St. Francis News

St. Francis Episcopal Church

726 Maple Street,

Denham Springs, LA 70726

Rev. Margaret L. Sullivan, Rector

February 1, 2026

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Service of Holy Eucharist

10:00 am

Micah 6:1-8

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

Psalm 15

We look forward to worship and fellowship with you!

Watch live on Facebook at 10 am Sunday, or later on YouTube!

Link to Facebook

Calendar of Events

THIS WEEK

Sun Feb 1- Annual Meeting--Review of 2025, Selection of new vestry, Potluck lunch

Thurs Feb 5- 10 am Funeral of Prudence Darrington Stain

UPCOMING

Sun. Feb 8 - Lenten Lunches Gumbo Planning Meeting 11:45

Thurs Feb 12- 11 am Funeral of Ann Freshwater Melancon

Tues Feb 17 - Mardi Gras

Wed Feb 18 - Ash Wednesday

*support requested to serve at reception following 2/12 funeral

THIS SUNDAY 2/1/26 Annual Meeting

All are welcome and encouraged to stay after the 10 am service on February 1, 2026 for the Annual Meeting of St. Francis Church. We begin with a wonderful pot-luck lunch and then review 2025, hearing from those who have served, and to hear what we might expect in the year ahead. The annual budget will be presented, and 3 new vestry members will be chosen. We will also select three Convention Delegates and One Convention Alternate to represent St. Francis Church at the Diocesan Annual Convention.

Pot-luck suggested food categories are below, but feel free to bring your specialties! We love to share your favorites! (Set-up/ clean-up help needed. Sign-up in J-M Hall) Potluck suggestions:

Main dishes- Last names beginning A-F

Sides and salads- Last names beginning G-J

Bread or drinks- Last names beginning K-N

Desserts and fruit- Last names beginning O-Z

At the Annual Meeting this Sunday, February 1, members of the church will be voting to appoint nominees to the Vestry, the church's governing board and the legal representative of the parish corporation and property. Click on each name to read about nominees Darla Burnett, Judy Guerra, and Jennifer Wingate.

We will also select three Convention Delegates and One Convention Alternate to represent St. Francis Church at the Diocesan Annual Convention on October 23-24 at Episcopal School, Baton Rouge. Nominations will be taken from the floor; you may nominate

yourself.

We give thanks for the dedicated service of Brenna Beckman, Erik Pittman, and Dolly Williams for their faithful service on the vestry! Their ministry is much appreciated!

Hi everyone! My name is Chloe Evans, and I’m excited to serve as the new St. Francis Episcopal Church parish administrator! I am currently a college student and have grown up in the church, so this role is especially meaningful to me. I love the Lord and am grateful for the opportunity to serve our church family in this way. I look forward to getting to know you all and supporting the work God is doing here.

Pledge Envelopes Available

If you would like numbered envelopes for your pledge donations to the church, we have several boxes available in Jachson-Magee Hall. Please write your name next to the number of the box you pick up, so that Chloe can accurately attribute your giving to you. If you used envelopes in the past, and have some left over, feel free to use what you have, changing the date.

Online Giving is Also Available

Donations made electronically are now safely processed directly by Servant Keeper instead of the Square processing service. When you go to the secure Servant Keeper page you'll see a drop-down arrow to choose type of donation: 2026 Pledge, member contribution, flowers, or visitor. Choose where contribution is to be credited. Go to box to enter amount of donation. When you submit, you'll be asked to proceed as guest, or create account. Set up a Giving Account to link to our database, and allow you to check the total you have given at any time. To be credited with the full amount donated, please include payment for processing for processing fees, by leaving the box indicated checked.

Give to St. Francis online clicking here, or use QR code. (To use QR Code, open camera on phone, point and click link to Servantkeeper.com that pops up, and St. Francis' Giving Page will open.)

Mark your calendar for these Lenten happenings!

Ash Wednesday is February 18th, signaling the end of Mardi Gras, and the beginning of Lent. Holy Eucharist and imposition of ashes will be held at noon and 6:30 pm.
Lenten Learning begins on February 25, with worship together, a light supper, and then a special presentation on The Five Wishes, by guest speaker Becky Williams. Watch for more information on this program that helps guide our end-of-life decisions. Other programs will be held on subsequent Wednesday evenings through February 25. Please plan on joining us.

Lenten Lunches: Gumbo and More!

A planning meeting for all interested in helping with our Lenten Lunches will be held on Sunday, February 8 after services at 11:45 in Cameron Hall.

Donations of cash or ingredients are most welcome. Mark envelopes Gumbo or Lenten Lunches. A list of ingredients is attached here and available in Jackson-Magee Hall.

Mark your calendar for select Fridays in Lent and pick up or eat-in wonderful gumbo or seafood meals!

We remember in our prayers Gary DeBlieux, beloved brother of Judy Knecht.

