 |
Hard Knocks Sermon Series, #2:
Sin and Forgiveness
John the Baptist sees Jesus, and instead of saying "Yo!" he rather strangely announces: "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Anyone who heard him must have thought, "What's that strange guy talking about?"
Bible scholars would tell us that John's saying is more theological than literal - it's meant to convey one of the meanings of Jesus as Savior. But how does anyone - even Jesus - take away the sins of someone else? Much less the whole world?
Last week I asked the congregation about hard knocks you have experienced in your life. There were many responses, one of which was "losing a friend." We all know what that's like. Loss can come through death or geographical separation, or it can come through conflict, betrayal, and hurt. This latter cause brings us back to sin. What if someone does something that hurts us, that we can't let go of?
Sin and bad actions have lasting effects, on the hurt party, the offender, and sometimes the world - sometimes irreversible consequences. The relationship certainly suffers, and can trap us in a prison of resentment and bitterness. The only solution to this comes through forgiveness. When we've been hurt, forgiveness can seem to be asking too much - letting the offender off the hook! Why shouldn't he suffer as I am suffering?
Yet forgiveness is a central message of Jesus, in his life and teaching, and even when he was dying an agonizing death on the cross: "Father, forgive them...." Jesus did not want us to get stuck in the grudge trap, and forgiveness is the only way out. Think about times you've had to forgive, or needed to be forgiven. We'll talk about it on Sunday. JBM
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome Julie Petersmeyer ...
|
We are pleased to welcome Julie Petersmeyer to St. Dunstan's on January 15, for a 6 month ministry placement. Julie is part of the deacons' training program in our diocese. She will spend around 10 hours per week with us, sharing some of her outreach experience with prisoners, serving in liturgies, and leading formational activities. Julie is a long-time member of St. Columba's and lives in our neighborhood. Please welcome her warmly!
|
|
|
|
Come and See: whom do you choose to follow? 
This Sunday, January 15 the children will learn about two special people who followed Jesus and tried to make a difference in the world in which they lived. Martin Luther King, Jr., a great leader and preacher during the Civil Rights movement. Young Ruby Bridges, only 6 at the time, both tried to show a new way to teach tolerance, to respond peacefully when others were angry, and to always follow Jesus. Come and see - head to the classrooms on the lower level.
L. Sue von Rautenkranz
Christian Formation
Coordinato
r
|
|
|
|
Did you ever wish you had a better grasp on the Bible - the big picture - main events in the story of God's people through the ages?
Starting this Sunday,
January 15
, we'll explore the "big" Bible narrative through five major acts or moves that define our faith:
- Creation
- Slavery/Liberation (The Exodus),
- Learning How to Live (the prophets)
- Jesus Changes Everything
- New Creation in Christ
This Sunday, we'll see how Martin Luther King's teaching fits into this grand biblical narrative.
(Sundays, 9:50 - 10:35 a.m. in the Parish Hall).
|
|
|
|
P.R.A.Y. (Potomac River Anglican [Area-Amazing-Awesome] Youth
) 
January 16 (Monday)
- MLK Day of Service at National Hebrew Congregation
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Please let Jeff know if you are able to make this day of service. There is no cost for this event.
Please put the following dates on your calendar for these joint youth events:
February 12
+
March 19
+
April 9
+
May 21
Dunstan's Youth Group - Thursday, January 19
All 5th through 12th graders!
Dinner 6
:30 p.m.
Program 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Over the next couple of Thursday evenings we will begin to look at the Creeds
, what the Episcopal Church believes and how we as individuals make choices about what we believe. Then we will look at how our beliefs help us to make day to day decisions. Decisions like - how do we treat others? will we cheat or lie or steal? who are we called to love? All of these decisions and choices are formed by our faith.
Friends are always welcome at any youth program!
L. Sue von Rautenkranz
Christian Formation Coordinator
|
|
|
|
MUSIC IS OUR MISSION!
One hundred fifty people filled St. Dunstan's on Friday, January 6 for a concert of the Baldwin Wallace University Motet Choir. This performance was offered as part of St. Dunstan's partnership with Walt Whitman High School Music Department. The guest director commented, "What a wonderful place to sing!" We were happy to welcome WWHS students and parents for the event.
Music is one of our community outreach efforts at St. Dunstan's - sharing God's gifts of music of all kinds. Our wonderful building, with its pipe organ and fine piano, allow us to host community concerts of WWHS, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and various choral ensembles, as well as teachers' piano recitals.
If you'd like to support St. Dunstan's music ministry, talk to
Michael Austin about joining a choir or the 9 a.m. band, or donating to the Music Fund to fund special events and our Choral Scholar program, which involves 3 WWHS students in our adult choir.
|
|
|
|
HELP ST. DUNSTAN'S HELP REFUGEE FAMILIES
Many members of St Dunstan's and many of our neighbors have begun to collect "Welcome Kits" for refugee families coming to this area. You can help these families get started with their new lives by providing
"welcome kit" items for their households. Kits of these types are needed: Toiletries, Cleaning supplies, kitchen set up, baby supplies, household linens and tableware.
