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This Sunday, November 23rd, 2025
The Last Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 and 9:30am Service of Holy Eucharist
Forum Time: Social Time
We continue to Facebook Livestream the Sunday 9:30 service and upload to YouTube.
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Upcoming Dates
- Fri-Sunday, November 21-23 - Teens Encounter Christ
- Sunday, November 23 - Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Mills Church
- Monday, November 24 - Next Loaves & Fishes Date
- Tuesday, November 25 - Losing Sleep, Losing Homes Vigil
- Sunday, November 30 - Last day to sign-up for the Sat. Dec. 6 Advent Retreat
- Tuesday, December 2 - Last day to sign-up for Advent Bible Study
- Sunday, December 7 - St. David's Annual Bake Sale & Craft Fair
- Saturday, December 13 - Advent Evensong
- Saturday, December 13 - A Light in the Storm - Isaiah Statewide Convention
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ECMN Convention 2025 Reflections
Below, please find information about last weekend's ECMN Convention 2025 which our delegates attended.
Bishop's Address
You can find the video and text of the Bishop's address here. A Spanish translation of the written text will be available in the coming days.
Summary of Business
You can find here a summary of the actions taken during the business portion of convention, including those elected to various leadership bodies.
We'll share the extended narrative in the weeks to come.
You can find a link to the resolutions passed by convention here:
Storyteller Videos
We were delighted by the stories we were able to hear throughout Convention from amazing Episcopalians from across the state. If you'd like to revisit any of these stories, or the sermon from the ECMN Eucharist service, some have already been uploaded, and the rest will be uploaded soon, and will posted here.
All of these items have also been added to the ECMN Convention page, which you can find here.
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Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Mills Church
Date/Time: Sunday, November 23rd, 7:00pm
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Choir Rehearsal: Those wishing to sing in the joint choir, please meet at Mills Church at 5:45pm - Contact Roger to sign-up, rstratton@stdavidsparish.org
Location: Mills Church, 13215 Minnetonka Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
Click Here for Parking Information
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The Lord’s Prayer For Transgender Awareness
Today, Thursday, Nov 20th, is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor the memory of transgender people whose lives have been lost lost to acts of anti-transgender violence. In observance of this day, pray this adaptation of the Lord’s Prayer.
Our mother and Father, our beloved parent, in whom we move and breathe and have our being,
The hallowing of your name shines forth in the diversity of your children.
May your peace and love, justice and equality, inclusion and belonging reign here on earth as in heaven.
Grant that our transgender loved ones might have their daily needs met—that they might find gainful employment without discrimination; that they might have access to medical care without fear; that they might have their rights and lives protected, and that they might find a loving community to belong to and call their own.
Forgive us for the ways that we have fallen short and failed your transgender children. Forgive us of the times we turned away, or did not care; for the times we laughed or judged their unique expression of your image; for the times we have misspoken, asked too much, or failed to hear as we forgive those who might have failed us.
Lead us away from the temptation to be complacent in the face of injustice. But instead give us courage to stand up and stand with your beloved children. For your love and justice is to be made manifest now and forever.
Amen.
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Remembrance Tree
One more week remains for our new ritual of remembrance in the sanctuary. We invite you to visit the tree, and tie a ribbon on a branch in memory of a loved one who has died or as an offering for the saints who have gone before us.
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Monday Morning Meditation - Now at 9:15am
Please take note of this time change for Monday Morning Meditation.
We invite you to join us for these brief gatherings beginning with a reading followed by silence for 20 minutes, and a concluding prayer. No experience is necessary but your love and mindfulness.
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The Losing Sleep, Losing Homes Vigil - Tuesday Nov. 25
MN ACT’s is a coalition of organizations defending federal funding for supportive housing in Minnesota. This group of 185 organizations is taking immediate action by holding a twelve-hour vigil called “Losing Sleep, Losing Homes” on Tuesday, November 25, where faith leaders, residents, and partners to gather and honor those whose housing is at risk and to call for Congress and HUD to keep their promise to communities nationwide.
