Based on 2015 Annual Report
Hospitality Ministries
Hospitality
During 2015 we began to formalize a bit more some of the infrastructure necessary for enabling a growing parish to carry out this hospitality. Specifically this involves streamlining the use of the kitchen and its facilities and coordinating with the various leaders of each ministry that lends this hospitality. Our first steps are in place and we will expand this work in 2016 so all organizations are operating out of the same play book. This will enable us to work together with ease and continue to multiple the numbers of events and activities that are possible. The chair of every event last year is part of the Hospitality Committee. Activities in 2015 included: Advent soup suppers; an Epiphany party; a pot luck during the annual meeting; Shrove Tuesday gumbo dinner; Lenten soup suppers; Maundy Thursday soup dinner; Easter Vigil Agape Reception; a tamale cooking class and parish dinner; the Women’s of St. Dunstan’s Tea; the Haiti luncheon; a Bar-B-Q picnic hosted by the preschool; a reception for the donors of the new organ; the Community, Flavor & Harmony fundraiser; I-Help dinners the third Thursday of every month; newcomers get-togethers; memorial teas; and a Daughters of the King reception, among others.
Submitted by Rachel M.
Newcomers Ministry
We keep lists of visitors and new members, organize Newcomer Receptions and help newcomers become involved and included in the parish. We are always interested in having new members with fresh ideas. If this ministry appeals to you, please contact any of us to learn more.
Submitted by Sue M.
Memorial Committee
In years past, this committee was made up of a few dedicated members and now is comprised of many women of the parish. Our teas are so well received by the families and prove to be one of the most rewarding services of St. Dunstan’s. Thank you everyone.
Submitted by Cynthia Y.
Liturgy & Worship Ministries
Altar Guild
Our guild members were wonderful at keeping everything going smoothly as we moved from church to Carlyle Hall each Sunday. This was accomplished with very few problems and nothing got misplaced (for long) or lost. All Sunday and Wednesday services continued as usual. Our homemade bread is once again being baked by Karen D. and Hall S. – a big thank you to both of you. Now that we are back in church and settled, we are looking for some new members to fill spaces on our calendar.
Submitted by Cynthia Y.
Verger & Acolyte Ministries
On certain occasions, Fr. Rob asks him to vest and serve in the worship service. In those cases, you will see your Verger leading the procession in and out, and working in the Nave during the service to smooth out any issues or details which may pop up. Your Verger was vested and served in seven services in 2015. The Verger also oversees training for the Usher Team, Lectors, Chalice Bearers, and the Acolyte Corps. We have a very enthusiastic team of liturgical volunteers who help make our worship services run smoothly and reverently. This year, based on our renovated worship space, we updated training manuals for Chalice Bearers, Lectors, and Acolytes. Louis Powell handles the scheduling of our servers. The Acolyte Corps got two new members at the end of this year. We now have 12 acolytes serving our parish, with one being a graduating senior this May. Susan Vasquez is our Acolyte Coordinator, who handles the scheduling for the Corps; with busy young people, you can imagine that job is at times challenging – and we are pleased to have Susan’s good work in this wonderful youth ministry! We are always looking for new members for any of our liturgical server teams. If you feel called to serve St. Dunstan’s as an usher, lector/reader, or you have a child entering 4th grade or higher, whom you feel might want to be (and is ready to be) an acolyte, see the Verger. If you think you might want to vest and serve at the altar during worship as a chalice bearer, please speak to the Rector or our Associate Priest; either Fr. Rob or Marcia could help you discern this very special calling.
