St. Francis Episcopal Church

January 2016

Join us for worship:

Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.

Sundays at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Annual Meeting this Weekend

Just a reminder that our Annual Meeting will be held this Sunday, January 24th following the 10:00 a.m. service.

Join us for a lunch of sandwiches, pizza and salad in Fellowship Hall, followed by the Annual Meeting.

There will not be a youth group meeting but youth are encouraged to join their families for lunch and the meeting.

PLEASE REMEMBER: There will be no services at 5:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. this weekend.

Below are bios of those nominated for Vestry and Diocesan Convention:

Vestry Officers: The following list of names will be presented to be elected to a one (1) year term.

Senior Warden: Brian Gemborys

Brian has been a member of St. Francis since 2009. He is a software engineer in Waltham and lives in Shrewsbury with his family. Brian has served on Vestry for four years and serves as an usher. Brian's wife Meagan co-chaired the church nursery and now teaches church school. Their children, Henry, age 7, and Hazel, age 5, attend church school. Brian is excited about this opportunity to serve the St. Francis community.

Junior Warden: Lucy Nowak

Lucy came to St. Francis 33 years ago. She has enjoyed serving on the Vestry this past year. Lucy is also a part of the Altar Guild, and ushers with her husband, John at the 5:00 service. Over her years at St. Francis she has taught Sunday School and volunteered in the nursery. Lucy works in the outpatient pharmacy at Umass Memorial Hospital as a Certified Pharmacy Tech. She grew up in the Berkshires in the United Methodist Church and has two grown sons, Josh and Alex. Lucy is honored to be asked to serve as a Warden at St. Francis and looks forward to its rewards and challenges.

Clerk: Dawn Rooke

Brian and Dawn have lived in Holden for 26 years and have attended St. Francis for 24 years. They feel blessed to have been able to raise their three children in this wonderful church that places such a strong emphasis on supporting, nurturing and honoring its youth. During her years at St. Francis, she has been involved with the Meal Connection, Newcomer/Fellowship Committee, Dismas Farm Ministry, and served four years on the vestry. She is currently serving a third term as a convention delegate and has been the clerk of the vestry for the past nine years. She looks forward to continuing to serve this parish as clerk of the vestry.

Treasurer: Roz Glanville

Roz & Pete Glanville have been attending St. Francis for the past 40 years. I have served on the vestry before and am a member of the altar guild for many years. We raised our family in this church and now enjoy bringing our grandchildren to church.

Vestry: The following list of names will be presented to serve 3 three-year terms

Bryan Diehl:

Bryan and his family, Kathy, Bryan Jr, and David, moved to Holden in 1998 and found St Francis Church in 2001. Kathy is actively involved in the Mission Committee and their sons both attended and then taught in the Sunday School. Bryan has served twice on Vestry; once elected for a full term and another to finish the term of a member that moved away during their term. He served as the Chair of the Property Committee for 9 years, sang in the choir for several years and is the Project Coordinator and founder of the Men's Service Ministry. His calling to begin the Men's Ministry came following a mission trip to El Salvador. He also served on the Search Committee when the congregation was seeking a new rector. Bryan is honored and humbled to be considered to serve on the Vestry.

Barbara M. Henning:

Barbara and her husband Steve moved to Worcester two years ago. Both retired, they wanted to be near their daughter and her family (Alison, Denys and Emma Milan, also members of St. Francis). Emma was baptized at St. Francis and has just begun the Sunday school program. The Henning family was involved with their previous parish (St. John's, New City, NY; a small, struggling parish which was never able to have a budget line for mission work) for over thirty years. Barbara has had many years of vestry, warden, church school, youth group, and search committee experience. The most rewarding and life changing experience was her role as youth group leader (the same group of young people for Rite 13 through J2A [Journey to Adulthood curriculum]) which culminated in an amazing pilgrimage to Good Shepherd Mission, Fort Defiance, AZ, in Navajoland in 2011. Steve has vestry experience also but was primarily the "go to" guy for building issues. Since coming to St. Francis Barbara has been part of the prayer shawl ministry, bakes regularly for Mustard Seed and has recently joined the hand bell choir. A ministry she is enjoying tremendously. She greatly looks forward to vestry service at St. Francis - being part of the leadership team at a thriving church will be exciting, especially because of the emphasis on mission.

