FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) So…I guess we made it? I started that to write that sentence like a really great announcement, like “YAY! WE MADE IT!!” but that just didn’t feel like the right tone as we limp to the end of 2020. In so many ways this year has felt like a marathon. That is, if you were forced to run a marathon without ever getting in shape. Or without water. Or snacks. Or shoes. I’m glad it’s over, and I’m glad we really did make it, but honestly I’m a little tired and a little scarred by the whole experience. Anyway, it’s New Year’s Eve, and I do wish everyone the best, most joyous, most fun celebration possible under these circumstances. Whatever beverage you choose, raise a glass to 2021! I have a feeling it’s going to be an amazing year! Have a great night, be safe, and remember that you are now, and you are always, a beloved child of God. 2) Not to jinx it, but our local COVID-19 cases have been declining the past few weeks, so fingers crossed we don’t see a big uptick this week or next. If we continue this trend I could see us being able to gather again in the not-too -distant future. As of yesterday our 7-day moving average of new cases in Scotts Bluff county was 31. A month ago it was 50. The diocesan re-opening threshold is still 20. So continue wearing those masks and keeping your distance and for goodness sake get the vaccine when it is available to you. These are the keys to regathering in church and reclaiming our lives. 3) This is as good a way to end the year as any. This morning I saw a 3 minute video of robots dancing to an old song from the ‘60’s called “Do You Love Me.” It really is quite extraordinary, but like many have already said online, I can’t decide if I am delighted by it or terrified. Watch for yourself here if you need a laugh today. https://youtu.be/fn3KWM1kuAw And now, we end this year with the wonderful writings of Rae Whitney: 2020-2021 Old Year, no longer with us, we’re glad to see you gone, you’ve left with us your virus where it does not belong.. It’s caused a world-wide lock-down, of businesses and schools, with everybody asked to abide by special rules. Now thanks to health providers and world-wide scientists, we have exciting vaccines,--- we hope we’re on the lists! When we are vaccinated, we’ll halt the Covid spread, and life will be more normal,- disease no longer spread. Goodbye to Twenty-Twenty, and welcome Twenty-One! Old Year, depart in darkness; and New Year, bring the sun! We’ve learned so many lessons, while “sheltering in place”; let’s not forget new wisdom, then spread God’s gift of grace. (Rae E Whitney Dec 31, 2020) (This text may be sung to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation”) GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Birthday!! Happy Anniversary!! Brad Bode December 31 Mark & Jill Selvey December 31 Max Meyer December 31 Erica Croft December 31 Marcaria Lamont January 2 Monica Lehr January 6 William Schnell January 7 Jane Wisniewski January 7 Prayer Requests: Due to my working from home two days a week (for now), please send me your prayer requests by Wednesday each week to ensure they are in the next Sunday’s Bulletin. ***Daily Devotion for Thursday December 31, 2020*** CHRISTMAS PRAISE The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause Breathe in this good news of great joy! Take a deep breath. For you….yes, YOU, Jesus was born. A savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it. Keep breathing, in praise to our God who makes all things new this Christmas season. Listen There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38 Think Anna was a woman of purpose. She never left the temple after her husband died until she witnessed Simeon blessing the infant Jesus. In that moment, Anna went out with a single intention to tell everyone about this baby and the promise of redemption. We’ve been in a holding pattern like Anna, and it may have felt like you haven’t left your home all year. I’m not sure we are ready to leave our metaphorical temple, but we need to think about our daily intention as we step into a new year. A daily intention helps us choose how we INTEND to live instead of WISHING life would be different. Some people choose one word to guide them throughout this year. You may choose your core values that help you be your very best self. However you do it, begin this day with deep, faithful intentionality. Take a few minutes before your feet hit the floor every day to reflect on your daily intention. Let’s follow Jesus into 2021. One step at a time. Michelle Thomas-Bush Pray With a deep breath, hard work, and your help, God, I release my petty grudges, unnecessary judgements, and outright grumpiness. May I be my best self, the person I was created to be. With a deep breath, more hard work, and the peace of Christ, empower me to live into 2021 with intentionality and faithfulness. May I find contentment without complacency. With a deep breath and the Holy Spirit, let’s move into this new year with joy and grace. Amen. Go Take a deep breath and be present every moment of every day of 2021. Love with intention. Be the Church. Practice radical hospitality. Celebrate others. May the grace of God fill your days so that you cannot help but respond to all of life with exuberant joy! ***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from Home) Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from Home) Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (at the Office) FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) Without a doubt, this is the strangest Christmas Eve I have ever experienced. Only one of our children home for the holiday, no gathering with friends, no snow, winds whipping all night long, and -- most strange of all – no celebration