April 2009 Contents
A few years ago, some friends were talking to their 5-year-old about Lent and Easter. When they got to Jesus’ crucifixion, the child was horrified. “What??” he cried in alarm. “Jesus is dead? Why did they do that?” The young boy was devastated. As we move toward Holy Week and Easter, I have thought about this child, wondering what it must be like to have the stories of our faith be so fresh, so powerful, so real. I wonder what it feels like to be devastated by the news of Jesus’ death, to be truly shaken by the unfairness and cruelty of it. We have heard these stories so many times that we can easily become immune to their horror. We let the joyous news of Jesus’ resurrection erase the devastating news of his death. But the truth is that Jesus’ death was devastating to those who knew and loved him. The disciples were terrified and grief stricken. For them, there was no skipping from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the joyous news of the resurrection on Easter. The disciples lived the pain and fear and grief of the horrible, holy week between these two events. For us, the temptation may be strong to come to church and wave our palm fronds on Palm Sunday and shout, “Christ is risen!” on Easter, while skipping the events in between. But I urge you not to give in to that temptation. Instead, join us on Maundy Thursday as we remember the last night of Jesus’ life. Hear the story of his last command to his disciples – to love one another as he has loved them. Hear how he enacted that love by washing their feet and sharing a last meal with them. Join with us in recreating those acts. Be with us as we strip the altar at evening’s end, letting its bareness remind us of Jesus’ desolation as he prepares for what is to come. Join us on Good Friday to hear the story of Jesus’ agonizing crucifixion and death. Take time to sit in silence in the church and meditate on the stations of the cross, that journey with Jesus to his arrest, torture, and death. Be with us at the Easter Vigil, as in darkness we hear the stories of God’s mighty acts of salvation throughout history. Be there with the women as they discover Jesus’ empty tomb and rejoice in the proclamation that Lent is over and Christ has risen. By deliberately walking through the events of that week we may recapture some of our young friend’s feeling of devastation at Jesus’ death. And when we do, we may truly sing with joy on Easter morning, “Christ is risen. The Lord is risen, indeed!”
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Announcements
Table of Contents | Return to top Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Table of Contents | Return to top Holy Week Schedule  Second Sunday of Easter (April 19) 10:45 Bluegrass Service. Sunday school resumes.
Table of Contents | Return to top Parish Meeting on the Economy A pastoral letter from the bishops of the Episcopal Church provides a reflection on the economic situation and our faith. “In a time of anxiety and fear the Holy Spirit invites us to hope. Anxiety, when voiced in community, can be heard, blessed and transformed into energy and hope, but if ignored, swallowed or hidden, fear and anxiety can be corrosive and lead to despair… “As our risen Lord broke through the isolation of the disciples huddled in fear for their lives following his suffering and death, so too are we, the Body of Christ, called to break through the loneliness and anxiety of this time, drawing people from their fears and isolation into the comforting embrace of God’s gathered community of hope. “As disciples of the risen Christ we are given gifts for showing forth God’s gracious generosity and for finding blessing and abundance in what is hard and difficult. In this time the Holy Spirit is moving among us, sharing with us the vision of what is real and valued in God’s world. “In a time such as this, Christ draws us deeper into our faith revealing to us that generosity breaks through distrust, paralysis, and misinformation. Like our risen Lord, we, as his disciples are called to listen to the world’s pain and offer comfort and peace.”
Table of Contents | Return to top Episcopal Church Women The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will meet at 10:30 a.m. on April 22nd at the home of Gilda Morris. Craig Withers will speak with us about his work for and travels with the Carter Center. On May 20 th at St. Dunstan’s there will be a CPR course offered bv the Sandy Springs Fire Department. We will meet at 10:30 a.m. and there will be a plant swap and a bring-a-salad lunch. The ECW welcomes all – new members, current members, men, and visitors. The May CPR program is extremely important and helpful and anyone interested is more than welcome to attend.
