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This Sunday, September 22, 2024
8:00 and 9:30 Service of Holy Eucharist
The Nursery will be open during the 9:30 service and social hour.
Forum: Social Time
We continue to Facebook Livestream the Sunday 9:30 service and upload to YouTube.
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Children's Time for age 3 - grade 5 continues this Sunday during the 9:30 service.
Distribution of Bibles for all young people, 3rd grade and up is during the 9:30 service on Sunday, September 29th!
Camp Forum is also on Sunday, September 29th! Come share and hear about summer camp, and how you can support camp ministry!
We're still collecting registration packets! All children and youth are required to have a registration packet completed.
LIFT @ St. David’s on Wednesday, October 2nd
We will meet for dinner, community, and fun! For all 6-12th graders from 6:30-8:30pm
LIFT stands for Love in Fellowship and Truth and is our youth group with Trinity Episcopal Church in Excelsior. On first Wednesdays we meet at St. David's and third Wednesdays we meet at Trinity.
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September 28th - Youth outing to Good Courage farm!
Where: Good Courage Farm 21161 York Road, Hutchinson, Minnesota
Time at the farm (not including transportation): 11AM-3PM
Who: Middle and High School Youth from Trinity, St. David's, St. Stephen's, and St. John's
Lunch: Bring packaged or bagged lunches, and bring a water bottle!
Clothing: Wear sturdy shoes: old sneakers that can get dirty, hiking boots, gardening boots--these are all appropriate. Wear long pants--old jeans and khakis that can get dirty are great! Sweatpants and leggings will not hold up on the farm. Also, please dress appropriately for the weather and in layers so that as the day warms you can stay comfortable as we will be outside and in unheated buildings.
Please sign up here by Wednesday, September 25 at the latest. Please sign up as soon as you can so we can organize carpools!
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Urgent Need for Volunteers!
On Kickoff Sunday, we had 32 children and youth in church! That is over twice as many as I expected. I usually print more resources than I need, but we ran out of registration forms and backpack tags! This is a huge sign of growth in our community, and an indication of the program year to come. Hallelujah! And Help! I am seeking volunteers to assist with children and youth programming. We will only be able to celebrate and sustain this growth with your help.
How can you help? Great question.
- Administrative tasks like volunteer/Safe Church management and communications
- Preparing lesson materials (printing, folding, distributing)
- Managing and organizing our physical spaces, classrooms, nursery, and youth room
- Serving on the Youth Leadership Team
- Volunteering to help with children’s time on Sunday mornings
- Volunteering to help with youth group on Wednesday nights
- Hosting/making meals
Please email me abrock@stdavidsparish.org with what type of ministry you would be interested in helping with, and what your availability looks like, whether it’s remote, or coming in to the office.
Thank you in advance!
Anna Belz-Brock
Children and Youth Minister
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September 25th – help needed!
At 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 25th, we are cleaning up and preparing the Godly Play room! Please come and help. Many hands make for light work. Kids and adults - let’s get our Godly Play room ready for another program year, and then stay for Community Night dinner at 6:00pm!
-Anna Belz-Brock, Children and Youth Minister & Sara Kuyper, Godly Play Minister
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New - Community Nights!
Kickoff: Wednesday, September 25
This program year, we are trying a new way to gather as a community for fellowship, formation, prayer, and music. On the 4th Wednesday of each month (with the exception of December) we will gather for a potluck supper, have an intergenerational activity, and end our time together with evening prayer.
On these 4th Wednesdays, other Wednesday programming - rehearsals, youth group - will take a week off, so we can all be involved. Childcare will be available, there will be opportunities for small groups, art projects, and more. Each month will look a little different.
Our first Wednesday Community Night is September 25th, and our topic will be "family". What does it mean to be family? We have a church family, we have chosen family, we have biological family - families come in diverse forms, and we see this diversity in family throughout the Bible too. Come and explore what it means to be part of God's family. Here's the plan for the evening:
6:00 Potluck supper (bring something to share)
6:30 Small group time (choice of discussion or creative activity)
7:15 Singing together
7:30 Simple Evening Prayer
There's no need to sign up; just come join us!
