CHURCH STAFF
The Rev. Dr. Miranda Hassett is the Rector (the priest in charge) of St. Dunstan’s. Our Director of Music Ministry, Deanna Clement, leads and coordinates our choirs and other musical ensembles and provides musical support and leadership for our worship. Ann McGrath, our Office Coordinator, keeps things running and answers questions during the week. Isabelle Marceau is our Youth Ministry Coordinator. Read more about our staff here.
ELECTED LEADERSHIP
Alongside the Rector, every Episcopal church has a Vestry, an elected board that meets monthly and oversees the life of the parish. At St. Dunstan’s, we have six members on our vestry. In addition, we have the Senior and Junior Wardens, persons elected to special leadership roles to support and consult with the Rector. The basic responsibilities of the Vestry and Wardens are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church’s mission by word and deed; to ensure effective organization and planning; and to manage resources and finances.
THE CONGREGATION
About 100 people worship at St. Dunstan’s every Sunday, split between our 8am and 10am services. We’ve got a wide range of ages, professions, and backgrounds. We are committed to inclusive welcome of all who come seeking God and community here, and we strive to express that welcome fully and warmly to all who come to worship with us.
Who are the people of St. Dunstan’s? We are the children building block towers near the fireplace in the back of the church, and the elders bowing gray heads in prayer. We are the graceful lofty roofline that draws the spirit upward to the heavens; we are the living green of our woods and gardens, rooted in our good earth. We are the quiet of people gathered for prayer and the happy buzz of people sharing a meal. We are the people who’ve been here for 50 years and the people who joined last week. We are the shared laughter in good times and the hot meal on the doorstep in tough times. We are singers and schoolchildren, nurses and network administrators, professors and painters, teachers and technicians, accountants and administrators, scientists and therapists, quilters and carpenters, homemakers and retirees. We are the people of St. Dunstans’s – and we are not yet what we will be when you join us.
What Members Say…
If you’re exploring our church, you may wonder what our members like about St. Dunstan’s. Here are a few responses to that question. These quotations come from our Fall 2014 Giving Campaign. As part of the campaign, several members of St. Dunstan’s spoke to the congregation about why St. Dunstan’s matters to them.
“I love the people here. I believe a lot of good work is done here. And St. Dunstan’s is my spiritual home.” – Mary
“What does St. Dunstan’s mean to me? It is my church. It is my community. It is my family. And it is the place where I want my son to grow up. A year ago today, at the 10:00 service, we pledged to do all in our power to support Gabriel in his life in Christ. And I trust St. Dunstan’s with this charge. You are already living these words—thank you. Though our attendance may be spotty at times (church really messes with morning naps), St. Dunstan’s is home. And I am grateful to be raising my son in a community of people of all ages who love Christ and live His love in our world.” – Kendra
“I came to St. Dunstan’s looking for a good sermon. A good sermon, for me, is one that reassures me that God will be with me, supporting and protecting me through the rough spots in life, and helps me leave church feeling confident that God will give me the strength and guidance she needs. I found what I came for, and then so much more: a minister with a sense of humor, and a very special congregation – special because of our great warmth and hospitality, our love of beauty combined with practicality, our inclusiveness, and our compassion for the wider world, shown in our outreach giving and the many ways we serve others, together and individually.” – Evie
“When we had our babies, many people brought us food. It was hard for me to get the hang of taking care of a baby and the meals really helped a lot. Sometimes I worry that my children are a bit disruptive in church. But we are made to feel welcome as we are – and several people frequently help me wrangle the kids. It is a huge help. And I am grateful that we are accepted just as we are – late, wandering around, and noisy…. I’m also proud that our congregation does so much to help others. It feels really good to know that our church is able to make a significant difference. There are so many outreach ministries that we support, and I’m sure there are others that I don’t even know about. As a whole, the people of St. Dunstan’s do so much more than any one person or family could possibly do…. I love the people here. I believe a lot of good work is done here. And St. Dunstan’s is my spiritual home.” – Mary
“I find God in a lot of places – in the woods; looking out a plane window. So I’ve been surprised by how much a particular physical building can mean to me. This place has a lot of meaning for me in terms of family history – four decades of weddings, funerals, and most recently, the baptisms of my two sons. All that history can add up and give a real sense of being at home.” – John
“When I was about thirteen, I attended a Happening retreat for Episcopal youth. I wasn’t very confident in myself at the time; I worried about what other kids thought about me. Jesus tells us, Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself. What I learned at my Happening retreat is those three loves are connected. Other people showed me God’s love, and I loved God more, and I loved other people more, and I loved myself more, too. After that, I didn’t worry so much about what other people thought about me. I knew that God loved me and that my friends in God’s family loved me, with that unconditional love. And nothing could ever change that. I went on to be a helper and a leader at a lot of Happenings. And eventually, a LONG time later, I became a priest, which is pretty different, but not all the way different. Just like at Happening, at church we try to be a place where people know they’ll find God’s love in the love of other people, even when the rest of their life feels pretty rotten. That’s why church matters to me; because I found that, and I want everybody else to find it too.” – Rev. Miranda