February 2007
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A Season of Repentance

Sin is not a big topic of conversation for most Episcopalians. We talk about it in a general way, acknowledging that we are all sinners. We say the confession together each Sunday and receive absolution. But we tend not to dwell on the topic, or to get too specific about the sins we know we have committed.

The season of Lent, which begins this year on February 21, is a time that the church is called to reflect on sin – both in our individual and corporate lives.

In the Ash Wednesday service, the priest is instructed to “invite the people to the observance of a holy Lent” with these words:

The season of Lent is “a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”

We do not have any notorious sinners who have been excommunicated from the church. But all of us are in need of self-examination and repentance, of looking at our lives and seeing where our own sins have separated us from God and one another. Our adult Sunday School class in Lent will focus on sin, more specifically the Seven Deadly Sins of pride, anger, envy, greed, gluttony, lust and sloth.

An essay I read recently notes that all of us are engaged in a personal, ongoing battle with sin and vice. “Although our anger doesn’t make most of us murderers, our lust doesn’t make most of us rapists, and our greed and envy don’t make most of us outright criminals, they, together with gluttony, arrogance and sloth, often make us, and those who have to live with us, miserable.

“One need only read the daily paper to see that these seven sins are alive and well, deadlier than ever, spawning violence and suffering, illness and anxiety, loss of meaning and depression.”

Why focus on a topic that may make us uncomfortable or be downright depressing? Episcopal priest and author Barbara Brown Taylor gives this answer:

“Abandoning the language of sin will not make sin go away. Human beings will continue to experience alienation, deformation, damnation, and death no matter what we call them. Abandoning the language will simply leave us speechless before them, and increase our denial of their presence in our lives.

“Ironically, it will also weaken the language of grace, since the full impact of forgiveness cannot be felt apart from the full impact of what has been forgiven.”

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Announcements

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Lent at St. Dunstan's

Worship in Lent

• Wednesday Noons – Join us in the church for the Eucharist, followed by a simple lunch, provided by the women of the church, in the parish hall. Begins Wednesday, February 28.
• Wednesday Evenings – An informal Eucharist at 6 p.m. in the parish hall followed by a potluck supper.
• Sunday, March 4 – A special Lenten Evensong service at 4 p.m. in the church.

Adult Christian Formation in Lent

• Sunday Mornings – The Seven Deadly Sins. During Sundays in Lent we will look at the affect of pride, anger, envy, greed, gluttony, lust and sloth on our lives. Beginning February 25 at 9:30 a.m. in the Founders’ Room.
• Lenten Film Series – Sunday afternoons, March 11, 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. at the home of Eleanor Ringel Gillespie. Film titles to be announced. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the narthex in mid-February.

Lenten Outreach ~ More Mosquito Nets

One of my most vivid memories of my time in the Peace Corps in Thailand is sleeping under a mosquito net. Walking into my room and seeing the net hanging from the ceiling above my bed was one of those moments when, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I knew I wasn’t in Kansas anymore.

But I soon realized that what seemed exotic to me was a vital necessity in Thailand . In the open air houses of tropical climates the nets serve a vital function, keeping people from becoming feeding grounds for blood-thirsty mosquitoes.

In many parts of the world, mosquito nets offer more than comfort. In areas infested with malaria, they can be life saving.

One of those areas is Africa where malaria causes up to 3 million deaths a year. Health officials estimate that the use of mosquito nets alone could cut the number of deaths by 50 percent. Yet in Tanzania , one of the areas where malaria is most prevalent, only 2 percent of people sleep under mosquito nets. The reason? They don’t have the $4-$6 the nets cost.

When we look at the problems facing the world they often seem so overwhelming that we simply turn away, knowing there is nothing we can do to make a difference. But we can make a difference here. Buying a simple mosquito net may potentially save a life.

Last year during Lent we collected $800 to be used for purchasing mosquito nets for people in Tanzania . The Rev. Paul Elliott, rector of St. Michael and All Angels, took our money with him on a trip to Tanzania . Paul presented our gift to the dean of Msalato Theological College . Here is how he described the reaction to our gift:

“There was a loud cheer from the students when they were told what the money was for! Malaria is a big health problem here. On average, students and staff get infected twice a year. Symptoms include fever, vomiting and extreme tiredness.”

More than 125 mosquito nets were purchased with the money we collected last year. Let’s see if we can top that this year.

