St. Francis Episcopal Church
Little Portion
Week of December 1, 2014
 
We seek to be instruments of God's peace, bearing witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ for all people.

                  

FROM THE RECTOR 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Welcome to Advent! The season of Advent is one of my favorite times of the year...I wish it was a little bit longer, and perhaps it could be a bit longer if we are able to devote ourselves to the season until the Magi arrive on the feast of the Epiphany. Advent asks much from us - Advent asks us to patiently wait while the world urges us to hurry up; Advent directs our attention to the hope filled future while grounding us in the now while the world tempts us to focus our energy on the here and now (as the catch phrase "You only live once" YOLO promises); Advent points toward holy ground while the world calls us to the shopping malls. Advent is an invitation to spend time in reflection of God's many gifts of grace: the grace of Christ's presence among us, the grace of the earliest Christians' courageous devotion and faith, and the grace of our gifts as God's children. These gifts of grace can be challenging to discover in our "noisy" world, and I invite you to consider taking up a few practices to quiet the noise and discover God's grace among you. Throughout this season there will be many opportunities for corporate worship, study and reflection, but these are just a few among the many ways to find God's grace in this holy season. Throughout this season, I will try to offer a few thoughts for prayer and reflection on my blog, which may be found here: http://padreryder.wordpress.com.

 

"May He whose second Coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen." (Advent blessing from Book of Occasional Services, p. 22)

 

Advent blessings,

Pat
ADVENT

Advent Reflections and Dinner - During the coming season of Advent, please join us on Wednesday evenings for a time of food, fellowship, and reflection. We will gather at 5:30 p.m. for a meal of soup & salad, and starting at 6:00 p.m. we will reflect on the message of Advent using Stan Purdum's book, "Travel the Highways of Advent." Books will be made available for those interested. It's also available on Kindle at Amazon.com. Please put the dates on your calendar: December 3, 10, & 17. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex. If you have any questions, please contact The Rev. Pat Perkins.

WEEKEND OF DEC 6/7
Advent Quiet Day: Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. "Waiting for God, Waiting for Words." We will be discussing how often in our prayer lives we lack for words or feel as if the words we come up with on our own are lacking and so desire another way, beyond words, to pray. Our time together will primarily focus on the solution to this offered in the book, Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God by Sybil MacBeth, where the author suggests using the simple doodling many of us do as a way to pray. Reading the book ahead of time is not necessary and no artistic ability required! Time will be offered to practice this new method on your own or in the group. Bring your own art supplies if you have them (pens, colored pencils, markers, etc) or use those offered by the church. If you would like to attend but haven't signed up yet please contact Karen Safstrom (karen.safstrom@gmail.com) or the church office 508-829-3344 by Wednesday.

Annual Heifer Living Gift Market on the weekend of December 6th/7th following all worship services with live animals after the 10 a.m. service. Offered by Heifer Project, Rutland, MA. Take this opportunity to 'purchase' animals like pigs, chickens, or goat as a great alternative to commercial gifts. Give a gift that keeps on giving!

WEEKEND OF DEC 13/14

Military Christmas Cards What better gift to our military family than to send each of them a Christmas card signed by a multitude of the St. Francis family?

Stop by the library after services the weekend of December 13/14, to sign Christmas cards for those military men and women on our prayer list. You will find each card in its own box, and the person's name will be printed on the box. When you take a card out to sign it, kindly put it back into the same box, so family members can sign their service person's card with personal notes. Veteran's, please feel free to note your branch of the service with your signature.  If you have any questions, please contact Ruth Webb at ruthpwebb@aol.com

 

Church Mouse Mini Fair on the weekend of December 13/14 following all worship services there will be crafts and baked goods for sale.  A great opportunity for last minute gifts and baked goods for the holiday.

 
A Living Nativity at Mesa Farm in Rutland on both December 13th and 14th, 2014. Two performances will be held each evening; at 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. The hour long shows will consist of carol singing and a narration and re-enactment of the nativity story in a barn with live animals. There is no charge although attendees are requested to bring a plate of cookies to share. Hot chocolate and coffee will be provided. The Saturday performances will have sign language interpretation.

Mesa Farm is at 67 Muschopauge Road in Rutland.  Directions and more info can be found at www.mesafarmrutland.com or call  508-886-6898. 

