Message from Don – August 2021
Greetings St. David Parishioners:
I am honored to serve as St. David’s new Sr. Warden. I am deeply dedicated to the well-being of our Parish and each of you. I am a relative newcomer to St. David’s and still getting to know all of our members and traditions. Yet, l feel that St. David’s is my “home” and all of you are an amazingly loving extended family. I look forward to all of us working together to grow our family and keep St. David’s a beacon of loving light shining in the community.
During my short time as Sr. Warden, several parishioners have brought two significant concerns to my attention that I want to share with all of you so everyone is in the loop with my responses: To be sober means to be serious. God through Paul instructs us to be serious about practicing the Christian virtues: faith, love and hope.
1. In-Person Services – Why are faces masks still being required and why isn’t wine being served with communion?
Response – Out of an abundance of caution, the Vestry decided to take all steps to minimize any potential risks of spreading the Covid infection, especially the Delta Variant, among our parishioners and to protect young children in our families who are not yet vaccinated. There is a particular desire to protect young grandchildren and great-grandchildren from being infected if any of us who are vaccinated should unknowingly become infected without symptoms and spread the virus to them. Therefore, it was decided that during in-person Sunday services we will continue wearing face masks, maintain social distancing, and forego sharing wine during communion. We know the risks are low, but would rather be safe than sorry.
Since resuming in-person services, we are averaging 25-30 attendees every Sunday; and
15- 20 individuals continue viewing our livestream services on YouTube every week. Six guests have joined our in-person services over the last few Sundays. Let’s pray that they return to join us as new parishioners! All are welcome in our home.
Response – There has been a delay in depositing Offertory contributions in to St. David’s bank account. However, Patti Case, Treasurer, is aware of the issue and taking steps to correct it. Please continue making your generous Offerings; they are needed and GREATLY appreciated.
My “Unique Accent”
Those who have heard me talk know that I speak with a really unique accent that is often difficult to understand. I was born with cerebral palsy, which is a neuro-muscular condition that affects my speech and some fine motor functioning. Please tell me when you cannot understand my speech! When I talk, the speech that I hear in my head sounds completely “normal” to me so I don’t know when others cannot understand what I’m saying unless they tell me. You will not embarrass or make me feel uncomfortable.
Some refer to my CP as an affliction or disability. Please do not look at me that way. I choose to refer to it as a blessing from God. I live a blessed and charmed life that only gets more wonderful the longer I live and the more that I learn to love.
I retired in 2020 as Deputy Director of the Washington state Vocational Rehabilitation agency after 45 years working to advance the equality, employment and prosperity of people with disabilities. I bring a wide array of professional skills to the role of Sr. Warden that I believe will be useful.
I look forward to working with all of you to create St. David’s future as we eventually get on the other side of the Covid pandemic. Please contact me anytime with your thoughts, questions or concerns.
Blessings to all of you and yours. -Don
Don Kay, Sr. Warden
Email: mardon12@comcast.net
Cell/Text: 360-789-5528
Parish Newsletter – August 2021
A Message from Father Duane . . . You have all heard about the “Dog Days of Summer.” To the Greeks and Romans, the days occur around the time when Sirius, bright ”Dog Star” of the constellation Canis Major, appears to rise alongside the sun in late July. Sirius is the bright star in the night sky, and the ancients believed that Sirius and the sun combined their heat to make these particular days the hottest of the year.
Bright sunshine and bright moon and stars at night remind us to be living as children of light. Indeed Paul exhorts us to live as children of the bright daylight. In his earliest known epistle he writes, “You are all children of light and children of the day . . . . Since you belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation, for God has destined us . . . . for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5-9)
To be sober means to be serious. God through Paul instructs us to be serious about practicing the Christian virtues: faith, love and hope.
Recently our Vestry has determined that the best wisdom for us as a faith community is to continue to operate under Phase Three guidelines. This means we are being very careful not to expose especially our grandchildren and great-grandchildren to unnecessary pandemic risk. But, it also means we continue to be somewhat isolated from one another.
