From the Rector
Fr. Len Giacolone
I first of all want to say thanks to the many people in the parish who worked so hard to make the Holy Week and Easter services so beautiful. Becky Hunt and all the members of the Altar Guild. Our organist, Paula Blaha. Amy Crandell and the members of the choir. Jim Crandell for creating some of the music for the services. All the Lectors and Acolytes who participated in each of the services. It is of course always a collective effort to make sure that these worship services are well done and a fitting representation of worship in Spirit and in Truth. Thanks to David and Kim Norris who take care of our hospitality ministry so well. I also want to thank all of you who have been volunteering in the Nursery. We are still in need of volunteers for some time to come. So, thanks to all of you, and to anyone whom I may have inadvertently left out.
Food Drive Results
As I mentioned in church on Easter Sunday, our food drive during Lent netted 546 pounds of food and $1,660.00 dollars for the benefit of The Storehouse in Pflugerville. They were extremely grateful for our help.
New Church Building
Where are we on the new Church? Making progress, I am happy to say. The big news this week is the installation of the stained glass windows in the sanctuary. The three windows, designed and fabricated by IHS Studios of Fredericksburg, are magnificent in my humble opinion. They are representations of the Holy Trinity. IHS is currently working on the designs for the eight cathedral windows in the nave of the church. Though not likely at this point, I still have hope that we might be able to have them installed by the time of the bishop’s visit on June 18. The additions of these items inside the church (not part of the construction budget) has been possible through the very generous donations of a very few individuals. I cannot thank them enough. Of course, I am grateful to all of you who are contributing on an ongoing basis to the capital campaign which will be with us for some time. Although I do not have an actual date for our move to the new facility, it looks like they may be finished with the building toward the end of May. Please keep praying.
Wish List
While I am on the subject of furnishings for the new church I might as well put my wish list out there. We will need a Sanctuary Lamp for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. I would like to have a new thurible and incense boat. The one we have is ancient and although it was a gift many years ago from a former parishioner, it is past its prime. We are in need of a bucket and sprinkler for holy water, and I believe it would be nice to have a standing holy water font instead of the tiny one that is screwed to the back wall of our current facility. If you would like either to purchase outright or make a contribution towards any of these items please contact me.
Bishop Iker
April 24 was the 24th anniversary of Bishop Iker’s consecration as a bishop and also the 45th anniversary of his ordination to the deaconate. The bishop celebrated mass in the chapel of the diocesan center on that day with some members of the diocesan clergy. Congratulations to Bishop Iker and thanks to him for his many years of service and leadership in our diocese.
Ascension Day
Thursday, May 25, is the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, a day of obligation. I will celebrate Holy Communion at 12:00 noon on that day. A brief word about days of obligation. The church points to certain days of the liturgical calendar to highlight the solemnity of events in the life of the Lord. It seeks to engender in us a need to worship on these days and so requires us to attend. If that is not possible, some special observance should be made of the day and event, perhaps by celebrating morning or evening prayer.
National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 4 is the National Day of Prayer. The 2017 theme is:
FOR YOUR GREAT NAME'S SAKE! HEAR US … FORGIVE US … HEAL US!
Check out the many events in this area:
• Bastrop - Courtyard Gazebo, noon
• Austin - Capitol Rotunda, noon
• Cedar Park - Police Station, noon
• Georgetown -Main Street Ministry Center, 6:30 PM
• Hutto - the Gin at the Co-op District, 6-7 am
• Round Rock - TX Baptist Children's Home Chapel, noon
• Taylor - Prayer at the Pavilion in Robinson Park, 11:30 am
Check out the details on www.ndpaustin.org/events.htm.
Anglicans for Life
Steve McCown
The St. Francis Chapter of Anglicans for Life would like to bring the National Right to Life Academy to the attention to those of you who have college students in your family or among your acquaintances. The NRL Academy is a five‑week intensive course for college students who want a comprehensive pro‑life education. The program is a collegiate curriculum in every sense of the term: expectations, academic level, workload, and commitment required.
This innovative program is held every summer in Washington D.C. In addition to learning to be an articulate and effective advocate for life, students have the opportunity to earn 3 college credits. Tuition is $3600 and includes lodging near the NRL headquarters in Washington as well as attendance at the 2017 NRL Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A previous student (Rachel Barga ’08) remarks, “I have the same convictions that I had before…but now I have all the information and practice I need – the statistics, arguments and speaking techniques – to effectively articulate those convictions.”
If you know young people who might be interested in this exciting academic experience, please refer them to the NRL website where they can get the details regarding the curriculum as well as application materials.
