What's Happening at St. Francis this week

​Thursday Announcements-April 3, 2025­­­­
 
ERIN’S EPISTLETTES
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​Good Friday Offering in Support of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East
During our Good Friday services on April 18, donations collected will go towards the Good Friday Offering. For more information on this century-old Episcopal tradition supporting the ministries of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, visit their website. Thank you in advance for your prayers and generosity.
 
Church offices will be closed April 22. There will be no enews published April 24. 
 
Registration Open! Camp Canterbury 2025: In Living Water
Join us July 14-18 at Camp Canterbury! Registration is now open! A limited number of spots are available, so prompt registration is advised. Camp is located in Fremont, NE, and is open to youth entering grades 4-12. The theme for this summer's camp is "In Living Water" as we explore the ways that God blesses and engages with humanity through the gift of water. Camp activities include swimming, crafts, frisbee golf, gaga ball, hammock village, archery, games and more. Students have the opportunity to build community with one another while participating in faith-deepening worship and programming. Cost is $295. Contact Rev. Erin if your family is in need of scholarship support for registration or travel expenses.. If you would like to apply to be a counselor, please contact Mother Lisa Aguilar for more information at [email protected]. 
 
🎶🎵🎶 Liturgical Notes 🎶🎵🎶 Why Holy Week? (Part 1) by the Rev Erin Rath, April 2025
Every year, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. A series of services are offered between this day and Easter morning. Each service is unique to the liturgical year. Each is also an opportunity to step into the Jesus story in an extraordinary and moving way, thus offering an opportunity to deepen and strengthen our faith.
Why Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday is a day of stark, jarring contrasts. We begin by reenacting the triumphal celebration of what will become Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem. We journey with Him as He shares a final supper with His beloved disciples and offers prayers over their meal for the last time. We continue to share His journey through the horrifically agonizing moments that follow: His arrest at the Mount of Olives, His prediction of His best friend’s denials fulfilled, and His trial before the religious leaders and then Pilate. As if all of that weren’t heart wrenching enough to witness, we then experience Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. We’re left outside the sealed tomb, as bereft as the disciples on that first Good Friday. Our Holy Week journey has begun – but by no means ended. This year, Saint Francis will offer this moving liturgy at 9 a.m. on April 13.
What is Tenebrae?
Tenebrae is a Latin word meaning darkness or shadows. In the monastic tradition, Tenebrae was a series of night and early morning services held during Holy Week. Our contemporary Episcopal service draws the materials of these several services into a single liturgy. In addition to incorporating a seasonally appropriate Hebrew acrostic from the Book of Lamentations and passages written by Saint Augustine, a series of candles are extinguished to symbolize the impending darkness of the Passion week events. Saint Francis will host this moving service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday of Holy Week, April 16.
What is Maundy Thursday?
The word maundy comes from the Latin phrase mandatum novum, which means "new commandment." The phrase refers to the example of service Jesus sets by washing the disciples' feet at the last meal he shared with them before his arrest. This meal would become the first Eucharist. Descriptions of elaborate ceremonies commemorating these events date to the fourth century. Following Jesus' example of service, worshippers at Saint Francis will also have an opportunity to wash each other's feet. At the close of the service, we will strip the altar in preparation for Good Friday. Maundy Thursday is a part of the Triduum, the three days leading up to the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter. Saint Francis will celebrate Maundy Thursday on April 17 at 6 p.m.
 
Recent Worship Engagement
Sunday Worship
Average for March: 50
Three-Month Average (January, February & March): 49
Midweek Worship in March: Best Attended Services
Ash Wednesdays, Both Services: 54
Evening In-Person Stations & Eucharist: 15
Evening Prayer on Zoom: 4

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​ Centering Prayer: 
         A Life Practice    
With Br. James Dowd, OSB
Monk-in-residence,
Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska
Prior of Incarnation Monastery
          and The Benedictine Way
 
Saturday, April 5, 2025
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
St. Francis Episcopal Church
14 E. 20th Street, Scottsbluff, NE
 
Do you struggle with how to be still or how to gain some inner silence? Have you wondered what centering prayer is? Want to know more about it? Looking for a new and meaningful prayer practice? 
 
