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Weekly News
Thursday, September 23, 2021
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“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…” James 1:17, NRSV September, 2021
Dear Beloved, Every message about our annual giving campaign begins with Gratitude, and I am so very grateful for all the ways that this community has met the challenges of this year and found common ways to share a community of love and joy with our neighbors. Thank you.
Our campaign theme this year is about Every Perfect Gift, and reminds us how everything that we receive and everything we give comes from God. In our Rector’s letter to us recently, she focused our attention on the gift of Time in the trifecta of Time, Talent, and Treasure. I would like to highlight the gift of Talent.
Talents, the blessings with which we are imbued by our Creator, are even more beautiful when they are freely given, as I have seen you do so often in our life together. Talents are a double gift – by Grace you have received them, by Grace you generously share them.
“Well I am not talented! What can I give?” some might say. But you are, each of you, wonderfully gifted. I have heard it in the voices and instruments of our musicians. I have appreciated your talent in the way you give your wisdom, counsel, and experience to our committees and ministries. We see it manifest in the way you raise your families and teach your children to be loving. I have tasted your talent in meals left on doorsteps and treats shared at coffee hours and potlucks. Each of you has something you do well, and I am grateful that you share those talents with our community and our neighbors.
As you receive your pledge materials this year, and learn more about Every Perfect Gift, please know that your guidance and support are deeply appreciated by this community and by me. Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
With Love and Gratitude,
Huldah Niles, Sr. Warden
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Bishop Craig Loya to Visit and Confirm
Tuesday, September 28, 6 PM
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We're thrilled that our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Craig W. Loya, will be our special guest and will preside at a service of Confirmation with Holy Eucharist. We ask for your prayers and presence for Peter Handley and Grace Johnson, our confirmands.
Tuesday, September 28
6:00 PM Worship
Followed by a Town Hall Style Discussion with the Bishop
The evening's offertory will go toward the Bishop's Discretionary Fund. These funds support a variety of needs in the Church and in the world. Checks are payable to "ECMN" and the memo line may read "Bishop's Discretionary Fund".
The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person, and posted on our YouTube station afterwards.
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for this special event!
Loving God. Loving One Another.
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September Vestry and COVID-19 Update |
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The Vestry met in person for the first time since February 2020 on Monday, September 20th at 7pm in the St. David’s Library. Rector Katherine opened the meeting with Gospel based discipleship. The August Minutes and Financials were accepted and unanimously approved. Covid safety measures for the church were discussed at length. Concern was expressed about the safety of worshipping indoors once outdoor temperatures drop and we can no longer open windows. The solution unanimously agreed upon was the purchase of additional stand alone air filters. The Vestry approved spending on HEPA filtered air purifiers for the Sanctuary and Undercroft as well as a shared (mobile) purifier for the Nursery, Godly Play room, and Library. These are medical grade air purifiers that remove 99% of air particles to 0.1 microns (Medify MA-112 and MA-40). Jr. Warden Randy S. has since secured these purifiers and they should arrive soon.
Clearer safety guidelines for indoor worship were also requested. There will be more signage and spoken requests for parishioners to socially distance in the Sanctuary while seated and while receiving Communion. The Vestry also approved a request for the final hymn at each service to be sung by all participants that are able to mask. Announcements will now be made before the final hymn so that everyone can clear out of the space quickly after singing. Anyone who feels uncomfortable being amongst people singing may take their leave early.
The Vestry ended the meeting by walking around the building, guided by Sr. Warden Huldah N., to reacquaint and/or learn for the first time the various tasks that need completing as a Sunday morning Vestry Host. The Vestry is very grateful to be worshipping inside again and is taking seriously the safety of all gatherings. Please feel free to reach out to a Vestry member if you have any questions or concerns.
Respectfully Submitted,
Huldah Niles, Sr. Warden
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Indoor Worship with Holy Eucharist
Sunday at 8:00 and 9:30
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We will continue to worship indoors this coming Sunday. As a reminder, we will be holding the 8:00 service as well as the 9:30.
