Dear St. Patrick's,

Grace and peace. I pray that that this newsletter finds you well. The past several Sunday Gospel lessons challenged us to forgive in community. We all know that forgiving is the most difficult spiritual discipline. Jesus knew that his teachings would bring rumblings among his followers. This week's lessons (Readings) are about complaining followers: both for Jesus and Moses. Anytime the status quo is shaken up, we tend to sit on the sidelines and complain. This can be on consequential things or less important things (like that the Facebook format has changed, once again). As we begin to prepare to come together for worship, prayer, and fellowship this Sunday, reflect on the seed of grumblings by asking where does it come from and how might we overcome it.

We continue preparations for the Centennial. Please know that we need everyone to help make this celebration a success. The dates are October 29-30. The Holy Ghosts and Goblins Auction, Dinner, and Dancing will be on the evening of Saturday, October 29th and the festive worship service with former Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold followed by lunch and a haunted house for kids will be on Sunday, October 30.

Over the next six weeks, I will be teaching a class titled The Theology of Harry Potter. There are two sections: one meets on Thursday mornings at 10am (starting tomorrow) and the other meets at 11:30am on Sundays (starting this Sunday). It helps to have read the books, but it is not a requirement. Each class will build on the previous, but you can jump in anytime (it's not math). Everyone is welcome.   

Faithfully,

Read or listen to this past Sunday's sermon titled, "So the Last will be First." 

Sunday School This Sunday:

Children Continue the Story of The Good Shepherd

Sunday School begins at 9:45 am and meets during the 10 o'clock service:

Our 1st unit includes 4 fun workshops: cooking, movie, storytelling, and outdoor games. Each workshop is designed to help children engage the story of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Thank you to our workshop leaders: Owen Donley, Theresa Luchsinger, Benno & Phoebe Schmidt, and Lalie Tongour. If you can lead a workshop during the next unit that meets October 23, November 6, and November 13, please contact Andrea Martin, andrea@stpatrickschurchdc.org

Sunday School for 7th-8th Graders Meets this Sunday Night, 5:45 pm.

Meet Justin Lingenfelter, our 7th-8th Grade Group Leader.

This week's topic: Who Wrote the Bible: God or Humans?
Click here to find out more.  

Check your e-mail later this week for the invitation and RSVP information!

We are going to online registration this year, and hope you will join us!  Watch your e-mail over the next few days for the web link. Mark your calendar for the Holy Ghosts & Goblins Auction on Saturday, October 29th! 

We need you to volunteer!

Please find your way to the Auction table in the Great Hall after the 10am service as we need to organize our volunteers for decorating, creating silent auction displays, requesting gift certificates from local vendors, and for day of auction volunteers to make it all happen! We even need some folks to pick music for the DJ to play! While you're at the Auction table, fill out a donation form for your great idea to give to the Auction and get a head start on buying some Halloween candy!

• There will be a very, very brief meeting for folks willing to help with decorations this Sunday, Sept. 25th, after church.  We'll walk the space, talk about where the tables will go, and then encourage the committee to bring out their creative best.  Please consider joining us, for decorations, or any of the areas above. 

Also check this week's Sunday bulletin for more ways to help!

And don't forget to donate!

Week of October 2

Donate a basket of gourmet goodies, new books you love, all the best newly released DVDs!

Questions and are you ready to help out? Contact Auction Co-Chairs Marilyn Nowalk and Amy Graham. 

Click here to print out a donation form, or pick one up in the Church Office!

Join us for our first Family Choir of the year THIS Sunday! 

Family choir is for everyone - adults, parents and school age kids, singles, empty nesters - all are welcome!  We meet in the Church Library at 9:15 for donuts and coffee (hot chocolate, too), then learn a simple anthem to share in church.  After rehearsing, kids go to their Sunday School classes and adults come up to the front (the choir chairs) to help lead worship.  We sing our anthem after the kids have rejoined the group.  It's easy, it's fun and WE NEED YOU!  You can even bring an instrument (let me know if it's a transposing one!) and play along.

This Friday:  Music in Motion for K-2^nd graders meets 4:30 - 5:45pm in the Great Hall.  Songs, Crafts, Pizza - what more could you want?!?  Hope you can join us, and please let me know so I can have enough pizza and supplies on hand.

Won't you help us make music in this wonderful place?

 ~Adele Lynch, Director of Music 

Confirmation Preparation Begins with a Bowling Party, Oct. 23rd. 

Young people in 9th Grade and above are eligible to prepare to receive the sacrament of confirmation. If your son or daughter would like to participate, please RSVP to the Rev. Andrea Martin, andrea@stpatrickschurchdc.org 

Schedule of Confirmation Classes and other event here.  

Start thinking about your child's costume, or what you will wear to the Holy Ghosts & Goblins Auction! Here's how it works:

1. Go to www.wholesalecostumeclub.com to shop for costumes.
2. Add costumes to your cart and when you are done click "Check Out Now."
3. Choose the option "Become a Member and Checkout" and fill out your checkout information. (if you are already an existing member, use the member checkout)
4. Enter Promo Code FUN897 in the promo code box on the right and click "Apply Code." This Promo Code waives the $5 membership fee, gives you the lowest member price, and gives 15% of your purchase price back to St. Patrick's.
5. Continue with checkout as usual.

This fundraiser, through an online costume supplier, will support our very worthy mission while you get great costumes and reasonable shipping. This is not a secret fundraiser, tell your friends, neighbors, and even random people you see on the street to use our promo code and 15% of the purchase price comes back to help St. Patrick's. More information and the link is available on the church website.

Feeling harried by the demands placed on your time this fall? Stressed about juggling back-to-school events, work, or family obligations? Or maybe you have a big decision to make? Christ invites you to Come, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). In response to Christ's invitation, each time we meet as a group, we will learn and practice one form of prayer. In so doing, we will go back to the Source, back to God. Come to learn new ways of relating to God. Come for perspective. Come to appreciate how God is already at work in your life. Participate as your schedule allows:

Monday Mornings: September 26 through November 7 (no meeting on Columbus Day, October 10), 9:30 - 11 am, in the Library

Tuesday Evenings: October 18, 25, & November 1, 6:30 - 8 pm, in the Library (with light refreshments)

Book Club will discuss Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, and meet in the Church Library at 7:30pm. At this first meeting they will also discuss the book list for the coming year.  

Contact Allison McDonnell (ammcdonnell@yahoo.com) for more information. All are welcome!

Saturday, October 1

11 am - 3 pm

Join the St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School community for a day of games, food, and laughter!

Quick Links...

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