St. Francis Episcopal Church

May 2016

Join us for worship:

Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.

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

From the Desk of the Rector

More than just remembering

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Dear Friends in Christ,

Welcome to Summer...almost! As I write this reflection, we are just days away from the Memorial Day weekend, the commonly held start of summer. But this weekend is much more than just the start of long days and sun tan lotion; the celebration of Memorial Day is when we take a few moments and remember those many, many women and men who looked beyond themselves for the good of their community and country, several of them making the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of others. We are right to celebrate this day in their memory and I hope that remembrance makes us a better people, a better community, a better country!

I have recently been sharing a Bible study with our vestry, making our way through Paul's letter to the Romans. The verse above is from chapter 8, and has been quoted often. In short, Paul hopes to say that God does not will all things, but there is nothing beyond God's love and redemption. And, importantly, we are participants in the realization of that love and redemption. I am glad to say that our "Pay It Forward" undertaking has filled many people with gratitude and excitement about how we were able to spread God's love and goodwill...many folks asking if & when we can do this again. The answer is an enthusiastic YES, with an added YES that every one of us is able to "pay it forward" each and every day! This idea is at the heart of Paul's message, and is the heart of how we are stewards of God's love and goodwill, and is the heart of how we remain a vibrant and dedicated community of Christians!

I am confident that we will be spreading the Good News of Christ's reconciling love in new and creative ways in the days ahead, and I close with a request: as you enjoy the warmth and slower pace of summer, please take a few moments (or many moments) to reflect on how God is calling you to use your resources to "work together for good," realizing that when we devote ourselves to God we must actively make God a priority in our lives and seek to do good beyond ourselves.

Enjoy the summer and may God's peace give you rest and reflection!

Blessings & peace,

Pat

Mission Opportunities

The Central Mass Housing Alliance will be holding its annual walk for the homeless on May 15th. A team of walkers from St. Francis will be there. Please join us in supporting Central Mass Housing Alliance. More information can be found at http://www.cmhaonline.org

Hope for Housing

On the evening of April 14th, a small contingent from St. Francis was in attendance at a reception called "A Night of Hope." It was held to thank our church and 24 other parishes for participating in the Central Mass Housing Alliance's "Hope for Housing" program. Here are some of the facts that were shared with those who were in attendance at this event:

Four hundred and forty nine families have been helped to stay in their homes.
Almost eleven hundred people have received assistance.
Forty three percent of those receiving assistance are children.
Eighty percent of those that are the head of the family are female.
The average age is 42.
Thirty four percent are disabled.
The average family size is 2.5
The percentage of households with children is 56.6%.
Sixty three percent have a high school degree or more.
Eleven percent have college degrees.

Recently, Governor Charlie Baker, who is trying to end the placement of families in hotels/motels, noted that Worcester, the second largest city in the commonwealth, currently has no families residing in hotels/motels. This is due in large part to the "Hope for Housing" program.

In the nine years since its inception in central Massachusetts, the "Hope for Housing" program has raised almost a quarter of a million dollars.

If you have participated in this program, thank you. If not, why not give it a try? Help St. Francis in this valuable mission.

Gift Cards are available for purchase in the narthex after each service on the 2nd and 4th weekends of every month. Coming up: May 14/15th & 28/29th. Cards will not be available at the 8:00 a.m. service on May 14th, but will be available on May 22nd.

Have Old Shoes? This month, the Mission Committee invites everyone to donate old shoes that are still in good condition in support of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester. Each year, IHN partners with an organization that re-sells and re-uses old shoes This shoe drive helps raise funds to cover the IHN's operating budget. Starting on May 14/15 and until the end of the month, we will have a drop off box in the Narthex so that people from St. Francis can deposit shoes. For more information, please contact Esteban Loustaunau, eloustaunau@assumption.edu

Habitat for Humanity Build Day Save the date. May 21st is our annual Habitat for Humanity build day. This year we will be building a child's playhouse for the family of a veteran with a child 6 years old or under. We will be working in two shifts, the first in the morning starting at 7:30 a.m. and finishing at lunchtime, and the second beginning at lunchtime and finishing at 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be served to both groups and there will be an unveiling at the end of the day. We are seeking 10 volunteers, age 16 or older, for each shift. If you are interested, please sign up in the Narthex or contact Kathy Diehl (khdiehl@charter.net), Dick Welch (welch96@charter.net) or Esteban Loustaunau (eloustaunau@assumption.edu). More information to follow.

Men's Ministry

Our mission is simple - To serve those who aren't able to keep up with tasks around the house and who have insufficient means to cope on their own. Our projects have been as simple as moving some heavy furniture to the garage for a couple in Holden so they could sell it in a garage sale to building a handicap ramp for a woman in Worcester.

Help us to help our brothers and sisters in the St. Francis community, and the wider community. Let us know if you, or someone you know, needs a hand.

Bryan Diehl - diehl4@charter.net

Church School Schedule for May and June

SATURDAY May 14th: Bread baking lesson for Eucharist Instruction class
May 15th: Pentecost - Celebration for children in Eucharist Instruction. Regular church school for everyone else. No pageant rehearsal (Eucharist Instruction reception after the service).
SATURDAY May 21st: Pageant dress rehearsal
Ma 22nd: Pageant presenation! All students encouraged to attend!!
May 29th (Memorial Day): Regular church school
June 5th: Banner party and end of year celebration.

EfM Open House

Come Think With Us!

Education for Ministry (EfM) Open House

Thursday, May 26th 6:30-8:30 pm

St. Clare House, Phillips Rd., Holden

(Across the parking lot from St. Francis Episcopal Church)

Interested in deepening your knowledge of Scripture and church history? Wondering how it all applies to your daily life? Trying to determine what your "ministry" is? Come and explore the Education for Ministry program at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Holden.

Every baptized person is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides people from all walks of life with the education "to be" Christians and to carry out their ministry. EfM is designed to support adults as they seek to live out their faith at home, at work and in the world. To learn more or RSVP, contact Robin Carlo at spiritualformationwma@gmail.com

BCH Episcopal Camp and Conference Center

Looking for summer camping opportunities? Check out the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center. Click here for more information.