Register to attend the vigil here.
Why: Recent HUD changes to the Continuum of Care program will slash federal homelessness funding for 3,600 Minnesotans, with our state losing more than half of this critical support. The result would be thousands of people displaced and a destabilized housing system—triggering an immediate rise in unsheltered homelessness as programs close and Minnesota’s homelessness response is severely disrupted.
Where & When: We invite you to sign up for one or more hour-long shifts to participate in this twelve-hour vigil—either virtually from home using Zoom or in person on Tuesday, November 25 from 7 pm to Wednesday, November 26 at 7 am.
In person at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave, Mpls, or virtual using Zoom at your own home. To participate, please register here.
Here is the full article:
https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/blog/change-systems/losing-sleep-losing-homes-toolkit/
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November Vestry Update
The St. David's Vestry met for its November meeting on Monday, November 17 in the Jones Room. We enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Rev. Katherine featuring Governor Tim Walz’s tater tot hotdish recipe. It was delicious!
The meeting agenda included the following topics:
Dwelling in the Word: Luke 23:33-43
Vestry Visitor: Shea Brendalen
Shea has been on the St. David’s staff for over 15 years and shared information on her many duties over the years. Shea’s focus is on finance administration, including deposits and disbursements, payroll, financial reporting, budget development, and finance-related HR tasks. Besides her financial duties, Shea has been responsible for others and is transferring some of these, such as website administration, to our Minister of Parish Life, Julia Moser-Hardy. The Vestry thanked Shea for her many years of outstanding service to St. David’s.
Discernment Topic: Tithing a portion of the Endowment distribution for 2026
The Vestry considered the amount of the 2026 endowment and to whom it should tithe. The decision was to tithe 10% of the $12,000 distribution and send $600 each to Reach and Restore and Casa Maria.
Reporting Approvals:
Approved the October Finance Report, the October Meeting Minutes, and the 2026 Vestry Nominating Committee members. The Third Quarter Endowment Report was received.
New Business:
- Rector's report to vestry Nov 2025
- Nov 2025 Warden's Report
- Update on St. George’s Transition - a team of clergy, staff, and parishioners did a building walkthrough and identified items that they would like to be transferred from St. George’s to St. David’s. St. George’s last worship service will be Sunday, December 28 and St. David’s will welcome new members joining from St. George’s on Epiphany Sunday, January 11.
- Mike Sandsmark and Cathy Schwichtenberg gave an update on the Safety Team being formed at St. David’s. The team’s kickoff meeting will be on Thursday, November 20.
- David Niles shared an update on the 2026 budget currently being developed. The Vestry will have the opportunity to fully review the proposed budget at its December meeting.
The meeting concluded with prayer offered by Rev. Katherine Lewis.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Schwichtenberg
Junior Warden
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Shea Brendalen to Retire
It is with deep appreciation and sadness that I share the news that staff member Shea Brendalen will be retiring from St. David's in early 2026. Shea joined the staff as bookkeeper in 2009 and, since then, has assumed increasingly more responsibilities with various job titles along the way. Shea has been instrumental in helping us create our annual budgets and develop outstanding financial, accounting, and administrative systems. She has been a close collaborator and professional confidant to me, and I will miss her very much. She is a humble servant leader, embodying a spirit of generosity, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn and just simply to figure things out! She also carries a great deal of institutional knowledge, which has been invaluable in countless ways.
We have created a position description for a "Minister of Finance" and will post it in the days to come.
In Shea's generous way, she has offered to stay with us until we hire for this position. Our hope is to do so in the early months of 2026.
I celebrate Shea's upcoming retirement and only wish the best for her. We will certainly find ways to celebrate Shea and her ministry among us before she leaves.
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Katherine
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Holiday Season Weekly News Schedule & Office Hours
Weekly News Holiday Schedule:
With major holidays all falling on Thursdays this season we plan to adopt this schedule for release of the weekly news.
