Due to an unforeseen, regularly scheduled conflict, the pattern of our midweek services will change. Moving forward, our midday, midweek Eucharist will take place the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 12:15 p.m. Our Evening Prayer gatherings on Zoom will take place the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 6 p.m. This change will take effect Wednesday, March 11. 
 
The ecumenical lectionary study met at Saint Francis following Tuesday's Lenten Lunch. While we may come from different denominational perspectives, all were in agreement on an important point: Saint Francis' soups were delicious and the hospitality was wonderful. Many thanks to the many volunteers who made this possible! ~Rev. Erin+

​A Message from Mary
 Dear Friends –
 
I can hardly believe it is already almost March!  So much has already happened this year and there is so much more to come!
           
In January, we held our Annual Meeting and you elected 5 new Vestry members.  Steve Trickler, Charlie Kennedy, Dyllan Coop, Jake Collins and Janet Craven joined Mike Schingle as your Vestry.  Kathy Shambaugh continues as your Junior Warden and I will continue as Senior Warden.  In February, Bishop Barker and Canon Liz visited us and led a terrific Vestry workshop over two days.  One unsurprising, yet reaffirming, outcome from the Vestry Retreat was the consistent declaration that St Francis is a warm, inclusive community.  It is true that there is a “Spirit of Warmth and Sense of Belonging” here.  This is the foundation upon which we will build in 2026 as we focus on Growth and Engagement. 
           
As an extension of the Vestry’s focus on this, we will repurpose the Stewardship and Engagement team as our Growth and Engagement team.  Currently, Jill Young, Connie Schingle, Judi Widmaier and Jeane Anderson are the members of this team.  We will need more hands and hearts to join this team and coordinate our efforts for Growth and Engagement in 2026.  If you have a passion for reaching out and inviting others to join our St Francis community and/or engaging our current parish members to be active in our community, I invite you to join the Growth and Engagement team.  We meet the first Thursday of each month at 6 pm. 
           
Three projects continued from 2025 include an updated Membership Directory, a new bulletin board, and an update of our website.  Updated Membership Directories are available from Ann in the office.  A new bulletin board that will feature our wonderful ministry volunteers will soon be installed in the Parish Hall.  If you have pictures of volunteers, please provide them to Ann.  Our website (saintf.org) has been updated!  Check it out!  If you find anything that needs to be corrected, or if you have suggestions for additions, let me know. 
           
I am excited about 2026 and our opportunities to share with our neighbors that Saint Francis is truly a community that shows “A Spirit of Warmth, a Sense of Belonging”.  Will you join me?
 
Mary
 
_________________________________________________________________
Those who serve, Sunday, March 8, 9am
Musician                      Barb Becker
Media Team                 Jack Schaaf
Ushers                         Richard Gable, Sarah Schaaf
Acolyte Master             Clark Wisniewski
Acolytes                      Emma Schaaf, Will Schaaf
Lector/Intercessor       Bill Mann
Eucharistic Minister     Beth McKibbin
Altar Guild             Collette Suhr, Ann Peterson, Jane Sayre
Coffee Hosts         Mary Bowman, Barb Manasek
 
Upcoming Events at St. Francis:
Tuesday 03/10 Centering Prayer 11:15a Library
     Lenten Lunch 12p Calvary Lutheran
Wednesday 03/11 Midweek Eucharist 12:15p Mary Chapel
     Lectionary Study & Compline 3p Library
     Soup, Stations & Eucharist; Dinner 5:30p Parish Hall,
     Stations 6:15p Sanctuary
Thursday 03/12 Discipleship Group 12p Library
Friday 03/13 Men's Bible Study 8a Library
Sunday 03/15 Morning Prayer St. Francis 9a
     Godly Play Sunday School 9a Conference Room

​From the Office—Ann’s Announcements 

Birthdays:
Charlie Kennedy         March 9
Sammy Masid             March 9
Landon Parrish           March 9
Charlie Selzer             March 11
  
To Brighten Your Day:

​On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in the park near my home. 
As I sat down behind the bench near the base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. ‘We’re behind 14 to nothing,’ he answered,
with a smile. ‘Really,’ I said. ‘I have to say you don’t look very discouraged.’
 
‘Discouraged?’ the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face.
‘Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t even been up to bat yet.’
_________________________________________________________________
UTO offerings
 
As we go about our daily lives--busy as they are-- it is easy to forget that there is something to be thankful for each and every day.  Let your little blue box stand as your reminder to find something to be thankful for at the end of the day.  
-Give thanks for the good things that happen daily.
 
For little things like a good parking spot on a busy day, sunshine for your family picnic, or a birthday card from a friend.
 
For big things like recovery from a serious illness, a new job, or forgiveness and reconciliation after a long dispute.
 
One act of prayerful, tangible thanksgiving at a time has a wider impact than you can possibly imagine.
_________________________________________________________________

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 February-April 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.

