St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church
Weekly E-Blast
December 1, 2022
| |
PO Box 445 (mailing address)
8818 SW Miley Road (physical address)
Wilsonville, OR 97070
503-678-5422
| |
Second Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 4, 2022
| |
Forward Day by Day – Isaiah 1:11
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
There is a passage in Homer’s Odyssey, where Odysseus’s men act in direct opposition to the will of the gods. They choose to kill and eat the sacred cattle belonging to Helios, the sun god. To cover their crime, they plan to offer a sacrifice of the best of the cattle, as though giving back to the god what was already his would allay his wrath.
Scripture teaches us that obedience is better than sacrifice. Nothing good in our lives—peace, health, relationships, even tangible wealth—is truly our own. We are entitled to nothing. These blessings are ultimately divine gifts. And while we should hold them loosely, we do God no favors, earn no credits, by offering back what is already truly God’s. The one gift I have to offer is my obedience, freely asked for and freely given.
Moving Forward: What gifts of obedience do you bring this Advent?
| |
Preparing for Sunday
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
Intercessor: Dale Rushton
Lector: Marilyn Morgan
Lector: Peggy Danford
Ushers/Greeters: Rebecca Engen and Paula Robke
Altar Guild: Jim and Jean Atwell
| | |
Serving at 10:30 am
LEM: Joe Schiwek, Jr. and John Wisecaver
Intercessor: Terri Hoffmann
Lector: Bruce Schroeder
Lector: Mary Add Schroder
Usher/Greeter: Bob Sharp
Usher/Videographer: Rob Campbell
Altar Guild: Linda Ocheltree and Joe Schiwek, Jr.
Flower Guild: Jane Domagalski
| | |
This Week at St. Francis
Thursday, December 1
1:00 pm - Threads of Love
7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group
Friday, December 2
10:00 am - Al Anon
Saturday, December 3
10:00 am - Greeter/Usher Meeting
12:00 pm - Intercessor Meeting
Sunday, December 4
8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist
9:00 am - Adult Formation
10:30 am - Sunday School
10:30 am - Eucharist, Live Eucharist on YouTube/Facebook
12:30 pm - Misa
Monday, December 5
2:00 pm - Contemplative Prayer Group
7:30 pm - AA
Tuesday, December 6
11:45 am - Ladies Lunch at Black Bear
7:00 pm - RA
Wednesday, December 7
12:00 pm - Noon Eucharist
1:00 pm - Staff Meeting
7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal
7:30 pm - AA
Thursday, December 8
10:00 am - Book Group
1:00 pm - Threads of Love
5:30 pm - Guys and Gals Nite Out at McMenamins
7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group
Friday, December 9
10:00 am - Al Anon
Saturday, December 10
10:00 am - LEM Meeting
Sunday, December 11
8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist
9:00 am - Adult Formation
10:30 am - Sunday School
10:30 am - Eucharist, Live Eucharist on YouTube/Facebook
12:30 pm - Misa
| |
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.
|
Upcoming Ministry Meetings
Greeters, welcoming committee, and ushers will meet at 10 am on Saturday, December 3rd, in the classroom in the Parish Hall.
Intercessors will meet at 12 noon on Saturday, December 3rd, in the classroom in the Parish Hall.
LEM training will occur at 10 am on Saturday, December 10th, in the Sanctuary.
| |
Catechumenate 2023
You are cordially invited to join us for the 2023 Catechumenate (Cat23)! You will be welcomed and you will learn things if any of the following questions are yours: Were you baptized as a baby or not at all? Would you like to know more about the Episcopal tradition? Would you like to know more about St. Francis Wilsonville? Are you interested in getting to know some great folks? Would you like to get baptized?
