In this Edition:

  • Music for Black History Month
  • Ash Wednesday Services
  • COVID Update
  • An Evening of Poetry and Music
  • Faithful Innovation
  • Men's Retreat
  • Community of Hope International
  • ECMN Workshop
  • Prayer Update: Amara Strande
  • Book Club 
  • Invitation to be Vineyard Stewards 
  • Help with Coffee Hour 
  • Wednesday Dinner

Have an announcement you would like to share in this weekly email?

Send it to office@stdavidsparish.org before noon on Wednesday to be featured.

Church this Sunday

8:00 and 9:30 Holy Eucharist

Children's time will take place during the 9:30 service for children age 3 through grade 5. 


We will continue to Facebook Livestream the Sunday 9:30 service and upload to YouTube to accommodate those who choose to stay home.

10:45-11:30 Love Makes Room, The Mills Church and Affordable Housing, speakers: Mills Church parishioners Tony and Pat Levy

Upcoming Sunday Community Forum:

February 19--ICA, Dan Narr, Executive Director

Music for Black History Month: Florence Price

“To begin with I have two handicaps—those of sex and race. Unfortunately, the work of a woman composer is preconceived by many to be light, froth, lacking in depth, logic, and virility. Add to that the incident of race...and you will understand some of the difficulties that confront one in such a position." These words by Florence Price eloquently describe the struggles she faced as a composer. She is the first woman of African American descent to have a symphony performed by a major US orchestra. Despite that success, she often struggled to get her music played. Born in Arkansas in

1887, she lived through many horrific injustices including the lynching of John Carter in 1927. Her family moved to Chicago as a result of this extreme act of violence. She then went on to study composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. Price is a

profound composer and a survivor. She is a stunning example of what it means to carry

on and follow your calling in an unjust world.


This Sunday, Huldah Niles will play Price’s composition “Adoration” as the prelude at the

9:30 service.

You can also listen to the first movement of her first symphony here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht4H_eKjb0w

Ash Wednesday, February 22


We begin the Season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. We will gather for Holy Eucharist with imposition of ashes at noon (no music) and 7:00 pm (with music). Please join us.

COVID Update

Current COVID Status:


COVID is still alive and well, with 500 people dying daily in the US from COVID. Good news, it is no longer considered a pandemic, but it has not yet reached the more manageable endemic stage either, as COVID is still too unpredictable.


MN is currently faring better, with hospitalizations and deaths down overall. The area of highest COVID cases in our state is now in western MN, and the metro area is seeing a rise again in the wastewater, with 65% of the COVID markers being the new sub-variant coming from the east coast. 


The newest Bivalent Booster, which came out last fall, has scientifically and statistically proven to be very effective in lowering severe illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID. 


What's a Parish to Do?


If you are ill, please stay home. You may worship with us live on Facebook, or later via YouTube.  


Please stay in touch with your parish family via emails, phone calls , and ZOOM......connection is so very important. 


If you are exposed to someone with COVID, wear a mask around others for 10 days to prevent potential spread.


If you are recovering from COVID or another respiratory illness and still have lingering symptoms, wear a mask around others until all symptoms are resolved.


If you have not yet received the new bivalent booster, please do. It is not too late. In fact, get it now while still free, as come May Federal subsidizing of the vaccine will be gone. 


Have a mask handy, you never know when you may need it .


When in doubt, mask up...protection for both yourself and others.


THINK, and be mindful of where you are and who you are with when you are deciding whether or not to wear a mask. Risk assessments of self and others will be with us forevermore. Vulnerabilities, (age, chronic illness, immune compromise, etc) need to be a part of our new way of thinking.


In light of the above tenets and our current societal reality, St. David's will be changing our signage/policy to now read "Masks Optional", with the understanding that we as a parish will continue to be mindful of ourselves and others and trust in each other's personal decision making processes. As always, things may go south, and changes to policies may occur.. 


Any questions or concerns, please contact any member of the COVID Safety Team


Loving God, Loving One Another


Hang in There Everyone.......Think, Be Mindful, Stay Healthy! 


