Article contributed by The Rev. Miranda Hassett, rector of

St. Dunstan's, Madison

Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) is a charitable agency working to prevent homelessness and end hunger in Middleton, West Madison, and Cross Plains, WI. St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, on the west side of Madison, supports MOM in many ways throughout the year, but early May is always a special time because it's "Canstruction" season! MOM's website explains: "Canstruction� is a community competition where teams use canned and packaged goods to build imaginative structures.  Awards are given out..., but the most important part is that all of the food is used to help feed local people in need.  MOM hosts one of the largest food pantries in Dane county." 

This year's Canstruction was Thursday, May 1. 28 tons of food were collected through Canstruction and community food drives associated with this fun event. St. Dunstan's got involved in a couple of ways this year: with our Kids' Canstruction, and by sending a team to DeCanstruction. 

Kids' CanStruction: During the month of April, we had a small parish food drive to collect canned and boxed goods for the MOM food pantry - but instead of passing them along right away, the Sunday school students, ranging in age from 3 to 11, gathered on Sunday, April 27 to build their own "canstructions" while learning about hunger and the importance of food pantries. When they came back into church, they shared a prayer they had written together for the hungry and those who work to help them, and they invited us all to come view their creations during coffee hour. 

DeCanstruction: When Canstruction is over, volunteer teams from the community pull on their gloves and start "De-Canstructing" the carefully-built creations, sorting the cans and other grocery items into boxes so they can easily be used at the food pantry in the months ahead. This year St. Dunstan's teamed up with our neighboring church, the Madison Vineyard Church, to send twenty volunteers! Our joint team was a powerhouse and we took down two structures - a castle and a giant Lego head - in just over an hour. It was warm work but also a lot of fun, and a great opportunity to collaborate in service to our wider community.   

Camp Webb Hiring Staff - must be a high school senior or older. Older adults welcome to apply (you don't have to be a young adult to work at camp!). Must be available to work from June 15-June 27. You should have a heart for ministry to children and young adults, outdoor Christian Formation and fun.
Staff duties include, but not limited to, leading small groups, talks, games, art projects, camp fires, lake front supervision (lifeguarding not required). It's great if you play guitar, keyboard or sing or just make a joyful noise!

Our theme for camp this year, Feed My Sheep. We have an amazing week of camp planned for our campers - gardening, learning about hunger issues around the world and in our backyard in Milwaukee County. We have a hunger dinner planned for one evening during camp and many more exciting activities that will help all of us grow in our understanding of the issues of hunger and how we can make a difference.

I am still receiving applications for female and male staff positions. I have one female staff position open and 3 male staff positions open. Application is on the diocesan website, http://www.diomil.org/forming-disciples/camp-webb/  . All ages for applicants open. Application DEADLINE - MAY 22nd!

Spring Assembly: May 3, 2014

Sponsored by The Order of the Daughters of the King

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Place: St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Whitewater.

• May 5, Monday - Candidate & Ordination interviews with COM and Standing Committee, St. Mary's Dousman, 5-9 pm.
• June 3, Tuesday - Ordination discernment informational meeting.  This is a mandatory first meeting for anybody sensing the call to ordained ministry.  It will take place in two locations: Good Shepherd Sun Prairie and Trinity Wauwatosa, 7-9 pm.  RSVP is REQUIRED by emailing COM chair, Fr. Scott Seefeldt at skotallen@yahoo.com
• September 18, Thursday - Parish Ministry Discernment Committee training night.  Two locations: St. Dunstan's Middleton & Trinity Wauwatosa, 7-9 pm. 
• October 24-25, Friday & Saturday - Ministry Discernment Weekend and postulancy interviews.  Durward's Glen Retreat Center (http://www.durwardsglen.org/)

Join Trinity Episcopal Church, 1717 Church St. Wauwatosa, as we welcome author Ethan Casey Wednesday, May 7th from 7:00-9:00. Enjoy desserts, wine and delicious Haitian coffee while hearing Ethan talk about his beloved Haiti. Members from the February mission trip to Jeannette will be on hand to mingle and talk of their experiences and answer questions. There is no admission, though a free will offering is welcome and will help support the July mission trip. Ethan will have copies of his book "Bearing the Bruise, a Life Graced by Haiti" available. Call the church office 414-453-4540 for more information.

Ethan Casey will also be present at St, Mary's Episcopal Church for an event on Tuesday, May 6th at St, Mary's Episcopal Church in Dousman, corner of Hwy 18 and 67. A Haitian Dinner will be served. Tickets are $20.00 and are available through St. Mary's church office 262-965-3924, or Mary Alice Eschweiler at 414-614-6564. Proceeds will also support the July '14 mission trip.