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St. Dunstan's Ministries
"Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness"
We worship God to honor our Creator, who gives us life. We seek deeper knowledge of ourselves as God's beloved children and of our purpose and vocation on this earth. We draw from the well of hope and inspiration through sharing scripture, preaching, prayer and music. While there are many paths to God, we are grateful for the revelation of God in Jesus of Nazareth , and we ground our spiritual life and faith in him.
| Please email or call the church office at 301-229-2960 to contact persons in the ministries listed below. The ministries are open to everyone and welcome new members. |
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One of St. Dunstan's Altar Kneelers |
WORSHIP MINISTRIES Celebrating the love of God through prayer, praise, song, scripture and preaching.
Acolytes Both youth and adults serve as acolytes and assist ministers in our liturgies. They carry the cross and torches in processions, assist the priest with Holy Communion and have other duties.
Altar Guild Guild members prepare the sanctuary for services, maintain altar linens, silver, brass and accoutrements, and ensure the church is a beautiful place for worship.
Family Service (Sunday 9:15 am) This team creates an informal service that is meaningful and enjoyable to both children and adults. The group includes musicians, audio-visual helpers and liturgy leaders.
Flower Guild The guild arranges the flowers for Sunday service and provides floral decorations for the holidays.
Lay Eucharistic Ministers These ministers serve during worship as readers of Scripture, chalice-bearers and leaders of prayers. Ministers are prepared in the parish and licensed by the bishop for a three-year term.
PASTORAL MINISTRIES "Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
In the spirit of Christ, we minister to spiritual needs - in times of joy, sadness, sickness, and uncertainty. Prayer, companionship and counsel are available to all.
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Baptism Please contact the office to arrange for baptism.
Columbarium Our Columbarium is a garden wall next to the church that is available for interment of ashes at St. Dunstan's.
Funerals Please contact the Rector immediately for pastoral care for the dying and arrangements for Christian burial.
Illness Please contact the office if any member of the parish family becomes ill or is hospitalized.
Pastoral Care and Counseling: Please contact the office for assistance.
Weddings Please contact the Rector if you are considering marriage. |
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The Rector introduces a newly baptized member of St. Dunstan's to the congregation. |
CHRISTIAN FORMATION MINISTRIES We believe Christians are formed over a lifetime through teaching, worship service experiences, discussion and wrestling with issues both personal and global, spiritual and worldly. We continually create opportunities for all of us to grow as Christians.
Christian Formation Steering Committee (For more information about our Christian formation activities, click on the links below.) Rosi Sweeney, Chairman
Adult Christian Formation Youth Christian Formation Child Christian Formation
FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
We welcome friends old and new in the name of Christ, sharing our spiritual home in our local community. Good food, friendship, discussion and joy mark our parish life together.
Greeters Our greeters welcome everyone arriving at St. Dunstan's for the 10:15 a.m. Sunday service. They assist newcomers, giving them information about the church and introducing them to other parishioners.
Men of St. Dunstan's The men of the parish get together for occasional lunch gatherings to strengthen fellowship and discuss issues facing the church.
Special Events and Receptions Please contact the church office.
Sunday Coffee Hour Parishioners take turns hosting the weekly coffee hour before and after services.
Usher The usher appoints parishioners to bring to the altar the offering and the elements for communion and gives the service program to those entering the sanctuary for the 10:15 a.m. service.
Women of St. Dunstan's The Women's Board oversees women's activities and the distribution of funds raised from them. The funds are used for parish needs and outreach projects.
St. Margaret's Guild The Guild is a lunch fellowship that meets on the second Wednesday of each month, October through May. All women are invited to participate. Click here for photos from the May, 2006 luncheon.
In-Reach Committee The committee assists parishioners with physical needs when a temporary illness or injury impairs daily activities. Volunteers provide services such as transportation and grocery shopping.
