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Thursday Announcements January 25, 2024

Upcoming Events at St. Francis:

​No Wednesday Evening Prayer, on Zoom, until after Lent
Lectionary Study and Compline, Tuesday at 2pm, Library
Men’s Bible Study, Thursday 8am, Library
Sunday Eucharist at 9am
Annual Meeting, Sunday the 28th, following worship, with brunch following
Hymn Sing, February 11th, following worship
Ash Wednesday, February 14th, services Noon and 6:30pm

From the office—Ann’s Announcements      

Birthdays
Mona Leach                February 1
 
The Forward Day by Day’s for February-April are here in regular and large print. 
​If you’d like one of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.

R E L I G I O U S   L I F E   S U N D A Y
A Message from Bishop Barker
Beloved in Christ –
At its RELIGIOUS LIFE SUNDAY A Message from Bishop Barker
 
Beloved in Christ – At its gathering in 2022, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church designated the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany as, “Religious Life Sunday.” This day is set aside for the Episcopal Church to celebrate and promote religious life across the globe. This next Sunday – January 21st – is Religious Life Sunday. Here in the Diocese of Nebraska, we share in the extraordinary blessing of being home to our own monastic community. For many years, The Benedictine Way has demonstrated for us the wonderful power and potential of religious life, as Brother James, Brother Jerry, and the interns and oblates of TBW have shaped our common life. They’ve taught us to pray in new ways, led us in deeply meaningful outreach ministries, and called together a community centered around Jesus that shines bright with welcome and worship. So many of our lives have been touched by this beautiful incarnation of new monasticism. I know of no ministry that has shaped our diocese more profoundly – or touched the lives of our Nebraska neighbors more deeply – than The Benedictine Way. As a part of celebrating religious life, I urge you to consider how you can best support The Benedictine Way. Will you pray for the community and new monastic vocations? Could you offer a gift of financial support to help this ministry thrive and grow? Best and bravest of all, would you consider what God is calling you to do in the next chapter of your life, and look at the possibility that an affiliation with The Benedictine Way might be what the Spirit has in store for you? Our local expression of religious life is perfectly representative. Across countless years and cultures, sisters and brothers in religious life have worked, prayed, served, and lived together in a fashion that centers the person of Jesus in daily life and seeds his Gospel in powerful and life-changing ways. We’re so blessed to live in a place where religious life is alive and well, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting the people and work of The Benedictine Way in the months and years to come! Faithfully Yours in Christ gathering in 2022, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church designated the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany as, “Religious Life Sunday.”  This day is set aside for the Episcopal Church to celebrate and promote religious life across the globe. This next Sunday – January 21st – is Religious Life Sunday.
 
Here in the Diocese of Nebraska, we share in the extraordinary blessing of being home to our own monastic community. For many years, The Benedictine Way has demonstrated for us the wonderful power and potential of religious life, as Brother James, Brother Jerry, and the interns and oblates of TBW have shaped our common life. They’ve taught us to pray in new ways, led us in deeply meaningful outreach ministries, and called together a community centered around Jesus that shines bright with welcome and worship. So many of our lives have been touched by this beautiful incarnation of new monasticism.  I know of no ministry that has shaped our diocese more profoundly – or touched the lives of our Nebraska neighbors more deeply – than The Benedictine Way.
 
As a part of celebrating religious life, I urge you to consider how you can best support The Benedictine Way. Will you pray for the community and new monastic vocations? Could you offer a gift of financial support to help this ministry thrive and grow? Best and bravest of all, would you consider what God is calling you to do in the next chapter of your life, and look at the possibility that an affiliation with The Benedictine Way might be what the Spirit has in store for you?
 
Our local expression of religious life is perfectly representative. Across countless years and cultures, sisters and brothers in religious life have worked, prayed, served, and lived together in a fashion that centers the person of Jesus in daily life and seeds his Gospel in powerful and life-changing ways. We’re so blessed to live in a place where religious life is alive and well, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting the people and work of The Benedictine Way in the months and years to come!
 
Faithfully Yours in Christ –
 
+ Bishop Barker

​From the office—Ann’s Announcements

 

Birthdays
Jennifer Baird                      January 17
Victoria Schnell                   January 25

Anniversaries
Curt & Karen Mecklem         January 27
 
 The Forward Day by Day’s for February-April are here in regular and large print. 
If you’d like one of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.