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This Week
"At a Glance"
Friday, November 30
7:00 am Contemplative Prayer
Saturday, December 1
9:00 am Yoga
5:00 pm Mass
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Want to add an event to the calendar? Contact Jessica (314.918.2766).
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ECC Midwest
Partner Communities
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Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Little Rock, Arkansas
Tulsa, Oklahoma
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General Info
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The Parish 0ffice is located at Eden Theological Seminary, 483 East Lockwood, Suite 3, St. Louis, MO 63119.
Frank and Jessica are available for appointments. You can reach them at...
Jessica: 314.283.4697,
Frank: 314.740.1160.
We have an initiative to connect people to small faith sharing groups. If you are interested in joining a small group, please contact Jessica Rowley (314.918.2766 or email).
We Tithe as a parish and we need your recommendations
We donate 10% of our collections to worthy causes. We do this as an act of faith, trusting that, in doing this, we will still be able to meet our financial needs. Please let the Parish Council know about worthy organizations that you would like us to contribute to. Information needed: your name, name of organization you are suggesting, to whom check should be made payable, where to send check and to whose attention. Please send your suggestions to Marilyn Tenholder.
Matthew 25 The Matthew 25 Fund helps members in our community who need financial assistance. All information concerning the people with whom we work is held in the strictest confidence. If you would like to contribute to this fund, make your check payable to Matthew 25, and place it in the collection basket. If you need assistance from the fund, contact Peggy Montgomery.
Membership Care Prayer List
If you have a joy or concern you would like to share on the prayer list please contact someone on the pastoral team. We have a SafeChurch Policy to protect our children and other vulnerable populations. |
| Fundraising |
Please keep our Schnucks E-Scrip fund raiser in mind when you shop. If you don't already have an E-Scrip card, please call Marilyn Tenholder (314.323.1467) and she will get one to you. There is no charge and all you have to do is activate it by either a phone call or by going online. Simply show the card when you check out and a percentage of your purchase cost will be rebated back to Sts. Clare & Francis. Thank you!
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Liturgies at Ackert Park
Skilled Care Community
894 Leland
University City, MO 63130
1st and 3rd Sundays of the Month
9:00 am
Led by Michelle Smith
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COMMUNITY CORNER...
our family news
(It is good for us to know what's happening in each other's lives. If you have any news you'd like to share with the community, please email Steve ).
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The Weekly News
November 29, 2012
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First Week of Advent
Saturday, December 1, 2012
5:00 pm
Presider/Homilist: Jessica Rowley
Readers: Art Maines, Kay Schmitt
Eucharistic Ministers: Marty Campbell, Barbara Harris, Joan Switzer
If you are not able to serve in your scheduled ministry, please let Steve know when you get a substitute so that we can publish the correct names in the newsletter. Thanks.
scampbell@ppcsinc.org or 314.603.9991.
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Social Justice Committee Book Study
December 1, 2012
4:00 pm
Fireside Room
The Social Justice Committee invites everyone to join us for our book study of The Hole in Our Gospel: What does God expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World by Richard Stearns.
We will meet on the Saturdays above to discuss the book. It challenges us to embrace all of the gospel through the story of Rich Stearns, who discovered the full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to change his own life. He uses his journey to demonstrate how the gospel - the whole gospel - was always meant to be a world changing social revolution, a revolution that begins with us. It is available from Amazon - new, used, or as a Kindle edition.
"An urgent, powerful summons to live like Jesus. Stearns weaves solid theology, moving stories, and his own journey of faith into a compelling call to live the whole Gospel. Highly recommended!"
--Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action,
Author of Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger
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Prayer Practices 101
Thursday, December 6, 2012, 6:30 pm
If you were asked to lead a prayer in front of a group, would you feel out of place? If someone asked you what it was like for you to pray, would you not quite know what to say? Does meditation seem like something other people do? Would you like to learn the basics of prayer? Frank Krebs is going to have a series of classes on the first three Thursdays of December at church on the basic "how-to" of prayer. It's a way to celebrate Advent as a preparation time for meeting our God. (Also if you would like, Frank would be willing to visit your small group or to work with you individually around these same practices. You may reach him at fekrebs@msn.com.) Join us Thursday, December 6, 6:30 - 7:30 pm at church.
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Notes from the Synod
The House of Laity (HOL) discussed a number of issues at the recent Synod in California...everything from financial matters to how we nominate and elect a presiding bishop. To see the official notes from the HOL deliberations, you can click here.
