What's Happening at St. Francis this week

Thursday Announcements February 23, 2023

​ERIN’S EPISTLETTES

• Due to the winter storm, Ash Wednesday services have been moved to Friday. They'll take place at the previously published times, noon and 6:30 p.m. I hope you can join us for this prayerful, once-a-year service. Watch our Facebook page for an announcement as to which service will be livestreamed. 
• Thank you to those who are regularly wearing your name tag! It's a simple but important means of offering a warm welcome to visitors and newcomers. 
• Next Wednesday marks the first of Saint Francis' "Soup and Stations." At 5:30, We'll serve a simple meal of soup, salad and bread. At 6, We'll transition to the church for Stations of the Cross and Eucharist. If you'd like to bring something to share, a sign-up sheet is available in the parish hall. This program will be offered March 1-29. 
• Next Tuesday begins the interdenominational Lenten series celebrating two-and-a-half centuries of Amazing Grace. Lunch is served at noon followed by a reflection. Saint Francis hosts on March 7; I present on March 21. A different church hosts every week. See the below graphic for a detailed schedule. 

From the office—Ann’s Announcements

Birthdays
Aunna Taylor              February 26
Jack Schaaf                March 2
Erin Cawiezel             March 3
Damuri Parrish           March 4    
 
The Daughters of the King will be collecting personal hygiene items Sunday, February 26. A collection basket will be in the narthex. Items collected are distributed to local agencies. Thank you for your generous support of this project.
 
Our church provides a soup kitchen across the street at the Presbyterian Church. We do this on the 5th Thursday of the month. This usually works out to 4 to 5 times a year. The months in November and December that have 5 Thursdays are not done because of holiday dinners set up in the community. This year we have 3 and they are March, June, and August. These are done at 5:00 pm at the Presbyterian church which is one of the head quarters for the soup kitchen dinners. There is meat and other items supplied by the soup kitchen head quarters but I usually try to get a donation from Walmart to help pick up some fruit, cookies, milk, bread and other items. We always have volunteers to help serve and clean up. I usually do sloppy joes but other ideas would be welcome. We usually plan for 50 to 60 people. Most of the time we are done in a couple of hours. Sometimes when I have plans, Father Bob and Barb will take care of it. We have been blessed with volunteers to help out. A big thanks to all who have helped these past years! Anyone interested in helping can contact me at 308-672-7839 or signup with the church office by phone or email.    Rick Gable
 
United Thank Offering
Mission Statement: United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church.  Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God.  These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings.  Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity.  UTO is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and to distribute the UTO monies to support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and Provinces in the developing world.    Jenny Bohl
 
Prayer Requests * Please make sure your request is received by Wednesday of each week. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message), email stfrancis@allophone.com or mail to:
St. Francis Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1201
Scottsbluff, NE 69361

Forward Day by Day Booklets
We have 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.