What's Happening at St. Francis this week

1/18/2024

Thursday Announcements January 18, 2024

Upcoming Events at St. Francis:
Compline & Lectionary Study, Tuesday 2pm, Library
Men’s Bible Study, Thursday 8am, Library
Sunday Eucharist at 9am
Annual Meeting, January 28th following worship, with brunch
Reports due to the office by Monday, January 22nd

REV. ERIN’S EPISTLETTES

In honor of the Magi's visit to Jesus' manger on Epiphany, this season is a traditional time for house blessings. If you'd like me to offer a blessing on your home during this season or any other, please let me know.
Many and heartfelt thanks to the thirty-nine families and individuals who've completed the 2024 stewardship intake (pledge) form.
- Since we weren't able to safely gather in-person last Sunday, I'll say a prayer of blessing over our stewardship for the year this Sunday.
- Even if you don't anticipate a change to what you're able to give, we ask you complete a new form every year. This year's is available online at bit.ly/sfsbgive2024, or paper copies are in the narthex.
Our annual meeting is next Sunday, January 28, immediately following worship.
- This will be livestreamed from our website's homepage rather than our Facebook page.
- Please submit reports for the annual meeting packet to Ann no later than Monday of next week.
- Due to a smaller pool of available volunteers post-pandemic, the vestry and I made the decision to decrease the number of vestry members from nine to six. Because of this transition, there will be no new vestry members elected this year.
  - We'll still elect delegates to Annual Council. That will take place in Hastings October 24-26. If you're interested in serving, please let me know.
- Brunch will follow the meeting. Many thanks to the ECW teams for hosting this!

R E L I G I O U S L I F E S U N D A Y
A Message from Bishop Barker
Beloved in Christ –
At its RELIGIOUS LIFE SUNDAY A Message from Bishop Barker

Beloved in Christ – At its gathering in 2022, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church designated the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany as, “Religious Life Sunday.” This day is set aside for the Episcopal Church to celebrate and promote religious life across the globe. This next Sunday – January 21st – is Religious Life Sunday. Here in the Diocese of Nebraska, we share in the extraordinary blessing of being home to our own monastic community. For many years, The Benedictine Way has demonstrated for us the wonderful power and potential of religious life, as Brother James, Brother Jerry, and the interns and oblates of TBW have shaped our common life. They’ve taught us to pray in new ways, led us in deeply meaningful outreach ministries, and called together a community centered around Jesus that shines bright with welcome and worship. So many of our lives have been touched by this beautiful incarnation of new monasticism. I know of no ministry that has shaped our diocese more profoundly – or touched the lives of our Nebraska neighbors more deeply – than The Benedictine Way. As a part of celebrating religious life, I urge you to consider how you can best support The Benedictine Way. Will you pray for the community and new monastic vocations? Could you offer a gift of financial support to help this ministry thrive and grow? Best and bravest of all, would you consider what God is calling you to do in the next chapter of your life, and look at the possibility that an affiliation with The Benedictine Way might be what the Spirit has in store for you? Our local expression of religious life is perfectly representative. Across countless years and cultures, sisters and brothers in religious life have worked, prayed, served, and lived together in a fashion that centers the person of Jesus in daily life and seeds his Gospel in powerful and life-changing ways. We’re so blessed to live in a place where religious life is alive and well, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting the people and work of The Benedictine Way in the months and years to come! Faithfully Yours in Christ gathering in 2022, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church designated the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany as, “Religious Life Sunday.” This day is set aside for the Episcopal Church to celebrate and promote religious life across the globe. This next Sunday – January 21st – is Religious Life Sunday.

Here in the Diocese of Nebraska, we share in the extraordinary blessing of being home to our own monastic community. For many years, The Benedictine Way has demonstrated for us the wonderful power and potential of religious life, as Brother James, Brother Jerry, and the interns and oblates of TBW have shaped our common life. They’ve taught us to pray in new ways, led us in deeply meaningful outreach ministries, and called together a community centered around Jesus that shines bright with welcome and worship. So many of our lives have been touched by this beautiful incarnation of new monasticism. I know of no ministry that has shaped our diocese more profoundly – or touched the lives of our Nebraska neighbors more deeply – than The Benedictine Way.

As a part of celebrating religious life, I urge you to consider how you can best support The Benedictine Way. Will you pray for the community and new monastic vocations? Could you offer a gift of financial support to help this ministry thrive and grow? Best and bravest of all, would you consider what God is calling you to do in the next chapter of your life, and look at the possibility that an affiliation with The Benedictine Way might be what the Spirit has in store for you?

Our local expression of religious life is perfectly representative. Across countless years and cultures, sisters and brothers in religious life have worked, prayed, served, and lived together in a fashion that centers the person of Jesus in daily life and seeds his Gospel in powerful and life-changing ways. We’re so blessed to live in a place where religious life is alive and well, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting the people and work of The Benedictine Way in the months and years to come!

Faithfully Yours in Christ –

+ Bishop Barker

From the office—Ann’s Announcements

Birthdays
Jennifer Baird January 17
Victoria Schnell January 25

Anniversaries
Curt & Karen Mecklem January 27

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