During these Summer Sundays we have been reading from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. This letter contains great lessons for us on prayer that I have touched on in recent sermons. 

In Ephesians 6:18-20, Paul says: 

Paul believed that the success of his ministry was tied to the prayers of the people. I am thoroughly convinced he is correct – if we aren’t praying, we are perishing. I am so thankful for the great examples of prayer at St Francis. Every Sunday we pray at 8:00 and 10:00 – our worship services are prime examples of how we pray together; that is why it is called “Common Prayer.” In addition, we have our intrepid team leading Compline on Facebook (if you would like to be a “Compliner,” let me know). Finally, our prayer chain lifts urgent before the throne of grace.  

Thank you for your prayers – for me, for one another, for the church, and for the world. Keep on praying that St Francis will step boldly into the future.

Interim Priest

The annual retreat and business meeting for Episcopal Church Women and women's ministry groups throughout Province VIII, themed "Leading with Heart: Step One," will take place online via Zoom on Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 2:30. Registration and hospitality begins at 9:30 a.m.

The day will be framed with worship including traditional Native American prayers, music and imagery from Daryl Storey, and joy and laughter, and reintroduction of the newly-reimagined Women of Vision leadership program developed and used by the ECW of The Episcopal Church for many years. The full program agenda will be available soon on the Province VIII website.

The retreat program will be followed by a condensed version of the provincial ECW's annual meeting. Reports from all affiliated organizations (CPC, DOK, GFS, UTO) will be posted online here along with updates about Triennial 2022 and the proposed budget. Registration is $20, which covers the cost of event materials and postage. (Scholarships are available – see the registration form.) Register by Sunday, Aug. 1 to allow ample time for mailing. For information and register, click here. For more information contact Christine Budzowski at communications@ecwprovinceviii.org.

The Rev. Canon Greg Larkin has announced that there will be no Episcopal Night at Dodger Stadium in 2021, due to difficulty in finding a suitable date. "I am sorry to disappoint the people who look forward to it every year and hope they will be with us next year when Episcopal Night returns," says Larkin, who has coordinated the annual event since its inception more than 20 years ago.

[Trinity Wall Street, New York] Join Trinity Retreat Center online for Refuge and Resilience: An LGBTQ+ Retreat with the Rev. Matt Welsch, Trinity Church Wall Street, Friday - Sunday, August. 6 - 8. LGBTQ+ individuals and communities have a long history of carving out spaces of joyous, radical inclusion in the face of oppression. In this retreat, we’ll reflect on the idea of refuge and how we might draw on places of sanctuary to find strength and resilience in our unique, God-given identities. The retreat is free and open to all. There is no registration required. It will take place over five half-hour sessions throughout the weekend on the Trinity Retreat Center Facebook Page at these times PDT: Friday, Aug. 6, 5 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 7, 7 a.m. 11 a.m., 5 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 8, 1 p.m. Learn more here.

[The Episcopal Church] Taking advantage of a unique virtual opportunity, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites all Episcopalians over 18 to consider applying to be a delegate to the 2021 United Nations climate change conference — known as the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties, or COP26.

Applications are due by Aug. 20, and the presiding bishop’s delegation will attend daily virtual events during COP26, which will take place in Glasgow Oct. 31 to Nov. 12.

“This year’s online platform will allow for wider representation on the delegation,” said the Rev. Melanie Mullen, director of reconciliation, justice, and creation care for The Episcopal Church. “Episcopalians who are young adults, people of color, Indigenous, LGBTQ identifying, and from communities affected by climate change and environmental injustice are especially invited to apply.” Read more here (in English and Spanish). Read more here (in English and Spanish).

Our church office hours will change effective August 1.

The office will no longer be open on Fridays.

Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Are you interested in Confirmation or Reception in the Episcopal Church? Speak with Jerry+.

8:00 a.m. - Rite I in person worship in the Chapel.

10:00 a.m. - Rite II in person worship in the main church with music.

10:00 am Sunday worship will continue to be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube, and available for watching later.

Please contact Kristina Pelá to arrange for a Lay Eucharistic Minister to safely bring you communion.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings at 7:00 pm. Live on the St Francis Facebook Page.

Compline is led by a team of lay leaders, including some new faces! Watch, pray, and comment with others live. Or watch later in the evening before you sleep.

What is Compline anyway? Read more here.

Email Suellen Eslinger or Jack Hailwood for details.

Youth Group is on hiatus over the Summer. We will resume in the Fall when school starts.

Youth Group is available to all Middle and High School students.

Learn more about Youth Group at St. Francis on our website or contact Wayne Hastings.

We are here to do our best to help you with whatever you may need. We know circumstances are difficult for many at this time. For help of any kind, or just for a Zoom or Facetime or phone call, please email or call Jerry+ at any time.

You are not interrupting our work - you ARE our work!

Peter and Susan Marshall will both be away for the next few weeks, attending the wedding of their daughter Zoë in DC, and then (travel regulations permitting) visiting their mothers in the UK. All for the first time reuniting since the pandemic began.

A huge thank you to everyone who is stepping in to cover for Susan.

Enews is sent weekly on Thursday: email Wayne with your requests.

View or download our bulletins - bulletins will be posted in time for live streaming.

Click here for The Episcopal News Update for July 18, 2021