St Francis Bulletin
October 2015, Volume 22, Issue 8
From the Rector
Fr. Len Giacolone
Sunday, October 4, is the Feast of St. Francis, the patron of our parish. It is rare that the feast falls on a Sunday. In the church's calendar, St. Francis is not a big enough feast to supplant the celebration of the Sunday liturgy. However, when it is a patronal feast, an exception can be made. So we will celebrate St. Francis on the 4th. I'm not calling for anything special on that day other than the feast itself since we have a big celebration coming up in October (see below). But it is good to acknowledge our patron and ask his intercession for us especially in this time of transition.
On that Sunday, there will be an extremely brief parish meeting following the 11:00 am service. As I told you last month, it is necessary, according to our by-laws, for the parish to vote to affiliate with any jurisdiction. We will vote on that day to affiliate with the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. To my knowledge, we have met all the requirements of the Diocese for our affiliation, namely the signing of the Article of Conformity and the Vestry's formal request to become members of the Diocese of Fort Worth. This vote will meet our requirement. Since so many have already signed the Article of Conformity, I do not expect any problems, or even much discussion at the meeting. It may also be necessary to elect a delegate to the Diocesan Convention, which will take place in Arlington, at St. Peter and Paul parish on November 13 and 14. At the convention, St. Francis will be seated formally with the other member parishes of the Diocese, with voice and vote. Things on that front are coming together nicely.
To that end as well, Bishop Jack Leo Iker, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Fort Worth, will visit us on Wednesday evening, October 21, at 6:30 pm. The members of St. Claire's Guild have graciously offered to provide dinner for the event. It is my hope that as many of you as possible will be able to attend. I know it is not an ideal time, especially for those of you who work during the day. Since I have asked the bishop to meet with the parish before we join the diocese, I would like a really good showing. Please mark your calendars.
A Word About St. Francis
Most everyone in the church knows the story of St. Francis' life, at least in general. He came from a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy and in his early years lived a life of comparative luxury. During a serious illness during which he almost died, the Lord gave him a mission for his life. His family was so disappointed that they disowned him and he was left to beg on the streets as a means of helping the poor. He attracted others to his cause and eventually formed a religious community which we now know as the Franciscans. They took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and devoted their lives to God's poor. Shortly before his death, he was given the stigmata, or the wounds of Our Lord. Within two years of his death, he was recognized and venerated as a saint of the church.
Most of us are not called to such a radical embrace of poverty. We are called, however, to be mindful of the poor in everything we do. Through your generosity, the parish strives to help people in need in many different ways, including our ongoing association with the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center and The Storehouse. It is my hope that we will always live up to our calling as Christians to do what we can to imitate Our Lord and his servant, St. Francis of Assisi, not only with our prayers but also with our meeting of the material needs of God's children.
Phoebe Hughes
As the St. Francis chapter of Anglicans for Life comes close to the end of our seventh year, we want to reaffirm our strong dedication to the sanctity of life. One of the ways that we have tried to show this is with our support of the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center. This organization has been supported financially by our parish for years and we added to that last year by helping to supply them with diapers. This year we would like to enlarge this by adding some of their other needs. I have checked with them and this is a list of some of the greatest needs: diapers (sizes 3,4,5 and 6), wipes (they need lots), teething rings, pacifiers, baby bottles and clothing (sizes 12-24 months, particularly boys).
We will have a basket and boxes to receive any and all that your generosity will supply. So when you do your shopping, throw in a package of baby wipes, a pacifier, etc. APRC is dependent on the generosity of others to continue their very valuable work. St. Francis shines with its generosity and caring. We look forward to what will be a special year for our parish.
Missy Bernard
Sunday School classes have resumed! It is good to see the kids back in class again.
The younger class was scheduled to begin the 2015-2016 One Room Sunday School curriculum, now called Deep Blue, but unfortunately the story sequence was very similar to last year's. So instead, we've decided to go with the 2012-2013 One Room Sunday School curriculum, which will be new to most of the children.
Unit One is called We Remember Moses, and its theme is "God is with me when I need help." It is inspired by Psalm 77:11: "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." Our first lesson was Moses In The Bulrushes.
The older class continues to work with Doug Cooper.
