Give the Gift of Love and Belonging
Posted on in Blog by The Rev. David Marshall
I occasionally have conversations with people who are looking for a place to go to church. I hear many different hopes and needs. Some want a good program of evening classes or activities while others prefer to do things during …Continue Reading »
Mary Pacher: Dear Friends
Posted on in Blog, Featured, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
While Father David is on a well deserved vacation this week, I have been asked to write a guest article for this week’s Highlights.
I want to take this time to give a very special thanks to Ann-Patrice Riccardo and Sandy Lamb, for their many years of commitment to the young people of St. Dunstan’s. They have given tirelessly of their time and talents as they have led the Sunday School and Youth Group. From sleepovers, to outreach work, to camping retreats and more, they have made a difference in the lives of our youth. Thank you to both of you…
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Pruning Hurts!
Posted on in Blog, Featured, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit…I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-2, 5)
Bearing more fruit sounds like a good thing, but pruning hurts…
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That One Lost Sheep
Posted on in Blog, Featured, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
We all have troubled relationships in our lives. On Sunday I quoted Dr. Brené Brown who says, “We are imperfect, wired for conflict, but worthy of love and belonging.” It’s the first half of this that gets us into so much trouble, and the second half that offers hope. We are indeed imperfect and wired for conflict. The question then is, how do we experience love and belonging…
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Living in Kairos Time
Posted on in Blog, Featured, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
We were saddened to learn this morning that Joe Hester, the artist that guided us through the process of creating our stained glass window, has died. Joe had been suffering from a brain tumor and was living with his brother in Canada his last days.
For several weeks in the spring of 2011 we lived and worked with Joe at St. Dunstan’s Church. He had an interesting, calm, and somehow timeless way about him. I remember the conversation we had about how the window project would work, and how Joe just knew that it would work…
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On A Mission from God
Posted on in Blog, Featured, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
The life of a Christian is shaped by the two commandments of Jesus: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matthew 22:36-40) These commandments turn our focus outwards, away from our personal and individual concerns and desires, towards God, and towards God’s people…
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Dealing With Loss
Posted on in Blog, Featured, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
Easter was a beautiful day and we had beautiful worship, but there was also sadness to the day. Easter was the last day for our paid choral section leaders and the last day we paid our Sunday School teachers. After the service I spoke with each of our soloists, Susan, Jay, Bob and Jean, and we all expressed our sadness at the ending of this long-time relationship. I saw many of you having similar conversations. Prior to the Easter Vigil Ann-Patrice and Sandy helped me with some of the setup for that service. It was so wonderful to work with them, and they were as cheerfully helpful as ever. Both are generously contributing their time as volunteers to finish the program year with our children.
The ending of all six of these contracts is a sad time for our congregation…
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The Human Cost
Posted on in Blog, Featured, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
As we read the Passion narrative, Jesus seems truly amazing in his calm and his courage. We recognize in Jesus the strength and presence of God. But we also know that Jesus was human. Years ago I read an interesting …Continue Reading »
Fully Embodied Worship
Posted on in Blog by The Rev. David Marshall
Jesus says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all you mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment, and the second is like unto it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
How do we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? How do we live these laws? Jesus calls us to a love and worship of God that engages all that we are and all that we have…
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A Gift of Song
Posted on in Blog, Highlights by The Rev. David Marshall
For over twenty years now the St. Dunstan’s Church Choir has been blessed by the vocal leadership of paid section leads. For most of that time, Susan, Jean, Bob and Jay have been our section leaders and soloists. The first time I visited St. Dunstan’s Church I sat down to wait for the service to start. Instead of an organ prelude, the choir sang an introit from the back of the sanctuary. They sang beautifully. I was completely stunned. Their a cappella offering transported me to a place of reverence and worship. Months later I found myself leading worship at St. Dunstan’s Church and my love of their music continued…
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