with you at the church with the music, the liturgy, and the communion that we so deeply cherish. I miss you all terribly, and I know you miss the church so much and especially on this night. While I know we’re not out of the woods yet, I do believe we will get through this and there will be a day soon when we are able to gather safely and celebrate the great gift of Emmanuel. But tonight, everything is livestreamed. The easiest way to access our service is from our website www.saintf.org. We begin at 5:00 P.M. with a family Carol Sing. The idea is to gather with everyone in your household and enjoy some hot chocolate and peppermint and lots of fun singing together. All of the songs and hymns are beloved and familiar, and some are especially for the kids. Scott and Alyssa and Barb have put a great half-hour of fun together for us. Immediately following, at 5:30 P.M. we will begin our Christmas Eve Worship. The bulletin and service can be accessed through our website. It’s a typical Christmas Eve service in some ways (children’s sermon, candle-lit Silent Night) and unusual in others (empty church, no gift bags or kids to give them to). But it is the best we have to offer this year. I do hope you will join us and that can be meaningful for you. As we have already pre-recorded it, there will not be drive-through communion following this service. There will be drive-through communion this Sunday, Dec 27th, however. 2) The office will be closed next week. Also no Tuesday or Thursday Coffee Zoom or Zoom Bible Study. Merry Christmas to you, beloved members of St. Francis Episcopal Church!! May God’s Son and God’s Spirit bring you great Joy, Peace, and Blessings this day! GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Birthday!! Happy Anniversary!! Jamie Selzer December 28 Brian & Mandi Sauer December 28 Sierra Sauer December 30 Bob & Barb Manasek December 29 ***DON’T FORGET TO EMAIL OR CALL ME WITH YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS BY WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 30th*** ***Daily Devotion for Thursday December 17, 2020*** LOVE The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause Being known. Being valued. Belonging. These are gifts of God’s Love. We receive them in Christ. Listen In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. Luke 2:1-7 Think "There was no place for them in the guestroom." Have you been disappointed by not fitting in somewhere? Have you ever felt that you are missing a place to belong? Perhaps you have never experienced belonging somewhere. Today’s scripture brings us guidance on what we can expect when we feel that we don’t have a place where we belong. In Christ we belong to David’s house and family line, which is the promise given from God to us. This makes us kin to Christ. We have a place where we belong, and it is with Christ. This is the beauty of Christmas – Jesus came to be among humankind, so that we all may be gathered together in Christ, so that we all may have a place at the table, so that we all may call God our home. What are you worried about? Do you want to experience the feeling of belonging to God? Whatever it might be, know that you are from God. Israel Loachamin Pray Lord, thank you for giving me a place to belong. May I give you my worries of not feeling welcome in a place where I belong, and may I feel at peace knowing that I belong to God. Amen. Go Where shepherds lately knelt, and kept the angel’s word, I come in half belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred; But there is room and welcome there for me, but there is room and welcome there for me. Can I, will I forget how Love was born and burned its way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned, to die, to live, and not alone for me, to die, to live, and not alone for me? from “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt” by Jaroslav J. Vajda (1986) ***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from home) Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from home) Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office) FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) Thanks to everyone who made our Advent Lessons and Carols possible last week! All-in-all it took about 15 readers, singers, and technicians to make it happen, and it was super fun, and we hope enjoyable for those who watched online. If you missed it, or if you watched it and want more, The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska has joined forces with the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Opera Omaha to present A Heartland Lessons and Carols,which may be viewed on:
2) Next Monday December 21st at 7:00 P.M. we will participate in a Zoom Blue Christmas Service, which you can join with this Zoom link:Meeting ID: 429 691 4665 Passcode: 69361. Pastor Craig writes this about the Blue Christmas service: “A service for those for whom Christmas is not joyful; for those who are confronted with the loss of loved ones, feeling isolated and alone, perhaps even feeling depressed. On this longest night of the year, we remember and place our hope in Christ. All are welcome to attend.” Livestreamed on our church’s websites and https://www.facebook.com/methodistchurch.scottsbluff/videos/ A combined service with the following churches: First Presbyterian, St. Francis Episcopal, Calvary Lutheran, Holy Apostles’ Episcopal, First Christian Henry/Lyman, Mitchell, Morrill & Scottsbluff United Methodist Churches ID: 429 691 4665 Passcode: 69361 3) Speaking of Zoom meetings, our Parish Annual Meeting this year will be held virtually using Zoom. We will send the sign-in information later, but for now, please put the date and time on your calendar – Sunday, January 31st 2021 at 11:30 A.M. Unfortunately, this year we