St. Francis E-Blast, March 28, 2024

St. Francis subscribes to a weekly service called Preparing for Sunday, which provides some brief commentary on the bible readings for the upcoming weeks. It can be found on the Sermons & Services page on the St. Francis website (https://tinyurl.com/sermonspage). I encourage all of you to consider looking at it prior to Sunday, particularly if you are a lector for the week.

Father Brendan

Participants in this Week's Services

Serving at 8 am

LEM: Peggy Danford and Linda Nash

Intercessor: Deb Fritts

Lector: Dale Rushton

Lector: Peggy Danford

Ushers/Greeters: Ron and Sue Coleman

Altar Guild: Dale Rushton, Jan Baird, and Jan Shaver

Serving at 10:30 am

LEMs: Susy Mekarski, Joe Schiwek, Jr. and Doug Horton

Intercessor: Gaby Vaught

Lector: Sophia Vaught

Lector: Oliver Meskell

Ushers: Ed Burnside and John Vaught

Usher/Videographer: Mark Stewart

Welcome Table: Gary Thompson and Ann Frazier

Altar Guild: Lynne Tucker and Linda Ocheltree

Flower Guild: Carole Biskar

Coffee Hour Hosts: Hospitality Ministry

Click here for the Full Church Calendar

This Week at St. Francis

Thursday, March 28

5:30 pm - Maundy Thursday Soup Supper

7:00 pm - Maundy Thursday Liturgy

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

8:00 pm - Overnight Vigil

Friday. March 29

12:00 pm - Good Friday Liturgy

1:00 pm - Stations of the Cross

7:00 pm - Good Friday Liturgy

Saturday, March 30

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Reconciliation of a Penitent (by appt. only)

7:00 pm - Easter Vigil

Sunday, March 31 - Easter Sunday

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

10:30 am - Eucharist, Live Eucharist on YouTube/Facebook

11:30 am - Easter Egg Hunt

12:30 pm - Misa

Monday, April 1

10:30 pm - Bell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm - AA

Wednesday, April 3

12:00 pm - Noon Eucharist

1:00 pm - Staff Meeting

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm - AA

Thursday, April 4

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, April 7

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

10:30 am - Eucharist, Live Eucharist on YouTube/Facebook

10:30 am - Sunday School

12:30 pm - Misa

Holy Week Schedule

Thursday, March 28 - Maundy Thursday

5:30 pm - Maundy Thursday Soup Supper

7:00 pm - Maundy Thursday Liturgy

8:00 pm - Overnight Vigil

Friday, March 29 - Good Friday

12:00 pm - Good Friday Liturgy

1:00 pm - Stations of the Cross

7:00 pm - Good Friday Liturgy

Saturday, March 30

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Reconciliation of a Penitent (by appt. only)

7:00 pm - Easter Vigil

Sunday, March 31 - Easter Sunday

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

10:30 am - Eucharist, Live on YouTube/Facebook

11:30 am - Easter Egg Hunt

12:30 pm - Misa

Parish Activities

If you would like your announcements to be included in this newsletter, or in the Sunday bulletin, please email them to the office at [email protected] by Tuesday evening (7:30 pm). Please include a contact person within the announcement in case there are questions. Announcements will run for two weeks or until the event takes place.

No Sunday School on Easter

There will be no Sunday School on Easter Sunday, but if children would like one, there will be a packet of activities available during the service. Nursey care is available as usual.

The Mite Boxes may be returned on Easter Sunday. The offering will be sent to Episcopal Relief and Development for their work in Third World countries, and specifically to purchase goats for a family to raise.

Dinner Church

Our next gathering for Dinner Church will be April 28, at 5 pm in the Parish Hall. Father Brendan will make the main dish and we will have a potluck for sides, salads, and desserts. There is a sign-up sheet in the Information Center. We will have dinner, break bread, and celebrate the Eucharist.

Easter Flowers

On Easter Sunday, the veil of Lent has been lifted, and flowers and joy come out in abundance. St. Francis looks breathtakingly beautiful on Easter Sunday, and our hearts feel this happiness. Many hands make this possible, so on Easter Saturday, March 30th, we gather and create beauty with lovely flowers. We gather at 9 am for a few hours, and have a fun time creating and sharing friendships - old and new. All flowers are provided. Previous flower arranging experience is not necessary. A sign-up sheet is in the Information Center for those who would to help on this glorious day.

Thank you.

Apryl Garmon and Jane Domagalski ([email protected])

Adult Formation

Adult Formation will not meet on Easter Sunday.

Please join us beginning April 7 for Thanksgiving in Easter! We’ll look at a General Thanksgiving or two in the Book of Common Prayer and remind ourselves of our blessings. Look at page 836.

Following Thanksgiving in Easter, we’ll spend some time finding Shame Resilience. Everyone feels shame (not a perfect body? not the life you wanted?); it’s a painful feeling of believing we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love/belonging, so we hide our shame. With a little compassion and courage we can use our faith and community to build shame resilience, learn and grow from it.

Taizé Prayer at St. Francis

For a time of prayer, reflection, and peace, please join us for Taizé prayers at the Cross of San Daminano.

The San Damiano Cross was one of a number of crosses painted with similar figures during the 12th century in Umbria. The purpose of an icon cross was to teach the meaning of the event depicted and thereby strengthen the faith of the people. Jesus Christ is represented both as wounded and strong.

Taizé Prayer is a simple, meditative form of worship, calling us to dwell deeply on Christ's presence around and within us. Mantra songs (like "Jesus, Remember Me"), prayerful silence, and short readings guide the focus of the prayer in a candle-lit environment.

Come at 5:00 pm for the service or 4:30 pm if you would like to sing through the chants prior to the serve.

Our next Taizé Prayer service will be Sunday, April 7.

Did You Know? - Front Doors

The symbol on our front doors was hand carved by Oscar Spliid, a parishioner. It is a Celtic cross inspired by a symbol on one of Father Tom Cumming’s stoles. It is made of Honduran mahogany. Oscar is well-known for his carvings of birds, ducks, fish, and weather-vanes. The Narthex of the church was designed so that coffee could be served. The Narthex opens out to the East Memorial Garden.

Ministry Prayers – Adult Formation

Each week, in our Prayers of the People, we pray for a ministry here at St. Francis. This week, we pray for our Adult Formation. Adult Formation at St. Francis takes many forms, especially in the last few years. There is a book group, a contemplative prayer group, seasonal materials for use at home, our catechumenate, and our many committees that serve our Parish and the world. All these are in addition to worship, Sunday School, and Adult Formation forums on Sundays. In all of these, we have opportunities to get closer to God and to each other. Some are available online. In Advent, the beginning of our church calendar year, choose a form and try it on!

Are you interested in joining this Ministry? Contact Terri Hoffmann for more information.

Parish Outreach

Wilsonville Food Bank

The food bank is in need of CEREAL AND PEANUT BUTTER. They normally do not need cereal, but at this time they do. They do not want the giant size containers of peanut butter, and please only non-stir varieties. They also do not need fruit, rice, or pasta. Please put any donations in the cart in the Narthex. A volunteer takes the food to the Food Bank every Tuesday.