Rector's Message

Trunk or Treat

Saturday, October 31, 2026 5:30-8:00 p.m.

St. Francis Parking Lot

St. Francis to Host a Fun, Safe "Trunk-or-Treat"

🎃 👻🎃 Attention all those with trunks (yes, you!): Halloween will be here before we know it so please consider decorating your trunk for our annual neighborhood "Trunk or Treat," with the cars parked and decorated around the circular drive in front of the church. This celebration has been a large community draw in years past so we need to have a lot of decorated cars with candy to welcome not only fellow Franciscans, but our community neighbors as well. And be sure to have plenty of chocolate in case "a certain someone," who shall remain nameless (Father Ben), eats it all before the kids get to it! 🎃💀🎃.

For children and adults who would like to dress up (we'll still welcome you if you don't!) and visit these fabulous trunk creations, please join us on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. in the St. Francis circular drive, where we may not only have treats but possibly some tricks up our sleeves as well!

💀🎃👻💀🎃👻

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October

Love ♥️ Offering

Rector's

Discretionary Fund

TONIGHT:

Wednesday, Oct. 14

7:00-8:00 p.m.

Choir Practice

Choir Room

Thursday, October 15

10:00 a.m.

Tai Chi

*St. Francis Parking Lot

Thursday, October 15

6:00-7:00 p.m.-ish

Quiet Mind Yogi

Lower Classroom

Friday, October 16

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Pick up Purchased Boston Butts

St. Paul's Parish Hall

Saturday, October 17

9:00 a.m.

Tai Chi

*St. Francis Parking Lot

Saturday, October 17

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Pick up Purchased Boston Butts

St. Paul's Parish Hall

Thursday, October 22

10:00 a.m.

Tai Chi

*St. Francis Parking Lot

Thursday, October 22

6:00-7:00 p.m.-ish

Quiet Mind Yogi

Lower Classroom

Saturday, October 31

6:30 -8:00 p.m.

🎃 Halloween 🎃

Trunk or Treat

St. Francis Parking Lot

Former Franciscan, Catherine Meeks,

to Speak at the Douglas Theater TOMORROW NIGHT

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, 

James 1:17, NRSV.



Dear Friends,

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places,” John 14:2, NRSV. This promise of abundance and welcome lies at the heart of our stewardship theme: Plenty Good Room. 

In the following weeks, you will hear how we are called to share our resources and nurture our relationships. The time for our response is drawing near. Stewardship is our faithful reply to God’s generosity. It is gratitude put into action.

This Sunday you will receive more campaign materials and a pledge / promise card. I invite you to prayerfully consider your response and return your pledge on November 22, 2026. Every gift matters. Every commitment sustains our worship, our learning, our fellowship, and our outreach to those in need.

This is not only an appeal for funds - it is an invitation to claim your place in God’s household, to make room for others, and to live into God’s abundance. When we respond together, we become the church God is calling us to be: a community with plenty good room for all.

Thank you in advance for your faithful and generous response to this call.

With gratitude and blessings, 

Jeffrey Hobaugh

Stewardship Chair

Adult Christian Formation

Our fall Adult Christian Formation series started Sunday, September 20th, and runs through November 22nd. We will gather weekly at 10:00 AM in the library to discuss Randy Woodley’s thought-provoking book, How Western Christianity Got It Wrong: Replacing the God of Fear with a Spirituality of Healing.

Co-led by Josh Mangham and Jeffrey Hobaugh, this class will examine traditional Western theological assumptions and explore a vision of faith rooted in wholeness, reconciliation, and divine love rather than fear.

All are welcome. We hope you will join us for thoughtful conversation, fellowship, and spiritual growth!

The class will last for 10 weeks from September 20 until November 22. From the author himself:

“ The purpose of this book is not the obvious criticism, however, but rather it is to go deeper, down to the root of the hows and whys Western Christianity has become what it is today: a religion unrecognizable to the God it claims to serve.“

Josh and Jeff are excited to lead the discussion and exploration of this subject.

Mayhem Raffle to Benefit Loaves & Fishes

🔨 Franciscans for Franciscans 👨‍🌾

In need of a some help for Holiday Home Cleaning? "Franciscans for Franciscans" has just the thing. Call fellow Franciscan, Peter Griffin, at 478-812-2284. He's probably just the help you're looking for. You'll be glad you did!

Macon Pride in the Park

Thank you to everyone who worked in the tent representing St. Francis at Macon Pride in the Park. Thank you also to everyone who came by to show their support for our LGBTQIA+ siblings!

