Thursday Announcements-June 19, 2025 TREASURER POSITION OPEN We are seeking a person who has a love for numbers and some computer skills. This is a volunteer position. It will begin with an orientation period with our current Treasurer during the month of August. For more information, contact Rev Erin, Mary Bowman or Diane Morrison. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Bishop Barker was originally scheduled to visit Saint Francis on Sunday, October 5. Due to unforeseen circumstances, that visit needs to be postponed. If you or your teen are interested in confirmation or reception, please let me know so I can include you in discussions regarding rescheduling his visit. Those who serve, Sunday, June 22, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Stephanie Schingle Ushers Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Madi Collins, Josie Weiss Lector/Intercessor Barb Manasek Eucharistic Minister Jan Johnson Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Barb Manasek, Ann Peterson Flowers: Clark & Amy Wisniewski In thankfulness for their daughter, Catherine Unfortunately, the parish hall lift remains unavailable, and won't be available Sunday. Our contractor discovered late in the assembly process that two additional parts are needed. Those parts have been ordered and work will continue as soon as they're received. We'll continue to keep you updated as the project progresses. Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Wednesday 06/25 Zoom Evening Prayer 6pm Thursday 06/26 Men's Bible Study 8am Library Sunday 06/29 Eucharist St Francis 9am _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A Message from Mary Greetings! It has been a busy Spring! Beginning with Lent and all our worship opportunities and preparations for celebration on Easter Sunday. Then, the successful Craft Fair, thanks to Sarah Schaaf’s commitment and diligent organization. Additionally, the Stewardship & Engagement team made personal contact with over 85% of our regular givers, resulting in 43 confirmed pledges for 2025. As we move into the summer months, I want to give you a glimpse of what to expect with regard to the Vestry and Stewardship & Engagement team. First, along with its “normal” business, the Vestry is paying particular attention to the finances of the Parish. We have instituted a Finance Committee that will be reviewing the Parish bills on a monthly basis to see where there may be opportunities for savings or cost-cutting. The Stewardship & Engagement team received feedback from a number of parishioners with ideas in this regard and we will be taking a look at those. We have also published the Q1 Financials in the e-news and they will be published in the Sunday Bulletin as well. These were a little late in getting published because of a delay in getting our April financials from our accountant due to his responsibilities related to tax season. We expect future quarterly reports to be published timelier relative to the end of the quarter. Giving Statements for Jan – April have been emailed to those individuals for whom the office has current email addresses. If you did not receive a statement, please contact Ann. At their next meeting, the Stewardship & Engagement team will begin focusing on “Engagement”. How do we increase the engagement of all our current parishioners? How do we attract others from our community to visit and become engaged with our parish? Again, we received some good feedback about this from you during our Spring Giving Campaign. We will be including those ideas in our discussions and will likely be reaching out to involve you in our Engagement ministry. Thank-you to everyone who took the time to talk with our Stewardship & Engagement team members. We appreciate your feedback, suggestions and commitment to St Francis. And, a special Thanks to the members of the Stewardship & Engagement team: Jan Johnson, Jeane Anderson, Jill Young, Judi Widmaier, Jane Wisniewski, Connie Schingle and Erin Rath. Your passion for St Francis and the people we serve is amazing! For His Sake, Mary Bowman, Sr Warden _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TREASURER POSITION OPEN We are seeking a person who has a love for numbers and some computer skills. This is a volunteer position. It will begin with an orientation period with our current Treasurer during the month of August. For more information, contact Rev Erin, Mary Bowman or Diane Morrison. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays: Jane Sayre June 23 Rick Anderson June 26 Kathy Graham June 28 Lisa Ledbetter June 28 Anniversaries: Robert & Lisa Brenner June 25 Cory & Gretchen Foster June 26 ![]() Please join us for our Annual ECW Ladies Salad Luncheon on Saturday, June 21st, at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall. This year, Allan Maybee will be sharing the amazing trip he made to recreate Lewis & Clark’s Journey across America, in his new book, “From Sea to Shining Sea”. Please RSVP Barb Manasek (436-7767) or Nancy Kepler (635-0734) to let us know you are coming and how many are in your group. Black History in Scottsbluff will be recognized June 1st through the 29th. Judi Widmaier and Steph Coley will host a program in the Bronson Gallery on June 22nd from 2-3:30pm. Steph will be singing and Judi will tell the story of the two Lucinda’s journey from slavery to freedom, including their last stop right here in 1914. They later died here and are buried in the Fairview Cemetery. Please join Judi to learn about this history and the resilience of these people. Prayer Requests 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. Thursday Announcements-June 12, 2025
