Lenten Greetings
Living in California I find myself missing the arrival of Spring flowers like the crocus and daffodil. There is nothing like seeing a crocus coming up through the snow and knowing that a change is coming. And at St Francis . . . change is coming! We are in the season of Lent and things are emerging from the long Covid winter. Our 8:00 service is restarting on this First Sunday of Lent. Our choir is returning at 10:00 and we are excited to offer a new Wednesday evening Lenten series along with our Tuesday evening Zoom bible study.

I will be leading the Lenten Series this year. As a young Christian in the Army, I learned a model for Christian living that has served him well though the years. Called The Wheel, it presents a balanced Christian life centered in Jesus Christ. The four dimensions are the Word, Prayer, Witness, and Fellowship. I believe reengaging in these four areas are crucial for a vital personal faith and a healthy church.  I hope you’ll join us.

As of this writing, the Vestry is finalizing plans to loosen some of our Covid restrictions. Keep watching for updates which could come soon. Like a crocus through the snow – your St Francis parish is coming back with new life for our community.

310-594-7984
Lenten Bible Study on Zoom
Tuesdays March 8 – April 5, 7:00-8:30pm
“Preparing for the Passion of Jesus”

During Lent, as we prepare for Easter, we will be holding a 5-week online Bible Study course that will dive into the stories of the final week of Jesus’s earthly life.

To supplement our studies, we plan to use a book by Amy-Jill Levine called "Entering the Passion of Jesus, A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week."

Anyone is welcome to join. Feel free to invite others you feel would be interested in participating. Simply email Jack Hailwood or Suellen Eslinger if you plan to attend so we can email you class handouts in advance of each session as well as the Zoom link.

More details to follow. See you all then!
Lenten Suppers - back in person this year!
“The Wheel – Disciplines for a Vital Faith and a Healthy Church”
Starts next Wednesday, March 9,
Four Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Parish Hall.
Supper ($8 pp/$20 per family)
Enjoy fellowship and a delicious meal cooked by our Friars (Men's group).
Take an evening off from cooking and then Jerry+ will present a four-part series based on 'The Wheel'. A model for Christian living based on a balanced Christian life centered in Jesus Christ. The four dimensions are the Word, Prayer, Witness, and Fellowship.
Join us!
Lenten Service Activity! 
Help prepare bagged lunches to serve to the homeless at St. Luke's in Long Beach.

  • Where: St. Francis Kitchen
  • When: Friday, March 18, 4:00 to 5:30
  • What and why: St. Francis church is responsible for preparing 120 bagged lunches (meat sandwich, banana, fruit bar, hard-boiled egg) to be served to the homeless at St. Luke's Long Beach, on Saturday, March 19. We need your help! Gayle will get the supplies, you will provide the labor. 

Email Gayle Taylor if you can help.
Lenten Devotionals
Our sixth Annual Parish-written Lenten Devotional is here.
Written by and for members of our own St. Francis community there is a daily writing for the scripture for each day in Lent.
(there are also a limited number of print copies available in church)
Support the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine

Episcopal Relief & Development is mobilizing with Anglican agencies and other partners in order to provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine.

Working through the Action by Churches Together Alliance (ACT Alliance), Episcopal Relief & Development is providing cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance.

“Ecumenical and orthodox faith networks are on the ground in the border areas of Poland and Hungary,” said Abagail Nelson, Executive Vice President, Episcopal Relief & Development. “We will continue to coordinate with these networks, in order to meet the needs of people who have been displaced.”

Please pray for all those affected and if you can, click here to donate to Episcopal Relief & Development’s International Disaster Response Fund.
David Harper Memorial Service
Tomorrow, Friday March 4, 4:00pm Main Sanctuary

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord: And let light perpetual shine upon him.
May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Youth Group has returned to in-person!
With the decline in COVID cases the last few weeks, Youth Group has received the green light to return to in-person sessions. We meet in the Youth Room in the St. Francis Parish Hall from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

Wayne Hastings
Youth Group Director
901-219-6564
Youth Group Survey for Adults
We want Youth Group to be a fun and meaningful experience. But I need to hear from you. If you have a teen in your household, please take a few minutes to reflect on what you want from your St. Francis Youth Group. Click the link below to share your thoughts by taking this very short survey:

As always, please call me if you want to chat about the future of Youth Group. Or if you prefer, I would be happy to set up a Zoom session for us to talk face to face.

Wayne Hastings
Youth Group Director
901-219-6564
Sunday School
Sunday School is temporarily suspended due to the Omicron Covid variant. We'll let you know when we're back!
Weekly

Sundays - Holy Communion
8:00 a.m. - Rite I in-person worship in the Chapel, with two hymns (for those fully vaccinated). This service is not live-streamed.

10:00 a.m. - Rite II in-person worship in the main church with music. Live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, and available for watching later.

Masks required: LA County mandate requires masks worn indoors regardless of vaccination status.

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

Yoga with Jill!
A spiritual mind and body practice!
  • Mondays 11:15am -12:45pm - Level 1/2 Hatha Yoga
  • Wednesdays 9:00-10:15am Level 1 Gentle Yoga
  • New class - 9:30am Yoga with Jill Live Vinyasa Class
Parish Hall (masks must still be worn). No set fees - classes are free-will offering. Questions? Jill Fenske

Meditation
Thursdays from Nov 4, 9:30 - 10:30 am. Library - please continue to wear masks.
Meditation, followed by a quiet time of conversation.
Excited to start again!!!
Susie Zimmerman hopes many people feel welcome to join.
Contact - Susie Zimmerman
Remember - the Parish Directory is Online
Need someone's email, or even map directions to their home?
The password is Romans12:4-5
Bookmark the link on your phone or computer and let your browser save the password and you will always be up to date with information!
In a later email we will tell you how to access the Member Portal so you can edit details of your own listing.
Need Help of Any Kind?
Physical, Spiritual, Psychological, or Material?

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

310-594-7984
Enews Submission Deadline: 3:00 pm Wednesdays
Enews is sent weekly on Thursday afternoons: email Susan with your requests.
Staff Directory
Office main line - 310 375 4617
The Rev. Jerry Sather 310-594-7984
Mark Bennett 310-594-7416
Susan Marshall 310-594-8427
Elaine Mistele 310-594-8268

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