October Newsletter
It all begins with an idea.
Dates to remember:
Sunday mornings: 9:00 Rite II. Available both in person and on Zoom
Monday mornings: Bible study at 10 AM – noon at the parish hall
Wednesday evenings: Evening discussion and Compline service 7 – 8 PM via Zoom
1st Sun. each month: Loose plate offering goes to organizations such as Hopelink and Compass Housing
2nd Sun. each month: Bishop’s Committee meeting following church service, about 10:30 AM
Our vicar, Joseph Wolyniak, is available via email at jwolyniak@christchurchdenver.org or 203/850-2056. He will be in church on Tuesdays 9am until 1pm. Feel free to drop in, or book an appointment to ensure availability. You may call, text, and/or email Fr Joseph any time.
Special Events:
Thursday, October 10, 6 pm : Edible Hope Annual Fundraiser for meals for all in need in Ballard, by St Luke’s Episcopal Church. Tickets at https://bit.ly/4cOo3ul See the flyer on p. 4 in this issue.
Wednesday, November 6, 2- 4 pm: Maureen’s birthday and postelection party: Celebration or Lamentation. At Maureen Lyons’s home.
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Birthdays
Oct. 28: Scott Baker
Oct. 31: Hayden Street
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From the Vicar:
With just a few weeks left in a momentous national election, tensions and anxieties are running high. Candidates are canvassing battleground states, and many are bracing for the outcome, whatever it will be.
In times like these, it can be easy to get swept up into it all. After all, on the other end of policy debates are real people whose lives are profoundly affected by those who control the levers of power. Yet, we are also reminded that it is ultimately not those seeking public office who are––or will be––in control. “Humans may devise many plans,” we are reminded in Proverbs 19:21, “but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.” No doubt, sometimes that purpose seems rather murky indeed, especially amid the disorienting political commotion of times like these.
But nonetheless, we put our full faith and trust in God––and God alone. As Paul puts it in one of my favorite verses (and one to memorize!):
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
What’s more, if you’re looking for a couple opportunities to ground yourself in scripture and prayer just before the election, below are two Saturday retreats coming up at my wife’s parish––St Thomas Medina. We have been warmly invited to participate with them in these retreat days, along with anyone you may wish to bring with you. Don’t let the $45 registration fee (covering the cost of lunch, snacks, etc.) stop you; scholarship aid is available. Hope to see you there!
Joseph+
Sat Oct 19, 9am-1pm
Canon David Porter
“The Elusive Quest: Reconciliation in a World of Conflict”
@ St Thomas Medina
Join our friends at St Thomas Medina for this unique retreat reflecting on our Christian calling to be “ministers of reconciliation.” Alongside biblical and theological reflection, this retreat will draw on Cn Porter’s experience of reconciliation work in different contexts: from “The Troubles” of Northern Ireland to the challenges facing the Anglican Communion today.
Canon David Porter most recently served as Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Director for Reconciliation at Lambeth Palace and Coventry Cathedral. Born in Belfast, Porter is a bridge builder and practitioner of reconciliation, skills he developed and honed while helping to broker a peace deal amid “The Troubles.”
Registration is required. The cost of the retreat is $45, which includes coffee, snacks and lunch. This event is open to the public; space will be limited.
· Scholarship aid is available. To make a request, reach out to Mother Liz at Liz@stthomasmedina.org
More Information: § https://www.facebook.com/events/514981954452488/
https://www.stthomasmedina.org/retreats
Registration: https://stthomas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/182/responses/new
Sat Nov. 2, 9am-1pm
The Rev Scott Gunn
“Keeping Hope When the World Seems Hopeless”
@ St Thomas Medina
Sometimes our world seems to be spinning out of control. Division and violence abound. Greed runs amok. Wisdom is rare. How are we to respond as people of faith? How can we keep hope when the world seems hopeless? In a day of reflection and prayer, the Rev’d Scott Gunn will remind us that our hope is best placed in God’s kingdom, not in earthly kingdoms. We’ll look at Scripture and learn from the example of some saints who lived in tough times and who kept their hope in Christ, witnessing to the world in powerful and enduring ways.