Those who serve, Sunday, June 15, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Charlie Kennedy Ushers Kristi Weiss, Judi Widmaier Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Monica Shambaugh, Josie Weiss Lector/Intercessor Jane Sayre Eucharistic Minister Clark Wisniewski Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Diane Morrison, Judi Widmaier Flowers: Jane Wisniewski & Sarah Williams In memory of their grandparents, Frank & Bessie Brown and Ed & Mabel Williams Beth McKibbin In memory of her father Lyle Stingley, and husband Jerry, and father-in-law Mac McKibbin Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 06/17 No Lectionary Study; Meetings Suspended Until Fall Wednesday 06/18 Midday Midweek Eucharist 12:15pm Evening Midweek Eucharist 6pm Thursday 06/19 Men's Bible Study 8am Library No Discipleship Group; Meetings Suspended Until Fall Saturday 06/21 Ladies' Salad Luncheon 11:30am Sunday 06/22 Eucharist St Francis 9am _______________________________________________________________ A Message from Mary Greetings! It has been a busy Spring! Beginning with Lent and all our worship opportunities and preparations for celebration on Easter Sunday. Then, the successful Craft Fair, thanks to Sarah Schaaf’s commitment and diligent organization. Additionally, the Stewardship & Engagement team made personal contact with over 85% of our regular givers, resulting in 43 confirmed pledges for 2025. As we move into the summer months, I want to give you a glimpse of what to expect with regard to the Vestry and Stewardship & Engagement team. First, along with its “normal” business, the Vestry is paying particular attention to the finances of the Parish. We have instituted a Finance Committee that will be reviewing the Parish bills on a monthly basis to see where there may be opportunities for savings or cost-cutting. The Stewardship & Engagement team received feedback from a number of parishioners with ideas in this regard and we will be taking a look at those. We have also published the Q1 Financials in the e-news and they will be published in the Sunday Bulletin as well. These were a little late in getting published because of a delay in getting our April financials from our accountant due to his responsibilities related to tax season. We expect future quarterly reports to be published timelier relative to the end of the quarter. Giving Statements for Jan – April have been emailed to those individuals for whom the office has current email addresses. If you did not receive a statement, please contact Ann. At their next meeting, the Stewardship & Engagement team will begin focusing on “Engagement”. How do we increase the engagement of all our current parishioners? How do we attract others from our community to visit and become engaged with our parish? Again, we received some good feedback about this from you during our Spring Giving Campaign. We will be including those ideas in our discussions and will likely be reaching out to involve you in our Engagement ministry. Thank-you to everyone who took the time to talk with our Stewardship & Engagement team members. We appreciate your feedback, suggestions and commitment to St Francis. And, a special Thanks to the members of the Stewardship & Engagement team: Jan Johnson, Jeane Anderson, Jill Young, Judi Widmaier, Jane Wisniewski, Connie Schingle and Erin Rath. Your passion for St Francis and the people we serve is amazing! For His Sake, Mary Bowman, Sr Warden _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TREASURER POSITION OPEN We are seeking a person who has a love for numbers and some computer skills. This is a volunteer position. It will begin with an orientation period with our current Treasurer during the month of August. For more information, contact Rev Erin, Mary Bowman or Diane Morrison. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Happy Father’s Day ![]() Birthdays: Kevin Lehr June 15 Jake Collins June 16 Dana Samson June 17 Anniversaries: Justin & Jackie Cawiezel June 21 Al & Barb Williams June 21 Taking place this Saturday June 14 from 11:30 to 1:00 in the old Watering Hole parking lot (across from Walgreens) is the Scottsbluff Pride Rally. Please stop by to personally showcase the St. Francis’ Spirit of Warmth and Sense of Belonging. It is extremely important we display solidarity for our LGBTQ+ family and friends on their day of action as they confront increased discrimination, mistreatment, and threats to their civil rights, at the workplace, schools and in everyday life. For more information on Facebook go to Panhandle Equality https://www.facebook.com/events/1235979951438856/ Please join us for our Annual ECW Ladies Salad Luncheon on Saturday, June 21st, at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall. This year, Allan Maybee will be sharing the amazing trip he made to recreate Lewis & Clark’s Journey across America, in his new book, “From Sea to Shining Sea”. Please RSVP Barb Manasek (436-7767) or Nancy Kepler (635-0734) to let us know you are coming and how many are in your group. Black History in Scottsbluff will be recognized June 1st through the 29th. Judi Widmaier and Steph Coley will host a program in the Bronson Gallery on June 22nd from 2-3:30pm. Steph will be singing and Judi will tell the story of the two Lucinda’s journey from slavery to freedom, including their last stop right here in 1914. They later died here and are buried in the Fairview Cemetery. Please join Judi to learn about this history and the resilience of these people. Prayer Requests 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. Thursday Announcements-June 5, 2025