                                                                                                           A Message from Mary
Dear Friends –
 
           I can hardly believe it is already almost March!  So much has already happened this year and there is so much more to come!
 
           In January, we held our Annual Meeting and you elected 5 new Vestry members.  Steve Trickler, Charlie Kennedy, Dyllan Coop, Jake Collins and Janet Craven joined Mike Schingle as your Vestry.  Kathy Shambaugh continues as your Junior Warden and I will continue as Senior Warden.  In February, Bishop Barker and Canon Liz visited us and led a terrific Vestry workshop over two days.  One unsurprising, yet reaffirming, outcome from the Vestry Retreat was the consistent declaration that St Francis is a warm, inclusive community.  It is true that there is a “Spirit of Warmth and Sense of Belonging” here.  This is the foundation upon which we will build in 2026 as we focus on Growth and Engagement. 
           
         As an extension of the Vestry’s focus on this, we will repurpose the Stewardship and Engagement team as our Growth and Engagement team.  Currently, Jill Young, Connie Schingle, Judi Widmaier and Jeane Anderson are the members of this team.  We will need more hands and hearts to join this team and coordinate our efforts for Growth and Engagement in 2026.  If you have a passion for reaching out and inviting others to join our St Francis community and/or engaging our current parish members to be active in our community, I invite you to join the Growth and Engagement team.  We meet the first Thursday of each month at 6 pm. 
           
         Three projects continued from 2025 include an updated Membership Directory, a new bulletin board, and an update of our website.  Updated Membership Directories are available from Ann in the office.  A new bulletin board that will feature our wonderful ministry volunteers will soon be installed in the Parish Hall.  If you have pictures of volunteers, please provide them to Ann.  Our website (saintf.org) has been updated!  Check it out!  If you find anything that needs to be corrected, or if you have suggestions for additions, let me know. 
           
​          I am excited about 2026 and our opportunities to share with our neighbors that Saint Francis is truly a community that shows “A Spirit of Warmth, a Sense of Belonging”. 
ill you join me?

Mary
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From the Office—Ann’s Announcements
 
 
 
 
Birthdays:
​
Jack Schaaf               March 2
Erin Cawiezel             March 3
Demuri Parrish           March 4
Jennifer Mills              March 5
Barb Becker               March 6
 
 
 ​

​To Brighten Your Day:

​


​

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​As we enter the Lenten season, please remember to pause and reflect on daily blessings.  These blessings can serve as your reminder that no matter how difficult your day may have been, there is always something to be thankful for.  What better way than to share those blessings with others by simply tucking a coin away.  All of those blessings can add up quickly.  
 
United Thank Offering is a ministry of all the people to celebrate the blessings in our lives.  NOTICE the good things that happen each day.  GIVE THANKS for your blessings.  MAKE an offering for each blessing.  Blue boxes will be provided for you to place your bills and coins in during Lent.  Each coin and bill transforms lives in the United States and around the world, and your blessings become blessings for others.  After Easter, the combined ingathering of donations will be blessed, and the money will be sent to The United Thank Offering.
 
Mission Statement: United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church.  Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God.  These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings.  Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity.  UTO is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and to distribute the UTO monies to support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and Provinces in the developing world.
 
Please pick up your blue box, or use an envelope provided in the bulletin the next time you attend a service.  
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​Members of the Daughters of the King will be available in the Mary Chapel following Sunday services for anyone wishing intercessory prayer.
 
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 February-April 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.

As a continuation to the excitement of the confirmations and reception at last Sunday's worship service, our young friend Raegan Lehr will be baptized this upcoming Sunday! We hope you'll join us for the excitement and joy, and to help us welcome the newest Christian and Episcopalian in our community!  
 
Calling All Counselors! Do you feel called to invest in the youth of our diocese in a meaningful and lasting way? Consider joining Camp Canterbury as a volunteer this summer. Mark your calendars for July 13th-17th for Camp Canterbury in Fremont, NE! Counselor applications are now being received and are due by February 28th! Submit your application today at: https://alliance.wufoo.com/forms/z1gb48i71oi4xlg/. Our theme this year is Feast with God, as we recognize the presence of God through the gift of food.
 
I recently received a question regarding hymn selection. A vast majority of the hymns we sing were selected by you, the people of Saint Francis. Most of these were suggested during the hymn sing we held in early 2024; others are from thoughtful and detailed lists provided by individual parishioners. I remain open to and encourage your suggestions in this area: if there is a hymn we haven't sung recently, or one you wish we sang more frequently, please let me know.  If you're interested in helping with the week-to-week hymn selection process, please let me know that as well. If there's enough interest, a planning committee can be formed. ~Many Thanks, Rev. Erin+
 
