The Prayer Shawl Ministry is one of our most under-the-radar ministries. Most of you have probably seen the basket of shawls placed on the chancel and blessed every couple of months. These shawls are available to the community to share with anyone in need of healing and comfort. You can come in during the week (just call or email the office) or pick one up at Healing Prayers on the second Sundays.
The IWC (Immigrant Welcoming Congregations ministry) is hosting a forum on June 9 about the Rainbow Initiative of Episcopal Migration Ministries, part of a national church program. Last year, St. Michael’s/San Miguel joined the brand-new Rainbow Initiative as a founding congregation.
Rest is vital to physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Teachings on sabbath and rest appear in many ancient myths and teachings, including those of the Hebrew Scriptures. In Genesis, God sets the very example for all of creation: create>care>commune>celebrate>REST. The command to observe sabbath, which comes as #4 of the Big Ten (Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.), is not just for the group or person receiving the command directly. It is for anyone and everything in the earth – all who labor, including the animals, and even the land itself.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham, WA, has invited St. Michael’s to participate in an intriguing project. A group from that church (and many others) is sewing small pouches for houseless folks which they can wear around their necks and protect important receipts and documents from weather, loss or theft.
Have you ever wondered how the Episcopal Presiding Bishop is elected? Do you know how policies are established in the Episcopal Church that affect us here at St. Michael’s? Please join a first-time Deputy to Convention representing ECWO and four-time attendee to past General Conventions on Sunday, May 26, at 10:15 am in the Nativity Hall to learn more about the workings of General Convention.
Trinity Sunday, May 26, marks the last Sunday of the choir season this year. The St. Michael’s Singers will lead the 9:00 am service with a rhythmic, fast-paced offertory anthem by the Brazilian composer Ernani Aguiar (as well as a classic communion anthem by Mozart), while the Saints & Singers Choir will sing an arrangement of “Mothering God, you gave me birth,” with words by Julian of Norwich. The choir season won’t truly wrap up, however, until Broadway Night on May 31 and June 1. Buy your tickets on Sunday between services or at the door. We can’t wait to “Raise You Up!”
Since this coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday, it seems to me a good time to lean into a point of some confusion regarding the Nicene Creed. You may have noticed that when we say together the words of the Nicene Creed during liturgy, most often in the 9:00 service, there is one phrase that is usually not written in the bulletin (but occasionally makes an inadvertent appearance). You may also have noticed that occasionally one or two voices will steam forward to say the three unwritten words, even when it is not spoken by most others. Always makes me chuckle.
But what is happening?
In October of 2022, The Episcopal Church of Western Oregon (our Diocese) joined with the national Episcopal Church by committing to work toward achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2030. It was clear that reaching this goal would not be easy. But when faced with the destructive and devastating peril posed by climate change, already visible in increased flooding, droughts, hurricanes and wildfires, the church was determined to confront this crisis that was already harming God’s creation.
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
