  _______________________August 13, 2026_______________________ Prairied Treasures = St Francis Outreach Prairied Treasures is a unique ministry of St Francis. Housed in the undercroft, this “one-man show” is our primary funder of outreach donations to the community. It is an e-bay marketplace that sells donated items, using the proceeds to make monetary donations to community organizations such as Doves, Red Cross, Schools Backpack Program, Doctors without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, Episcopal Relief & Development, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, Save the Children and Shriners Hospital as well as other ministries within St Francis (e.g., Daughters of the King, Sack Lunches). Since its inception, Prairied Treasurers has made over $100,000 in donations. Prairied Treasures was created by a group of parishioners in 2007. Over time, most of the original founders of the ministry have moved on to other ministries. But, Don Kepler persists. Don has been working tirelessly since the beginning of Prairied Treasurers to collect, evaluate, and market donations that he posts on the e-bay site. For him, it is a labor of love. Now, it is time to look to the next generation of e-bay enthusiasts. Don is looking for an apprentice who is willing to learn the ropes of this ministry. This is an opportunity for someone who has some general computer skills and an interest in turning buried treasures into cash for St Francis’ outreach to our community. If you are curious about this opportunity, you can contact Don Kepler at 308-635-0734 or Mary Bowman at 303-514-2820.Prairied Treasures = St Francis Outreach Prairied Treasures is a unique ministry of St Francis. Housed in the undercroft, this “one-man show” is our primary funder of outreach donations to the community. It is an e-bay marketplace that sells donated items, using the proceeds to make monetary donations to community organizations such as Doves, Red Cross, Schools Backpack Program, Doctors without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, Episcopal Relief & Development, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, Save the Children and Shriners Hospital as well as other ministries within St Francis (e.g., Daughters of the King, Sack Lunches). Since its inception, Prairied Treasurers has made over $100,000 in donations. Prairied Treasures was created by a group of parishioners in 2007. Over time, most of the original founders of the ministry have moved on to other ministries. But, Don Kepler persists. Don has been working tirelessly since the beginning of Prairied Treasurers to collect, evaluate, and market donations that he posts on the e-bay site. For him, it is a labor of love. Now, it is time to look to the next generation of e-bay enthusiasts. Don is looking for an apprentice who is willing to learn the ropes of this ministry. This is an opportunity for someone who has some general computer skills and an interest in turning buried treasures into cash for St Francis’ outreach to our community. If you are curious about this opportunity, you can contact Don Kepler at 308-635-0734 or Mary Bowman at 303-514-2820. ______________________________________________________________________________  Surprise Donation for the Sack Lunch Program! Earlier this year we requested a grant from the Oregon Trail Community Foundation to help fund our Sack Lunch program. We were disappointed to learn that they did not have funds to allocate for that purpose. Imagine our surprise when Barb Manasek got a call from the OTCF saying they had an anonymous donor who gave them funds for ministries like our Sack Lunch program. The OTCF remembered us and included us in the recipients of funds from this generous anonymous donor with a check for $4,000! What a blessing! ______________________________________________________________________________ Rev Chris Planz will be the Ministry Leader on Sunday 8/16 (this Sunday) and we will be celebrating Holy Eucharist. Ministry Teams, Sunday ,August 16, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Charlie Kennedy Ushers Alena Kennedy, Mike Schingle Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Madi Collins, Ella Iron Shell Lector/Intercessor Clark Wisniewski Eucharistic Minister Monica Shambaugh Altar Guild Judi Widmaier, Connie Schingle, Jeane Anderson Coffee Hosts Judi Widmaier, Sandi Van Engel Flowers: Jeff Bott & Cindy Strauch & Lisa In memory of Willard & Shannon Bott Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 8/18 Centering Prayer 11a Friday 8/21 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 8/23 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following date: 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Service. From the Office—Ann’s Announcements  Have a Great School Year! Birthdays:
Cory Foster August 16 Donald Graham August 19 Ann Selzer August 20 Anniversaries: Greg & Collette Suhr August 21 Ben & Christie Shaver August 22 Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________August 6, 2026_______________________ A Message from Mary Dear Friends – This week, it is potpourri! Have you notice the new LED lights in the Parish Hall? Thanks to the Foundation for funding that improvement and to Kathy Shambaugh for coordinating the installation. LED lights were also installed in other areas of the church. In addition to improved lighting, we expect to realize savings on