Those who serve, Sunday, June 8, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Steve Trickler Ushers Charlie Kennedy, Alena Kennedy Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Walker Anderson, Josie Weiss Lector/Intercessor Connie Schingle Eucharistic Minister Beth McKibbin Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Karen Mecklem, Collette Suhr Flowers: Jack Webb In memory of June N. Webb, Jack’s mother Don & Nancy Kepler In general thanksgiving Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Sunday 06/08 TODAY Healing Prayers Following Worship Tuesday 06/10 No Lectionary Study & Compline; Meetings Suspended Until Fall Wednesday 06/11 Zoom Evening Prayer 6pm Thursday 06/12 Men's Bible Study 8am Library No Discipleship Group; Meetings Suspended Until Fall Sunday 06/15 Eucharists St Francis 9am Good Shepherd, Harrisburg 11:30am Saint Hilda's, Kimball 2:30pm ____________________________________________________________________ Fellow St. Francis congregation members, The fundraising event hosted on May 3rd was truly a success in my eyes. It not only raised over $3,200 and brought in over 150 outside community members, but it gave us time to appreciate each other and connect as a congregation. I cannot begin to thank everyone who needs thanking, but I would like to try. For all of those who went out on a limb and shared their creative sparks with the community, thank you! For all of those who baked delicious treats, thank you! For all of those who collected or donated raffle and silent auction prizes, thank you! For all of those who became ticket sales entrepreneurs for the last month and a half, thank you! For all of those who said yes when I asked for help with organizing, advertising, decorating, set up, greeting guests, and serving refreshments, thank you! And for those of you who saw a need and filled it without even being asked, thank you! For everyone who attended and had fun, thank you! You all are the ones who really made the day a success. I count seven thank yous in this thank you note, but please know that I am very, very grateful for all of the help and enthusiasm that went into making this day a reality. Here's to this year's event and to the years to come. Gratefully Yours, Sarah Schaaf ____________________________________________________________________ ![]() From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays: Kristi Weiss June 9 Elliot Selzer June 11 Carolyn Pevey June 12 Jenny Bohl June 14 Anniversaries: Don & Nancy Kepler June 10 Brett & Demuri Parrish June 11 The Daughters of the King are hosting an informational brunch for all women of the parish Saturday, June 7, 9:00 am in the church fellowship hall. We will be providing information on this important ministry to help you determine if this is the next step in your spiritual journey. Please RSVP to Beth McKibbin by Thursday, June 5, [email protected] or 308-641-3993. Please join us for our Annual ECW Ladies Salad Luncheon on Saturday, June 21st, at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall. This year, Allan Maybee will be sharing the amazing trip he made to recreate Lewis & Clark’s Journey across America, in his new book, “From Sea to Shining Sea”. Please RSVP Barb Manasek (436-7767) or Nancy Kepler (635-0734) to let us know you are coming and how many are in your group. Black History in Scottsbluff will be recognized June 1st through the 29th. Judi Widmaier and Steph Coley will host a program in the Bronson Gallery on June 22nd from 2-3:30pm. teph will be singing and Judi will tell the story of the two Lucinda’s journey from slavery to freedom, including their last stop right here in 1914. They later died here and are buried in the Fairview Cemetery. Please join Judi to learn about this history and the resilience of these people. Prayer Requests 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. Thursday Announcements-May 29, 2025 Those who serve, Sunday, June 1, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Jack Schaaf Ushers Sarah Schaaf, Ann Selzer Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Emma Schaaf, Will Schaaf Lector/Intercessor Clark Wisniewski Eucharistic Minister Nancy Kepler Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica and Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Nancy Kepler, Karen Larson Flowers: John & Ann Selzer In general thanksgiving Greg & Ann Peterson In memory of Ann’s mother, Margaret Sutherland Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 06/03 No Lectionary Study & Compline; Meetings Suspended Until Fall Wednesday 06/04 Midweek Eucharist 12:15 pm & 6 pm Thursday 06/05 Men's Bible Study 8am Library Discipleship Group 12pm Library Sunday 06/08 Eucharist St Francis 9am ________________________________________________________________ Fellow St. Francis congregation members, The fundraising event hosted on May 3rd was truly a success in my eyes. It not only raised over $3,200 and brought in over 150 outside community members, but it gave us time to appreciate each other and connect as a congregation. I cannot begin to thank everyone who needs thanking, but I would like to try. For all of those who went out on a limb and shared their creative sparks with the community, thank you! For all of those who baked delicious treats, thank you! For all of those who collected