Weekly Newsletter September 27, 2023

St. Michael’s Weekly News – September 27, 2023

ROOF FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

This week, we are continuing our fundraising campaign for the new roofs on St Veronica's, the kitchen and Larsen Hall!

Our new roof cost $65,800! We need to fundraise so that the cost of this roof does not wipe out our future reserves.

So, please seriously consider what each of you can contribute to this vital cause.                              

So far, we have received $22,600, including $10,000 in matching contributions!  Let's continue this progress.

We will use this space to update you each week!

Remember this is OUR church and we are all in this together (and with God's Blessing we can accomplish much!)

See our gallery for pictures of the roof construction.

Dear People of St. Michaels,    

          There are holy days and special days of commemoration and then there are normal days: or days when we move through life as humans. I have had such a week this past week, but the ‘human’ thing I did was to be sick and be unable to come to work, including worship on Sunday. If there was any doubt in your mind that the COVID return they are talking about was a hoax or scare, it is very real and out there to catch. It came to first Robin and then me: I had more congestion, feeling tired and feeling like the flu this time than when I had it last December; so it’s out there and can be caught.

          We had lots of help on Sunday so that worship could proceed at Trinity Lutheran and St. Michaels; so I’m thankful to Terry Knaus, who could preach and Liz Rantala, who could assume the EM role at St. Michaels; Robin was well and could play and Jim Blanton not only was Cantor but had a special solo to sing that day, as planned. We honored St. Michael and All Angels in worship last Sunday (but say an extra prayer, for the actual day to commemorate is this Friday, September 29).

          Having to stay away from church, from work was hard and that is the most ‘human’ thing I’m still learning from this. It is hard to be away from community and it is hard to just relax and take the time away to actually heal and get well. I know I should know better; I’m surrounded by people in both parishes who might be recovering from illness or a health set back and that is probably the most important lesson to learn. But it is still hardest for me to apply it to myself; and yet to move forward and make progress, to recover, I must and we must.

          So as of this writing I’m testing negative and can move about in life again. But I will wear a mask quite a bit indoors, around others and we might see more people, using that skill of masking to keep themselves safe and protecting others as well. That might be a sign of our new ‘autumn reality’. But we can all learn that God gave us magnificent bodies that can heal, when given the time and ability to do so; and we must cooperate as well. 

In Christ,   

Pastor Randy Knutson

St Michael & All Angels Green Team.

In August, Energy Efficiency Expert, Colby May, surveyed the Church, Larson Hall, and St. Veronica’s Hall using a handheld thermal imaging camera noting the type of lighting, type of windows, along with the efficiency of all the furnaces, electric panels, and water heater. We’ve received a comprehensive, detailed assessment report that offers suggestions and recommendations that will now help the Team develop an action plan for St Michael’s to be more energy efficient by working on simple projects such as installing weather stripping on doors and windows, the temperature setting on the water heater, refrigerator, and freezer, and working on major projects such as replacing the single pane windows with double pane in Larson and St. Veronica’s Hall, replacing fluorescent light fixtures to accommodate LED lighting etc.

We, of St. Michael’s Green Team, have a long way to go, but in line with our mission statement:

Green Team Mission Statement:
As Stewards/Caretakers of God’s Creation - our shared home Earth - it is our responsibility to preserve and protect God’s gift. As part of being good stewards, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church of Fort Bragg is committed to determine the carbon footprint of our Church buildings and grounds, develop a plan to try to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, and follow through with our plan.

The Green Team of St Michael’s is open to all who are interested in working on this very important project. If interested, contact any Green Team Member.
Please join us.
Your St. Michael’s Green Team:

Heather Anderson, Rev Randy Knutson, Robin Knutson, Marcia Waters, Rick Bondor, Renee Jones
Blessings

Special Days Coming Up

Sunday, October 1; 10:45 am - Our yearly Blessing of the Animals Service, held outdoors this Sunday. All pets and owners are welcomed at this Service.

New 2023 Directories available: Pick up a copy from the table in Larson Hall

Vestry Meeting: September 29th 2023 at 2:00 pm in Veronica Hall

September Birthdays: Andrew Scully, Margie Muto, Beverly Engelhardt, Anne Turner, Andrea Blanton, Susanne Norgard, Elea VanWormer, Mark J. Mesa, Karina Benson, Maryanne Baroni, Lynne Duncan

Online Worship Information (even Outdoors!)

This Sunday we will offer in-person worship and at the same time offer the online broadcast of our service at 10:45 am in the ways posted below:

Our Sunday Service will be on St. Michael’s Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg

https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg/videos

It will also stay there on the Facebook Pages and you can watch it later.

You can also watch it on this YouTube Channel later that day as well.

This is a NEW St. Michaels YouTube Channel and also on our website!

https://www.youtube.com/@st.michaelsepiscopalfortbragg

Website: When you can, check our new website: https://www.stmichaelfb.com/