our future electricity bills. Have you noticed the little treasure box on the small table in the narthex? You can place your receipts from Main Street Market (Co-op) in the box. They are given to Cooperative Ministries and used to help fund the Backpack program. What an easy way to help kids in our community! If you have questions about this, contact Collette Suhr. Did you know that St Francis is hosting this year’s Annual Council? It will be held in October and we will welcome fellow Episcopalians from across the State. As a part of the Annual Council we need to provide volunteers in a variety of roles. I know it sems like a long time away, but we are planning the logistics now. Please consider volunteering for a role. You can contact Karen Larson for more information. Mary ______________________________________________________________________________  Surprise Donation for the Sack Lunch Program! Earlier this year we requested a grant from the Oregon Trail Community Foundation to help fund our Sack Lunch program. We were disappointed to learn that they did not have funds to allocate for that purpose. Imagine our surprise when Barb Manasek got a call from the OTCF saying they had an anonymous donor who gave them funds for ministries like our Sack Lunch program. The OTCF remembered us and included us in the recipients of funds from this generous anonymous donor with a check for $4,000! What a blessing! ______________________________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Sunday, August 9, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Jack Schaaf Ushers Richard Gable, Sarah Schaaf Worship Leader Jane Sayre Lector/Intercessor Beth McKibbin Altar Guild Judi Widmaier, Connie Schingle, Jeane Anderson Coffee Hosts Ann Peterson, Patti Clown Horse Flowers: George & Judy Blundell, Mike & Steve In memory of sons, Scott & Joseph Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 8/11 Centering Prayer 11a Friday 8/14 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 8/16 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: 8/16 and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services.
 Birthdays:
Collette Suhr August 9 Mike Schingle August 10 Diane Morrison August 11 Anniversaries: Justin & Jenny Bohl August 10 Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________July 30, 2026_______________________ A Message from Mary This Sunday, I was so pleased to announce that your Vestry has called The Reverend Mary Caucutt to serve as Interim Rector. Mother Mary will begin with us on September 1. We will be sharing her with All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Torrington. She will be with us three Sundays each month and will be in our Parish office four days per week for three weeks out of the month. She will be returning to her home in Cody, WY one week each month. Your Vestry met with Mother Mary and had the opportunity to discuss our vision for the future of St Francis and hear how she can partner with us. We were impressed with her experience, energy and enthusiasm. We look forward to engaging with Mother Mary during this transition period as we search for our permanent Rector.  Surprise Donation for the Sack Lunch Program! Earlier this year we requested a grant from the Oregon Trail Community Foundation to help fund our Sack Lunch program. We were disappointed to learn that they did not have funds to allocate for that purpose. Imagine our surprise when Barb Manasek got a call from the OTCF saying they had an anonymous donor who gave them funds for ministries like our Sack Lunch program. The OTCF remembered us and included us in the recipients of funds from this generous anonymous donor with a check for $4,000! What a blessing! ______________________________________________________________________________ Intercessory Prayer Members of the Daughters of the King are available for Intercessory Prayer in the Mary Chapel each Sunday after worship. All prayer requests are kept confidential. ______________________________________________________________________________ A big thank you for your generous support of the Daughters of the King hygiene/toiletry drive during July. Your donations of products and cash are awesome and will provide help to those in our community who need assistance. The Daughters will be working on Saturday, August 1, to prepare your donations for distribution. Again, many thanks for your kindness and support! ______________________________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Sunday, August 2, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Steve Trickler Ushers Artie Johnson, Jan Johnson Worship Leader Monica Shambaugh Lector/Intercessor Lisa Betz-Marquez Altar Guild Judi Widmaier, Connie Schingle, Jeane Anderson Coffee Hosts Karen Larson, Nancy Kepler Flowers: Lorrie Wold In thanksgiving for her children, Adrian & Andrew Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Sunday 8/2 Joyful Noise Collection Tuesday 8/4 Centering Prayer 11a Friday 8/7 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 8/9 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: 8/16 and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2026 BBQ Success! The Saint Francis Family and Friends BBQ held Sunday July 19th was an amazing success with an estimated 60-70 people attending! Thank you Janet for organizing all of this! Jake Collins spent nearly all day roasting the pork assisted by Jessica Collins. Charlie Kennedy stepped in later to assist with hot dogs and hamburgers. People generously contributed a wonderful variety of salads, desserts and side dishes. Many pitched in for setup and cleanup. Much laughter and good conversations filled the parish hall. There were many new and returning faces along with several guests. A huge thank you to all who attended and contributed. A giant shout to Jake and Jessica for providing the delicious pulled pork along with the grills. Thanks to Bill Mann for his preparations to make our grounds look amazing and setting up umbrellas for the patio! Many also attended a fun filled game night after the meal. Thanks to Steve Trickler and Dylan Coop for hosting the gamers! From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays:
