MAY 6, 2018
ST. FRANCIS WEEKLY WORD NEWSLETTER
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My Word
It’s Summer now. Memorial Day, along with its own special reasons for being remembered, is also the unofficial, official beginning of Summer. And the Summer heat is already here. And school is out. And many of us are already traveling about a bit. And, and, and….
So a couple of quick things just to remind us of the rest of life. First, as you travel about this Summer, be sure to get a bulletin or church program as you travel. It’s always a treat to see how other folks communicate. We get a lot of really good ideas from them. I love reading church bulletins and church newsletters. (Strange, I know, but it’s the priestly part of me.)
Second, of course, the church keeps going. I once saw a lovely poster that showed Jesus, and had the tag line “not all teachers take the Summer off.” Looking for some instruction in life? Some idea of how to develop and grow in your spiritual dimension? During the Summer the Gospel lessons focus on things that Jesus taught us. What better way to learn, than to spend time studying the contents of the teachings of the greatest teacher of all time?
And, of course, don’t forget, our bills will continue this Summer. Normally, churches experience not only an attendance dip during the Summer months, but also a financial dip.
Now, if I’m asking you to keep this in mind, there is also a promise that I need to offer. The promise is that I will do my best to make sure the services are not only worth your time, but interesting, joyful, and upbeat. There will be stuff happening at St. Francis this Summer. Miss a Sunday, and you will miss not only that week’s bit of fun, but something really important for your soul!!
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PRAYER DURING THIS TIME OF TRANSITION
As we continue to let the work of listening to God to discover His desires for St. Francis, let us pray:
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Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer,
Page 816
)
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Open to All
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You are invited to submit to your prayer requests here, which will be received by office staff and included in the Parish prayer list. If received after 4:00pm on Wednesdays, of your indicate that you would prefer to keep your prayer confidential, a member of the clergy will address your prayer privately.
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SUNDAY SERVICE TIME
All are Welcome
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9:30am: Holy Eucharist Rite II
9:30am: Children's Chapel
10:30am: Hospitality
(Coffee and Conversation
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WHAT'S GOING ON AT ST.FRANCIS?
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#WearOrange This Saturday!
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Wear Orange on the National Day of Remembrance for victims and survivors of gun violence in America on Saturday, June 2. On an average day in America 96 people die from guns, seven of them are children.
Regardless of one's views of guns in our society, honoring victims and supporting survivors is a compassionate response. Learn how you can do more at:
bishopsagainstgunviolence.org.
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Property Committee Project Needs Volunteers
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The next project the Property Committee will be working on is to repair the ceiling in the Vesting Room. We are looking for an individual with expertise in sheetrock taping & floating to repair a small portion of the ceiling in the Vesting Room. If you are willing to volunteer and take the lead in this project, we will provide the necessary materials, and the Property Committee will ask for additional volunteers to assist with this project. Please contact
Mickey Kerr
if you would be willing to provide this service for us.
We also need help with a smaller project: we need someone to mount our new defibrillator. No, you don’t have to make it work, just mount the box in the hall outside the church offices, more or less midway down the hall.In-service training for use will be provided later this summer.
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The Junior Warden Team
A New, more Efficient Way of Dealing with Physical Plant Needs at Church?
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Who knew that nationally, we struggle with the way we have been appointing and over using our junior wardens, and gradually a new solution seems to be emerging.
Episcopal Churches are appointing teams of folks who can work together or decide to call in a pro. One vestry member, in our case, Mickey Kerr, wears the official junior warden hat, and is our initiating point for prioritizing needs and how we’ll deal with them. Mickey can call on Len Henry or Tom Miller to organize a group, or call in a pro or his team RIchard Macchi, Jeff Callin, Chip Schaefer, Lawson Grant, Cindy Allen or any parishioner with the skill and the will to help.
If you’re interested, you’ll get a call or email when skills are needed. You can help evaluate and solve the problem, recommend a pro be called or just say you can or can’t help this time.
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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: PROPER FOUR
O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth: Put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen..
