Lectionary Readings

Episcopal News

Coming events

Sunday, Apr. 13 — Palm Sunday with Bishop Visit

• 10:00 am Holy Eucharist (Rite II)

• 5:00 pm Parish Movie Night: “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Monday, Apr. 14 — Holy Week

• 7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal

Tuesday, Apr. 15 — Holy Week

• 6:00 pm Finance Committee meeting

• 7:00 pm Vestry meeting

Wednesday, Apr. 16 — Holy Week

• 10:00 am Holy Eucharist (Rite II, Chapel)

• 10:00 am Blue Bin Sorting

• 11:00 am Good Grief meeting

• 4:00 pm SAGES Movie Night (Regal Promenade)

Thursday, Apr. 17 — Maundy Thursday

• 1:00 pm Quilting and Knitting Group

• 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist w/ foot washing and Agape Meal

Friday, Apr. 18 — Good Friday

• 9:00 am Altar Guild (Easter setup)

• Noon - 3pm Prayers and silence in the chapel (at St. Francis)

• Noon Good Friday Holy Eucharist (at St. Cross)

Saturday, Apr. 19 — Holy Saturday

• 9:00 am Altar Guild (Easter setup)

• 7:30 pm Easter Vigil (at St. Andrew’s Torrance)

Sunday, Apr. 20 — Easter Sunday

• 8:00 am Holy Eucharist (Rite I, Chapel)

• 10:00 am Holy Eucharist (Rite II)

• 11:15 am Easter Egg Hunt

For more events, visit our calendar.

Join Us for Campus Cleanup Day

We’re calling on parishioners and friends to help us refresh our beautiful church grounds with a Gardening-focused Cleanup Day!

📅 Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025

⏰ Time: 9 AM – Noon

Let’s dig in, plant, trim, and tidy up together! Bring your gloves, tools, and a helping spirit. 🌱💚

For questions, contact Ed Hinz at 📞 310-418-8138 (text or voice).

Antique Show Gala Silent Auction donations needed!

Do you have the perfect treasure to make our Gala Silent Auction a huge success? Please consider making a donation for our event on Wednesday, May 28th. Popular items include personal creations such as jewelry and culinary specialties, social experiences like wine tasting events and group dinners, sports and theater tickets, luxury home items and much more! If you would like to donate, please contact Mary Deley at mary_deley@yahoo.com. You may drop off items in the church office or we are happy to coordinate pick up. A tax deductible donation statement is available upon request.

Thank you all for your ongoing support of this important fundraiser!

Movie Night: Jesus Christ Superstar

Everyone is invited to join us for movie night! On Sunday, April 13, doors open at 5:00 pm. Movie starts at 5:30 pm. Hotdogs, popcorn, soft drinks, and probably some healthy options too! Childcare provided. We hope to see you there!

Help shape the future of our diocese

The search for a new Bishop of Los Angeles is underway! Listening sessions are scheduled across the diocese from March 22 to April 26, giving parishioners and clergy the opportunity to share their thoughts and hopes.

Since St. Francis is part of Deanery 8, our session will be held on:

St. Cross, 1818 Monterey Blvd., Hermosa Beach

April 12 at 10:00 AM

Your input will help shape the profile of our next Bishop and guide the search process. All are welcome to attend!

The Diocese is also seeking parishioners to serve on the Transitions Committee, which will introduce bishop candidates to the diocese. If you have skills in hospitality, event planning, or pastoral care, consider applying!

Application opens: March 21 on the diocesan website

Deadline: April 11

For more details, read the full announcement in The Episcopal News.

For questions, contact our Diocesan delegates:

Susie Zimmerman – susiehzimmerman@gmail.com

Albert Zimmerman – azimmer159@outlook.com

Let’s take part in this important process for our church community!

Download flyer PDF

Lent and Easter in the South Bay

St. Francis participates in a combined Lent and Easter worship schedule with other South Bay Episcopal parishes. Below is the schedule of worship opportunities for you in our area. Download schedule PDF.

Rector's Reflection

Why was Jesus crucified?

Why was Jesus crucified? We know the theological reasons: he died for the sins of the whole world. But that’s not why Caiphas and the other temple authorities wanted him dead. They weren't thinking about atonement or everlasting grace and forgiveness. Why was Jesus crucified? Because he claimed to be the Messiah? No, plenty of people claimed to be the Messiah or son of God and they were treated as we would treat them now: with polite contempt and wariness, because clearly, they were not sane.

Jesus was brutally murdered because he was deemed to be a threat by the temple authorities. They were afraid of him because he healed people, spoke with authority, and preached a message of repentance and humility. He taught people to love their neighbors and, what’s more, to love those who hate them. He preached non-violence, abundant giving, and that a good life and success were not measured by wealth or status, but by one’s love for God and one another.

This Sunday, in less than an hour, we will move from singing praises to Jesus to shouting for his tortuous death. Jesus was crucified because the religious authorities were afraid that he would pull honor, authority, and status away from them.

Historians like to point out that Jesus lived in an honor/shame society, where honor was a zero sum, and to get more, you had to take it from someone else. The problem is that we still live in an honor/shame society. We still act as though someone getting honor or praise means taking it from us. We are still calling for Christ’s crucifixion, though now it goes by many names, the sum of which is this: that anyone we deem “other” or different from our norm needs to go away by any means necessary.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was meant to be the last, but we continue to call for the blood of those who threaten us. Who are we demonizing? Who are we calling a threat to our way of life? What is our way of life that is so easily threatened? Finally, who did Jesus say not to love? Who are we to turn away, not feed, visit, clothe, or give water?