So then in order for us to be serious about sharing faith, love and hope we need to take thoughtful consideration about reaching out to one another by using intentionally alternate means. Please make room in your activities to check with your St. David’s friends. Give a call. Catch up. Drop a card. Write an encouraging note or letter. Let others know you are thinking about them and that we are praying for them. Your faith, love and hope are not limited to having face-to-face physical contact and fellowship. Because many people are still feeling alone and disconnected, they need yet to be reminded you are present in their life and still care. In this way you can certainly turn the summer’s warm, long days into times of refreshing for those whom you love.
Thank-you Laurie McClanahan for serving as Treasurer of St. David’s and the many years you have spent in this position. In addition, you have been able to serve as a Eucharistic Minister and grow flowers for the Altar – not to mention your coffee-hour cinnamon rolls! We may be letting you off as Treasurer but you will still be held accountable for all the other ways you contribute to the health and welfare of St. David’s. We thank you and we appreciate you.
Hello, Don KAY, in his own words . . . I have served on the Vestry as Co-Senior Warden with Patti Case as Senior Warden since Father Duane joined us. Patti gives so much to St. David’s in so many roles. When the role of Treasurer recently came up for appointment, the Vestry unanimously voted to accept Patti’s resignation as Sr. Warden and appointed her to the position of Treasurer. I learned a lot from Patti’s role as Sr. Warden and am so glad she has been appointed Treasurer. We owe much gratitude to Laurie McClanahan for her many years of service as Treasurer and keeping the finances in order.
Good Luck Patti Case and welcome to your new position as Treasurer of St. David’s. In accepting this position we are confident that you have accepted the challenges ahead of you and will do them to the best of your ability.
Jr. Warden Cheri Ratay reports that progress is being made on getting estimates to have the gutters repaired on the church building and that St. David’s Garden Club has been busy tidying up the church grounds. Thank you to all the ‘green thumb’ folks in our congregation.
PLEASE PRAY for our families, friends and neighbors, remembering especially: Shawn, Mike & Judy, Doug, Barrett. Janet, Greg, Dave, David, Ann, Robin, Betty, Margaret, Jonathan & Christina, Sue, Jesse, Don, Kayla & Ryan, Anthony, Kurt & family, Suzy, Rogen & his family, Barbara, Aimee, Kate and Coco.
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS . . .
- Ann Olli on the 1st;
- Gary Weza on the 8th;
- Bill Johnson on the 10th;
- Betty McClanahan on the 15th; and
- Connie Reandeau on the 30th.
Happy Birthday to all. Many happy returns of the day and may God Bless You!
DATES TO REMEMBER. . .
August 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29, at 10:30 am
Worship Service at St. David’s and Live Streaming on YouTube.
August 4, 11, 18, & 25, from 10:00 am – Noon
Sit and Pray – Come as you are, stay as long as you like!
August 15, at 11:45 am
VESTRY MEETING – following Service of Worship
Parish Newsletter – July 2021
A NOTE FROM FR. DUANE . . . A couple of songs come to mind in this long summer season of Pentecost: “Tropical Heatwave” and “It’s too Darn Hot.” It has been bad enough for us to have been suffering through the pandemic and now the local temperatures reaching as high as 109 degrees. Whew! Stay inside. Stay cool. Stay hydrated. Stay safe. Please call if you need help. My direct line is 509-998-6716 or 253-853-5869. Both numbers are received by my mobile phone.
If you know about a heat-suffering person who needs help, reach out, try to connect them with resources they need and if necessary, have them call directly. Whenever I am in the building, the church office is open I would be happy to welcome anyone who needs to come in for a time of cooling off. We have bottled water in the fridge and a solid, functioning air conditioning system in Echols Hall.
This summer season is a time waiting and resting. For farmers it is the season of anticipating harvest and the planting of new crops. Lots of great possibilities lie ahead. And what are we to do? I encourage you to find your rest by focusing on the self-care of prayer. We Episcopalians are a people of prayer, and “prayer changes things.” So, dust off your Prayer Book and begin again to renew your habit of daily devotions. Be invited to join us at church for Wednesday Sit and Pray. “It’ll do you good,” as my parents used to say; “It’s good for what ails you.” And be sure to remind yourselves, the words of this hymn.
