A Message From The Interim Minister 

 ALL THINGS

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to God's purpose."

                 (Romans 8:28)

Forty-nine years of marriage and forty-five years of parish ministry have been grounded in this wisdom of St. Paul. The truth is that sometimes the hardest truth to hold on to is the word "ALL." Along with the good and beautiful events in our life also come the difficult ones. In challenging times it is hard to keep the faith and to confess that "all" things work together for good. Often, as you know, it is only later on, after reflection, that we can see clearly. We learn again, as Leonard Cohen puts it, that: "there is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

As Karin and I begin our Interim ministry with you, we trust that this ministry is also a part of all things working together for good. Already, we feel embraced by your generosity and support. As we pray for you, so we ask for your prayers for us. May we listen and see who you are and where you want to go. Trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will walk together and learn once again how blessed we are to "know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to God's purpose." Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

-- Randy Wilburn & Karin

On the weekend of October 5th and 6th we will celebrate our Patronal Feast

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Commissioning of Confirmands

Sunday at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Blessing of the Animals in the Memorial Garden.

Stewardship at St. Francis

This fall at St. Francis our stewardship theme will be "Flourish in Faith."  You will see this theme used in worship beginning the weekend of October 5/6 through Commitment Weekend, November 9/10, when we have the ingathering of pledge cards.  Each week during this time there will be an insert in your bulletin with a reflection on the theme and a short talk by a member of the St. Francis community about how our stewardship supports the way we live out our faith locally and globally.  Be on the lookout in your email and regular mail (for those without email) for communications from the Associate Rector, the Senior Warden, and the Stewardship Team on how you can join the St. Francis community as we flourish in faith!

CROP Walk - 35th Anniversary

Sunday, October 20, 2013

1:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church

St. Francis has a long history of participating with local churches to raise money for the hungry through CROP Walk/Church World Services and this year our fundraising goal is $3500. 

Walkers can sign up after the 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. services or contact Lori Churchill at 978-928-4159 or lchurchill@mac.com.  Donations can be made online through the St. Francis website at www.stfrancisholden.org.

We also need bread bakers and help with hosting the mid-walk refreshments.  If you can help, please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex.  Thank you!!

Youth Mission Opportunity

St. Francis will be coordinating a youth mission trip for high schoolers July 27-August 1, 2014. We will be traveling to San Diego, CA for a Week of Hope with Group WorkCamps. This week will be an opportunity to provide community service in a multicultural setting. Cost is $229 plus airfare (to be determined). $50 deposits are required by Sept. 22, 2013 to reserve a slot. Teens do not need to be a member of St. Francis in order to join this mission trip. Please contact Lori Churchill, Coordinator of Youth Mission, for more information at lchurchill@mac.com or 978-928-4159.

Annual Church Mouse Fair

Saturday, October 19, 2013

9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon

Online Book Study on

Free: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most

This fall the Associate Rector will be leading a book study on Free: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most by Mark Scandrette.  The book will help us to explore our values and purpose in life and how we can better align how we live our lives with what the things we care about most.   Recognizing that a big part of the struggle to live out our values in all our lives is a busy schedule, we will be experimenting with meeting virtually for our discussions to allow for flexibility in participation.  We will meet online for 8 sessions beginning the week of October 27 and ending the week of December 15.  A reflection on the week's reading will be posted online at the beginning of each week by the Associate Rector and participants will be able to respond and participate at their convenience throughout the week. 

 Paper copies of the book may be obtained at church for $10.00 or via Barnes and Noble or Amazon and e-reader copies for your Kindle or  Nook are available at their respective websites. 

Please register on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex.  If you have questions or want more information contact the Associate Rector, Karen Safstrom (karen.safstrom@gmail.com).  

Profile Committee Update

The Profile Committee's mission is to write an up-to-date, accurate and honest profile of St. Francis, of who we are today.  The Profile will be used to communicate who we are to clergy who may feel called to serve as our next rector.

Thanks to Ed Farrell, the Transition Ministry Officer for the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, and the Rev. Pamela J. Mott, Canon to the Ordinary, for facilitating the recent listening events. And thanks to everyone who participated. Your input is much appreciated! 

• What are the two best aspects of life at St. Francis?  
• If you could change just two aspects of life at St. Francis, what would those two be and why?
• If you had to leave St. Francis for five years, what would you hope to see here when you return that isn't here now?

Dick Delorme, Caroline Galvinhill, Jane Howell, Julie Mankowsky, Greg McGurin, Nancy Pope, Dawn Rooke 

Thank you to.....

Melanie Amaral, the Fellowship Committee, and all who helped to make the Parish Picnic a big success. 

Great weather, great food, great fun.

Food Pantry Update

The Mission Team is trying something new this year to better assist the Wachusett Food Pantry---we will be collecting monthly food items according to a common theme. Please consider donating to this valuable organization. Non-perishable food items can be placed in the marked baskets in the Narthex. Below are the upcoming food collection themes:

September: Cereals and Fruit Juices

October: Holiday Dinner items (helping to stock up the food pantry for their Thanksgiving distribution)

November: Soup's On!

December: Canned Fruit and Veggies 

Skype Calls with Tom and Dianne Wilson

We are planning to Skype every other Monday night at 7:30 p.m. from the library at St. Francis to maintain fellowship and to learn more about their mission work in El Salvador. Our next call will be Monday, October 7th. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. If anyone has questions, they can contact Dick Welch , Julie Mankowsky, or Lori Churchill. 

Monthly Lectionary

If you enjoy reading the scripture readings ahead of time they can be found by clicking here.  You will find the Propers that we use for each weekend, as well as the Lesser Feasts and Fasts that happen through the week.