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Palm Sunday — March 24
Celebrate Palm Sunday at the 8:00 am and 10:00 am service.
Holy Week — March 24 - 30
- 3/27 Holy Wednesday: 7 pm Tenebrae at St. Andrew’s (Torrance). A contemplative evening of light & music.
- 3/28 Maundy Thursday: 12 pm Foot washing at Christ Church (Redondo). 7 pm Holy Eucharist, foot washing, stripping of the altar, and the Watch at St. Cross (Hermosa).
- 3/29 Good Friday: 12-3 pm Meditative service at St. Francis. Sit in the quiet of the chapel as we contemplate the last words of Christ; this is a come-and-go service.12-3 pm Labyrinth Walk in Parish Hall. 7 pm Veneration of the Cross at Christ Church (Redondo).
- 3/30 Holy Saturday, 8 pm the Great Easter Vigil at St Francis.
Taizé - Tuesday, March 26 at 7:00 pm in the Chapel
Easter Sunday — March 31
Celebrate Easter at the 8:00 am and 10:00 am service, followed by our Easter Egg Hunt immediately following the service.
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When I was growing up in the Episcopal Church we received single palm leaves on Palm Sunday; kids would sword fight with them, adults would accidentally poke other people in the ear, and the acolytes would try to figure out a way to carry their torches and palms at the same time. Once we got to the pews, while still singing, “All glory, laud and honor…” we would put our palm leaves down or fold them over in a prayer book and continue our worship. Over the course of the service people who were natural fidgeters would fold, twist and bend their palm leaves into crosses. But we didn’t hand out palm crosses. The palms are meant to symbolize Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem; the people were so excited to see him that they threw their coats down before him, and those who had no coats scaled the palm trees and threw down fronds for people to distribute in front of Jesus. Had anyone thought to fold one of the palms into a cross they would have been immediately chastised and shamed. Imagine our reaction today if someone folded their palm into a noose.
Every Sunday’s service is a reenactment of sorts; we reenact the last supper each Sunday, and through the readings hear again and again the story of salvation history. Our signs and symbols are meant to carry and convey meaning. Palm Sunday gives me whiplash - at the beginning of the service we are hailing Jesus as Hosanna in the Highest, and not thirty minutes later we are crying out, “Crucify, crucify him!” It might make sense to give people palm crosses on the way out - to show how fickle and mercurial we are as a people, and that our symbol of joy has been bent into an instrument of torture. The cross should be too much for any of us to bear during this one week of the year–too horrible, painful, and necessary.
On this side of Easter, as we reenact the last days of Jesus’ life, the cross is not yet a symbol of sacrificial, unconditional love and grace. It is a symbol of torture and violent oppression; a symbol of death. To fully appreciate the miracle of Easter it is helpful to fully immerse ourselves in the drama of Holy Week. We will wave our palm fronds in celebration of Jesus, as we proclaim him to be Hosanna. Golgotha will come all too soon, and the empty tomb not soon enough; let us put ourselves in the sandals of those first followers, and cheer heartily and joyfully for Jesus.
—Fr. Jason
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"Good Grief" loss support group | |
Loss comes in many different forms: loss of a loved one to death, divorce, dementia ... loss of health due to aging, an accident or a diagnosis ... the list goes on. If you are feeling a loss and would like to be part of a supportive community, please contact Kristina Pela at krab3@yahoo.com with your interest. A team of parish volunteers will offer a weekly grief support group starting up after Easter here at St. Francis. Meeting dates and times will be established once we've learned people's availability. | |
Fr. Jason's Week in Review | |
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March 15: Day off; Tom and I went to the beach, where he played in the water and I stayed on the beach in my flannel shirt and jeans…
March 16: Took Tom to the airport, where we found out our plane was delayed due to mechanical failure, which meant we would miss our connecting flight through Denver, which had just been blanketed with snow and had no flights out for the next 36 hours - rescheduled our flight for Monday; sermon prep.
March 17: Sunday services; Rachel’s birthday; St. Patrick’s Day.
March 18: Took Tom back to Memphis, and from there he went back to Jackson, Mississippi.
March 19: Doctor’s appointment, where my doctor was the older brother of our very own Mike Spalding; phone meeting with Senior Warden; vestry meeting prep; finance meeting; vestry meeting.