Sunday School
Missy Bernard
The St. Francis Sunday school will draw to a close in May for this academic year.
Our last Sunday School class before the summer break will be Sunday, May 21st. Classes will resume on September 10th. Doug, Denise, Sue and I have enjoyed working with your kids this year! We hope they have enjoyed it, too. We wish everyone a happy and safe summer, and look forward to coming together again in the fall!
Bishop Iker at St. Francis
for Confirmation and the Building Dedication
Bishop Iker will visit St. Francis on June 18 to dedicate the building and for confirmation. If you are interested in being confirmed, received into the church - i.e. already confirmed in another church, or reaffirming your confirmation, please see Fr. Len.
Potluck Luncheon
April 30, 2017 is the second 5th Sunday of 2017. Please to bring something tasty to eat and share with your St. Francis friends for the Potluck Luncheon after the 11:00 service.
Hymn Sing
All are welcome to come to the Retirement and Nursing Center at 6909 Burnet Lane at 3:30 PM on April 30. We primarily sing hymns, with some prayers and Bible readings thrown in the mix for an hour on every 5th Sunday.
Pentecost Feast
June 4 is the Day of Pentecost. The members of the St. Polycarp's Guild are going to fire up their grills and produce some wonderful meat for all to eat as part of the Pentecost BBQ held after the 11:00 service. If you would like to eat something in addition to meat, please plan to bring the dish - and make enough to share with your St. Francis friends! Suggestions are the typical - salads, veggies, bread, side dishes and desserts. Sharing a meal together is always a good thing.
May Readings
5/7 3 after Ester
- Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a, 51-60
- Psalm 23
- 1 Peter 2:19-25
- John 10:1-10
5/14 4 after Easter
- Acts 17:1-15
- Psalm 66:1-8
- 1 Peter 2:1-10
- John 14:1-14
5/21 5 after Easter
- Acts 17:22-31
- Psalm 148:7-13
- 1 Peter 3:8-18
- John 15:1-8
5/25 Ascension Day
- Acts 1:1-11
- Psalm 47
- Ephesians 1:15-23
- Luke 24:49-53
5/28 Sunday after Ascension Day
- Acts 1:1-14
- Psalm 47
- 1 Peter 4:12-19
- John 17:1-1
May Church Calendar
Sundays
- 9:30 AM Said Holy Communion
- 9:30 AM Sunday School
- 10:00 AM Choir Practice
- 11:00 AM, Holy Communion On the first Sunday, this service is sung Morning Prayer with Holy Communion.
Thursdays
1st Friday, May 5
- 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Games Night
1st Saturday May 6
- 9:00 AM, Prayer Service for our Nation
2nd Monday, May 8
3rd Friday, May 19
- 12 PM, Mothers' Prayer Group
4th Sunday, May 21
- 12:30 PM, Anglicans for Life Meeting.
The Day of Ascension, May 25
- 12 PM, Noon, Holy Communion
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
1 Amy Crandell
4 Cathy Stevenson
9 Randy Scheer
17 Sandy Scheer
Anniversaries
21 Michael Adams and Kerry Manning
23 Chaille and Missy Bernard
31 Keith and Gayle Harrell, Ben and Shirley Ellis, Thomas Sager and RobinRuth Alexander
St. Francis Anglican Church of Austin
A parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth
Diocese Office: 2900 Alemeda St.
Fort Worth, TX 76108
Bishop: The Rt. Rev’d Jack L. Iker, D.D
Rector: The Rev. Canon Len Giacolone
Music Director and Organist: Paula Blaha
Parish Administrator: Mark Rambin
Treasurer: Grady Collins
Senior Warden: David Norris
Junior Warden: John Hatley
Secretary: Kevin Burnette
Vestry Members
Class of 2018: Don St.Martin, Ed Sandlin, John Hatley
Class of 2019: Brendle Glomb, David Norris, Kevin Burnette
Class of 2020: Missy Bernard, Dinah Arce
Fr. Len Giacolone
Church Group Leaders
Acolytes: Fr. Len Giacolone
Altar Guild: Becky Hunt
Anglicans for Life: Rory Motl
Christian Education for Youth: Missy Bernard, Denise Gentsch, Doug Cooper
Christian Education for Adults: Fr. Len Giacolone
Evening Prayer: Jim Crandell
Home Group Hosts: Claire Ducker, Doug Cooper
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 Service for Nation: Amy & Jim Crandell
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: Susan Rambin
5th Sunday Nursing Home Service: Amy & Jim Crandell
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