St. Francis E-Blast, April 25, 2024

St. Francis subscribes to a weekly service called Preparing for Sunday, which provides some brief commentary on the bible readings for the upcoming weeks. It can be found on the Sermons & Services page on the St. Francis website (https://tinyurl.com/sermonspage). I encourage all of you to consider looking at it prior to Sunday, particularly if you are a lector for the week.

Father Brendan

Participants in this Week's Services

Serving at 8 am

LEM: Linda Nash

Intercessor: Deb Fritts

Lector: Peter Wallmark

Lector: Chris Onstad

Ushers/Greeters: Ron and Sue Coleman

Altar Guild: Ron and Sue Coleman

Serving at 10:30 am

LEMs: John Wisecaver and Doug Horton

Intercessor: Terri Hoffmann

Lector: Gaby Vaught

Lector: John Wisecaver

Ushers: Ed and Marianne Burnside

Usher/Videographer: John Vaught

Welcome Table: Nyla Emory and Ann Frazier

Altar Guild: Apyl Garmon and Doug Horton

Flower Guild: Linda Hammersley and Sandi Wilson

Coffee Hour Hosts: The Martens and Sharp Families

Click here for the Full Church Calendar

This Week at St. Francis

Thursday, April 25

10:00 am - Book Group

1:00 pm - Threads of Love

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, April 28

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

10:30 am - Eucharist, Live Eucharist on YouTube/Facebook

10:30 am - Sunday School

12:30 pm - Misa

5:00 pm - Dinner Church

Monday, April 29

10:30 am - Bell Choir Rehearsal

2:00 pm - Contemplative Prayer Group

7:30 pm - AA

Tuesday, April 30

1:00 pm - Caring Ministry Meeting

Wednesday, May 1

12:00 pm - Noon Eucharist

1:00 pm - Staff Meeting

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm - AA

Thursday, May 2

7:00 pm - AA Men’s Group

Sunday, May 5

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

10:30 am - Eucharist, Live Eucharist on YouTube/Facebook

10:30 am - Sunday School

12:30 pm - Misa

5:00 pm - Taize

Parish Activities

If you would like your announcements to be included in this newsletter, or in the Sunday bulletin, please email them to the office at saintfranciswilsonville@gmail.com by Tuesday evening (7:30 pm). Please include a contact person within the announcement in case there are questions. Announcements will run for two weeks or until the event takes place.

Mite Boxes

All Mite Boxes need to be submitted by April 30. Thank you.

Origami Doves

One of the many traditions at St. Francis involves the making of origami doves, which are hung from the chandeliers in the nave for Pentecost Sunday, May 19th.

Before the doves are folded, you are invited to write prayers of petition, thanksgiving, or remembrance on a prayer paper.

The prayer papers will be available in the Narthex until we fold them on May 12. You may also submit an online prayer through the website, News Page.

The doves flying over us on Pentecost are an awesome and powerful sight, and a remembrance of how we are uplifted and comforted by the prayers of others. Look for the prayer papers and take part in this beautiful connection with our loved ones.

Dinner Church

Our next gathering for Dinner Church will be April 28, at 5 pm in the Parish Hall. Father Brendan will make the main dish and we will have a potluck for sides, salads, and desserts. There is a sign-up sheet in the Information Center. We will have dinner, break bread, and celebrate the Eucharist.

Contemplative Prayer Group

A contemplative prayer group meets twice per month on Monday at 2 pm in the Parish Hall library. We do Lectio Divina and sit for Centering Prayer, among other devotions. Our next meeting will be on April 29th at 2 pm. If you are interested in Silent Prayer or Contemplation and want to join the prayer group or ask for more information, please contact Lucia Jorge-Nebert (call or text: 971-341-2068, email: lnebert@yahoo.com) or Marcia Burdon (text only: 503-380-7820, email: mlburdon@hotmail.com).

Eyeglasses and Hearing Aid Collection

Please continue to bring your old eyeglasses and hearing aids and put them in the boxes in the Information Center. The Lion's Club picks them up when they are full.

Adult Formation

Adult Formation will have us looking at shame and shame resilience for three Sundays, beginning April 28. We all carry it, we all know it’s a burden and a waste of energy, so let’s work to understand how best to name it and overcome it. From long research by Brene Brown, we can trust that all we need for resilience is a little courage, community and self-compassion. If you’re interested, start the work early by taking a self-compassion inventory at www.selfcompassion.org; it’s free, fast and easy, and results are emailed back immediately. Join us Sundays at 9:15 to share coffee and good conversation!

Taizé Prayer at St. Francis

For a time of prayer, reflection, and peace, please join us for Taizé prayers at the Cross of San Daminano.

The San Damiano Cross was one of a number of crosses painted with similar figures during the 12th century in Umbria. The purpose of an icon cross was to teach the meaning of the event depicted and thereby strengthen the faith of the people. Jesus Christ is represented both as wounded and strong.

Taizé Prayer is a simple, meditative form of worship, calling us to dwell deeply on Christ's presence around and within us. Mantra songs (like "Jesus, Remember Me"), prayerful silence, and short readings guide the focus of the prayer in a candle-lit environment.

Come at 5:00 pm for the service or 4:30 pm if you would like to sing through the chants prior to the serve.

Our next Taizé Prayer service will be Sunday, May 5.

Prayer Chain

The Prayer Chain at St. Francis is a big group of pray-ers ready and willing to pray for whatever needs or thanksgivings arise. If you would like prayers for any concern or gratitude, or would like to join us pray-ers, please send a request to kenrus60@gmail.com. No concern or thanksgiving can have too many prayers!

Did You Know? - Memorial Cabinet and Book

The Memorial Cabinet was given by Barbara and Richard Montfort, in loving memory of their parents, Agnes and William Borden and Emma and Archibald Montfort.

The Memorial Book is enclosed in the cabinet and lists all of the memorial gifts to St. Francis. It is located on the wall in the Narthex. The calligraphy was done by Bert Brown.

Ministry Prayers – Stewardship Committee

Each week, in our Prayers of the People, we pray for a ministry here at St. Francis. This week, we pray for our Stewardship Committee. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our congregation, St. Francis had another successful Stewardship season. This year’s theme was “Joy in Community: Like a puzzle, we are unique, but together we create something wonderful” and we are amazing! We received 121 pledges for $317,081 this year! We completed our puzzle and then some. In partnership with the Hospitality Ministry, we ended the season with an Oktoberfest party: an afternoon of fun, great food, and dancing, spent celebrating not only a successful Stewardship, but one another as a congregation.

Are you interested in joining this Ministry? Contact Gaby Vaught for more information.

Parish Outreach

Wilsonville Food Bank

The food bank is in need of CEREAL, TOILET PAPER, and TISSUES. They do NOT need peanut butter at this time. They also do not need fruit, rice, or pasta., and cannot store fresh fruit. Please put any donations in the cart in the Narthex. A volunteer takes the food to the Food Bank every Tuesday.