​1) At last. After a long, cold, and windy Lenten season, we have arrived at Holy Week. Specifically, today we enter the Triduum (three-day observance) of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter. In our church and in our parish we celebrate this sacred three-day event with a single service in three parts, and join Christians across the centuries who have found deep meaning and connection to Christ’s final days in this service. Easter is more fully understood in light of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. It will be my privilege to experience these holy moments with you one last time. We begin tonight at 6:00 P.M.
 
2) Nothing as big as holy week happens in a church without the hard work of lots of volunteers. Too many to name individually, but thanks to the Altar Guild, ECW, and all ushers, lectors, intercessors, LEM’s, and acolytes for making our worship come to life in beautiful ways. Special thanks to Fr. Bob and Mo. Karen for all that they continue to do to, and to our tireless dedicated and cheerful admin asst Ann, who takes the unorganized messes I give her and turns them into something we can be proud of. I deeply appreciate the work of every single volunteer, and never more so than during this season. 
 
3) While my last Sunday in church is April 24th, my actual last day and my last liturgical act will be Jane Hunter’s funeral Saturday, April 30th here at St Francis at 11:30 A.M.. Cookie and coffee reception to follow. Like many, many families, the Hunters were forced to delay Jane’s funeral until we could gather again in-person. Now we will be able to sing and say and pray a proper good-bye to our dear sister in Christ. Please make plans to join us on the 30th for this service.
 

Birthdays
 
Laney Bohl                   April 18
Gretchen Deter            April 18
Ren Mackrill                 April 18
Elsie Harvey                 April 19
Jeanne Matthews         April 19
Lorrie Joplin                 April 23

Our Farewell Potluck for Father Mark and his family will be held on Sunday, April 24th at 11:30 am.  Fried chicken, potatoes, rolls and beverages will be provided.
If you can share a side, salad, or dessert, please sign up in the Narthex, or on the Parish Hall bulletin.  If you have any questions, please call Barb Manasek at 436-7767.
​
Prayer Requests ** Please make sure your request is received by Wednesday of each week. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message), email [email protected] or mail to:
 
St. Francis Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1201
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Forward Day by Day Booklets
 
We have the Forward Day by Day’s for May-July in regular and large print. If you would like any of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.

 
1) This morning I am sending a donation to an Episcopal Relief and Development Fund specifically earmarked to assist families in the Ukraine. If you aren't already donating elsewhere and would like to do so,  here is the link to ERD https://support.episcopalrelief.org/ukraineresponse?ID=220301DP0DS0100&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=fy22ukraine&utm_source=220301DP0DS0100
 
2) On Saturday April 30, we will hold the Burial Service for our dear sister Margaret Jane Hunter, who passed from life to life on January 8th. There will actually be two services that day, one at the Residency for her friends there who cannot make it to church, followed by ours here at St. Francis. I hope you will be able to come and grieve, sing, and pray with us that day. The tentative schedule is:              
 
                10:00 AM             Residency Service w/ Coffee/Cookie Reception
                12:30 PM             St. Francis Service w/ Coffee/Cookie Reception
 
3) This will be my last appeal to you to do me the honor of walking through Holy Week together. The entry into the week is Palm/Passion Sunday (this Sunday) when we will gather in the Parish Hall and pray before processing into the church waving our palms. The Triduum (3-day service) begins Thursday and continues Friday and Saturday (or) Sunday. If you have not experienced this extraordinary set of services, this is your year! The schedule is as follows:
 
     April 14th — Maundy Thursday                     6:00 P.M.
     April 15th — Good Friday                             12:00 & 6:00 P.M.
     April 16th — Great Vigil                                 8:00 P.M.
     April 17th — Easter Morning                         8:00 & 10:00 A.M.

​ANN’S ADDITIONS

Birthdays
 
Hadlee McKeehan                            April 10
Barb Manasek                                  April 14
Jared Mackrill                                   April 15

Altar Guild members will meet in the parish hall on Friday, April 8 at 7:00 PM
to make palm crosses.   Everyone interested in helping is welcome to attend.

Lenten Prayer Bookmarks are available in the pews for all parishioners courtesy of the Daughters of the King, St. Clare Chapter. It is our hope you will use the bookmark as a reminder to pray throughout the Lenten season.
 
Also please join us for Compline services Sunday nights during Lent.  Father Mark will lead this service at 8:00 pm on ZOOM beginning March 6. The link is https://saintf.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1f8804eda97214951fdb7fdde&id=eb42721a53&e=dfd56a5aa2. 
 
