FIELDNOTES

September 2024

 The Monthly Newsletter of 

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Creation, Calling, and Confirmation

This past Sunday - September 1st - we began participating as a congregation in an ecumenical Christian observance known as the “Season of Creation.” (Ecumenical means it is observed by multiple denominations within Christianity.) The Season of Creation is not ancient. While it has been around for several decades, in the grand scope of the two millennia of the Christian Church the Season of Creation is a relative liturgical newcomer. Which is why, although it is widely accepted (having started in the Eastern Orthodox Church, no less) it is not yet universal. It is not, in the literal sense of the term, “catholic” (“according to the whole”).

But its acceptance is growing, and it's growing because of the way liturgy always grows: how we pray impacts how we act and what we believe, and what we believe eventually drives changes in our theology and our practice of worship. We are shaped, then, by how our prayers interact with the world around us. When there are needs, we pray and we act, and over time those prayers and actions find reflection in the liturgy.

What the Church around the world - the ecumenical Church, that is - has witnessed is an increasing need to address the abuses of creation, environmental devastation, and human-induced climate change. We witness the needs. We pray for our neighbors. We find ways to act. And, eventually, worship and liturgy begin to take a new shape as our prayers, our actions, and our “common prayer” find collaboration in our liturgical expression.

In one of our Confirmation classes in August, we talked about environmental destruction as one of the ways that God’s original vision for Creation has been damaged. Our awareness and response to sins against the environment, then, is one way that we learn to live out our faithfulness to God. Working with God, we are called to be “restorers of creation” - restorers, that is, of that original vision of God in which safety and abundance was available to all of God’s creatures.

The Church’s awareness of the environment as a gift of God is nothing new. St. Francis, among many others, emphasized the importance of Creation and drew our attention to the harmony of all things. But the Church’s active role in helping to restore and protect the environment - God’s wonderful, physical creation - is a theology that is only just now coming of age.

Many blessings,

Fr. Kevin+

Sunday, September 15

Episcopal Visitation

The Right Reverend Daniel G. P. Guiterriez, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, will visit St. Francis on Sunday, September 15th. Bp. Gutierrez will performing the rites of Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation, as well as preaching and celebrating Eucharist. After the service, a luncheon will be served in the Parish Hall.

PLEASE make plans to attend this special service! Let’s fill the pews to overflowing that morning and show Bp. Daniel what a loving, committed parish we have!

St. Francis Day is Coming!

Sunday, October 6

TWO Services: 8am and 10am

Start sharing the news with your friends and neighbors - St. Francis Day is coming!

That morning, we will have two services of Holy Eucharist that morning: Indoors at 8:00am, with Holy Baptism, and outdoors at 10:00am with the Blessing of the Animals.

If the weather is bad, the 10am service will take place in the Parish Hall – animals included..

ALL Meetings, Events, and Repairs



PLEASE call (610-647-0130) or email (stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org) Diane Faison in the church office to schedule ANY events at the church!

Doing this helps prevent scheduling conflicts.

Enneagram Growth Group

The Enneagram Growth Group meets on the 1^st Tuesdays of each month, from 6pm to 8pm, at the Dellaria residence in Paoli. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 1st.

For more information, contact Fr. Kevin or Donna Dellaria (donnadellaria@gmail.com)

September 7: Men’s Breakfast Fellowship

The next Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will be held on Saturday, September 7 at 9:00am, at the West Chester Diner (1147 West Chester Pike). This is BYOB (“Bring Your Own Bucks”).

All men of St. Francis are welcome to attend.

September 17: Red Cross Blood Drive

Our next Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Francis will take place on Tuesday, September 17, from 2 pm to 7 pm.

Donors can give every 56 days up to 6 times a year. If you last gave on July 23, you are eligible to give again.

Register online at redcrossblood.org. For more information please call Nancy Orlando, 484-757-4040.

Book Group: September 20

The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams is by Stacy Schiff. Thomas Jefferson asserted that if there was any leader of the American Revolution, “Samuel Adams was the man.” Adams led what could be called the greatest campaign of civil resistance in American history. He supplied the moral backbone of the American Revolution; he helped mastermind the Boston Tea Party. When Paul Revere rode to Lexington in 1775, it was to warn Adams that he was about to be arrested for treason. Schiff’s biography helps to illuminate the life of a complicated founding father.

Dates for Book Group: September 20, 2024, October 18, 2024, November 15, 2024, January 17, 2025, February 21, 2025, March 21, 2025, April 18, 2025, May 16, 2025.

BROWN BAG LUNCH

Brown Bag Lunch – September 24, 2024

On Tuesday, September 24 (Noon-1 PM) we welcome Ellen Endslow, Director of Collections/Curator at the Chester County History Center. The topic of her presentation will be Many Nations - a 300-year overview of the diverse people who have migrated to what is now Chester County. From the contact first between the Lenape and European colonists in the 1600s, national and international events have changed and influenced who has called Chester County home. Migration continues to have an impact on Chester County that shapes our communities in interesting ways.

