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FIELDNOTES
The Monthly Newsletter of
St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
689 Sugartown Road, Malvern, PA 19355
The Rev. Kevin Dellaria, Rector
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Our Vision:
We aspire to be a growing community, worshiping together, celebrating our diversity & lay ministries, and offering God's healing love to all people.
Our Mission:
We seek to foster spiritual growth & renewal while spreading God's message of love, healing and peace.
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 Turning the Soil,
by Fr. Kevin
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Hosea 10:12
What is "fallow" ground? We don't use the term "fallow" much anymore. In fact, it's usage in English peaked about 200 years ago, and now, ironically, the term itself is somewhat dormant. But not the idea.
Fallow ground is not wild, uncultivated land. In fact, the term "fallow" originally meant "plowed land", and only later came to mean land that was plowed but not planted. Fallow ground, that is - whether it be a vast field or a small, personal garden plot - is ground that is prepared for production, but now sits and waits. It's been set aside for use, but no seed has been sown. Fallow ground is ground that is full of potential, whenever the time is ripe to turn the soil and plant the seeds.
Lent is the Christian season for turning our personal soil; for breaking up our own fallow ground. If we are too pleased with ourselves, too complacent in our faith, Lent passes by almost unnoticed, and Easter comes and goes like any other consumer holiday. But if we're attentive, if we set the time aside, if we observe a "holy Lent" as the prayer book invites us to do, then these coming weeks work together as they are intended. Lent, Holy Week and Easter become a time of seeking, and finding, the Lord.
I like the plain-spoken way The Message translates the passage above from Hosea 10:12: "It's time to till the ready earth, it's time to dig in with God." In terms of faith, God has created us like fallow ground: ready, waiting, receptive to the slightest bit of attention. All it takes is a little tilling; time made, Hosea says, to "dig in with God".
I hope to see you during this first week of March, at the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and, more importantly, at one of our Ash Wednesday services (9 am and 7 pm). God is ready to make things grow. Let's gather together, then, and turn our soil.
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Online Now!
"Stages on the Journey":
The Three-Fold Path and the Spiritual Life
Fr. Kevin's 4-part teaching on the stages of spiritual growth is now available online at no charge for streaming or download. Recorded in fall 2018 as part of the Rector's Study, this series looks at the natural ebb and flow of spirituality that has been observed for centuries.
Consider including this series as part of your practice during the upcoming Lenten season. Go to
Rector's Study
to play or download.
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Grow Together in Faith and Hope...
$500,000+ Capital Campaign Goal
  
Refresh Renew Rejoice
Our facilities Our Faith In God's plan
for our future
Capital Campaign Update
The capital campaign was announced at church on January 13 during the services at 8 and 10am.
The goal of the campaign is to expand St. Francis' capacity for SPIRITUAL GROWTH and OUTREACH by refreshing our facilities, renewing our faith and rejoicing in God's plan for our future.
Our capital campaign is a three-year process and the financial goal is to raise $500,000+.
On February 3rd, we began to distribute a survey to the parish regarding the Capital Campaign. It was available both in paper form and via Survey Monkey online. We had 80 parishioners complete and return the survey. That is a very good response rate to a parish survey. The Committee has been working with Gene Musser of the consulting firm of Kirby Smith Associates Incorporated. Gene has interviewed a cross section of the members of the parish to find out how they feel about St. Francis in general and the campaign specifically. These interviews will give a more in depth response than the short survey could provide.
Gene Musser is compiling the results of the survey and the feasibility study on what our financial goal should realistically be. After the committee gets feedback from Gene, we will be communicating the results and recommendations to the parish. This should be happening in the next few weeks. Here is
the link to the Visioning Proposal and the FAQ document
:
http://stfrancisfieldscampaign.org/
This is a parish wide undertaking to improve St. Francis. We will communicate the results we received from you in the very near future. Thank you to those who participated and provided invaluable feedback.
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The Rector's Study meets on Tuesdays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The current topic is "The Way of Love," a study of seven valuable spiritual practices.
There will be no Rector's Study the week of March 3.
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Fellowship Committee Meeting
There will be a
brief Fellowship Committee meeting after church on March 3 to discuss the 2019 calendar of events.
