Thursday Announcements for June 4th, 2020

​FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Good Morning Dear Members and Friends of St Francis Episcopal Church! No doubt about it, it's a tough time for all of us right now, and each week seems to bring new and bigger challenges. BUT -- we are a tough and resilient people, and we are used to challenges, and I have complete confidence that we will get through it and be ok, or even better than OK, on the other side. Don't give up. This is a rough time, but better times are just ahead. Our job is to continue to serve God and serve neighbor. That is what people of God have always done, and it has never failed.
2. Update on regathering for worship. The Bishop has sent clearer instructions on what needs to happen for parishes to resume in-person worship. The first two boxes that must be checked are that the number of COVID cases in the community are declining for two weeks in a row, and that anyone who is symptomatic has access to testing. The second of those is currently true but the first is not, so until that happens, we are still waiting. Once we can meet both tests, we can submit a plan to the Bishop for approval, and there is a group working on that plan right now. When we are able to regather, it will look different -- masks required on the way in and out, social distancing in the pews, no passing of peace, and communion done in very sanitary way. These are solutions that will allow us to gather in the sanctuary and parish hall while still following safe practices, however, we will continue to livestream our services for those who can't or are not ready to meet in person again at this time. July 5th is the first possible date, but looking at our COVD case trends today, that date seem unlikely for us. I promise you two things: a) that we will offer in-person worship as soon as we can safely do so in our context, and that; b) when we do, it will be as safe and as beautiful as we can possibly make it. I know you love this space, and I am as anxious as you are to get you back into it!
3. I have had lots of interest in both of my new online zoom classes. Sign-ups are open until next Monday the 8th, after which I will set the schedules and send out the particulars. To sign up, go to our website www.saintf.org.
4. Youth Catechism will hold their next six-week session this summer, beginning very soon. Parents -- I am just waiting on confirmation that I have another adult committed to be present, and then we will set the date and get going.

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 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

Happy Birthday!!
Jim Petitt                        June 4          Frank Marquez               June 20     
Ashley Haack                 June 5          Jill Wozniak                    June 20
Kristi Weiss                    June 9          Jerry Leonard                 June 23
Joyce Hillman-Kortum   June 10         Jane Sayre                     June 23
Elliot Selzer                    June 11        Jane Hunter                    June 25
Carolyn Pevey                June 12        Harper Largo                  June 25
Jenny Bohl                     June 14        Rick Anderson                June 26
Kevin Lehr                      June 15        Lisa Ledbetter                June 28
Hudson McKeehan        June 16         Mary Kay Versen           June 30
Dana Samson                June 17         Dan Witko                      June 30
Mindy Baird                    June 18

Happy Anniversary!!
Scott & Alyssa Harvey        June 2     John & Cricket Simmons    June 20
Stan & Diane Eskam          June 7     Al & Barb Williams              June 21
Glen & Dixie Amateis         June 9     Justin & Jacklyn Cawiezel  June 21
Don & Nancy Kepler          June 10    Robert & Lisa Brenner       June 25
Brett & Demuri Parrish       June 11   Cory & Gretchen Foster      June 26
Jared & Tiffany Mackrill      June 12

The Forward Day by Day Meditation for June 4, 2020
THURSDAY, June 4                           John XXIII 
Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

From the Archives: May 23, 1946
Some shadows are welcome and pleasant.
Other shadows are anything but. When travelers struggle through the forest jungle, they sense possible danger lurking in every dark shadow.
So in our spiritual pilgrimage our way often seems beset by fear. Fear of what? Well, we don’t know—and that makes it all the more fearsome. If we know the danger or difficulty that we have to face, we can sum up our courage and face it bravely. But sometimes the unknown future inspires us with fear—just because it is unknown.
Our Christian faith is the great fear killer. “Why are you anxious? Why are you so fearful?” asks Jesus. “Be not afraid.”

MOVING FORWARD: What is something that makes you anxious or fearful? Remind yourself that God has already conquered it.

PRAY for the Dioceses of Lojoka (Nigeria) and St. Mark the Evangelist (South Africa)

Ps 50 * [59, 60] or 8, 84 | Ecclesiastes 3:16—4:3 | Galatians 3:1-14 | Matthew 14:13-21

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)