Cynthia McIntyre:

Cynthia works at the Concord Consortium, a nonprofit educational technology organization, as director of communications. She and her family joined St. Francis about 13 years ago when they moved to Sterling. Cynthia served on vestry several years ago; more recently, she chaired the Profile Committee during the search for a new rector. She, husband Paul, and daughter Claire enjoy being part of the St. Francis community.

Vestry: The following name will be presented to serve 1 two-year term

Michael Pope:

Michael is a life-long member of St. Francis, having been baptized, confirmed and married in the church. Growing up Michael attended church school, the youth group, and volunteered at Coffee Hours and for the Church Mouse Fair. After living in New York City for 5 years, Michael and his wife Melissa returned home to be closer to family and to open their business, M. Pope & Co. Fine Jewelers in Worcester. Their two dogs, Murray and Nicholas, keep things interesting to say the least. Michael currently works alongside his mother Nancy as coordinator of the Mustard Seed Mission. He is very pleased to be given the opportunity to serve on the vestry.

Diocesan Convention: The following list of names will be presented to serve 1 year terms

Dick Delorme

My wife and I have been members of St. Francis for 24 years. I was Junior Warden and then Senior Warden during Rich's first four years at St. Francis. I then served as Treasurer for four years. I participated in the election of Doug Fisher as our Bishop. The ministry-oriented culture and spiritual aliveness of St. Francis are what make me want to continue serving in my current capacity. I also want to participate in guiding the diocese in the direction that Bishop Fisher wants to take us.

Brian Gemborys: see bio above

Dawn Rooke: see bio above

Diocesan Convention Alternates: The following list of names will be presented to serve 1 year terms

Lucy Nowak: see bio above

David Williams:

David Williams is a retired school teacher and a life-long Episcopalian. Having grown up in Worcester he was baptized at St. Matthew's and confirmed at St. Michael's-on-the Heights where he was an acolyte and active in youth groups. After he and his wife Susan were married, they moved to Rutland to raise their four children. In the mid 90's they attended St. John's Episcopal Church where they administered the Interfaith Coalition Program "Hope for Housing" food cards until that parish sadly closed its doors. Six years ago Sue and Dave joined St. Francis's and one of their more special moments came when the hands of their children and grandchildren were placed on Sue as Bishop Scruton welcomed her into the Episcopalian family. Sue and Dave are regulars at the 8:00 service. They continued their work in the "Hope for Housing" program. They have suggested and participated in several book studies. Sue participates in the Prayer Shawl Ministry and as a member of the Altar Guild. As a couple they hope to continue their service to the Lord by being active members of the Parish of St. Francis.

Calendar

WEEKLY

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

September to June:

Choir Rehearsals: Sundays at 8:15 a.m.

Church School: Sundays at 9:45 a.m.

Youth Group: Sundays at 11:30 a.m.

Bell Choir Rehearsals: Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

MONTHLY

Mission Committee: First Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Vestry: Second Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Mustard Seed: Second Wednesday - Prep begins at noon. Pick-up for delivery is at 5:00 p.m.

Holden Nursing Home Eucharist: Second Thursday at 11:00 a.m.

Men's Ministry: Second Saturday at 7:00 a.m.

Prayer Shawl Ministry: Third Monday at 10:00 a.m.

Dismas Farm Dinner: Fourth Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

Useful Links

Server's Schedules: Acolytes | Altar Guild | LEMs/Lectors | Ushers

Feeding Ministry Schedules: Mustard Seed | Dismas Farm

Church School Newsletters: Family Connections

Youth Group: Schedule

Sermon Archives: Sermons

Senior's Birthdays: Birthday list

Calendar: Monthly calendar

Rector: The Rev. Patrick R. Perkins pperkins.stfrancis@gmail.com

Associate Rector: The Rev. Karen Safstrom karen.safstrom@gmail.com

Parish Administrator: Karen Heath stfran@verizon.net

Church School: Susan Bastardo smbastardo@gmail.com

Youth Minister: Matthew Haynes haynes.matthew.m@gmail.com

St. Francis Episcopal Church 508-829-3344

70 Highland Street stfran@verizon.net

Holden, MA 01520 www.stfrancisholden.org

Services of Holy Eucharist

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