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Mill City String Quartet Concert
Sunday, September 29th at 3pm
St. David's Sanctuary
Join internationally prize-winning Mill City String Quartet for an exciting preview concert featuring select repertoire from their upcoming 18th Season! Experience the dynamic compositions of Elizabeth Maconchy, Tomeka Reid, Carlos Simon, and Jessie Montgomery. This event offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the extraordinary diversity of contemporary string quartet music while getting a glimpse of the artistic journey the quartet will undertake this season. Don’t miss the chance to engage with these compelling works and witness the energy they bring to the stage. The concert is FREE with all donations given to the ministries of St. David's Episcopal Church.
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Save the Date - October 4th
St David's Polka Party
Potluck & Fundraiser
Fun for all friends and family
We need your donations for our Auction!
Auction Ideas:
Tickets to Sporting Events, Theater, Boat Rides,
Cabin Weeks, Special dinners, Kid's Parties
Gift Cards to Restaurants, Bowling, Golf, etc
Yard or Home Ornaments, Paintings, Decor
Themed Baskets like: Pumpkin Carving, Halloween, Gardening,
Christmas, Winter Break/Spa and so many more!
Got questions, ideas or offerings? Contact:
Karin Lindquist lindquist.karin@hotmail.com
David Pearson: Davidpearson827@gmail.com
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Bible Study Returns on October 1
Morning bible study has been a long standing practice at St. David. We are happy to be returning after a summer recess to Tuesdays at 11:00 via zoom. Also returning by popular demand is our guide and teacher, the Rev. Basil Owen. He will be leading us in a study of the book of the prophet Isaiah. The study begins with prayer at 11:00 and ends with Noonday Prayer at 12:00. Mark your calendars now for the opening session on October 1st.
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Vote Faithfully
“It is the church’s responsibility to help get souls to the polls.”
– Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Participating in our country’s political life isn’t just about casting our own vote – it requires working together so we can all vote and vote faithfully. There are many ways to get involved – from participating ourselves to supporting others in our congregations and communities. We can all play a role in getting “souls to the polls!”
From the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
“Cast your vote, not on a partisan basis, not based on your biases,
but vote your values. Vote the values of human dignity and equality.
Vote the values of the rock on which this country was built. Vote.”
-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Early voting starts in Minnesota tomorrow, Friday, September 20, 2024.
This link is to the Minnesota Secretary of State web site (sos.mn.gov) where all information regarding the election process can be found. It includes a link to register to vote, many definitions and explanations, and all of this is available in many languages.
https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-by-mail/
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Comprehensive Campus Initiative Meeting
09/10/2024
The Comprehensive Campus Initiative (CCI) recently gathered. The focus of this group is to assess the welfare of the St. David’s campus as well as the needs of the community that could be met on these lands. We continue to be in conversation with the ICA Food Shelf as their lease with St. David's nears its end (February 2026), knowing that their needs have changed, especially since the distribution of food takes place from a different location. Recognizing the importance of connecting with organizations St. David’s already has relationships with, such as Sojourner, Reach and Restore, and St. David’s Center, we plan to survey the needs in the community that could be served by use of the St. David’s Campus. St. David’s excels in partnering with and supporting existing institutions and the CCI feels that this would be an excellent direction for scoping out the potential future of the St. David’s Campus. Several members of CCI plan to attend a Webinar led by Trinity Wall Street, New York, which explores how churches can live into their missions via real estate development. The next meeting of CCI is set for October 8th. Feel free to speak to members of the CCI with ideas or concerns: Cliff Crockford and Katherine Lewis, co-conveners, Craig Warren, Carol Johnson, Diane Curley, Doug Eichten, Maddie Harvala, Karin Lindquist, Huldah Niles, Paul Smejkal, and Kristina Stokes.
