Sts. Clare & Francis
Four Candles
 
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In This Issue
Readings for Mass / Liturgical Ministers
Fellowship after Mass This Saturday
Prayer Practices 101
Blue Christmas
Advent Quiet
Yoga Class
Homilies
Sponsored by Friends of SCF
random sightings
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Parish Council News

 

For notes from the November 7 Parish Council Meeting, click here.  

 

The agenda for the December 19 Parish Council Meeting can be found here

 

 

Members 

(click name to contact by e-mail):

 

Therese Gabriel

Nancy Wamser

Michelle Smith (Chair)

Mary Crecelius

Marty Campbell

Jessica Rowley

Jennifer Reyes Lay

Frank Krebs

Bob Leible 

Bill Schwindt

This Week

"At a Glance"

                             

Thursday, December 20

6:00 pm   Yoga

6:30 pm   Prayer Practices 101

7:00 pm   Interplay

Friday, December 21

7:00 am   Contemplative Prayer

7:00 pm   Blue Christmas Service

Saturday, December 22

9:00 am   Yoga

5:00 pm   Mass

Tuesday, December 25

Christmas

10:00 am  Mass

 

Want to add an event to the calendar?  Contact Jessica (314.918.2766).

ECC Midwest

Partner Communities 

Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Little Rock, Arkansas
Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

General Info

Want to get connected and involved?  Start by taking a look at our  2011-2012 Ministries Brochure. 

 

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. 
Jessica Rowley 314.918.2766;
Frank Krebs 314.740.1160;       

 

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! 
 
Donate

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

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 ).

The Weekly News  

December 20, 2012

Fourth Week of Advent

Saturday, December 22, 2012

5:00 pm

 
 

Presider/Homilist: Frank Krebs

Readers:  Michelle Smith, Ann Bolger

Eucharistic Ministers:  Marty Campbell, Barbara Harris, Mary Ellen Kruger

 

 

Christmas

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

10:00 am

 

Readings:   Is 62:11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 

 

Presider/Homilist: Frank Krebs

Readers: Therese Gabriel, Amy Hauser

Eucharistic Ministers: Mary Jordan, Art Maines, Joann Noll

  

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.

Fellowship and Cheer  Christmas Cookies
After Mass This Saturday 
Saturday, December 22, 2012 


Please join us for cookies, hot cocoa and conversation after Mass to celebrate the season and our community!
  

 

Prayer Practices 101 
Thursday, December 20, 2012 
6:30 - 7:30 pm at church

 

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.) 

Blue Christmas Service 
When Christmas Hurts
December 21, 2012 
7:00 pm

 

With Peace United Church of Christ, we take the longest night, December 21, to honor the parts of Christmas that hurt -- grief, loss, loneliness.  You are invited to bring photos of deceased loved ones to the service. All are welcome for this liturgy and fellowship to follow.

Advent Quiet
The Sundays of Advent, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

 

Advent Candles 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.

Yoga
Saturdays, 9:00 - 10:30 am
restorative yoga, great for beginners and all levels
Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
intermediate level, building strength and practicing inversions

 

Practice yoga with a warm, open community every Saturday morning, 9:00 - 10:30 am, and Thursday evening,  6:00-7:00 pm, at the church (204 E. Lockwood Ave. Webster Groves 63119). 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. These are 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. 

Coat Closet Homilies     

 

Frank's homily from December 15, Something is Brewing, Coats About to be Shared, and all homilies from Sts. Clare & Francis are available at http://scfhomilies.posterous.com.  

Sponsored by Friends of SCF

 
Catholic Monologues
 
The Catholic Action Network invites you to add your voice to a new theatrical piece called the Catholic Monologues. We each have a unique story about being Catholic. What do you love about being Catholic? What do you wish you could change? Why do you stay in the church, or what prompted you to leave? The Catholic Monologues will make its debut performance in St. Louis, and it could include your story! For more information, see the flyer here.

~~~~~

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.

  

~~~~~  

PPCS logo 

Trivia Night

Saturday, January 12, 2013

7:30 pm (doors open at 6:45 pm)

St. Justin the Martyr

11914 Eddie & Park Road

Sunset Hills, MO 63126

$20 per person (includes soda and beer)

8 players per table

 

Who is the patron saint of the internet? If you're the type of person who knows things like that, come and win big prizes!

 

Don't know the difference between John Lennon and Vladimir Lenin? Then it's all about enjoying the great food and friends you bring!

 

Join us on January 12 for our 7th annual Trivia Night. A good time will be had. 

random sightings

wisdom...reflection...insight...amusement

Telescope  

 

 

On the Mystery of the Incarnation

 

It's when we face for a moment

the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know

the taint in our own selves, that awe

cracks the mind's shell and enters the heart:

not to a flower, not to a dolphin,

to no innocent form

but to this creature vainly sure

it and no other is god-like, God

(out of compassion for our ugly

failure to evolve) entrusts,

as guest, as brother,

the Word.

 

Denise Levertov

If you have an item that you wish to submit for publication in the Weekly News, please send it to
Steve Campbell no later than noon on Wednesday of the week you would like it to appear.  If you cannot  send an email, you may contact Steve at 314.603.9991.