Dear Friends of St. Francis
Christmas blessings are upon us! May the unbelievable gift of God-become-one-of-us, recharge your spiritual batteries! Jesus gets it - all that we go through! Take time to dwell on this! And to support your journey in faith, please join the worship opportunities listed here and below:
On Christmas Eve, you may start watching the special family Christmas Eve worship at 3pm onwards (that means anytime from then on) online through our St Francis Facebook Page. You can watch anytime! At 4:15 on Christmas Eve, Jude+ and I will be out on Via Rosa across from church for “drive-through Holy Communion".
and…David and Femi Knight will be live in front of the church using the electric piano and an amplifier to share Christmas Carols from 4:15 to 5pm!!! So as you come for Communion you shall be engulfed in Christmas music! PLEASE RSVP to me for the “drive through Holy Communion” to make sure we have plenty of consecrated wafers, the Body of Christ the Bread of Heaven.
Links for worship services on Christmas Day, December 27th and January 3 are listed below.
Lastly, I assume all of you are aware of the most recent rulings by the Supreme Court that now allows for indoor church worship as well as the option for outdoor in-person worship. I asked input from as many past and current lay leaders that I could think of and shared with them the nine page LA Department of Public Health Order of the Health Officer describing the safety measures that would have to be in place for indoor in-person worship. I also shared a Link to the LA Times articles on the SCOTUS decision. I posed this question to past and current lay leaders and pose it to you:
What would you do if you were me? The upsurge of the coronavirus is greater than when I suspended outdoor worship on November 28. My question then is even greater on my heart, what would love do now? The answer is that, at this time, we shall continue with only live-streamed worship with a team of less then 10: the altar guild member, the two clergy, two readers, the organist and the producers. On January 10, the service will resume being live at 10am online through our Website and Facebook page, gathered together as one family at the same time.
As one of our Vestry stated: “given the surging COVID numbers--and the limited number of ICU beds in LA, I really think that prudence is the best policy. There was a surge after Thanksgiving--and the expectation is that there will be an even greater surge after Christmas--because so many people want to do what we all want to do, which is to gather together. For exactly that reason, I believe it is not wise for St. Francis to push the limits of what is "allowable," when the results could be so unfortunate for people we care about. Just because a ruling says that we "can," does not mean that we "should." "
We are in this together. It has been my way of leadership since I became you Rector and will continue until I retire. The greatest source of wisdom and strength comes from our collective support and care for one another.
May Jesus be with you as your Peace.
May Love fill you as your truth.
May Hope lead you forward.
With love and care,
Paula+
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Christmas Worship 2020
Let us celebrate the gift of Jesus, God becoming one of us…unbelievable!
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December 24 – Christmas Eve, recorded and available online at 3:00 p.m. Stream our special family Christmas service, full of special moments, through our St Francis Facebook Page. The service will also be available on Vimeo and and YouTube. We will send links on the day. Please print the bulletin and join in singing Christmas carols in your home. Plus - drive-through Holy Communion, at 4:15 p.m. also on Christmas Eve.
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December 25 – Christmas Day, 10am - "Christmas Around the Creche"
Bishop Diane M. Jardine Bruce and Canon Stephen Bruce invite the diocesan community to join them for a multilingual celebration of the Nativity featuring readers and musicians from congregations throughout the diocese. “We’ll have all the languages in which services are conducted in the diocese,” says Bruce, including English, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin and more. Tune in via the Diocese’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
St Francis will not be offering online services at 10am on Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 because our awesome producers/editors/camera/sound operators, and musicians, may take some time off.
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December 27 – 10am - "Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas"
On the first Sunday after Christmas, Bishop John H. Taylor will officiate at an online service featuring multilingual readings and carols from all ten deaneries in the diocese. The service will include a meditation by Bishop Taylor and a virtual celebration of Holy Eucharist via the diocese’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. |
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January 3, 2021, 11:15am ET / 8:15am PT
Join the National Cathedral in Washington DC online for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on the Second Sunday after Christmas Day. The Rev. Canon Dana Colley Corsello preaches and the Rev. Patrick Keyser presides.
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Join us for Compline
Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7pm (PST)
This is your Compline Prayer Team!
We are a ministry of quiet prayer at the end of the day, to soothe our souls and turn the day that is over to God.