Cat23 is a long, leisurely exploration of what God is calling each of us to be and do as members of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement. We meet on Sundays from noon - 2pm in the Parish Hall; we share lunch, stories, prayers, reflections, and some wisdom. We work to understand the scriptures and to learn what God hopes for each of us and the community of St. Francis. For more information or to enroll, email Terri Hoffmann
([email protected]).
| |
Advent Hygge
In Denmark, the people embrace the dark season of the year with Hygge (hoo’-geh), a practice of coziness. Practice and enjoy coziness this Advent with devotional table tents, one for each week of Advent. The kits are available for you in the Narthex to fold for your own table. We hope they enrich your Advent experience.
| |
Advent Poetry
The Advent poetry discussion series continues Sunday at 9:00 am through December 18th. Ken Ballard, who has facilitated this series for several years, has chosen 24 wonderful advent-themed poems for us to explore. Since Ken has moved out of state, Elisa Dale will be leading the discussions. We have plenty of booklets and hope to have a good turnout for these four Advent Sundays.
| |
Clergy Bears Return!
Clergy Bear ornaments are on sale before and after both services. They have original collars from clergy at St. Francis, past and present. Proceeds will be used to benefit the St. Francis Altar Guild. Thank you for your support!
Clara Woodridge, Jan Baird, Traci Cronkrite, and Dale Rushton
| |
Guys and Gals Nite Out
GALS NITE OUT - inviting all St. Francis Women
GUYS NITE OUT - inviting all St. Francis Men.
Same date, time and place, but separate tables.
Thursday, Dec. 8 at 5:30 pm
NEW place: McMenamins, Wilsonville
Across Parking Lot from Fred Meyer
Agenda: Get to know one another better. Go home happy having had a good time.
Sponsors: Doug Horton, Don Nash, John Wisecaver, Gary & Sandi Thompson
| |
Ladies Lunch
Let’s do lunch! We hope you can join us on Tuesday, December 6th at 11:45 am. We will meet at Black Bear in Wilsonville. A head count is helpful so there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Questions? Contact Peggy Danford or Sandi Thompson.
| |
Christmas Flowers
Christmas Flowers grace our worship space around the altar, around the walls, in the entry, the Narthex and in the windows. If you would like to honor loved ones or simply contribute funds for the beauty of the holiday, please look for contribution envelopes on Sundays in Advent, or request one from the office or Terri Hoffmann.
| |
Shuttle Driver Needed
SpringRidge Retirement Home is looking for a new shuttle driver to transport residents to church on Sundays. If you are interested, please contact Cindy at 503-925-4142. There are special licensing requirements that are similar to being licensed to drive a semi.
| |
Collection for Newborn Babies
On Epiphany Sunday, January 8th, it has been our tradition to support the babies of Salud Medical Center in Woodburn with gifts of knitted baby hats and handmade baby blankets. Our gifts also include disposable diapers and baby clothes. As you shop during this season, be on the lookout for sales, and please remember these little ones. There will be a basket in the Narthex where you can drop off your donations. We will be collecting these items until Sunday, January 8th. Thanks! Jane Domagalski (503-266-9440)
| |
Hope and Light
We are excited to announce Hope&Light - a diocesan youth event for middle and high schoolers - happening January 7-8, 2023, in Salem. This is the first of many diocesan youth events to come that will feature a time for fellowship, service, and worship. The event is free; however, any donations of $25 or more will assist with program costs. A registration link will be available in the Diocesan Digest in the coming weeks.
| |
Lenten Booklets
St. Francis will produce a Lenten booklet again this year. Please send your submissions to Jodi at [email protected].
| |
Contemplative Prayer Group
A contemplative prayer group meets twice per month on Mondays at 2 pm in the Parish Hall library. We do Lectio Divina and sit for Centering Prayer, among other devotions. Our next meeting will be on December 5th at 2 pm. If you are interested in Silent Prayer or Contemplation and want to join the prayer group or ask for more information, please contact Lucia Jorge-Nebert (call or text: 971-341-2068, email: [email protected]) or Marcia Burdon (text only: 503-380-7820, email: [email protected]).
| |
Wilsonville Food Bank
They need peanut butter and storable fresh fruit such as apples and oranges. NO CEREAL, please. You can drop off your donations to the church. A volunteer takes the food to the Food Bank every Tuesday.
Thank you all for helping with this important need!
| | | | | | |