Week of Thanksgiving
- Submissions due Monday 11/24 at noon
- News released Wednesday 11/26 in the early evening
Week of Christmas
- No regular news this week. The final newsletter before Christmas will be sent Thursday, 12/18. Submissions are due Wednesday 12/17 at noon as usual.
- A Christmas Eve/ Day Services reminder will be sent on Monday or Tuesday December 22 or 23.
The Week of New Years Day
- Submissions due Tuesday 12/30 at noon
- News released Wednesday 12/31 in the early evening
Office-Closed Days
- Thursday-Friday, November 27-28
- Thursday, December 25- Friday, January 2
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Communion Bread Update
Since Easter Sunday, we have been offering gluten-free communion bread for all people at worship. We started this practice as an experiment in radical hospitality, one of our core congregational principles, and also in the spirit of faithful innovation, as encouraged by ECMN.
Over the course of this experiment, we have learned a lot about the nature of preparing and serving gluten-free bread - it’s texture for breaking and serving in small pieces, how it responds to being frozen, stored and defrosted, and the conditions needed to safely produce it. We have even explored a variety of recipes to improve it’s flavor.
After consulting with the gluten-free community as to how best to make all feel welcomed and included around the communion table, I have decided to return to the practice of using honey wheat bread, with gluten-free wafers remaining an option so that all can commune.
Thank you to all who provided input, creative troubleshooting, the baking of bread, and even taste-testing! It is good to try many different ways of being and doing church, especially in pursuit of more deeply embodying our mission and values.
Thank you for being the Beloved Body of Christ at St. David's.
Grace and peace,
Katherine
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A Message from Cambria Bold
To the dear people of St. David’s,
They say discernment is a lifelong journey and, like pilgrims traveling on the way, it sometimes takes unexpected turns, guiding us in a new direction. And so it is with me: After much prayer, discussion, and discernment, I have decided to leave the ordination process. I believe, in this season, that the truest expression of God’s call upon my life is to remain a lay member of the priesthood of all believers, where I will be able to prioritize my vocation as a parent, deepen my creative gifts both inside and outside the church, and abide with my home parish community in love, service, and fidelity. There is still much I am called to do on this side of the altar.
This means my time as your priesthood intern will be coming to an end sooner than anticipated. My last Sunday serving this community will be November 23.
I am so grateful to Katherine, the staff, and all of you for welcoming me into this wonderful community, even for a short period! Your warmth and witness to God’s love shines brightly, and I am glad to have walked alongside you for a season. Thank you, truly.
Peace be with you, now and always.
Cambria
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ICA Update
TODAY - Give to the Max Day - November 20
One way to support ICA is by giving on Give to the Max Day on Thursday, November 20. This year your gift will go twice as far to help our community. Thanks to a generous donor, the first $50,000 donated will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling your impact. Go to the Donate tab in the ICA website (www.icafoodshelf.org) to learn more and donate. You can give any time between now and November 20 to help ICA reach its goal of $200,000 and help ensure every neighbor has the support they need to weather tough times ahead.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Many thanks for your wonderful support of this year’s ICA Holiday Food Program. Through your generous donations by purchasing turkey certificates the last two Sundays at church or donating online, you have made it possible for more than 60 families to enjoy a turkey dinner with all the fixings during the upcoming holidays. This year families will also receive a pie from Costco.
Maynard’s Day - December 1
Stop by Maynard’s in Excelsior for lunch, happy hour or dinner on Monday, December 1 between 11 am & 11 pm. For the 18th year, Maynard’s is donating 100% of its proceeds to supporting neighbors in need through ICA. You can call 952-470-1800 for reservations.
Our mission: To create a healthy and stable community for all
Our vision: A community where everyone has the resources to thrive
Our belief: ICA’s presence in our communities makes our neighborhoods more stable and secure
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Loaves and Fishes
Please join us as we prepare and serve delicious meals for those in need.
Monday, December 22
Tuesday, December 30
Tuesday, January 13
Monday, January 26
The need for meals is growing each week. We invite you to prayerfully consider joining in this vital ministry, serving as the hands and feet of Christ for those in need.
