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?