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ST. FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 3
- 9:30am: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Thursday, June 7
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Meditation GardenFeatured Plant of the Week
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In the Meditation Garden near the Columbarium plants mentioned in the bible have been placed, along with signs with the Biblical source.
GRASS (Little Bluestem)
Isaiah 40:1–8
God’s People Are Comforted
40 Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
7
The grass withers
, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are
grass
.
8
The grass withers
, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
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TOMORROW, FRIDAY JUNE 1
IS THE DEADLINE
If you can't make it to the office send in your form digitally and bring your fee to Chris Sedonic on Sunday!
Click for the digital form
.
We need 20
people
to get our group rate. Currently we
have 12 confirmed
. If you are on the fence, hop on over and help us make our quota.
We would love to have your company! Form can be downloaded below, in the email sent to you this week or picked up from Frances
.
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VESTRY WISH LIST:
1.
Four-sided Frontal
…$4000. The frontal cloth we have now, was designed for the old altar which was three-sided, and stood at the end of the Great Hall, 20-30 years ago. The picture shows the difference. The cloth that looks like a tapestry is the frontal cloth. he proper cloth for a four-sided altar is a four-sided frontal cloth. Yes they are precious and beautiful, but this is not an emergency so may we be forced to put it off for a few years. Maybe several of us would like to go in on this one.
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HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS
This week St. Francis celebrates with two of our own,
Hannah Wilson
and
Kaison Seale,
as they graduate from High School. This, right along with getting a Driver’s License, is one of the early turning points of life. For both of our graduates, we wish them not only continued success in their future, but share with them the joy of this achievement. Come and wish them well, as after our Sunday Service on June 3rd, there will be a special reception honor these two young people.
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Bishop C. Andrew Doyle congratulates the class of 2018 and encourages those who are discerning priesthood to reach out to their local rectors.
Bishop C. Andrew Doyle says:
"Graduation season is upon us! I hope as you enter this new chapter-whether it be college, a new job or a time of discernment- that you find an Episcopal church or campus ministry to call home. And I encourage those of you who are discerning seminary and priesthood, to reach out to local churches and rectors to help guide you in that process. Congratulations!
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2. A new set of
green vestments and hangings
(chasuble and stole along with a veil, burse and pulpit/lectern fall)
for the priest and church.
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3.
Two
LED light fixtures
for the vesting room remodel. $100-150
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4.
Shelving materials
for organizing church seasonal and maintenance stuff in the metal building. See Tom Miller brackets and shelving
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JUNE 16 – FORMS AND FEES DUE TOMORROW!!!!!:
4th Annual St.Francis Episcopal Church and School "Night at the Ballpark"
We are looking forward to a great night of fellowship with Church and School members when the Round Rock Express takes on the Fresno Grizzlies on Saturday, June 16th at 6:05pm at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
We will meet at St. Francis Episcopal for anyone wanting to carpool at 3:00pm, and then proceed to the ballpark where we will tailgate prior to the game. We plan on having hotdogs, chips, cookies & drinks.
For more information please contact
If you can't make it to the office on Friday, submit your form digitally above and bring your fee with you to church on Sunday!
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JUNE 17:
Special Fathers’ Day Worship Services
On the 17th of June, St. Francis will have two special services of worship for Fathers’ Day. The first is at 9:30am, in Lion’s Park, jointly sponsored with Christ Church parish. Informally worshiping together in the park may cause a few heads to turn, but should prove to be a relaxing day together. After the service, stay for a pot luck picnic. Bring your food and blankets!
For those who might be reluctant to have worship in a park, or who might worry about the heat of the day, St. Francis will also be holding services an informal service at St. Francis church, in the air conditioning after the park service, but will still maintain the relaxed and informal atmosphere for Fathers’ Day.
Stay tuned for more…
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JULY 5–JULY 13, 2018:
The 79th General Convention
of The Episcopal Church
Watch videos about various aspects and history of the General Convention
HERE
. I highly recommend the Keynote Welcome by The Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop.
