June 25th, 2020

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

​1) Are you joining us online? So many of you have told us the online services are helpful and offer a touchstone to their weeks and a reminder that we will be back someday soon and things will begin to seem more normal. Most of the credit for what we have been able to produce online goes to Scott Harvey, who stepped up and took this on his shoulders and has really done a brilliant job! Thanks, Scott, for getting us to this place, and to Barb and Alyssa for continuing to share their musical gifts, to our LEM’s and Lectors for doing their parts, to Mo. Karen and Fr. Bob for their steady support, to Cory and the Vestry for all they have done, and to you, our faithful and generous congregation, who continue to amaze me with your steadfast presence, now online but before long back in person. Keep the faith and keep showing up online and most of all, keep safe! We are working on a plan for the next phase and will share the particulars in the next week or two.

2)  Lots of you are sending Gina corrections to your contact information, which is super helpful. Whether it’s contact information, birthday or anniversary dates, or really anything else, please let us know when we get it wrong. Our goal is to have accurate information that keeps us connected to each other, but it’s always a work in progress. A phone call or email will help us get and keep it right.

3) Our online giving continues to grow as an easy  and safe alternative to dropping a check off in the plate or in the mail. You can make donations anytime using our secure online giving platform. The vestry just spent several months reviewing the security of our online systems, and we feel very confident that both you and the church are protected against theft and fraud. Remember that none of your giving information is kept on our system, it all goes through Stripe -- one of the largest online payment companies in the business. Currently about a fourth of our pledges are paid this way. If you’re interested you can check it out by going to our website www.saintf.org and finding  the “More” and “Give” tabs and the “Donate Now” button.

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
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1) Prayer Requests: Please email your prayer requests to Gina at stfrancis@allophone.com.  If you do not have email, just call the church and leave a message. The requests must be received on Tuesday’s before 12:00pm for them to be included in the Sunday Bulletin for that week. If the request is received after 12:00pm on Tuesday, they will be added to the next Sunday Bulletin. We will follow the same process and keep the names on for two weeks.

2) ALL IN-PERSON SERVICES SUSPENDED FOR NOW SUNDAY’S 10 A.M. SERVICES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE – Saint Francis Episcopal Church  (Saint must be spelled out, do not abbreviate)
If you do not have Facebook, you can go to our website www.saintf.org

3) System Updates: I am updating our information database and want to make sure I have all the correct information such as names, addresses, spouses and/or minor children, birthdays, anniversaries, phone numbers and email addresses. If possible, please send an email to me at stfrancis@allophone.com with you or your family’s current information, it would be appreciated.

The Forward Day by Day Meditation for June 25, 2020
Thursday, June 25th 

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

From the Archives: September 2, 1945
No one can describe fully to another what it is like to be in love. And so, when asked, one hesitates to describe it fully, lest such a personal thing be spoiled in the telling or told to one who will not appreciate it.
The same is true of the reception of the sacrament. One can beat around the subject. We can say that when Napoleon was asked, during his exile, what the greatest experience of his life had been, he replied, “My first communion.” We can approach the subject in other ways, but we never seem to touch the heart.
Perhaps the best thing to say first is: Go to the sacrament full of expectation. Expect the unknown, more than has been told to you. You will not be disappointed. And if you are, go again. Great treasure is worth seeking.

MOVING FORWARD: How is God redeeming something painful in your life? Share that good news with someone today.

PRAY for the Dioceses of Mahajanga (Madagascar) and Terekeka (South Sudan)

Ps 105:1-22 * 105:23-45 | Numbers 17:1-11 | Romans 5:1-11 | Matthew 20:17-28
 
Gina’s Office Hours
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (at the church)
Wednesday  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (work from home)
Thursday  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (work from home)