St. Francis E-Blast October 30, 2025

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.

Participants in this Week's Services

Serving at 8 am

LEM: Marilyn Morgan

Intercessor: Mary Kirk

Lector: Chris Onstad

Lector: Peggy Danford

Ushers/Greeters: Ron and Sue Coleman

Altar Guild: Traci Cronkrite and Jean Atwell

Serving at 10:30 am

LEMs: Joe Schiwek, Jr. and Kevin Tucker

Intercessor: Terri Hoffmann

Lector: Ann Frazier

Lector: Kay Sharp

Ushers: Ed and Marianne Burnside

Usher/Videographer: John Vaught

Welcome Table: Bruce Hamlin and Gary Thompson

Altar Guild: Linda Ocheltree and Joe Schiwek, Jr.

Flower Guild: Maureen Hamlin and Nancy Stephenson

Coffee Hour Hosts: Barbara Lauinger, Kate McClellan, and Lauri Horton

Click here for the Full Church Calendar

This Week at St. Francis

Thursday, October 30

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, November 2

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, November 3

10:00 am - Bell Choir Rehearsal

5:00 pm - All Souls' Service

7:30 pm - AA

Tuesday, November 4

10:00 am - Staff Meeting

Wednesday, November 5

9:30 am - Outreach Committee Meeting

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, November 6

2:00 pm - Contemplative Prayer Group

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, November 9

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

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

12:30 pm - Misa

3:00 pm - Fred Terrill's Funeral

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 saintfranciswilsonville@gmail.com 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.

Continuity & Change at St. Francis

Springridge Service to Resume! Beginning Tuesday November 11, I will be offering a monthly service of Holy Eucharist at Springridge. The service will be at 11 am in the Leone Room, on the Second Tuesday of each month. It is open to everyone – please invite your friends at Springridge who might like a traditional service of communion, even if they are not Episcopalians.

This Sunday, November 2, we will celebrate All Saints Day at both our 8 and 10:30 am services. On Monday we will observe one of St. Francis’ traditions with a service of remembering all faithful departed for All Souls Day, at 5 pm. The following Sunday, November 9, we will honor our veterans on the Sunday closest to Veteran’s Day. If you are relatively new to St. Francis, and a veteran, please let Jodi in the office know so that we can include your name in the bulletin.

Jesus said, “the poor are always with you,” and it is a longtime practice here at St. Francis to bring food for the Wilsonville Food Bank. But need is particularly great now, as people face cuts in SNAP and federal employees are not being paid. Please remember the Food Bank when you shop for groceries.

Jaime+

Friendsgiving Dinner Church

Our next gathering for Dinner Church will be Sunday, November 23, at 4 pm in the Parish Hall. We will celebrate Friendsgiving. Mother Jaime will provide 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.

Do you have HR experience?

One of the things Mother Jaime and the Vestry want to accomplish in this interim period is to bring job descriptions and employment contracts up to date. To that end, they are planning to form a Personnel Committee. If you have relevant experience, and are willing to devote a few hours to the church to help us apply best practices in personnel matters, please send an email to motherjaime@gmail.com or talk to Bruce Schroeder, Senior Warden, or any member of the Vestry.

Save the Date!

On Thursday, November 20, at 10 am, Cyndy Tessitor will be hosting a class to guide attendees in making a beautiful floral centerpiece for Thanksgiving. The class will take place in the Parish Hall and will cost $50 per person, with 50% of the money going back to Outreach to support our Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes. All products for the arrangements will be provided, but you will need to bring garden clippers.

There is a sign-up sheet in the Information Center. You can drop off cash or check made out to Cyndy Tessitor in the office, or give it directly to Cyndy.

Cyndy was an event florist for 35 years. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to her at (626) 664-1749.

Adult Formation

Adult Formation continues in November with conversations around Kitchen Table Wisdom. There will be NO meeting today. The theme for November 9 is ‘Embracing Life,’ for November 16 is ‘Knowing God,’ and for November 23 is ‘Mystery and Awe.’ Join us for coffee and great conversation.

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!

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

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, November 2nd.

Parish Outreach

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

Wilsonville Food Bank

My mom stood in front of the refrigerator. My younger sister and I watching her. I couldn't see what was inside, the baby in her tummy blocked the view. We were excited because that morning we were getting our physical exams and shots to start a new school year. My sister was starting kindergarten and I was so proud to have passed to the 3rd grade. Mom closed the refrigerator door and looked at me. "Go to Mrs. Manthey's house and ask her if we can borrow an egg." I dutifully went and brought back the egg. Mom scrambled it and divided it between us. She rushed us to brush our teeth and wash our faces well and to make sure we had clean underwear on. While we were brushing our teeth, she combed our hair. We got into our old Studebaker car, my sister and me in the back seat. When we approached the medical clinic parking lot, many of our friends and their moms were already there and in line. It seemed like the line was one long snake, wrapping around the corridors and along the sides of the parking lot. It was a very hot August morning. While the moms talked, the kids played nearby and little by little, we inched forward. I knew what to expect, that is, I knew I would have my eyes checked, my teeth checked, and I would probably get a shot. My mom said I wasn't to say anything to my sister about the shots. When we got to the shadier area, my mom whispered in Spanish, "Gracias a Dios (Thanks be to God)" and then she just keeled right over, falling on her face. The other women nearby were startled and someone yelled for a doctor. My sister was playing and a neighbor called her over and my sister and I looked at my mom on the concrete, scared. My sister started crying and the neighbor told me to sit down with her and not move. The doctors checked my mom and one of them picked her up and told us to follow him. We were told to be seated and wait for our mom. A nurse came to talk to us. She brought us water. The doctor then came out and spoke with me. He asked what I had for breakfast that morning. I told him we had shared an egg that Mrs. Manthey had given us. He asked us if we had more food in the house. I shook my head. I didn't want to tell him how poor we were. I didn't want to tell him that sometimes my dad and some of the other fathers would go dumpster diving (a term I learned later in life) at the Officers' Mess Club after hours and bring home food that had been thrown away. If someone found out, the military police would take my dad away. Dad was paid once a month. The last week of the month was always the hardest and often we had no money left. With two kids and another on the way, Dad and Mom were doing their very best. Dad had been deployed to Korea a few weeks earlier and we did not have any leftovers to eat.

Hunger and food insecurity can strike anyone, at any time, often due to circumstances beyond our control. My mom and dad did not waste money. Throughout all her life, mom could make a dollar stretch and we learned how to be frugal. We always gave thanks to God for our food and mom and dad taught us to share our food, the little we did have. That day, the doctors discovered that mom had been eating very, very little food to ensure that my sister and I had something to eat. She had no money and dad wouldn't be paid for a few more days. The nurse came out with a sandwich and gave half to my sister and me. They moved up our exams so that mom could go home. The doctor taking care of mom arranged for a bag of food to be placed in our car. Later, the doctors and other officers took up a collection and arranged for their wives to organize a food distribution program for the families of the enlisted men. It was the beginning of a program that would endure.

As you prepare to help the Outreach Committee meet their goal of providing Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes for the families in our community, please remember to continue your contributions to the Wilsonville Food Bank. If we could each bring at least one item every week, we would be helping our neighbors. Our neighbors who receive SNAP benefits and those who are barely getting by need our help, especially with the federal government shutdown most likely lasting beyond October 31st. Anything helps, whether food or a financial contribution. An extra can of tuna, spaghetti sauce, pasta, rice, vegetables, flour, etc., can make a big difference for our families. I benefitted as a child from someone else's generosity and am grateful to be able to give my donations of food and time to help others. Would you help, too? Please. Thank you. Marilyn