This service is intended as a peaceful way to end the day and can be a meaningful addition to your Lenten journey.
 
The United Thank Offering
 
"Ingathering" 4/10/22
Through your Lenten journey, I hope you have taken time to count your blessings, and in return, bless others by placing coins in your Blue Box.  As we look forward to Holy Week, we ask you to please return your blessings box this Sunday, so that others may be blessed.  
 
Closing with prayer:  Gracious God, we come before you in the knowledge that although we are varied in our gifts, we are united as laborers of your harvest.  With grateful hearts, we give thanks for the blessings and challenges that inspire the work of the United Thank Offering.  Through Jesus Christ, whose life is a blueprint we strive to follow.  Amen
 
Prayer Requests ** Please make sure your request is received by Wednesday of each week. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message), email [email protected] or mail to:
 
St. Francis Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1201
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Forward Day by Day Booklets
 
We have the Forward Day by Day’s for May-July in regular and large print. If you would like any of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.

1) Lent is rushing by, and I have been so busy with life that I haven’t taken much time at all to sit and reflect on the deep meaning of this season. One thing that has kept me grounded though has been our Wednesday Soup Suppers and Stations of the Cross. Our simple meal and this short but powerful service has been a weekly reminder that we are made for community and we are sustained in worship. Remembering and hearing these lessons about the trial, torture, and death of Jesus (as well as the suffering of those who knew and loved him) go a long way to preparing my heart for the coming tragic/joyful three-day witness of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. As I said last Sunday, I very much hope that you will attend all three services this year as it is our last chance to walk through these texts together. Here is the schedule:
 
            April 14th — Maundy Thursday                    6:00 P.M.
            April 15th — Good Friday                             12:00 & 6:00 P.M.
            April 16th — Great Vigil                                8:00 P.M.
            April 17th — Easter Morning                        8:00 & 10:00 A.M.
 
2) Some have asked the best way to find and view sermons after they are live on the website, and the answer is to search for the church on facebook (“Saint Francis Episcopal Church”) or youtube ("St. Francis Episcopal Church Scottsbluff, NE”) and all of our previous videos should be available in either location.  
 
3) Today is the feast day of poet/priest John Donne (1572-1631). Fifty years ago I came across a book of his poetry in our high school library (a mystery on a couple of levels) and was really taken by several of his poems. This is one: 
 
Sonnet X   by John Donne
 
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die. 

Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought
life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you are actually living!​

​​Birthdays
 
Dante Anderson-Saenz                 April 3
Scott Harvey                                  April 4
Owen Viola                                    April 6
Justin Cawiezel                             April 8
Brett Parrish                                  April 8
Ann Peterson                                April 8
 
Lenten Prayer Bookmarks are available in the pews for all parishioners courtesy of the Daughters of the King, St. Clare Chapter. It is our hope you will use the bookmark as a reminder to pray throughout the Lenten season.
 
Also please join us for Compline services Sunday nights during Lent.  Father Mark will lead this service at 8:00 pm on ZOOM beginning March 6.
The link is https://saintf.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1f8804eda97214951fdb7fdde&id=eb42721a53&e=dfd56a5aa2. 
 
This service is intended as a peaceful way to end the day and can be a meaningful addition to your Lenten journey.
 
The United Thank Offering
 
The mission of the United Thank Offering is to expand the circle of thankful people.  To achieve this mission, we encourage daily prayers, offerings, and awareness of abundance of God's blessings.  

Our values are: 

Thanksgiving (for joy, blessings and challenges)
Generosity (all offerings are granted)
Mission (expand the church)
Ministry (meet compelling human needs)
The United Thank Offering is a spiritual and financial partner in the mission work of The Episcopal Church.

Prayer Requests ** Please make sure your request is received by Wednesday of each week. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message),
email [email protected] or mail to:
 
St. Francis Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1201
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Forward Day by Day Booklets
We have the Forward Day by Day’s for April-May in regular and large print. If you would like any of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 

1) Soup Supper/Stations of the Cross — Last night about 25 of us shared a delicious meal followed by a moving service of Stations of the Cross. It was noted by many that it had been a long time since such a large group gathered around the tables and talked and laughed and it was like music to the ears and salve to the soul. Thanks to all who cooked and all who read and all who participated. It really was a fun evening. There will be two more Wednesday 5:30 P.M. Soup Suppers - March 30 & April 6th. Come and see!
 