March 20: Admin tasks; prep for Seder Dinner; noon Eucharist; working lunch with Deacon Celeste and Susan Brown; more prep for the Seder; Seder Dinner.
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Photos from the Lenten Seder | |
We had a wonderful Seder dinner on Wednesday, March 20, led by Bob Rothman and his wife Celia! It was informative and meaningful to participate in the service which was followed by a delicious brisket dinner. Thanks again to the Frairs for making our Lenten Series so special this year. | |
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At our Easter services, we share our joy and celebration by way of extra-special music and decorations of our chapel and church. These extraordinary offerings require resources above and beyond our allotted funds, and so we invite those who would like to be part of this festive glory to donate.
Please fill out this form to contribute to the Easter flowers and/or music. The minimum suggested flower donation is $50.
Checks should be made out according to instructions on the form. Place your completed form and check(s) in the office or the Sunday collection plate.
The deadline for Easter flower dedications to be included in the Easter Sunday bulletin is Sunday, March 25.
We hope you enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of our Easter celebrations, which so deeply enhance our worship experiences! Many thanks to the Altar Guild, Choir, and Musicians.
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All children are welcome to join us on Easter Sunday after the 10 am service for an Easter Egg Hunt! Bring your camera so you can get photos with the Easter Bunny. And, bring your favorite Easter Basket to collect your eggs - we will also have bags available. | |
Please help us prepare for our children's Easter Egg Hunt by donating candy or sticker-filled, plastic eggs for the event. Please do not include any candy containing nuts or peanut butter. Eggs may be donated in the church office and we are asking if you can please turn them in by Tuesday, March 26th. If you have any questions please contact Mary Deley at mary_deley@yahoo.com. Thank you for support! | |
By Your Side Training Winter 2024 | |
The Canterbury
April 15 through May 13
6:30 to 8:30 PM
Since 2011, the mission of By Your Side (an Episcopal Communities & Services Compassion Program) has been to support people in times of change and difficulty, particularly in health crisis, and to be at their bedside at the end of their lives as needed. More than five hundred volunteers have been trained to be a compassionate presence.
We continue to develop teams of people to serve in hospital and long-term care settings, especially in our ECS communities. There, team members have had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of what it means to really be "with" the residents they support, and residents become even more aware of the needs of neighbors having difficulty with changes in their lives, with challenging diagnoses or increasing frailty. In the larger community, individuals and spiritual care teams strengthen their understanding of what being together through the end of life can really look like. We all gain tools for taking care of ourselves while being present for those around us. The pandemic brought all of us to an acute awareness of life's fragility, realizing that what is most important is connection. Please join us in this exploration. There is no obligation to volunteer.
Our next 10-hour training is at The Canterbury, 5801 Crestridge Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 on Monday evenings, April 15—May 13, from 6:30 t0 8:30 pm. For further information and to register, you may contact Susan Bown at sbroun@ecsforseniors.org or (626)403-5424. A fee of $70.00 (which includes all materials) is due by the second class. ECS team members are complimentary; scholarships are for public enrollees. CE (2 hrs.) for nurses is available for an added $30.00 under California Board of Registered Nursing Provider CEP 16239.
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Sunday Holy Communion
8:00 am
Rite I in-person worship in the Chapel, with hymns. This service is not live-streamed.
10:00 am
Rite II in-person worship in the main church with choir and music.
For other worship services and parish events, visit our calendar.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Parish Directory
Our directory is available online. If you need the password, contact the church office or email Claire Erbeznik.
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Calendar of Events
All of our worship services, events, and small groups are listed on our church calendar.
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Communications
and Notices
Please send all notices you wish to be included in the enews or bulletins to Father Jason.
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Coffee Hour
Ministry
To volunteer to help one week after the 10am worship service, see the sign-up sheet at Sunday coffee hour.
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Yoga with Jill
A spiritual mind and body practice led by Jill Lynch in the St. Francis Parish Hall.
Mondays 11:00-12:30 pm – Level 1/2 Hatha for Strength and Mobility
Wednesdays 9:00-10:30 am – Level 1 Gentle Yoga for Vital Mobility and Balance
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