Our traditional post-Easter Cake Auction will be held between the 9:00 and 11:00 am services this coming Sunday, April 27. Hosted by the MOW/WOWs and Dishwasher Committee, this exciting event features cakes, pies, cookies and the like, all baked by St. Michael’s members and auctioned off to the highest bidder to benefit the Dishwasher Fund.
During Advent Mondays, I’ve been Zooming with folks for a weekly discussion group reading the book “Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear” by Scott Bader-Saye.” I have found Bader-Saye’s insights about the power of fear in our lives to be thought-provoking and challenging.
The St. Michael’s Singers are preparing two special anthems for the bishop’s visit on Sunday, November 17. At 9:00 am, the sopranos and altos will lead the service under the guidance of Assistant Choir Director Kaeli Porter, offering an anthem that combines two camp meeting songs: “Rise, Oh Fathers” and “No Time.”
We are arriving at the midway point in this year, and it is an important time in the life of our community. On Sunday, June 30, I will offer a town hall forum from 11:30-12:30 to share together about some of the poignant matters arising in the second half of 2024 and looking ahead toward 2025 for St. Michael’s. Topics will include staff transitions, finances and strategic-vision development.
Bulletins for Sunday, June 30, 2024
Today begins our Holy Week services and events at St. Michael’s. Both the 9:00 and 11:00 am services begin in the courtyard, weather permitting. (If raining, they will begin in the Nativity Hall.) The 9:00 will include processing around the block with palm fronds and song to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Sunday’s music delves into the classic Lenten theme of inward-looking poignancy. The choir will sing two anthems exploring the anticipation of life after death, William L. Dawson’s popular arrangement of the African-American Spiritual “Soon ah will be done” and John Rutter’s “God be in my head.”
A week from Sunday is our first Choral Evensong of 2024! Please join us at 5:00 pm on February 4 as we celebrate the Feast of Candlemas, commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple forty days after Christmas. In addition, a non-liturgical music event coming up at St. Michael’s is “Jane Austen’s Parlour” on Saturday, February 17, at 4:00 pm.
The Rev. SuEllen Pommier will join us as Curate in January, 2024. Bishop Akiyama will appoint SuEllen to a six-month placement as Curate at St. Michael’s next year. A curate is a newly-ordained or soon-to-be-ordained priest who serves a first call in an established parish to work with a mentoring priest. A curacy placement is meant to be mutually beneficial, in that our parish will receive some much-needed clergy support and SuEllen will be in safe and healthy context to learn and grow into her new ministry as a priest.
The Winter Solstice on December 21st is the longest and darkest night of the year. It can be uncomfortable being in the dark, and we feel that discomfort living in these dark times of uncertainty, confusion, chaos and change in our own lives, the life of our community and in our world. The darkness may seem more intense as we live in the midst of what, for many, is a joyous festive season. We wait for and long for light, healing and renewed hope in our hearts. On Tuesday, December 20, at 7:00 pm we will come together to celebrate the Longest Night Service and pause to honor the fullness of the darkness in our lives at this time and our dream of returning light.
Sunday Services
7:30 – Rite I Traditional language with no music.
9:00 – Rite II Holy Eucharist with choir
11:00 – Inclusive language with choir
1:00 pm – Misa en Español
© 2023 St. Michael & All Angels
