St. Francis Episcopal Church 
March 2016
 
Join us for worship:
Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.
Sundays at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
Lenten Programs
The Lenten Midweek Program continues on Wednesday evenings in Lent (March 2, 9, and 16). Join us for a time of food, fellowship, reflection, and worship as we gather for a simple supper, viewing and discussion of short videos on aspects of faith from the Animate Faith series, and Eucharist.
The schedule is as follows:
5:30 p.m. - Simple Supper - Coordinated by Nancy Rogan, please use the sign-up sheet located in
             the narthex for attendance and for those willing to provide soup for the meal.
6:00 p.m. - Video Viewing and Discussion
March 2 - Jesus: The Revolution of Love by Mark Scandrette;
March 9 - Salvation: Abundant Life Now by Shane Hipps &
Cross: Where God Is by Nadia Bolz Weber;
March 16 - Bible: A Book Like No Other by Lauren Winner
7:00 p.m. - Eucharist of Thanksgiving for Creation and Redemption from A New Zealand Prayer Book  
  
The Lenten Bible Study continues on Thursday mornings in Lent (March 3, 10 & 17) from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Letter to the Hebrews is an ancient church sermon (originally attributed to Paul) that was meant to spread faith and hope to a Christian community facing the difficult circumstances of living the Good News of the Gospel in the midst of great hardships. Many of us may find the circumstances of our daily lives give us cause to feel tired, stressed out, and living with the heavy weight of the world on our shoulders. During our Lenten Bible study, we will gather and explore the hope-filled words of The Letter to the Hebrews and translate its meaning to our lives today. We will study the thirteen chapters of the letter over the course of four meetings...please join us for all four dates, or just one, as your schedule allows. Please sign-up in the narthex. 
  
A Lenten Quiet Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 12th. We will gather from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for fellowship, refreshments, prayer, and a viewing and discussion of the short videos that are part of the "Sitting in the Dark: Growing through the Poetry of Pain" series from the Work of the People. The videos explore how in times of darkness in our lives when we go through pain, depression, grief, or fear we can experience these things as forms of suffering, but they can also be times of transformation and healing. Video presenters include Barbara Brown Taylor, Brene Brown, Glennon Melton Doyle, Jean Vanier, Walter Bruggemann, Parker Palmer, and Nish Weiseth. For more information or if you have questions please contact Karen Safstrom (karen.safstrom@gmail.com). A sign-up sheet can be found on the table in the narthex.
Adult Confirmation
Anyone 16 years or older who is interested in Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church on June 4th please speak to Pat or Karen and sign-up in the narthex.
Living Your Faith, Discerning Your Call
All are welcome to this "Loving the Questions" event! Saturday, March 19   9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at All Saints' Episcopal Church, South Hadley
The Life we most deeply desire is ready to unfold. When we release our ego driven needs for power, prestige and possessions we find the freedom to ask:
  • What do I care about most?
  • What am I really good at?
  • Who are my people?
  • What spiritual practices dispose me to hear God's call?
  • Where do I find the courage to take the next step?

Church School Programs

Preparation for this year's Children's Pageant, "Dare to Be a Daniel" (the story of Daniel in the lion's den) will begin on Sunday March 13th after the 10:00 service.  Rehearsals will take place every week after church except on Easter and Pentecost.  A special rehearsal (date TBD) will be held during April vacation for all who can attend, and dress rehearsal will take place on Saturday May 21st in preparation for out presentation on May 22nd.  All church school aged children are encouraged to participate!

 

The Children's Palm Saturday Program is scheduled for Saturday, March 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ~ St. Francis Church and St. Clare House.

Children (age 3 through Grade 5) will have a variety of Lent/Easter activities to choose from such as planting, painting, cooking, dyeing eggs, and making "stained glass" windows. Small groups will also take turns in a "prayer walk," which will help them to experience Holy Week in a dramatic way (e.g. walking into Jerusalem with palms, sharing bread and "wine," participating in a Tenebrae service and crawling into the tomb.) Activities could get messy and the "tomb" (St. Clare basement) will be cold so please dress in warm play clothes! Children should bring a lunch. Drinks and cookies will be provided. A sign up sheet will be posted in the narthex.
Parents who are interested in helping should contact Sue Bastardo (508) 829-0600.  

Mission Programs
On Sunday, February 28th youth and adults from St. Francis will be visiting Worcester Fellowship to serve cocoa and lunch and to join their community for worship. In the month of February, as we prepare for our February 28th visit, we will be collecting men's white socks, men's briefs - size medium, and men's hats, gloves, and scarves (all items should be new) to bring with us to share with members of the Worcester Fellowship community. You can help us in that effort by bringing in any of the above items and placing them in the container in the narthex marked "Collection for Worcester Fellowship" by February 28.
If you have any questions about the collection or would like to help with preparation for our visit to their community please contact Karen Safstrom at karen.safstrom@gmail.com.

Hope for Housing Gift Cards are available for purchase after each service on 2nd and 4th weekends of every month.  The schedule for February and March are as follows: February 27-28 and March 12-13 & 26-27

The Mission Committee presents a 3-film series:  Instruments of Change - A Journey in Search of One's Identity   Fridays at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Admission is free. A discussion will follow each film.
March 4 - Gaining Ground: Building Community in Dudley Street
April 1 - Street Medicine
May 6 - Abrazos (Embraces)
Senior Ministry Program
Mindfulness (Part 2) will be offered on Thursday, March 17th from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Practicing Mindfulness: An Introduction to Meditation - An Audio Lecture by Mark W. Muesse, Ph.D. - Facilitated by Deborah Johansen Harris and the Rev. Ted Harris -Two ½-hour lectures with discussion. Award-winning Professor Mark W. Muesse of Rhodes College takes you on a dynamic exploration of your own mind, giving you a clear and useable understanding of the essence of meditation and guided exercises on how to practice it. Investigate how the mind operates and the condition of "mindlessness"-the pervasive swirl of thoughts and judgments that separate you from the world around you. Instead, Do you control your mind, or does your mind control you? Investigate how the mind operates and the condition of "mindlessness"-the pervasive swirl of thoughts and judgments that separate you from the world around you. Consider the possibility of cultivating the mind in ways conducive to deep well-being for yourself and others.develop mindfulness practice-non-judgmental attention to experience its many benefits: The freedom of how you choose to respond to life, releasing detrimental emotions and patterns of thinking, and its positive effect on your physical health.* Our second session will include guided reflections and meditations and discussion topics for: Mind: Working with Thoughts and Finitude: Living in the Face of Death.* Please sign up in the Narthex.
*Further description of this presentation is available on the sign-up table in the Narthex.

Useful Links
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                                 
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Services of Holy Eucharist
Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. | Sundays at 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. | Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
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