On Saturday, April 5, Br. James Dowd will present a workshop on Centering Prayer. Br. James has practiced for many years as a Benedictine monk, and he will share his wealth of knowledge and experience with us.  This is open to everyone; ALL are invited to this special event. 

If you have any questions, please contact St. Francis at (308) 632-4626.
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Those who serve,  this week,  April 6,  9am
Musician                      Nancy Meier
Media Team                 Steve Trickler
Ushers                         Greg and Collette Suhr
Acolyte Master            Clark Wisniewski
Acolytes                       Madi Collins, Josie Weiss
Lector/Intercessor      Santana Tamarak
Eucharistic Minister   Jan Johnson
Altar Guild             Barb Manasek, Cindy Dickinson, Christy Anderson
Coffee Hosts         Christie Shaver, Nancy Kepler

Upcoming Events at St. Francis:
Last Community Lenten Lunch, Tuesday @ noon, St. Francis
Lectionary Study and Compline, Tuesday @ 2pm, Library
Vestry, Tuesday @ 6pm
Last Soup, Stations & Eucharist Wed., Supper @ 5:15pm, Stations at 6pm
Evening Prayer on Zoom Wednesday @ 7:15pm MT/8:15 CT
Men’s Bible Study Thursday @ 8am, Library
Discipleship Group, Thursday @ 12pm, Library
Palm Cross Workshop, Friday, April 11 at 7:00pm, Parish Hall

​Holy Week Begins April 13:
Service Rehearsal for Readers & Acolytes participating Palm Sunday, Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday & Good Friday: Saturday, April 12 @ 10am

Palm Sunday, April 13 @ 9am* at Saint Francis, 11:30am at Good   Shepherd, Harrisburg

Tenebrae: Wednesday, April 16 @ 7:30pm*

Maundy Thursday, April 17 @ 6pm*

​Good Friday, April 18 @ 12pm & 6pm*

Holy Saturday Day: April 19 @ 10am in the Chapel

Service Rehearsals for Readers & Acolytes participating Easter Vigil or    Easter Day: Saturday, April 12 @ 11am
Easter Vigil: Saturday, April 19 @ 7:45pm*
Easter Sunday: April 20 @ 9am & 10:30am

Services marked with an asterisk will be livestreamed
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From the Office—Ann’s Announcements
 
Birthdays
Owen Viola                        April 6
Justin Cawiezel                 April 8
Brett Parrish                      April 8
Ann Peterson                    April 8
  
Palm Cross Workshop will be held on Friday, April 11 at 7:00  PM in the  Parish Hall to make crosses for Palm Sunday.  Altar Guild members and everyone who is interested is invited to attend.  Please bring scissors, a small knife, and a cutting board.
 
A Prayer for A Grateful Lent - Inspired by Mechtilde of Hackeborn and written by Kristen Wheeler 
Ministry of the Saints In the morning, let my first act be to greet God’s Heart and offer God my own. For whoever breathes a sigh towards God, draws God to themselves. In the evening, let my last act be to greet my own heart with forgiveness and compassion, and ask God for humility. For whoever breathes a sigh towards God, draws God to themselves.  
Use some reflective time each morning to share all you are thankful for, as you share your gratitude with others and add to your blue UTO box.
 
The Daughters of the King will be offering a prayer station in the Mary Chapel during Lent for private prayer and contemplation.  You can surrender the burdens you may be carrying to God by the act of physically moving stones from one basket to another with guidance offered in the handout provided at the prayer station.  We hope you will take this opportunity, as you are moved by the Holy Spirit, to participate in thoughtful and contemplative prayer during the Lenten season.  
 
Prayer Requests
Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email [email protected].

​The Forward Day by Day’s for February-April are available in regular and large print.  If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office.

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