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land.
A home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burden of the day . . .. Amen
A NOTE FROM OUR SENIOR WARDEN, PATTI CASE . . . It brings me such joy
to see and hear people in the pews at St. David’s, and I hope that in the near future we will see additional signs of adaptation toward a “new normal.” I have this to say about that. Yay God!
Last month I shared some early thinking about Rector/Vestry Mutual Ministry Goals. Thanks to a lot of great thinking by members, fueled by the spirit, we adopted the following goals at our last Vestry meeting. I think you’ll find they reflect a stepwise approach to fit our culture as a parish, with emphasis on coming back together, ed:
1. By September 30, 2021, Rector to initiate and conduct conversations with each member of St. David’s that ensures ongoing communication, nurturing and supportive pastoral relationships.
2. By December 31, 2021, Rector to learn and functionally internalize key aspects of St. David’s culture, history and pastoral practices in order to honor those elements when fulfilling pastoral responsibilities and creating the Strategic Plan (See Goal 4)
3. By September 30. 2021. Rector and Vestry to ensure effective management and timely reporting of all facets of St David’s financial and administrative operations, including:
– Budget and financial position
– Physical plant
4. By June 30, 2022, Rector and Vestry together lead the development of a five-year Congregational Strategic Plan for St. David’s sustainability and growth.
Of course these goals are a work in progress and they are only as effective as we, the congregation of St. David’s make them. To that end, we welcome your feedback and support.
PLEASE PRAY for all who have commended themselves to our prayers; for our families, friends and neighbors, remembering especially: Shawn, Mike & Judy, Doug, Barrett, Janet, Greg, David S., David A., Ann, Robin, Betty, Margaret, Jonathan & Christina, Sue, Jesse, Don, Kayla & Ryan, Anthony, Derek, Kurt & family, James, Andy, Suzy, and Rogen & family. Lord have mercy.
JULY BIRTHDAYS . . .
- Judy Callaghan on the 9th;
- Annie-Beth Henry on the 20th; and
- Cathy Warner on the 22nd.
Happy Birthday to all and many happy returns of the day.
DATES TO REMEMBER. . .
July 4th
Independence Day – GOD BLESS AMERICA!
July 4, 11, 18, & 25, 10:30 am
Worship Service at St. David’s and Live Streaming on YouTube.
July 7, 14, 21, & 28, 10:00 am – Noon
Sit and Pray – Come as you are, stay as long as you like!
FROM BETH DAYWATERS . . . The Master Gardeners of Grays Harbor & Pacific Counties will hold their annual garden tour on Saturday, July 24th. The tour will include Beth’s garden at 1333 Satsop Rd. W., Montesano. Beth says “there will be good music playing throughout the day (indicative of my life as a teen of the 60’s), and it will be a fun day.” There will be three gardens on the tour, one of which is a world-class garden. Tickets will be available at several local businesses for about $12.00 – addresses & directions to each will be included on the tickets.(For further info Email Beth at bethatwatersedge@gmail.com or call 360-249-2231 or 360-580-1810)
Parish Newsletter – June 2021
A NOTE FROM FATHER DUANE . . . “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ We used this quotation from Psalm 122:1 for our opening liturgy of welcome and inclusion on Pentecost Sunday, when we opened up our building again for in-person gathering and worship.
That day we had about 28 people in attendance for our 10:30 service. On Trinity Sunday, May 23rd, there were about 34 people gathered for morning worship. I am so glad! So are you! We get to see each other even in our masked faces, greet one another, and simply be together again gathered in God’s presence. It feels so good. It feels so right. As well it is a foretaste of such good things we know are yet to come. These are our small re-beginnings, and the Bible reminds us not to minimize the day of our small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10) Why? Because whether we are many or are few, the Lord our God is with us, mighty to save. Or as it says in Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord, our God, is in our midst, a warrior who gives victory, he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in the love, he will exult over you with loud singing.” For this promise coming true before our eyes we can truly be glad and grateful! Alleluia! Alleluia!
