St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

Weekly E-Blast

October 2, 2025

Preparing for Sunday

St. Francis subscribes to a weekly service called Working Preacher, 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.

This Week at St. Francis

Thursday, October 2

2:00 pm - Contemplative Prayer Group

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Saturday, October 4

9:00 am - Memorial Garden Clean Up

Sunday, October 5

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

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

12:30 pm - Misa

5:00 pm - Taize

Monday, October 6

10:00 am - Bell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm - AA

Tuesday, October 7

1:00 pm - Altar Guild Meeting

Wednesday, October 8

12:00 pm - Noon Eucharist

4:00 - 6:30 pm - Drop in Hours with Mtr. Jaime

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm - AA

Thursday, October 9

10:00 am - Book Group

12:00 pm - Threads of Love

5:00 pm - Guys and Gals Nite Out

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, October 12

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

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

12:30 pm - Misa

Continuity & Change at St. Francis

When I started here at St. Francis I was delighted to find an old friend at the communion table: the bread that we used at chapel in seminary. My sacramental theology professors taught the significance of sharing one loaf, and one cup. As one of the fraction sentences in Enriching Our Worship puts it, "We who are many are one body, for we all share one bread, one cup." 

But real baked bread offers a challenge: it demands that everyone sip from the cup, because when intincted it crumbles, and it is hard to intinct without fingers also getting in the wine. In this time of heightened sensitivity to viruses, especially Covid, public health experts as well as sacramental theologians need to be part of the conversation.

At my last congregation I was fortunate enough to have a member of the Bishop's Advisory Committee who had a PhD in public health. As the Covid epidemic raged, she researched how we could have communion as safely as possible. Her conclusion was that besides rigorous and frequent handwashing, and everyone staying home if they were ill, the safest course was for people to intinct rather than sip from the cup. So I don't want to make that choice harder for people here at St. Francis. Covid is not an epidemic any longer, but it hasn't gone away, and offers a serious health risk to some. 

I have therefore made the decision that we are going to offer everyone wafers at the Communion rail. I know some people will be happy with this decision; others unhappy. It isn't a decision for forever. New information may change what appears to be prudent; your future rector will make their own decisions based on what they have learned. For now, however, at the Communion rail you will be offered wheat or gluten-free wafers. When the chalice is presented, you may choose to sip; you may choose to intinct (being careful to not dip your fingers); you may cross your arms over your chest and commune with your eyes. I am confident that Jesus will bless you in any choice. 

Mtr. Jaime

Stewardship Season is Upon Us!

This Sunday, your Stewardship Ministry will introduce the theme for this year’s Stewardship Campaign. We chose the theme “Trusting in God, united in faith, we build our future.” We, as a church, are entering a period of transition, and we see stewardship this year as a way for us all to stand together, united, confidant that our future will be one of knowing Christ, worshipping Christ, and serving Christ and our broader community.

We are using the symbol of our church bell tower to record your pledges as they come in. You will see a lovely model of the bell tower in the Narthex, to which we will add a block of wood for each pledge. Our goal is 125 pledges, which is similar to last year’s goal.

Your pledge cards can be mailed back to the church office, dropped into the pledge cards box in the Narthex, or placed in the offering plate. We thank you for your generosity.

If you have questions, please reach out to Gaby Vaught, Chair of the Stewardship Ministry, at vaught.gaby@gmail.com, or Mtr. Jaime at motherjaime@gmail.com

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is Saturday October 18th, at 5:00pm in the Parish Hall!

St. Francis celebrates Stewardship season each year with an Oktoberfest party. Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, German potato salad, and apple crisp, together with wine, German beer, and other beverages will be served. Live music and dancing (remember the chicken dance?) are all part of this festive event. Something you won’t want to miss!

Everyone is invited to attend, including children. Lederhosen and dirndl skirts are encouraged, but don’t let that hold you back!

Need a ride? Willing to give someone a ride? Please sign up on the sheets at the Information Center.



For more information, contact Lauri Horton at Lhorton5371@gmil.com or Doug Horton at DLDHorton5@aol.com.

Dinner Church

Our next gathering for Dinner Church will be Sunday, October 26, at 4 pm in the Parish Hall. Mother Jaime 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 pray, share about scripture, and have dinner.

New Instagram Page

St. Francis now has an Instagram page. Check us out @stfranciswilsonville.

Ladies Lunch

Our next Ladies Lunch will be on Tuesday, October 21 at 12:00 pm at Outback in Tualatin. There is a sign-up sheet in the Information Center. Questions? Contact Sandi Thompson or Peggy Danford.