or donated raffle and silent auction prizes, thank you! For all of those who became ticket sales entrepreneurs for the last month and a half, thank you! For all of those who said yes when I asked for help with organizing, advertising, decorating, set up, greeting guests, and serving refreshments, thank you! And for those of you who saw a need and filled it without even being asked, thank you! For everyone who attended and had fun, thank you! You all are the ones who really made the day a success. I count seven thank yous in this thank you note, but please know that I am very, very grateful for all of the help and enthusiasm that went into making this day a reality. Here's to this year's event and to the years to come. Gratefully Yours, Sarah Schaaf _______________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements ![]() Birthdays: Jim Petitt June 4 Mary Bowman June 7 There will be no Godly Play Sunday School throughout the Summer months. We will resume in the Fall, when school is back in session. Just a reminder that this Sunday is “Jingle money Sunday” The Daughters of the King are hosting an informational brunch for all women of the parish Saturday, June 7, 9:00 am in the church fellowship hall. We will be providing information on this important ministry to help you determine if this is the next step in your spiritual journey. Please RSVP to Beth McKibbin by Thursday, June 5, [email protected] or 308-641-3993. Please join us for our Annual ECW Ladies Salad Luncheon on Saturday, June 21st, at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall. This year, Allan Maybee will be sharing the amazing trip he made to recreate Lewis & Clark’s Journey across America, in his new book, “From Sea to Shining Sea”. Please RSVP Barb Manasek (436-7767) or Nancy Kepler (635-0734) to let us know you are coming and how many are in your group. From The Daughters of the King: We are pleased to share that the prayer stone station offered during Lent in the Mary Chapel will continue. This prayer station has given much solace and comfort to our congregation, and because of requests we've received, we're going to continue to offer this prayer opportunity. When you feel led to surrender your burdens and worries over to God, please visit the chapel prayer station. Prayer Requests 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. Thursday Announcements-May 22, 2025 Those who serve, Sunday, May 25, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Charlie Kennedy Ushers Artie Johnson, Alena Kennedy Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Walker Anderson, Josie Weiss Lector/Intercessor Jim Petitt Eucharistic Minister Jan Johnson Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Beth McKibbin, Barb Manasek Flowers: Jack Webb In memory of Chris and her father, Carl Carlson Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Monday 05/26 Memorial Day Church Offices Closed Tuesday 05/27 Lectionary Study & Compline 2pm Library Wednesday 05/28 Evening Prayer on Zoom 6pm MT/7pm CT Thursday 05/29 Men's Bible Study 8am Library Discipleship Group 12pm Library Sunday 06/01 Eucharist St Francis 9am Good Shepherd, Harrisburg 11:30am From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025 We honor the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of the men and women who gave their lives in service to their country. Birthdays:
Travis Iron Shell May 25 Nancy Kepler May 26 Jill Young May 26 Stan Eskam May 29 Brooklyn Mills May 30 Clark Wisniewski May 30 Julie Fancher May 31 Anniversaries: Gary & Karen Larson May 26 John & Ann Selzer May 26 There will be no Godly Play Sunday School throughout the Summer months. We will resume in the Fall, when school is back in session. Please join us for our Annual ECW Ladies Salad Luncheon on Saturday, June 21st, at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall. This year, Allan Maybee will be sharing the amazing trip he made to recreate Lewis & Clark’s Journey across America, in his new book, “From Sea to Shining Sea”. Please RSVP Barb Manasek (436-7767) or Nancy Kepler (635-0734) to let us know you are coming and how many are in your group. The Daughters of the King are hosting an informational brunch for all women of the parish Saturday, June 7, 9:00 am in the church fellowship hall. We will be providing information on this important ministry to help you determine if this is the next step in your spiritual journey. Please RSVP to Beth McKibbin by Thursday, June 5, [email protected] or 308-641-3993. From The Daughters of the King: We are pleased to share that the prayer stone station offered during Lent in the Mary Chapel will continue. This prayer station has given much solace and comfort to our congregation, and because of requests we've received, we're going to continue to offer this prayer opportunity. When you feel led to surrender your burdens and worries over to God, please visit the chapel prayer station. Prayer Requests 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. Thursday Announcements-May 15, 2025 This Sunday, our guest celebrant and preacher will be the Br. James Dowd. Br. Dowd, OSB has practiced for many years as a Benedictine monk. He is the Monk-in-residence for the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska, Prior of Incarnation Monastery and the Benedictine Way. We warmly welcome Br. James! Those who serve, Sunday, May 18, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Jack Schaaf Ushers Sarah Schaaf, Connie Schingle Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Emma