Men's Fellowship hosted the Annual Women's Appreciation Dinner, Sat. Feb. 4th which included a special guest performance from The Singing Vicars. See the video here!

In 2010, $3600 from St. David's World Gifts was sent to our partner parish of San Bartolome (St. Bartholomew's) for a potable water project. There was no running water in the rectory or buildings they use for education, although there is a spring on the church property.  With the money we sent, the congregation was able to install a pump, pipes, and a cistern to bring water into the building.  The man in the photo is one of our partner priests, The Rev. Tomas Calel. 

Saturday, January 14, is a special and rare day in the life of St. David’s. We are privileged to witness and pray at ordination of our deacon Matt to the priesthood—our Deacon Matt becomes our Father Matt. 

More significant than the title change, Matt’s ordination gives us the opportunity to reflect on a wonderful act in which God gives his Spirit in a special and powerful way to those whom God has specially chosen to administer the sacraments for  maintaining the health and life of the congregation.  Using the old fashioned image, the candidate’s hands are consecrated for the purpose of blessing, forgiving, and most important of all, presiding at the Eucharist.  To put it in a more contemporary way, in becoming a priest the candidate has been “set aside” to minister the sacraments  in ways only a priest or a bishop can do.  Ordination produces what is called an ontological change, i.e. change which can never be undone, a change which makes  an indelible mark.  The new priest ‘s character is changed forever. 

There are some wonderful customs which may accompany an ordination. For example,  after the service it is proper to ask the new priest for a blessing.  In Europe there is an old saying that a blessing from a new priest is like getting a new pair of shoes. If we think of the poverty in many places, there are people for whom a new pair of shoes is an expensive gift that will last many years. 

So we at St. David’s give thanks for Matt our new priest, and pray that he may have a healthy and bountiful ministry among us.

The Rev. Dr. Bill Duffy

In her sermon Jan. 1, The Rev. Hillary Raining asked you to join her in her resolution to treat God's name with more reverence — see her sermon here. Have you thought about joining the revolution? Take the poll at the top of the page.

Padre Miguel sent Christmas greetings to all of St. David's along with photos of the traditional celebration of "Las Posadas," which commemorates Joseph and Mary's search for a room.  ("Posada" means "inn" -- some groups from St. David's have stayed at the Posada de don Rodrigo in Antigua).  The celebration goes on each night from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24 with a group procession through the neighborhood that stops at several houses where members of the group ask for a room and are refused, but finally reach a house where they are admitted, and everyone goes inside for prayers and refreshments.  On the last night, a big party is held—the year on Dec. 24 in Chimaltenango at the Rectory.

Big Thanks to all the St. David's parishioners who donated food for Thanksgiving. We received enough food for 60 local families!

The Outreach Ministries fridge is full of food for the Soup Kitchen at St. John's Norristown.

Welcome to our new St. David’s website! We’ve freshened the design, making it simpler for newcomers to follow, and providing us a platform for the future.  We've gotten to this point through the many dedicated hours from the website committee—Susan Smart, Kris Messner, John Spofford, Bret Dunlap and staff member Kathy Marcantonio—who deserve much thanks. There are many new features including this staff blog which gives us an opportunity to stay connected and to share in the conversation about what God is doing at St. David’s. 

Communications ministry is all about the website and newsletter, photos and promos and brochures—or is it? We need a good, clear public face and easy to find information. But is communications in a church only about information management? 

When the Communications Task Force (now a standing Vestry Commission) first formed, we discussed how we understood our mission and our goals. Why do we do what we do? First of all, this ministry should serve the mission of the church: to know God in Jesus Christ and to make Christ known to others. But how does the Communications ministry do that? by sharing the Good News of what God is doing in St. David’s ministries and improving personal connections within our church and with the community. If we only offer announcements and promos, we might skip the Good News. The Good News is not what St. David’s is doing, but what God is doing here. God is helping feed the hungry, giving hope to the grieving, renewing the lives of the broken, forming and shaping new Christians, young and old, and touching hearts and minds of hundreds each week.

So Communications is more than the tools of the website, our Dove newsletter, or our weekly Enews. Communication ministry is about our relationships in Christ—our personal connections that we can nurture with prayer and staying in touch with each other. These personal relationships are where God the Holy Spirit works and nourishes us. When we pray for each other, gather for worship, or share in learning and ministry, God is at work feeding us and strengthening our community. The website is only a tool in the ministry you share with each other.

So how do you stay connected with your brothers and sisters in Christ? What helps you to feel the most connected to God? Let us know, and keep us in your prayers.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Tom Pumphrey