St. Francis Episcopal Church

Little Portion

Week of December 7, 2014

We seek to be instruments of God's peace, bearing witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ for all people.

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.

Throughout this season, the rector will try to offer a few thoughts for prayer and reflection on his blog, which may be found here: http://padreryder.wordpress.com.

Festival Choir There will be two extra Festival choir practices in preparation for the 9:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. Rehearsals will be in the choir room or in the sanctuary, depending on how many can come on Tuesday (Dec 16th) and/or Thursday (Dec 18th) at 7:00 p.m. Our last Sunday rehearsal will be the 14th after the 10:00 a.m. service. There will be no rehearsal on the 21st, as I'll need to rehearse with the Pageant. Please give me a call (508-835-3878) or email me (Maryucht@charter.net) if you have any questions. Please come to one or both of the extra rehearsals if you can.

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.

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

Christmas Day Service:

Thursday, December 25th

Spoken Eucharist - 10:00 a.m.

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

@StFrancisH

Worship Schedule

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

MISSION

The Mission Team would like to thank everyone for their support at the Heifer Living Gift Market this past weekend! Please note that we will still be accepting Heifer donations for anyone who missed that opportunity. For those interested, simply put a check in the Offertory collection marked "Heifer." Blank donation cards can also be found on the Mission Table in the Narthex.

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.

Grocery Shoppers needed: The Thanksgiving plate offering will be used to purchase Hope for Housing grocery cards. Volunteers are needed to shop and drop food off at the Wachusett or Rutland pantry. Please sign-up on the table in the narthex if you can help.

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: Loretta Haynes, Donna Lasher, Marje Sullivan, Marge Tremblay

December 13/14, 2014

Saturday, Dec 13- 5:00 p.m. Ushers: Sarah Anderson and Jay Carlo

LEMs: Dick Delorme and Ann Scannell

Sunday, Dec 14- 8:00 a.m.

LEM: Pamela Hanson

10:00 a.m.

Nursing Home: Tina Chen

Acolytes: Jay Carlo, Zach Melzar, Lee Cogswell

Ushers: Phil Styffe and Craig Stanovich