St. Francis Weekly                      
March 25 - April 1, 2018
Quote of the Week. . .
The love for equals is a human thing--of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles. The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing--the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world. The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing--to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints. And then there is the love for the enemy--love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured's love for the torturer. This is God's love. It conquers the world.
                                                             --Frederick Buechner


Food for Thought. . .
Given the crazy weather, our midweek services and reflections were cancelled twice.  One of those gatherings was when Margery Irish was to offer her spiritual journey reflection.  It follows. . . 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth......uh oh, somebody already wrote that., however I thought what a powerful way to begin relating one's spiritual journey. As much as we credit our parents, in our beginning, God created us, you and me, and I wonder if on occasion God thinks, "what have I wrought?"
We lived in New York City, two blocks from Central Park, and one block from St Ignatius Loyola, a beautiful Roman Catholic Church, to which Peggy Casey took me daily, en route to the park. Peg, my beloved Irish nanny, held my hand as we walked down the aisle in the darkened church. We'd genuflect, sit in a pew and Peg would whisper to three year old me, "Margie Parge, do you see that man up there hanging on the cross?" I would nod and she continued, "That's the best friend you'll ever have in your life".  To read more, click here. . .
Link of the Week. . .
During the coming week, we are to face ourselves and be honest about the ways that we continue to participate with the crowds who called for Jesus' crucifixion.  There are still people on the cross today.  In many ways, it is easy to call out those lesser angels of our nature.  In other ways, it is very hard.  The following is case in point. .  .

For Further Reflection. . .  
Two short clip from theologian Peter Rollins appropriate for this coming week.  One is entitled  Tearing the Temple Curtain . . .

and the other is The Idolatry of God

                   
Weekly Schedule

Saturday, March 24
9:00 AM      Church Altar Guild Silver Polishing (Church)
9:00 AM      Prison Ministry
Noon            March for Our Lives Rally at Mill River Park
5:00 PM    St. Francis Saturday Night Service (Historic Church)

Sunday, March 25--Palm Sunday
8:00 AM        Worship Service with Eucharist (Historic Church)
                      Celebrant: Debra Slade
                      Preacher:  Mark Lingle
                      Vicar:  Debra Slade
Minister of Music:  Richard Weidlich
                      Intern:  Brandon Ashcraft
10:00 AM     Worship Service with Eucharist (Church)
                      Celebrant: Debra Slade
                      Preacher:  Mark Lingle
                      Vicar:  Debra Slade
Minister of Music:  Richard Weidlich      
Intern:  Brandon Ashcraft

9:00 AM       Historic Church Altar Guild Silver Polishing (Historic Church)

11:15 AM      Rearranging the Sanctuary to the Easter profile (Church)

11:15 AM      Music Committee Meeting (Church)

This Week at a Glance

Monday (26)
11:00 AM Meeting with Ferguson Library

Tuesday (27)
6:00 PM  Interfaith Seder (Grace Farms)

Wednesday (28)
8:00 AM   Meeting with Stamford Public Schools regarding faith communities
5:00 PM   Building One Community Meeting
7:00 PM  Holy Week Labyrinth Meditation (Church)

Thursday (29)
11:00 AM   Edgehill Eucharist
7:00 PM  Maundy Thursday Service (Historic Church)

Friday (30)
7:00 PM   Good Friday Service (Historic Church)

Saturday (31)
10:00 AM    Easter Egg Event (Church)
8:00 PM   Easter Vigil (Church)

Sunday (1)  Feast of the Resurrection
7:00 AM Festive Easter Sunrise Eucharist  (Historic Church)
9:00 AM  Festive Easter Eucharist (Church)
11:00 AM   Festive Easter Eucharist (Church)
Save the Date

Sunday, April 8 @ 9:00 AM (Meeting Room)
Historic Church Coffee Hour--10AMers, Come and Join Us!

Sunday, April 8 @ 11:15 AM (Church)
Miles for a Mission Road Race Meeting

Sunday, April 15 @ 4:00 PM @ 4:00 PM (Church)
Service for Pets and Their People

Monday, April 16 @ 6:00 PM (Margery Irish's Home)
Prayer Shawl Ministry

Wednesday, April 18 @ Noon
Stamford Clergy Meeting

Wednesday, April 18 @ 7:00 PM (Meeting Room)
Vestry Meeting

Friday, April 20 - Sunday, April 22 (Holy Cross Monastery)
Parish Retreat

Saturday, April 21 for the day (Church)
Stamford Chorale using sanctuary

Saturday, April 28@ 9:00 AM
Prison Ministry

Thursday, May 3 @ 6:30 PM
Episcopal Church in Connecticut Visioning Meeting

Friday, May 4 @ 7:00 PM
Midnight Run

Wednesday, May 16 @ Noon
Stamford Clergy Meeting

Wednesday, May 16 @ 7:00 PM (Meeting Room)
Vestry Meeting

Saturday, May 19 @ 9:00 AM 
Prison Ministry

Saturday, May 19 @ 7:00 PM (Church)
St. Francis Sounds Good Concert:  Broadway Revue

Sunday, June 3 @ 8AM and 10AM 
Load-A-Truck Sunday

Sunday, June 3 @ 11:00 AM (Church)
Parish Picnic

Wednesday, June 20 @ 7:00 PM (Meeting Room)
Vestry Meeting


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