Masks are required and we ask that you leave space between yourselves and others if possible. The nursery will be available. Please note that services will continue to be Livestreamed on Facebook and uploaded to YouTube for those who wish to worship virtually.
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During the course of the pandemic, this community hasn’t had a chance to sing together, but now we’ve found a way that we can sing a little bit, as safely as possible. At the very end of worship, the congregation will be invited to join in a closing hymn -- with masks on – then to leave the sanctuary. This way we can all enjoy singing and hearing each other’s voices, while minimizing risk. It’s a small initial step as we look forward to the day when we can do lots of singing again!
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Update on Children and Youth Programming |
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Children's Ministry - Godly Play 1 will be held on the West lawn during the 9:30 service.
Middle School Ministry - Youth Group 6:45pm-8:15pm on Wednesday evenings, starting this Wednesday, September 29th. We'll congregate on the West lawn as youth arrive with games. Programing is both outdoors (masks optional) and indoors (masks required).
High School Ministry - Youth Group 6:00pm-8:00pm on Sunday evenings, starting Sunday, October 3rd at St. David's. Programming is done in collaboration with Trinity Episcopal Church in Excelsior. Location will rotate between the two churches. Programing is both outdoors (masks optional) and indoors (masks required). Watch the weekly update for information.
ECMN Youth Day Trip! - 6th-12th graders! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 30th - a day trip to Jay Cooke State Park with other youth in our diocese. More information coming soon.
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 3 at 1:00 PM
Peace Garden
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St. David's Book Club News |
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The St. David’s Book Club next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 10/5 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom. We will be discussing The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson which covers the Great Migration of Blacks from the South between 1915-1970. Wilkerson focuses on the experiences of 3 Black migrants in telling their tales of life in the South before they migrated and their lives after migration. Wilkerson’s book has received many awards including:
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER
LYNTON HISTORY PRIZE WINNER
HEARTLAND AWARD WINNER
DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE FINALIST
NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
The New York Times USA Today O: The Oprah Magazine Amazon Publishers Weekly Salon Newsday The Daily Beast
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
The New Yorker The Washington Post The Economist Boston Globe San Francisco Chronicle Chicago Tribune Entertainment Weekly Philadelphia Inquirer The Guardian The Seattle Times St. Louis Post-Dispatch The Christian Science Monitor
Or Join by Phone:
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 850 1346 0303
Remaining 2021 dates and book selections:
December 7 Red at the Bone by Jacquelyn Woodson
Please email, call or text me with questions.
Cathy Schwichtenberg
612-710-2203
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JUSTMove: Developmental Tools for
Interculturality and Anti-Racism
October 2021 – May 2022
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We are thrilled to be working with trainers Joe Davis and David Scherer click here to learn more engage in an interactive curriculum designed to help individuals and organizations “move the needle” in building more inclusive spaces so that all members feel a sense of belonging. As the trainers state, “this developmental model works with people from right where they are, not where we want them to be.”
For those who choose to register for the series, the sessions will be held monthly, October through April, 6:30-8:30 pm. We will meet in person, masked, socially-distanced, and with an air filtration system in operation.
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Course dates:
October 20 – Session 1
November 17 – Session 2
December 15 –Session 3
January – no meeting date. Optional project or outing to be determined.
February 16 – Session 4
March 16 – Session 5
April 20 – Session 6
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A culminating worship for the whole community will take place Sunday, May 1, at the 9:30 service.
Registration Deadline: October 5, or until all available slots are filled.
Registration Fee: $50 for the 6 Week Series. $50 registration fee does not cover all costs, we welcome additional donations as people are able.
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Land Acknowledgement: Who lived on the land we now claim as ours?
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Part of the work of diversity, equity and inclusion is examining our history and where we come from. St. David's is located on Očhéthi Šakówiŋ and Wahpekute land. Follow this link to learn more about the tribes who lived on the lands where we now worship and gather. You may also use this link to learn about other locations: your hometown, your place of work, etc.