We keep Gary, his family, and all those who love him in our prayers.

May Gary's soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Visitation is Thursday, February 5, 2026 with Mass of Christian Burial February 6 in Natchitoches.

More information and a link to the obituary can be found here .

Flower Dedications for 2026

The flower dedication chart for 2026 is now available in Jackson-Magee Hall!

We depend upon your sponsorship to fund the flowers that grace our altar each Sunday. Suggested donation is $100.

We are grateful for your support of this ministry, and appreciate the opportunity to pray with you for the people and occasions that are so special to you.

Birthdays:

Mary Treffert 2/1, Jerry Gill 2/2, Isaac Pierce 2/2, Aidan Burge 2/4, Frances Ball 2/7

Anniversaries: none noted

PARISH PRAYER LIST

EDOLA Cycle of Prayer

Commission on Liturgy & Music, Commission on Ministry,

Ecumenical Commission, Louisiana Interchurch Conference

Special Needs and Concerns:

Judy and Gene Knecht and family, Patti Willcutt, Doug Blake, Jason Hebert, Don Verdicanno, Alex, Lynn, Blake, Lindsey, Kai, Ryan, Emma, the Schmidt Family, Ayme, Whitney, Karen, Melissa, Prosanta Chakrabarty, Sue Howes, Alice Pittman, Karin Hawkins and Tom Doherty and family, Becky and Pat Gautreaux, Rachel, Sally Lambert, Chelsi & Jameson, Larry Johnson,

Mary Potts, Tim and Evie, Audra, Doriscene Piper, Caroline & son Gideon, Trustler & son,

Ronnie Michel, Donna, Jean Commander, Charlie Bell, Shelly, Lee, David Gleason, Sadie Dry,

Dianna Ferguson, Leslie, James, Alton, Declan, Linda & Dennis McIntyre, Bob & Patty Edgar, Maudeann Evans, Evelyn Holden, Terry Howes, Jerry Gill, Dianne Gill, Bill Gleason, Laura Tate, Jay Brooks, Braylon Matlock, Todd & Darla Burnett and family, David Roshto,

Mike Picou, Jeff Roshto.

Remembering those serving in the Armed Forces and Law enforcement:

August Perez V, Jason Lacy, Nathan Nicolas, Jim Wingate

We Remember the Faithfully Departed :

Gary DeBlieux, Barbara Martin, Sidney Holt III, Bill Baumgardner, Will Oliver,

Walter " Dru" Hawkins, Will Oliver, Mary Bell, Ray Juneau, Melody Broussard,

Nancy Wolford, Frank McLavy, Julia Gale McCallister (mother of Todd Burnett),

Anniversaries of the Faithfully Departed:

Marie Janet Acosta (mother of David Roshto) 1/31, Francis Reginald Pickard 2/2,

Nelda Faye Stafford 2/4, Jamie Lee Pirie Self 2/5

If you are ill or would like pastoral care from Rev. Maggie, please call or email her to schedule a visit. rector@stfrands.org.

If you would like to add your name or that of a loved one to our Parish Prayer List, please phone or email our parish administrator, Chloe Evans, secretary@stfrands.org with any updates and prayers fulfilled. The office phone is 225-665-2707.

A list of the Ministers of the Liturgy for February 1 - February 15, 2026

Music and Media Ministry: Organist, Erik Pittman

Media Ministry, Elizabeth Parks

The Mission of St. Francis Episcopal Church:

To celebrate God’s presence in our daily life

and share God's love with each other and the community.

Sunday Service 10:00am

Sunday School - Sunday at 9:00am in Cameron Hall (Elementary)Resumes January 11

We are a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana under the care of

The Right Reverend Shannon Rogers Duckworth

The Reverend Margaret Sullivan

rector@stfrands.org

2025 VESTRY

Senior Warden - Mike Picou (27)

Junior Warden - Erik Pittman (25)

Darla Burnett - Treasurer

Brenna Allphin Beckman - Vestry Clerk (25)

Jim Bruce ( 26)

Darren Catallo (26)

Ed Ballow (27)

Darla Grashot (27)

Mike Stafford (26)

Dolly Williams (25)

CONTACT NUMBERS

Parish Staff

Chloe Evans, Parish Administrator

secretary@stfrands.org 225-665-2707 Office hours: Tues-Fri 9am - 2pm

Erik Pittman, Organist Roberta Hood, Custodian

For Buildings and Grounds issues, text or call and leave a message:

Erik Pittman - Jr. Warden – (225) 603-4768

In case of an emergency please contact

Rev. Maggie Sullivan - (941) 726-8788—rector@stfrands.org

Mike Picou, Senior Warden - (225) 933-4084

Erik Pittman, Jr. Warden – (225) 603-4768

St. Francis Episcopal Church

726 Maple Street

Denham Springs, LA 70726

225-665-2707

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