What's Happening at St. Francis this week...

Thursday Announcements November 16, 2023

 
ERIN’S EPISTLETTES

• Long time parishioner Rae Whitney was to receive Virginia Seminary's Dean's Cross award this Saturday afternoon at the Residency.

              Due to a precipitous decline in Rae's health, we made the difficult decision to cancel the award ceremony and reception. 
              Please keep Rae and those who love her in your prayers. 
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• I recently received a few questions about my decision to utilize the contemporary version of the Lord's Prayer.
  • Though by itself this appears to be a liturgical question, it has revealed a bigger issue, one which is becoming a pattern. Rather than coming directly to me with concerns about decisions I've made, some of you are talking only with each other and not communicating with me. If you have a concern, I encourage you to communicate directly with me. If you talk with someone who has a concern, I ask that you encourage them to communicate with me directly. I'm available to talk in person or by phone, including evenings and weekends. (Members, please contact the front office if you don't have my cell number.)
  • Though this decision appears to be a liturgical one, it is, at its heart, pastoral. Eucharistic liturgies authorized by the Episcopal Church offer options for several elements of the Eucharist, including the Lord's Prayer. A contemporary and traditional version were first authorized in our current prayer book, which was published in 1979. I'm aware the traditional-language version is more comfortable and familiar for some. I'm also aware that many in our society have minimal -- or even no -- previous exposure to church and am concerned the more traditional language won't be meaningful or even understandable to guests and visitors. To balance these concerns, I plan to rotate between the two versions, mostly (though not exclusively) seasonally. 

• As I will travel to visit family over Thanksgiving, there will be no evening prayer via Zoom next week. This service will be offered every remaining Wednesday this year, including the week between Christmas and New Year's. I wish you and your loved ones a happy and blessed Thanksgiving! 

​"Cut my pie into four pieces, I don't think I could eat eight."
​~ Baseball All-Star Yogi Berra (1925-2015)

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From the office—Ann’s Announcements

Birthdays
Gretchen Foster                    November 24  
                                                 
Anniversaries
Peter & Jennifer Schilke       November 19
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There will be no Sunday school (Godly Play) November 26th, following the Thanksgivng holiday.
 
The parish prayer chain is now being handled by the Daughters of the King, specifically Connie Schingle.  A prayer list will be sent weekly to any parish member who wishes to receive it. If you would like to be part of this important ministry, please email Connie at [email protected]
or contact the church office at 632-4626, or email us.
If you wish to add someone to the prayer list, you may sign the prayer request sheet outside the church office, contact Connie Schingle by email, or contact the church office by Wednesday of each week.
If you have an urgent request, please indicate the urgency and the request will be sent to the prayer list recipients as soon as possible instead of waiting for the weekly email.   Prayer requests are typically kept on the list for two weeks, unless you indicate that the name should remain longer.
 
The Forward Day by Day’s for November - January are here in regular and large print.  If you’d like one of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.