St. Francis Weekly

April 15 - 21, 2026

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

Hello, Friends of St Francis!

Ralph's Vestry Reflection

Each month before our vestry meeting, a member offers a reflection during night prayer. Ralph N. gave us wonderful insight and a chosen poem.

Palestinian men, fatigue and anxiety stamped on their faces, waited at the checkpoint to return to their families in Bethlehem. I couldn’t help but squirm with discomfort at how easily the magic of my American passport had helped me sail through. Weighed down by this experience of terrible disparity, I struck up a conversation with a Franciscan monk on the bus back to Jerusalem. Click to read more

St. Francis News ...

Contemplative Prayer: Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to noon

Pause with us for contemplative prayer, guided by Anna V and Rev Joe, as we create space for silence, reflection, meditation and God’s grace in the Meeting Room of the Historic Church.

TODAY: St. Francis Lunch Bunch on Wednesday, April 15 at noon

Bring your lunch to the Historic Church Meeting Room for food, fellowship, and fun! All are welcome!

St. Francis Movie Discussion on Sunday, April 19 4 - 5 p.m.

It's a double feature! Watch The Bucket List (YouTube, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu) and The Life List (Netflix) ahead of time and join us for a lively discussion in the Meeting Room.

Final Walk in Love Session Monday, April 20 7 p.m.

Rev. Joe will lead the final Walk in Love Session focusing on Go in Peace: The Sacred Mystery of the Church and Community. Click here to join this virtual session. Everyone is welcome!

St. Francis Hike at Cove Island Park, Stamford on Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.

Join the St. Francis Hiking Club for a spring hike at Cove Island Park in Stamford, where we’ll enjoy beautiful waterfront views, walking trails, and good company along the Long Island Sound. Come stretch your legs, get outside, and see if spring finally decides to make an appearance. The park's address is 1125 Cove Road, Stamford, and we will meet in the main parking lot near the park entrance.

Bishop's Visit on Sunday, April 26

The Rt. Rev. Laura Ahrens, suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, will join St. Francis on April 26. Bishop Ahrens will preach and celebrate. Eight members of St. Francis will be received and confirmed as Episcopalians during at the 10 a.m. service.

Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed for May

Coffee Hour runs on, well, coffee – and on our community sharing the work. If you would be willing to help set up or clean up Coffee Hour in May – or even pick up our weekly tray of bagels and muffins at LaRocca’s on your way to church – I hope you’ll use the sign-up link below.

Volunteer for Coffee Hour

Coffee Hour is important. It is an extension of our 10 a.m. Sunday communal worship. What begins at the altar in the breaking of the Bread continues at Coffee Hour. The unity we share in Christ does not end with the dismissal. It spills into conversation, into laughter, into the gentle grace and joy of welcoming new faces. It is often at Coffee Hour that a visitor becomes a friend, and a friend becomes part of our church family.

Rev. Joe and St. Francis on Connecticut Public Radio

Rev. Joe and his work with the Interfaith Moral Mondays movement was part of a Connecticut Public Radio story broadcast last week. Click here to listen.

Lights, Stories, Action: Share Your Story for the St. Francis 80th Anniversary Videos

St. Francis is creating two videos to celebrate our 80th birthday as a faith community, and everyone is invited to participate.

On May 3, following the 10 a.m. service, parishioners who love or know someone interred in the Columbarium are invited to gather at the Historic Church. Bring your stories and remembrances to go with the names at this sacred space was we honor the cloud of witnesses of those who helped to start and build our parish.

On May 3 and May 10, everyone is invited to stick around after the services to record a quick video testimonial about how you came to St. Francis and why you love it. The comments will be featured during a video montage played during our June 7 celebration service and annual picnic.

... and beyond

The Interfaith Social Ministries Collaborative sponsors the Dignity Grows Project, April 23 6:30 p.m.

Join St. Francis and five other faith communities on Thursday, April 23 at Temple Sinai, 458 Lakeside Dr, Stamford. We'll make hundreds of sandwiches for New Covenant Center and pack 700 hygiene bags for those in need. Enjoy light snacks and social time too! To sign up to volunteer or donate money click here. Please email Dawn R. with questions.