A Message From The Associate Rector

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NRSV)

I recently watched the Nooma video "Rich" by Rob Bell where he reflects on these verses from the first letter to Timothy. He says that he always thought that these verses applied to someone else other than him. Most of us probably feel similarly in reading this passage thinking, "This isn't directed to me. I'm not rich." We don't tend to feel rich because when we compare ourselves to the wealthiest people in our own country we feel poor in comparison. However, if we compare ourselves to others on the global scale we might be shocked at how rich we really are. For instance, if we plug an income of $30,000 into the income evaluation tool on Global Rich List we see that with that income we are in the top 1.23% of the richest people in the world! Feeling rich is relative to how we see the world around us.

All too often in the culture of the United States we are made to feel poor because we live in a scarcity society. We live in a society that constantly tells us something is missing in our lives and we won't be content until we fill that void with the right possession - cell phone, car, outfit, house, etc. The problem is that once we obtain that thing we still feel as if something is missing and we set out in search of the next thing to fill that void. And so begins an endless cycle where we seek out that thing that promises fulfillment only to find something still missing once we obtain it and so we begin again the quest for what we feel we lack.  

This text from the first letter to Timothy reminds us that putting our hope in riches will only ever offer us the uncertainty that comes with a focus on scarcity and thinking whatever we have, no matter how much, is never enough. However, placing our hope in God who generously provides everything for us sets us free to take hold of "the life that really is life." Setting our hopes in God who provides richly for us reveals to us not a way of scarcity and never enough, but a way of abundance and more than enough. Putting our hope in the abundant way of life God offers, roots us in God's eternal promises and sets us free to share generously from our abundance as we see all we have instead of all we don't.

When we put our hope and trust in God's abundance it allows us to "flourish in faith" as the theme of our fall stewardship program says. It allows us to see the world as God does - filled with possibility and promise - so that we can dare to share from all we have instead of holding on tight out of fear of not having enough. God's way of abundance sets us free to experience the fullness of God's blessings as we give in response to all that we have been given.

In worship on Commitment weekend, November 9/10, we will bless and offer to God our financial pledge commitments to the ministry of St. Francis Church for the coming year. These past few weeks during the announcement time of worship you have heard how your financial giving allows this community to share God's abundant life with a world in need through our many different ministries. As you prepare to make your pledge commitment for the coming year we invite you to reflect on how God is calling you to take hold of the life that is really life by sharing from God's abundant blessings to you. With each of us in this community daring to trust in God's ways of abundance in our own lives, together we will surely flourish in faith.

In Christ,

Karen

A Time of Transition

When a Rector leaves there is grief and some anxiety about the future. Thanks to the faithful work of the Transition Team, the Profile Committee and the Search Committee, the anxiety settles down and the process of shaping the future begins. As usual the busy leaders are now loaded with the added responsibility of working on the committees to facilitate the transition. Thank you to all who are giving so much time and talent to the transition process.

The ministry of an Intentional Interim is that of exploring possibilities. No change takes place just for the sake of change. If it works, don't fix it. Building on the foundation of the past ministry of St. Francis, we now begin to look at diverse ways of doing worship, developing vision and mission, and supporting the spiritual formation of all. We continue to be a welcoming community of faith and seek to grow not just for the sake of growth, but because people are seeking God. People are hungry for community. St. Francis is a community that feeds people, a "little portion" at a time.

Preparing for the next Rector is a challenge filled with hope. Evaluation of what we have done and are doing is part of the process. Affirming our staff and all our ministries continues. Possibilities emerge as to how we can deepen and widen the good stuff we do and at the same time find new direction for what may not be working as well as we would like.

Thank you for your warm welcome and I look forward to serving you in the months ahead. God is guiding the process and God has someone in mind who will come to St. Francis and walk with you into the future. We continue in prayer for the transition process and trust a good match of Rector and Congregation will be the outcome.  

Rev. Randy Wilburn, Interim Rector

Mission Matters

Your Mission Committee has had an active year so far!  Several activities have been completed, and others are planned (a number are the result of the Mission Survey conducted earlier this year).  Thank you for your help.