CHRISTMAS

Christmas Memorials During Christmas services this year you may wish to have a loved one remembered, or to express special thanks to God for his blessings in your life. To do so, please click here to download the form. Forms may be dropped off at the office, put in the offering plate, mailed or filled out and emailed to the church at stfran@verizon.net. Forms are due by Sunday, December 15th. The donations for these memorials are used for flowers and music, given to God's glory as we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord.   

The St. Francis Christmas Pageants Sign-up sheets for all parts have been posted in the narthex.  A full cast rehearsal will take place on Sunday December 21st after the 10:00 service.

 

Calling All Angels We Have Not Heard on High to participate in the Christmas Pageant. No singing required. Kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome to participate. Sign-up sheet is in the narthex. Practices are on Sundays, 12/7, 12/14 and 12/21 following the 10:00 a.m. services. Email Kim at kvuona@hotmail.com or Lisa Cherrier at lisacherrier@yahoo.com with questions.

 

Anyone interested in singing for the pageants, high school students especially welcome, please speak to Mary Been.

Christmas Eve Services:

Wednesday, December 24th

Family Eucharist with Pageant - 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Candlelight Eucharist with Festival Choir - 9:00 p.m.

Christmas Day Service:

Thursday, December 25th

Spoken Eucharist - 10:00 a.m.
MISSION

Buy a Bed for Abby's House...Abby's House provides emergency shelter as well as supported housing for women and children in Worcester. The cost to provide a warm, safe bed in the shelter for a woman or child for one night is $35. Each of our 100 Christmas Tree ornaments this year represents a bed. Please contribute the cost of a bed or whatever you are able to do. You may place your contribution in the basket near the tree, in the offering basket, or at the church office. We also have "Buy a Bed" contribution boxes if you wish to bring it home to encourage your family to save your contribution over time. Checks should be payable to "Abby's House". We will continue this effort through Epiphany. 

 

Hope for Housing Cards 

Available for purchase every 2nd and 4th weekend of the month in the narthex.

 

Mustard Seed The second Wednesday of each month. Finger desserts are always welcome and needed. Please deliver them to the church by 5:00 p.m.

DIRECTORIES

Pictorial Directories are now available on the table in the narthex. The telephone part of the directory is also available electronically.  If you would like an electronic copy please send an email to the office to request one.  stfran@verizon.net

SERVERS

Servers this Weekend:

Altar Guild: Gloria Goewey, Persis Hamilton, Sharlene O'Connor, Sarah Anderson

December 6/7, 2014  

Saturday, Dec 6- 5:00 p.m. Ushers: Bev Giarusso and Carolyn Schmidt

LEMs: Ann Tripp and Dick Delorme

Sunday, Dec 7- 8:00 a.m.

LEM: Judith Morrissette

10:00 a.m.

Nursing Home: Judith Morrissette

Acolytes: Chris Whamond, Katherine Galvinhill, Kathryn Keagle

Ushers: Phil Styffe and Tina Chen

LEMs: Nancy Gundersen and Sam Davenport

Lectors: Leigh King, Nancy Rogan, Nancy Gundersen

Coffee Hour: Laurice Fournier

SENIORS

Birthdays in December

02 Ellie Provencal

07 Jonathan Phelps

09 Paul Morrissette

09 Emily Harley

11 Phil Kerr

12 Marty Martel

12 Donna Lasher

13 Dianne Wilson

23 Joe Reynolds

QUICK LINKS

St. Francis Webpage 

Sermon Archives 
HOLIDAY HOMECOMING BREAKFAST

Tuesday, December 30th With exams done, and as holiday chaos comes to its close - we invite all college aged and high school members of our Saint Francis family to reconnect with each other and enjoy a big, country style breakfast before returning to school!  Yes, it is a hearty breakfast served just at the right time (12 noon of course!)We will also be offering transportation to those that need a ride!

If you know of any college students home for the holidays or hungry high schoolers, please pass this announcement on to them, as this an event just for them! RSVP's are encouraged (though not required). Please send RSVP's to Andi Deane at Bizymum@charter.net (subject line: Breakfast).

You may also pick up an announcement flyer/invite in the Narthax - to mail or just pass along! Help us welcome our young adults and older youths home to Saint Francis this holiday season! If you have any questions or for further information, please email Andi Deane.


St. Francis Episcopal Church

70 Highland Street, Holden, MA 01520

  

Office Phone: 508-829-3344  

Email: stfran@verizon.net  

Web page: www.stfrancisholden.org

 

Like us on Facebook          @StFrancisH

 

Worship Schedule

Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.  | Sundays at 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. | Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.