Thursday's Announcements February 4, 2021

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Last night our re-opening task force (Mo. Karen, Fr. Bob, Colleen Kelly, Cory Foster, and myself) met and developed a plan for handling the “open/closed” decisions as our COVID-19 cases fluctuate during the coming weeks and months. Not being able to gather together has been difficult and frustrating for all of us, but we know that our primary task for now is keeping everyone safe and our goal is to regather as soon as we possibly can do so safely. So here's our current plan:

• Continue to track the “7-Day Moving Average Cases per 100k Population” every Wednesday from the HealthyNebraska.org website for our three counties Scotts Bluff, Morrill, and Banner, as required by the Diocese. The threshold for re-opening for public worship on Sundays continues to be 20 cases/100k population.  

• When this number is below 20 for two consecutive weeks, we will announce on Thursday and reopen the following Sunday for public worship, and remain open unless and until that number goes above 20 for two consecutive weeks. 

• One exception — if we have a week where the 7-day Wednesday number goes above 30, we will suspend in-person worship immediately until it goes back below 20.

• When re-opened, we will continue to require masks and safe distancing in pews, with overflow in the parish hall if needed.

• Assuming we stay on our current trends, we will plan to hold in-person Ash Wednesday services at 12 & 6 PM on Feb 17th, with (safe) distribution of ashes and communion. 

• Then, if the 2-week threshold is met, we will re-open for Sunday in-person worship on the following Sunday, Feb 21st. NOTE — this is a tentative date at this time, dependent on the case numbers for the next three weeks. If we aren’t below 20 for the 2 weeks prior, we will just follow this plan and open as soon as we are able.

• So watch these Thursday Announcements for the final word on our open/closed status as we go forward.

2) I will be out of the office for the Annual Clergy Retreat (virtual) next week, but available by text, email, or phone if needed. 
​

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
                        Happy Birthday!!
      Lily Croft                 February 4            Karen Mecklem       February 6
      Tiffany Mackrill       February 4            Bob Manasek          February 9
      Will Schaaf             February 4            Hadlee Peterson     February 9
      Jack Webb             February 4            Diane Eskam           February 10
      Jane Kelley            February 5            Barb Williams          February 10
     
Prayer Requests ** 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
_______________________________________________________________
**Feel like you need something to lift your spirits? Whatever you’re struggling with, these encouraging quotes remind us that we all take knocks in life, but the best things in life come through persistence.
Whether you’ve just had another setback chasing your dreams, been rejected by someone you care about, faced tragedy, or you’re just feeling drained from the ups and downs of this journey we call life, remember that things can turn around in an instant.
All you have to do is keep moving forward, even when it feels like it would be easier to just lay down and give up.
No matter what you’re going through in life, here are some encouraging quotes that will hopefully give you a boost when you need it. Many of these encouragement quotes come from individuals who have achieved incredible success in life, and just like you, they had low points where everything felt hopeless. So lift your spirits and turn things around today!

“Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is.” – Anne Frank

​“When you get to your wits end, you will find, God lives there.” – Unknown

“When written in Chinese the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters – one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.” – John F. Kennedy

​“God brings men into deep waters, not to drown them, but to cleanse them.”
– John Aughey
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
– Corrie Boom

Last, but not least, I thought I would share a photo of my grandma, Grace, 96 yrs old, meeting my granddaughter and her great, great granddaughter, Lydia, 3 weeks old, for the first time.

When I look at this picture it reminds me of what is important in this life. I would have loved to have my “whole” family there but during these times only a select few could be there to witness this moment. These are the precious moments we need to hold on to because they only happen once in a lifetime no matter what is happening in this world. You must find the Joy that God is showing you. God provided unspeakable joy and love even when I never thought this moment was possible.
 
Gina’s Office Hours
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
Wednesday  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.