The theme of Episcopal Relief and Development's 2026 Lenten Meditations is "Holy Habits." They're written by Sister Monica Clare, an Episcopal nun based in New Jersey. For more information, including the meditations, supporting resources and a sign up to receive reminder emails, please visit this link. 
 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  
Those who serve, Sunday, February 22, 9am
Musician                      Nancy Meier
Media Team                 Steve Trickler
Ushers                         Monica & Kathy Shambaugh
Acolyte Master             Clark Wisniewski
Acolytes                       Madi Collins, Elliot Selzer
Lector/Intercessor       Jack Webb
Eucharistic Minister     Charlie Kennedy
Altar Guild             Nancy Kepler, Monica & Kathy Shambaugh
Coffee Hosts         Sandi Van Engel, Beth McKibbin
 
Upcoming Events at St. Francis:
Tuesday 02/24 Centering Prayer 11:15a Library
Wednesday 02/25 Lectionary Study & Compline 3p Library
     Soup & Stations; Dinner 5:30p Parish Hall, Stations 6p Sanctuary
     No Zoom Evening Prayer
Thursday 02/26 Discipleship Group 12p Library
Friday 02/27 Men's Bible Study 8a Library
Sunday 02/29 Sunday Eucharist St. Francis 9a
     Godly Play Sunday School 9a Conference Room
Saturday 03/07 Deanery Meeting 9a St. Matthew's, Alliance
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From the Office—Ann’s Announcements​

​Members of the Daughters of the King will be available in the Mary Chapel following Sunday services for anyone wishing intercessory prayer.
 
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 February-April 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.

Bishop Barker and Canon Easton will join us for worship this Sunday, February 15. Erin Cawiezel, Allie Cawiezel, Janet Craven and Janey Sunderland from Saint Francis, as well as Reece Meysenburg from Holy Apostles, will be confirmed that day. Dyllan Coop and Val Coop from Saint Francis will be received. We hope you'll join us to support and celebrate our newly confirmed and received Episcopalians! 
 
Calling All Counselors! Do you feel called to invest in the youth of our diocese in a meaningful and lasting way? Consider joining Camp Canterbury as a volunteer this summer. 
​Mark your calendars for July 13th-17th for Camp Canterbury in Fremont, NE! Counselor applications are now being received and are due by February 28th! Submit your application today at: https://alliance.wufoo.com/forms/z1gb48i71oi4xlg/. Our theme this year is Feast with God, as we recognize the presence of God through the gift of food.
 
I recently received a question regarding hymn selection. A vast majority of the hymns we sing were selected by you, the people of Saint Francis. Most of these were suggested during the hymn sing we held in early 2024; others are from thoughtful and detailed lists provided by individual parishioners. I remain open to and encourage your suggestions in this area: if there is a hymn we haven't sung recently, or one you wish we sang more frequently, please let me know.  If you're interested in helping with the week-to-week hymn selection process, please let me know that as well. If there's enough interest, a planning committee can be formed. ~Many Thanks, Rev. Erin+
 
The theme of Episcopal Relief and Development's 2026 Lenten Meditations is "Holy Habits." They're written by Sister Monica Clare, an Episcopal nun based in New Jersey. For more information, including the meditations, supporting resources and a sign up to receive reminder emails, please visit this link. 
____________________________________________________________________________

 
Those who serve, Sunday, February 15, 9am
Musician                      Barb Becker
Media Team                 Stephanie Schingle
Ushers                         Alena Kennedy, Judi Widmaier
Acolyte Master             Clark Wisniewski
Acolytes                      Walker Anderson, Monica Shambaugh, Madi Collins
Lector/Intercessor       Clark Wisniewski
Eucharistic Minister     Charlie Kennedy
Altar Guild             Nancy Kepler, Monica & Kathy Shambaugh
Coffee Hosts         Barb Manasek, Nancy Kepler
 
Flowers:
Jack Webb         In memory of his father, Lem J. Webb
 
Upcoming Events at St. Francis:
Monday 02/16 Cooperative Ministries 12p at Saint Francis
Tuesday 02/17 Centering Prayer 11:15a Library
     Vestry 6p
     Shrove Tuesday Pancakes 7p Parish Hall
Wednesday 02/18 Ash Wednesday Services 12p & 6p
     Lectionary Study & Compline 3p Library
Thursday 02/19 Discipleship Group 12p Library
Friday 02/20 Men's Bible Study 8a Library
Sunday 02/22 Sunday Eucharist with Baptism St. Francis 9a
     Godly Play Sunday School 9a Conference Room
Monday-Friday 02/23-27 Rev. Erin Away for Clergy Retreat
 ____________________________________________________________________________

From the Office—Ann’s Announcements
 
Happy Valentine’s Day!

​Birthdays:
Sarah Schaaf              February 15
Stacy Bach                 February 17
John A. Selzer            February 19

​                                                                  Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, February 17 from 5-7pm

                                                                  Pancakes, eggs and ham will be our menu.  
                                                                  Freewill offering.
                                                                  Come enjoy supper with us!
 

 
Members of the Daughters of the King will be available in the Mary Chapel following Sunday services for anyone wishing intercessory prayer.
 
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 February-April 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.