For details, see the
"Sign-up Genius" at the website
and choose the items you can supply. There, you can see what has been pledged and what is still needed. Remember, we will be making more than one of each kit, so duplicate kits are welcome. (Thanks to Jessica Ault for setting up this service.)
Just bring your items to St Dunstan's and leave them under the table in our foyer, near the stairway. We will be delivering accumulated items to the refugee agency (Lutheran Social Services) periodically.
Join the mailing list for this project: Call or email Ray Donnelly at
[email protected] or 301-320-6146.
__________________________________________________________________
Thank you all for your generosity through the Simple Gifts Tree during Advent. Many around the world will benefit from our giving. Many of our gifts were also matched as both ERD and Five Talents had matching donors through the end of 2016.
All totaled we gave $1,142.00 in Simple Gifts! With that we gave 6 months of school scholarships to children of Buen Pastor parish in Quito, Ecuador through Education Equals Hope; we helped 6 women begin new opportunities for economic self-sufficiency in the South Sudan and Jakarta, Indonesia through Five Talents; and we gave clean water to a family, assisted with hurricane Matthew relief, purchased four goats, 2 pigs and a flock of chickens through Episcopal Relief and Development. Great work and Thank You!
|
|
|
|
FUN
SUNDAY - WINTER PICNIC
FEB. 12!
On Sunday, Feb. 12, St. Dunstan's will pretend it's a beautiful summer day. We'll have one family service at 10 a.m. followed by an indoor picnic with an big inflatable moonbounce in the parish hall for the kids. (Last May's picnic indoors was such fun people asked for another.) Kids (and adults) are invited to bring their friends to play.
ST. DUNSTAN'S ELECTIONS AND ANNUAL MEETING
Our church is guided by a group of 9 Vestry members and 5 officers who meet monthly. On
February 26, our Annual Parish Meeting will occur between the Sunday services, to elect your representatives to these offices. We urge all members of St. Dunstan's to attend and participate.
If you are interested in serving on the Vestry, or want to recommend someone, we welcome your suggestions. Please speak to
Nils Overdahl or
Julie Anderson, our wardens, soon. The nominees are being selected soon.
LENT PREVIEW
Lent begins this year on March 1. On Monday evenings during Lent, St. Dunstan's and neighboring parishes will offer a series on Christian Theology and Harry Potter, with the Rev. Patricia Lyons. Ms. Lyons was with us for two Sundays last year, and won us over with her vitality and creative approach to teaching. Please save your Monday evenings in March and April for this great opportunity.
THANK YOU! from Sue von
Two weeks down - at least 6 or more to go! Just wanted to say
thank you all so much for your prayers, cards, well wishes and promises of things yet to come. I'm doing very well in my recovery from surgery and feel very good. However, the protocols of what I can and can't do really are the realities of each day - and limit my activities and movements. Since I'm dealing with a revision surgery and the need for new bone growth, it is a tedious and slow process. I am very grateful for all who are stepping up to do duties and tasks in my absence. I look forward to being back at St. Dunstan's sometime in March.
Sue von
WALK-IN FUNDS NEEDED
'Tis the season for giving. The walk-in funds are in need of donations. Every week we are solicited by people in need. The walk-in fund provides us with funds to give them for transportation, food, and even medicine. Every little bit helps. Please consider donating any amount to the fund. You can place you donation in the collection plate, leave it with Jeff, or leave it in the staff office. Be sure to mark it "walk-in fund".
Kim Matthews
Parish Administrator
|
|
|
|
|
Hopes and Prayers on our Journey ...
|
 I
n Need of Healing:
Don Larrabee,
infirm in nursing care
Curt Shively,
husband of Susan Burkhalter,
in nursing care
Penelope McCormick
, mother of Ryan McCormick
John Riordan,
father of Meghan Jarvis, ill
Ken Farnsworth
, ill at home in Wheaton
Maureen Lake
, ill
Carmine Smith,
mother of Nancy Douglas, ill
Donna Courtney,
ill
Troy Kravitz,
brain surgery
Sue von Rautenkranz
, recovering from Surgery
David and Karen Keegan
, friends of Tom and Rosemarie Barrett, fighting cancer
Recently Departed:
Elmer Berger
, father of Brian Berger
The flowers
are given to the glory of God.
We pray for St. Dunstan's Missionaries,
Cameron and Roberto Vivanco, who serve in Quito, Ecuador, and the parish of Buen Pastor.
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please complete our prayer request form by clicking
here.
|
|
|
|
|
The Second after the Epiphany
January 15, 2017
9:00 a.m. Family Service
9:50 a.m. Life-Long Christian Formation
10:45 a.m. Traditional Holy Eucharist
The readings for this Sunday are:
Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-10,
and John 1:29-42
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday Schedule of Ministries ...
|
Serving this Sunday
Host Family: Brazelton
Trail Guides: Julie Anderson
and Tony Gomez
Greeter: Donna Alvarez
Liturgical Coordinator: Rosi Sweeney
Eucharistic Ministers:
Carl Adams
and Sue Newman
Lector: Mark McCarthy
Prayer Minister: Rosi Sweeney
Altar Guild: Jackie Karlin
Flower Guild: Sue Newman
Tellers:
Donna Alvarez and Chuck Cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