WARDEN’S WORLD . . . Patti Case, Sr. Warden. What a joy it was to see faces in the pews at our first service back at St. David’s! We all owe Don Kay a debt of gratitude for slogging through state and diocesan protocols to create a reopening plan for St. David’s. It’s pretty dry reading, but vitally important to keep one another safe.
Many of us are feeling “free” since we’ve subjected ourselves to the COVID-19 vaccination. Others are not yet willing to take risks. I have noted that many of my extremely introverted friends find great comfort in continuing to isolate, and I must respect their need for continued distance. Thanks be to God that we are able to continue to livestream! At
$100/week that service is not cheap, but it enables so many to be with us. Let’s keep giving to ensure we can continue that ministry.
And speaking of “In person,” your vestry met in person on Sunday. May 23 to consider, among other things, a set of three “Mutual Ministry” goals. These are goals that vestry and rector agree they’ll work on together – and with all parishioners, of course. Here’s a bit of a draft for your consideration:
– establish and maintain regular monthly interaction between vestry and rector.
– provide ample opportunity for current members to deepen our faith.
– create and implement a plan for 35 percent growth over the next 12 months.
We’re still working through these goals, but I hope you can imagine yourself as part of this path to progress. We’ll also have lots to do in adjusting our protocols as we get back to regular use of the church after the pandemic. We all welcome your ideas ,prayers and enthusiasm.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SUNDAY SERVICES . . . Now that the church is open for in-person Sunday services, we need to form a new Greeter Team. The Greeter roll is significantly different now than it was before Covid-19. In order to implement our Covid-19 procedures for conducting in-person services safely, we now need 3 Greeters every Sunday instead of 1 who play the following rules.
-Greeter 1 – Welcome individuals at the church side door from the parking lot. Assure they wear a mask, take their temperature, and have them answer 3 Covid-19 Self-screening questions.
-Greeter 2 – Upon entry to the Gathering Hall, verify that each individual has a Covid-19 Consent form already on file or have them complete a form.
-Greeter 3 – Give the individual a Service Bulletin and escort them to Covid-19 designated seating.
After the service is over, Greeters must:
-Record the number of attendees; and count and secure the donations in the Offertory Box (Offertory plates are no longer being used)
In addition, we could use additional volunteers to fill the roles of Eucharistic Minister and Lector-Reader. If you wish to volunteer for any of these roles and help conduct our in-person Sunday Services, please contact Tamra Ingwaldson at tingwaldson 23@gmail.com, 360-265-1719.
SIT AND PRAY . . . We are reviving Sit and Pray each Wednesday at 10:00 still following COVID-19 guidelines. We did so well with Sunday Service protocols, we are ready to bring back this special time each week for reflection and prayer.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS … Shawn, Mike & Judy, Doug, Barrett, Janet, Greg, David, Ann, Robin, Betty, Margaret, Johnathon & Christina, Sue, Jesse, Don, Kayla & Ryan, Anthony, Derek, Ken, Connie, Kurt & family, James, and Rogen & his family.
MEMORIAL PRAYERS for those Members we lost during the Pandemic were included in the worship service on May 23rd. They were: Shirley Beelik, Joan Cheston, Betty Eager, Bob & Kathleen Hart, Marian Eveleth, John (Jack) Krause, Marilyn Miller, Terry O’Hara, Nancy Stanislay and Bud West. We extend our thoughts and prayers to their families.
JUNE BIRTHDAYS . . .
- Yolanda Chavez on the 14th;
- Laurie McClanahan on the 26th; and
- Pedro Chavez on the 29th.
Many happy returns of this very special day.
History Question for June?
In 1948, what gift was sent to St. David of Wales from St. David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, Wales to be included in a prominent place in the construction of the church. What was it and where is it located in St. David’s?
