The Monthly Newsletter of 

Dear Friends in Christ,

It has been my privilege to be your “sabbatical supply priest” these past several months. Thank you again for welcoming me and Nina into your faith community and helping us feel at home from the outset. We especially love the robust singing on Sunday mornings as well as the very obvious “sweet, sweet Spirit in this place” among a growing number of friends who truly love and care for each other. We have been richly blessed to have our circle of relationships expand!

At the August Vestry meeting, for our devotional time, I shared the following verses from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:4-6, NIV translation). Those few verses summarize some very important realities and aspirations for churches everywhere: worship, fellowship, unity, Scripture, encouragement, endurance, and hope. I pray that God will continue to deepen and strengthen your lives in Him, with each other, and in service to the world.

With Labor Day quickly approaching, I think the following two Collects are very appropriate:

For Vocation in Daily Work (Book of Common Prayer, p.261)

Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of Him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For Labor Day (Book of Common Prayer, p. 261)

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives with one another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In this time of transition for all of us, I want to borrow this prayer from St. Paul as my prayer for the St. Francis family: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NIV).

Thanks and Blessings,

Fr. John

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Calendar 

The next Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will be held on Saturday, September 2, at 9:00am, at the West Chester Diner (1147 West Chester Pike). This is BYOB (“Bring Your Own Bucks”).

All men of St. Francis are welcome to attend.

Over thirteen weeks ago, Fr. Kevin left on his sabbatical and in less than a week he will return to us renewed, refreshed and refocused. The Sabbatical Committee is planning a special Welcome Back Picnic and Ice Cream Social on Sunday, September 10^th (after church) for the Dellarias.

We welcome Christine Zaccarelli, Esquire, CEO, from The Crime Victims' Center of Chester County, Inc. to the Brown Bag Lunch on Tuesday, September 12^th Noon-1PM.

Since 1973, The Crime Victims' Center of Chester County, Inc. has been providing victim advocacy and prevention education programing to the residents of Chester County. They are a private non-profit organization. Their mission is to provide free, immediate, and confidential crisis response and compassionate support to children and adults victimized by sexual violence and all other crimes. CVC provides aid through counseling, advocacy, resources and education. The Center fosters community awareness and understanding through their comprehensive outreach and prevention programs. All their services are free and confidential. https://www.cvcofcc.org

Our selection for September is The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd.  Ana, the heroine of this historical novel is a brilliant woman with a daring spirit.  She meets, falls in love with Jesus, and they marry.  

To register click HERE

A luncheon is scheduled for

Wednesday, September 20 at noon.

Food, Bingo, Door Prizes!

Please sign-up in the narthex or call the church office at 610-647-0130 if you are able to attend.

No cost to you! Just lots of fun!!

Church school is returning to St. Francis! The first church school class will be held on Sunday, September 24th during church. Going forward, church school will be held on the 3rd Sunday of the month and is open to children ages 3 and up. As in the past, we will bring the children up before communion so that they can join their families for the Eucharist.

Youth Group will begin with meetings in collaboration with St. Peter's of the Great Valley and St. John's, Concord.

Our first meeting will be at St. John's 576 Concord Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342 from 4 to 5:45 pm on Sunday, September 24. Future meetings are October 29 at St. Peter's in the Great Valley and November 26 at St. Francis-in-the-Fields. The December meeting TBD.

This will be for both High School and Middle School students!

If you need a ride, please call Diane Faison at 610-647-0130 or email at stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org.

Looking forward to beginning Youth Group!

St Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Chester Springs invites you to a meal packaging event to be held there on Sunday, October 15. The goal is to recruit 300 volunteers to package 60,000 meals. Volunteers will work 2 hour shifts (11, 1, and 3). Donations welcomed but not required. This will be an Ecumenical and Interfaith event, with Baha’i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Unitarian participants coming together. Registration HERE

The Welcome Committee is looking to get back up and running again. The purpose of the ministry is to engage all visitors to St. Francis and to assist them with maintaining a connection with St. Francis.

If this is something you would be interested in please contact Brian Friedrich.

By now many parishioners know that St. Francis-in-the-Fields has been invited by the Willistown Conservation Trust to apply for a grant to transform some of our grassy area from mown lawn to meadow. Now why would we want to do that? Well, “B” cause meadows have many BENEFITS over mown lawns, including…

Moving from mown lawn to meadow also satisfies our collective goals—restoring our landscapes, strengthening environmental practices, and partnering with local conservation agencies—as outlined in our parish’s narrative budget.

Do you have any thoughts or questions about the meadow project? Please let us know.

Meridith Ridington & Anne Crowley

Mondays at 5 pm weather permitting.

Please sign up HERE

Please join us at East Goshen Park (Paoli Pike entrance at traffic light) at 9 am during September. We’ll be in the first parking area.  This may be the perfect Monday morning activity to start your week. 

Circle of Friends is a pastoral care ministry of note writing (birthday, get well, thank you, encouragement, etc.)

The Circle of Friends will meet in person, in the library, on Wednesday, September 27 at 5:30 pm. If you are unable to join us in person but would still like to participate, please contact Sue Lenkaitis. Packets can be prepared for pickup or delivery as needed.

In the meantime, anyone who would like to support this effort can visit nscphila.org for details about ways to help refugees by volunteering or making a donation.

The Very Rev. Kevin Dellaria, Rector

 Diane Faison, Parish Administrator & Deacon

Joe Perry, Music Director

St. Francis-in-the-Fields is an active parish, even during COVID-19. For more information about our worship, outreach, and other ministries, visit our parish website, www.stfrancisfields.org. Our monthly parish newsletter, Fieldnotes, may be found by clicking HERE. Stay current on events by following our parish on Facebook.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields is a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, a member of The Episcopal Church, and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.