The Choir is Back!

🎼 Please consider joining the choir this fall at our rehearsals in the choir room from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, and 10:15 a.m. in the church on Sunday mornings before the service, so that we can share an anthem for this important part of our worship service.

Before we have time to blink after our St. Francis Day and Halloween celebrations we will be in the thick of Advent preparing for Christmas. If you'd like to dip your toe into the choir's pool to try it out or just join us for this special time of year, we will begin practicing Christmas music on Wednesday, November 4, in the choir room to get the season going. We'd love to have you year-round or just for a season!

Quiet Mind Yogi 🧘‍♀️

Join me then as we prepare for fall with a comforting stretch! We will work at quieting the mind while holding yoga poses to longer breath counts. And we'll learn a little yoga philosophy. 

  Yoga Series for Autumn 2026

 DATES: Thursdays, August 20 to November 12, 2026

TIME: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.-ish

LOCATION: St. Francis Episcopal – 432 Forest Hill Drive, Macon, GA

** We will continue to meet in the lower level classroom. When driving into the parking lot, drive past the church and proceed to the lower parking lot. You will see a green dumpster. The door to enter is next to the dumpster; I will have the door marked. We will not have to set up tables as the room is cleared all the time.



 Classes are free. Beginners are welcome.

Bring your own mat if you have one. If not, there are

a few available.    

Betsy Mills has been a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for over 35 years and is currently practicing at Southern Behavioral Services in Macon.  She is also a certified yoga teacher (RYT-200) and combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of yoga. For more information, you may contact her at: betsymillsmacon.com

Update on Children's Sunday School 

Several new volunteers have joined Children's Sunday School but we still need a few more people who are willing to teach or assist in both classes. Our goal is to have enough teachers and assistants to require volunteering only one Sunday a month. 

There are currently two Children's Sunday School classes. The younger class is for children in grades K-3, and the older class is for grades 4-6. Both classes started on Sunday, September 13. Just let us know which group you would like to work with and we will welcome you! 

Contact Judy Sexton at judysexton49@yahoo.com.

Loaves & Fishes

2. RECRUIT

Challenge at least 5 friends to walk with you. Think about what happens when you throw a pebble in the water. Peer to Peer recruiting helps us achieve our mission! We can’t do this without you. 

3. RAISE

Ask your network to sponsor your 40-mile challenge. A suggested amount is $1.00 per mile, but any amount is gratefully accepted. 

4. WALK

Complete your 40 miles between October 3–24. You can walk, run, cycle, swim whenever and wherever you want to. 

5. SHARE

Post your progress and encourage others to join! Hope to see you on October 24th for Loaves and Fishes Birthday celebration and to complete the final 3 miles of the challenge. 

Loaves and Fishes Walking Pledge & Support

St. Francis Family

I am amazed and awed by this community. Fifteen of you have chosen to support Loaves and Fishes by pledging to walk 40 miles between now and October 24th! It is not too late to jump in and register if you are still interested. If you can’t walk, then please consider supporting one of our St. Francis Walkers – any amount is welcome. Each walker has been challenged to try and get 10 sponsors, so your support would be wonderful. You can register and sponsor online using the links below. You can also get assistance to register or sponsor by speaking to either Bob Meloche or Pam Arlov. They will be happy to accept your cash or checks as well (make out to Loaves and Fishes Ministry). 

To Register: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes--2026 

To Sponsor: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/peer-to-peer/walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes-3

Thank you, Debby MacMillan

St. Francis Registered Walkers:

*Pamela Arlov

*Roz Godeau

*Dena Hobbs

*Brittany Lightsey

*Travis Lightsey

*Fraizer Lively

*Debby MacMillan

*Doug MacMillan

*Bob Meloche

*Cam Otter

Another glorious St. Francis Day!!

Much appreciation to ALL who worked

so hard to make it so.

(Thanks, Montana. You're the best!)

How many Episcopal acolytes does it take to remove a

big blue elephant (named Ben) from the sanctuary??🤣

Building the Beloved Community

Friends, it's time to register now for Mercer's 21^st Annual Building the Beloved Community Symposium on October 20 and 21.

This year we welcome Josh Clemons and Dan Crain, the leaders of Atlanta's OneRace Movement, which has brought together thousands of people in marches, conventions, rallies, and worship services as part of "a gospel-centered reconciliation movement that exists to displace historic racism through prayer, relationship, equipping, mercy & justice."

Check out the work of Atlanta's One Race movement here.