can’t do our usual amazing world-famous potluck brunch, but we will still gather and do the annual administrative business of the parish, and find a couple of ways to celebrate virtually at the same time. 4) We are working on the problem some are experiencing with our Facebook livestreamed service, and think we have a fix. Scott has created a way to view it on YouTube using a link on our website homepage. Just before the service begins, you can lick the video link labeled “St Francis Stream Screen” and it should take you to the YouTube streaming version. You can go to www.saintf.org to see what I am describing. GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Birthday!! Happy Anniversary!! Steve Trickler December 17 Mary Kay Versen & Lynn Okicki Brian Sauer December 22 December 21 Sara Moreno December 23 The Christmas Star I am sure some of you have heard about the Christmas Star. Here is the information I have found on it: As I have learned, this is actually the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. The closer they get to each other the more of a star there appears to be, and this happens about every 20 years. However, this year they will be really close, thus the star. The last time this was visible without a telescope was on March 4, 1226. Our best chance of seeing this phenomenon is on December 21 in the southwestern sky, and low to the horizon and about 45 minutes post sunset. It will be visible for the whole week, but this is the best time for us to see it. To find the “Christmas Star,” look into the night sky around 6:15 p.m., and you will notice a bright, white star low on the southwest horizon. The brightest star will be Jupiter; to the slight upper left of it will be Saturn. ***Daily Devotion for Thursday December 17, 2020*** JOY The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause This Advent, Let us remember: The Lord will continue to do great things for us. Let us testify to the Light that is God. Let us hold on to what is good, even when nothing around us makes any sense. Let us cultivate joy. Listen They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” John said, “I’m not.” “Are you the prophet?” John answered, “No.” They asked, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied, “I am a voice crying out in the wilderness, Make the Lord’s path straight, just as the prophet Isaiah said.” Those sent by the Pharisees asked, “Why do you baptize if you aren’t the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered, “I baptize with water. Someone greater stands among you, whom you don’t recognize. He comes after me, but I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” This encounter took place across the Jordan in Bethany where John was baptizing. John 1:21-28 Think “I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps...” What a statement! A bold way for us to perhaps even describe our own relationship with God. The message that we are not worthy seems to prevail today. Society – and sometimes even those close to us – tell us that we are not worthy. If they don’t say it with words, then with actions. And we often believe this… But let us remember that we are worthy of God’s joy. God sent Jesus to walk among those who felt unworthy to deliver them, to restore them. You are beloved, you are a child of God. Luz Cabrera Montes Pray Lord, hear my crying! Give me strength to care for myself as I seek to care for others. Guide my words and make them match my actions. Amen. Go Choose joy, share joy, and make it a discipline. ***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org ***DON’T FORGET TO EMAIL OR CALL ME WITH YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS BY WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 23rd*** Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (work from home) Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (work from home) Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office) FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) We had a simply amazing response to our request for donations to our 2020 Christmas Family Fund, where we raised just over $2,000, which will help many local families celebrate this year. I have already distributed two of the checks, and I know this – your generosity makes a real and tangible difference in real lives. I mean it when I say “Thank you.” 2) Don’t miss our livestreamed Advent Lessons and Carols this Sunday at 5:30 P.M. It will be streamed on Facebook Live in the same way as our regular Sunday worship service, and there will be a link up on the website to use to watch live and download the bulletin with the readings (done by some familiar faces you maybe haven’t seen in a while) and some special music. Tune in, and join in and enjoy this classic Episcopal service. 3) We will continue to offer Drive-Up Communion every Sunday for the foreseeable future. This has been a really popular addition, and it is so great to see and connect with folks, even for just a moment, and to share actual communion. Just drive through the back parking lot immediately following the 10:00 A.M. service. 