St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

Weekly E-Blast

December 11, 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, December 11

10:00 am - Book Grou

12:00 pm - Threads of Love

5:00 pm - Guys and Gals Nite Out

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, December 14

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

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

10:30 am - Church School

12:30 pm - Misa

Monday, December 15

10:00 am - Bell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm - AA

Tuesday, December 16

6:00 pm - Vestry

Wednesday, December 17

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, December 18

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, December 21

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

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

10:30 am - Church School

12:30 pm - Misa

3:00 pm - Blue Christmas

Continuity & Change at St. Francis

We at St. Francis are busy with preparing for Christmas. Jodi is preparing bulletins; the choirs are rehearsing; the Outreach Committee is gathering food and gifts. At the same time your Vestry is looking ahead to next year. At next week’s meeting, they will approve a 2026 budget (last chance to get your pledges taken into account!) and appoint chairs of the Parish Profile and Search Committees. We are also looking ahead to the 2026 Annual Meeting, and the election of new Vestry members.

Three members of the Vestry are ending their terms. In accordance with the Parish Bylaws, the Vestry has appointed a Nominating Committee of the retiring members, and is creating a process for people to apply to be considered for election.

The Vestry is the elected governing board of a parish. It is key to fulfilling St. Francis’ mission of “To Know Christ, to Worship Christ, to Serve Christ.” By the work it does, and the manner in which it does that work, it upholds the parish core values “to be faithful, fair, caring, collaborative, and to act with integrity.”

If you are interested in learning more about the Vestry: what it does, how much work is involved, etc., talk to one of the Nominating Committee members. They are Bruce Schroeder, Peter Wallmark, and Apryl Garmon. 

Jaime+

Service Schedule December 21-25

December 21

3:00 pm - Blue Christmas

December 24

3:00 pm - Christmas Eve Pageant, Live on YouTube/Facebook

9:00 pm - Service and Carols, Live on YouTube/Facebook

December 25

9:00 am - Christmas Morning Service

Applications Due Soon

If you are thinking about applying for the Profile or Search Committee, now is the time to act. The Vestry set a deadline of 5 pm on December 15th. If you want a fillable electronic copy of the application, email Peter Wallmark, wallmark9290@comcast.net. 

Clergy Bears Return!

Clergy Bear ornaments will be on sale in the Narthex beginning Sunday, November 30th, after the 8:00 am service and before the 10:30 am service. They will also be available the first two Sundays in December or until the supply is depleted.

The bears have original collars from clergy, past and present. They will be $10 each, cash only.

Proceeds will be used to benefit Outreach at St. Timothy’s in Brookings. Thank you for your support!

New Year's Eve Dinner Church

Our next gathering for Dinner Church will be Wednesday, December 31, at 4 pm in the Parish Hall. We will have our annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year we are doing a potluck of hearty appetizers and desserts.  There is a sign-up sheet in the Information Center. We will pray, share about scripture, and have dinner.

Collection for Newborn Babies

On Epiphany Sunday, January 4th, 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 4th. Thanks!

Jane Domagalski (503-266-9440)

Christmas Flowers 

Christmas flowers grace our worship space around the altar, around the walls, in the entry, in 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.

Reimbursements

Please turn in all reimbursement requests for 2025 no later than Friday, December 26, 2025. If you plan to prepay any portion of your 2026 pledge, please make sure that payment is in the office by December 26, 2025 for credit in 2025. 

Giving & Potential Income Tax Deductions

Many people welcome the tax deduction advantage of tapping their retirement accounts to make "Qualified Charitable Donations" (QCDs). St. Francis welcomes such donations to pay pledges or make donations. Simply ask your financial advisor or brokerage firm to send a check to St. Francis (PO Box 445, Wilsonville, OR 97070). Please ask that your name appears on the check so that we can properly thank you.

Gals and Guys Night Out

On Thursday, December 11, we will meet at the Ram Restaurant in Wilsonville 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

Welcome Table Volunteers Needed

In backup to our "DOOR GREETERS," who greet everyone coming through our doors, our "WELCOME TABLE MEMBERS" gently focus ONLY on people who appear to be visiting. We ask if they are familiar with our Episcopal services and, if not, we take a few moments to help them to feel comfortable with our Episcopal service. We also look for clues that the visitor might be looking for a new church home. We follow up by writing short "thank you for coming" notes to mail on our way home from church. Note: Studies have shown that a timely follow-up by a layperson is one of the most effective ways for encouraging "new-church-home-seekers" to return another Sunday. 

Ideally, we have four teams of two people each for 10:30 services. Each team is assigned one Sunday a month. A team can be two individuals or a couple. We help each other by substituting when needed. For more information, contact Gary Thompson.

Current Gallery Show - some memorable parishioner stories - not to miss!

We encourage viewers to SELECT ONE of these remarkable stories to READ AFTER CHURCH each upcoming Sunday. The storytellers wish you the same joy that they experienced in sharing their stories. Also, this show includes some amazing craft/art works: A "knitted" Nativity Scene, handcrafted greeting cards, a floral centerpiece creation, pictures of several gingerbread buildings (each created as a family tradition over several Christmases), beautiful paintings, and memorable photography. This show is titled "Christmas Joy Anticipation” and will run through the 12th day of Christmas, January 6.

Delivery Drivers Needed

We still need 10-12 more volunteers to deliver Christmas boxes after church on December 21. There is a sign-up sheet in the Information Center. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Barbara Bridge or Carole Biskar.

Mahjong Informational Meeting

We will meet on Tuesday, January 6, at 1:30 pm in the Conference Room to discuss the formation of our Mahjong group. If you are interested in joining, please come to the meeting. Questions? Contact Marianne Burnside.

Adult Formation

In Advent, we will use the weekly Lectionary readings from Isaiah as a way to listen to and move toward the Call to Hope amid a world of brokenness. We'll discuss waiting in faith, preparing for the return of justice, tending our own light of wholeness in a politically difficult season and, for many of us grieving absent loved ones amid "Happy Holidays," a season that can be emotionally difficult, as well. Join leader Norm Shrumm and others from your church community Sundays at 9am for insightful and supportive discussion. This 3 week series begins November 30.

There will be NO meetings December 21 or December 28. We hope to see you in Epiphany!

Advent at St. Francis!

Advent is the season of anticipation of and preparation for the Nativity of our Lord. You are cordially invited to use and/or participate in any of the Advent observances at St. Francis this year. We hope your Advent will be rich and inspiring as we await again the Incarnation of Emanuel--God with us!

*Worship this season expands to include Eucharist at SpringRidge, along with regular worship at St. Francis on Wednesdays at noon and Sunday mornings at 8 am and 10:30 am (also broadcast).

*For all of us struggling to find joy this Advent, a contemplative, musical service of Blue Christmas on December 21 at 3 pm is offered to comfort and encourage us.

*Adult Formation will explore the promises of Isaiah: Call to Hope. We'll learn together about maintaining our faith through times of social, political, and personal brokenness, on Sundays at 9 am, led by Norm Shrumm.

*There are devotional books (donations welcome) and Advent WORDS for personal and family devotions available in the Narthex.

*Lessons and Carols will celebrate the scriptures and music of Advent at our 10:30 am service on December 14, followed by a special coffee hour celebration.

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

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, January 4th.

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