Regards,


Diane Curley, Allison Ferro, Katherine Lewis, Randy Schwichtenberg, and Roger Stratton

St David's COVID Safety Team, Feb 8, 2023



An Evening of Poetry and Music

On the evening of Friday, February 10, 7:30-10pm, Westminster Hall will transform into a coffee shop/bistro-style space, hosting an evening of poetry and music that leans into the theme of Radical Love. Former Westminster Artist-in-Residence Joe Davis and founder of the SourceSong Festival (and co-trainer of JUSTMove, which took place at St. David's), Clara Osowski, will curate spoken word artists and vocal-piano duos that delight and challenge the audience on this Valentine’s weekend.

Buy tickets here:

https://onrealm.org/westminstermpls/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=YzU4MzgzYjItMmQ1My00NDgxLWI4YTItYWY4NzAxNTdmMjQ5

Faithful Innovation

Faithful Innovation: Listening


Listening to each other is an essential practice for learning to ask different questions. As we learn to listen to each other well, we also increase our capacity to hear what God might be saying to us. We might share a story of a time when we were spiritually energized, and felt spiritually engaged. You could ask yourself what was happening in your life during the time you felt spiritually engaged? What energized you the most? Did the church play a role in this experience? And if so, how?


God is present with us, in everything we do, and every place we go, each and every day. Sometimes we are more aware of God’s presence that others.


We want to encourage everyone in the practice of listening to our own lives and stories, and wondering together where God might have been present in the midst of those experiences. We want to get more comfortable naming what we think God might be up too.


Being able to name Gods activity in our midst, gives us the opportunity to join up with what God is already doing.


We will be learning more about Faithful Innovation in the coming weeks, but why not start listening now?

Men's Retreat

Men’s Retreat: What Does it Mean to Live A Courageous Life?

Sat., Mar. 11, 8:30-11:30 AM | St. David’s Episcopal Church


If we can stand whole-heartedly wherever we are and notice the Spirit stirring us to live – really live, then we have everything we need to stop waiting for improvements in this circumstance or that and start with the next step God is calling us to take. Join spiritual directors Peter Watkins and Sam Rahberg for thoughtful examination and meaningful conversation. We’ll have morning prayer, short presentations, and discussion. Then we’ll bless wherever the Spirit is leading each of us. Come for coffee at 8:30 AM. We’ll adjourn by 11:30 AM and you’re welcome to stick around for lunch.


For more information, contact the Rev. Guy Drake, gdrake@stdavidsparish.org.

Invitation to Participate in Community of Hope Training

Community of Hope equips lay people to serve in pastoral care, creating communities, steeped in Benedictine Spirituality, to serve others through compassionate listening.   

 

What: a fourteen module course of study covering listening skills, prayer, meditation and silence, pastoral care of seniors, pastoral visit and boundaries, coping with loss.   

 

Dates:  

Friday, February 24, 6:00-9:00 pm and Saturday, February 25, 9:30-2:30, in person opening retreat at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral 

 

Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:00, via Zoom: March 4, 11, 18. 25; April 1, 15, 22; May 6 

 

Saturday, May 20, 9:30-1:30, in person closing retreat at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral 

 

Who: St. David’s has offered two training sessions in the past, but this one is sponsored by Episcopal Church of MN. Training will occur with other faith members in our diocese.  Each session will be led by a professional faculty member. 

 

FAQ: 

Is it required that I attend all the sessions including the in-person retreats? All are required to attend the in-person retreats. Participants may miss up to two of the Zoom sessions, although attending every session is ideal. 

 

Is there a cost to participate? $45 fee  

 

What is the location of the retreat? The opening and closing retreats will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral. The other sessions will be held on Zoom. 

 

How do I sign up? Please reach out to Diane Curley or Carol Johnson (contact information below) who will provide you with an application for participation. 

 

I still have questions and would like to speak with someone who has taken the training. Who do I contact?  Diane Curley, dsbkncurley@gmail.com, Carol Johnson, twokat@centurylink.net or the Rev. Katherine Lewis, klewis@stdavidsparish.org.  

ECMN Workshop

Amara Strande

We have been praying for Amara Strande for many months. Amara was 16 years old when she was diagnosed with fiborolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a rare cancer that strikes one in 5 million Americans between the age of 15 and 39. Now, at age 20, Amara is speaking out about the possible link between 3M's use of PFAA (sometimes called "forever chemicals") and the staggering statistics of cancers in the east metro, where Amara and her family live.


Amara and her mother, the Rev. Dana Strande, spoke this week at a press conference in support of legislation to ban "forever chemicals" in Minnesota. See link here.


