Worship at St. Dunstan's
Join us on Sundays at 10:00 AM
Coffee Hour & Fellowship Every Sunday following Eucharist
If you are looking for perfection, you will not find it here at St. Dunstan’s.
However, you will find excellence; excellent hearts and excellent spirits. We are a liturgical church whose worship is sacred yet relaxed. We believe that music is not a “spectator sport” but something in which to be immersed. We have no professional musicians and yet we love worship music. We believe people are more important than perfection in liturgy. We can even laugh at ourselves during services and we often do. Why? Because we know we are just ordinary people who happen to be serving an extraordinary God.
We celebrate eucharist every Sunday because we believe that God wants to be consumed by us in this way. When we take in Christ, we are empowered to give out Christ. Eucharist empowers us to live out our mission: Seeking Jesus, Sharing His Love.
St. Dunstan's live streams Sunday services on our Facebook page.
About St. Dunstan's
St. Dunstan’s had been a church with powerful lay ministry for years. We absolutely believe in the importance of ministry for all baptized persons, lay and ordained.
Most of our Outreach ministries have originated at a “grass roots” level, beginning with an idea from someone in our congregation. That is one reason there is real ownership and strength to them. There are some amazing stories connected with them.
Christian Community is sacred and we acknowledge its importance at St. Dunstan’s. It is imperative that every member have emotional and spiritual support in good times and bad times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you're a seasoned Episcopalian or a first-time church goer, questions always come up. Check out this list to see if your question is covered. If not, please reach out to us at 810-653-2430. We can't wait to hear from you!
Q: What should I wear? We have people that come very dressed up one Sunday and then come very casual the next. Wear what makes you comfortable.
Q: Where do I park? We have two parking lots. You can park in either. Signs will direct you to the entrance.
Q: Where do I sit? Sit in any pew. We do not have assigned or reserved seats in church. Any seat is a good seat!
Q: Are my kids welcome in church? Absolutely! Kids are noisy sometimes, and that's okay. Sometimes kids do better if they sit up front because they can see and be more engaged. No one will bat an eye if your child wants to get involved. We have a cart in the back of the church with kid friendly items the kids are welcome to use.
Q: What happens in a service? We will read from the Bible, the priest will preach, we will say prayers together, share the peace (everyone enthusiastically greets one another to catch up and meet new faces) and then share bread and wine in Holy Communion.
"Churchy" Words
Episcopal: St. Dunstan's is an "Episcopal" church, meaning we are a part of the Episcopal denomination. We approach faith in Jesus through scripture, tradition, and reason. Find out more about The Episcopal Church here.
Eucharist: The term "Eucharist" or "Communion" refers to the shared meal of bread and wine during our Sunday worship services. All are welcome at our table.
Congregation: The people in the pew, active participants in the service, not spectators
Diocese of Eastern Michigan: St. Dunstan's is part of a regional gathering of churches that includes the Eastern half of the state, north of Detroit. The Bishop of the diocese is the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley. Learn more here.
Hymnal: Some of our music comes out of the Hymnal, a collection of psalm tunes and hymns. It's blue with "Hymnal 1987" written on the front.
Prayer Book: We follow along our service in the Prayer Book. They are red with a gold cross on the front. We'll give you page numbers when you get here!
Rector: Indicates the priest in charge of the church. At St. Dunstan's, this is the Rev. Sue Colavincenzo. Call her Sue.
Vestry: The governing board of the parish whose members are elected by the congregation at large. They serve as an advisory and policy-making council to the Rector.
Q: Who can receive communion? At St. Dunstan's we have an open table. All are welcome to share in God's gifts. We would never turn anyone away.
Q: Do I have to put money in the offering/collection plate? No, but your contributions are very appreciated and help us continue our ministry in this community. We feel it's a privilege to share our resources with God.
Q: How do I receive bread and wine at communion? Ushers will let you know when it is time to go up for communion. When you get up to the altar, stand and with your palms up place one hand at an angle over the other to form a cross to receive the bread. You can eat it or save it for the next step, which is the wine. You will then go the a person holding the cup. You can either drink from it or dip your bread. If you cannot come up to the altar for any reason, wait in your pew and the priest will visit you to give you bread and wine where you are. If you prefer to not take communion, you may come up and instead cross your arms over your chest to indicate you wish to receive a blessing. Or stay in your pew. Do what feels good.
Our Beliefs
Christ-Focused As Episcopalians, we are followers of Jesus Christ, and both our worship and our mission are in Christ’s name. In Jesus, we find that the nature of God is love, and through baptism, we share in his victory over sin and death.
The Bible It is our foundation, understood through tradition and reason, containing all things necessary for salvation. Our worship is filled with Scripture from beginning to end. Approximately 70% of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Bible, and Episcopalians read more Holy Scripture in Sunday worship than almost any other denomination in Christianity.
Holy Baptism In the waters of baptism we are reminded that we belong to God and nothing can separate us from the love of God. We also find ourselves part of an extended family, one with Christians throughout the ages and across the world, what we call the “one, holy, catholic [meaning 'universal'], and apostolic Church.”
Holy Communion It goes by several names: Holy Communion, the Eucharist (which literally means "thanksgiving"), mass. But whatever it’s called, this is the family meal for Christians and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. As such, all persons who have been baptized, and are therefore part of the extended family that is the Church, are welcome to receive the bread and wine, and be in communion with God and each other.
Book of Common Prayer The Book of Common Prayer is a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations, but it is also the primary symbol of our unity. We, who are many and diverse, come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer.
The Creeds We will always have questions, but in the two foundational statements of faith – the Apostles’ Creed used at baptism, and the Nicene Creed used during a worship service – we join Christians throughout the ages in affirming our faith in the one God who created us, redeemed us, and sanctifies us.
The Sacraments “Sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace” Besides baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), the church recognizes other spiritual markers in our journey of faith. These include: •Confirmation (adult affirmation of baptismal vows) •Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession) •Matrimony (Christian marriage) •Orders (ordination to deacon, priest, or bishop) •Unction (anointing with oil those who are sick or dying) These help us to be a sacramental people, seeing God always at work around us.
Spiritual Growth "Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love" The promises we make in our Baptismal Covenant are reminders that we are not yet perfect, that we are called to move deeper in our faith and make a difference in our world. We do so together as the church, always professing that we will indeed live into our baptismal vows as followers of Christ, but always “with God’s help." Excerpted from The Episcopal Church website, 2015.