October 2008 Contents
I drive down Roswell Road with one eye on the declining gas gauge and the other on the lookout for what is an increasingly rare sight – a gas station with actual gas. On the radio I hear the president declare that “our economy is in serious danger, with the situation becoming more precarious by the day.” That pronouncement is followed by news of yet another drop in the stock market. My thoughts go to the college fund that we so carefully have set up, and the money we are counting on in retirement plans. My stomach clenches, my shoulders tense, and Scarlet O’Hara-like, I vow not to think about that right now. In dark days in another time in our nation’s history, our president told the country that “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.” In the times we face now the message we seem to be getting from our political leaders is “Be afraid, be very afraid.” Anxiety rules the realm. We are all much more vulnerable than we imagined. Indeed, there is much to be anxious about. I am no economic expert. I don’t have the answer to the problems of Wall Street. But I do know what scripture says about anxiety in difficult times. “Fear not.” Again and again those words appear in scripture. They come from God, from angels, from Jesus, from the prophets. Do not be anxious. Fear not. When those words appear there is usually much to be anxious about. The Bible is full of stories of national turmoil, of insecurity and oppression, of war and loss and despair. In all of those times, God’s response is, “Don’t fear. I am with you. There is another way.” In Sunday School this fall we are studying the Book of Exodus, which gives us a picture of what life in God’s economy is like. The glee the people of Israel felt at fleeing slavery in Egypt has worn off and they are faced with the grim realization that they are now in the wilderness with no visible means of support. They are anxious and afraid. They begin to turn on each other and on Moses, their leader. “You brought us out of Egypt to starve us to death?” they ask him. Even slavery and oppression look better than the dark future they fear they are facing. And then, at their lowest point, God provides in a way they could never have imagined. In the morning, a fine, flaky substance covers the ground. They don’t know what it is, but Moses tells them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.” And for the 40 years that the Israelites are in the wilderness God provides fresh manna every morning. But there is a catch. The manna cannot be hoarded. Everyone is able to gather what they need each day. But it cannot be stockpiled. If left overnight, as scripture eloquently puts it, the manna “breeds worms and stinks.” God’s economy is different from ours. In God’s economy there is no place for greed or hoarding. In God’s economy there is manna every morning for all of God’s people. God’s economy is just and abundant and generous beyond our understanding. We live in anxious times. But time and again scripture reminds us that whatever lies ahead, however vulnerable and uncertain our lives may be, God’s grace never fails. A couple of weeks ago, our collect for Sunday was especially appropriate for the days we now face. It was first used by the Church in Rome in the sixth century, a time of upheaval and invasion, an anxious time of great uncertainty. “Grant us Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Table of Contents | Return to top Announcements
Table of Contents | Return to top Prayer for October Almighty and eternal God, Amen.
Table of Contents | Return to top Fun Times AheadBring a Friend!!October at St. Dunstan’s is full of special occasions. If you have friends who love animals, like good food, or appreciate good music this is the time to invite them to St. Dunstan’s. We challenge everyone in the parish to invite someone to at least one of these special events.
Fall Young Adult Event- Music and Margaritas! Sunday, October 19th at 4 The St. Dunstan's Young Adults will meet at St. Dunstan's and attend the fabulous Choral Evensong together. Afterwards, we will all go to La Paz (2950 New Paces Ferry Rd SE) for appetizers, drinks and fellowship. RSVP to Tim Black or just show up at 4 on the 19th. Save the Date - On Tuesday, October 21, the Stewardship Committee invites you to a dinner and lecture. Our guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. John Westerhoff, retired professor of Theology and Christian Nurture at Duke Divinity School, and now priest associate and theologian in residence at St. Anne’s. The Rev. Westerhoff will be speaking on “The Theology of Money.” Dinner begins at 6:15 p.m. in the parish hall. The lecture is at 7 p.m. in the nave. Child care will be provided.
You’ll be glad you came! St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) meet again on Wednesday, October 15 th at 10:30 a.m. Our mission is to bring together all women affiliated with the parish by strengthening their spiritual lives, providing learning experiences, and supporting their Christ-centered service and ministry. October’s ECW meeting will focus on spiritual growth and include an invitation to several local service opportunities that can make a real difference in our world. Presenter Julia Resling is bringing an insightful program on developing and deepening one’s spiritual practice. Here’s an occasion to revitalize your faith and empower your faith-based action. Our October meeting highlights the national ECW vision, “We aspire to be a God spark - shining and sharing the love of Christ.” Priscilla Davis and Jeanne Taylor will host the ECW in the social room of Heritage Place Condominiums. ECW meetings conclude with a delicious lunch. Please bring a friend to share this great morning of worship, learning, and fellowship with St. Dunstan’s ECW.
