This month Pat is reading My Bright Abyss by Christian Wiman. A fascinating reflection on the Christian life: from the editor's review, "My Bright Abyss, composed in the difficult years since and completed in the wake of a bone marrow transplant, is a moving meditation on what a viable contemporary faith, responsive not only to modern thought and science but also to religious tradition, might look like." Can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes and Noble in paperback or Kindle and Nook formats. Pat's thoughts as he reads the book can be found at his blog at Padre Ryder's Journal.

This month Karen is reading Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans. I follow Rachel as a blogger and love her stuff. Using the seven sacraments this book tells how after leaving the evangelical church she found her way back to love the church again through life in an Episcopal congregation. Can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes and Noble in paperback or Kindle and Nook formats. Karen's thoughts as she reads the book can be found at St. Francis Holden Book Blog and are usually posted by the end of the day on Monday. Her planned reading schedule is Week of August 3: Foreword, Prologue, and Baptism; Week of August 10: Confession and Holy Orders; Week of August 17: Communion and Confirmation; Week of August 24: Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Epilogue.  

The handbells have done quite a bit of traveling this summer.  The last weekend in June, the bells were at the Biennial convention of the Handbell Musicians of America, Area 1.  There were approximately 500 handbell ringers from all over New England, and one choir from Iceland, at Umass Amherst for 4 days of classes, rehearsals and a combined final concert.  Choirs that are not attending are asked to loan their bells for use in the classrooms, which is where ours were.  

Two weeks later, the handbells were off to summer camp for a week.  I am part of a group called, Lutheran Winni Week, which is an annual one week Family Camp held on Lake Winnipesauke.  Each morning there are bible study classes for various age groups, and then in the afternoon, there is all the usual summer camp fun.  In the evenings there are a variety of worship services, from formal Eucharist, to sunset on the beach.  Then there is always time for fellowship after that.  The bells are used during some of the worship services, by me, and a small group of volunteers, especially when we are on the beach.  Amazing Grace, on the beach, at sunset, by the bells. Wonderful.

From summer camp the bells went to Virginia for their long anticipated refurbishing.  They will be returning to St. Francis near the end of August, all shiny, and working and sounding great, ready for another 30 years of making music.

I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the cost of the refurbishing.  The stories of how people first heard bells, or how they were part of some special moment in their lives, or just how much they enjoy hearing them during our services, have been an inspiration to those of us who play.  The contributions so far have made about 75% of the cost, so there is still room for anyone who has not yet contributed, and wants to, to be able to do so.  Please make checks payable to St. Francis Episcopal Church, and put bell repair on the memo line. I am already making plans for another big Handbell Concert next spring, combining the St. Francis Episcopeals, and the WRHS Moutaintinabuleers again.  We all had such a great time playing, and the comments from those who were there, all made it worth our efforts.

If anyone is interested in playing the bells, we will have an open rehearsal on Monday, September 14, 2015, at 6:30 in the church.  Everyone is welcome to come try them out.  Being able to read music is not a requirement.  I will teach you anything you need to know, I have done it in the past, I can do it again.  

Ringspectfully yours,

Jeffery Heath, Director 

Summer hours for the Administrator's office are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the months of July and August.

PLEASE NOTE  The Sign-up Table and Mission Table have been relocated to Fellowship Hall until the water damage clean-up is completed.  

CHURCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE  There are Church League Pick-up games at Davis Hill School field at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays: July 26 & August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. We need a minimum of 18 players. All are welcome 16 years and older. 

Karen Kappes will be traveling to El Maizal on July 30th to visit with Tom and Dianne Wilson.  

They are in need of the following items:

• Easy Reader Books in English (Something like the old Dick and Jane books. Maybe one word on a page.)
• Tylenol or generic acetaminophen 600 or 650 mg
• Prenatal vitamins
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Cranberry capsules for UTI's
• Vitamin C

• Iron

• Vitamin B12

Please bring items to the church before July 28th. 

Many thanks to everyone who contributed items for the military packages in June.  Packages will be going out soon, and every item will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your support of this special ministry.
 

SAVE THE DATE! Please join us for a time of fellowship at the annual St. Francis Parish Picnic on Sunday, September 20, 2015, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Take some time to relax, re-connect, and share stories of your summer adventures before the demands of school, activities, and athletics take hold. The picnic will be held rain or shine, with traditional picnic fare served. The cost is $5.00 per person or $10.00 per family, and we ask that you bring a side dish or dessert to share. Please R.S.V.P. by September 13, to Melanie Amaral smamaral@charter.net, Dawn Rooke dtrooke@gmail.com or on the Sign-up Sheet in Fellowship Hall.

We look forward to seeing you there!

St. Francis is a registered non-profit organization on SmileAmazon.com   By following this link and signing in using your Amazon sign-in you can support St. Francis when you shop. A great way to support St. Francis!!  

We will plan an updated Pictorial Directory for the fall.  If your family picture is not in this directory please send us a picture to include in the fall directory.  Summer is a great time to get a family picture.  Please email it to stfran@verizon.net along with any updated info.

Church School Newsletters: Family Connections

Youth Group: Schedule

Sermon Archives: Sermons

Senior's Birthdays:  Birthday list

Calendar: Monthly calendar