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Episcopal Church News for and about St. Michael and All Angels St. Michael's Messenger March 2010 Dear Friends, Even as you read this newsletter, four contractors are poring over final plans for our new building, preparing to submit bids on Friday March 12. The Building Committee will review the bids and make their recommendation to the vestry for contract award, to be discussed at its Tuesday March 16 meeting. Then on Thursday March 18 parish leaders will present our project to the diocesan Board of Directors, and request the thirty month bridge loan we will need until all pledges are paid. (The 3 ½% rate cannot be beat!) Meanwhile the City of Issaquah has informed us that they see no major issues with our permit application, and in coming weeks we can expect it to be routinely issued. March is indeed an exciting month! But the essential nuts and bolts of bidding, borrowing, and permitting are only half the story—and in many ways the lesser half. Even more significant in coming months are the things that we, the people of St. Michael’s, will be doing to grow into this exciting space we’re creating.
Between services on Sunday March 21, 9:15-10:15 am, the vestry will be hosting an all-parish Growing into our Space dialogue in the Undercroft. Child care will be provided for infants and preschoolers, and older children and teens are encouraged to join in the brainstorming and planning. It promises to be the next big landmark in our progress on this exciting journey with God, ramping up toward groundbreaking in May. Faithfully, Ann+ by Jason Anderson, Associate for Liturgical Arts Growing into our Space, March 21 I hope you have read Mother Ann’s article about “Growing into our Space.” And I sincerely hope you plan to join us on March 21 between services as we discuss how best to utilize our new construction. In the area of music, our possibilities are seemingly endless. I have asked parishioner Priscilla Kaufmann to convene a group of fellow parishioners to form a music steering committee and start thinking about what an active, vibrant music program at St. Michael’s might look like. The adult choir—as wonderful and talented as it is—is just a beginning! Priscilla will convene the first meeting of this group soon to prime the pump and brainstorm ideas and start asking important questions before we gather March 21. If you would like to be part of this music steering committee, contact Priscilla Kaufmann and let her know. In the meantime, be thinking about what great music at St. Michael’s looks and sounds like—and think about who and what is providing that music and when they might rehearse. What are your best hopes for the music program at St. Michael’s? Toward Holy Week and Easter Our Lenten journey is only just beginning, but our dance through Paschal time (Lent—Holy Week—Eastertide) will eventually take us through the final events of Christ’s life. Of course, it is my hope that you will journey with us at St. Michael’s!
Growing into our Space, March 21 I hope you have read Mother Ann’s article about “Growing into our Space.” And I sincerely hope you plan to join us on March 21 between services as we discuss how best to utilize our new construction. In the area of youth formation—particularly our teens— our need to imagine and devote more of our time, talent, and energy is great. While SCRIPT with Mother Ann has been well received, there is a growing desire and manifest need to offer regular Sunday School instruction for those grade 7 and up. While we offer regular activities for our teens on a monthly basis, there is a growing desire and manifest need to offer regular meetings for our teens—social interaction, yes; spiritual formation, YES! Despite all we have done and continue to do, I believe the Holy Spirit is calling upon us to do more! When the new construction is complete, the bulk of Bethany House will be converted into a dedicated teen center. Join us on March 21 as we start imagining how St. Michael’s might serve our emerging young adults. It is not just a question about how to renovate and furnish Bethany House. The “big picture” questions are ones of programming—what will our teen program look like? What opportunities await us on Sunday mornings, after church, and throughout the week? Could teens gather at St. Michael’s mid-week and utilize the teen center after school? These are just some percolating questions, but I can assure you that Brad Jarocki, our Vestry person for Youth Formation, will be very interested to