4) This week the Bishop sent a pastoral letter to all the churches, encouraging us to just keep the faith during this continuing time of disruption. A copy is attached. He is a pretty great Bishop, I can tell you. GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Birthday!! Richard Schaneman December 11 Theodore Meyer December 12 Lori Peterson December 11 Rick Gable December 15 Len Tabor December 12 Don Kepler December 15 Happy Anniversary!! Amy & Michelle Anderson-Saenz December 12 Memorial Poinsettia Donations: with the Christmas Season upon us, we will have a sign up for donations to purchase Memorial Poinsettia’s. If you would like to have the Poinsettia donated in the memory of a loved one, please email Gina at [email protected] or call the church and leave a message. The names will be added to the Christmas Eve Bulletin. ***Daily Devotion for Thursday December 3, 2020*** PEACE The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause Take a few deep breaths. As you inhale, breathe in God’s peace for you. As you exhale, breathe out all that keeps you from being at peace. Listen John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. Mark 1:4-5 Think In many traditions, you’re only baptized once, but that doesn’t mean that the significance of your baptism is limited to one day. Instead, baptism has lifelong consequences as it is a sign of God’s everlasting covenant with us and signifies the beginning of new life in Christ. Mark tells us that many people throughout Judea responded to John’s invitation for baptism. Not only did they seek God’s forgiveness for their sins in the baptismal waters, but they wanted to show that they were changing their hearts and lives to reflect their faith in God. Notice that they were in the process of changing their hearts and lives when they were baptized. Living lives that reflected faith in God wasn’t just a one-time, single-day activity, but a daily practice and a process. Each day we can choose to change our hearts and lives to reflect our faith in God and to live into God’s covenant with us. What do you need to change so that you can fully respond to God’s call on your life? Rosy Robson Pray Promising God, thank you for your everlasting covenant to be my God. Forgive me of my sins. Help me to choose today to change my heart and my life to reflect my faith in you. Amen. Go Go now to a responsible involvement in the world. Be at peace, for God who created you, Christ who redeems you, and the Spirit who sustains you go with you today and every day. ***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org ***DON’T FORGET TO EMAIL OR CALL ME WITH YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS BY WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 16TH*** Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from home) Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from home) Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office) FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) I’m getting a fair amount of positive feedback and compliments lately that I simply don’t deserve, and I want to set the record straight on who actually does deserve credit for some of this stuff: (And by the way, if you get a sense reading this that the success of this this parish is less dependent on the Rector and more dependent on the assisting clergy and engaged laity, you would be 100% correct in that J)
2) If you are reading “Low – An Honest Advent Devotional,” don’t forget that we will meet online ZOOM at 2:00 P.M. this Sunday. You should already have received an invitation to that meeting. If not, please email me and I’ll resend the link. GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Birthday!! Happy Anniversary!! Jana Bode December 4 Trudy & Mardell Schnell December 6 Beth McKibbin December 4 Chesney Joplin December 8 Memorial Poinsettia Donations: with the Christmas Season upon us, we will have a sign up for donations to purchase Memorial Poinsettia’s. If you would like to have the Poinsettia donated in the memory of a loved one, please email Gina at [email protected] or call the church and leave a message. The names will be added to the Christmas Eve Bulletin. Prayer Requests: The prayer request sheet is still just outside the office in the church and is updated weekly. Anyone may still email your prayer requests to me at [email protected]. If you do not have email, just call the church and leave a message. Since, I am back in the office, the requests must be received on by Wednesday at the latest, for them to be included in the Sunday Bulletin for that week. If the request is received after Wednesday, they will be added to the next Sunday Bulletin. We will follow the same process and keep the names on for two weeks. Once the prayer request is received, it is added to the prayer list and then I email the names to have them added to the Prayer Chain and to the Daughters of the King. ***Daily Devotion for Thursday December 3, 2020*** HOPE The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause It is Advent. The Lord is coming. This is our hope. With every breath you take — Wait. With every breath you take — Listen. Wait and Listen. Hear the coming of the Lord. Listen “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he’s near, at the door. I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.” Mark 13:28-31 Think The season of Advent is one of my favorite times of the year. Christmas carols are sung, ugly sweaters are worn, and shopping increases as we try to find that perfect gift for our family and friends. It truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year. With all of the busyness, it is easy to forget that Advent is about waiting. It is a time to wait in expectation for the coming of the Christ child. We sometimes need a reminder to see through the busyness and to set our eyes on Jesus. The one who is observant will notice the signs that point to Jesus as the reason for the season. Throughout Advent, let us take some time to observe. Let us observe our need for hope, peace, joy, and love. These, like the branches of a fig tree, are the signs that point us to the good news of the coming of Christ our Lord. Emmitt Drumgoole Pray Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear the coming of good news for all. Amen. Go It is Advent. The Lord is coming. Go! Make ready for the Lord! ***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
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