Sunday evening, April 11, at The Church of the Holy Faith.  During the Marriage Course, husbands and wives can expect a FANTASTIC ATMOSPHERE that many say makes it feel like a date night... a ROMANTIC TABLE FOR TWO giving you space to relax and chat... PRACTICAL TALKS that are informative and fun... TIME PROVIDED to talk on your own as a couple. 

You are given topics to discuss (sometimes with the help of an exercise). 

Music is played so you can't hear couples at other tables and they can't hear you!  NO GROUP WORK, SO RELAX!  You will not have to share anything about your relationship with anyone else.  Please call Father Norman at 982-4447, ext. 102 to sign up, or for more information.

Since our return to the U.S. we have heard from several team members but none have captured the experience with the same poignancy as Norm Miller, who wrote to Deborah last Sunday, saying "Thanks, thanks, thanks for the Mission trip we just completed. I have been on many Mission trips but never with the outpouring that we received. This is one of the top 'emotionally, physically and spiritually' that has happened to me in my life, all 78 years of it."

Among the factors that contributed to this trip, the most important is that we were sent as representatives from our respective churches, which inspired each of us to open the hand of friendship and Christian brotherhood with each other and with the people of Galilea Church. And, we were met by the people of Galilea Church in the same spirit. We were all deeply moved by the outpouring of love from the first minute we stepped into the church following our arrival on Friday night. The entrance is just off the sidewalk and the greeters, the youth of the Church, met us on the steps to the sanctuary with outstretched arms and a warm embrace.

Singing the Camp Mt. Hebron Song. To our surprise, the whole church joined in.

 Our time at the camp was equally rewarding. We accomplished a great deal there with the funds provided by each of the missionaries and our respective churches. Specifically, with the funds provided we were able to reconstruct the water lines for the well, which contributed to a more reliable water source for the camp. There is still much work to be done with the water system, including digging a new well closer to the central camp area. We also purchased new screen material for two dormitories that replaced the 30 year old existing material that no longer effectively kept out mosquitoes, scorpions and bats.

 I believe that this first mission trip taught us that there is much we can do to support this extraordinarily well organized and sprit filled Church in their missionary outreach to the people of San Pablo through Camp Mt. Hebron. We look forward to providing a full presentation to the Church community at an upcoming forum.

Sincerely,

Tom & Deborah Simon

Greetings to all of you in the Name of Christ. God has guided us very safely in his arms during all these months. The new year has started with a good prayer. We had a midnight service on December 31. God gave me another opportunity to share the Word of God during that occasion. The service was a great blessing to begin the new year.  

As you all know that we have just shifted to a new place. Se even now we have completely adjusted with the new house. There are still things to get settled. As this is the first time we are changing the house since we have started the organization, it is taking a little time for everything to be settled. Then apart of that our kids are doing good. They are going to school. Their exams are coming up so all are busy preparing for that. Sunil is giving his Board Exam this year. The daily schedule of everyone is a little hectic now as we are a little far from the city for every little thing we have to run to the city.

Sheela is still under treatment. She has gone to the doctor for check up to see her improvement in the functioning of her lungs. He has given her medicines for another two months, so she is continuing with that. Nowadays she is busy with our kids preparing them for the exams.

I am not sure whether I had informed you or not. Alexander has shifted to Jaipur from his college so that it can be a help for all of us especially for the needs to JCA. So now he is in Jaipur continuing his studies here and helping out in the work for JCA. He takes care of our kids in taking them to school and in everything if I am out of station or if I am engaged somewhere. I praise God for giving him a vision to do this. And another reason it that we might have to undergo a surgery for his nose because there is a bent on his nose because of which he has a difficulty in breathing. He is under medication now.

This time winter was again very high. Schools and all were closed in between. This year also many people died because of the extreme cold climate. Before which there was a great threat of Swine Flu all around. Two-three students studying along with our kids died because of Swine Flu. We had stopped letting them go to school for a while as the symptoms of the fever are also very minor and very usual, we were very tensed about it. Just kept our kids stay at home so that they are safe from everything. The death rate of students by Swine Flu was extremely high during that time.

Our kids are still in the old school where they were studying earlier. They will be changed from the next academic year to the new school which is near to where we live now. As they all are in different classes, they have two different schedule for their school timings. So the traveling expense in taking them to school and back from school has increased almost four times, and in fact, it takes a lot of time because of the very heavy traffic, so changing them to the nearby school will be less time consuming and less expensive. 

PRAYER SUBJECTS

·       Pray for the spread of the Gospel in all unreachable places.  

