The Weekly News
November 30, 2017
First Week of Advent
Saturday, December 2, 2017
5:00 pm
Pres ider: Kay Schmitt
Homilist:  George von Stamwitz
Readers: Art Maines, John Dahlberg
Eucharistic Ministers: Mary Jordan, Helen Gennari, Mary Ellen Kruger
Sacristan: Kathy Grewe
Location: 204 East Lockwood, 63119

Sunday, December 3, 2017
9:00 am
Presider:  Kay Schmitt
Homilist:  George von Stamwitz
Location:  17 Selma Avenue, 63119
First Saturday Reception 
 
Please join us after Mass on December 2 for a few minutes of refreshments and fellowship in the Fireside Room. It is a good time to have some pre-dinner snacks and interact with community members.
Members Vote to Continue Additional Sunday Morning Mass

The Parish Council received and reviewed the results of the parish members’ vote—where 85% of voters were in favor of continuing the Sunday morning Mass at Mead Center. The Parish Council announced that the Sunday Morning Mass at Mead Center will continue as a regular feature of Sts. Clare & Francis. The Mead Center is at 17 Selma Avenue, directly across the street from Webster Groves High School and is adjacent to Christ Lutheran Church in Webster Groves.  Mass begins at 9:00 am. This Mass is in addition to our Saturday evening Mass at 5:00 pm at Peace UCC Church, 204 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves. 
Calling All Carolers!

Sunday, December 17 at 4:30 pm . Sts. Clare & Francis Carolers will gather at C.J. Muggs to share the blessings and joys of Christmas with our Webster Groves neighbors. After caroling, we will have dinner together at C.J. Muggs. 

If you have any questions, please send me an email at Suzanne.Schloemann@gmail.com

Need a Christmas Carol re-fresher? We will be meeting at SCF at 4:00 pm to practice, then heading to C.J. Muggs.
Social Justice Books and Movies
 
The voting results are in! The two movies receiving the most votes are Poverty, Inc. (2016) and The Brainwashing of My Dad (2015). We anticipate having movie nights to view and discuss these movies in May and August, respectively. The three books receiving the most votes are Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi by Richard Rohr OFM (2014), A New Garden Ethic: Cultivating Defiant Compassion for an Uncertain Future by Benjamin Vogt (2017) and We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2017). We plan to engage the first book during Lent, and the other two in the summer and the fall, respectively. Further details to be announced later.
 
Should you wish to on your own view/read the other great movies and books that were nominated, here they are.

Movies: 13th (2016), Before the Flood (2016), Food Inc. (2008), Hidden Figures (2016).

Books: Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing for Racial Reconciliation by Jennifer Harvey (2014), Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman (first published 1949), Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way by Walter Wink (2003), Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann (2017), Small Great Things: A Novel by Jodi Picoult (2016), Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson (2017), The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (2015), The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial Is Threatening Our Planet, Destroying Our Politics, and Driving Us Crazy by Michael Mann and Tom Toles (2016), The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead (2016), UnPoverty: Rich Lessons from the Working Poor by Mark Lutz (2010), When We Rise: My Life in the Movement by Cleve Jones (2016). 
 
Please mark your calendar for our first movie, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017) which will be shown after Mass on Saturday, February 10.
 
Any questions about this may be directed to Clarence Heller at clarenceheller@gmail.com or 314.258.9066.
Kiva
The Kiva Club at Sts Clare & Francis is a communal work of service with a mission of expressing our fundamental value of the dignity of all people. Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco. It connects people through lending, to alleviate poverty. Sts Clare & Francis joined Kiva as a lending team. When loans are repaid we then lend the money to other borrowers. We gathered last August and loaned a total of $2,525 to 25 entrepreneur groups and individuals.
 
We lent $100 to the Twiteganyirize Cb Group in Rwanda. The group name means “Let us develop each other” in English. One of the members is Theresie who is 43 years old. She is married with 7 children aged between 7 and 22 years old. Theresie sells goats and has been doing this business for the past 4 years. With the loan, she bought more goats to sell. The profits from the business will be used to increase her savings.

Rwanda is a small country in central Africa. Kiva works with the local banking partner to provide access to finance for poor people living in remote areas. They provide business training as well as giving financial support. The bank has impacted people in rural Rwanda by helping them establish businesses, expand agricultural plots, purchase motorcycles to earn money and open savings accounts.
How to start a marker recycling program through the Crayola company

A number of people have asked about how they can get involved in this effort to keep used markers out of landfills. It is really very easy and requires little time. You can get all the basics at Crayola.com/colorcycle

Your efforts need to be coordinated with a school (elementary, middle or high school) who will register on the website and assign an adult to be the contact person. (That could be you or someone on staff at the school.) Crayola provides a letter that can be sent to all school parents, encouraging them to save used markers and send them to school for the collection box. You can also print posters to mark the collection boxes at the school. When you have enough to send back, a mailing label can be printed from the website and the markers go to Crayola at no cost to the school.