hear your thoughts surrounding this growing edge and manifest need—and I am too. We’ll see you on March 21! Soul Food Soup supper, evening prayer, and formation activities for all ages Wednesdays during Lent continue through March 24, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Soul Food Sharable Parables & Childcare For children age 7 and up, we will be offering Sharable Parables, exploring five well-known parables in new and interactive ways. Because each session is self-contained, it doesn’t matter if you’ve missed the first session! No reservations are required; just bring your children! For children under age 6, childcare will be provided. No reservations are required; just bring them along! Parents: See Christine Peterson’s article about the adult class. Teen Stream: Compline at St. Mark’s Cathedral As most of you may know, I direct the Compline Choir in residence at St. Mark’s Cathedral (www.complinechoir.org). This link between St. Michael’s and Compline provides our teens with an all-access backstage pass. We’ll travel to St. Mark’s on Seattle’s Capitol Hill on Palm Sunday, March 28. Teens and chaperones will meet at church for dinner at 7:30 p.m. and then carpool to St. Mark’s for Compline at 9:30 p.m.. Immediately after the service, teens and chaperones will meet with me in the Northup Room for some Q&A. Everyone will be back in Issaquah by 10:45 PM. I know it makes for a late night, but the spiritual possibilities that Compline can open up for our teens and their chaperones far outweighs the late night! Besides, Issaquah Schools are on break during Holy Week! If you can help with dinner or transportation, contact me at (425) 392-3215 or associate@stmichaels-issaquah.org. Teen Stream: Mission Trip Planning Pods Teens and parent chaperones: If you intend to go on the Skagit Valley Mission Trip in July, plan to attend at least two of three planning pods for the trip. It will be up to you to ensure that trip is fully funded by fundraising you do on your own behalf; it will be up to you to plan four days of Vacation Bible School, complete with crafts and activities for the children of migrant workers; and, it will be up to you to decide how best to spend your free time, whether visiting Deception Pass or picking berries at Sakuma Brothers Farms. Each planning pod will begin with lunch after church, a brief group activity, followed by the actual brainstorming and planning. Pod dates: Sunday, March 14 • Sunday, April 11 • Sunday, April 25 Skagit Valley Mission Trip SAVE THE DATES! Sunday, July 18 – Thursday, July 22 March 2010 Family Calendar MARCH 2010
Early April 2010 Family Calendar
Tent City Dinners - We had a great turn out for two Tent City dinners sponsored by St. Michaels on Feb 10 and 19. Thank you to those who generously donated food and time. Those who helped serve dinner were generously rewarded with compliments, and a gracious thank you and smiles from Tent City residents. Some of our volunteers received a tour of Tent City and learned more about the needs of the homeless in our area. Homelessness has not caused Tent City residents to lose their manners or their good humor. It is up to us to help them continue to be hopeful that things will get better. When we give our presence to someone who is discouraged and we look them in the eye and acknowledge them and speak to them in a respectful manner, we are giving something more important than food or clothes. To really "see" someone is to give that person an important blessing. At the same time, to honor us by inviting us into their home and sharing with us information about their lives, is to give us something that we cannot get by putting money in an envelope. We all leave richer for the experience. St. Michael's is sponsoring another Tent City dinner Saturday April 10th. There will be a volunteer sign-up sheet downstairs next month. Tent City is also in need of warm clothes-particularly men's sweat shirts and pants and jackets. By 7 pm, after serving dinner, the volunteers were cold. It is difficult to imagine sleeping in a tent in February. If you have items to donate or if you want to help with our next dinner, please email Deborah Bellam at youngdb1@centurytel.net and she will arrange to deliver your donated items to TC or will sign you up as a dinner volunteer. Thank you! Care Kits for Tent City 4 - On March 14th all parishioners are invited to join the Sunday school students and Parent Connect participants in a multi-generational effort to assemble "Care Kits" for residents of Issaquah's Tent City 