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Brown Bag Lunch - March 5
Settlers of Catan. Pandemic. Ticket to Ride.
Perhaps you've seen these titles in a store or online. What do they have in common? They are popular titles in contemporary board game culture. For our March BBL, Fr. Kevin Dellaria will be presenting on "The Golden Age of Boardgaming," exploring its history, introducing examples, and examining the variety of game play. Come hear how boards, tables, and Meeples (yes, Meeples) are part of a quiet, social revolution.
Bring your lunch and a friend. 12:00 pm.
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 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and
Ash Wednesday Services
Shrove Tuesday,
March 5, (a.k.a. "Fat Tuesday" or
Mardi Gras) is the traditional day to load up on fatty, sugary foods before the Lenten fast. Bring your friends and family to our "come and go" Wine & Pancake Super from 5 - 7 p.m. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. A sign-up sheet is in the narthex, but walk-ins are welcome.
Ash Wednesday, March 6, services will be held 9 am and 7 pm. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a season of penitence and self-denial in preparation for the Cross and Resurrection. All Christians are encouraged to share in the Lenten journey with special acts of devotion
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Brown Bag Lunch Summary
On Tuesday, February 5th, we welcomed Cheryl Colleluori, CEO of the HEADstrong Foundation to St. Francis. We had 23 members attend a lovely Valentine's Day themed lunch. Cheryl presented a powerful slide show including a video on the mission of the HEADstrong Foundation. She also provided printed materials and lanyards for people to take home.
The HEADstrong Foundation was founded by Cheryl's son Nick, who passed away from cancer at age 21. He was a college student at the time, attending Hofstra on a lacrosse scholarship. During his treatments, Nick took note of resources that were lacking for cancer patients and the families who are all affected. His dying wish was that his family do everything they could to perpetuate his vision so that others could benefit from his life. HEADstrong offers financial, residential, and emotional support to families affected by cancer. St. Francis member Jill Quinn met Cheryl during her son Jeff's illness, and following his death has become a very active volunteer. As it turns out, several others of us have had previous interaction with this wonderful organization, and a few others expressed interest in becoming volunteers.
One of the most important resources provided by HEADstrong is housing for families who must travel more than 50 miles to Philadelphia for specialized cancer treatment and/or clinical trials. Nick's House, located in Swarthmore, is a beautifully restored home which can accommodate up to six families at a time free of charge. Patients include children as well as adults. Most are outpatients (recovering from stem cell transplant, receiving proton radiation therapy, etc.), however families may also stay while their loved one is in the hospital for treatment.
In addition to housing, HEADstrong also offers peer-to-peer support, distributes comfort kits, and coordinates social activities for patients during their hospital stay. They even provide a full Thanksgiving meal at the hospital for patients and families. Please contact Jill if you would like a tour of Nick's House (she volunteers there weekly) or would like any more information about their services. You may also follow them on social media under HEADstrong.org.
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Vestry Meeting
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 7 PM
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Book Club
Friday, March 15, 7:30
The Quartet, Joseph J. Ellis
In 1776, thirteen American colonies declared themselves independent states that only temporarily joined forces in order to defeat the British.
Ellis has given us a gripping and dramatic portrait of one of the most crucial and misconstrued periods in American history: the years between the end of the Revolution and the formation of the federal government. The Quartet unmasks a myth, and in its place presents an even more compelling truth-one that lies at the heart of understanding the creation of the United States of America.
Friday, April 12, 7:30 (note: this is the 2nd Fri. in April)
A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman
A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.
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Diocesan Lent Day - The Home of God
Saturday, March 16, 10am to 3pm, Church of the Good Samaritan, Paoli. Our diocese welcomes theologian Miroslav Volf as the keynote speaker for a day of teaching, reflection, and workshops to help us engage with some Lenten reflection and renewal.
The day will include lunch, and there is a registration fee of $25, which can be reduced in cases of need. Our Lent Day is co-sponsored by Philadelphia Theological Institute, the Diocese and the Church of the Good Samaritan. Visit
https://www.good-samaritan.org/lentday
.
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Francis & Friends Watch Party
Save the Date!! On Friday, March 22 at 6 pm join us for a March Madness "watch party" at the home of Susan and Tim Callahan. Look for more info and a sign-up sheet in early March.