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September Vestry Meeting Update
Your Vestry met this past Monday evening with a very busy agenda at hand. We started off with a delicious meal prepared by Carol Johnson, enjoying casual conversation and a deeper reflection regarding Vision Statement #4, “We as part of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement, see diversity as a gift from our Creator and aspire to build relationships with neighbors and across differences.” After an opening prayer, we then settled in for the work at hand.
We welcomed Karin Lindquist as our Vestry guest this month. She shared all things FUNdraising, including what a fun and successful year it has been. Coming up on Friday October 4th is the next big FUNdraiser…... a Polka Party Potluck filled with great food, music, dancing and silent auction. The plan is to also invite our neighbors to this sure to be FUN event.
We then continued to discern our important role in the upcoming Endowment Disbursement slated for next year. The Endowment Committee recently unanimously voted upon an amount of money. The Vestry will steer the allocation and spending of the money, so we will now be hard at work determining how best to spend this first generous gift. For years beyond 2025, the plan is to also enlist input from parishioners as to spending options for the Vestry to consider. Application forms are now in the making. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting new process.
We then covered lots of business at hand, including reviewing two important church documents, namely the Articles of Incorporation (needed for investment opportunities), and St. David’s Gift Acceptance Policy. The fall Giving Campaign, “Walk in Love”, is soon to kick off at St. David’s. Vestry members will pledge early, checking out a new on-line pledge format in efforts to save paper and money. Financials were reviewed and approved, along with past meeting minutes. We also approved the nominating committee of the Rector and Wardens who are charged with creating a slate of new vestry members for 2025. Might you be feeling called/interested in serving St. David’s in this capacity?
We closed the evening with prayer and gratitude.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Curley, Senior Warden
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Tech Help Needed
Are you tech-savvy or interested in learning more about technology? St. David’s is looking for passionate (or laid back, or anywhere in between) individuals to join our Technology Team! Whether you have experience with sound systems, computer skills, data/file organization talents, or if you’re eager to learn, we would love to have you.
If you’re interested in serving in this capacity, please reach out to Kristina Stokes at Kristina_s@uwalumni.com. Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our church community!
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Calling All Bridge Players
The St. David’s Bridge Group will begin the new season on Friday, September 20 at 6:30 PM in the Conference Room. If you are interested in playing bridge, please contact Susan Taylor at ss2taylor@comcast.net or 952-944-7241.
We are a casual group that plays Party Bridge the third Friday of every month except December and Summer. People sign up only one month at a time. So there is no long term commitment and you won’t need to find substitutes if you can’t play one month.
If there is enough interest, we can arrange bridge lessons for beginners or for those who want to learn some more bridge conventions.
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Calling All Mah Jongg Players
The St. David’s Mah Jongg Group plays on the first and third Tuesday afternoon of every month. If you are interested in playing, please contact Susan Taylor at ss2taylor@comcast.net or 952-944-7241.
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Mexican Train Anyone?
If you are interested in playing Mexican Train regularly, please contact Susan Taylor at ss2taylor@comcast.net or 952-944-7241. Indicate if you are interested in playing only in daytime, only evening, or either. We’ll pick a time and place based on these responses. This is a new group and it is a fairly easy game to learn, but still has some strategy. Come join the fun.
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ICA Vision
A community where everyone has the resources to thrive
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Chili Cook-Off this Saturday
Even though it still doesn’t feel like “chili weather”, we hope you will stop by the annual Community Chili Cook-Off at Faith Church this Saturday, September 21 anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. This special event in support of ICA is a friendly competition between teams from the Hopkins Fire & Police Departments, Minnetonka Fire & Police Departments and Hopkins-Minnetonka Recreation. You can try five different chilis & vote for your favorite. Non-perishable food items and monetary donations will also be collected there.
(Faith Church is located at 12007 Excelsior Boulevard, Minnetonka.)
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Loaves and Fishes
Four Volunteers are needed for each date. Two for cooking with the Loaves and Fishes coordinator from 3:00-5:00 pm, and two to package and serve from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.
Upcoming dates:
- September 23
- October 8
- October 28
- October 29
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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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.
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What else is going on at St. David's? | |
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Pastoral Care Line: 952-767-0891 | | | | |