Through Amara and her family's courageous witness, we see again how personal issues can be integrally connected to our public, civic life. May we continue to support Amara and her family with our prayers, and may we also be compelled to act for systemic change and environmental justice alongside them.


For more information about Amara, see this article.

Book Club Update

St David’s Book Club News

by Cathy Schwichtenberg

 

The St. David’s Book Club met on January 3 to discuss “Proud Shoes” by Pauli Murray and to set the schedule for 2023.  We have an interesting line-up of selections for the club this year and invite all St. David’s parishioners to participate.  We usually meet via Zoom on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 7:55.  Here is this year’s schedule – please join us!

Invitation to be Vineyard Stewards

Hello St. David's folks!


I'm personally planning to sign up and join a cohort for this opportunity at Good Courage Farm, and I want to pass along the invite to anyone else who may be interested. It's a small group ministry program where we tend to a grape vine together in their vineyard, returning throughout the growing season to prune, net, and harvest the grapes, and finally, press wine to be used at Eucharist. Please check out the link to learn more https://www.goodcourage.farm/smallgroupministry


And please let me know if you'd like to join me!


-Anna Brock (just as a fellow parishioner this time)

abrock@stdavidsparish.org

Thanks to you, we have been wonderfully cared for during coffee hour. Now your help is needed once more so please check out the new signup sheet for Coffee Hour hosts in the Undercroft. If you prefer to bring baked or store bought treats, that’s another way to help make this a favorite hour on Sunday.

Thanks. Sharon

JOIN IN ON OUR NEXT COMMUNITY DINNER - February 15

All are welcome to come for dinner on Wednesday, February 15th!

This casual, fun, and tasty meal is just the break we all need!

All ages are welcome from 5:30 - 7:00.


Following are the scheduled groups and depending on the date can include choir, bell choir, youth group, and other committee meetings. We hope to see you there! 

Saturday Morning Prayer at St. David's 7:45 AM
Tuesday Bible Study
Compline held each night at 8:00 PM
What else is going on at St. David's?

Want to view the full calendar for the week? Click here to view the 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.

Have an announcement you would like to share in this weekly email?
Send it to office@stdavidsparish.org before noon on Wednesday to be featured.
Pastoral Care Line: 952-767-0891
To add someone to the prayers, please contact the office: office@stdavidsparish.org

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.

Prayers and Passages


We pray for healing of body, mind or spirit for those we love, especially Richard Austin (father of Holly Lamond), Patsy Beck, Zoe Beck (friend of Mary Ellen Gardiner), Allie Crockford (sister in law of Cliff Crockford), Carol Day (Mary Mann's aunt), Christina Dorr Drake (daughter-in-law of Nan and Guy Drake), Mark Enos (friend of Keith Gause), Evan (friend of Peter Handley), Nancy Ferro (mother of Stephen Ferro), Gary and family (friend of Ann Carda), Martha Hatcher, Ann Henjum (daughter of Bob Triebenbach), Lauralee Humphrey (aunt of Vida Edmond), Denny Johnson, June Lezon (friend of Virginia Haggart and Ned Sorley), Josie Meyer and family (friend of the Handley-Jurkovich family), David Pearson, Margaret Prescott (friend of Virginia Haggart and Ned Sorley), Robert (friend of Joanne Allan), Marge Saunders, Jean Scheu, Amara Strande and the Strande family (daughter of the Rev. Dana Strande), Norma Walton, and Steve Woletz (friend of Katherine Lewis). We pray for all who have no permanent or safe housing.


We pray for all who have died, especially Ida Belle Davenport and those killed suddenly and tragically in earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. We pray for all who die in war.


We pray in thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life. 


For the world and its leaders, our nation and its people. 



We pray for all who suffer or serve in war, especially in Afghanistan and Ukraine.


We pray for all who have been born.


We pray for an end to racism and all systems of oppression.

 

We pray for those serving in the military, Will Culliton, Aprille Lopac, and Sam Mulvaney (fiance of Aprille Lopac).

COVID-19 Resources Available

ECMN COVID-19 Response Resources Page Click here

Websites


St. David's Episcopal Church: http://www.stdavidsparish.org


St. David's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdWtyWv6KQL0fA5ewDDy_xQ 


The Episcopal Church in Minnesota: http://www.episcopalmn.org


The Lectionary Page-Lectionary Readings: http://www.lectionarypage.net


The Episcopal Church: http://www.episcopalchurch.org