We were delighted to be visited today by Rev. John Saville and his wife, Kathleen. John served as Interim during Covid, leading the community through its transition with grace and love. In celebration of their 50th wedding Anniversary, Rev. Laurel bestowed a special blessing upon them.
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Join us for the free screening of Appalheads -- the documentary film by St. Dunstan's Member and Carmel Valley Local -- Anna Richardson White. Returning to her roots in Appalachia, she unearthed her father's filmmaking legacy, and explore the concept of "home" -- what it is and why it matters to us.
We will gather on Sunday, April 26th at 5pm at St. Dunstan's. The screening will begin at 5:15pm, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, and a light reception. All are invited to come watch the film and join in the conversation.
See you then!
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church -- 28005 Robinson Canyon Road, Carmel.
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The Lord is Risen Indeed. Halelluia! What a glorious Holy Week--thanks go out to all who participated and made our Agape Meal/Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Day Services and Celebrations so wonderful and meaningful. We were blessed to welcome so many new folks and to welcome home so many of our families and friends. And now...see the last image for Rev. Laurel's final word. ❤️😆🐣
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Come join us for Holy Week - a deeply spiritual journey toward Easter. Come, and be fed. Your soul will thank you!
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When we gather as a faith community: to worship, to study, or to serve,
we often discover that we are like-minded. We may share understandings about God & theology, about what it is to serve our neighbors or how to be a Christian. Sometimes we even hold the same world views. And to be honest, there is some comfort in that. It feels good to be around others who feel and believe as we do.
But what happens when we don’t align? What are we to do when our views, whether religious, political, economic, moral, social or ecological, to name a few, conflict with those of our family, friends, neighbors, or one another, and cause a breakdown in relationship? How are we to navigate the way when we struggle to have a conversation with one another, let alone to hear what the other has to say?
Perhaps it is easier to anchor into one’s own world view than it is to take time to listen and consider that of another. Human beings are complicated with a wide spectrum of cultural and lived experiences that inform who they are. If any of us become too deeply entrenched in our point of view, we may not be able (or willing) to listen and consider those of others. Uncomfortable with conflict, we might rather avoid such topics completely, than risk being at odds with others — but at what cost?
Holding tenderly that which binds us together in Christian community,
and mindful of our commitment to being a congregation where all may
Be Themselves Among Us, we gathered yesterday for a Forum led by Rev. Laurel:
Dialoguing across Difference and Listening for Understanding.
Employing 4 Questions from the Episcopal Church's FROM MANY, ONE: Conversations Across Difference, we talked about:
- how our faith calls us to create and foster safe spaces for all people;
- the opportunities and challenges of dialoguing across difference;
- what gets in the way, and how Lent is the season for letting things go;
- and how we may practice listening for understanding, and heal one another.
The last many years we have been living through a difficult and disruptive season in our country and in the world. In such times it can be very hard to communicate well with one another. And yet, we are called to love, and to listen. Asking, and listening to one another's answers to these 4 Questions opened the door to rich and beautiful connections.
- WHAT DO YOU LOVE?
- WHAT HAVE YOU LOST?
- WHERE DOES IT HURT?
- WHAT DO YOU DREAM?
Be curious, and discover that what we share in common is greater than that which threatens to divide us.
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