in preparing “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 10 am service.

Maundy Thursday Meal Sign-up: Our Maundy Thursday liturgy (April 2, 6pm) includes a shared meal as we remember Jesus’ final meal with his friends before his crucifixion. Sign up in the Gathering Area to contribute lentil soup, hummus, olives, or other items. Thanks for all your offerings!

Spring 2015 Chocolate Making Sign Up: Our Spring Chocolate Event will be after Easter this year. Mark your calendars for Friday evening and Saturday, April 10 – 11. An order/signup sheet is in the Gathering Space, below the big calendar. Sign up by April 5 (Easter Sunday)!

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. It is helpful to our tellers, who count our donations, if you indicate on the memo line which agency you are supporting. Thank you for your generosity.

Tools for Tanzania Update: Thanks to your generosity, we have raised $540 of our goal of $800 so far! Thanks to all who have contributed. If you’ve not yet made a gift to this project and would like to help send better farm tools to our brothers and sisters in the very rural Diocese of Newala, put a check in the offering plate with “TZ Tools” on the memo line, and thanks again!

HOLY WEEK SERVICES … Maundy Thursday, Thursday, April 2, 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.

Friday, April 3, 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.

Good Friday Liturgies, Friday, April 3, 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, gathered around an icon of Jesus in the tomb. Reflect on the poetry, art, and Scripture of Jesus’ death and the grief of his friends. Hot cross buns and tea will be served.

Easter Sunday, Sunday, April 5, 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!

THE WEEKS AHEAD…. Thursday Evening Worship in Easter Season: Following the resurrection of Jesus, many of his friends encountered him – at a shared meal, on a lakeshore, walking along a lonely road. In Easter season, at the Sandbox, our Thursday evening informal worship & supper gathering, we’ll be sharing stories of where we’ve encountered Jesus on our journeys. Come hear about another person’s life of faith, or share a part of your own. All are welcome. Worship is at 5:30pm every week, with a simple meal provided afterwards.

Books Needed for Little Library! With warmer weather many more people are stopping by for a new “read” and we have few books to supply the library. If you have books to donate, please bring them to St. Dunstan’s and put in the labelled box in the Gathering Area. Thanks!

Do you like to feed people? Consider joining our St. Dunstan’s Meals Network, to provide a meal for another household in our congregation. New babies, critically ill family members, surgery, or a death in the family are just a few of the occasions for which people might need extra support and compassion. Sometimes it’s just dropping of food, sometimes it’s also sitting with people and listening to how things are going. Go to https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/652914/ to join our network or, if you’re already part of it, to pick a date on our current meal calendars.