Thursday Announcements for May 14th, 2020

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. THANK YOU to all who responded so quickly and faithfully to our short survey last week! We had a total of 64 responses, which were full of great observations about what we are all going through and what St. Francis can do now and going forward to provide care, comfort, and community in this unprecedented time. Later today I’ll send out a compilation of the results, and what I think they might lead us to consider. Again, I appreciate your thoughtfulness and time in completing this survey!
2. Looking around at the various online sources, some folks say we are moving too slow in returning to some kind of normal, some folks say no it’s too fast, and I can only tell you that at St. Francis we are moving at the speed of possibility. We can do only what the Church and our Bishop allow, and for the next 6 weeks what is possible is virtual worship, groups of 10 or fewer gathering in the building while maintaining proper social distancing and cleaning procedures, online virtual meetings, and phone and email contacts. The Vestry and I are working on a plan to reopen for worship when that becomes possible, and doing our best to be present with and for you in the meantime.
3. Last week I sent out a new digital parish directory, and I strongly encourage you to call and write and email one another, as we hold our relationships as close as possible without being physically present. Everybody is adjusting and everybody is missing and losing things they have depended on. Parents are asked to teach and work and parent. Sandwich-generation folks are trying to balance their own health and well-being with that of their sons and daughters plus their moms and dads at the same time. Our seniors find themselves further isolated as they do all they can to avoid exposure. It’s all too much! This is why we need to reach out. Seniors – why not pick a young family and send them a note of encouragement. You are the generation that understands overcoming adversity, and that still appreciates and uses actual mail. What a treat it is to receive an unexpected card. Young families – how about picking a church member and sending them an email with a picture or short video of you and your kids or maybe your cat doing something cute or funny? Sandwich-er’s – maybe a virtual family Sunday dinner, or having your mom share a favorite recipe with the whole parish? You get the point. The more of us who are taking care of each of us, the better of all of us will be! Use your imagination. How can you make someone’s day today?
4. So many have said they appreciate and participate in virtual Sunday worship services, and it is clear now that we need to make online worship a regular and on-going part of our church. Thanks to some great research by Scott Harvey we have purchased some upgraded equipment that will make this possible. It will be several weeks before the system is received, installed, and up and running, but when it is I know you will like what you see.
   
5. Our beautiful courtyard tree is starting to sprout leaves and I can see the beginnings of flowers this morning. If you get a chance, why don’t you write something you are praying for or something you are thankful for, and take a piece of ribbon and come by the church and tie it to a branch of this tree we all love, and which represents so much for so many. Sacred thoughts and prayers, written and posted with love, have a way of moving us in surprising ways. I promise no damage to our sacred tree will occur with some loose ribbon-tying :) 

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
***Prayer Requests: We will start including Prayers for healing in the Sunday Bulletin again, so until we are meeting in person, please email your prayer requests to Gina at stfrancis@allophone.com.  You may also call and leave a message at the church. The requests must emailed by Tuesday for them to be included in the Sunday Bulletin for that week. If 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. 
 
***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 May 14th, 2020 
Isaiah 45:5-6 I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I am you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.
From the Archives: December 3, 1942                             
None of us believes that God wills war: it is contrary to the whole spirt of Christ, and we seek to banish it from the earth. But we do believe that God sometimes works in war, through bravery, sacrifice, and obedience, and through war, to teach us what sin does to the world, and to turn us from it.
The late Lord Lothian, British ambassador to Washington, said, “Hitler may well be the Scourge of God which will force the free world to abandon the selfishness and materialism which have been its undoing.” We cannot believe in the God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and not believe that God is concerned with the gigantic struggle taking place on this earth. Let us ask God to show us what it means.
MOVING FORWARD: What are you worried about today? Hand it completely over to God. What space does that open in your life to something new?
PRAY for the Dioceses of Lainya (South Sudan) and Southeastern Mexico
Ps [70], 71 * 74 | Leviticus 19:26-37 | 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 | Matthew 6:35-34
 
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)