October 2016

8

St. Francis Bulletin

From the Rector
Fr. Len Giacolone

The Church
As some of you know (as I believe I have mentioned it in Church), Bishop Iker will make his 2017 parish visitation to St. Francis on Sunday, April 2, the Fifth Sunday of Lent. In addition to whatever confirmations, receptions, or recommitments there may be, the Bishop has confirmed that he will consecrate our new church at that time. The consecration takes place at the beginning of the service and appears on pages 563-566 in the Prayer Book. The prayers are a beautiful reminder of what takes place in the House of God and why it is necessary to have a place to worship. It has always been thus, as is pointed out in one of the prayers of the service of consecration. Whether upon the direct command of God himself or the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have always built places to gather for the worship of God. It will be so until there is no “temple there, for God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Rev. 21:22). May God continue to bless us in our endeavor!

Capital Campaign
September 25 saw the launch of our parish capital campaign to pay off the loan on the new building. I want to thank Kevin Burnette and John Hatley who have worked diligently to put this plan together. Since I am writing this before their presentations, I don’t know exactly what they will say, nor all the details of the program. I would simply encourage each and every one of you to do the best you can to be part of this campaign. This is truly an “all hands on deck” project. Our numbers are not large. I believe that they will increase. But for now, the burden of this will fall on those who are with us at the moment. I know that there are generous people in our congregation. I have seen that over the many years of my ministry here. Please search your hearts and find a way to do a little more. “God is not unrighteous, that he will forget your works, and labor that proceedeth of love; which love ye have showed for his Name’s sake, who have ministered unto the saints, and yet do minister.” (Hebrews 6:10)

Moving
Once the new building is completed it will be necessary to move once again. The last one was a major project; this one will be even bigger because we have more to move. The more hands we have the easier it will be. I will soon be asking the heads of various ministries within our parish to start calculating what it will take to get us from Burnet Road to Oak Creek Drive. (Incidentally, the address for the new church is 3401 Oak Creek Drive, Austin, Texas 78727). If you are asked to help with any of these projects, please do whatever you can to assist. Thanks.

Finally. . .
Nothing happens, or at least nothing should happen, in the church without prayer. We have some diligent and faithful prayer warriors in our parish, people who pray hard and often. I am asking our intercessory prayer group to include all of the above in their daily prayers. But I am also asking each of you to join them. Whatever we are doing, we must be doing it for the sake of the kingdom. The kingdom runs on prayer. It is its fuel. Do not be hesitant to ask God to lead us in the days ahead, to guide our steps and to abide with us in everything we do. There is no doubt that God hears our prayers and that he will honor the faithfulness of his servants.

Anglicans for Life
In June 2016 California joined Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Montana in legalizing physician assisted suicide. Reasons for opposing “right-to-die” legislation include:

1.    Where aid-in-dying is offered, patients are subtly encouraged to pursue assisted suicide to avoid becoming a burden to others. Their right to die then becomes a duty to die.

2.    The potential for abuse is extreme. If patients change their minds, nothing prevents a care-giver, family member, or anyone who may profit from the death from mixing the contents of the pills with applesauce and feeding it to the unsuspecting patient.

3.    Physical pain is better alleviated not by killing the patient but by using medications to manage pain. Medical advances in pain control can help patients get relief from pain without resorting to killing themselves.

4.    Right-to-die legislation often denies health care professionals their freedom of conscience. Doctors are being denied their right to refuse to help people kill themselves without fear of punishment or loss of job.

5.    Affirming the right to kill yourself implies approval and acceptance of suicide as a solution to life’s challenges. It undermines efforts to prevent suicide, especially amongst young, impressionable people.

We all will someday face the end of our earthly life.  Many more of us will see old age and, likely, physical decline, just as many of us have seen with parents and family members. This can be a scary thought for many — no one likes thinking of suffering and dying, even for those of us who have faith in eternal life. But that fear cannot allow us to perceive assisted suicide and euthanasia as merciful or dignified. I encourage you to make a stand for natural death, that we as God’s people would honor and protect the lives of the elderly and vulnerable and speak out against efforts to normalize killing them using these five reasons.