Submitted by Joe Heston, Verger
Music
The restored natural acoustic of our sacred space (nave and sanctuary) is rich in bass and alto sonorities which provide a sense of strength, warmth, and reassurance in our music. In 2015, Lee Collins 45 years-long dream of a pipe organ at St. Dunstan’s came true. We had prayed long that he could be granted life long enough to see and hear the organ. He was able to witness its completion before he passed away. We have now lost this champion of good church worship music. Fates were such that we also lost Carteena Robohm, and she has now moved back to Oklahoma with her son. But she left a legacy of rebuilding a choir program which had fallen by the wayside sometime after the end of Elizabeth Pasquinelli’s 23 years tenure as choir director. We have rediscovered Elizabeth’s substantial choir music library. Our choir members have remained dedicated, and the choir has been faithful year-around and has grown. We welcome new choir members. We have added two paid section leaders whose function is to help each of the four parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) with quicker learning of notes, add lots of confidence, and enhance blend. Small volunteer choirs suffer from the reality that the choir director can never count on a scheduled anthem actually being performance-ready on “game day” because some members may be absent. Paid section leaders have a job description that includes being available most every Sunday (especially Easter Sunday) plus Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Volunteers are not obligated to such commitment (though many try their best to so do). One of the two section leaders is paid through a generous donation by a parishioner. We welcome our section leaders, Louis Powell and Jean Widamen, whose Sunday plans otherwise are with their “home parishes” or family loved ones. Together they made it easier for our choirs to achieve our goals. The Choristers are a part of our tradition at St. Dunstan’s. They sing currently once monthly, and for the present time has been combined with the Senior Choir. This has been very enjoyable for both the Choristers and the Senior Choir. Finding good rehearsal time has been difficult with the diversities of schedules and driving distances. Currently, the Choristers are encouraged to meet weekly with the Senior Choir from 9:30-9:45 which is just prior to Godly Play. Then on that “once-per-month Sunday”, AKA “Chorister Sunday”, they meet with the adults 9-9:45 a.m. and are a part of the Procession and entire service. We have four members who are dedicated and as regular as possible! Their parents have been very supportive. One disappointment for us all is that the handbells are silent since Carteena left us. Resumption of “Ding-a-linging” is a high priority. We have added an Organ Prelude to the 8 a.m. service. The new organ, Dobson Opus 94, has surpassed my dreams in terms of visual and tonal beauty. We are so blessed to have had Dobson Pipe Organ Builders come into our lives. The settling-in of the pipes in their new home is a dynamic process, and over time some “touch-up” voicing and re-regulation is to be expected. Dobson staff will be coming sometime in the “not-too-distant” future to do that as a part of the initial installation. We are grateful to Elizabeth Pasquinelli for her graciousness in availing herself to direct the choir when I need to accompany an anthem where the choir needs to be cued on their “entrances and cutoffs” in a way beyond what I can comfortably do from the console. And I thank many members of the choir for their willingness to do solos from time to time. I ask for your prayers in the coming year as we join our voices in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.
Submitted by Steven M. Denmark, Director of Music & Organist
Christian Formation for Children & Adults
Godly Play
The truth is, it is filled with “wonder!” Indeed, it is one of the most outstanding programs for Sunday school children to come along in a long time! But this year, instead of raving how wonderful it is, I want to share some of the stories our children actually experience, so you can get a sense of the depth this curriculum offers.
- Spring – 2015 Faces of Christ, (Life, Ministry, Death and Resurrection of Jesus). Knowing Jesus in a New Way – (Appearance stories after the Resurrection).
- Fall – 2015 Seasons of the Church, The Story of Creation, The Second Creation—Falling Apart, (The Story of Adam and Eve), The Stories of Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Abraham, & Samuel.
- Winter 2015-16The Four Sundays of Advent, Epiphany, Baptism, The Story of St. Julian of Norwich, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Margaret of Scotland.
At first glance this looks like a laundry list of stories, but you need to know that each story is presented in such a way, that it comes alive. So much so that it is as if the child actually enters the story and discovers firsthand how he or she is a part of it. It is not unlike the way adults experience a good sermon! Each story presents an opportunity for the child to enter it and experience the presence of God.
Submitted by Marcia Lockwood
“Light & Love” (Nursery)
St. Dunstan’s Montessori School
Caring for One Another
Daughters of the King
The Charter was presented by the Provincial President, Mrs. Cynthia Carson, and accepted by our Rector, The Rev. Rob Fisher. Immediately following the institution of the Chapter, the Diocesan President, the Rev. Joan Anderson admitted Marilyn Green, Elizabeth Heston, Marguerite McWilliams, and June Saunders into The National Order. The Order’s primary purpose is to bring others into a living, loving relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to help strengthen the spiritual life of our parish. We vow to uphold the two parts of the Rule of Life of The Order: The Rule of Prayer and The Rule of Service. We provide national and international support to our Daughters through individual contributions to the Funds of the Order. We thank God for the grace to fulfill the obligations of the Order. FHS, Anne Healey, President of the Chapter.
Submitted by Anne H.
Order of St. Luke (Healing Prayer)
Believing in the healing power of prayer, the Order feels called to offer healing prayers for those seeking healing of body, mind, &/or spirit for themselves or for others. We are available at the 10 o’clock Sunday & Wednesday services; at any other time, and for any reason, please feel free to contact one of us privately. You may also leave healing prayer requests in one of the envelopes in the OSL slot in the church Office mailboxes. We look forward to hearing from you.
Submitted by Beth H.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Submitted by Kathy L.
Women of St. Dunstan’s
In January we voted to support several local charities with the proceeds of our successful Holiday Bazaar. We met again in February to finalize this distribution and to begin looking into supporting how to support homeless women on the Monterey Peninsula. On June 1 we held a Garden Tea of our women and their guests. August found us reading The Road to Character and discussing it. We met in late September to plan our Holiday Bazaar which was held on December 5 and 6 and was again very well received.
Submitted by Bette N.