Schaaf, Will Schaaf Lector/Intercessor Mike Schingle Eucharistic Minister Santana Tamarak Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Mary Bowman, Sarah Schaaf Flowers: Bill Mann In memory of his father Bob Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Sunday 05/18 Morning Prayer @ St Francis 9am Guest Preacher: Br. James Dowd Tuesday 05/20 Lectionary Study & Compline 2pm Library Wednesday 05/21 Midweek Eucharist 12:15pm only Thursday 05/22 Men's Bible Study 8am Library Discipleship Group 12pm Library Sunday 05/25 Eucharist St Francis 9am Monday 05/26 Memorial Day Church Offices Closed _______________________________________________________________ ![]() We celebrate our High School graduations, Landon Parrish, graduating from Bayard High School, planning to attend WNCC; Natalie Peterson, graduating form Gering High School, with plans to attend the University of Tulsa; and Avery Salomon, graduating from Gothenburg High School, with plans to attend the University of Nebraska, Omaha. There will be no Godly Play Sunday School throughout the Summer months. We will resume in the Fall, when school is back in session. The Daughters of the King are hosting an informational brunch for all women of the parish Saturday, June 7, 9:00 am in the church fellowship hall. We will be providing information on this important ministry to help you determine if this is the next step in your spiritual journey. Please RSVP to Beth McKibbin by Thursday, June 5, [email protected] or 308-641-3993. From The Daughters of the King: We are pleased to share that the prayer stone station offered during Lent in the Mary Chapel will continue. This prayer station has given much solace and comfort to our congregation, and because of requests we've received, we're going to continue to offer this prayer opportunity. When you feel led to surrender your burdens and worries over to God, please visit the chapel prayer station. The Daughters of the King have suspended collection of pill bottles for now. Please do not bring bottles to church at this time. We are in the process of cleaning, removing labels and sorting by size and cannot handle any more right now. We will make an announcement when we are ready to begin collection again. Thank you for your overwhelming response to this ministry. Prayer Requests 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. Thursday Announcements-May 8, 2025 This Sunday, our guest celebrant and preacher will be the Rev. Chris Plantz. Rev. Chris has been active in Panhandle life and DioNeb leadership for over fifty years. Though she's currently retired, at one time or another she's served almost every Episcopal parish in the Panhandle. Please warmly welcome Rev. Chris and her husband, Charles! Recent Worship Engagement: Sunday Worship Average for month of April: 75 Three-Month Average (February, March, April): 58 Midweek Worship in April: Best Attended Services Holy Week (other than Palm Sunday, Easter Vigil & Easter Morning): 30 @ Good Friday 6p Evening In-Person Stations & Eucharist: 21 Evening Prayer on Zoom: 3 Attentive readers will remember that we're currently in the midst of our stewardship drive. Many and heartfelt thanks to those who've already pledged! We've yet to hear from about half of our members. If you'd like to participate but haven't had the opportunity, paper copies of this year's pledge form are available in the narthex. It can also be completed online at bit.ly/sfsbgive2025. Those who serve, Sunday, May 11, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Stephanie Schingle Ushers Jamie Selzer, John L. Selzer Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Madi Collins, Monica Shambaugh Lector/Intercessor Jack Webb Eucharistic Minister Jayne Sayre Altar Guild Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre Coffee Hosts Ann Peterson, Connie Schingle Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Sunday 05/11 Eucharist St Francis 9am Guest Preacher: the Rev. Chris Plantz Tuesday Lectionary Study & Compline 2pm Library Wednesday No Midweek Service Thursday Men's Bible Study 8am Library Discipleship Group 12pm Library _______________________________________________________________ ![]() From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays: Lisa Brenner May 12 Cindy Dickinson May 12 Karen Larson May 14 Cheri Witko May 14 Janet Craven May 15 ![]() We celebrate our High School graduations, Landon Parrish, graduating from Bayard High School, with his plans to attend WNCC; Natalie Peterson, graduating from Gering High School, her plans are to attend the University of Tulsa; and Avery Salomon, graduating from Gothenburg High School, who plans to attend the University of Nebraska, Omaha. The Daughters of the King have suspended collection of pill bottles for now. Please do not bring bottles to church at this time. We are in the process of cleaning, removing labels and sorting by size and cannot handle any more right now. We will make an announcement when we are ready to begin collection again. Thank you for your overwhelming response to this ministry. Prayer Requests 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. Thursday Announcements-May 1, 2025 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Sunday, May 4, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Steve Trickler Ushers Karen Mecklem, Judi Widmaier Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Allie Cawiezel, Erin Cawiezel Lector/Intercessor Jane Sayre Eucharistic Minister Nancy Kepler Altar Guild Nancy Kepler, Monica & Kathy