Whatever we have done unto the least of these, so have we done unto Christ. We are still calling for blood, but there's no need. It’s been shed, we've been forgiven, and Christ dwells in all people. Let us stop shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” and instead see Him in ourselves and everyone we meet.

—Fr. Jason

Fr. Jason's Week in Review

April 4: Pastoral visit; met with the Senior Warden; picked up Jennifer from Outdoor Science School, and our kids gave her a hero’s welcome.

April 5: Day off; sermon prep.

April 6: Sunday services; at the 8AM service we had 27 people in attendance, and at 10AM we had 79. That evening our family left for Disneyland for our daughter’s birthday, and because this week is Jennifer’s spring break.

April 7: Spent the day at California Adventure! Rode a TON of kid rides, and spent 90+ minutes waiting to ride the Cars Ride, which our son did not enjoy.

April 8: Spent the day at Disneyland, where we met Chewbacca!!! The kids also had a good time.

April 9: Returned home from Disney; worked on the Palm Sunday/Bishop’s Visit service bulletin; admin tasks; pastoral phone calls; last Wednesday night program of Lent. Tony Deley made fish tacos, and they were AMAZING. The Friars did an outstanding job with the meals this year, and it was great to be able to teach for a few Wednesdays. Anna Egan showed us all how to make palm crosses out palm fronds, and made very helpful instructional sheets for each table.

Get Involved at St. Francis

St. Francis Choir

All singers and voice parts are welcome! No audition is necessary! Come join us at rehearsals on Mondays from 7-9 pm in the Sanctuary. For more information, contact Dr. Mark Bennett, Director of Music, at sternstag520@gmail.com or (617) 217-1601.

Good Grief Loss Support Group: Alternating Wednesday mornings (11 am to noon) and evenings (5 pm to 6 pm) in the St. Francis Library. For people suffering loss of any kind including death, divorce, loss of health due to an illness or accident, etc.

Men’s Corner: Monthly for dinner at Corner Bakery. Contact Ed Hinz (kn6jn@yahoo.com).

Nurture Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month to have a simple dinner and discuss a spiritual topic in a non-judgmental and open way. Next meeting is December 4 at 6 p.m. at the home of Blair Hinz. Please contact Susan Egan if you wish to attend.

Quilting and Knitting Group: Thursdays at 1 pm in the Board Room. Contact: Anna Eakins (annatkozaki@gmail.com).

SAGES (Senior Adult Group of Episcopalians): Group outings, social gatherings, guest speakers, and more. Contact: Kristina Pela (krab3@yahoo.com).

St. Anne’s Guild: Meets on the 4th Monday of Sept-June at 6pm. Join us for fellowship, plan church events (like the Rummage Sale and Antiques Show), potluck dinners, and our Christmas charity event! Contact Anna Eakins.

St. Teresa’s Guild: Meet a few times a year to raise money for charities that support women and children through dues and our famous Chinese New Year event. Contact: Robin Pano.

Friars: Meets as needed to cook meals for Parish events (e.g. Lenten Suppers). Contact: Dick Briggs.

Yoga: All Levels Hatha Yoga for Strength and Mobility: Mondays, 11 am to 12:30 pm. All Levels Gentle Yoga for Vital Mobility and Balance: Wednesdays, 9am to 10:30 am. Contact: Jill Lynch (jillfenskelynch@gmail.com).

Download our 2024 Get Connected booklet (PDF) for a list of all our ministries and small groups.

Flowers for the altar

Consider making a donation of altar flowers in honor of a special occasion or in memory

of someone you love. (The suggested donation is $50.) Contact Gina McQueen in the church office at 310-375-4617 or gina.mcqueen@stfrancispalosverdes.org.

Call for Photos

Each week we change the photo in the header of this weekly email newsletter. But we need more up-to-date photos... Get your photo featured! You can submit your photos of the St. Francis campus, events, and people to us at social@stfrancispalosverdes.org for consideration. We'll even run your name as a photo credit. So get snapping—we can't wait to see what you create!

Liturgy and Worship

Sundays at 8:00 am

Holy Eucharist Rite I with hymns in the Chapel.

Sundays at 10:00 am

Holy Eucharist Rite II with choir and music in the main church.

Wednesdays at 10:00 am

Healing & Reconciliation Holy Eucharist Rite II with hymns in the Chapel.

Taizé: Last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm

A meditative service of music and prayer in the Chapel. (No communion.)

For other worship services and parish events, visit our calendar.

Livestream Worship and Sermons Online

We livestream Sunday 10am worship on Facebook and YouTube. You can view past sermons or entire livestreams on our YouTube channel.

Nursery School and Sunday School

Sunday school for children in kindergarten through fifth grade will be held in the Parish Hall from 9:50 am to 10:40 am (ish ... the kids typically come in at the Peace). There is a nursery for children 6 months to 5 years old.

Contact: Kristina Pelá

Pastoral Care

In need of prayer? Send prayer requests to Fr. Jason.

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

Parish Directory

Our directory is available online. If you need the password, contact Gina McQueen in person in the church office. For security reasons, we don't share the parish directory via email or phone call.