the The Newsletter for Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
March 2015
Standing in the Gap and Building Bridges
the
1
Distinguished Lecture Series The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry
4
Lenten Evensong
11
Lenten Evensong
12
Faith and Grief Luncheon
18
Lenten Evensong
25 29
Lenten Evensong
Palm Sunday
Volume 25, No. 11 Volume 27, No. 3
During the first two months of 2015 the news has not been good. The January 7 attack at Charlie Hebdo’s office in Paris not only targeted those who lampoon various groups, including Islam, but in the gruesome slaughter terrorists also murdered police officers and a maintenance worker. In the same week, at a kosher grocery store, also in Paris, Jews were the main target. One week later, Palestinian teens who were throwing rocks in protest over the continuing land-confiscation in East Jerusalem were gunned down by Israeli soldiers. And, if that’s not enough, ISIS, “The Islamic State” radical Islamic group, continues to bring terror to several places in the Middle East, most recently in Libya when they beheaded twenty-one Coptic Christians.
Annual Parish Meeting Picks New Vestry, Reviews Finances, Gets Campus Plan Report The agenda was full as members gathered Sunday, February 22 for the Annual Parish Meeting. Five new Vestry members were elected to three year terms ending in 2018, and for the first time delegates to the Diocesan Convention were named to staggered terms. The Treasurer, Stewardship Chairs, and the Foundation reported on the state of Saint Michael’s finances, and the campus plan committee presented its initial report following the all-parish survey conducted late last year. The campus plan committee’s report will be covered in another publication and online. For details about the Annual Meeting go to pages 4 and 5. The 2014 Annual Report is available online at www. saintmichael.org or print copies are available at several locations in the church.
Leaders among the three major world religions have lent moral backing to both non-violent, reconciling actions, and to military action against these most egregious acts. There have been several anti-Islam marches, including many moderate Islamic groups staging their own protests against the radicalization of their religion, and several Christian pacifist groups have struggled to suggest convincing alternatives at a time when proclaiming non-violence can seem naive, even heartless. At the same time, we have witnessed our own nagging national issues: continuing tensions between the African-American community and several police departments, the lack of civil discourse cont. on page 19
Fill at least one grocery bag during March and bring it to the South Lanai. A list of needed items is available at several locations throughout the church. Financial contributions are just as valuable. Make checks payable to North Dallas Shared Ministries and bring to the South Lanai receptionist.