Lift Every Voice and Sing   

Music is making a comeback at St Francis! Here are some highlights:

We praise God for the devoted efforts of Mark Bennett, David Knight, Susan Marshall, and our choir who sustained our souls with virtual hymns and anthems through these long months of the pandemic. Yes, we are still working through Covid restrictions, but it is a blessing to sing the praises of God once again.

What a great time we had last Sunday.

I HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed in any way at all to our Worship, and to the St. Francis Day festivities - from early morning set up through to the final taking down and packing away. The Friars cooked up a storm and we were all fed and happy.

Thanks to Tina van der Velden who updated us all on the progress of the Profile Committee. The Committee of 12 (drawn from all parts of our congregation), will soon be issuing a Parish-wide survey to seek input from you about our Rector Search Process. And look out for Story Day (probably November 7) when we will look back on the history of St. Francis and wonder aloud as a community about who we are and where we hope to go in the future.

On the selection process - "Sense how curious your candidates are about other people, and how much they actually love other people. If they don't learn your names, if they don't seem that interested in you, if they're acting as though the interviews are something to be gotten through, a test to be passed, make a note in their file.

But you want somebody who loves the children of God whom God has made, and that is you. You want someone who is prime to fall in love with you."

On Stewardship - "My job is to help relieve the anxiety and worry about money. Let's see if we can take that away. If our institutions aren't worried about money, how to replace the roof, how to get the pledge drive in, how to make sure we have enough money to pay our staff and our clergy.

If we weren't constantly preoccupied with the budget, the people of God would be free to go about their business, which is to glorify God, and care for God's people. That's all we have to do. That's what our worship is about. That's what all of our ministry is about. It's our mission statement."

We blessed and remembered our loved and loving animal companions.

Did you miss Get Connected Sunday? Don't be left out - make sure you're in the know about all our Ministries and who to contact for information on any of them.

Tuesdays through November 9, 7:00-8:30 pm. Each class is stand-alone so come for any or all sessions.

Register to attend: https://bit.ly/STFDRAMA

Based on the book Long Story Short: The Bible in Six Simple Movements by Joshua McNall, plus enrichment from other sources. Buying the book is optional since relevant information will be provided in-class handouts.

Contact Jack Hailwood or Suellen Eslinger for more info.

8:00 a.m. - Rite I in-person worship in the Chapel. Music is back this week - David will be playing a pre and postlude and we will be singing 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.

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.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3.1)

When we started offering Compline, back in the early days of the pandemic, we were locked in our homes, sheltering in place, not knowing where things were going. Compline provided a peaceful place to come together, center ourselves, and find God at the end of a fraught and fearful day. Compline is still a place to ask that we be granted 'a peaceful night, and a perfect end', but the season has changed. As we've come out of the pandemic, at least partially, and many of us are coming back into church and into community together, attendance has significantly faded away.

With that in mind, we have decided to discontinue Compline, at least for now. Our last Facebook broadcast, after something like one hundred and eighty offerings, will be tomorrow - Friday, October 1st.

Our thanks should go to the mighty 'Compline Crew' who have held down the fort over the months: Christine Bukowski, Sue Egan, Mark Duley, Jude+ Lyons, Holly Henebry, Robin Pano, Alex Sams, and Gayle Taylor (and anyone else, with my sincerest apologies, I may have missed).

Peter Marshall

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 is sent weekly on Thursday afternoon: email Susan with your requests.

Click here for The Episcopal News Update

Our staff all now have their own direct lines.

You can still reach them by calling the office on 310 375 4617, but the direct lines are as follows:

The Rev. Jerry Sather 310-594-7984

Mark Bennett 310-594-7416

Susan Marshall 310-594-8427

Elaine Mistele 310-594-8268

Mary Sanchez 310-375-4617