One of my favorite services of the church year is the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, also known as Candlemas - on February 2nd. This service is the final event of Luke’s infancy narratives and described in Luke 2:22-40. I like this celebration because it serves as a counterpoint to the cultural observance of Ground Hog Day. While the groundhog is looking for a shadow, we are celebrating the light of Christ. The service uses candles to capture this theme of light, thus the name, Candlemas.

While not a part of the Christmas season, Candlemas certainly has associations with Christmas. Most of us are familiar with the hymn “Angels from the Realms of Glory.” The fourth verse reminds us of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:

I invite you to join me in a Candlemas service hosted via Zoom, next Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:00 p.m. I originally wanted to do this service in the chapel with choir to make up for not having our choir on Christmas, but current circumstances do not allow for that. So please join us next Wednesday on Zoom. Bring a candle to light during the service, it can be a tea light, pillar candle, or even an electric candle. The Zoom link is here: St Francis Candlemas on Zoom. Please join us as we celebrate the light of Christ.

Also, please pray for our annual meeting this coming Sunday, 30 January at 11:30. This event will also be hosted on Zoom. I hope to see you there.

As we announced last week, we are saying farewell to Mary Sanchez as our Office Administrator who will retire this month after many years of faithful service. We thank Mary for her ministry among us.

You are invited to bring cards, notes, and a love offering in thanksgiving for Mary. Please mail them to, or leave with, Elaine Mistele in the office at 2200 Via Rosa, PVE, CA 92074.

You are invited! On January 30th, after the 10am Sunday worship, at 11:30am, the Annual Meeting is for the entire parish. Please link into the Zoom meeting.

We shall vote online and provide for nominations and comments as needed. It will be a unique, real, faith-filled meeting of the family of St. Francis. We shall hear reports from our clergy and lay leadership, elect a new Vestry Class of 4, and elect Delegates and Alternates to the Diocesan Convention. We shall review the operating budget approved by the Vestry and share in the vision of a new year.

Let us gather to conduct the annual business of our parish family! The link will allow for video/audio if you have a camera on your device, or audio only if you do not.

Here is your link to the meeting:

Time: Jan 30, 2022 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Dial-in number - +1 669 900 9128

Problems during the meeting? Please call or text Peter Marshall - (310) 920 4812, or Wayne Hastings (901) 219 6564.

Sunday School is temporarily suspended due to the Omicron Covid variant. We'll let you know when we're back!

8:00 a.m. - temporarily on hiatus. Rite I in-person worship in the Chapel, with two hymns (for those fully vaccinated). This service is not live-streamed.

10:00 a.m. - Rite II in-person worship in the main church with music. Live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, and available for watching later.

Please contact Kristina Pelá to arrange for a Lay Eucharistic Minister to safely bring you communion.

A spiritual mind and body practice!

Parish Hall (masks must still be worn). No set fees - classes are free-will offering. Questions? Jill Fenske

Meditation, followed by a quiet time of conversation.

Contact - Susie Zimmerman

Need someone's email, or even map directions to their home?

Go to https://servantkeeper.com/directory/sfc/login

The password is Romans12:4-5

Bookmark the link on your phone or computer and let your browser save the password and you will always be up to date with information!

We are here to do our best to help you with whatever you may need. We know circumstances can be difficult at any time. For help of any kind, or just for a Zoom or Facetime or phone call, please email or call Jerry+ .

310-594-7984

Enews is sent weekly on Thursday afternoons: email Susan with your requests.

Click here for The Episcopal News Update - Coming in February: 'Engagement Across Difference: A Spiritual Practice of Love in Action'

Office main line - 310 375 4617

The Rev. Jerry Sather 310-594-7984

Mark Bennett 310-594-7416

Susan Marshall 310-594-8427

Elaine Mistele 310-594-8268

Mary Sanchez 310-375-4617