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Upcoming Race and Housing Event |
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Chili Cook Off this Saturday
There will be a fun family-friendly event this Saturday (9/25) at Faith Church in Minnetonka. The Hopkins and Minnetonka police, fire and recreation departments will be going head-to-head in a community chili cook-off. For $5, attendees can taste chili from the five participating teams and vote for their favorite. Donations of non-perishable foods, cash or other ICA-needed items will also be gratefully accepted.
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To add to the fun, there will be live music, games, police squad and fire truck displays as well as visits by Scruff McGruff and Sparky the Fire Dog. Do hope you will take time to stop by Faith Church (12007 Excelsior Boulevard) between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm this Saturday.
New Food Market at Gatewood Elementary
As part of ICA’s strategic plan to redefine access to link people to services, ICA is pleased to announce the opening this month of a food market at Gatewood Elementary School in Minnetonka. This site was chosen after several barriers (including language and transportation) were identified as making it challenging for students and their families to access nutritious foods and services. By providing consistent and culturally-responsive healthy food options, the Gatewood market will help to ease food insecurity, which will help kids better focus on school. This pilot project will be a model that leads to more community connections with other new partners like Gatewood.
This choice-model food market will be open twice a week throughout the 2021-2022 school year. A multilingual team will staff the market and work with families as they are shopping. An ICA case manager will also be onsite to work with families one-on-one to complete a needs assessment and help them connect with other community resources as needed.
Free ice cream at Tommy’s Tonka Trolley on October 3
Enjoy an end-of-season treat and help support ICA on Sunday, October 3. Join Tommy’s Tonka Trolley in Excelsior for a free scoop of ice cream on their last day of the season. Freewill donations will be accepted for ICA.
The Great Taste returns Thursday, October 14
The Great Taste is an evening dedicated to celebrating the impact the ICA Food Shelf has had in our community and on the lives of our neighbors in need. This annual fundraiser will be held online this year. It will be emceed by Belinda Jensen of KARE 11.
To register, go to icataste.org.
ICA makes a difference every day
The ICA is so much more than a food shelf. It offers many services to our neighbors. This excerpt is from a thank you note ICA received recently: “I want to be sure to thank you again for helping me out with rent payment this month. Your organization and your assistance made an extremely humbling situation not quite so difficult. I appreciate all you do.”
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Calling All Bridge Players |
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If you are interested in playing bridge at St. David’s or learning how to play bridge, please contact Susan Taylor: [email protected] or 652-944-7241.
The St. David’s Bridge Group plays in the Undercroft on the 3rd Friday of the month at 6:30 PM except December and Summer. You do not need to commit to play for the whole season, only for one night at a time. Snowbirds can play in the Fall and the Spring. Due to COVID, masks and vaccinations are required. No snacks will be served. We play casual party bridge and welcome new members.
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Looking for Additional Ushers |
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Because it has been nearly a year and a half since St. David’s has operated in the “normal” way, we have to re-build our lay service teams almost from scratch, so we are looking for fresh volunteers for ushering. We need a gaggle of ushers in our team so that we can schedule each of them no more often than about once a month.
Ushering is an easy and fun ministry because it mainly consists of making people feel welcome and at home at St. David’s, and our parishioners are naturals at that. It is a great ministry that families can do together, if they want. Once we have a group of volunteers we will do a short training course so that all of the new and old ushers are on the same page with respect to the simple choreography of the service.
Please let me know if you have any interest in helping with this important but fun ministry at St. David’s and I will explain the details and answer your questions.
Thanks,
Steve Johnson
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The Rev. George Martin will be our guest and lead us in a study of St. Paul over the next three weeks: September 28, October 5 and October 12. What a perfect time for all to join in as we prepare for the upcoming study of Romans in October. See you on Zoom at 11:00, ending with Noonday prayer on Tuesdays. |
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 872 7467 2774
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,87274672774# US (New York)
+13017158592,,87274672774# US (Washington DC)
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St. David's Wonder Women
Happy Hour Today at 5:30
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This is informal and focused on connecting and conversation. Get your favorite HH beverage – water, tea, wine, cocktail; plug in, log on, we will be waiting for you! Please join us for whatever timing works for you – come later or stop in early to say hi for 15 minutes. We will be happy to get you for whatever works for your schedule.
