St. Francis Weekly

October 15 - October 21, 2025

Embodying God's love by building community through worship, inclusivity, and outreach.

Hello, Friends of St Francis!

Rector’s Reflection: You Are All Theologians!

When I first visited St. Francis during the summer, Anthony Pramberger asked me a question that inspired me. “Who are your favorite theologians?” he said. I told him the names on my reading list at the time — Walter Brueggemann, Kate Bowler, Rabbi Sharon Brous, Rowan Williams, James Cone, Pádraig Ó Tuama, and a few more.

But then I told him about the theologians I love most: You.

Some of the best theologians I’ve ever met, I told Anthony, are the ones who sit in the pews. People who don’t just hear or read the Word, but wrestle with it, question it, and let it lift them up as the hands and feet of God’s love beyond the church walls.

You are all theologians.

A theologian isn’t just someone with a fancy degree, but anyone who dares to talk about God, to wrestle with God, and to wonder what on earth God is up to in this world.

As I said in my sermon on Sunday: Faith is knowing that the Bible isn’t an After-School Special with tidy moral lessons. It’s a love story. A love story without borders -- about a God who longs to be close to you in every season. God’s healing love is bigger than anything in its way.

And because we are loved by a Wild God, we are free to bring our big, wild questions to the table — the same table where Jesus assures us that everyone is welcome.

That’s what I saw last week at my first Sneak Peek Bible Study, a preview of the upcoming Sunday’s readings led by Anthony every Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Zoom. We gather in partnership with our friends at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

So come, theologians. Join us on Tuesday nights for Sneak Peek, if you have the time.

It's a life-giving time together that reminds us that scripture isn’t static. Its ancient words shouldn’t be treated as old and dusty, to be trapped in a dogmatic box to support power and judgment. Indeed, every time we come together to open up The Bible and let the text live, it has the chance to dance, awe, liberate and transform our journey together.

Remember: You are all theologians. You are all welcome. And you are all beloved.

Faithfully,

Joe+

Joe's contact information is 860-710-1515 and JRose@stfrancisstamford.org. Please note that Monday is his well deserved day off!

Special Events and News

HAPPENING TODAY - Lunch Bunch Wednesday, October 15 noon - 1 PM

Please join us in the meeting room for laughter and friendship. Bring your lunch and drink; a treat will be provided! Lunch Bunch meets the third Wednesday of each month.

HAPPENING TONIGHT -Lecture with Rt Rev Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop

Wednesday, October 15 7 PM

See the flyer for details on Bishop Budde's participation in the 2025 Hobart Lecture on Sanctuary: Space of Belonging and Thriving.

Bring a Photo to Church for All Saints' Sunday

On Nov. 2, we will gather to celebrate All Saints’ Sunday at both the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services. You are invited to bring a photo of someone in your life who has reflected God’s love to you — someone who has inspired, encouraged, or helped shape your faith. These are the saints who have walked with us along the way. Photos may be framed or loose, and they will be placed on a special table of remembrance as we give thanks for all the holy ones, known and unknown, who continue to light our path.

Join us for Rally Sunday, October 19 after the 10 am service

Fall is here, and with it comes the start of a new season of ministry at St. Francis. On October 19, we’ll celebrate Rally Sunday 2025–2026, a time to renew and recommit to the 30 committees and groups that keep our parish life vibrant. Together, we share our gifts, build friendships, serve our community, and carry out the work of the church. Many hands make light work, so we invite you to consider joining a committee this year!

What Do I Need to Do?

Click to browse Rally Sunday 2025 - 2026 brochure which outlines each committee’s ministry and provides contact details. You can sign up in the narthex on Rally Sunday, October 19, or anytime through the end of October by reaching out directly to a committee chair. Whether you’d like to join, continue your involvement, or simply learn more, your participation is warmly welcomed!

Join Sister Ola on zoom on

Sunday, October 19 3 - 4:30 PM

All are welcome to join former St Francis guest speaker Sister Ola for an interactive event on Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca. See flyer for details.

Clothing Drive for Person to Person now through October 26

It's that time again! The Outreach Committee asks that you bring your clean, gently used fall and winter clothes to the Church between now and Sunday, October 26. Please mark gender and size on the bags. You can place items in the bin outside the Church or bring your donations on any Sunday. Donations will be delivered to Person to Person on Monday, October 27. Please email Patricia or Cathy with any questions.

Hike at Grace Farms - October 25 @ 10AM

The Grace Farm "River Building" was recently named the coolest building in Connecticut. Our visit will include exploring the buildings and hiking through the manicured campus. Afterward, we’ll gather at the on-site café to enjoy food and conversation.

Address: 365 Lukes Wood Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840. Meet at the West Barn, located near the lower parking lot, and register at the welcome desk.

Ways to Help the Immigrant Community at the Stamford Courthouse and Beyond

Stamford/Norwalk United with Immigrants (SNUI) Mutual Aid Team supports the migrant community through a model rooted in reciprocity and solidarity, not charity.
Be a Court Companion (escort participants into the courthouse, stay with them through the court process that day, and escort them out of the courthouse). Click here to register for the next training on Saturday, October 25 from 10 - noon.
Be an Observer outside of the courthouse (sign up for 2 hour shifts and patrol the courthouse parking garage and streets in front of the courthouse, monitor vehicle activity entering the courthouse driveway, and work with the Court Companion team to give the all clear for them to enter and depart the courthouse). Reach out to Dawn R with questions.
Sign up to volunteer to receive, pack and/or deliver food to immigrant families who fear leaving their homes. Shifts are about 90 minutes and occur every Friday in Norwalk.

Mid-Week Meditation

This week's reflection comes from Henri Nouwen. "We constantly try to hold onto our old logic and Jesus keeps trying to break through it to a new way of being." Click to read

Would you like to share a spiritual or inspirational reflection?

Please email it to: dawnerandall@aol.com

Multimedia of the Week

Click to listen to Sermon

Click for highlights of Joe's first Sunday services

Click for highlights of the Blessing of the Animals

Fall has arrived! Check out pictures from our St. Francis volunteers and shoppers at St. John's Luthern Church's pumpkin patch, Mervin cleaning our church windows and St Francis hikers.