Operation Christmas Child Boxes
Yes, it's that time of year again, but this year it will be a little different! You have always been so generous with your shoe boxes in the past, so this year we will be making it easier for you. We have decided to try Operation Christmas Child pre-printed boxes. These can be ordered in bulk, and are easily put together. The benefit, aside from being colorful and fun for the kids, is that they are a standard size, making them easier to pack consistently and also more efficient and less expensive for Operation Christmas Child to transport to needy children.
John & Christina Hatley
The entire St. Francis congregation is invited to a party at the Hatley house.
Date: Saturday October 17th
Time: 11 a.m
Location: 331 County Road 457, Coupland, TX 78615, (~30 miles from the church)
Regrets only to Christina. Bring a lawn chair as seating is limited.
Loving -- Graciously
by Friar Jeremy Harrington, O.F.M
I am inspired by St. Francis of Assisi praising God in all creation and what a joy it is for me to walk outside and soak in the beauty of God's world. Pope Francis began his new encyclical by quoting “The Canticle of Creatures” by St. Francis. Both men love creation and people. Sometimes, however, St. Francis' love for Brother Wolf or Sister Wren is emphasized more than his love for people.
He saw as his mission sharing the Good News. He and his brothers walked from village to village to tell everyone about God's love. In his joy, sometimes Francis picked up two sticks and played them like a violin and sang in French.
The poor received special attention. In his “Testament,” St. Francis says the Lord led him among the lepers who were banished outside the walls of Assisi. Francis lived among them, nursed their wounds, and treated them with dignity. He counts as a great blessing that God gave him brothers, St. Clare and her sisters, and lay married and single people to follow his Gospel way of life.
Mercy Given
I want to imitate Francis' love for others and his nonjudgmental attitude and sensitivity to each person. Here are a couple of examples.
When Francis left home and Assisi, he took off his fine clothes and returned them to his merchant father. He put on the rough tunic of a beggar. But he told his followers “not to look down or pass judgment on those they see wearing soft and colorful clothing and enjoying the choicest food and drink; instead each must criticize and despise himself.”
In the Rule, Francis told his followers not to judge others but to be “peaceful and unassuming, gentle and humble, speaking courteously to everyone.” He cautioned them not to become “angry or disturbed because of the sin of another, since anger and disturbance hinder charity in themselves and others.”
Francis observed strict fasts himself, but was sensitive to the limitations of others. I love the story of the brother who cried out in the middle of the night, “I'm dying of hunger!” Francis jumped up, woke up the other brothers, and told them to set out what food they had so they could share a meal. He didn't want the hungry brother to be embarrassed by his hunger and eating alone. He called the chosen leader of each friary “minister” (servant). In a letter to the ministers he wrote: “There should not be any brother in the world who has sinned ... who after he has looked into your eyes, would go away without having received your mercy.”
That's the attitude I want: love people, don't be quick to judge, but be quick to excuse and forgive. Francis loved everyone—graciously.
From September 23rd - November 1st we will unite with hundreds of cities across the country and world for a simultaneous 40-day prayer vigil. 40 Days for Life is a 40-day campaign of prayer, fasting and a constant peaceful prayer vigil in front of abortion clinics. This international movement has resulted in 60 abortion clinics closing, over 118 abortion clinic workers having conversions and leaving their jobs, and over 10,330 women choosing life for children they were going to abort. Here in Central Texas at least 213 women have changed their minds and chosen life!
Volunteers are needed to participate in the daily prayer vigil in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic on Ben White. Consider committing an hour of your time each week to join this prayer vigil. If you are interested in participating in this life-saving campaign, go to http://www.centraltexascoalition.com/, email info@centraltexascoalition.com or call the Central Texas Coalition for Life office at 512.296.2071. You can also just stop at the clinic and pray.
- We the People of God as Saint Francis Anglican Church are a community of believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ whose mission it is to spread that Gospel in what we preach and in the way we live.
- We are called to know the Word of God, to act on it in our lives and to share it with our brothers and sisters in the world.
- We are determined to hold the ancient faith of our ancestors in the Anglican tradition, to uphold traditional Christian values based on the Holy Word of God and to be faithful witnesses to the person of Jesus in the Austin Community.