We take turns leading Compline, which begins in The Book of Common Prayer on page 127. Consider praying with us on any MWF at 7:00 pm or you can watch it and pray any time after 7:00. You can find us on the St. Francis Facebook Page
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Our Renovated Kitchen is Almost Ready!
Following the vision of our Vestry and work of Junior Warden, Mike Spalding, Gloria Jones, as Chairman of the Rummage Sale, approved monies from sale proceeds to fund a much needed renovation of the Parish Hall kitchen. Work began last week and is progressing at break neck speed! The cupboards were all emptied. Demolition began and the plumbing and wiring was upgraded - the cupboards sanded and prepared for paint - also the walls - and new quartz counter tops will be installed in place of the old formica. In other words a major facelift that is not quite ready for viewing but will be very soon! A huge appreciation to Gloria and all the people who helps with the Rummage Sale!
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There's Still Time to Send in Your Pledge
We know that things are difficult for many of you at this time - but if you can - there is still time to make an annual pledge to help keep the Ministries of St. Francis serving not just our immediate community, but beyond.
Please download and complete the form, and mail it to: Elaine Mistele, St. Francis Church, 2200 Via Rosa, PVE, CA 90274. And see below for how to make it even easier to make regular donations automatically - no check writing every Sunday!
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Simplify Your Giving!
Use automatic bill pay for your pledge to St. Francis. You choose the payment frequency and date that works for you.
Look for Bill Pay or similar when you’ve logged in to online banking. Then add St. Francis as a new payee. You don’t need the church bank details - only the address and phone number: St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274. 310 375 4617. And thank you!!
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Bible Study Returns
Bible Study in the New Year!!
Join Jude+ for zoom Bible and Book Study
Begins: Tuesday, January 5th
Meets: Jan 5, 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9 – 7:00-8:30pm
ALL are welcome. No experience necessary!!
- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs the kingdom of heaven.”
- “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
- “You are the salt of the earth;”
- “You have heard it said you should love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
These are some of the famous lines from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew, chapters 5-7. In this class we will have the luxury of spending time with the scripture that is so fundamental to our faith. What is Jesus saying about the Kingdom of Heaven? What is Jesus saying about how we are to live?
Please join me for exploration and conversation, together on zoom!
Email me and I will send you the link and more information a few days ahead of time.
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Be together - 5 days a week, as well as Sundays.
Morning prayer twice-weekly, led by Paula+, and Compline three times per week, led by Jude+ and a team of lay leaders. Each service includes the traditional service, plus words from the leader, and explanations of the readings. They are prayerful and quiet, a far cry from the turmoil of the world, and medicine to help us heal and be comforted and inspired.
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Watch Our Services Live via Facebook
You do not need to have a Facebook page to view our content. Just click here to view our page. If you don't have a facebook account, or have forgotten how to log into it, just ignore any prompts to log in etc. The page should be visible to anyone. Still having trouble? Email Susan Marshall, for help.
Weekly Worship - all via our Facebook page
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Sunday Readings, Music, Sermon, words from Paula+, and Spiritual Communion – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Worship bulletins are here.
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Morning Prayer - Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 a.m.
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Compline (prayer for the evening) - Monday, Wednesday and Friday Evenings, 7:00 p.m.
Livestreams are also saved to our Facebook page, so you can watch again at any time if you miss one. Plus our sermons are also available as separate audio recordings here.
Other Offerings and Meetings
Zoom groups -
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The Bellringer
At the current time, our monthly newsletter is on hiatus, but we'd still love to hear from you. If you have any updates or items you would have submitted for publication in normal times, send them along to Susan and we will publish them in this enews instead!
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Do you need help of any kind?
Physical, Spiritual, Psychological, Material?
We are here to do our best to help you with whatever you may need. We know circumstances are difficult for many at this time. For help of any kind, or just for a Zoom or Facetime or phone call, please email or call Paula+ or Jude+ at any time.
If you are in a position to do so, (only if - no guilt), you may also donate to Paula+'s Discretionary Fund to help those at St. Francis in financial need. Send checks to 2200 Via Rosa, PVE 90274, made out to St. Francis Church, with 'Rector's Discretionary Fund' in the memo line. Thank you!
Email Jude+, 310- 701-5966. |
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View or download our bulletins - bulletins will be posted in time for livestreaming.
Sunday's Sermon
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Contacts:
Jude+, 310-375 4617 x225.
You are not interrupting our work - you ARE our work!
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