4. At 10 a.m. in the Undercroft, Debby Bellam will share a brief description of Tent City 4 and information about the circumstances that led to its existence. Following Debby's talk, families and individuals will start assembling the kits. Through a circuit of stations gallon-size Ziploc bags will be filled with practical toiletries and useful incidentals (ex. toothbrush, comb, laundry detergent). At each station, one item is added to the bag and a specific prayer or verse is spoken addressing the purpose of the item and/or our compassion for the kit's recipient. At 10:25 a.m. work will be suspended in order for adults to join the congregation in the sanctuary for the 10:30 a.m. service and children return to Sunday school. We will resume following the service until the project is complete. Our goal is to "stuff" 90-100 bags so that each person living in Tent City receives a kit. As a collaboration between the Youth Formations Commission and Outreach, this is a hands-on activity for the youngest church members to work alongside of adults and experience the joy of meaningful giving. The sign-up list of suggested supplies for the kits is located in the Undercroft for anyone who wants to contribute items. Return to topLunch Bunch will be at Fin's Bistro on Tuesday, February 2nd at noon. Fin's is located next to the Village Theatre on Front Street. Please call Taffy for reservations at (425) 392-3215. Hope to see you all there. Return to topSave the date and mark your calendars! The annual All Parish Potluck Dinner welcoming our Newcomers will be Saturday, April 24. Social Hour 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m.. Everyone come for a fun evening of greeting our Newcomers. Please - those with last names A through H bring salads; I through Q bring casseroles or main dish, and R through Z- desserts. Please RSVP to June Harmon - (425) 392- 3215 or email email@stmichaels-issaquah.org by Wednesday, April 21. Return to topCoffee Hour Donationless in Issaquah During the month of February you have probably noticed the absence of the blue donation bucket at the coffee hours. After prayerful reflection on suggestions presented to the task force and the fellowship committee by our bishop, it has been retired. Bishop Gregg's question was, "What is the bucket saying to the newcomers"? "Can we not afford to serve a cup of coffee”? In Bishop Gregg's opinion we should focus more on seeing ourselves through the eyes of visitors, while he also realizes the need people have to feel that they are contributing. In truth, the parish is already contributing to coffee hour supplies through their annual pledges. The delicious refreshments are provided generously by the coffee hosts.
If anyone is interested in signing up to serve as a coffee host, please leave your name with Lisa in the office and she will notify the coffee hour coordinator. Return to topSt. Michael's Lunch Bunch will convene at August Moon restaurant Tuesday, March 2nd. at noon. August Moon is located on the plateau close to QFC at 2904 228th.Ave. SE. Please call Taffy for reservations and information at (425}392-3215. Return to top7 NO FLOWERS – LENT 14 NO FLOWERS – LENT 21 NO FLOWERS – LENT 28 PALMS ONLY – Donated by Joyce Grant Return to top
On going items:
Sunday Eucharist ~ 8 am and 10:30 am Wednesday 10:0 0 am ~ Holy Eucharist 10:45 am ~ Bible Study Thursday 7:30 pm ~ Choir Practice Saturday 9:30 am ~ Altar Guild
2nd Noon ~ Lunch Bunch at August Moon 3rd 6:00 pm ~ Soul Food Book Discussion 5th-7th Vestry Retreat 7th 10:00 am ~ Parent Connect 9th 1:00 pm ~ Providence Point Bible Study 7:00 pm ~ Fellowship Commission 10th 10:00 am ~ Healing Eucharist 6:00 pm ~ Soul Food Book Discussion 11th 7:00 pm ~ Visioning Commission 14th 9:15 am~ Finance Commission 10:00 am ~ Parent Connect Noon ~ Team Stream Pizza Noon ~ Mission Trip Planning 16th Noon ~ Parish Life Network 7:00 pm ~ Vestry Meeting 17th 6:00 pm ~ Soul Food Book Discussion 18th 7:30 pm ~ Properties Commission 20th 1:00 pm ~ Godfrey funeral 10 am to 12 noon ~ Newcomer Class Newsletter Deadline 21st 9:15 am ~ All Parish Meeting “Growing into our Space” 10:00 am ~ SCRIPT for teens 23rd 1:00 pm ~ Providence Point Bible Study 5:30 pm ~ Issaquah Meals program, team A 24th 6:00 pm ~ Soul Food Book Discussion 25th 7:00 pm ~ Book Club 6:00 pm ~ Outreach Commission 27th 9:00 am ~ Work Party 9:30 am ~ Eastside Episcopal Church meeting At St. Johns, Kirkland 28th Palm Sunday 10:00 am ~ Parent Connect 7:30 pm ~ Dinner/Compline
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