Contemplative Prayer Group

A contemplative prayer group meets twice per month on Thursday at 2 pm in the Parish Hall library. We do Lectio Divina and sit for Centering Prayer, among other devotions. Our next meetings will be today and October 16th at 2:00 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: lnebert@yahoo.com) or Marcia Burdon (text only: 503-380-7820, email: mlburdon@hotmail.com).

Calling All Photographers!

One of the tasks of a congregation in transition is to update its website. St. Francis has a good website, given life by the many candid photos showing moments of hospitality. We could use some new ones. If you enjoy taking photos, please bring your cameras to church with you. The only restrictions are to not use flash during the service, and avoid photographing children’s faces. Please send your photos to Jodi in the office.

Gals and Guys Night Out

On Thursday October 9th, we will meet at the Langdon Farms Golf Course Restaurant at 5pm. Please come and join this group from St. Francis for fellowship, food and drink, and a good time. You are always welcome to bring a friend.

See you there,

Doug and Rich

Calling All Knitters

The weather is turning cooler, and a ball of yarn will feel good in your hands! It is time to begin knitting newborn baby hats for Salud Medical Clinic in Woodburn. These will be paired with little blankets made by our Threads of Love Ministry and collected during our celebration on Epiphany Sunday, January 4th. We will need a lot of little hats to keep up with the busy people in this ministry, so we welcome all knitters! Any pattern and any color would be wonderful. Some yarn and patterns are available in the Information Center. If you would like to learn to knit, or if you have any questions, please contact me.

Thank you.

Jane Domagalski

St. Francis Day

On October 5, St. Francis will be celebrating the feast day of our patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis saw in all creation - animals, plants, stars, people - the evidence of God's handiwork. We are honored to share in the name of this beloved saint, and we continually strive to be worthy of his name. On this day, people are invited to bring their animals to church for a personal blessing. Our pets will be welcomed and blessed at both the 8 am and 10:30 am services. It is a sweet moment, and a moving experience, to have our dog, cat, turtle, canary, etc. blessed and honored.

Pictures will be taken, and after a time on the bulletin board, they will be yours to keep. Animals also receive treats during coffee hour. Enjoy this day with all its spirit and joy. We hope to see you and your 4-legged and 2-legged friends!

If your pet is anxious or not friendly, Jaime will come out to the parking lot to bless them.

Memorial Garden Clean up

Fall Clean up in the gardens will be on Oct. 4! Please join us as you can to prune and pull in the Memorial Gardens. Grab your gloves and hand tools for fun in the sun (or drizzle) anytime between 9 am and noon.

Tickets are available for the Elvis Party on November 8th

If you missed out on buying tickets at the Outreach Auction for the now famous Elvis Party, there are still a few tickets left. The cost is $100 per ticket and the money raised goes to Outreach programs at St. Francis. The ticket includes an Elvis-themed dinner, wine and other beverages, and a fabulous Elvis show by a professional Elvis impersonator. We’d love to have you join the nearly 50 people who have already signed up for this very fun event. 1950’s/1960’s attire is encouraged. To buy tickets, please contact Ann Frazier (annfrazier41@comcast.net ) or Nyla Emory (nylaemory@mac.com).

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

Our next Taizé Prayer service will be Sunday, October 5th.

Annual Meeting Youth Overnight

Please help us spread the word about this year’s Hope & Fire Youth Overnight, taking place during Annual Meeting, October 17–18 at St. Paul’s, Salem. Youth in grades 6–12 are invited to gather Friday evening at 6 p.m. for dinner, fellowship, and activities.

On Saturday, we will send off our Official Youth Representatives to Annual Meeting while the rest of the youth engage in a community service project. All youth will join the wider diocesan gathering for lunch, and then enjoy a group outing before pick-up at 4 p.m., Oct. 18.

Important: This is the start of a new program year, so every youth must have a completed and signed permission form on file.

Please encourage the youth in your congregation to attend, and help ensure families receive the registration details and permission forms.

Last Call for Clothing for St Timothy, Brookings

The last day to bring clothing, boots and shoes for the homeless ministry at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Brookings is Sunday, October 12th. The following items are requested:

• Sturdy adult boots and shoes
• Blue jeans - adult sizes, especially larger sizes
• Warm Winter jackets
• Waterproof tops and bottoms

Please bring your donations to the hallway outside Dr. Jon Holland’s office. Questions? Contact Ann Frazier at annfrazier41@comcast.net.

William Temple House

Please continue to drop off your items in the boxes in the hallway; people receive help from William Temple House year round. From the webpage: “100% of the proceeds from the Thrift Store support the community services offered at William Temple House [including the provision of] food, counseling, clothing, and household items to Portland-area neighbors to strengthen our community.”

Susan Huffman