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Outreach Ministry Meeting
Do you love to help others in the community? Please join me in the library on Sunday April 7 immediately after service for 30 minutes to brainstorm about our Outreach Ministry. The committee will meet 3 times a year and communicate by email/phone to continue our planning between in person meetings.
Questions - Contact Anne Crowley, Vestry Liaison for Outreach.
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Holy Week and Easter Services
Palm Sunday , April 14
8 & 10 AM
Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Distribution of Palms
Maundy Thursday, April 18
7 PM
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday, April 19
Solemn Vigil at Noon
Stations of the Cross at 2 PM
Easter Vigil, April 20
7:30 PM
Easter Sunday, April 21
8 & 10 AM
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
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 Fellowship Dinner
Fellowship Dinner is a great way to get to know new and existing members of St. Francis, while having dinner in a small, friendly setting at someone's home. Last fall we tried a new format for the dinners, and it was a success! We have set a SINGLE DATE of Saturday, April 27 for ALL the dinners.
Parishioners can sign up as a guest or to host a dinner. Once the groups have been assigned, the Host will coordinate the specifics for the dinner. A sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex in mid-March.
If you need further information on the Fellowship Dinner, email Sharon Fernandes.
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Joint Day of Service
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 4 for a Day of Service.
St. Francis will join a dozen other churches from Chester County and the Main Line to serve together in the community. You'll be able to choose from service projects around our area. Among the opportunities already identified:
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making hygiene kits and prepare meals for the homeless
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cleaning the grounds of a school for the blind
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engaging with seniors at assisted-living facilities.
We will publish a master list of projects closer to the date Mark your calendar and stayed tuned for details in upcoming Sunday Bulletins and the April Fieldnotes.
For more details talk to Anne Crowley, Vestry Liaison for Outreach.
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Welcome to Amazon Smile!
Do you love to shop on Amazon? If so, please consider selecting the St. Francis smile account before you begin your shopping.
Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to the parish. The Vestry approved designating this money for Outreach during the coming year.
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Submitting Weekly Announcements
When submitting blurbs for the insert in the Sunday leaflet, please keep them short and to the point, preferably four lines or less. This helps make room for other announcements. Full-length announcements can be posted in the weekly Parish News that is emailed on Fridays, and the monthly newsletter.
Thank you for your cooperation with this request.
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Wear your name tag for a chance to win a mug!
Get in on the fun on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. by wearing your name tag during the service and coffee hour and placing it in one of the small buckets at each door on your way out. Diane will draw a name on Monday and announce the winner in the Friday Parish News!
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Bible Study
The weekly Lectionary Bible Study is on Wednesdays at 10 am, followed by Holy Eucharist at 11:15. At most meetings, this group discusses the lessons for the upcoming Sunday. Anyone is welcome to attend.
There will be no Bible Study the week of March 3.
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Church Farm School Gala
In just over two months, we will hold our sixth annual Church Farm School Gala, being held April 27 at The Farmhouse at People's Light in Malvern. If you would like to become a sponsor or patron of this annual fundraiser for Church Farm School and its mission, you can
you can pledge your support online
, at one of the listed giving levels. Individual ticket sales will be available in March.
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Donate Your Time and Talent
Want to get personally involved? If you are over the age of 18 and want to donate your time and talent to the 100% volunteer team at the West Chester Food Cupboard, please email Charlotte Cain at [email protected].
Money and food is welcome too, because no one should go hungry.
Thank you!
610-344-3175
431 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19382
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 Altar Flowers
Did you know that you can dedicate the Sunday Altar Flowers in honor of a friend or family member, in remembrance of a loved one, or for some other special recognition? Altar Flower dedications are just $50.00, and helps provide a fresh arrangement each week. The form for dedicating Altar Flowers can be found on our parish website at:
https://stfrancisfields.com/wp-content/uploads/Altar-Flowers-Dedication-form.jpg
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Sunday Lessons 
If you would like to read the lessons for Sunday, click on the link below.
Lectionary Page
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Fieldnotes Deadline - April
The deadline for the April Fieldnotes is
Monday, March 25, 2019!
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Calendar 
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