Table of Contents | Return to top United Thank Offering The 2009 United Thank Offering (UTO) kicks off at St. Dunstan's April 19. The UTO blue box will soon be available for all who seek to practice a habit of daily thankful prayer using this expression of thanksgiving. UTO’s 2009 vision statement is " We will significantly impact the lives of women and children because of Christ’s love." Each year, 100 percent of the UTO offering goes to grant recipients, including a school in the Dominican Republic, a seminary library in Africa, and a dental clinic for the poor. The UTO program culminates with the In-Gathering on May 10, when the offerings of each parish family are collected. Please take this opportunity to express your thanks and to be a part of the mission and ministry of the church.
Table of Contents | Return to top Mary and Martha's Place Mary & Martha’s Place began in 1994…and we’re still going strong!Let’s celebrate 15 years of MMP Thursday, April 30, at 12:30 p.m. Lunch $10 – please make your reservation by noon on 4/28 404-239-9382 Or, just come for cake at 1:15 p.m. with no charge.
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Instructed Eucharist for Children…and Everybody Else!: On Wednesday, April 29 at 6pm, come worship and learn why we do what we do during Communion. Our high school confirmation class will assist Tricia during this service, providing music and a reading especially for children. A Village Supper, picnic-style in the Beech Grove, will follow. Easter Egg Hunt: Sarah Hancock is coordinating this year’s hunt which takes place following the 10:45 service on Easter Sunday. If you have children, please bring at least 12 filled plastic eggs per child to the office before church. Others are welcome to donate eggs as well. If you can help hide the eggs, please let Sarah know. Confirmation re-scheduled for May 3rd: Confirmation will be held at 10:45 here at St. Dunstan’s during the Bishop’s visit. Please plan to come support our confirmands.
From the TreasurerFebruary, 2009At the insistence of more than one financial person, and unlike last month, I revert here to “income less expenses”, which is more intuitive to the trained eye than is “larger number less smaller number.” And since those with trained eyes are probably the same people who read the treasurer’s report, it seems only fair. In February expenses began to come more in line with income. It was to be expected, and one could wish it would do so faster, but it is encouraging to see this nonetheless.
It cannot be said too many times: If possible, please spread your contributions over the year. Making your donations on a weekly, monthly or even quarterly basis smoothes out our cash flow and makes the future less speculative. In the current financial situation it is hard to tell whether to expect the late-in-year gifts that in better times were dependable. And on that note, please do feel free to let me know if you are not going to be able to meet your pledge. You will not be the first – a couple of parishioners have done so already. The more warning we get, the better. ~Dick Harris Table of Contents | Return to top
Thanks to Christie and Colin Brown and Steve and Elizabeth Wong Mark for setting up the breakfast before the John Dominic Crossan lecture. Thanks to Pat Berman and Nancy Young for coordinating the reception after the Lenten Evensong. Thanks to Christie Brown, Jeanne Taylor, Lynn and Wayne Hood, Nancy Knight Latimore, Elizabeth Wong Mark, and Claudia Gimson for giving our kitchen a much-needed deep spring cleaning. Thanks to Bruce Lafitte and John Morgan for providing leadership to the choir during this time of transition. Thanks to Peachy Horne; Lynn and Wayne Hood; Lucy, John, Jackie, and Wally Kaltenbach; Nancy Knight and Keith Latimore; Nancy Elliott and Bob Adams for participating in the grounds’ work day.
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Table of Contents | Return to top Deadline for articles for the May Bellows is April 15.
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What: We’ll celebrate God’s Creation and learn to care for it through Bible stories, worship, art, cooking, music, drama, gardening, and fun! 
When: June 8-12, 9am-1:00pm (including a Bring Your Own Lunch option at no additional cost) 
We will hold our second parish meeting on the economy after the 10:45 service on April 19. Almost 50 people attended the first meeting. At that meeting, we gave voice to our concerns and anxieties about the economy. And we identified three areas to focus on – help for those who are looking for jobs, help for those in the parish who are affected by the economy, and help for those in the wider community. Groups working in those areas will report back at the April 19 meeting. 
| 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 |
| 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 |
Wayne Hood | |
Steve Mark |
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
Susan Teat , Parish Administrator
Dick Harris, Treasurer
