As I write this article for the January newsletter, it is still December, but with the stroke of midnight only a few hours away. Soon 2020 (in my mind, a very "Frank Burns" year) will "Fade Out" and 2021 will "Fade In". Everyone is looking forward to the turn of the calendar; to some kind of new start. Soaring in on the wings of the COVID vaccine, 2021 comes with so much hope and promise. Time to be together again; to be close to others without concern or suspicion. Time to fill the pews again. To sing and laugh together. Time to finally let Zoom rest a bit, and meet again around a table. I expect the show to pick up where it left off last March, before the episode ended and we entered the Great Pause between two seasons of life.

And that will happen, of course, over time. As immunity grows and people increasingly feel safe, much of the life we knew will slowly revive. We will return to in-person worship and fellowship; to restaurant dining and baseball games (yeah!) and dinner parties. Together, finally, we will mourn those we've lost, and together we will (hopefully) step into a post-virus future. But I must admit, that's a lot of pressure for the fledgling 2021. The expectations are high. The character change is desperately needed, for sure. But we need faith - and patience - to allow the show to change and grow for the better.

One of my favorite prayers in the Book of Common Prayer - used at Christmas time, and also at all ordinations - is a not-so-subtle nod to this "in-between time" that we currently inhabit, and to the workings of God during these times that can lead to new life. It's a reminder that when the old fades out, the people of God can have faith that the new, the vibrant, and the life-giving will mostly surely fade in. That God is with us - not just in presence, but in will and work as well. God is for us. No matter what we face in any given year, God is always on our side.

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Be blessed, my friends, and welcome to 2021!

In the Faith of Jesus Christ,

Fr. Kevin+

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Calendar 

The Annual Parish Meeting of St. Francis will be held on Sunday, January 31, following morning worship. The meeting will be held virtually. More information about how to participate will be sent in January.

We are very grateful for our outgoing Vestry members whose term will end at that meeting: Connie Scanga (Rector’s Warden, 2019-21), Mahala Renkey, and Sig Fleck. Each of these Vestry members have served two consecutive 3-year terms. We also give thanks for David Brooks, who served a one-year term as Deanery Representative and Convention Delegate.

Our new slate of nominees to Vestry is as follows: Jill Quinn (for a 2^nd, 3-year term), Sue Lenkaitis, and Mike Burke. Our nominee to serve a new, 3-year term as Representative and Delegate is Ted Wingfield.

Blessings and praise to God for all the wonderful leaders in our parish!

Michael Burke - Mike and Kathy, his wife of 58 years, joined St. Francis in 2017, having been received into Episcopal Church in 2003. Previously they were Roman Catholics. Mike was a professor of history at Villanova (specialty in Latin America) where he also directed the Honors Program, led student learning experiences in Mexico, taught at Graterford prison, and initiated a Latinx outreach program.  In 2000, their children grown, they left Delaware County for southeast coastal North Carolina, where they carved out a very different life of volunteer work. Mike worked with undocumented immigrants, welfare moms, ex-felons, low-income adults seeking a college degree, and the uninsured in need of health insurance; Kathy worked with abused women, at a food bank, and at a free clinic.They returned to the Delaware Valley in 2017 to be closer to their sons. At St Francis Mike has been involved in adult education, the anti-racism committee, and serves as a reader.

Don Jenkins - Hello St Francis, my name is Don Jenkins. My wife, Eileen, and I joined the parish in August of 2019, just in time to receive a warm welcome, which has sustained us through the last crazy year. I am a cradle Episcopalian, and have served in various roles in my churches. I am currently serving as a lay reader at St. Francis.. Eileen and I raised our four children at Trinity Episcopal Church, Gulph Mills, where we were members for over 20 years. I am an emergency medicine physician. I enjoy hiking, mountain climbing and spending time with our ten month old grand-daughter.

Sue Lenkaitis - My family joined St. Francis over 10 years ago, when Mother Glynn baptized our three sons (Cade, Drew and Ryan). Since then, my husband, Mike, and I have loved our time at St. Francis and enjoyed watching our daughter, Bryn, and Ryan participate in the youth group and serve as acolytes. Currently, I am a member of the Circle of Friends, serve as an usher and am a member of the COVID-19 Safety Task Force. I live in West Chester and work full time as a communications consultant for the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. I enjoy reading, binging Netflix and podcasts and walking my dog, Crosby with Mike. I look forward to serving as a member of the Vestry.

Ted Wingfield - graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy Graduate in 1989 and was a submarine officer in the navy. He left the Navy and married Grace Wong in 1994. Ted worked engineering jobs for BOC Gases and PECO/Exelon Energy before starting with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2003. Ted and Grace have two daughters (Sarah & Emily) in college, live in East Goshen Township, and have been attending St. Francis since 2010.

The food collection by the High School Youth Group was a great success! Thanks to all your donations we delivered 547 pounds of food and also $255 in monetary donations!

Thanks to Mahala Renkey and her son for their help delivering the food!

We look forward to our next project for the West Chester Food Cupboard during Lent.

PARISH THANKED FOR BACKPACK PROJECT

The Outreach Committee again thanks the many caring St. Francis parishioners who supported the recent Backpack Project for Our Brothers’ Place in Philadelphia, continuing a tradition started over 25 years ago. Our parishioners’ generosity again provided a large volume of warm clothing and personal supplies. I feel very fortunate to be able meet and talk with some of those people directly impacted, and I want to pass along how truly grateful they are to receive these gifts.

Thank you very much! Jim Borum.

The Phase II Renovations Power Point Presentation is on the St. Francis website. Click Here to access.

St. Francis is in the process of forming a parish Anti-Racism Committee.

On Sunday, January 10 from 5 till 6:30 p.m. the High School Youth Group will meet at St. Francis.

Educated, Tara Westover

The Daring Ladies of Lowell, Kate Alcott

St. Francis-in-the-Fields is an active parish, even during COVID-19. For more information about our worship, outreach, and other ministries, visit our parish website, www.stfrancisfields.org. Our monthly parish newsletter, Fieldnotes, may be found by clicking HERE. Stay current on events by following our parish on Facebook.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields is a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, a member of The Episcopal Church, and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.