Today @ 5:30 PM for one hour
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 835 2315 5557
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,83523155557# US (New York)
+13017158592,,83523155557# US (Washington DC)
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Compline Held Nightly at 8:00 PM – Join Us!
Compline, is a brief service of nighttime prayers, lasting no longer than about 10 minutes, this is a wonderful ritual for before bedtime. Please join us any night at 8:00 PM.
On Wednesdays Compline is led by children and intended for those of all ages (for some adults, it's their favorite service of the week!) using the the children's book Candlewalk by Karin Hosinger Sherman. The book is available through Church Publishing and Amazon.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 852 2267 7461
Passcode: Pn2CjY
Dial by Phone: +1 312 626 6799; Meeting ID: 852 2267 7461; Passcode: 516860
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Start your Saturday morning with prayerful reflection.
Join morning prayer on Saturday beginning at 7:45 AM. This service will last approximately 15 minutes. You can read along with the prayer on your screen.
You can access the service through following the link on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 220 814 0673 Passcode: rWDY6k
Dial by phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 220 814 0673 Passcode: 576819
If you have any questions, please call or text Paul Smejkal at 952.270.6762
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This Week at St. David's! |
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Featured Events
- Tuesday, September 28
- 6:00 PM Confirmation Service followed by a Town Hall Style visit with the Bishop
- Sunday, October 3
- 1:00 PM Blessing of the Animals service
Want to view the full calendar for the week? Click here to view the new St. David's website complete with a calendar to keep you updated on events and offerings! Scroll all the way to the bottom to view it.
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In this time of the coronavirus pandemic, the need to reach our most vulnerable parishioners has been great. Our 11 person Pastoral Care Team has stepped up to the plate and has been regularly calling around 24 St. David's members and families to share in remote fellowship, prayer, and conversation to determine if we, as a community, could help address any of their unmet needs. We are pleased to report that virtually all of these parishioners are doing well so far and have their basic needs met by their facilities and/or family. They are in good spirits and continue to remain resilient in the face of isolation and uncertainty.
If you find yourself in need of food or other resources, please contact:
or:
and we will assist you in finding solutions.
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Pastoral Care Line: 952-767-0891 |
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We will include all individuals in the prayers list for four consecutive weeks, and then they will be removed from the list. If the prayer need is ongoing, please reach out and we will keep their names on the list. If anyone's prayer need is shorter than four weeks, please also note that. This way we will keep all prayer lists updated and recent.
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Prayers and Passages
We pray for healing of body, mind or spirit for those we love, especially, Richard Austin (father of Holly Lamond), Patricia Beck, Ted Berktold (stepfather of Andy Harvala), Marie Brewer (cousin of Patti Jurkovich), William Cadwell (son of Philip Cadwell), Peter Corcoran and family (grandson of Peg and Dick Woellner), Christina Dorr Drake (daughter-in-law of Nan and Guy Drake), Laurie Domeier (friend of Harvala family) Guy Drake, Lina Maria Fajardo (niece of Pam Schroeder's sister), Dan Greer (nephew of LaMar Popp), Allison Hatcher, Ann Henjum (daughter of Bob Triebenbach), Margo Leslie (friend of Debbie Brown), Joan MacDonald, Jean Meyer (sister-in-law of Gervaye Parent), Josie Meyer and family (friend of the Handley-Jurkovich family), Joseph (JoJo) McLaughlin and family (Shea Brendalen's nephew), Amara Strande (daughter of the Rev. Dana Strande), Patricia Warren (mother of Craig Warren), and Jim Zirbes.
We pray for those who have died, especially Andrew Johnson (classmate of Maddie Harvala).
We pray for all who suffer or serve in war.
We pray for those who will be confirmed by Bp. Loya this month: Peter Handley and Grace Johnson.
We pray for all who have been born.
We pray in thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life.
We pray for those serving in the military, Will Culliton, Aprille Lopac, and Kaelyn Wahlberg.
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COVID-19 Resources Available
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