Please contact Sue or Basil Owen to sign up or sign up in the Undercroft. Sue’s cell is 612-716-1945. Basil’s cell is 612-716-0683 or email at bowen3@fastmail.com.
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Advent Bible Study through Yale Divinity School
Join us for an Advent Bible Study through Yale Divinity School: The Anticipation and Arrival of Jesus in Luke 1 and 2, with the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton. This 3-week Zoom study runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Central Time on Thursdays, Dec. 4th, 11th, and 18th. The cost is $10 for the complete course, and you can register by clicking here.
Registration closes Dec. 2nd, and the Zoom info will be sent on Dec. 3rd.
All registrants may join as part of a group Zoom in the Jones Room of the ICA building with opportunity for discussion afterwards. Please let Julia (office@stdavidsparish.org) know if you would like to be part of the group gathering. Otherwise you are invited to register and participate on your own from home!
Please reach out to Marilyn Clark (purlbuck@gmail.com or 763-354-4472) with questions.
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Posada - Sign-up to Host Mary & Joseph this Advent!
The season of watching and waiting is almost here. For the St. David's community, the St. David’s Posada helps us mark time as we wait for the birth of Jesus during Advent. In Spanish-speaking regions, “la posada” refers to an inn or a hotel. In some Hispanic traditions, “las posadas” is a term for a type of re-enactment of Mary & Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem & is performed just before Christmas. St. David’s honors the Posada tradition during Advent by inviting households to sign up to serve as innkeepers to a set of felted wool figures of Mary & Joseph for a few nights before sending them on to another St. David’s household for the next part of their journey. Those who participate as innkeepers have the opportunity to provide our “guests” with loving hospitality & safe lodging as they travel from home to home during Advent.
Each household interested in being an innkeeper must sign up to host, and then a schedule of overnights for Mary & Joseph is made & provided to the innkeepers. Our Mary & Joseph will make their first overnight at a St. David’s home on the first Sunday of Advent (Nov. 30). Then they travel to different homes in the St. David’s community, according to the schedule, & stay for about 2 nights. Each innkeeper is responsible for contacting the next host on the schedule, arranging to drop-off of Mary & Joseph at a time & place that is mutually convenient, & providing a small holiday treat for the receiving innkeepers to enjoy. On Wednesday, Dec. 24, the last innkeeper on the schedule brings Mary & Joseph to St. David’s for the Christmas Eve Service, marking the end of their long journey.
If you are interested in hosting Mary & Joseph during Advent, contact Patti Jurkovich at patti.jurkovich@gmail.com to sign up.
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Begin your Advent journey by pondering Mary saying, “yes,” to bringing forth God’s presence in the world. And ponder how we, as individuals and faith communities, are called to do the same.
In this half-day Advent retreat, you will engage with Scripture through Gospel Based Discipleship and construct a journal from recycled materials. In your journal you will create a collage based on reflections and learning from the Scripture study.
Date: Saturday, December 6th
Time: 9:00am - 12noon
Location: St. David's Episcopal Church - ICA Building, Jones Room
Click here to Register!
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Bake & Craft Sale on December 7
Hello Crafters & Bakers!
November is rushing by and Thanksgiving will soon be here with the Advent and Christmas seasons close behind. The annual Bake Sale & Craft Fair is the second Sunday of Advent, December 7th.
Craft items can be dropped off on Saturday, December 6th between 1 pm and 4 pm, or before the services on Sunday, December 7th.
Contact Sara Leigh at leigh.sara@gmail.com if you have questions.
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Isaiah MN Lighthouse Path Events
November: Full Plate Minnesota Month
In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus calls us to take care of those in need,
Amidst delays and cutbacks in SNAP benefits, we choose to lead together! Faith communities and neighborhood teams are coming alongside nonprofits and counties who provide food and/or food assistance to ensure that no Minnesotan goes hungry or faces the stress of not knowing where their next meal will come from. Together we can make Minnesota a #FullPlateState!