During Lent, we are asking each family to take a “mite box” and fill it with coins. At Easter we will collect the boxes and once again designate the money to go to buy mosquito nets in Tanzania .

Lenten Resources

Check the narthex and the parish hall for Lenten materials from the national church, including Essentials: Lenten Meditations on Necessity and Abundance, a booklet of daily meditations; and “Hope Chests,” boxes (also known as “mite” boxes) to collect offerings for our brothers and sisters in need.

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New Flower Guild Meeting

The first meeting of St. Dunstan’s new Flower Guild will be after church on Sunday, February 4. Lunch will be served. Anyone who likes to arrange flowers, or who is interested in learning to arrange them, is encouraged to come.

The mission of the new guild is to offer an opportunity for ministry, creativity, and community, and to enhance worship as we offer the beauty of the flowers to the glory of God. The flower guild also gives us the benefit of having people who know our space, understand the liturgical seasons and lessons be the ones who arrange the flowers, rather than having commercial arrangements.

Guild members will purchase flowers, (flowers and greenery from homes and the church gardens may also be used), and arrange them. Classes in flower arranging will be offered for beginners and as a refresher to experienced arrangers.

SMILE…New Picture Directories

The membership committee is excited to announce that a new St. Dunstan’s picture directory is in the works. The directory will be produced by LifeTouch, a company specializing in church picture directories.

Photographers will be here from March 15-17, a Thursday through Saturday. There is no cost for the directory or for being photographed, although the portraits will be available to buy. Watch for an announcement on how to schedule your appointment at http://www.stdunstan.net.

The new directories will be a great tool for everyone in the parish, from newcomers to long time members. More than 20 families (and three-fourths of the staff) have joined St. Dunstan’s since the last picture directory three years ago. This will be a great way for us to continue to get to know one another. Please plan now to participate.

Nursery Help Needed, Sometimes

From time to time there are more children in the nursery than can be cared for safely by Luciane, our childcare staff person. Please let Ellen know if you would be willing to help out when we find ourselves in that situation. It would usually involve helping until Communion.

Hunger Walk on Sunday, March 11th

It’s a ways off, but please put this date on your calendar! It’s time to gather an intergenerational ‘team’ of folks to represent St. Dunstan’s and have fun together as we raise money for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The 5K Walk/Fun Run begins at 2:30 ; a certified 10K Run begins at 1p.m. It all starts at the Turner Field/Blue Lot. Sounds like an opportunity for a tail-gate party! More details and brochures will be coming your way soon.

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Christian Formation

Dear Friends, Here are a number of ways to be involved with the Religious Education Program this month. Perhaps one of these ways is right for you just now? Thank you for your on-going faithfulness to the children and youth of St. Dunstan’s. Yours, Ellen

Children's Chapel

Jane and Greg Blount have agreed to help me lead Children’s Chapel beginning the second Sunday in February. Children’s Chapel will take place in the parish hall soon after Sunday school. It will include hymns, prayers, and a message geared especially for young children in pre-school through 2 nd grade. Older children are welcome to participate in a helping role. The children will be shepherded to the nursery or into church (depending on the parents’ wishes) at the Peace. Ideally, I’d like to offer Children’s Chapel three times a month. To do this I need one more person or couple to agree to lead once a month (in February, March, and April). Please let me know if you would be interested.

Education Steering Committee Forming

If you are a parent, grandparent, Sunday school teacher, or anyone who is invested in St. Dunstan’s providing a strong and creative religious education program to the children, youth, and families of the church, please consider joining a new steering committee. The task of this committee will be to meet on occasion with the director of religious education to set goals and priorities as well as to come up with strategies to attain our goals. The first meeting will be sometime in February. Please let me know if you are interested.

Please Collect "Good News" Stories

If you come across a story in the newspaper that deals with forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, etc., please cut it out for me and either give it to me when you see me or slip it in my mailbox. I wish to begin collecting these for a Sunday school project. Thanks!

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Transitions

Congratulations on the January 6 marriage of Carson Emily Morris to Pablo Alejandro Reyes Lizana.

Transfer in : Kip and Donna Fox from St. Timothy’s, Herndon , VA

Transfer out: Steve , Susan and Grace Hauser to Holy Innocents and Lucy Davidson Bland to Holy Trinity - Clemson , SC

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From the Organist and Choirmaster