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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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New Email!!
St. Francis-in-the-Fields now has a new email.
Please start using this email when contacting the church office.
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Groundhog Day - Sunday, February 2
What will Punxsutawney Phil predict??
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Ten in Twenty: Community, Community, Community!
What does it mean to be the community of St. Francis-in-the-Fields? On a recent Sunday, in a sermon that served as my "Rector's Address" to our Annual Meeting, I challenged us as a congregation to reach out and meet three simple but related goals. I was astounded, during that sermon, and during parts of the liturgy following, to feel such a high level of energy and excitement. One powerful word, set in the context of our call to live out and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, arose as a mantra from the voices assembled in worship. That word was "Community".
To recap my message that morning, here is the goal for which I asked us to aim: In the year 2020, I am challenging our congregation to increase the level of Community among us in three different ways.
First, I am asking us as a congregation to take on the task of raising our average Sunday attendance (ASA) by 10%. Simply put, this means attending Holy Eucharist. As Episcopalians, our primary expression of faith is in the regular practice of common prayer, especially by sharing in Communion with one another as often as possible. As you well know, the words "Communion" and "Community" are nearly the same, and this is not only true etymologically. Those who partake in Eucharist together are sisters and brothers in Christ, and our participation in worship both expresses, and fosters, our love to one another as a congregation.
Second, I am asking us to also raise our participation in non-worship expressions of community at St. Francis by (you guessed it) 10%. What does that mean? Many things. Fellowship events, Bible studies, committee meetings, book clubs . . . any way and any time members of our congregation gather as people of faith it is building community, it is community. Opportunities for increasing community in this way are practically endless, because we can create them ourselves. Have a new family over for dinner. Host a coffee at The Buttery. Join the Choir. Invite a friend to a parish party. We build community by getting involved, and asking others to join us.
Third, I'm asking us to raise our individual participation in outreach ministries to the surrounding community by 10%. Maybe you would like to join our Outreach Committee? (See Anne Crowley). Or maybe you can get involved with one of the ministries we support? Can you dig in your closet for clothes to give to Church Farm School? Or buy one extra bag of groceries for donations to the Food Cupboard? If you didn't give in the fall, can you give blood at St. Francis this coming April? If everyone in our parish did one, additional small act of community outreach in 2020, we would easily surpass this goal.
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Congratulations!
...To St. Francis member Roberta Torian. Roberta was recently named the first President of the Board of Trustees for the recently incorporated Diocese of Pennsylvania. The newly-formed corporation was approved at the 2018 Diocesan Convention and is officially named
The Bishop and Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. The corporation is responsible for managing the business affairs of diocese, including property and finance.
Roberta also recently agreed to serve on the Finance Committee of St. Francis, bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience to the finances of our parish. You can find an interview and "Parishioner Profile" of Roberta in the October 2019 edition of Fieldnotes.
Congratulations Roberta!
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 Vestry Update
At its January meeting, Vestry discussions focused on preparing for a strong 2020. Vestry approved the replenishment of the Reserve Repair Fund, made possible when the mortgages were paid off with Capital Campaign funds, sooner than expected. The group also discussed hiring part-time ministry support staff in the coming year, as approved in the annual budget. As the parish moves into orchestrating Phase II of the Capital Campaign, including safety and security updates and physical improvements to the Undercroft, a committee is being formed to conduct planning, architecture and implementation. In addition, bids are out to three contractors for a new church sign on Sugartown Road. Finally, the Vestry is preparing for its annual retreat on the evening of March 6.
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Important Parish Dates in 2020
A list of some important upcoming dates for St. Francis, as currently scheduled.
Always check parish bulletins, etc., for updated information on service times and events.
February 2 High School Youth Group Bake Sale
February 21-23 St. Francis Art & Music Festival
February 25 Shrove Tuesday
February 26 Ash Wednesday
April 5-11 Holy Week
April 12 Easter Sunday
May 31 The Day of Pentecost
June 28 - July 3 St. Francis Youth Mission Trip
September 13 Welcome Back Sunday
October 4 St. Francis Day and Blessing of the Animals
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 High School Youth Group Bake Sale
The High School Youth Group will have a bake sale following the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, February 2. Proceeds from the sale will help fund their mission trip t-shirts. Please be sure to pick up dessert for your Sunday dinner!
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 Brown Bag Lunch
Tuesday, February 4 - "Fall Prevention".
