Thursday Announcements for April 16th, 2020

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
1) Happy Easter to you and your families!! We had a glorious time celebrating here in the church with Barb and Alyssa providing some spectacular music! I do hope some of that joy came through and matched your own. It was a very different Holy Week and Easter morning, but we made it through and hopefully will not have to do Easter that way again anytime soon. Thanks to all who helped make it possible and special!

2) Our worship services will continue to be offered live-streamed only at least through May 10. I am expecting more guidance from the Bishop fairly soon, but in the meantime, keep logging on and joining us in real-time. The links and bulletins are on our website www.saintf.org.

3) We have both large print and regular versions of Forward Day-By-Day available. Typically we would set them out to be picked up, but this quarter we will mail them out if you request a copy. Just email Gina at [email protected] and she will get one in the mail to you. I think we have 10 copies of the large print and 40 of the regular-sized.
4) Thanks to you, our parish community outreach continues even during social distancing! On April 4th one of our members joined with one from our ministry partner First Presbyterian, and together they found a way to safely provide quarters and supplies for our Laundry Love ministry. If you get a chance, be sure to thank Cricket Simmons and Becky Sorenson for their continued commitment to this ministry!  

And now we have a new opportunity -- again in partnership with 1st Pres. -- and that is donating non-perishable food items to the Potter's Wheel Food Bank. Here's how it will work: 

• You can purchase and bag or box non-perishable food items, and either;
  • Deliver them to the warehouse address 118 East Overland in Scottsbluff.
  • Or call Becky Sorenson at 308-631-4003 and we will arrange to pick them up from your porch on set days, the first pick-up day will be next Monday, April 20th

OK -- stay safe and warm today! This snow, too, will pass. I think. Unless we are in a new ice age. In which case, does anybody need some good used golf clubs?

Fr. Mark+

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
  
This Week’s Schedule     April 19th – April 25th
 
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
 
 
The Forward Day by Day Meditation for April 16th, 2020
 
Mark 14:3 While [Jesus] was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
 
From the Archives: November 4, 1941
When our Lord came bringing redemption, he did not stop to count the cost. When this woman wanted to show her gratitude, nothing but the best would do. Onlookers called it extravagance, complained at the waste. Jesus said she was right.
Many people are afraid of doing too much for God. They measure their gifts by what others are giving. “I have done my share. Let somebody else carry on.” What is my share? My service to God is between God and me. It is not a matter of comparison with my neighbors. Comparisons are odious. Suppose Christ had waited in Gethsemane for others to do their share? There would have been no Good Friday and no Easter. He was not afraid of doing too much for us.
MOVING FORWARD: What does it mean to you to pray for fellow Anglicans around the world?
PRAY for the Diocese of Kimberley & Kuruman (Southern Africa)
Ps 116:1,10-17 | Exodus 12:1-4,(5-10), 11-14 | 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 | John 13:1-17, 31b-35
 
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. (work from home)