Thursday's Announcements October 11, 2020

FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
1) Last week we gathered in the sanctuary at 10:00 A.M. for in-person worship, and it felt so great to have you all here! While parts of the state are still above the Bishop’s threshold for safe worship, and we’re not out of the woods yet by any means and need to continue to be vigilant about mask-wearing, social distancing, and sanitizing, our numbers are lower and our folks are spread out and it is just wonderful to be together for Eucharist again. As always, make good decisions about your own health risk and what you can and should do safely, but if you are healthy and feel ready, come back together with us. We can fit about 45 people in the sanctuary and another 50 or so in the parish hall with live-streamed feed. As soon as it seems needed, we will resume a second service. Live-stream will of course continue to be available through our website www.saintf.org.
 
2) We are starting to think about Christmas services, knowing that we won’t be able to sit tightly together with tons of adults and kids and relatives and visitors. That is so sad, but since there is nothing we can do right now to change it, we are working to put together enough services with enough creativity to still celebrate joyfully and with enough of the usual elements that it will still be special. Probably that looks like more services on Christmas Eve and some video choral music mixed with live soloist. Creativity is not my strength, but stubbornness is, and I am stubbornly committed to providing Christmas services that honor our  traditions. You may be asked to “sign-up” for a time to reserve a pew/seat at the service of your choice. Off the top of my head I am thinking of the traditional early and late services plus one or more additional services, maybe something like 4:00, 5:30, 7:00, and 10:30. That’s not in stone yet, but we'll have it nailed down in the next few weeks, so watch this space for more news.
 
3) Next week I will be starting my next Zoom Bible Study on the Acts of the Apostles —the story of the earliest days of the church. We will meet via zoom every Thursday evening from 6:30-7:30 P.M. If you have any interest in reading the bible with others (the very best way to read it) join us for this delightful time of fellowship and discovery. To sign up, use this link https://saintf.breezechms.com/form/c6ee0398
 
4) Our bi-weekly Sack Lunch Ministry is a great chance to pitch in and help the hungry in our community. Every other Wednesday (we alternate with the Methodists) we prepare and hand out 35 sack lunches to folks who drive or walk by the church. There are three jobs — shopping for the food, preparing the lunches, and distributing the lunches (sitting in front of the church). If you would more information about volunteering with this fun, easy ministry, click this link: https://saintf.breezechms.com/form/6745a3
 
5) This week we are sending out Quarterly Giving Reports for the period 1/1/20 - 9/30/20. You should receive your report either electronically or in the mail. Please take a minute to review and check our records against yours. We are happy to investigate and correct any discrepancies. As always, I am humbled by your continued generosity and support of this parish, and especially during this difficult year. You are a blessing.

GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
***New Directory*** Father Mark and I have been working on finalizing a new directory and will be sending it out electronically and mailing a hard copy to those who do not have an email address next week.
 
                                         Happy Birthday!!
Curt Mecklem            October 8              Anna Kelley       October 12
Jill Selvey                  October 8              Shirley Brewer   October 13
Lisa Betz-Marquez    October 9              Lorrie Wold        October 13
Paul Brooks              October 10
 
Prayer Requests: The prayer request sheet is still just outside the office in the church and is updated weekly. Anyone may still email your prayer requests to me at stfrancis@allophone.com. If you do not have email, just call the church and leave a message. Since, I am back in the office, the requests must be received on by Wednesday at the latest, for them to be included in the Sunday Bulletin for that week. If the request is received after Wednesday, they will be added to the next Sunday Bulletin. We will follow the same process and keep the names on for two weeks. Once the prayer request is received, it is added to the prayer list and then I email the names to have them added to the Prayer Chain and to the Daughters of the King.
 
***Daily Devotion for Thursday October 8, 2020***
Do Not Fear
The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go
Pause
Some may say there is much to fear.
But see what obstacles we’ve overcome!
For the Lord has been walking with us every step of the journey and will continue to. Forever.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Listen
Lord, you are my God. I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, planned long ago, faithful and sure.
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, a hiding place from the storm, a shade from the heat.
Isaiah 25:1, 4a
Think
Storms can be very scary, especially those that include tornadoes and hurricanes. Storms can be unpredictable and can cause a lot of worries, both before and after they come. When a storm is about to come, weather forecasters tend to always have the same advice to keep us safe: “Seek shelter.”
While these storms only have to do with the weather, we encounter many other storms in life. We may go through troubles at school, difficulties with our parents, or uncertainty within our workplace. These storms of life can cause a lot of fear, worry, and anxiety.
The words in today’s scripture point us to our greatest protector in any storm we could ever encounter. We find that our Lord not only protects us but will ensure that we are safe, even in distress. Our God is a God of promises and these promises only end in “yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20). With God’s protection, we will see the end of the storm and the fulfillment of the promises that were created for us.
Dewayne Outlaw
Pray
Lord, thank you for the promises you have made to me. May I cast all of my cares on you and know that you care for me as you protect me through life’s storms. May I experience your perfect love for me today and show love to all those I see. Amen.
Go
Remember the words of Jesus as you go forth today:
“Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” (Matthew 28:20)
 
***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org
 
 
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.