Shambaugh Coffee Hosts Diane Morrison, Patty Clown Horse Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Saturday 05/03 Craft Fair & Bake Sale 10am-2pm Tuesday 05/06 Lectionary Study & Compline 2pm Library Wednesday 05/07 No Midweek Service Thursday 05/08 Men's Bible Study 8am Library Discipleship Group 12pm Library Sunday 05/11 Eucharist St Francis 9am Guest Preacher: the Rev. Chris Plantz ______________________________________________________________________________________ ![]() From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Birthdays: Josie Weiss May 4 Fernando Moreno May 6 Anniversaries: Rick & Vicky Gable May 5 Please let us know if you have a child graduating from High School or College, or graduate school this Spring. We would like to celebrate their achievement with them in May. Please call the office and let us know the good news! As the Lenten season comes to a close, please consider giving through the United Thank Offering. The ingathering and blessing of funds will be this Sunday, May 4th. This year's theme is 142 Years of Gratitude in Action. UTO encourages people to develop a practice of gratitude and to make thank offerings for all the blessings they experience. 100% of these offerings support innovative mission and ministry projects around the globe. Since 1883, UTO has awarded almost 5,500 grants worth over $102,000,000. Thank you for your prayerful consideration. The Daughters of the King annual collection for the Capstone Child Advocacy Center and the United Thank Offerings will be blessed this Sunday, May 4th. Attentive readers will remember that we're currently in the midst of our stewardship drive. Many and heartfelt thanks to those who've already pledged! We've yet to hear from about half of our members. If you'd like to participate but haven't had the opportunity, paper copies of this year's pledge form are available in the narthex. It can also be completed online at bit.ly/sfsbgive2025. The Daughters of the King have suspended collection of pill bottles for now. Please do not bring bottles to church at this time. We are in the process of cleaning, removing labels and sorting by size and cannot handle any more right now. We will make an announcement when we are ready to begin collection again. Thank you for your overwhelming response to this ministry. Prayer Requests 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 [email protected]. 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. Thursday Announcements-April 24, 2025 ERIN’S EPISTLETTES Those who serve, Sunday, April 27, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Stephanie Schingle Ushers Kristi Weiss, Jim Petitt Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Josie Weiss, Walker Anderson Lector/Intercessor Jane Sayre Eucharistic Minister Nancy Kepler Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Coffee Hosts Diane Morrison, Patty Clown Horse Flowers: Shirley Brewer In memory of husband, Stan Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Tuesday 04/29 Lectionary Study & Compline 2pm Library Wednesday 04/30 No Midweek Service; 5th Wednesday Thursday 05/01 Church Offices Closed Men's Bible Study 8am Library Discipleship Group 12pm Library Saturday 05/03 Craft Fair & Bake Sale 10am-3pm Sunday 05/04 Eucharists Saint Francis 9am Good Shepherd, Harrisburg 11:30am From the Office—Ann’s Announcements ![]() Birthdays: Connie Schingle April 28 Christie Shaver April 28 Val Coop May 1 Nate Kelley May 1 Anniversaries: Diane & Mike Morrison April 17 Please let us know if you have a child graduating from High School or College, or graduate school this Spring. We would like to celebrate their achievement with them in May. Please call the office and let us know the good news! As the Lenten season comes to a close, please consider giving through the United Thank Offering. The ingathering and blessing of funds will be Sunday, May 4th. There are still boxes and envelopes available. If you prefer to donate online, you may do so at: https://unitedthankoffering.com/ingatheringgive/142 Years of Gratitude in Action. The United Thank Offering (UTO) was founded in 1883 to raise funds to support mission and ministry sites that were without funding. The women of the church began by asking the assembled group to make a thank offering for all the blessings of their past year. From this first thank offering grew our modern-day experience of UTO. UTO encourages people to develop a practice of gratitude and from that practice to make thank offerings for all the blessings they experience. 100% of these offerings are then given away the following year to support innovative mission and ministry projects around the globe. Since 1883, UTO has awarded almost 5,500 grants at just over 102 million dollars. Thank you for your prayerful consideration. The Daughters of the King are doing our annual collection for Capstone Child Advocacy Center during the month of April. We are collecting: blankets (throws size--NEW only), journals, backpacks (NEW) and McDonald’s Gift Cards. Cash is also welcome. We will be presenting the collected items to Capstone on Sunday, April 27. There is a box in the Narthex, for your donated items. The Daughters of the King have suspended collection of pill bottles for now. Please do not bring bottles to church at this time. We are in the process of cleaning, removing labels and sorting by size and cannot handle any more right now. We will make an announcement when we are ready to begin collection again. Thank you for your overwhelming response to this ministry. Prayer Requests 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 [email protected]. 