St. Francis Weekly

September 16 - September 23, 2026

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

Hello, Friends of St Francis!

Dawn's Les Mis Reflection Part 2

My reflection last month revealed to me how many St Francis parishioners share my love of the musical Les Misérables! With this in mind, I write this week's reflection to focus on three more themes from this show which inspire me (and hopefully you as well): fa...

St. Francis News ...

Lunch Bunch is today!!

Bring your lunch and come join us in the Meeting Room today at 12:00 p.m. for catching up, laughs and giggles. All are welcome!

Volunteers Needed for our Miles For A Mission fundraiser!

We need lots of volunteers to make the Miles for a Mission 5k run/walk a success!

Most help is needed on Race Day (Sunday, Sept 20^th), and there are a few positions to fill before and after race day.

Please consider committing to helping make this happen by clicking HERE.

Any questions, please contact Sue Rutz @203-676-0040

GIFT CERTIFICATES

They're going fast! Support Miles for a Mission by purchasing a Gift Certificate available for sale on a first come, first served basis from:

DiNardo's Ristorante Italiano $25
The Stillery $100
Splash Car Wash $30
VR Brothers Car Wash $40

Click the button to make your selection 👇

Gift Certificates

Miles For A Mission Progress

Let's keep the momentum going so that we are able to donate the full $25,000 to INTEMPO. We still have about $2,000 in expenses to cover. Let’s see if we can get $28,000 or more!

It’s not too late to register, donate, buy a gift certificate (above), or spread the word to family and friends. Let's do this!

Get Connected with Foyer Groups!

Want to enjoy a small group setting of around 8 people where you can share a meal and get to know each other? Consider joining a Foyer group. Foyer groups offer a chance to visit and socialize outside of church with people from across the parish. Foyer Groups, a longstanding tradition at St. Francis, will be reinstituted this Fall. See this FLYER for more information.

St. Francis Book Club: 'Remarkably Bright Creatures', September 27, at 11 a.m.

Come join us for a lively discussion of this charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus in person or via Zoom by clicking HERE.

St. Francis Movie Club: 'Brief Encounter', September 27, at 4 p.m.

The St. Francis Movie Club will meet on Sunday, September 27, at 4 p.m. in the Historic Church Meeting Room to discuss the 1974 drama, "Brief Encounter" which is available for rental on streaming platforms such as Prime Video, Tubi, or the Roku channel.

Blessing of the Animals: St. Francis Sunday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m.

Pets of all shapes and sizes — furry, feathered and even stuffed — are welcome at the Blessing of the Animals at the New Church, 2810 Long Ridge Road. Or bring a photo or memento of a pet that has passed or doesn't travel well. Every animal will be blessed during this short outdoor prayer service. All animals must be leashed or in carriers. All are welcome.

Bruce Springsteen Saturday Evening Prayer Service: October 10, 5 p.m. at the New Church

Join us for "Land of Hope and Dreams," an alternative liturgy featuring Bruce Springsteen's songs of hope, peace, justice, mercy and God's abiding love, performed by members of the St. Francis choir. Whether you're a lifelong Springsteen fan, simply curious, or looking for a meaningful way to start your Saturday night in the woods of North Stamford you are warmly welcome. The service at the New Church, 2810 Long Ridge Road, is free and open to everyone. Come as you are, bring a friend, and discover how timeless songs can become heartfelt prayers. A free-will offering will benefit the St. Francis music ministry.

Outreach - We Need Your Input!

The Outreach Committee will again be inviting local nonprofit organizations that serve the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the Stamford community to apply for small grants. Please contact Patricia Lydon by Sept 25 if you have an organization you would like to add to the list being considered: Email or call her at (203) 253-7741.

In addition to signing up for coffee hour and other activities and ministries, you can now access Miles for a Mission Donation, Registration, and Gift Certificate selection by selecting the 'Sign Up /Request / Donate' button below: 👇

... and Beyond

Temple Sinai invites us to join them at their Dignity Grows Project, Thursday, September 24^th, 6:00 – 7:00 PM.

Parishioners who have participated in the Dignity Grows events we’ve joined through the Interfaith Social Ministries Collaborative have greatly enjoyed the experience. So, when we learned that Temple Sinai is hosting another Dignity Grows event in September, we wanted to share the opportunity with the St. Francis community.

Volunteers will make hundreds of sandwiches for New Covenant Center and pack 400 hygiene bags for people in need. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship with others while making a difference in our community.

To sign up to volunteer or make a donation, click here.

Please email Cathy Ostuw with any questions.

Rooted: A Celebration of Food and Community

Fairgate Farm, last year's Miles for a Mission beneficiary, is having an event, Rooted: A Celebration of Food and Community on Thursday, October 8 from 6:00–8:30 PM at, and in partnership with, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. It will be a fun evening of great local food and drinks, music, and community, all while benefiting the work of Fairgate Farm. Please find more information and links for tickets in the flyer or

Click Here for more info

This Week's Multimedia

Watch Rev. Joe's sermon on "Forgiveness (and What Forgiveness Is Not)" from last Sunday.

A busy week at St. Francis and beyond! From political protests in Washington, DC (Dawn) to Landscaping antics and our delight at being back together for Homecoming Sunday!