Justin Bohl August 2 Ayita Gomez August 5 Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________July 23, 2026_______________________ Intercessory Prayer Members of the Daughters of the King are available for Intercessory Prayer in the Mary Chapel each Sunday after worship. All prayer requests are kept confidential. ______________________________________________________________________________ The Daughters of the King are sponsoring a personal hygiene collection during the month of July. The donations will be distributed to benefit those in need. In the past we have taken items to several local groups in the community, including the Hope Center, WNCC students and DOVES. There is a collection bin in the narthex. Suggested items to donate include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, lotion, Kleenex packets, lip balm, deodorant, shampoo, etc. The DOK will sort the items and distribute them in August. Thank you for your support and generosity! Those who serve, Sunday, July 26, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Stephanie Schingle Ushers John & Jamie Selzer Worship Leader Clark Wisniewski Lector/Intercessor Artie Johnson Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Collette Suhr, Jeane Anderson Flowers: Ron & Ann Salomon For the blessings of family and friends Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 7/28 No Centering Prayer 11a Friday 7/31 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 8/2 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: 8/16 and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services. 2026 BBQ Success! The Saint Francis Family and Friends BBQ held Sunday July 19th was an amazing success with an estimated 60-70 people attending! Thank you Janet for organizing all of this! Jake Collins spent nearly all day roasting the pork assisted by Jessica Collins. Charlie Kennedy stepped in later to assist with hot dogs and hamburgers. People generously contributed a wonderful variety of salads, desserts and side dishes. Many pitched in for setup and cleanup. Much laughter and good conversations filled the parish hall. There were many new and returning faces along with several guests. A huge thank you to all who attended and contributed. A giant shout to Jake and Jessica for providing the delicious pulled pork along with the grills. Thanks to Bill Mann for his preparations to make our grounds look amazing and setting up umbrellas for the patio! Many also attended a fun filled game night after the meal. Thanks to Steve Trickler and Dylan Coop for hosting the gamers! From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays:
Judi Widmaier July 31 Leticia Schnell August 1 Anniversaries: Chris & Jane Kelley July 30 Ralph & Melissa Moreno August 1 Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________July 16, 2026_______________________ Intercessory Prayer Members of the Daughters of the King are available for Intercessory Prayer in the Mary Chapel each Sunday after worship. All prayer requests are kept confidential. ______________________________________________________________________________ The Daughters of the King are sponsoring a personal hygiene collection during the month of July. The donations will be distributed to benefit those in need. In the past we have taken items to several local groups in the community, including the Hope Center, WNCC students and DOVES. There is a collection bin in the narthex. Suggested items to donate include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, lotion, Kleenex packets, lip balm, deodorant, shampoo, etc. The DOK will sort the items and distribute them in August. Thank you for your support and generosity! Those who serve, Sunday, July 19, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Charlie Kennedy Ushers Alena Kennedy, Cindy Dickinson Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Walker Anderson, Reece Meysenburg Lector/Intercessor Jane Sayre Eucharistic Minister Santana Tamarak Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Kathy & Monica Shambaugh Flowers: Bill Mann In memory of his mother, Mary Upcoming Events at St. Francis: 7/19 TODAY-Family BBQ & Game Night Tuesday 7/21 Centering Prayer 11a Friday 7/24 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 7/26 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: 8/16, and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services From the Office-Ann's Announcements  Birthdays:
Trudy Schnell July 19 Velysia Gomez July 21 Gary Larson July 22 Ashton Tuzson July 22 Anniversaries: John & Jamie Selzer July 20 Kevin& Monica Lehr July 23 SUMMER BBQ IS COMING UP! The St. Francis Church Family and Friends BBQ will be held THIS Sunday, July 19 at 4:30 pm prior to Game Night which begins at 6. Please invite friends and family members to attend. Everyone is welcome! While all are welcome to participate in Game Night following the BBQ, it is not required. Feel free to come and enjoy good food and good company. There is no charge for the meal. There will be an opportunity for a free will offering. The church will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and pork roast. If you are able, please bring chips, salad, dessert or other side dish to share. We also seek paper plates, napkins, disposable flatware, bottled water and volunteers to help with set up and clean up. Please text Janet Craven 308-637-7173 with approximate number of your family and friends who might attend. Thank you and hope to see you there! Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________July 9, 2026_______________________ A Message from Mary I love those few moments right before the curtain rises. I hear the cacophony of the musicians tuning up their instruments. There – hear the clarinets. Now, the trumpets (do, re, mi, fa – do, re, me, fa). The strings sing – hmmmm, hmmmm, hmmmm. Ah, the trill of the flute! And, look – a small movement of the curtain indicating that someone is back there – maybe moving some piece of the set into place. All the behind-the-scenes work, the cues that something is about to happen, invoke a feeling of anticipation and excitement. Look at my fellow audience members – they are ready to see what has been prepared for their discernment. Your Vestry has been working behind-the-scenes on the first step of many that will celebrate and strengthen the core of what makes St Francis a welcoming, warm community. This will help position us to attract the Rector we know is out there looking for us. Stay tuned! M ______________________________________________________________________________ Intercessory Prayer Members of the Daughters of the King are available for Intercessory Prayer in the Mary Chapel each Sunday after worship. All prayer requests are kept confidential. ______________________________________________________________________________ The Daughters of the King are sponsoring a personal hygiene collection during the month of July. The donations will be distributed to benefit those in need. In the past we have taken items to several local groups in the community, including the Hope Center, WNCC students and DOVES. There is a collection bin in the narthex. Suggested items to donate include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, lotion, Kleenex packets, lip balm, deodorant, shampoo, etc. The DOK will sort the items and distribute them in August. Thank you for your support and generosity! Those who serve, Sunday, July 12, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Jack Schaaf Ushers Jim Petitt, Mike Schingle Worship Leader Monica Shambaugh Lector/Intercessor Connie Schingle Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Karen Mecklem, Diane Morrison Flowers: Alan & Jan Johnson For the birthday of grandson, Oliver John Clark Greg & Collette Suhr In memory of his father, Dean Suhr Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 7/14 Centering Prayer 11a Friday 7/17 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 7/19 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: 7/19, 8/16, and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services. 7/19 Family BBQ & Game Night From the office--Ann's announcements  Birthdays: Matt Anderson July 17 Anniversaries: Donald & Kathy Graham July 18 SUMMER BBQ IS COMING UP! The St. Francis Church Family and Friends BBQ will be held Sunday, July 19 at 4:30 pm prior to Game Night which begins at 6. Please invite friends and family members to attend. Everyone is welcome! While all are welcome to participate in Game Night following the BBQ, it is not required. Feel free to come and enjoy good food and good company. There is no charge for the meal. There will be an opportunity for a free will offering. The church will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and pork roast. If you are able, please bring chips, salad, dessert or other side dish to share. We also seek paper plates, napkins, disposable flatware, bottled water and volunteers to help with set up and clean up. Please text Janet Craven 308-637-7173 with approximate number of your family and friends who might attend. Thank you and hope to see you there! Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________July 2, 2026_______________________ A Message from Mary I love those few moments right before the curtain rises. I hear the cacophony of the musicians tuning up their instruments. There – hear the clarinets. Now, the trumpets (do, re, mi, fa – do, re, me, fa). The strings sing – hmmmm, hmmmm, hmmmm. Ah, the trill of the flute! And, look – a small movement of the curtain indicating that someone is back there – maybe moving some piece of the set into place. All the behind-the-scenes work, the cues that something is about to happen, invoke a feeling of anticipation and excitement. Look at my fellow audience members – they are ready to see what has been prepared for their discernment. Your Vestry has been working behind-the-scenes on the first step of many that will celebrate and strengthen the core of what makes St Francis