The leadership of the BBL Ministry has changed with fewer volunteers, so we made a minor change effective with the September BBL. We are asking attendees to bring their snacks and beverages with their lunch. Also, as we have done in the past, attendees are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 AM to allow time for mingling and to get their lunch and beverage so we can promptly start at noon.

Lastly, our team is looking for more volunteers so if you are interested, please contact Shirley Warren, Cindy VanHefter, or Sheila Rees. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on September 24^th.

September 25: DIOPA Pre-Convention Meeting

This fall, St. Francis will host one of the annual diocesan pre-convention meetings. This meeting is an easy (and concise) way to learn about diocesan ministries and budget issues.

The meeting will be held in the Parish Hall. Wed., Sept. 25 @ 6:30pm.

October: Supper Six is Back!

One of St. Francis’ favorite social activities is making a return!

Supper Six is designed to help parish members get better acquainted with one another and to give new members a way to meet other members. Participants are placed into groups of six, with one person or couple hosting an evening of dinner and fellowship at their house, on a date agreed upon by the group.  A new member is invited to join the group. 

In the Supper Six format, the host (couple or individual) provides the main course, and the others in the group provide an appetizer, salad, dessert, etc.; whatever your group decides to do. The main thing is to just have fun.

We plan to have 2-3 Supper Sixes in 2024-2025 – the first being in October. I will place a sign-up sheet in the narthex in early September.

Please sign up, or contact me at judyculver@comcast.net or 610-724-1322, by September 22^nd if you’d like to participate in the Fall Supper Six.

Looking forward to a fun Fall Supper Six!

Judy Culver

December 10 – 13:

Lection Divina/Centering Prayer Retreat

This December, prepare your heart for the joys of Christmas by participating with Fr. Kevin and others in a silent retreat at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY.

Come for a few days of quiet and learn the ancient practices of Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer, walk the beautiful trails along the Hudson River, and worship with the Brothers in the rhythm of monastic life.

The cost of $420 covers room and board. Interested individuals should contact Fr. Kevin. Holy Cross is an Anglican Benedictine Monastery.

Church Farm School

Church Farm School Requests Gently Used Clothing for Scholars.

Church Farm School is an independent boarding and day college preparatory school for bright, motivated young scholars in grades 9-12 looking for an extraordinary educational opportunity at a reasonable cost.

To help these terrific scholars with their wardrobes (they are required to wear coats and ties for Chapel, dress in business casual attire for school and keep their clothes in good condition), the School enthusiastically requests donations of gently used or new clothing, appropriate for teenage boys in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. 

Donated items can be put in the bin located in the narthex.

For more information about donating clothes please contact Cindy VanHefter cvanhefter@gmail.com

Join the Worship Committee!

The St. Francis Worship Committee meets several times a year to review, discuss, and plan the worship life of St. Francis.

The WC is collaborative group, open to exploring new ideas within the theological spirit and tradition of the Episcopal Church.

If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Fr. Kevin or Joe Perry.

Wednesday Bible Study



This weekly study group meets both in-person and on Zoom Wednesdays at 10 am to discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday.

Those who attend in-person gather after for a brief service of Holy Eucharist.

A weekly email link is sent out for those who desire to attend virtually.

Let’s play Pickle Ball!

If anyone is interested in helping set up a Pickleball tournament between St. Francis and the Church of the Good Samaritan, please contact Suzanne Steinberg at 610-608-0830.

We’re hoping to hold an event in the near future so please consider being part of this fun, friendly game!

Pickleball is Mondays from 5 to 7. All are welcome. A link to register was sent out via Constant Contact.

Please sign-up using this link! Sign-up!

Walking With Friends

Anyone can do it. No power walking here - just a Monday morning pleasure walk enjoying friends and East Goshen Park. No reservation needed. The walk will begin at 9 am.

Come as you're able and your schedule allows. We meet at the parking area on the north side of Paoli Pike at the traffic light. Hope to see you then 

Circle of Friends

The Circle of Friends will meet in person, in the library, on Wednesday, September 25 at 5:30 pm.

If you are unable to join us in person but would still like to participate, packets can be prepared for pickup or delivery as needed. 

Please contact Shelley Steel at 610-299-3963 or shelleybsteel@gmail.com.

Immigration Ministry

The Mykhalchuk family continues to do well in West Chester. For more information about the family, visit Welcome.US | ‘I can’t stop a war, but I can help a family’ for the story of their ordeal and immigration to the U.S. 

The welcome.us site also provides a great deal of information about how Americans can help refugees in practical ways. 

Contributions to the Mykhalchuk family can be made at https://gofund.me/3f258bbd. 

A furniture pick-up for the Nationalities Service Center refugee program is planned for this fall. Please send photos of items to John Groch at 610-547-3583.

Altar Flowers

Please sign up for altar flowers in the book in the back of the church. The donation for the flowers is $50. 

Thanks. If you have questions contact Pam Hudson, pchudson715@gmail.com.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

689 Sugartown Road

Malvern, PA 19355

610-647-0130

stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org

stfrancisfields.org

The Very Rev. Kevin Dellaria, Rector

 Diane Faison, Parish Administrator & Deacon

Joe Perry, Music Director