The Rev. Scott Gunn is executive director of Forward Movement. He travels widely as preacher, speaker, and retreat leader. On Sundays he is not traveling, he serves as priest associate at Christ Church in Glendale, OH. Author of several books, his most recent book is Easter Triumph, Easter Joy: Meditations for the Fifty Days of Eastertide. Prior to serving at Forward Movement, Scott was a parish priest in the Diocese of Rhode Island. Before that, he had a career in information technology. Scott was educated at Yale Divinity School, Brown University, and Luther College. He lives in Cincinnati with his spouse, the Rev. Sherilyn Pearce.
Registration is required. The cost of the retreat is $45, which includes coffee, snacks and lunch. This event is open to the public; space will be limited.
· Scholarship aid is available. To make a request, reach out to Mother Liz at Liz@stthomasmedina.org
More Information: § https://www.facebook.com/events/514981954452488/ https://www.stthomasmedina.org/retreats
Registration: https://stthomas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/183/responses/new
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Spotlight on Outreach:
As we are coming up to the annual ditty bag collection in the Diocese, Tessa has (besides making a LOT of ditty bags) written an article about the ditty bags for Mission to Seafarers. Here it is!
The Seattle Seafarers Center, located on Harbor Island, provides a vital role caring for the well-being of seafarers who visit ports around Puget Sound. From their website: “The mission of the Center is to welcome and care for seafarers who visit Puget Sound. The Center provides that care through ship visits and transportation, connecting crews with vaccine providers in Puget Sound (e.g., Discovery Health), and offering communication tools (SIM cards) and other basic necessities (e.g., shopping) for seafarers.”
We at St David’s have long supported the Center’s Ditty Bag project. Each year the Center distributes about 1,000 Ditty Bags to crew members on the ships that come to Seattle. What’s a “ditty bag?” It’s a travel bag that holds essentials such as toiletries and other travel necessities. The Ditty Bags provided to seafarers also include paper and pen, hats, socks, or gloves, perhaps a deck of cards, candy, and a friendly card or greeting. Bags and donations are collected in early November and on November 23, the Center holds a “Stuffing Day” to prepare as many bags as possible.
We recently learned that the men and women who receive these bags bring them home to their families, who then use the bags to carry lunch or supplies to school. St David’s has 100 fabric Ditty Bags, sewn and ready to donate! Rather than purchase supplies for the bags, it’s easiest simply to donate monetarily, because the Center can buy supplies in bulk. Please consider making a donation in October or early November, to cover supplies. Write the check to the church, and write “Ditty Bags” in the note section. Here’s a photo of just some of the fun fabric Ditty Bags ready to donate.
-Tessa Machle
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Interested in serving as lay reader and/or chalice bearer?
We could use some more people interested in this service to the church and community! Please let Fr. Joseph know if you are interested.
Please let Miriam know about prayer requests!
If anyone wants to join the prayer chain or wants to ask the prayer chain to pray for something, please let Miriam know. As Miriam invited us a few weeks ago during Sunday church service, thanksgivings are also welcome and encouraged! Her email is ladymiriam42@gmail.com and her phone is 206 376-4985.
Adjustments due to Coronavirus and other circulating viruses
We will all continue to try to stay as safe as possible in our worship and other interactions. We plan to continue to meet at the church for Sunday worship, with Zoom access for those who can’t come to join in person. Currently, masking is optional.
See the next page for information about the St. Luke’s Edible Hope Fundraiser.
Dear Friends,
This year's Edible Hope Fundraiser will feature fabulous food and beverages, great raffle prizes, attractive merch, opportunities to bid on unique trips/experiences and our "raise the paddle" auction!
This is an important year for our program as we prepare to move to a new location in order to build affordable housing on our site. Your support is greatly appreciated as we remodel our new kitchen and continue to feed people daily in body, mind and spirit through the transition.
I hope you and your friends will join me for this event!
Faithfully,
Britt