St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

Weekly E-Blast

July 25, 2024

A Quick Note While Brendan is on Sabbatical

Dear Church Family, should you have any needs/questions while our dear Father Brendan is away on sabbatical, please know that I am here to support you. Please feel free to call/text me with your needs/questions and/or if you prefer, please leave a message with Jodi Laug at the main office and she will contact me. Wishing all a safe, relaxing, and joyous summer! Susy Mekarski, Senior Warden 

This Week at St. Francis

Thursday, July 25

7:00 pm - AA Men's Group

Sunday, July 28

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

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

12:30 pm - Misa

Monday, July 29

7:30 pm - AA

Wednesday, July 31

7:30 pm - AA

Thursday, August 1

7:00 pm - AA Men's Group

Saturday, August 3

3:00 pm - Parish Picnic at the Horton's

Sunday, August 4

8:00 am - Spoken Eucharist

9:00 am - Adult Formation

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

12:30 pm - Misa

St. Francis Parish Picnic 

Our annual Parish Picnic will be Saturday, August 3, at 3 pm at the Horton's house. Come for an afternoon of food, fun, games, and fellowship with our St. Francis family. The Hospitality Ministry will provide the main course (ribs), lemonade, and iced tea. You are invited to bring something to share: food, snacks, beverages. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Information Center to help us plan on how many are coming. If you do not get a chance to sign up, that is okay, come anyway. Looking forward to spending the afternoon with you all.

Picnic address: 34790 SW South Ranch Rd, Newberg, OR 97132

Doug and Lauri: 503-998-6709 

St Francis Hospitality

Summer Office Hours

Office hours through the summer are 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.

I will be out of town from July 29 - Aug 3. If you need anything during this time, please reach out to Susy Mekarski. I will be checking the email while I am away.

Jodi

Ladies Lunch

Our next Ladies Lunch will be on Tuesday, August 20, at 11:45, at Nyla Emory’s. This will be a potluck. More information to come.

Questions? Contact Peggy Danford or Sandi Thompson.

Women in the Episcopal Church

July 29, 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. St. Francis has been blessed by amazing women who have served us and been ordained with our support, including Sallie Bowman, who served as Head of Chaplains at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Marilynn Brown and Beth Mallon, who both served us, and Carolynne Fairweather, who serves us still.

At this year’s General Convention, the delegates voted to make July 29 the Feast of the Philadelphia Eleven, honoring those first ordained 50 years ago. The collect appointed for the Feast of the Philadelphia Eleven follows:

O God of Persistent Grace, you called the Philadelphia Eleven to the priesthood and granted them courage and boldness to respond, thereby opening the eyes of your church to the giftedness and equality of all: grant us so to hear, trust, and follow your Holy Spirit wherever she may lead, that the gifts of all your people may flourish throughout the earth, through Christ our Savior. Amen.

28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Elected

The General Convention of The Episcopal Church typically meets every three years. This year’s 81st General Convention met in Louisville, KY, from June 23-28. It marked the conclusion of Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry’s primacy and the election of his successor, the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.

Attendees included lay and clergy people, including deputies from each of the 110 dioceses in the United States and abroad, lay leadership and diocesan bishops, as well as members of the Episcopal Church Women, and other visitors.

If you would like to read about the nominees for the 28th Presiding Bishop, Click Here.

The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Bishop of the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, was elected and confirmed the 28th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church on June 26 for a nine-year term beginning Nov. 1. If you would like to read the article published by Public Affairs of the Episcopal Church announcing his election Click Here.

Adult Formation

Adult Formation features discussions and reflection derived from the Lectionary readings used in each morning's worship service. Participants may benefit from previewing the Lessons as posted each Thursday in the "St. Francis E-Blast." Norm Shrumm is the convener/discussion leader. Please join us!

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

Our next Taizé Prayer service will be Sunday, August 4.

Did You Know? - Chandeliers and Wall Sconces

The chandeliers and wall sconces were designed by Eleanor Stewart, Emily Cummins, and Martha Olson, members of the Art and Architecture Committee. They reflect the spirit of the church in Assisi, Italy.

Ministry Prayers – Hopsitality Ministry

Each week, in our Prayers of the People, we pray for a ministry here at St. Francis. This week, we pray for our Hospitality Ministry. Hospitality is defined as "the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers." At St. Francis, the Hospitality Ministry makes visitors, newcomers, and long-time members feel welcomed and provides a variety of fun social gatherings to engage our church family. Hospitality helps build strong relationships and creates a sense of community.

Are you interested in joining this Ministry? Contact Lauri Horton or Marianne Burnside for more information.

Treasurer’s Report

Pledge income for June 2024 alone was $13,571 over budget.  

Pledge income for the year was $8,921 over budget.   

June 1 – June 31 Income from all sources:

Budgeted: $30,226

Actual: $44,808

Difference: over budget $14,582

June 1 – June 31 Expenses:

Budgeted: $30,177

Actual: $28,252

Difference: under budget $1,925

The bottom line: Through June our Income from all sources was over our Expenses in the amount of $16,555.

The monthly financial report is posted on the Bulletin Board at the church.

We thank you for your gracious contributions that help us to care well for ourselves and the communities we serve.

Time to Save Jeans and Winter Clothing for St. Timothy, Brookings

A heads-up about our support for the St Timothy, Brookings, outreach program. This parish in Southern Oregon ministers to the many homeless people in their area. In September, we will be collecting warm winter clothing and blue jeans. Please save the following:

- Rain gear — tops and bottoms

- Winter jackets

- Blue jeans — all sizes

This year we will not be collecting fleeces or other clothing. St Timothy has told us that they have enough of those items and are limited in storage space.

Please hold your donations until September. If you bring them now, they may get mixed up with donations for William Temple House.

If you have no clothing to donate, St Francis Outreach is also happy to accept cash donations, which will either be used to purchase appropriate clothing or sent directly to Brookings for other homeless needs. (Please mark any such donations for St Timothy, Brookings.)

Questions? Please contact Ann Frazier at 503-657-0739 or annfrazier41@comcast.net.