To Date:

• Donations made to Many Hands Farm, Abbey's House, and Emily Chalis (medical student in Haiti)
• 15 church members volunteered for the Habitat for Humanity build in June.  They painted, put up siding, and helped run vents through the basement.
• Worked with church school students to collect money for school supplies for El Maizal
• Invited representatives from several organizations to determine opportunities for additional Mission activities. Hope for Housing and Pernet Family Health Services have, or will, speak.
• Coordinated the filling of nine(9) disaster clean-up buckets to be distributed through Church World Services
• Contributed to Syrian Relief through ERD
• Ongoing support of the mission of Tom and Dianne Wilson in El Salvador
• Accepted the following  Mission Statement for the Committee: 

St. Francis Episcopal Church is a worshiping community seeking to live the Baptismal Covenant, which calls us to grow "into the full stature of  Christ."  Like our patron, St. Francis of Assisi, our goal is to respond to the needs of the world with compassion and love.

One of the ways we attempt to do this is through the activities of the Mission Committee.  As a committee, our goals are to use the resources at our disposal to:

• support a balance of local, national, and worldwide charities
• foster charities that create opportunities for St. Francis parishioners to participate

In choosing organizations to fund, we will focus our priorities on charities that work to eliminate hunger and homelessness, to improve education, and to support social justice.

Coming soon:

• Heifer Fair (December 8)
• Hope for Housing Grocery Card campaign
• Hat/gloves/mittens donations
• Gift giving tree 

Be sure to stop by the Mission Table in the Narthex to catch up on events and see opportunities to become more involved with Mission activities.

Sunday, November 24th

On the weekend of November 23/24 we will collect food for the Wachusett Food Pantry. Donations can be left in the baskets in the narthex. However, children are asked to bring their donations to Fellowship Hall so they can present them at the altar during the Offertory.

Drivers will be needed after the 10:00 a.m. service to transport food to the Food Pantry.

Items needed: Soup, Chowder, Hearty Soup, Beef Stew, Seasoned Rice, Canned Vegetables, Pancake Mix, Oatmeal, Canned Fruit, 100% Fruit Juice, Coffee and Tea.

CROP Walk 2013

Thanks go out to everyone who made this year's CROP Walk a success!  Walkers, donors, bread bakers, halfway point host...it takes a village!  While our totals aren't in yet, it's safe to say we did well.  Our financial totals weren't as high as last year, but our number of walkers increased (as did the number of walks for the whole walk) and the overall money raised by the walk was the best ever!  We look forward to an even better showing next year...until then, keep the needs of the hungry ever in your prayers.  Thanks!

Vestry Nominations for 2014

Three members of the vestry will be rotating off from service this coming year, and so we are looking to fill three 3-year appointments to vestry. If you know of someone who is a leader, a good listener, and able to serve in this capacity, please consider nominating them for service. They must be a confirmed member of the parish and a contributing member of record to do so.

If you would like to nominate someone you can email Karen in the church office, stfran@verizon.net with the name of the person you are nominating along with answers to the two following questions:

1. Why are you nominating this person for parish leadership?

2. What gifts and vision would they bring to this ministry?

Nomination sheets are also available on the table in the narthex. Deadline for nominations is Sunday, November 24th. 

Vestry Discernment Night is Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the church.

Festival Choir

If you are starting to believe that "Those Who Sing Pray Twice", and would like to sing with the choir, but don't have time to make it every Sunday, consider singing with the "Festival Choir" for Christmas Eve at the 9:00 p.m. service.  Rehearsals will be limited.  If you are interested, please see Mary Been.

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.

Many thanks to the 127 respondents of the Church Assessment Tool (CAT)! We are excited to review the results with HolyCow! Consulting and use these in the Profile. 

We've been working to gather information -- from an updated history to the latest financial records, plus input from the listening events and the CAT survey -- as well as photographs. We're on our way to creating a Profile and hope to have a draft in December. 

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

Thank you.....

Dear Friends,

Words fail to adequately express my and my family's deep gratitude for the ministry, kindness and love that you provided for us upon the death of our beloved Richard.

Richard and I came to St. Francis Church twenty-seven years ago this month, leaving a wonderful St. John's Parish where Richard served as rector for twenty-two years.  And, we were blessed to be welcomed into this wonderful parish.

On behalf of Richard and our entire Family, we thank you for all your Christian Love and Caring.  May we all continue to "Lift High the Cross" and may God touch you with His Love, enfold you in His Peace, and fill you with all Hope each day.

Gratefully,

Lorraine Hennigar

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. Calls scheduled for November are Monday, November 4th and Monday, November 18th.  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.