Registration is $130 or $50 for individual days. For Housing, Registration, Attendee, Children's Programs, Counseling, Accessibility, Transportation and Volunteer
information visit the
Attendee Information Page
.
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JULY 7, 7:00–9:00pm:
TX BBQ Night at General Convention
On tap for the evening :
- Live music
- Incredible hospitality
- Tall tales
- A warm evening
- A Texas sunset
Dress for the weather. Layers suggested. Seersucker and sundresses encouraged. Bermuda shorts applauded.
Water, lemonade, and tea, Beer and margaritas (cash bar), Local snacks
Optional pre-paid supper (More details to come but the rumor on the street says something about maybe tacos and fried chicken baskets and, e
mpañada
s! Shhh)
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FRIDAY, JULY 13:
Join us at the Minute Maid Park as the World Series Champs Houston Astros face the Detroit Tigers. Christ Church Cathedral Houston will host a free hotdog cookout from 5:00–6:30pm, so make sure to come early as food and drink are on a first come first serve basis. Parking is available in the garage on San Jacinto St, across from the Cathedral. For tickets, email Astros rep
Brent Broussard
or call (713) 259-8316.
Download to Calendar
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Summer camp is not just for kids and youth, Camp Allen is hosting several events for adults this summer. Birds and Blooms, Man Camp and Summer Camp for Moms are several retreats available. Reserve your spot now! For more information and to register, please visit
www.campallen.org
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TUESDAY SOLACE
Tuesday Solace is a free service supporting families affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia and takes place from 1:00-4:00PM at the Parish Hall. Allowing caregivers respite time, the program provides music and singing, fun, social activities, and loving care to the participants.
FEED MY SHEEP SACK MEALS (FMS)
On the 2nd Sunday of each month, all are invited to gather in the Parish after the 9:30 service to prepare 100 sack lunches for our neighbors who have limited access to food. The lunches are delivered to Feed My Sheep. Our next schedule sack meal preparation is
Sunday, June 10
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CHURCHES TOUCHING LIVES FOR CHRIST (CTLC)
The collection item for June 2018 will be Instant Drink Mix
. Items may be brought to the narthex on Sunday or to the Church Office during weekdays.
ST. FRANCIS GIFT SHOP
As most of you know, the gift shop must have two workers at all times. We are in desperate need of volunteers. This is a great time to ask your best friend to sit with you and a great time to socialize and catch up. Please consider, just 3 1/2 hours a month and we will put you on the schedule.
ST. FRANCIS CHOIR
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!” Notice the passage does NOT say we have to have a beautiful voice to praise God! We are looking for new choir members.
We practice at 8:30am before we sing at the 9:30am service.
So come join us!
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MINISTERS IN THE LORD'S SERVICE
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Altar Guild:
Kyla Sherrard &
Ruth Henry
Readers
:
Cindy Allen &
Peggiann Jones
Acolytes:
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Ushers
:
Glen & Heidi Couchman
Hospitality
:
Jeanie Grant
Children's Chapel:
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Vestry Greeter:
Marjorie Lewis
Organist:
Debra Johnson
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MAY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
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JUNE 9 ANNIVERSARY
Tommy & Lyn Miller
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JUNE 9 BIRTHDAY
Glen Couchman
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JUNE 11 BIRTHDAY
Wanda White
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JUNE 12 BIRTHDAY
Garrett Mooney
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JUNE 18 BIRTHDAY
Sally Hibbeler
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JUNE 23 BIRTHDAY
Evan Longfied
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JUNE 25 BIRTHDAY
Nick Graham
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JUNE 25 BIRTHDAY
Truman New
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JUNE 26 BIRTHDAY
Barbara Timmermeyer
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Take time to walk around the gardens and see if you can find the plants we have featured so far: Aloe, Sweet Gum, Bitter Herbs, Society Garlic, Arizona Blue Cypress,
Day Lily, Rock Rose &
Little Bluestem Grass
. Thank you to the Wildscape Guild for working so hard to maintain such a beautiful, natural, meditative space for us.
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We work hard to get all the Parish and Diocese news to you each week.
Thank you for reading its entirety.
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