St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church

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.

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 9:00 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 10:45 a.m. Sunday service. They assist newcomers, giving them information about the church and introducing them to other parishioners.

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 10:45 a.m. service.

Women of St. Dunstan's
The Women of St. Dunstan's (WSD) is committed to outreach, building community and enhancing spirituality at St. Dunstan's. The Women of St. Dunstan's has provided a network of friendship for over 50 years. Throughout these years the women have come together at a monthly luncheon, held on the 2nd Wednesday October through May, to enjoy each other, to discuss the needs of our church and the needs of local charities. Additionally, WSD offers a quiet day in Advent and Lent, and an overnight spring Sabbath retreat, sponsors periodic all parish brunches after church on Sunday, and provides support for parish needs and outreach projects. The Women's Board oversees women's activities and the distribution of funds raised from them.

A generous check from St. Dunstan's in 2005 helped establish the Bishop Walker School for Boys. The Women of St. Dunstan's maintain a relationship with the boys by providing holiday programs and gifts. Click here to visit the school's website.

Women, Wine & Wisdom Women of all ages gather at a monthly evening session, held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., over snacks, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. They discuss a variety of topics in the context of our faith, including family, friendship and life transitions. This group offers an opportunity to share deeper conversation than is typically possible on a busy Sunday.

Men's Morning Gathering - The men of St. Dunstan's meet once a month over bagels and coffee to discuss personal and spiritual concerns. This is part of longstanding tradition of men's groups at St. Dunstan's. Recent discussions have included issues of fatherhood, our working lives, international relations, war and biblical questions. All ages of men are represented, and all men of the parish are invited to come.

Maplewood Park - The Reverend Jeffrey MacKnight conducts bible class at Maplewood, Park Place every first and third Tuesday of the month. Bibles as well as reference books accompany class members who enjoy sharing the wisdom of a lifetime with each other. All are welcome.

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 High School Youth, 7th - 12th grades, go on a week-long Work Camp in June following the close of school. They have worked in York, Pennsylvania, Hedgesville, West Virginia, Onancock, Virginia, Savannah, Georgia, Anacostia, Washington, DC, and Queens, New York. The Youth have spent time with the elderly, built wheelchair ramps, cleaned up desolate areas, organized games and activities for the young, fed the homeless, and entered into worship with a variety of religious denominations. It is one of the single largest Outreach initiatives at St. Dunstan's.

                          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. Click for August 08 on-site update from Ray Donnelly.

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.