Think about approaching a school near you or perhaps the school that your children/grandchildren attend. It’s a nice way to be involved without a specific time commitment. Ask your family members, neighbors and co-workers to save markers for you to mail back through the school. Try to find a business that might use markers; people are usually eager to be involved if they just know about how they can help. We are off to a great start at SCF and Peace! We already have a sizeable box full of future energy and asphalt!

Please contact me if I can help you get a school involved or if you have any questions.

Marilyn Tenholder
314.323.1467
314.842.5089 
Christmas Cards

In memory of Ginny Dahlberg we want to continue her project of making Christmas cards for people in nursing homes who may feel forgotten during the holiday season.

The idea is to get some blank cards and envelopes, using the artwork from old Christmas cards, stamps or whatever you have to make them into new Christmas cards. Ginny was a scrap-booker so these skills were definitely in her repertoire.

You can cut out the text or scenes from cards you have received in other years and use Christmas stamps for the insides. A glue stick can be used for the cut outs. The cards can be signed with your first name(s), then add St. Clare & Francis so they know where the cards are coming from. John will be collecting the cards thru December 2. If he is not at Mass, give them to Therese Gabriel, Judy DeFrank, Mary Ellen Kruger, or Jim Schratz. Thanks!
Communal Work of Service Opportunity: Karen House

Karen House (the Catholic Worker house) is in need of people to cook dinner. Make dinner at your house and bring it, bring food to cook at the house, or cook the food provided by the house according to their meal plan. There are 30 people for dinner every night at 6:00 pm. Cooking is a great option for groups of 3 to 6 people. In the past, this was an on-going work of service for the SCF Community, and it could be again if there is sufficient interest in serving in this way. If interested, please contact Clarence Heller at clarenceheller@gmail.com (also indicate whether you would be willing to help organize this activity). More info regarding Karen House at http://newsite.karenhousecw.org .

Fr. Bob's Outreach - Christmas Baskets
St. Augustine Parish

We will again this year collect cereal for the 4000 boxes of Food that Father Bob Gettinger puts together for the needy in December.
This year the distribution will be from December 10 - 16. We will be collecting cereal after Mass thru December 9. Aldi’s has good prices on cereal. On Saturdays, please bring the cereal to Sue Flanagan, Judy DeFrank, Therese Gabriel, or who ever announces after Mass. On Sundays, give cereal to the presider. Any questions call Sue Flanagan 314.409.4899.
Homilies

Hear George von Stamwitz' homily from November 18:


The text of archived homilies can be found here .
Caring Ministry
The Caring Ministry at Sts. Clare & Francis brings the loving presence of God, through a caring companion on the journey, when life is difficult. When we find ourselves struggling with illness, grief, depression, relationships, stress, the Caring Ministry is a supportive and listening presence - not counseling or problem solving. Don't go it alone; contact Sue Self or one of our priests to find out more, and see if it's a fit for you. We want to care for you.
 
Prayer List
The Sts. Clare & Francis Prayer list is available for you to share prayer requests from you to your sisters and brothers who are walking this faith journey with you. Praying for one another when there are specific needs is one of the greatest ministries we can provide to one another. But, we cannot pray for events and happenings that we do not know about. Please share your prayers requests with the community. You can be as specific or general as you would like. Contact Jim Schratz with all prayer requests.
Parish Office Hours 

The Sts. Clare & Francis Office, [483 E Lockwood Ave, Ste. 3, Schultz Hall (Door B) – Eden Theological Seminary, Webster Groves, MO 63119] will be open each week on Mondays, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm and Thursdays from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Although someone is here more often than that, I am in and out much of the time. So I am making a concerted effort to have posted hours to be more available to people who might want to drop by. 
Thanks! 
Jim
Sponsored by Friends...
Tree House

Weekend Retreat at Carondelet
December 1-3, 2017
Friday, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm 
Saturday, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm 
Sunday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm 

6400 Minnesota Ave. 
St. Louis, MO 63111 
(South of downtown St. Louis off I-55)

Resident Fee includes private room and meals: $225.00 
Commuter Fee with meals: $150.00 
Love Offering for presenting the Retreat: $50.00-$75.00 
If you need financial help or need more information, call our office: 314-269-3657.
For more information, see the flyer .