Table of Contents | Return to top2009 Bridge Group Are you new to St. Dunstan’s? Have you recently retired and find yourself with time on your hands? Do you play bridge? In early November we will be setting the 2009 bridge group host schedule. The group plays intermediate social bridge on the first Friday evening of each month in the parish hall. If you enjoy playing at this level and would like to join the group (as a regular player or as a substitute to be called on an occasional basis), please contact Nancy Elliott no later than November 15 please! Members take turns hosting, which involves calling all members to determine number of tables, providing refreshments as well as setting up and taking down tables & chairs, etc. Every player puts $2 in the “kitty,” which is then given to the church to help defray the costs of our use of the building. Joining the group is not an absolute commitment to play every month (we all travel and have other conflicts), but it’s fair to say that most of our members play most months. There are usually 3-5 tables playing from 7:30 to about 10:30 p.m. Our bridge group does not include an experienced bridge teacher, so our monthly gatherings are just to play social bridge. If you don’t already play, but want to learn this great card game, several of our players recommend teacher Fred Strickland at the Peachtree Presbyterian Church recreation program.
Table of Contents | Return to top Children and YouthA Reminder: Confirmation Kick-off Dinner for Parents and Students will be held at the church at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5th. Many Hands Make Light WorkOur high school/confirmation class will be visiting the Church of the Common Ground on Sunday, Nov. 2 nd at 1pm. This is an Episcopal ministry to the homeless in downtown Atlanta. We will be worshipping with this community in Woodruff Park that afternoon. We have been asked to bring 50-70 bag lunches of non-perishable foods. If you can help put these together on Wed., Oct. 29, right after the Village Supper, it would be a great help! Thank you.
Table of Contents | Return to top From the Organist and ChoirmasterChoral Workshop WeekendThe weekend of October 17-19 will be the third annual choral workshop for the St. Dunstan’s Choir. The guest clinician will be soprano Michele Byrd of Naples, Fla. An Early Music graduate of Indiana University, Michele has gained critical acclaim for her interpretations of Bach – including numerous cantatas and the Magnificat – as well as Handel’s Messiah, and most recently, Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. She has appeared as soprano soloist with conductors Erich Kunzel, Keith Lockhart, and Sir David Willcocks, and is increasingly in demand as recitalist, choral clinician, and vocal coach. The choral workshop will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, the 17 th, with master classes with members of the choir. Those classes are open to the public. An open rehearsal will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m.- Noon, followed by a catered lunch in the Parish Hall. Reservations are requested for the lunch. The weekend culminates on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. with a voice recital by Michele, accompanied by Barbara Cook on oboe, Wolfie Schaum on cello, and Steve Furches on organ. Then at 4:30 the Choir will sing a choral evensong. Please come and enjoy this beautiful worship experience. Fall Chorister Schedule begins soon! Please consider joining one of the St. Dunstan Choirs.
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October 5 – Blessing of the Animals at the 10:45 service. Gather in the Beech Grove with your four-legged or feathered or scaly friends. Each animal will be individually blessed. Please have all animals in cages or on leashes. Note: the 8:30 service will be held as usual in the nave. No Sunday School this day. 
October 12 – The Annual Flying Pig Barbeque at 5 p.m. in the Beech Grove. Great food by St. Dunstan’s own chefs, great music by James Millikan and Company, great fun for all. With special surprises for the kids. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids. 
October 19 – Evensong at 4 p.m. St. Dunstan’s excellent choir will be joined by guest clinician and soprano Michele Byrd of Naples, Fla. for this special service. 
Tuesday Morning Class is Back - Our Tuesday morning class will resume on October 7 at 10 a.m. in the parish hall. We are beginning the year with discussions of 
The Return of Village Suppers! - Beginning October 8, join us on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. in the parish hall for a celebration of the Eucharist, followed by a potluck supper. Wednesday evenings are a wonderful time to get to know your fellow parishioners. 
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4:30- 5:15 PM |
Senior choristers (ages 8 and up) |
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| 5:30- 5:55 PM |
Junior choristers (ages 4-7) |
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| 6:00- 7:00 PM |
Village Supper | ||
| 7:00- 9:15 PM |
St. Dunstan Adult Choir (childcare available) |
Please feel free to contact me at any time.
