Thursday Announcements for January 28, 2021

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
1) Episcopal Women’s History Project Announces New Series: “Women
Worth Knowing” which includes one session on
our own Rae E. Whitney on March 11th. 
 
From their announcement: "There are hundreds of remarkable stories of
women who have served the Episcopal Church with love, with persistence, with
energy and with creativity. EWHP is presenting a series telling the stories of six
women who have made an impact on the Episcopal Church. There will be time
for discussion and questions. The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Barker, President of
EWHP will be emcee. The sessions will be presented as a Zoom experience
​ where there is room for all who wish to participate. Ash Wednesday is
on February 17, 2021; the series will begin on Thursday: February 18,
and continued on February 25, and March 4, 11, 18 and 25. Mark your
calendars!” To sign up go here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsc-yrqzMjG9UOMhFfeOepK8rHkhZjcLrw 
 
2) Are you ready to get more involved here at St. Francis? Would you be willing
to attend one meeting per month to help us manage and guide the parish? If
so, this might be the year you volunteer to serve on our Vestry. It is a fun and
interesting way to help the church and get to know others who are similarly
committed to serving. A slate of candidates will be submitted and approved at
Sunday’s Annual Meeting. Please contact Fr. Mark at 308-765-1535 or
 [email protected] by Saturday if you would be willing to become a Vestry
Member this year!
 
3) This Sunday at 11:30 A.M. we will hold our Parish Annual Meeting --
virtually this year using Zoom. Today you will receive another email with the
handouts and link to login to the meeting. It will be different for sure and less
fun (and less filling as we will miss our annual brunch potluck!) but this is what
we are able to do and it will allow us to conduct our necessary annual business
of electing the Vestry, reviewing 2020, and setting some goals for 2021. I think
it will be right at an hour, and I hope not too boring. Watch for the email with
attachments. There is very limited seating available in the Parish Hall for those
who don’t have email. Please call the office and confirm that you will attend in
​ person. 

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Happy Birthday!!
Kim Hurst        January 30
 
Prayer Requests ** Now that I am back in the office 3 days a week,
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 for February, March, April 2021**- Please let me
know if you would like a copy set aside or mailed to you. We have
received the regular print and the large print.

***Daily Devotion for Thursday January 14, 2021***
God, the Source
The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go
Pause
Come. Come to the well of God’s Word and draw from the source of hope,
inspiration, and courage that only God can give us through the Love of
Jesus Christ.
Listen
Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed,
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to
destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”
“Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.
Mark 1:23-26
Think
One aspect of Mark’s gospel that I love is that everyone who should
recognize Jesus as the Christ doesn’t, and everyone/everything that
shouldn’t recognize Jesus as the Christ does. The people who hear Jesus
teach are amazed at what he is doing and wonder who he is, yet the evil
spirit knows exactly who Jesus is and where he comes from.
Where Jesus comes from is an important acknowledgement, for Jesus
comes from
God. Indeed, as his followers, we proclaim that Jesus is God.
Have you ever thought of yourself as coming from God? We don’t come
from God in the same sense as Jesus did, but I would argue we do come
from God and maybe in an even bigger way. We are chosen by God to be
God’s children.
A good friend always told her children “Remember who you are and
whose you are!” When we belong to God, we are from God – called,
loved, and sent. Don’t be shy of your nature; embrace it, live it, and let the
world see it in you.
Kris “Bubba” Brammer
Pray
O Creator God, you know me so well that I cannot possibly hide who I am
from you. Remind me always that my identity rests in you as a child of
God. Help me to remember in all things that I am yours and that you are
my God. Help me to live a life reflecting this identity I have in Christ to
others.
Amen.
Go
Go. Go from the well of God’s Word and presence, knowing that what we
draw there sustains us, renews us, and gives us life to be the people of
God and Christ’s light in the world.
​
***These daily devotionals are available at www.d365.org  
 
Gina’s Office Hours
 Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office)
Wednesday  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office)
Thursday  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office)