​​Thursday Announcements-January 2, 2025­­­­
 
ERIN’S EPISTLETTES

• Midweek worship will resume next week, January 8. We'll continue our pattern of evening prayer on Zoom the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month and an in-person evening Eucharist in the chapel on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. All evening services will begin at 6 p.m. (Though we won't gather the evening of January 15; see below.)  Let me know if you'd like to receive email or text reminders one or two days before. 
• There will be no midweek worship January 15 as I plan to attend the diocesan-wide EFM book study. Let me know if you're interested in joining me! We'll gather on Zoom to discuss The Dream of God by Verna Dozier. 
• Due to several unforeseen and competing circumstances, we've made the decision to move our annual meeting from January 26 to February 9. This also changes the deadline for any reports you want printed in the annual meeting packet. Please have those to the front office no later than January 29. 

 
Recent Worship Engagement Trends
October month-end average: 50
November month-end average: 57
December month-end average: 53* (61 including Christmas)
Christmas Eve Attendance (both services): 103
October-December Lowest Sunday: 34 (10/13)
October-December Highest Sunday (Excluding Christmas): 72 (10/27)
2024 Year-Long Average (Including Christmas & Easter): 61 (53 excluding both)
Lowest Sunday of 2024: 34 (10/13)
Highest Sunday of 2024 (Excluding Christmas & Easter): 90 (05/12)
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The Laundry of Love mission is a monthly service provided by three area churches. Saint Francis provides this service once every three months (March, June, September, and December) from 12:00-2:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month at the East Overland laundromat. In 2 hours, the mission serves approximately 12 individuals/families. The church donates an average of $150 at each mission. Thank you to Jane Sayre, Janet Craven, and the Schingle family members who have volunteered their time and resources to help with this wonderful community outreach.

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Those who serve, this week January 12, 2025, 9am
Musician                   Barb Becker      
Media Team              Jack Schaaf
Ushers                        Artie Johnson, Sarah Schaaf
Acolyte Master          Clark Wisniewski
Acolytes                      Emma Schaaf, Will Schaaf
Lector/Intercessor      Barb Manasek
Eucharistic Minister    Jan Johnson
Altar Guild                 Nancy Kepler, Monica & Kathy Shambaugh
Coffee Hosts              Judi Widmaier, Beth McKibbin

 Flowers:
Cory & Gretchen Foster               In memory of Cory’s mother, Vlasta Foster
Joyce Walsh                               In memory of Duane Walsh
Upcoming Events at St. Francis:
Lectionary Study and Compline, Tuesday 2pm, Library
In Person Eucharist, Mary Chapel,Wednesday @ 6pm
Men’s Bible Study Thursday, 8am
Discipleship Group. Thursday @ 12pm
Diocesan EFM Book Study, January 15th @ 6pm on Zoom

Thursday Announcements-December 12, 2024­­­­
 
ERIN’S EPISTLETTES
​

Helping those in need is the primary purpose of the rector's discretionary fund. Regularly, low-income folks stop by church offices to request such assistance. Last year, the vestry approved a policy to guide disbursement of those funds in a way that is fair and encourages active partnership with local agencies already offering an array of services and assistance. Because the policy sets clear boundaries, we sometimes say "no" to requests. In most cases, those requesters are referred to another agency. Occasionally, those in need solicit parishioners directly. I ask that you do not, under any circumstances, hand out cash. However well-intentioned, this undermines the goals of our new disbursement policy. If anyone solicits you, whatever the reason given, please refer them to me rather than giving cash. ~Rev. Erin+


We've been invited to partner with our Boy Scout troop as we volunteer for the red kettle campaign Friday-Saturday, December 20-21. Though this is a program of the Salvation Army, ninety percent of the funds help families in need in our valley. Our time is divided into half hour slots. You're welcome to bring a chair if you're more comfortable sitting. Costumes are encouraged but optional. The following time slots are still available:
Friday, December 20, 6-6:30
Friday, December 20, 6:30-7
Saturday, December 21, 12:30-1
Saturday, December 21, 2-2:30
Saturday, December 21, 2:30-3
Saturday, December 21, 3-3:30
Saturday, December 21, 3:30-4
If you're interested in helping with this important project, please contact the front office or click here. Many thanks to those who already signed up! 

 
Blue Christmas
Saint Francis is again co-sponsoring Blue Christmas. This service takes place on the longest night of the year. It's a time and space to honor those who are grieving, suffering which is often amplified by the hyped up, superficial joy of secular Christmas in the surrounding culture. This year's local gathering will take place at Calvary Lutheran, 17 E 27th St in Scottsbluff on Saturday, December 21 at 5:30 p.m. Those actively grieving as well as those wishing to support those who are grieving are welcome. 
 

​Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Worship
Saint Francis, 14 E 20th St, Scottsbluff
Advent IV: Sunday, December 22 at 9 a.m.
Christmas Eve: Tuesday, December 24 at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The 5:30 service will be livestreamed on our Facebook page; incense will be used at 8:30 p.m.
There is no service Christmas Day.

Saint Matthew's, 312 W 16th St, Alliance
Christmas Eve: Tuesday, December 24 at 11 p.m.
Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25 at 10 a.m.
The 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service will be livestreamed​

​​~There will be no enews published December 26. 
~Church offices will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, December 25 and 26, as well as Wednesday, January 1.
 
These changes are due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, respectively. 

​Those who serve, this week December 15, 9am

Musician                           Barb Becker              
Media Team                      Jack Schaaf
Ushers                              Karen Mecklem, Judi Widmaier
Acolyte Master                 Clark Wisniewski
Acolytes                           Emma Schaaf, Will Schaaf
Lector/Intercessor           Ann Peterson
Eucharistic Minister        Jane Sayre
Altar Guild                        Nancy Kepler, Monica & Kathy Shambaugh
Coffee Hosts                    Connie Schingle, Stephanie Schingle    

​Flowers                           
Robert & Barb Manasek               In memory of their parents

Upcoming Events at St. Francis:

As this Sunday is the third Sunday of the month, the loose offering will go towards the Rector's Discretionary Fund.

Lectionary Study and Compline, Tuesday 2pm, Library
Evening Prayer on Zoom, Wednesday @ 6pm
Men’s Bible Study Thursday, 8am
Greening of the Church, TODAY, December 15, following Worship

• Red Kettle Campaign, volunteers needed Fri. & Sat., December 20-21🔔🎅🤶🔔
  • For more info or to volunteer, click here

 Christmas Eve at St. Francis, 5:30pm & 8:30pm, No Service Christmas Day
Christmas at St. Matthew’s, in Alliance with Christmas Eve 11pm
     and Christmas Day 10am

​From the Office—Ann’s Announcements         

​Birthdays
Rick Gable                 December 15
Don Kepler                 December 15
Steve Trickler             December 17
Anniversaries
Lynn Okicki & Mary Kay Versen        December 21
 
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 November-January 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.