On Saturday, October 25, Salem’s Conference Center was filled to the brim with Episcopalians as the Diocese of Western Oregon held their 2024 Annual Meeting of the Convention of the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon. The room was filled with people from every church in the Diocese, talking and sharing the latest news, at this first in-person meeting after four years of conventions on Zoom.
The Rt. Rev. Diana Akiyama, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Oregon, will visit St. Michael’s next Sunday, November 17. Bishop Akiyama will preside and preach at the 9:00 and 11:00 am and 1:00 pm services and conduct youth and adult confirmations and receptions at all three services.
Arcoíris Latino, or Latin Rainbow, is sponsoring a workshop at 2:15 pm this Sunday, November 10, after the 1:00 service. This workshop will cover substance abuse and prevention, including of alcohol and opioids; the use of Nalozone (Narcan); and resources for mental health.
This Sunday is Ingathering for our 2025 Annual Giving Campaign. During all services, I invite you to offer your financial pledges as offerings of thanks to God and to support St. Michael’s life and ministry in the coming year. If you will bring your pledge this Sunday, we will have a time at the Offertory for you to bring it forward.
This Sunday, November 10, we reflect and pray with the aid of three women composers. The offertory anthem is a beautiful Eucharistic motet by the working-class French composer Mel Bonis (1858-1937). Bonis (pictured above) was a prolific late-Romantic composer who masked her gender with the pseudonym “Mel” rather than Mélanie.
There are two opportunities next week to gather and pray on either side of Election Day. For all the reasons that he discussed in his powerful eblast note—leaning on our values, sticking together, stirring up faith, and getting out to vote—we’ll hold space together for prayer.
On Sunday, November 3, at the Spanish-language service, we welcome the Reverenda Dra. Liliana Da Valle. Liliana was born in Argentina and emigrated with her husband to the United States in 1982. They graduated together from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary with Masters of Divinity and were called to serve as co-pastors at First Baptist Church in South Gate, CA. Since that time, she has served in leadership positions in the American Baptist Church, and she and her husband have become American citizens.
On Sunday, November 3, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints, when we remember and honor loved ones who have gone before. The Book of Remembrance is filled with many of their names, and those who have died since last All Saints are listed in the bulletins and will be read aloud during the services.
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
