We are halfway through our Lenten journey – it hardly seems possible that we are only a few weeks away from Holy Week and Easter. I am out of town this week visiting family in Montana, but we are honored to have The Rev. Jon Feuss join us once again. The Rev. Celeste Stump is available for Pastoral emergencies until I return next Wednesday.

We are also excited to announce that on Palm/Passion Sunday we plan a return to receiving communion in both kinds. Bishop Taylor has authorized this with some restrictions to continue protecting our community. We will have more instructions in the next couple of weeks, but this is an exciting development – just in time for Easter! You will still have the option of receiving communion in one kind (bread only) if you so choose.

You also need to know that your Profile and Vestry committee have finished the Profile and our documents are waiting final approval from the diocese. That means our Rector search will soon begin in earnest.

Keep following the way of the cross!

We're back in person again for a Lenten Taizé.

Join us in the Chapel for a peaceful time filled with music and candlelight. If you're not familiar with this tradition, the community of Taizé, in France, is the location of a teaching and contemplative retreat center that attracts thousands of believers from all over the world.

Our service of Wholeness and Healing emulates the style of the chant services at Taizé, with music from Taizé and other contemplative sources. We sing short phrases repeatedly to quiet our minds and hearts and open our souls to being in the presence of God. Join in as you wish. You also have the option for confidential prayer with a Prayer team leader. We pray that the time will be a healing comfort for whatever you face or hold in your heart.

During Lent, as we continue to prepare for Easter, our online Bible Study continues - delving into the stories of the final week of Jesus’s earthly life.

To supplement our studies, we are using Amy-Jill Levine's book - "Entering the Passion of Jesus, A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week."

Anyone is welcome to join. Feel free to invite others you feel would be interested in participating. Simply email Jack Hailwood or Suellen Eslinger if you plan to attend so we can email you class handouts in advance of each session as well as the Zoom link.

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Parish Hall.

Supper ($8 pp/$20 per family)

Enjoy fellowship and a delicious meal cooked by our Friars (Men's group). Then Jerry+ continues his presentation on a four-part series based on 'The Wheel'. A model for Christian living based on a balanced Christian life centered in Jesus Christ. The four dimensions are the Word, Prayer, Witness, and Fellowship.

Join us!

For many years St. Francis has participated in St. Luke's ministry to the unhoused in Long Beach. Gayle Taylor currently leads our Outreach, and has dedicated her time and energy unstintingly to this very important cause. Now she needs a back-up to help her keep the Ministry performing at its high level.

Right now, we provide 120 bagged lunches and soup at St. Luke’s on the third Saturday of the odd-numbered months of the year (January, March, May, July, September and November, for a total of six times per year).

If you think you might be interested, or just want to find out more, please contact either of our Vestry co-leaders for Outreach - Dick Briggs, or Sue Egan.

Episcopal Relief & Development is mobilizing with Anglican agencies and other partners in order to provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine.

“Ecumenical and orthodox faith networks are on the ground in the border areas of Poland and Hungary,” said Abagail Nelson, Executive Vice President, Episcopal Relief & Development. “We will continue to coordinate with these networks, in order to meet the needs of people who have been displaced.”

Please pray for all those affected and if you can, click here to donate to Episcopal Relief & Development’s International Disaster Response Fund.

Note - be very careful of scams relating to Ukraine support. Even if it looks as though someone you know has contacted you by email or text message asking directly for money/gift cards etc., DO NOT send anything until you have spoken directly to them on the phone or in person to confirm they are not being impersonated by a scammer.

Did you know? The camp has 10,000 children under the age of 5! Most of these families arrive with very few possessions, and are on low incomes.

Biggest requested item is diapers, diapers and more diapers!! Target gift cards are also good because they can be used for food. As noted below with the rising food costs some of these families are dealing with food insecurities.

When do we need it? Please drop off any items you can contribute during March. Questions? Email Susie.

The annual St. Francis Rummage Sale has been scheduled for later this year and so it's time to start organizing and cleaning those cupboards and closets. We will start accepting your donations around the first week in July. As always we will need helpers all month long to sort, price, clean and display all of the wonderful treasures. Put that date on your calendar. Questions call Gloria 310-375-8916.

We offer free childcare in the nursery on the Parish Hall stage, during 10am worship; pre-K thru 5th grade—Meet in classrooms at 9:55 a.m. Children re-join their families in Church in time for Communion. Contact: Kristina Pelá.

Teens (6th-12th grades)—Meet Sundays 4:00—6:00 p.m. Contact: Wayne —901-219-6564.

8:00 a.m. - Rite I in-person worship in the Chapel, with hymns. 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

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