Prayer Circles  
 
First Wednesday of the month
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Sts. Clare & Francis Ecumenical Catholic Community
204 E. Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, 63119

Third Wednesday of the month
1:00 - 2:30 pm
Library Headquarters
East Room
St. Louis County Library
1640 S. Lindbergh Boulevard
Frontenac, MO 63131

.....

Mercy Center
 
► Advent and Christmas Performance by the Catholic Student Center Choir 
Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Mercy Center, Frontenac, 3:00 P.M.
This contemporary choir from Washington University will celebrate in song both Advent waiting and
Christmas joy. The choir, a blend of non-students and students, regularly leads music for the Eucharistic celebrations of the Newman community.
A free will offering will be given to the choir to support their music ministry.
Online registration is appreciated by December 8.
  random sightings
 wisdom...reflection...insight...amusement
Telescope
I think of the trees and how simply they let go, let fall the riches of a season, how without grief (it seems) they can let go and go deep into their roots for renewal and sleep. … Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long, not even pain … Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.

May Sarton
Parish Council News

To see Parish Council meeting minutes or the Parish Constitution and Bylaws, click the appropriate link:




 
Members 
(click name to contact by e-mail)

Ecumenical Catholic Communion


ECC Financials

Balance Sheet , June 30, 2017

IE Statement , June 30, 2017

ECC Midwest Partner Communities 
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Chicago, Illinois
Little Rock, Arkansas
Tulsa, Oklahoma 
  All Saints ECC
Our Mission Church
 
We meet at:
Trinity United Church of Christ
47 North Douglas Avenue
Belleville, IL 62220
 
Our Metro East ECC Mission Church meets every Sunday at 9:30  am. 
Our chapel is in the lower level of Trinity UCC.
 
Directions from St. Louis: 
Hwy. 64 East to Exit 12; 
RIGHT onto #159/IL St. Continue 5 miles to Douglas Ave.
(railroad crossing)
LEFT on Douglas Ave. to church.
 
For information, contact:
Rev. Frank Krebs (314.740.1160) or Rev. Kay Schmitt (314.620.9511). Contact Kay if you wish to ride with her.
All are welcome.
General Info

Want to get connected and involved? Start by taking a look at our  Ministries Brochure  or check out our website at www.scfecc.org
  
The Parish Office  is located at Eden Theological Seminary, 483 East Lockwood, Suite 3, St. Louis, MO 63119.  
Frank  or Jim are available for appointments. You can also reach Frank at 314.740.1160 or Jim at 314.896.0125.
 
To Schedule Meetings at Peace UCC:
 
Contact Kelly, the church secretary, to get it on their calendar.   
314.968.1727
 
Matthew 25
The Matthew 25 Fund helps members in our community who need financial assistance. All information concerning the people with whom we work is held in the strictest confidence. If you would like to contribute to this fund, make your check payable to Matthew 25, and place it in the collection basket. If you need assistance from the fund, contact  Peggy Montgomery
 
We have a SafeChurch Policy to protect our children and other vulnerable populations .
The Sts. Clare & Francis
Lands’ End Store
In partnership with Lands’ End, you can now purchase clothing and other items embroidered with the Sts. Clare & Francis logo (below). Just follow the link above. If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne.schloemann@gmail.com .  
Fundraising

Please keep our Schnucks E-Scrip fund raiser in mind when you shop. If you don't already have an E-Scrip card, please call Marilyn Tenholder (314.323.1467) and she will get one to you. There is no charge and all you have to do is activate it by either a phone call or by going online. Simply show the card when you check out and a percentage of your purchase cost will be rebated back to Sts. Clare & Francis. Thank you!!
Sts. Clare & Francis offers information about other organizations and activities that we feel is useful or relevant to our members and to the public. As an Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) organization, Sts. Clare & Francis is required to abide by certain rules. Sts. Clare & Francis is prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Sts. Clare & Francis is also prohibited from devoting a substantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation. As a result of these rules, we do not specifically endorse these organizations or activities nor do they specifically represent the views of Sts. Clare & Francis, to the extent that doing so would jeopardize Sts. Clare & Francis' standing as a Section 501(c)(3) organization.
If you have an item that you wish to submit for publication in the Weekly News, please send it to Steve Campbell  no later than noon on Wednesday of the week you would like it to appear. If you cannot send an e-mail, you may call or text Steve at 314.603.9991.
Sts. Clare & Francis ECC
Church : 204 East Lockwood Avenue | St. Louis | MO|63119
Office : 483 East Lockwood Ave. | Suite 3 | St. Louis | MO | 63119