Here are some actions we can take at St. David’s:
Throughout November – Every food shelf is struggling to keep up these days. Consider increasing your donations to ICA and Loaves and Fishes. Also, financial donations can go further because food programs get a discount from grocery providers. Put your donation in the offertory plate or mail to:
Week of November 23rd
- Purchase Thanksgiving dinners.
- Sunday, 11/23 - Attend Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Mills Church. The offertory will go to safety net programs.
- Monday, 11/24 - Volunteer opportunity with Loaves & Fishes - sign-up in the Undercroft at St. David's.
A Light in the Storm: Statewide ISAIAH Convention
December 13, 12:00-6:00pm
Minneapolis Convention Center
Our group at St. David’s, in partnership with ISAIAH, is coordinating with similar groups around the state and country to build a movement that can preserve our democracy and the civil rights our country was founded on. We don’t want to just wait and hope, we want to be part of creating a more positive future grounded in what God calls us to do – feed the hungry, care for the sick, welcome the stranger.
On Saturday, December 13, thousands of people from all over Minnesota will be gathering to ratify a shared set of priorities for the future and launch a path to caucus in 2026 around this shared “Yes Agenda”. We’ll also equip ourselves for the next phase of resistance to attacks on our civil rights and safety net programs, including large actions on Palm Sunday and July 4th.
Everyone is invited to attend even if you have not participated in other ISAIAH Lighthouse Path events. We are planning to carpool from church to the Convention Center. Register for the event here: https://bit.ly/ISAIAHDec13Event
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Hats & Mittens
Next week we will be preparing to gather with family and friends and give thanks for our many blessings. Let us not forget that there are many families in the metro area who worry about something most of us take for granted - keeping their children warm this winter. Receiving a warm hat, mittens and/or scarf for their child/children means so much.
Through the winter months, St. David’s will collect warm hats, mittens/gloves and scarves (in all sizes for infants through young adults). They can be new or gently used (but clean). There are collection boxes at the south church entrances.
You can help spread the warmth.
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Westminster Town Hall Forum:
Courage is Contagious
Please join us Thursday December 4 to hear The Right Reverend Bishop, Mariann Budde.
Moderated by: The Reverend Dr. Jessica Patchett
The New Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church will lead a conversation on the intersection of faith and politics and speaking truth to power.
Date: December 4, 2025
Times:
Doors 11:00 am | Music 11:30 am | Forum 12:00 noon
Breads & Spreads reception at 1:00 pm
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis
Cost: Free to attend or watch via livestream.
Parking: Limited car parking on-site for $12 (more available in local lots); Accessible by transit. Free bike parking is available.
More details on our website here.
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Musical Guest: Ann Reed - The Forum opens with a performance by Ann Reed at 11:30 am
Songwriter, singer and author Ann Reed has been a performing artist for nearly 50 years with her rich, dark-chocolate voice, storytelling from the human experience, and songs that find a permanent place in the heart. Of course, some of her songs and stories might end up closer to your funny bone – a little irreverence never hurt anyone!
Ann continues to present a show on YouTube called Ann Reed Live From Somewhere In Her House. She is one of the few who accompanies herself on the 12-string guitar.
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Have an announcement you would like to share in this weekly email?
Send it to office@stdavidsparish.org before 9:00 am on Wednesday to be featured.
| | | Sunday November 23 | Social Time | | Sunday November 30 | Social Time | | Sunday December 7 | St. David's Annual Bake Sale & Craft Fair | | Sunday December 14 | Gingerbread House Decorating | | Sunday December 21 | Holiday Giving Tree and Caroling at Hope Springs | | Sunday December 28 | Social Time | | | What else is going on at St. David's? | | Want to view the full calendar for the week? Click here to view the St. David's website complete with a calendar to keep you updated on events and offerings! Scroll all the way to the bottom to view it. | | Pastoral Care Line: 952-767-0891 | | | | |
