What's Happening at St. Francis this week

 
Thursday Announcements-July 10, 2024­­­­

ERIN’S EPISTLETTES

I'm away next week to serve as a counselor and program leader at DioNeb's Camp Canterbury. Because I'm responsible for supervising kids most of my time away, my ability to respond to emails, texts and calls will be quite limited.
​If there's a pastoral emergency, please reach out to one of our assisting clergy. 

In-Person Worship Engagement
 
Two-Service Pilot Running Average: 70
Weeks of Pilot Completed: 14 (out of 22 total)
 
June 2024 Average
Early Service: 20
Mid-Morning Service: 39
Both Services: 58
vs. June 2023: 58
 
May 2024 Average
Early Service: 24
Mid-Morning Service: 46
Both Services: 70
vs. May 2023: 65
 
April 2024 Average (inclusive of Easter)
Early Service: 28
Mid Morning Service: 46
Both Services: 81
vs. April 2023: 82
 
Our two-service worship pilot runs March 31 - August 25. For more information, please visit https://www.saintf.org/rectors-letters.html. 
 

Message from Bishop Barker

 
 
 
My Dear DioNeb Friends and Family –
 
Earlier today, the House of Bishops elected The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe to serve as the 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, bringing to a close the discernment journey that we’ve been on together for the past many months. While it’s hard to lose an election, I have every confidence that the Holy Spirit led the way as the bishops of the church did their work, and I look forward to serving with and supporting our new PB in the years to come!
 
I am so grateful to all of you for the trust and support you’ve offered me during this time of discernment. I’ve been encouraged, prayed, and cared for as in no other time of my life.  
 
I will return to Nebraska with a full and thankful heart, both for the honor of having contributed to the process of selecting our new Presiding Bishop and for the grace of coming home to a community that I cherish and a ministry that I love. I’m likewise looking forward to serving with and supporting all of you as we continue to make our way into becoming the Church that Christ calls us to be.
 
Thank you again for your confidence in me and for your thoughtful encouragement over these past months. I look forward to seeing you soon in DioNeb!
 
Faithfully Yours in Christ –
 
+ Bishop Barker
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                        ​ 
The Right Reverend Sean Rowe, bishop of the dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York,
was selected by the House of Bishops as their twenty-eight Presiding Bishop.
A biography is available here. You're encouraged to watch his closing sermon to the General Convention,
​which is available here. Please hold him, his family and his dioceses in prayer during this time of transition. 
 
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The Diocese of Nebraska offers Education for Ministry (EfM),
a 4-year study for adults, which meets for 36 meetings per year via Zoom. This Zoom-based group serves primarily Western and West Central Nebraska plus small churches.
Registration deadline is August 9, and we will start after Labor Day.  The co-mentors are Sandra Squires at [email protected] and Tammy Lassen at [email protected]. 
​The day of group meetings will be announced once our group is formed.  The cost for a full year of tuition is $355 or about $10 

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​Bishop Scott’s Visit and Our New Confirmands

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Upcoming Events at St. Francis:

Lectionary Study and Compline, Tuesday 2pm, Library
Men’s Bible Study 8am Thursdays
Two Service Pilot, Sundays 8am and 10am, April 6 through Aug. 25
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Those who serve, Sunday, July 14
 
Sun, 8:00 AM
     Bill Mann                                     Usher
     Sarah Schaaf                              Usher
     Emma Schaaf (sub req.)             Acolyte
     Jack Webb                                   Lector
     Jack Webb                                   Intercessor
     Monica Shambaugh                     Eucharistic Ministers
 
Sun, 10:00 AM
     Karen Mecklem                            Usher
     Jamie Selzer                                Usher
     Charlie Selzer                              Acolyte
     Elliot Selzer                                  Acolyte
     Shirley Mead                                Lector
     Shirley Mead                                Intercessor
     Santana Tamarak                         Eucharistic Minister
     Jack Schaaf                                  Media Team
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From the Office--Ann’s Announcements


           Happy Oregon Trail Days!

​Birthdays
Matt Anderson                    July 17
Dael Hendren                     July 17
Trudy Schnell                     July 19
 
Anniversaries
Jennifer & Mindy Baird         July 16
Don & Kathy Graham           July 18
Johnny & Jamie Selzer        July 20

​
Prayer Requests *If you want your request printed in the bulletin, please make sure it's received by Tuesday.
You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email [email protected].
 
The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are here in regular and large print.
If you’d like one of these mailed to you, please email or call the church.

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​Take Me Out to the Ball Game! 

St. Francis is purchasing a block of general admission tickets for the Pioneers/Fort Collins Foxes game on Sunday, July 21 at 5:05 p.m.
Come on out to Oregon Trail Park Stadium in Gering for great entertainment and a fun social gathering. Available seats are limited so you will need to let us know if you plan to attend.  Call St. Francis at 632-4626 or email [email protected] with your name and number of tickets. (please limit five per family). Someone will be at the gate before the game to give you your ticket(s).
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This game coincides with the Special Olympics recognition night so you will see some of our local athletes celebrated on the field pre-game and throughout the innings. Hope to see you all there!    ​

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