2) Bishop’s Visitation - Don’t forget Bishop Scott and Canon Liz will be here for both services and fellowships this Sunday! Super excited to see them and to hear our Bishop celebrate and preach. Don’t miss!
 
3) Holy Week Schedule - Holy Week will be here before we know it. Remember that the three services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (either Vigil or Sunday morning) are meant to be taken as a whole, attending each to walk fully through the Passion and Resurrection. You don’t have to wash feet on Thursday and you don’t have to tear up on Good Friday and you don’t have to ring bells and shout “Alleluia!” on Easter, but you do have to understand the deep spiritual meaning of the three-day liturgical experience.
 
Here is the schedule. Please make plans to attend all of these services.
 
            April 10th — Palm Sunday               8:00 & 10:00 A.M.
            April 14th — Maundy Thursday       6:00 P.M.
            April 15th — Good Friday                12:00 & 6:00 P.M.
            April 16th — Great Vigil                   8:00 P.M.
            April 17th — Easter Morning           8:00 & 10:00 A.M.
 
4) Common Cup - Finally, I am delighted to announce that beginning Palm Sunday the Bishop has given all parishes permission to return to using the common cup for distribution of wine at communion. He notes in his email two things - first, that sharing the common cup has been proven safe in every instance in which it has been studied, including during COVID. You are at virtually zero risk sharing the communion cup this way. Second, he reiterates that it is actually less safe to take by intinction, as the fingers so easily come into contact with the wine. All this to say that beginning Palm Sunday, you are welcome to receive communion in both kinds however is your custom. 

Birthdays

Melissa Moreno                    March 28
Gretchen Traw                      March 30
Dan Dickinson                      April 1
 
Lenten Prayer Bookmarks are available in the pews for all parishioners courtesy of the Daughters of the King, St. Clare Chapter. It is our hope you will use the bookmark as a reminder to pray throughout the Lenten season.
Also please join us for Compline services Sunday nights during Lent.  Father Mark will lead this service at 8:00 pm on ZOOM beginning March 6. The link is https://saintf.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1f8804eda97214951fdb7fdde&id=eb42721a53&e=dfd56a5aa2. 
This service is intended as a peaceful way to end the day and can be a meaningful addition to your Lenten journey. 
 
The United Thank Offering

Sunlit leaves, sweet morning breezes
Your blessings excite my being
Thanks, Lord.

Buzzing bees, spiders and carpenter ants 
Dutifully scurry on their way
Thanks, Lord.

Frisky chipmunks, chickadees and finches
Chirping a welcoming symphony
Thanks, Lord.

Creations artful display 
A daily walking meditation
Thanks, Lord.

God gave you the gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say "thank you" and share your blessings with others?
 
Prayer Requests ** Please make sure your request is received by Wednesday of each week. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message), email [email protected] or mail to:
 
St. Francis Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1201
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Forward Day by Day Booklets
We have the Forward Day by Day’s for April-May in regular and large print. If you would like any of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.

Birthdays
Demuri Parrish               March 4
Cricket Simmons            March 13

Lenten Prayer Bookmarks are available in the pews for all parishioners courtesy of the Daughters of the King, St. Clare Chapter. It is our hope you will use the bookmark as a reminder to pray throughout the Lenten season.
Also please join us for Compline services Sunday nights during Lent.  
Father Mark will lead this service at 8:00 pm on ZOOM beginning March 6.         
 
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85057047841?pwd=YTZ6Q1FEMnhmeHRiTGZPb3RwaUZCdz09   
Meeting ID: 850 5704 7841
Passcode: 057081
This service is intended as a peaceful way to end the day and can be a meaningful addition to your Lenten journey.
  
The United Thank Offering 

The last two years our lives have been disrupted.  Although we have been able to gather together to worship again, we have missed being greeted with a smile due to face coverings.  We continue to count our Blessings and worship with FAITH.  While so many disruptions are happening around the world, take time to reflect on what you are grateful for each day.  Consider the Blessings flowing from the little UTO box.  
"Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Life is stronger than death;
Victory is ours through Him who loves us."
~Desmond Tutu, South Africa
 ​
Prayer Requests ** Please make sure your request is received by Wednesday of each week. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message), email [email protected] or mail to:
 
St. Francis Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1201
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Forward Day by Day Booklets
We have the Forward Day by Day’s for April-May in regular and large print. If you would like any of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.