We've Found Our New Rector!

Senior Warden ke Chiang "John" Hsieh makes the announcement
as interim rector Fr. Richard Mallory looks on.

Dear fellow parishioners,

We are delighted to tell you that we have a new Rector!

After the Nominating Committee had interviewed all five applicants on Skype, three were given a second in-depth interview, the Committee sent the strongest applicant’s name to the Vestry.

After two days of intense conversations and interactions with the finalist in person, the Vestry enthusiastically embraced him and requested our Bishop Kirk Smith to issue him the call to be our Rector. The finalist enthusiastically accepted the call, all on the same day.

The new Rector signed the Letter of Agreement on 20 June; our Treasurer and Senior Warden signed the same document on 23 June; and our Bishop received and approved it on 24 June. A new relationship is established!

Who our new Rector is will be revealed on the day he informs this current congregation of his leaving them.* Any earlier release of his identity would be a breach of confidence and disallowing him from completing his pastoral duty to his flock. Please keep him, his current congregation and this congregation in your prayers. Please remember, as imitators of Christ, let all our thoughts, words and deeds be that of love, trust and hope.

Thank you for your patience and support throughout this process. Your continuing prayers are needed as always.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Your Vestry
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*Remember when Fr. John Smith informed us before he left us for retirement? The protocol is similar and should be respected.

Kurt Just, RIP

Dear Friends,

With sadness at the unexpectedly sudden news, but also with faith in the mercy and love of God, I regret to inform you of the death of my father, Prof. Kurt Just, in Tucson, AZ.

A close family friend spent the whole morning with my father on Saturday, June 18; but when another friend came to pick him up and take him to church on Sunday morning, June 19, he was found dead in his own bed at home. So he evidently died peacefully in his sleep, either overnight or late Saturday afternoon.

My mother, Sigrid Just, (age 87) is still living in Tucson, in the same Assisted Living home where she has received very good care for the past seven years; she seems to be taking the news well so far.

Kurt had just celebrated his 89th birthday last month, and he was looking forward to seeing my two older brothers (Stefan and Klemens) and me again in Tucson this Thursday, so that we could all celebrate Klemens' 60th birthday together. But God’s timing was evidently different, calling Kurt home to himself on Father’s Day.

My family is grateful that we will be able to celebrate a Memorial Mass together at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday morning, June 25, at the Newman Catholic Student Center in Tucson (1615 E 2nd St, on the corner of Cherry Street, right by the University of Arizona).

My father chose to have his body donated to scien
ce; so there will be no burial, just the Memorial Mass, and we will arrange for the internment of his ashes later this summer.

Thank you for your prayers for my father and all my family.
May he rest in peace!

Fr. Felix Just, SJ

Rector Search Update - Remember Candyland?

We are on the home stretch of our rector search!

Hang in there, folks! We're almost there!

(Click on the graphic to enlarge.)

Announcements for Week Ending June 25, 2016

Just a Reminder.....Casa Maria sandwich-making is this coming Friday, June 24th at 5 PM in the Smith Parish Center. Your help is needed to prepare sack lunches for the homeless and disadvantaged of Tucson. Volunteers can always use a few “eggstra” hands and as always “shelled” hard boiled eggs. Join them for fellowship and to help with this good work
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From the Senior Warden:
The Vestry has had two days of intense conversation face-to-face with the finalist of the candidates. The Vestry is currently in deliberation and will make an announcement at the appropriate time. Thank you for your patience and participation.  Please keep on praying so God’s will be done. Amen. †
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Dear Friends at St. Michael’s,
Thank you for all your love and caring for me during my three months recovery from my fractured hip.  Your phone calls, visits and cards were a great support during the dark days. The sun is shining again and I am so grateful!
Thank you from,
Margaret Harnsberger
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SIGN UP TO VISIT OPERATION STREAMLINE with the Social Action Committee on June 28! Every weekday at the Federal District Court in Tucson, up to 70 immigrants receive prison sentences after being charged with the felony of “re-entry after deportation.” This is your chance to witness en-masse legal proceedings. Sign-up sheets in back of church!

Drawing credit: http://www.janetgoldner.com
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You are invited to join Parish Life for an evening of burgers, lively conversation and fellowship. Meet us at the ZINBURGER located at 6390 East Grant Road ~ Thursday, June 30th at 6:30 pm.  Sign- up sheets are located in the back of church.

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Reminder: Taizé Service this Tuesday, June 21 at 6:45 pm in church. All are invited to join us!

Contemplative Prayer Group will meet this Saturday, June 25th at 9:30 am at the House of Prayer. Everyone is invited to attend.

Guatemala Sendoff Pix - Featuring the Blessing of the Jeep!

The 2016 Guatemala Project Sendoff took place Saturday, June 19th. All photos are by Senior Warden Ke Chiang "John" Hsieh.

Fr. Jorge Sotelo blessed the vehicle that has been 

donated to the Project for use in Guatemala.

Domingo Alvarez Ajanel, on a visit from Guatemala, discusses 

his work with the Maya communities.

Photographer Michael Hyatt, a Tucson Samaritan, 

donated the vehicle and will help drive.

Domingo and Project coordinator Ila Abernathy

Reception.

Guatemala Project Sendoff Update

Busy week!  Join us tomorrow to bless a donated jeep, welcome international Maya visitor Domingo Alvarez Ajanel, president of 22 associated rural Maya communities in Guatemala, share Mexican and Guatemalan foods, and send off the three who will drive through Mexico diver the jeep.  The sign at St. Michael's says it all, except that the big "602" stands for 602 N. Wilmot Rd.

The week's highlights so far:

June 14 -- Domingo arrives in the late afternoon from Guatemala.  Attends a Tucson Samaritans meeting.