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. Thursday Announcements-April 17, 2025 ERIN’S EPISTLETTES ____________________________________________________________ Friday Offering in Support of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East During our Good Friday services on April 18, donations collected will go towards the Good Friday Offering. For more information on this century-old Episcopal tradition supporting the ministries of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, visit their website. Thank you in advance for your prayers and generosity. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Message From Mary Greeting Friends: At the March Vestry meeting we had a robust discussion about our Church finances. As many of you will recall, the 2025 Budget that was presented and approved at the Annual Meeting in January showed a significant deficit for the year. Understandably, this is of great concern to you and your Vestry members. One of the difficulties we encountered when preparing the 2025 Budget was that we did not have firm numbers relative to expected giving from you, our Parishioners. This is because we did not undertake a Pledge Campaign which has traditionally occurred during the Fall and provides critical input for the Budget. Following the Annual Meeting, we formed a Stewardship & Engagement Ministry group with an eye toward planning and executing a Fall 2025 Pledge Campaign in preparation for the 2026 Budget. But what about now? Your Vestry has asked the Stewardship & Engagement Ministry group to undertake a short Pledge Campaign immediately so that we can get a better understanding of how our finances will play out during this year. To help us with this important task, you will be contacted by a member of the Stewardship & Engagement Ministry to confirm your planned giving for the rest of 2025. This Spring Giving Campaign will occur during the month of April. I ask that you prayerfully consider your planned giving to enable us to continue sharing God’s love in our community through all of our Worship, Connection and Outreach programs. Thank you, Mary ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🎶🎵🎶 Liturgical Notes 🎶🎵🎶 Why Holy Week? (Part 2) by the Rev Erin Rath, April 2025 What Happens on Good Friday? Good Friday is the solemn liturgy in remembrance of Jesus' passion and death. On this day we hear eighty-two verses from the gospel of John* which recount the events of the first passion. As Good Friday is a continuation of the Maundy Thursday liturgy, it begins as the prior service ended: in silence. The altar, which was stripped following Thursday evening's service, remains bare. This is the only service in the liturgical year at which we have the opportunity to venerate the cross. The Eucharistic prayer is not said on this day. Instead, communion is distributed from consecrated sacrament reserved the night before. Good Friday is the second liturgy of the Triduum. At Saint Francis, this year's Good Friday liturgy will be offered at noon and 6 p.m. on April 18. Our evening Good Friday service will be livestreamed. *Why a different Gospel translation on Good Friday? We use the Common English Bible translation of the Passion story rather than the New Revised Standard Version. Though the NRSV is the most commonly used translation in Episcopal worship, our canons allow for the use of a variety of translations. The CEB was chosen for Good Friday because it uses the terms "Jewish leaders" and "Jewish leadership" rather than the more general label "the Jews." Articulating this difference is important not only because it more accurately describes the realities of the Passion story, but also because of the generations of antisemitism inspired by the more general label – a label which blames an entire faith tradition for the actions of a very small group of its members at a specific point in history. Why Hold a Morning Service on Holy Saturday? The Holy Saturday day service is held on the Saturday morning between Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening. It's a time to honor the space between Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection on Easter, and the experience of the disciples in those first moments and hours after Jesus' death: the grieving, the not-knowing, the waiting, the feeling of being abandoned by God. In honoring the disciples' experience on that first grief-stricken Holy Saturday, we honor our own experiences of and struggles with grief, with not-knowing, with waiting, and with feeling abandoned by God. This year, Saint Francis will gather in the Mary Chapel at 10 a.m. on April 19. Because this service is held in chapel, there will be no live stream. What is Easter Vigil? The Great Vigil of Easter is the culmination of Holy Week. Though it takes place on Saturday evening, the church considers it the first service of Easter Sunday and thus a part of the Triduum. There are four parts to this liturgy: a service of light, a service of lessons (or readings), renewal of our baptismal vows, and Holy Eucharist. Through these components, the story of redemption is retold and re-lived by participants. We re-experience the movement from darkness to light, celebrate our belonging in the new creation by remembering our baptism, and look forward to the glory we will share with the Risen Christ. This year, Saint Francis will celebrate this richly symbolic service on Saturday, April 19 at 