- St. Francis parish is dedicated to the presence of Christ in the lives of the poor, the needy, the sick, to each other and to all those to whom Jesus comes to minister in His life on earth.
- As a community of believers, we intend to entrust our growth in love, in faith and in resources to the generosity of God.
5 Kevin Burnette
6 Gideon Hatley
8 Mary Sanders
13 Gayle Harrell
15 Sasha Jacobs, Dwight Davis
25 Carole Martin, Ed Sandlin
27 Suzan Stratton
28 David Norris
29 Kerry Glenn
30 John Hatley
2 John and Christiana Hatley
3 Len and Nancy Giacolone
7 Robert and Rory Motl
13 Ed and Katie Sandlin
St. Francis Activities
Our parish has many groups to carry out our mission. Here are more details on a few of them:
- Women of the Church - Led by Leanne Read, all the women of St. Francis are members of this group. Currently, it functions as the parent group of the St. Francis smaller groups as St. Clare's Guild, Altar Guild, and Women's Bible Study.
- 5th Sunday Nursing Home Service - For the past 8 years, St. Francis has presence at the Retirement and Nursing Center on Burnet Lane. On the afternoon of the 5th Sunday, a small group meets the interested residents for an hour of hymns, prayers and Bible readings. All are welcome to join.
Readings for October
10/4 St. Francis
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 8
Hebrews 2:9-18
Mark 10:2-9
10/11 19 aft Trinity
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
Psalm 90
Hebrews 3:1-6
Mark 10: 17-31
10/18 St. Luke
Ecclesiasticus 38:1-4,6-10,12-14
Psalm 147
2 Timothy 4:5-13
Luke 4:14-21
10/25 21 aft Trinity
Isaiah 59:9-19
Psalm 13
Hebrews 5:12-6:1, 9-12
Mark 10:46-52
October Calendar
Sundays
- 9:30 am, Holy Communion (said service)
10/4 Feast of St. Francis
- 9:30 am, Sunday school
- 10 am, Choir Practice
- 11 am, Holy Communion with music. On the first Sunday, this service is sung Morning Prayer with Holy Communion.
Thursdays
1st Friday, October. 2
1st Saturday, Oct. 3
2nd Monday, October 12
3rd Thursday, October 15
- 12 pm, Noon, Mothers' Prayer Group
3rd Sunday, October. 18
- 12:30 pm, Anglicans for Life
Wednesday, October 21
- 6:30 pm, Dinner and visit from Bishop Iker
Staff
Rector: The Rev. Canon Len Giacolone
Music Director and Organist: Paula Blaha
Church Groups
Vestry Members: Senior Warden, Mark Rambin; Junior Warden, Keith Harrell; Treasurer, Michael Ready; Secretary, Jim Crandell; Grady Collins, John Hatley, Anne Idsal, Ed Sandlin, Fr. Len Giacolone
Acolytes: Fr. Len Giacolone
Altar Guild: Becky Hunt
Anglicans for Life: Phoebe Hughes
Austin City Prayer Walk: Amy & Jim Crandell
Choir: Amy Crandell
Christian Education for Youth: Missy Bernard, Doug Cooper
Christian Education for Adults: Fr. Len Giacolone
Evening Prayer: Jim Crandell
Home Group Hosts: Claire Ducker, Anne Idsal, Kim & David Norris
Hospitality: Kim and David Norris
Intercessory Prayer Group: Fr. Len and Nancy Giacolone
Mothers' Prayer Group: Charlotte Ready
Newsletter & Pew Sheet: Amy Crandell
Nursery: Missy Bernard & Grace Rowse
Prayer Shawl Ministry: Charlotte Ready
Readers: Mark Rambin
St. Claire's Guild: Eileen Cole
St. Polycarp's Guild: Jim Crandell
Ushers: Al Parker
Webmaster: Jim Crandell
Women's Bible Study: Becky Hunt
Women of the Church: Leanne Read
5th Sunday Nursing Home Service: Amy & Jim Crandell
Newsletter Submissions
Newsletter articles are gladly accepted for inclusion in the next month's newsletter. E-mail to amytcrandell@gmail.com by the 20th of the month.
|