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Advent Quiet
Beginning December 9, 2012, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
The Sundays of Advent
 With the Christmas season approaching, many of us will find ourselves stressed out with the shopping, partying, and many other activities we will face. Taking time out to be quiet and reflect on the meaning of God's dwelling among us can be something of a luxury. To make it a bit easier, the Peace UCC church sanctuary will be open for quiet meditation every Sunday evening during advent (December 2, 9, 16 and 23) from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Feel free to stop by for a few minutes, an hour, or more to relax, rejuvenate and remember the good news that Jesus brought to the world.
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Saturday Morning Yoga
Saturdays at 9:00 am
Practice yoga with a warm, open community every Saturday morning, 9:00 - 10:30 am at the church (204 E. Lockwood Ave. Webster Groves 63119). We will begin this week, November 24th. This class is open to all to nurture mind, body, and spirit. Our instructor, Jeff Miller, has a gift for teaching, offering helpful individualized instruction to both beginners and advanced students. This is a donations-based class, pay what you can (most studio yoga classes cost $10-15 per session). Do not let cost stand in your way of participating. E-mail Jeff if you would like to receive class updates via e-mail. Contact Jeff Miller (mefjillito@gmail.com) or Jessica Rowley (jessica.rowley@stsclareandfrancis.org) with questions.
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Christmas Mass
Sts. Clare & Francis will celebrate Christmas Mass on Tuesday, December 25th at 10:00 am.
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Sunday Mass Experiment
Beginning December 9, 2012, 10:00 am
Second Sunday of the month
For 4 - 6 months we are going to experiment with adding a Sunday mass once a month. We are not changing the Saturday liturgy in any way. Nor do we intend to. However we have been told by some that they are not able to attend on Saturday evenings sometimes (or ever) and that they would like to have a Sunday mass option. Mass will be held on the second Sunday of each month for the next 6 months, with Jessica and Frank alternating as presiders. We'll begin on December 9th. Janelle Carron has offered her home as a venue during this time of experimentation. Let her know you are interested in coming so she can give you her address: janellecarron@earthlink.net. A small group intends to be there each time; so you won't be the only one there! Spread the word. All are welcome!
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Christmas Giving in our own Backyard
As a small group initiative, we are collecting Christmas gifts for the children and teens of Epworth Home and its many programs (learn about them at epworth.org). As some of you may know, Epworth is our neighbor just around the corner at 110 N. Elm, and their needs are many. 
If you would like to help your neighbor in need this Christmas, please take an ornament with a designated gift or gift card from our giving tree in the back of church.
Gifts, gift cards, or cash must be returned to church by Saturday, December 8, 2012. Please do not wrap the gifts.
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Sponsored by Friends of SCF
English Tutoring Project
Plowsharing Crafts
Noodles And Co.
Friday, December 7, PLOWSHARING CRAFTS in the Delmar Loop is sharing 15 - 20% of its sales from 6:00 to 9:00 pm with the ENGLISH TUTORING PROJECT, which serves immigrant children in St. Louis.
AND on that same evening, if you eat at NOODLES AND CO. in the Delmar Loop between 4:00 and 10:00 pm and mention the English Tutoring Project when you order, they will donate 25% of sales to the English Tutoring Project.
Sound like a fun evening? I think so!! Thanks to generous local merchants who make the world better.
Sue Stolze
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Dance Discovery
Sunday, December 9, 2012
1:00 pm
History Museum Grand Hall
Linda Hibbitts will be performing at the History Museum on Sunday, December 9, 2012 with an Historical Dance Group called Dance Discovery. The Colonial era dancing will begin at 1pm in the Grand Hall. To preview similar dances, you may go to youtube.com & type in Dance Discovery St. Louis. For more information about Dance Discovery and a photo gallery, please visit www.dancediscovery.org.
After our performance, we will be inviting audience members to get up & dance with us, so consider coming out to the Museum & joining us! (And you can't beat the price either! It's free...)
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Il Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center
December 28, 2012 - January 1, 2013
Franciscan Hermitage Retreat
7935 St. Francis Lane
Dittmer, MO 63023
636-274-0554
Il Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center offers private, preached, and directed retreats in a quiet and beautiful woodland setting in the foothills of the Ozarks. There will be a Franciscan Hermitage Retreat offered from Dec.28, 2012 - Jan 1, 2013. It will combine communal prayer and Liturgy with time for personal prayer and contemplation, and enjoyment of the natural surrounding beauty. A wonderful way to welcome in the New Year without the bells and whistles.
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random sightings
wisdom...reflection...insight...amusement
A sweet lesson in patience (as we begin Advent).
A NYC Taxi driver wrote:
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'
'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly...
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
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