Outreach Committee -- " I was hungry and you gave me food." St. Dunstan's serves the needs of the community beyond our parish walls -- in Bethesda, the city of Washington, D.C. and as far away as Haiti, Rwanda and South Africa. The following list includes many of the groups St. Dunstan's supports.
Local Activities
Action in Montgomery (AIM): AIM is an organization of 31 congregations in Montgomery County working through the local political process for a more just and livable society . Recent issues include all day kindergarten, taxicab reform, affordable housing, and immigration justice.
Bethesda Help This is Montgomery County 's food pantry for needy families.
Interfaith Housing Coalition Located in Bethesda , this coalition provides transitional housing and social support to families moving out of homelessness.
Loaves and Fishes Based at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in DC, this organization provides meals to the homeless. On the second Saturday in January, April, July and October, St. Dunstan's covers the cost of food and brings volunteers to St. Stephen's to prepare the food and serve the homeless. We meet at 10:00 a.m. and usually return by 1:00 p.m. Click here for photos from our April 8, 2006 visit to Loaves and Fishes.
MANNA HOUSE A Washington, D.C. organization which rehabs or builds housing for first-time home buyers.
Meals on Wheels Parishioners deliver meals to homebound people in our community.
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington: Samaritan Ministry is a community partnership bringing together homeless people and others in need with support and volunteers from Episcopal and other churches. The agency's Next Step self-sufficiency approach allows participants to set life improvement goals for themselves and determine a series of manageable, specific tasks toward the fulfillment of those goals. Services such as housing and employment counseling, coaching, motivation and much more are offered.
SOME Parishioners make casseroles and deliver them each month to help feed the homeless. SOME is located in Washington , D.C.
Stepping Stones Shelter Based in Rockville, this shelter provides emergency housing to families and individuals.
Sunday School Projects Projects include collecting funds for the Heifer Project, money for blankets for local and foreign distribution, toiletries for Samaritan Ministry and participating in our annual walk-a-thon for the homeless.
Transitional Housing Corporation St. Dunstan's currently supports the Transitional Housing Corporation"s (THC) Adopt-an-Apartment program. Every two years we organize donations of furniture, kitchenware, linens, and other items to furnish an apartment in one of THC's Partner Arms buildings for a homeless family. The family, at the end of their two year program, moves into permanent housing, taking the donated furnishings with them.
Youth Group The group buys Christmas presents for needy children.
Worldwide Activities
Anglican Seminary in Grahamstown, South Africa St. Dunstan's has provided funds for student needs and two teachers from our parish. We are now assisting their developing a new website in order for the Seminary to gain visibility and greater financial support.
Fikelela Children's Center in South Africa This is an AIDS orphanage housing young children whose parents have died or are dying of AIDS. Some children are themselves HIV positive. St. Dunstan's gave money collected from individuals in the parish and from outreach funds for the completion of their building and purchase of additional land. The center opened in August 2001, and we continue to support Fikelela's needs.
Honduras Hope Scholarships The scholarships enable children to stay in school and go on to do vocational training.
Rwandan Orphanage
STEWARDSHIP Caring for God's gifts to do God's work in the world
The Endowment Committee and Anvil Society The Anvil Society develops future financial resources for St. Dunstan's through the support of our endowment and the growth of our legacy society. Bequests, trusts, and current gifts of cash, securities, and real estate are encouraged.
Financial Management
Cliff White is our Treasurer The committee manages the financial resources of the parish to responsibly fulfill our ministries. The finance committee assists the vestry in developing the budget, planning for future needs, and manages the cash flow and financial systems at St. Dunstan's.
Stewardship Stewardship activities include teaching and promoting generous giving for the needs of the church. The church's funds are raised in an annual pledge drive every fall. All congregants are encouraged to do their part by giving a proportion of income to support the church.
Buildings and Grounds This group oversees the maintenance and improvement of our facilities and property -- a beloved home for our parish and a valuable tool for ministry.
Facilities Improvement Project Members of this project plan for the improvement of our facilities.
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