a welcoming, warm community. This will help position us to attract the Rector we know is out there looking for us. Stay tuned! M ____________________________________________________________________________ Intercessory Prayer Members of the Daughters of the King are available for Intercessory Prayer in the Mary Chapel each Sunday after worship. All prayer requests are kept confidential. _____________________________________________________________________________ Scam Alert We have received reports about emails that purportedly come from Father Bob Manesek stating that he wants to contact them regarding an important matter. These emails are not legitimate! Please do not click on the return email address to respond. _____________________________________________________________________________ The Daughters of the King are sponsoring a personal hygiene collection during the month of July. The donations will be distributed to benefit those in need. In the past we have taken items to several local groups in the community, including the Hope Center, WNCC students and DOVES. There is a collection bin in the narthex. Suggested items to donate include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, lotion, Kleenex packets, lip balm, deodorant, shampoo, etc. The DOK will sort the items and distribute them in August. Thank you for your support and generosity! Those who serve, Sunday, July 5, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Steve Trickler Ushers Greg & Collette Suhr Worship Leader Jack Webb Lector/Intercessor Jane Sayre Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Christie Shaver, Beth McKibbin Flowers: Judi Widmaier In memory of Chris & Sean McArthur and parents, Claire & Ted Widmaier Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 7/7Centering Prayer 11a Friday 7/10 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 7/12 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: 7/19, 8/16, and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services. 7/19 Family BBQ & Game Night ____________________________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements  250 Years of God Blessing America!!! Birthdays:
Marvin Lamont July 5 Anniversaries: Fernando & Sara Moreno July 5 SUMMER BBQ IS COMING UP! The St. Francis Church Family and Friends BBQ will be held Sunday, July 19 at 4:30 pm prior to Game Night which begins at 6. Please invite friends and family members to attend. Everyone is welcome! While all are welcome to participate in Game Night following the BBQ, it is not required. Feel free to come and enjoy good food and good company. There is no charge for the meal. There will be an opportunity for a free will offering. The church will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and pork roast. If you are able, please bring chips, salad, dessert or other side dish to share. We also seek paper plates, napkins, disposable flatware, bottled water and volunteers to help with set up and clean up. Please text Janet Craven 308-637-7173 with approximate number of your family and friends who might attend. Thank you and hope to see you there! Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________June 25, 2026_______________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Intercessory Prayer Members of the Daughters of the King are available for Intercessory Prayer in the Mary Chapel each Sunday after worship. All prayer requests are kept confidential. ______________________________________________________________________________ Scam Alert We have received reports about emails that purportedly come from Father Bob Manesek stating that he wants to contact them regarding an important matter. These emails are not legitimate! Please do not click on the return email address to respond. _______________________________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Sunday, June 28, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Stephanie Schingle Ushers Richard Gable, Kathy Shambaugh Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Madi Collins, Ella Iron Shell Worship Leader Rev. Chris Plantz Lector/Intercessor Jim Petitt Eucharist Minister Monica Shambaugh Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Judi Widmaier, Sarah Schaaf Flowers: Clark & Amy Wisniewski In thanksgiving for their daughter, Catherine Alan & Jan Johnson For the anniversary of their marriage Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 6/30 Centering Prayer 11a Wednesday 7/1 Lectionary Bible Study resumes after Summer Thursday 7/2 Discipleship Group resumes after Summer Friday 7/3 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 7/5 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: July 19, 8/16, and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services. _______________________________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements  Birthdays:
Kathy Graham June 28 Lisa Ledbetter June 28 Dan Witko June 30 Keith Viola July 1 Ayden Reed July 2 Joyce Walsh July 2 Sandy Van Engel July 4 Anniversaries: Artie & Jan Johnson July 1 Matt & Jeane Anderson July 2 Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________June 18, 2026_______________________ A Message from Mary One of my great joys of being a member of St Francis is interacting with the variety of people who love this church and happily give of their time and talents. This week, I want to recognize a few of these “saints”. Christie Shaver coordinated the Centering Prayer workshop with Brother James Dowd on June 13. This experience was a supplement to the Centering Prayer sessions that Christie leads on Tuesday each week in the Rae Whitney Library. Christie has also taken on the unofficial role of Librarian in the Ray Whitney Library. When new items are donated to the Library, Christie catalogs them and makes sure they are properly placed in the shelves. If you are curious about the practice of Centering Prayer or about the Rae Whitney Library, I urge you to contact Christie. Also on June 13, the ladies from the ECW hosted their Annual Ladies Salad luncheon. What a blessing to gather with women from St Francis (and their friends) to share a meal! Local vocal artist Stephanie Coley sang before and after the meal. In addition to the annual luncheon, the ECW provides food at Coffee Hour after Sunday worship each week. They also provide food at funeral receptions and other meetings/events at St Francis. The ECW sends greeting cards to shut-ins, they provide grants to various organizations in our community and give money to local families in need at Christmas. And, don’t forget the bi-annual Christmas in July “garage sale”! If you are interested in finding out how you can participate in one or more ECW activities, contact Barb Manasek. On May 31, Charlie Kennedy and Janet Craven represented St Francis at the annual Pride in the Park event. They set up a table and distributed refrigerator magnets, brochures and candy to passers-by. I understand the candy was a big draw! Of course, Charlie and Janet were the perfect representatives to talk with people about St Francis and our warm, welcoming church. Your Vestry has set aside a small amount from the budget to pay for “table fees” for other such events. This is one of our strategies for sharing the Good News. If you learn of other such opportunities, let me know. Have you noticed the beautiful flower pots in the courtyard and the additions to the perennial beds? Bill Mann is the guy with the green thumb! Bill worked tirelessly cleaning out the beds and pots, laying out more mulch, purchasing and planting the lovely flowers and bushes. In addition to this huge undertaking, Bill is often working at the church taking care of those behind-the-scenes tasks (like changing light bulbs!). Next time you see Bill, please let him know how much you appreciate his gifts of time and talents. Speaking of behind-the-scenes workers – I have to let you know about the work your Junior Warden, Kathy Shambaugh, and her able assistant Monica, have done in the sacristies. A bit ago, some of the ladies from the Altar Guild were talking about difficulties they were having with managing the Altar linens. Kathy talked with them and came up with a solution to their problem. She and Monica did some magic to create additional space for Altar linens and take care of some flooring issues. This is just an example of the kind of things Kathy (often with the help of her able assistant, Monica) is doing behind-the-scenes every week. I could go on and on with praises for the “saints” who give happily of their time and talents. As a matter of fact, I think will continue to do that. I encourage you to do the same! For His Sake, Mary ______________________________________________________________________________ Intercessory Prayer Members of the Daughters of the King are available for Intercessory Prayer in the Mary Chapel each Sunday after worship. All prayer requests are kept confidential. ______________________________________________________________________________ Scam Alert We have received reports about emails that purportedly come from Father Bob Manesek stating that he wants to contact them regarding an important matter. These emails are not legitimate! Please do not click on the return email address to respond. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Sunday, June 21, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Jack Schaaf Ushers Monica Shambaugh, Sarah Schaaf Worship Leader Monica Shambaugh Lector/Intercessor Santana Tamarak Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Barb Manasek, Sandi Van Engel “Donuts for Dad” Flowers: Jane Wisniewski In memory of their grandparents, & Sarah Williams Frank & Bessie Brown and Ed & Mabel Williams Beth McKibbin In memory of her father, Lyle Stingley, husband Jerry, and father-in-law, Mac McKibbin Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Sunday 6/21 Game Night 6p Parish Hall Tuesday 6/23 Centering Prayer 11a Wednesday 6/24 Lectionary Bible Study resumes after Summer Thursday 6/25 Discipleship Group resumes after Summer Friday 6/26 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 6/28 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Rev. Chris Plantz will be here on the following dates: 6/28, 7/19, 8/16, and 9/20 for Eucharist Worship Services. 7/19 Family BBQ & Game Night _______________________________________________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements  Happy Father's Day! We’re celebrating Dad’s with donuts this Sunday following Worship! Birthdays:
Jane Sayre June 23 Rick Anderson June 26 Anniversaries: Justin & Jacklyn Cawiezel June 21 Al & Barb Williams June 21 Robert & Lisa Brenner June 25 Cory & Gretchen Foster June 26 Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for May-July are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.   _______________________June 11, 2026_______________________  A Message from Mary “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 This verse is particularly meaningful as we step into our journey to call a new Rector. We know this may be a long journey potentially filled with anxiety and frustration, but also with moments of joy and gratitude. It is up to us to approach this time with a positive outlook and to give one another some grace when things don’t go smoothly. Throughout this journey, I commit to open and honest communication with you. For anyone who wishes to speak with me in person, I will be in the church office each Tuesday morning, 9 am – 10 am. I can also be reached via email at [email protected] or phone/text at 303-514-2820. For those who may need emergency Pastoral care, we have an arrangement with Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA who is the senior pastor a Calvary Lutheran Church. She can be reached at (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30p, Monday-Friday and (308) 874-6021 after hours. I am in regular communication with Canon Liz and Bishop Barker. They are currently exploring the possibility of assigning an Interim Rector to St Francis. I will know more about this in coming weeks. In the meantime, Monica Shambaugh is working with a group of parishioners to create meaningful worship experiences for us. This group will be engaged in a Worship Workshop with Bishop Scott and Canon Liz on July 11. They will also be working on lining up ordained clergy to visit and serve Holy Eucharist periodically. If you have any suggestions related to our worship experience or have gifts of speaking or music that you wish to share, please contact Monica. I know that many of you have the “search process” top of mind. We are reviewing the work that was done by the previous search committee with an eye toward using much of their work product. I will keep you informed about our plans for the search. If you feel called to participate directly in the search process, please let me know. As we walk this journey together, your prayers and support are very much appreciated. For His Sake, Mary ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scam Alert We have received reports about emails that purportedly come from Father Bob Manesek stating that he wants to contact them regarding an important matter. These emails are not legitimate! Please do not click on the return email address to respond. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Centering Prayer: A Life Practice with Brother James Dowd, OSB Monk-in-residence, Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska, Prior of Incarnation Monastery and the Benedictine Way. Saturday, June 13, 2026 9:00 AM – 12:00PM Saint Francis Episcopal Church 14 E. 20th Street, Scottsbluff, NE Do you struggle with how to be still or how to gain some inner silence? Have you wondered what Centering Prayer is? Want to know more about it? Looking for a new and meaningful prayer practice? On Saturday, June 13th, Br. James Dowd will present a workshop on Centering Prayer. Br. James has practiced for many years as a Benedictine monk, and he will share his wealth of knowledge and experience with us. This is open to everyone. ALL are invited to this special event. We will meet in the Church Sanctuary. If you plan to attend or have any questions, please call/text Christie Shaver at 308-641-6281. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Sunday, June 14, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Steve Trickler Ushers Kathy Shambaugh, Diane Morrison Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Walker Anderson, Monica Shambaugh Worship Leader Br. James Dowd, OSB Lector/Intercessor Ann Peterson Eucharistic Minister Clark Wisniewski Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Karen Larson, Ann Peterson Flowers: Don & Nancy Kepler In general thanksgiving Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Friday 6/12 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Saturday 6/13 Ladies Salad Luncheon 11:30a Parish Hall Centering Prayer Workshop with Brother James 9a-12p Sunday 6/14 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis Joyful Noise Offering will be today Tuesday 6/16 Centering Prayer 11a Wednesday 6/17 Lectionary Bible Study resumes after Summer Thursday 6/18 Discipleship Group resumes after Summer Friday 6/19 Men’s Bible Study 8a Library Sunday 6/21 Sunday Worship 9a St Francis ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays: Jenny Bohl June 14 Kevin Lehr June 15 Jake Collins June 15 Dana Samson June 17 Joyful Noise Offering will be Sunday, June 14th Emergency Pastoral Care Pastor Kathy Montira, ELCA Sr. Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church (308) 632-8023, 8:30a-2:30P Monday-Friday (308) 874-6021 after hours Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for May-July are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.  Since we are not having Godly Play classes during the summer, we will be mailing out a Junior church bulletin to your child who has attended our Sunday School classes each week. We will have other Junior bulletins available to be picked up at church each week. We will mail those that are not picked up, if your child would like to receive them. Thank you from the teachers for sharing your children with us. Have a great summer. |
Rev. Erin Rath
|