·        Pray for the more establishment of 

·        Pray for JCA's future

·        Pray for our kids' studies

·        Pray for their good health  

·        Pray for JCA staff 

OTHER PRAYER SUBJECTS

·     Pray to own a house with plot  

·     Pray for the exchange of our vehicle for new one (as it's been around 9 years since we bought our JCA vehicle. We have to change it this time so that we will get a better resale value.  As the duration is increasing, the ware and tare are also increasing.)  

·    Pray for the several needs of JCA  

·    Pray for Sheela's health   

·    Pray for the studies of Alex and Bittu  

Thank you to everyone who helped clean up the grounds in March.  Several people noted that it looked nice during Holy Week.  Our next work days are April 17 and May 1.  Remember all ages and skills are welcomed. We start at 9:00am  and end by noon; a fun way to get to know each other. Now that spring is here, many of our work days will be devoted to outdoor projects.

Several people also noticed that the metal sign on Palace Avenue was moved on the March 27 work day to a new location, and that it has a new metal pole that was donated.  We have a new sign ordered and hope to receive it by April 14.  The new pole will need to be painted. In fact, there are a number of outside painting projects we hope to accomplish this year. Ray Wallace has offered to come in at various times other than work days to do some painting.  If you would like to help, please contact Bill, Scott or Ray.  Please note; that on May 1 we plan to restripe the parking lot, and we will need your cooperation that day regarding where to park.

When the volunteer work days started we had hoped to replace the work that was being contracted out for landscaping and tree services.  It was costing the church an average cost of $6,000 a year. We had also dropped the cleaning services as a cost saving measure and hired part time sextons who were working hours on Saturdays that we had hoped could be dedicated to grounds care.  But, last year we had to drop those scheduled hours and shift them to weekday evenings in order to increase the hours dedicated to cleaning and providing security and hospitality to the various events happening during the week.

Last fall as we put together the 2010 budget, we noted that our number of volunteers during the last two years was too small in order to care for the grounds on a regular basis.  This year we have enough funding to hire a temporary part time sexton whose primary duties will be grounds care.  We were fortunate to have Kelley Herrmann, one of the ECC teachers, apply for this position.  Kelley has had many years of experience with landscaping care.  She will be working 4 to 8 hours per week, usually on weekends or evenings; fewer hours in the spring and fall, and more in the summer.

In April we will also be focusing on several outdoor capital projects.  The week of April 5 the front railings will be modified to be safer for use and new railings will be installed at the Faithway Street entrance to Palen Hall.  The installation of the new columbarium in the Garth will begin the week of April 12, and by the end of the month the landscaping work in the Garth being paid for by the Gift Shop will begin.  Later this year we will also be doing some work on the gutters in the Garth to better direct the run off water away from the foundations. We estimate that 30,000 to 40,000 gallons drain into the Garth during an average year.

We also hope to get more crack monitors mounted to track shifting of the foundations for both the Church and Palen Hall. Plus, get cracks and gaps sealed on the Church; especially the Bell Tower.  The louvered wooden windows on the Bell Tower date from the 1880 construction and they are showing their history.

Another outdoor project will be to have volunteers help with a detailed survey of the actual slope of the parking lot and the grounds. That will help us in developing a plan to for installation of grated drainage trenches to better direct the water collecting and ice forming on the south side of the parking lot and at the north end of Conkey House.  Note: please do not throw anything in the drain located in the southwest corner of the parking lot. That is not connected to any storm sewer system.  It is just piped under Conkey House and then drains out onto the parking lot behind Conkey.  It has become plugged in the past from debris and trash, which can cause a major flooding and water seepage issue.  If you would like to help with the survey, please contact Scott.

Interested in Confirmation or Reception?  Plans are being made for our next Confirmation class to be held late this summer to coincide with our next Bishop's visit in September or October. If you are interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, please contact Father Semon or Father Norman.

Royal School of Church Music - Enrollment is still open for the Royal School of Church Music. Please call the RSCM Director, Monika Cosson-Sheppard, at 982-4447 ext. 112, or contact her by email at rscm@holyfaithchurchsf.org, to learn more about this exciting program for children's musical training and choir.

Albertson's Community cards are here! Help raise funds for the Royal School of Church Music Children's Choir at Holy Faith by using a "Community Card" when you shop at Albertsons. Simply scan it at the register and Holy Faith will receive 1% of the total of all purchases you and other make up to $50,000; and 5% on everything over $50,000 per quarter.  