June 15 -- Donor vehicle is formally turned over to St. Michael's Project.  Pictured:  visitor Domingo, donor Michael, and Project coordinator Ila.

June 16 -- Domingo travels to the desert with Tucson Samaritans.  Photo:  He's holding a jug of lifesaving water, to which he has added a message in Maya Quiche.

June 17 -- Today!  Visits to congressional offices to talk about migration and in-country conditions that foster migration.  Preparations for the big day tomorrow.

June 18 -- You're invited!  Join our fab fiesta with serious purpose.  Learn how to bless a jeep (already blessed by the love and attention of many).  Savor green corn tamales, accompaniments, and Guatemalan chuchitos in the wonderfully cool Parish Center.  Hear Domingo, with translation.  Make a donation if you can.  If not, just come!  5 p.m., 602 N. Wilmot Road.

Guatemala Project Sendoff!

You’re invited!

Guatemala Bound! Sendoff Fiesta

Sat. June 18, 5 PM

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

602 N. Wilmot Road (at 5th Street)

Welcome visitor Domingo Alvarez Ajanel, health leader and president of the 22 associated rural Maya communities St. Michael’s Guatemala Project serves. Alvarez has testified in D.C. on behalf of forensic teams working in Guatemala. He is completing a professional nursing degree on weekends.

Send off a Jeep Cherokee and drivers, traveling overland through Mexico for Guatemala – a 2400 mile adventure. Photographer Michael Hyatt, Tucson Samaritan, donated the vehicle and will help drive.

Celebrate Maya survivals and a 23-year non-sectarian Project relationship emphasizing health, mutual learning, cultures, and indigenous rights.

• Greetings from Arizona indigenous friends
• Jeep blessing
• Thanks and in-country updates from Alvarez Ajanel
• Project information
• Maya traditional textiles on sale

Light refreshments, gratis. Guatemalan foods available.

FREE. Donations encouraged to benefit Maya health volunteers, the communities served, and children who need special treatment – and help deliver the Jeep!

Information: Coordinator, (520) 623-3063, ilaa@mindspring.com. www.cprguatemalaproject.org. Church, 886-7292, www.smallangelstucson.org

Photos: Domingo with Project medical supplies purchased in-country, above. Young weaver, Pal, Area Xeputul. Michael with the donor jeep and communities’ logo. Coordinator Ila with same. Rural Ixil Area community. The Jeep will deliver supplies and move patients in this and other hamlets.

Announcements for Week Ending 6/11/2016

Reminder: Taizé Service this Tuesday, June 7th at 6:45 PM in church ~ all invited! Contemplative prayer 9:30 AM, June 11 ~ House of Prayer ~ All welcome

Reminder: Guatemala Project send off fiesta here Saturday, June 18, 5 PM including blessing of a Jeep Cherokee donated by a Tucson Samaritan who attends Southside Presbyterian, greetings from indigenous friends, and welcome to Domingo Alvarez Ajanel, health leader and president of the 22 associated rural communities with whom we work. Thanks to parishioner Robert MacArthur, who donated frequent flier miles to make Domingo’s trip from Guatemala possible.

Putt-ing Kids First event June 10th!
Please join the Blair Charity Group for a fun-filled family evening at Golf & Stuff June 10th from 6pm to 10pm.  The all-inclusive price covers all attractions food and beverage and supports the mission of the Blair Charity Group and Arizona Basketball Academy and its summer camps and monthly clinics.   Our two camps this summer will serve over 200 Tucson area kids in a program that combines basketball skills taught by current and former University of Arizona Basketball team members as well as former and current NBA players with a unique approach to incorporating life skills training.  We offer these camps and clinics to kids at no cost and our fund raising efforts support that mission.   Please see Peg Van Norman for tickets or purchase online at http://blaircharitygroup.org/

SIGN UP TO VISIT OPERATION STREAMLINE with the Social Action Committee on June 28!  Every weekday at the Federal District Court in Tucson, up to 70 immigrants receive prison sentences after being charged with the felony of “re-entry after deportation.” This is your chance to witness en-masse legal proceedings.
Sign-up sheets located in back of church.

Thanks to everyone who brought in lifesaving water and wonderful gifts of socks (great quality!) for desert walkers as we devoted last Sunday to welcoming the stranger among us. We also assembled 100 migrant food packs for distribution by Tucson Samaritans.  Artist Deborah McCullough and spouse Ed, both active Samaritans, delivered all our gifts, a full-to-overflowing carload.  Debbie writes, “Ed and I successfully unloaded everything with the help of a young migrant recently arrived sitting in the shade at Southside.  It was a generous gift from your church.  On behalf of those who will benefit and whom we will probably not meet personally, thank you.”

From now to June 19, please bring a limited number of supplies for Guatemala Project: reading glasses in great condition (150 to 3 00 magnification); adult and prenatal vitamins with minerals, children’s chewable vitamins with iron (iron is essential due to pervasive anemia).  For anything else, please check with Coordinator Ila Abernathy. We will haul supplies down in a jeep Cherokee donated by Samaritan Michael Hyatt. And don’t forget to join us Saturday, June 18th at 5 p.m. to bless the jeep, welcome community leader Domingo Alvarez Ajanel, who joins us from Guatemala, and celebrate the continuing adventure.

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR? CHECK OUT THE EASEL IN THE SMITH PARISH CENTER FOLLOWING MASS!

Last Meeting in the old Parish Hall

On the eve of construction at St. Michael's School, our vestry had one last meeting in the old Parish Hall, which the church used before the Parish Center was built. As our Senior Warden writes,

For us old-timers, this hall holds lots of memories. My daughter’s wedding dinner was held in this hall! This place will be transformed for another use for a new era!

See you in church!

Senile John

Vestry meeting, 6/1/16