November 2007
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"A Month of Giving Thanks"

Looking at the calendar for this month, I was struck by the fact that November is framed with thanksgiving. On the first Sunday of the month, we celebrate All Saints Sunday, giving thanks for all those saints who have gone before us and live among us now. And of course, at the end of the month we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, a time to remember all the many blessings we have received from a gracious and loving God of abundance.

In the church calendar, November is the last month of the year. It seems especially appropriate that we end the liturgical year with a month of giving thanks.

If you are like me, it sometimes takes a reminder from the calendar to do what I should always do – remember the many things for which I am grateful to God.

It is no accident that the church’s annual stewardship campaign comes during the season of thanksgiving. In cultures that are agriculturally based, the harvest season was also the season to give thanks to God, and to offer God the “first fruits,” the best fruits of the harvest as a reminder that all that we have is indeed a gift from a God of abundance.

Today, the church asks us to do the same thing, to look at the abundance of our lives, and to offer part of what we have received back to God. By giving to St. Dunstan’s, you are ensuring that this community of faith will continue – that the work of God will continue in the community and in your own lives.

Elsewhere in the Bellows you will read more about the specific financial concerns and needs of this community of faith. I ask you to read them carefully, and to come to one of the three community gatherings to talk about these issues.

And I also urge you this month to reflect on the blessings in your own lives, and to give thanks.

This prayer by Walter Brueggemann, a renowned Old Testament scholar who will be speaking at St. Dunstan’s in Lent, has been a helpful reminder to me of the nature of our God, who does indeed provide for us abundantly.

Whose Abundance We Do Not Trust

 You are the God of good generosity;
You are the God who has commanded fruitfulness,
            blessing, and abundance in the earth;
You are the God who has ordained teeming
            oceans and populated forests and
                 amber waves of grain;
You are the God of more than enough!
     And we…
We in our fearful anxiety,
           fear running out and
           lacking and
           having deficiency.
We in our scarcity,
           oppress and seize and grasp
           and manipulate and confiscate…
      because of our deficits
                 in love and mercy,
                 in oil and uranium,
                 in grace and truth,
                 in bread and wine.
We, in our lack, doubt you and make a world of grudge and violence.
We ponder that incredible mismatch
                 between your goodness
                 and our fearfulness.
     And ask that you,
                       by your life-giving spirit,
                       blow our fear toward your abundance,
                       that we may ease up and trust
                       and bask in abundance.
You are indeed our shepherd…and
                                   we lack nothing. Amen.

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Announcements

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Fall Film Series Continues

Our Fall Film Series continues the first two Sundays of November at 2 p.m. at Eleanor Ringel Gillespie’s home. Although the sign up for all the films have been full, with a waiting list, there were many empty seats at the October films. If you have signed up, please let Bob Longino know if you are not coming so that others may have your seat. The next two films are:

• 4 November: No End in Sight – A candid retelling of the events following the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The documentary examines the manner in which the errors of US policy largely created the insurgency and chaos that engulf Iraq today.

• 11 November: Knocked Up – Slobby Ben (Seth Rogen) and up-and-coming-career girl Alison (Katherine Heigl) meet at a bar, and end up having a one-night stand. Eight weeks later, Ben is shocked when Alison meets him and reveals she is pregnant. Despite having little in common, the two decide that they have to at least try to make some kind of relationship work for the baby’s sake.

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For Youth and Children

Book Fair on November 18th: The Cathedral Bookstore will be at our coffee hour with books and Advent calendars. 10% of the proceeds will go to St. Dunstan’s ministries.

Sunday School on Thanksgiving weekend: There will be a Sunday school activity for all ages (children and youth) during the normal Sunday school hour.

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ESL Classes on Tuesdays

Imagine a classroom where students can’t wait to come, don’t want to take a break, and laugh out loud when hearing the English word “comb over” to describe Donald Trump’s hair. The Founder’s Room is filled every Tuesday from 9:45 a.m. until 12:00 noon with women from Taiwan, China and Japan. Some are U.S. citizens, some are married to businessmen working in Atlanta and some are business owners themselves.

The minischool gives the women who attend a time for fellowship with others from their countries. American and Asian cultures and traditions are discussed. English language skills are honed.

Nan Ferguson and I were certified as teachers of English as a Second Language at Dunwoody Baptist Church eight years ago. We joined Sandy Springs United Methodist Church’s ESL Program and taught there for seven years. When that program disbanded last year, we approached Tricia about the availability of space at St. Dunstan’s. We were thrilled when she agreed. We are grateful to have found a “home.”

Nan and I love teaching as volunteers and we love the environment here. Sue, Mei, Jane, Reiko, Rie, Ritsuko, Miho, Sumiko, Minori and Mayumi thank you for the opportunity to learn at St. Dunstan’s.

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Treasurer's Update

As we head into the final months of the year, we hope many people will be planning to complete their 2007 pledges to the church and some may decide to pre-pay part or all of their 2008 pledge once it has been made. Our pledge income for 2007 has lagged below budget so far this year, so much so that we have indefinitely delayed any Outreach gifts out of the operating budget. It would be a wonderful way to end the year if all pledges were fulfilled and the Outreach gifts could be made.

Prepaid Pledges

If you are pre-paying any of your 2008 pledge, please be sure to make a note on your check saying “2008 Pledge.” Similarly, if you are making any designated gifts (i.e. to Outreach Fund, Altar Fund, Music Fund, Flowers Fund, etc.), be sure to note on the memo line of your check the fund the gift is for.

Gifts of stock

Anyone wishing to make a gift of stock to the church should contact Nancy Elliott for the information required to electronically transfer the stock shares from your brokerage account to the church’s account. If you have done this before, please remember to advise Nancy when it’s done so she knows to sell the stock. St. Dunstan’s policy regarding such gifts is that all stock is sold “on receipt.” As soon as the stock is received in the church’s account, the stock is sold – but Nancy needs to know it’s there. St. Dunstan’s absorbs the cost/commission of stock sales as an expense.

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From the Organist and Choirmaster

Thank You to all who worked to make the annual Flying Pig Barbeque one of the best ever! A special thanks to Geoff Walker, Danny Woodard and James Millikan for their excellent barbeque cooking; to Ruth Roser, and Mary, Allie and Josie Summerville for the great decorations; to James Millikan and his band for the music; and to all who helped set and clean up.

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Prayer for Thanksgiving