A note from the Prayer Shawl Ministry - We desperately need knitters! We have a

great stock of yarn and there continue to be needs and requests. This Ministry has given almost 575 shawls since it was started by Ross Ogden in 2004. Holy Faith parishioners and their friends have never faltered.....get back to knitting/start knitting.....keep occupied through commercial breaks....you are needed! Please call Alisanne Toomey (424-4810) for more information.

Dr. Laurence Lisa Lebreton, who works part-time at Holy Faith in addition to her practice, will be participating in the relief efforts of Acupuncturists and Doctors Without Borders in Haiti in early June. As a native French speaker and practicing Doctor of Oriental and Energy Medicine she has been invited to aid patients recovering from surgery and those suffering from pain or trauma. For this mission, she is paying her own expenses and is hoping to help defray her costs with donations. To make a contribution online, visit Laurence's website: www.holisticmedicinenow.com  Checks earmarked "Haiti Relief Effort-Lebreton" can also be sent to Laurence at her Acupuncture Community Clinic, 505 Camino de los Marquez, Santa Fe, 87501. 

What is a Man?  A men's retreat to assist men ages 18 to 98 to understand the various factors contributing to the definition of manhood, in our society; to reflect on them, and to decide if they want to attempt some change. The retreat faculty include David Loy, PhD; Mathew Fox, PhD; Senei Fleet Maull, MA; and Ray Olson. For fees and other information please call (505) 986-8518, or email registrar@upaya.org.

On Good Friday a car window was broken and a wallet was stolen from a car parked in the Church's parking lot. It is our understanding from the police that there have been several incidents involving church parking lots lately. It would appear someone is targeting churches believing that people are not as cautious about securing their property while attending services. 

We continue to find purses and car keys left unattended in Conkey House, in the back hall of Palen Hall, in the fellowship hall and in the kitchen. Please do not leave your valuables unattended while attending the services or at any other time.  

We always want to welcome the stranger who comes to worship or to learn more about us. But, if you note someone who appears to have other motives for being here, please contact one of the staff, ushers or church officers.

We ask all church members who carry keys to the outside and/or inside doors to be diligent in their responsibility for locking doors and closing windows when they leave the church.

Our newly Baptized

Congratulations to Monika Cosson and Arcelia Rodriguez who were baptized at the Great Vigil, April 3.

Monika and Arcelia, welcome to the family!

APRIL WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

Congratulations to:  Tony & Jeannie Cimabue who celebrate their 21 anniversary April 8; Lawrence & Betsy Kilham who celebrate their 24 anniversary April 10; Doug & Gail Fine who celebrate their 40 anniversary April 11; Bill & Pamela Shrecengost who celebrate their 3 anniversary April 14; and Richard & Ann Morton who celebrate their 30 anniversary April 26.

                             7:30                   8:30              11:00

March 7                 11                     115                142

March 14               19                     90                  137

March 21               15                     95                  151

March 28 (Palm Sunday)          

In March pledge and plate contributions totaled $49,156, while total operating expenses came to $59,623, leaving an Operating deficit of $10,467, for the month, and $65,474, for the year-to-date.

Thank you for your generous support of

 the Church of the Holy Faith!

April (Remaining)

8 - Finance Committee meeting at 4:00 pm in the Campbell Room.

13 - Ministries Council Meeting at 3:30 pm in the Kinsolving Room.

14 - Bishop Nominee Walkabout at St. Bede's Episcopal Church, 6:30 pm.

15 - Vestry meeting at 5:30 pm in the Campbell Room.

20 - Missions and Outreach meeting at 3:15 pm in the Campbell Room.

24 - Electionof the 9^th Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande.(Albuquerque)

25 - Feed the Hungry 9:00 am in the Palen Hall kitchen.

27 - Daughters of the King meet at 3:00 pm in the Kinsolving Room.

29 - St. Elizabeth's Cooks, 12:00 pm in the Palen Hall kitchen.

May

 6 - Food Packers meet at 9:00 am in the Palen Hall kitchen.

11 - Ministries Council Meeting at 3:30 pm in the Kinsolving Room.

12 - Evensong for the Eve of the Feast of the Ascension, 7:00 pm.

13 - Finance Committee meeting at 4:00 pm in the Campbell Room.

18 - Missions and Outreach meeting at 3:15 pm in the Campbell Room.

20 - Vestry meeting at 5:30 pm in the Campbell Room.

23 - Feed the Hungry 9:00 am in the Palen Hall kitchen.

25 - Daughters of the King meet at 3:00 pm in the Kinsolving Room.

27 - St. Elizabeth's Cooks, 12:00 pm in the Palen Hall kitchen.

31 - Memorial Day - the parish office will be closed.