It's free and open to everyone, but registration is required for meals. Register Now for the 2026 Beloved Community Symposium. 

Plan Ahead to Support Loaves & Fishes and Enjoy Great Hockey

Feel Like Tickling the Ivories?

St. Francis has a piano that is no longer in use and is taking up space that could be used otherwise. It would be a great instrument for children to learn on or for those of us who took lessons back-in-the-day to reacquaint ourselves with what we once knew. It is also a lovely piece of furniture. If you are interested in acquiring it and are able to move it to the location of your choice, please let Fr. Ben know and consider it yours!

Dear Friends of the St. Francis Food Pantry,

Since we switched to a self-service model, the pantry has been humming along smoothly. Recently, though, we have had more clients and more donations, and we could once again use some volunteer help.

Each week, I have been organizing the pantry and making sure that similar items are grouped together. I am now ready to share that task and add another one: checking expiration dates.

Some items, like cereal, fly off the shelves and don’t need checking. Others—especially canned goods and packaged foods—need to be checked periodically. It’s our policy to toss any expired food, and there is a wastebasket right next to the pantry.

I don't expect anyone to inspect every item in the pantry. Instead, we can work incrementally. The shelves will be labeled with dates, and if you sign up for a particular week (for example, the week of August 2), you can check the shelf assigned to that date, straighten items as needed, and remove any expired products.

To make this easy, I have created a SignUpGenius schedule. If you are willing to help, please consider signing up for one or more weeks. The task should take no more than about 30 minutes. You can complete it before or after church on Sunday or whenever you are at church for another activity. I will pick up any weeks that aren't spoken for, but I'll appreciate all the help I can get. I'll send you a reminder when it's your week. 

Thank you for helping to keep the pantry organized, safe, and welcoming for everyone who depends on it.

Here is the sign-up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A48ABAB22A0FCC70-64911440-weekly

If you have any questions, please contact me at 478-318-2602 or at parlov@cox.net.

With gratitude,

Pam

P.S. If you would like to make a donation, a list of our most popular items are below. Thanks for caring!!

*boxed cereal

*shelf-stable milk

*soups and crackers

*canned tuna and chicken

*canned fruits

*shampoo and paper products (items SNAP doesn't cover)

"Parish Life" is the ministry that provides for fellowship in the faith. Members plan, shop, cater, cook, set up, clean up, and facilitate all our gatherings from weekly Sunday mornings to big special events. Episcopalians love to gather together, and to eat!

The Sunday morning ministry team is again asking for additional helpers. The same ones have done it all for many years and need regular relief from every Sunday set-up and clean-up duties. Instruction in how to do it and where to locate everything in the kitchen is gladly offered. The job is not difficult, but it does take commitment to get ready on Saturday for fellowship before and after the Sunday service. This involves:

  1. Set coffee and condiments table in readiness for early arrivals. Fr. Ben will plug it in!

  2. Set small bagel table and large breakfast foods table with whatever is available in the refrigerator and pantry. Volunteers sign up to bring sweet, savory, and fruit offerings.

The Sunday set-up team members are Linda Destree, Susan Locke, Chris Ubel-Trotter. and Al Hyatt. They are still happy to serve, but are requesting additional help. ALL ARE WELCOME! THANK YOU!!

Susan Locke

ALTAR FLOWERS

Beautiful floral arrangements are given to the "Glory of God" and may be designated to commemorate someone special in our lives.

The 2026 calendar with dates to select when you would like to donate either in celebration, in loving memory, in thanksgiving, or for any

reason, is posted near the Parish Hall entrance. After choosing a date, a payment of $40 is suggested either by check or online through Realm where your specific dedication may be worded by you for publication in the Sunday bulletin.

The Flower Guild is responsible for arranging flowers every week. Its members are Linda Destree, Joseph Whidby, Pascale Lahure-Hobaugh, Molly Wilkins and Susan Locke. They each delight in creating beautiful arrangements throughout the liturgical year. New members are welcome.

For more information, please contact Susan Locke at rslocke844@gmail.com. 

Sunday, Nov. 1--All Saints' Day (give names for the necrology to the office)

Sunday, Nov. 15--Stewardship Ingathering Meal

Thursday, Nov. 26, 3:00 p.m.--Community Thanksgiving Meal, Parish Hall

Friday, Dec. 4, 7:00 p.m.--Christmas Carol Radio Play, Parish Hall

Saturday, Dec. 12, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.--Cookie Exchange, Parish Hall