Thursday Announcements for June 11, 2020

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. And so it goes on, and so we adapt. It’s not always evident, but the truth is we really  are good at adapting. As I go about my life, I don’t hear a lot of grumbling and grouching about it, and most of the folks I see and talk to have just adapted and are waiting for things to improve. You all have adapted so well to our online worship and social distancing, and I can’t thank you enough for your patience and grace in all of this. We really are working hard to be ready to reopen as soon as it is possible. Thank you for not yelling at me (like some other churches I know) and thank you for continuing to work and support and volunteer for the church. Last Saturday a member and her family provided Laundry Love at the East Overland Laundromat, and the next day sent me an email asking if they could do it again on an upcoming Sunday! That is one of many examples of how wonderful you all are. Thank you for being so amazing and so willing to adapt! This will end, and we will be back together in person. That is a promise. In the meantime, we adapt.
2. Yesterday we had a little bit of normalcy when four of our youth and three adults gathered in the parish hall (social distanced) for Catechism. It was so great to see the kids and their parents in person. These are smart kids, you guys, and you can be very proud of them. Special thanks to Trudy Schnell and Fr. Bob who assist and particularly to the parents who make the effort to get their kids here. When the Bishop comes, we will have a group of four youth confirmands!
3. If you have signed up for one of the two new online zoom classes I am leading, you should have received information this week about start days/times. If not, give me a call or text at 308-765-1535.
4. EFM is “Education for Ministry,” a course offered for anyone interested in graduate-level reading and writing and conversations about church, theology, history, and doctrine. It’s not for everyone, but it is an amazing chance for formation in the faith. If you have any interest, former Canon Judi Yeates will be leading an EFM group by distance learning starting in the fall. She will explain and answer questions at the next (virtual) Deanery Meeting on Saturday July 18th. Mark your calendars, more details to follow.

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 

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 by Tuesday for them to be included in the Sunday Bulletin for that week. If the request is received after 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 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 11, 2020
THURSDAY, June 11  Saint Barnabas

Psalm 42:10 The Lord grants his loving-kindness in the daytime; in the night season his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

From the Archives: September 1, 1939
Some of you who read this psalm today can echo the words from the depths of your hearts, for you too hunger and thirst for the living God. You have a spiritual kinship with the psalmist’s Godward desire and with his love of the temple.
But to some of you, the psalm perhaps seems unreal—a spiritual experience that you have never had. How can it be yours?
Spiritual growth is a slow process. We must be patient as though training a child. Our Lord was patient with the slow growth of his disciples. He judges us not by what we are now but by what we are on the way to becoming. As Jesus is patient with us, so we should be patient with ourselves, not excusing our failures but not despondent over them. Reality, earnestness, and faith in God are the essentials. These we all can have.

MOVING FORWARD: Consider your vocations in life. Where is God calling you?

PRAY for the Dioceses of Luapula (Zambia) and Taita Taveta (Kenya) 

Ps 112 | Isaiah 42:5-12 | Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3 | Matthew 10:7-16
  
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)