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.
Our Pentecost music this Sunday includes a classic arrangement of the African-American spiritual “Ev’ry time I feel the spirit” and a communion motet composed by our own Robert Lockwood, along with many traditional (at 9:00 am) and non-traditional (at 11:00 am) hymns celebrating the Holy Spirit.
On Sunday, we’ll celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, as the Great 50 Days of Easter draws to a close. In that first Pentecost of the Church, the Holy Spirit came in the form of wind and fire to people gathered from many places, and divided by language, culture, and experience. When the Spirit arrives, divisions are overcome, so that everyone may receive Good News about God and become community to embody that goodness together.
Broadway Night ticket sales continue for the next three Sundays after the 9:00 and 11:00 am services. This is our music program’s only fundraiser, and it’s also one of the most entertaining evenings of the year at St. Michael’s! The shows are on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, at 7:30 pm.
The Vestry has approved creation of a summer ministry internship at St. Michael’s. The position is for a rising college junior or senior, studying religion, education, social sciences, or another related field, to join the staff for six weeks during the summer. The focus of this position will be support youth ministry in the summer, including the summer retreat/service trip, meetups, and planning for fall programming.
Sunday Worship Schedule
7:30 – Spoken Traditional language (Rite 2 with no music)
9:00 – Traditional Service with Choir
11:00 – Inclusive Language with Choir
1:00 pm – Misa en Español
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