STEVE FURCHES
Organist and Choirmaster
404-266-1018
Treasurer's update
August was a positive cash flow month for us. Thanks to all who heeded the second quarter pledge statements and made pledge payments!
| August operating income | $
32,180.05 |
| August operating expenses | $
28,084.49 |
Income less expenses |
$
4,095.56 |
The church remains “ahead” year-to-date. Our available operating cash is slightly higher than last month, but still is not adequate for a two months “reserve.”
Other financial items ...
The sanctuary air conditioning unit, a 22-year-old 15-ton compressor, finally produced its last cool air at the end of August. The new unit was installed and operating by Ministry Fair Sunday on September 14. The cost of the replacement was $11,096. These funds came from the Long-Term Maintenance Reserve Fund that exists specifically for such expenses. Let’s hope this unit lasts as long as the first one! This is the second of the three main A/C units to be replaced in the past year. We suspect the third one (servicing half the parish hall and located in the courtyard) will falter soon.
Members of the church often make small “in-kind” gifts to the church that are not recorded on giving statements since they are not cash. For example, one parishioner paid out-of-pocket for the supplies to do a building maintenance repair and then did the work himself. The value of his time is not a tax-deductible gift to the church, but the cost of the supplies is. If you make such a gift and wish to have a letter from the church for your tax file, please provide the receipts and a description of the work/project to Nancy Elliott.
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We give thanks for the August 30 birth of Avery Cecelia Templeton, daughter of Paul and Cassie Templeton, and sister of Jason and Turner.
We give thanks for the upcoming October 12 marriage of Jon Alan Blankinship and Renuka Behl in Mahwah, New Jersey. Jon Alan is the son of Kathy and Bill Blankinship.
Congratulations to John Booth, who recently began work as the youth minister at Christ Episcopal Church in Kennesaw. John is also attending classes at Georgia State.
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Within Our Walls
Goodbye and Hello
On September 30, we bid a sad farewell to Kim Branch, our longtime parish administrator. Kim’s cheerful and competent presence will be missed, and we wish her Godspeed in her new adventures, and thank her for her years of faithful service to St. Dunstan’s.
And we say hello to our new parish administrator Susan Teat. Susan has a BA in science from Emory and an MBA and Master of Accountancy from Georgia State. She has worked as a medical technologist, has run the finance office of Emory's Medical School and has been a staff accountant in an accounting firm. She is an active member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where she has worked as a volunteer assistant to their music director. She is well versed in the life of the church. Please welcome her to St. Dunstan’s. Susan will be in the office from Tuesdays - Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
With Grateful Hearts
Joe and I are celebrating Thanksgiving early this year. There are so many people for whom we are grateful – the couple from Birmingham who came to Joe’s rescue on the beach, the paramedics and medical personnel in Florida, the surgeon and nurses at St. Joseph’s, our family and friends who have shown support in so many ways. And we especially give thanks for the community of St. Dunstan’s. The phone calls and cards, the delicious meals, the visits, the outings for Joseph Henry, and the countless prayers have all made what was a difficult time much more bearable. And I believe that all of the concern and love has aided in Joe’s rapid healing. Thank you all from the bottom of our (now healthy) hearts.
~Tricia, Joe, and Joseph Henry
Deadline for articles for the November Bellows is October 15.
Please email your articles or leave them in Kim Branch’s
mailbox in the church office.
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Sundays
Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Christian Education for all ages at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesdays
| 4:30- 5:15 PM | Senior choristers (ages 8 and up) |
| 5:30- 5:55 PM | Junior choristers (ages 4-7) |
| 6:00- 7:00 PM | Village Supper Begins 8 October |
| 7:00- 9:15 PM | St. Dunstan Adult Choir (childcare available) |
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Nancy Dillon—Senior Warden |
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Bob Longino—Junior Warden |
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Christie Brown |
Andy Delfino | |
Claudia Gimson |
Steve Mark | |
Ruth Roser |
Jeanne Taylor | |
Craig Withers |
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Our Staff
The Rev. Patricia Templeton, Rector
The Rev. Maggie Harney, Priest Associate
Ellen Gallow, Director of Christian Education
Stephen L. Furches, Organist-Choirmaster
Susan Teat, Parish Administrator
Nancy Elliott, Treasurer