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

Photos from the Weekend

Canon Theologian, The Rev. Dr. Gil Stafford, presents

“Jesus: His Mind, His Mystery, His Magic.” Photos by KCH.

Announcement time!

The Rev. John Fife after his sermon

Food packs ready to go

Humanitarian supplies.

Announcements for Week Ending 6/4/2016

Search Update: 
On Saturday, May 22, the Nominating Committee completed the second round of Skype interviews. After careful discernment, they submitted their recommendation to the Vestry. Please hold the Vestry in your prayers so that God's will may be done. Keep on praying! --Senior Warden John Hsieh

A Reminder: As part of the routine maintenance of our graveyard, faded or oversized decorations (exceeding 5" x 5" x 5") will be removed this week, beginning on Monday, May 30th. we appreciate your cooperation.

This Sunday (May 29) is Border Sunday! After worship, please join us in the Parish Center to prepare migrant food packs for Tucson Samaritans, enjoy the usual coffee hour treats and conversation, and after the 10:15 AM Mass, savor a pupusa prepared by a Guatemalan family seeking asylum. Sponsored by your Social Action Committee.

Sign up to visit Operation Streamline with the Social Action Committee on June 28th! 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.

Putt-ing Kids First event June 10th! 

Please join the Blair Charity Group for a fun-filled family evening at Golf & Stuff on June 10 from 6 PM to 10 PM. The all-inclusive price covers all attractions, food and beverages, and supports the mission of the Blair Charity Group, and Arizona Basketball Academy, and its summer camps and monthly clinics. Their 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 current and former NBA players, with a unique approach to incorporating life skills training. They offer these camps and clinics to kids at no cost and their fundraising efforts support that mission. Please see Peg Van Norman for tickets of purchase online at http://blaircharitygroup.org.

Guatemala Project Sendoff fiesta is here on Sunday, June 18th at 5 PM, including the 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 flyer miles to make Domingo's trip from Guatemala possible.

Baccalaureate Mass - St. Michael's School

Photos from the School's Baccalaureate Mass, Thursday, May 26th. Photos by KCH. The eighth graders graduate today, May 27th.

Procession of graduates followed by the servers and clergy.

Reading of the Gospel.

The banner of St. Michael leads the recession.