7:45 p.m. Easter Sunday The events of the first Easter morning are a cornerstone of our faith. Our celebration remembering those events is the culmination of Holy Week and the final installment of the Triduum. Though we feel like we’ve reached the mountain top, both figuratively and literally, it’s important to remember how we got there and the struggles we experienced along the way. The services of Holy Week give us opportunities to give thanks for the gift of Jesus’ incarnation through worship, to honor the pain and the struggles of Jesus on the Cross and the grief of His beloved disciples, and to remember and honor the struggles and griefs, as well as the joys and triumphs, in our own lives and the lives of those we love. I hope you had the opportunity to read the entries I wrote about the other six services of Holy Week. To those who read from the beginning, I thank you for your attention. I hope even more that you will partake of these offerings, that your own faith journey can be deepened and enriched. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Maundy Thursday, April 17, 6pm Musician Barb Becker Media Team Stephanie Schingle Usher Kathy Shambaugh Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Allie Cawiezel, Erin Cawiezel Lector/Intercessor Cory Foster Eucharistic Minister Santana Tamarak Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Those who serve, Good Friday, NOON, April 18 Musician Nancy Meier Usher Kathy Shambaugh Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolyte Monica Shambaugh Lector/Intercessor Cory Foster, Connie Schingle, Mike Schingle, Monica Shambaugh Eucharistic Minister Jayne Sayre Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Those who serve, Good Friday, April 18, 6pm Musician Barb Becker Media Team Jack Schaaf Usher Sarah Schaaf Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Emma Schaaf, Will Schaaf Lector/Intercessor Charlie Kennedy, Barb Manasek, Jack Webb, Clark Wisniewski Eucharistic Minister Nancy Kepler Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Those who serve, Holy Saturday, April 19,10am Lector/Intercessor Beth McKibbin Those who serve, Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 19, 7:45pm Musician Barb Becker Media Team Jack Schaaf Usher Sarah Schaaf Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Madi Collins, Emma Schaaf, Will Schaaf Lector/Intercessor Barb Manasek, Monica Shambaugh, Jack Webb Eucharistic Minister Monica Shambaugh Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Those who serve, Easter Sunday, April 20, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Charlie Kennedy Ushers Alena Kennedy, Jim Petitt Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Allie Cawiezel, Erin Cawiezel Lector/Intercessor Clark Wisniewski Eucharistic Minister Jayne Sayre Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Coffee Hosts Barb Manasek, Karen Larson (between services) Those who serve, Easter Sunday, April 20, 10:30am Musician Barb Becker Ushers Richard Gable, Jane Wisniewski Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Laney Bohl, Danika Bohl Lector/Intercessor Bill Mann Eucharistic Minister Beth McKibbin Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Maundy Thursday, April 17 /@ 7pm Good Friday, April 18, @ Noon and 6pm Holy Saturday, April 19 @ 10am in the Chapel Easter Vigil, April 19 @ 7:45pm Easter Sunday, April 20 @ 9am and 10:30am Cooperative Ministries, Monday @ the Vine UMC, Scottsbluff @ 12pm Church offices closed Tuesday, April 22, no enews April 24 Lectionary Study and Compline, Tuesday 2pm, Library Evening Prayer on Zoom, Wednesday at 6pm MT/7pm CT Men’s Bible Study Thursday @ 8am, Library Discipleship Group, Thursday @ 12pm, Library Sunday Eucharist, April 27: Saint Francis, Scottsbluff, Sunday @ 9am Those who serve, Easter Sunday, April 20, 9am Musician Nancy Meier Media Team Charlie Kennedy Ushers Alena Kennedy, Jim Petitt Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Allie Cawiezel, Erin Cawiezel Lector/Intercessor Clark Wisniewski Eucharistic Minister Jayne Sayre Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson Coffee Hosts Barb Manasek, Karen Larson (between services) Those who serve, Easter Sunday, April 20, 10:30am Musician Barb Becker Ushers Richard Gable, Jane Wisniewski Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Laney Bohl, Danika Bohl Lector/Intercessor Bill Mann Eucharistic Minister Beth McKibbin Altar Guild Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson From the Office—Ann’s Announcements ![]() Birthdays Erik Peterson April 24 Please let us know if you have a child graduating from High School or College, or graduate school this Spring. We would like to celebrate their achievement with them in May. Please call the office and let us know the good news! The Daughters of the King are doing our annual collection for Capstone Child Advocacy Center during the month of April. We are collecting: blankets (throws size--NEW only), journals, backpacks (NEW) and McDonald’s Gift Cards. Cash is also welcome. We will be presenting the collected items to Capstone on Sunday, April 27. There is a box in the Narthex, for your donated items. Also, we are suspending the collection of pill bottles for awhile. We’ll announce when we are collecting them again. Thank you for your excellent response to this project. Prayer Requests 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 [email protected]. 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. |
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