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. Falls threaten seniors' safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs.
- One in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year.
- Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
- Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
- Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths.
- In 2015, the total cost of fall injuries was $50 billion. Medicare and Medicaid shouldered 75% of these costs.
- The financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach $67.7 billion by 2020.
Jim Herlihey (Chester County Hospital) will be our presenter on Tuesday, February 4. Please feel free to share information with others who may benefit from this presentation.
Shirley Warren, Chair of BBL
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Circle of Friends
Circle of Friends meet
every 1st Wednesday of each month. "The Circle" is a pastoral ministry of card-writing and encouragement. All supplies are provided. Anyone is invited to participate.
Next meeting is
February 5, 6 to 7:30 pm.
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Vestry Meeting
Tuesday,
February 11, 2019 at 7 p.m.
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 Book Club
Friday, February 14, 6:30 pm
Date change due to the Art & Music Festival!
Pizza & Video night
Bring something to share if you wish. We'll split the cost of the pizza.
The video we will watch and hope to discuss is "The Way." The video will start promptly. We will eat while we watch in order to allow time for discussion.
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Friday, March 20, 7:30 pm
The Home for Unwanted Girls, Joanna Goodman
In 1950s Quebec, French and English tolerate each other with precarious civility. Maggie's English-speaking father has ambitions for his daughter that don't include marriage to the poor French boy on the next farm over. When she becomes pregnant at fifteen, her parents force her to give baby Elodie up for adoption.
Elodie is raised in Quebec's impoverished orphanage system. This takes a tragic turn when Elodie, along with thousands of other orphans in Quebec, is declared mentally ill as the result of a new law that provides more funding to psychiatric hospitals than to orphanages. Bright and determined, Elodie withstands abysmal treatment at the nuns' hands. At seventeen she is thrust into an alien, often unnerving world.
Maggie cannot forget the daughter she was forced to abandon. As time passes, the stories of Maggie and Elodie intertwine but never touch, until Maggie realizes she must take what she wants from life and go in search of her long-lost daughter, finally reclaiming the truth that has been denied them both.
From Barnes and Noble "Overview."
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Art & Music Festival
The 2020 Art Show and Music Festival will be held on
February 21, 22 and 23.
The proceeds of this show will benefit Darlington Arts Center and the West Chester Food Cupboard.
Forty-six artists have submitted work to be juried into the show by Randall Graham. In addition to the juried show there will be student artwork from local high schools and Darlington Arts Center.
Saturday's Musical Revue will feature Jenn Teague, a senior at St. Joseph's University. She is a very talented mezzo-soprano and an active member of her school's theater company. There will also be performances from the St. Francis choir and individuals from St. Francis. We are hoping for some students from Darlington who will be performing as well.
We are still looking for sponsors. If you know of any businesses that you could approach to support Darlington Arts Center and West Chester Food Cupboard, please
contact Karen Richards for introductory information. We will, also, be looking for volunteers to help with the show during the events.
Tickets for Friday & Saturday nights' events will go on sale in the beginning of February. This event is one of St. Francis' major outreach programs. Please come and bring a friend. We are looking to making this the best Festival yet as Darlington Arts Center & West Chester Food Cupboard are very worthy recipients of our proceeds.
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 Easter Flowers
Easter Flowers to decorate the church can be purchased as memorials, thanksgiving and in celebration of loved ones or an event in your life.
The cost is $30 and payment is due no later than Monday, April 6, 2020. Applications will be made available in each Sunday leaflet and in the Narthex.
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and
Ash Wednesday Services
Ash Wednesday, February 26
, is the first day of Lent, the season of penitence and self-denial in preparation for Easter.
 The day prior, Shrove Tuesday, February 25, (a.k.a. "Fat Tuesday" or Mardi Gras), is a 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 services will be February 26 @ 9 am and 7 pm.
The early service will be followed by the Lectionary Bible Study. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the liturgical season during which we prepare our hearts, minds and bodies for the events of Holy Week and Easter.
The Book of Common Prayer (pg. 265) invites God's people "to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word." If it would be helpful to discuss your plans for Lent, Fr. Kevin is available by appointment.
