St. Francis Weekly                      
February 10 - February 17, 2019
Quote of the Week. . .
We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation. Fear and anger can make us vindictive and abusive, unjust and unfair, until we all suffer from the absence of mercy and we condemn ourselves as much as we victimize others. The closer we get to mass incarceration and extreme levels of punishment, the more I believe it's necessary to recognize that we all need mercy, we all need justice, and-perhaps-we all need some measure of unmerited grace.
                                                                     --Bryan Stevenson


Food for Thought. . .
The White Earth Indian reservation abuts the small community where I grew up.  The wooded landscape dotted with lakes and marshes typifies the beauty of northern Minnesota.  It also provides cover for the crushing poverty which is so prevalent on reservations throughout this country.  Amidst the trees, rundown campers or mobile homes dotted the landscape. Rusted out trucks or station wagons were strewn throughout the woods.  In school, one always knew who lived on the rez because of the tattered clothes they wore. As a child, I was often witness to discrimination toward Native Americans who lived on the reservation.  Slurs, dismissals of "them" or "those people", and statements about the worth or initiative of Native Americans were the most common expressions. These comments were the soft bigotry of harder, systemic racism that was alive and well in northern Minnesota.  And still is.  To read more, click here. . .
Link of the Week. . .
This is too funny.  Steve Patterson reports on the cold weather in Minnesota. . .

Steve Patterson Gives a Weather Report from Freezing Cold Minnesota
Steve Patterson Gives a Weather Report from Freezing Cold Minnesota

For Further Reflection. . .  
As we observe a day for racial healing, justice, and reconciliation, this talk by Bryan Stevenson is worth seeing. . .

We need to talk about an injustice | Bryan Stevenson
We need to talk about an injustice | Bryan Stevenson
                   
Weekly Schedule

Saturday, February 9
9:00 AM       Prison Ministry
10:00 AM     Southwestern CT regional ministry convocation
5:00 PM       St. Francis Saturday Night Worship Service (Historic Church)

Sunday, January 10--Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (C)
Day of Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation
8:00 AM        Worship Service with Eucharist (Historic Church)
                      Celebrant: Mark Lingle
                      Preacher: Mark Lingle

10:00 AM        Worship Service with Eucharist (Church)
                        Celebrant: Mark Lingle
                        Preacher: Michael Hyman

11:15 AM      Music Committee (Church)


This Week at a Glance

Monday (11)
1:30 PM  Community Task Force
6:30 PM  Flower Group Meeting (Meeting Room)

Tuesday (12)
6:00 PM New Vestry Members Meeting (Rectory)

Wednesday (13)  
11:00 AM  The Villa Eucharist
6:00 PM  Prayer Shawl Ministry (Margery Irish's Home)
6:00 PM Facing Racism in Stamford Program(First United Methodist)
7:00 PM  Faithful Futures Meeting

Thursday (14)
2:00 PM  Edgehill Bible Study
7:30 PM  Interfaith Wisdom Literature Study (St. John's Lutheran)

Saturday (16)
10:00 AM Eagle Scout Honor Court (Church)
5:00 PM  St. Francis Saturday Night Service (Historic Church)

Sunday (17)  Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 AM  Worship with Eucharist (Historic Church)
10:00 AM Worship Service with Eucharist (Church)
4:00 PM Service for Pets and Their People (Church)
Save the Date

Wednesday, February 20 @ Noon
Stamford Clergy Group

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

Thursday, February 28 @ 7:00 PM(Grace Farms)
InterfaithWisdomLiterature Panel Discussion 

Sunday, March 3 @ 11:00 AM (Church)
Rearrange the Sanctuary for Lent

Wednesday, March 6 @ Noon (Historic Church)
Ash Wednesday Service

Wednesday, March 6 @ 7:00 PM (Zion Lutheran Church)
Ash Wednesday Service

Sunday, March 10 @ 11:15 AM (Church)
Book Club:  Beyond Religion (Chapters 1-3)

Sunday, March 17 @ 11:15 AM (Church)
Book Club:
  Beyond Religion   
(Chapters 4-5)

Sunday, March 24 @ 11:15 AM (Church)
Book Club:
  Beyond Religion (Chapters 6-7)

Sunday, March 31 @ 11:15 AM (Church)
Book Club: 
 Beyond Religion (Chapters 8-9)

Sunday, April 7 @ 11:15 AM (Church)
Book Club
:  Beyond Religion (Chapters 10-11)

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