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 Discipleship: Lenten Studies at St. Francis
You are invited to two Christian Discipleship opportunities that will be available during the Lenten Season, sponsored by our Christian Discipleship Committee:
Get Your House in Order
- Every person eventually takes the same mysterious journey. In this fun, interactive program, we will look at the practical matters of preparing for death. What legal documents should have you have in place? What do others need to know about our wishes? What burial options are available? Also, how is the Episcopal Burial Service constructed? What are the options? What readings should I choose? What hymns? Answering these questions in advance can be a tremendous blessing to your family in a time of great emotional and mental stress. The last meeting will be a workshop to plan our own funeral service! Sunday evenings at St. Francis, 5 pm to 6:30 pm March 1, 8, 15 & 22. Led by Fr. Kevin, Joe Perry, and other guest speakers.
The Sabbath
- Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Does life ever seem so busy, so over-filled with things and obligations, that you can't enjoy it? From the earliest pages of Genesis, the Scriptures offer humanity a gift, a remedy for this common ailment, in the practice of Shabbat (the "Sabbath"). Over five weeks, as we journey toward the Paschal Feast (Easter), we will explore the idea of the Sabbath using renowned Jewish Scholar Abraham Heschel's short but classic treatise by that name. We will be challenged to think about faith and practice in new ways. Led by Fr. Kevin, with other guests. Day and time TBD.
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 No Fooling...Save the Date, April 1
The Outreach Committee will be hosting our next Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, April 1 from 2 to 7 pm in the Undercroft. Generally speaking, a donor can give blood every 56 days. Power Red donors may give every 110 days. To learn more about donation requirements visit -
Online sign up information for the St Francis drive will be posted in March.
For questions, contact Anne Crowley.
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Safety and Security Committee
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) installed in 2018. Located in the Narthex next to Door #4
- Twenty-eight parishioners trained in the use of the AED/Hands-on CPR conducted by Chester County Hospital - December 2018 and May 2019. Training targeted greeters, ushers and church schoolteachers.
- Basic security training conducted for greeters, ushers and church schoolteachers December 2018.
- All internal and external doors are now numbered. The numbering on external doors are larger and reflective for easy identification by First Responders.
- New laminated emergency cards (located in pews) showing all external exits; location of AED; all fire extinguishers; first-aid kits, and where congregants should assemble in case of an emergency and need to exit the church.
- Additional fire extinguisher installed in rear of sanctuary next to Acolyte room.
- New sign installed at door #6 (Acolyte room) identifying as an exit door.
- New sign installed on the outside of Narthex door (door #4) alerting the congregation this door will be locked at the start of worship and door #1 (parking lot door) should be used.
- New sign installed on the outside of Narthex door (door #4) directing delivery vendors to use door #1 (parking lot door) for all deliveries.
- Risk and Vulnerability Assessment completed by PA State Trooper - July 9 and 10.
Next Steps:
- Prioritize and execute on top priorities as recommended by PA State Trooper in the Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Report.
- Work with Capital Campaign Committee (Phase 2) to secure funding for physical security enhancements. Example: security-monitoring system, outside perimeter cameras, upgrading of main entry door, locks, etc.
- Continue to update the congregation via in-person announcements, Bulletin and Fieldnotes
- Ongoing education for ushers, greeters, church schoolteachers, staff and congregation.
- Conduct emergency drill to educate congregation on what to do in case of an emergency.
- Purchase new first aid kits
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Have you heard of the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)?
The tax laws are confusing to most of us, but there is one rule that should definitely be understood by anyone age 70 ½ or older. The QCD rule allows an individual to make donations directly from their IRA accounts to the church, without having to pay tax on the distribution. When done properly this can save a considerable amount of federal tax, and this is especially true under the new tax laws.
To learn more please ask your investment advisor, or see Mike Quinn with any questions.
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Holy Land Pilgrimage
March 12-25, 2020
Save the date for this Bishop-led pilgrimage. Interested people should email The Rev. Matthew Dayton-Welch at [email protected] to register or inquire with questions.
Travel package costs are still being finalized.
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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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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
Lectionary Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 10 am to pray and discuss the readings for the following Sunday. Holy Eucharist follows the study. Anyone is invited to attend.
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Greatly needed at this time are: Men's sweaters (S, M & L); Men's winter jackets (S, M & L); Belts (black & brown, size 32 34, 36 & 38); winter hats, winter gloves. PLEASE remember these are BOYS - 9-12th grade. Items can be left under the coat rack in the narthex.
Thank you for your donations.
Contact Sheila Rees
with any questions.
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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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Fieldnotes Deadline - March
The deadline for the March Fieldnotes is
Monday, February 24, 2019!
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Calendar 
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