FIELDNOTES

October 2024

 The Monthly Newsletter of 

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Malvern, Pennsylvania

A Good Harvest

If there were a month in the year that I thought needed to be its own liturgical season, it would be October. Services would be held with the windows open, rain or shine, to let the winds blow through the building. Liturgical colors would be greens giving way to oranges and browns, representing the changing character of the days. For Eucharist, I think I would want to elevate a very fresh loaf of rustic bread, right out of the oven and still steaming. And I imagine we would have to complement that bread with a wine wafting of pumpkin spice, if such a thing were possible.

Of course, liturgical seasons primarily have spiritual meaning, not earthly meaning. The liturgical season we’re in now - the Season after Pentecost - is the longest of all Church seasons. Beginning with Trinity Sunday this season, with its prayers and readings, teaches us what it means to live as a “Pentecostal People”; a people, that is, who are filled with the Spirit. It’s a season, in particular, about growth, and the importance of growth for the Christian life.

October is a good month to think especially about the subject of “growth,”because it’s the month that we begin to think about “harvest”. The etymological grandmother of our word “autumn,” the word “harvest” - not surprisingly - has roots in ancient Latin and Greek words meaning ‘pluck’ and ‘fruit’. To ‘harvest’ is to pluck the fruits that have grown throughout the growing season, the summer. Which, of course, is why October is so full of rich and wonderful senses and smells and tastes. It’s the capstone of a long period of intentional growth, intended by nature to create things wonderful and delicious.

Which brings me back to our current liturgical season, and the importance of Christian growth. It’s a kind of growth that can mean many things. It can mean cultivating a deeper relationship with God in prayer. It can mean expanding our knowledge of the Scriptures and Tradition. It can mean learning to reach out more and care for those who need our gifts and our presence. It can mean sharpening and honing the skills God has given us, or learning something completely new. And of course, it can mean sharing the Gospel in whatever way we are called, helping to make new Disciples by bringing others into greater relationship with God and the community of faith.

By now, we are well into the season of Pentecost - 19 weeks, as of September 29th - with around 8 more weeks to go. And so as I sit here and I write this, I’m taking stock of my own life. In what ways have I grown this year as a believer in Christ? How has God stretched me or shaped me for the good of God’s people? Is the fruit I’m learning to bear - like the pumpkins and corn and apples we find at the markets - good? Is my life producing a harvest that’s wonderful and delicious to the world around me?

Normally, of course, Lent is the time when we take stock of our lives. But then again, Lent tends to focus on sin, on how we aren’t growing. So maybe we need the Liturgical Season of Pumpkin Spice to reflect on how we are growing, and how this long season of Christian growth is guiding us to live more and more into that image of God in which we are created.

So let’s let the blessings of October - with its cooling breezes and delightful aromas - be a pleasure. But let’s also let it remind us of the growth we enjoy and the fruit we are called to bear - not just for ourselves, but for one another. A good harvest should be enjoyed by all!

Fr. Kevin+

2025 Pledge Drive

by David Culver

After dealing with the COVID pandemic for three years, St. Francis - like most churches in America - emerged from the pandemic and began to return to a sense of “normalcy.” In the past year, we’ve done an extraordinary job of connecting with our parish community and the community around us. We did this by …

• Phoning and visiting members we haven’t seen for a while – and we need to continue doing this.
• Participating in the Malvern Parade and sponsoring and manning booths at Malvern events.
• Holding Father John Whitnah’s Advent Quiet Day service – and Father John Woodcock’s “Book Study.”
• Reinvigorating Church School and Vacation Bible School.
• Hosting guest speakers – including Meredith Whitnah and NPR’s Sarah McCammon – who would attract attendance from our broader community. 
• Holding more Fellowship events, like the Christmas Cocktail Party.

And while many parishes in our Diocese are still struggling with the effects of the pandemic, our Sunday attendance – and our membership – are growing.

And there’s the challenge for this year’s Pledge Drive: “Growing.” In nearly 70 years of church membership – in Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Rochester, New York; and Malvern – I have never been a member of a church that was as ready to grow as St. Francis is right now: Ready to grow in Faith, in Love, in Commitment. Ready to grow in Welcoming (as Kevin challenged us in his September 22 sermon). And, yes, grow in Giving.

Friends – it’s time to grow!

So – you may ask yourself: “How will my gift to St Francis ‘change the world?’ Will it have an impact?”



Here’s what your St. Francis pledge will allow our faith community to do together:

• Strengthen our Church School and Children’s Ministries and our Youth Group of the future.
• Expand our Adult Education programs to include more guest speakers, like Meredith Whitnah and Sarah McCammon.
• Broaden support of our Outreach efforts.
• Pursue vital environmental initiatives on the church property.
• Build a stronger, consistent ministry of Pastoral Care.
• Welcome more seekers into our fellowship by sharing the faith, hope and love of our parish more widely.
• Focus on faithful, Christ-like solutions to the challenges of our times.
• Inspire us to continue to play a leading role in the Diocese by supporting missions and ministries throughout the region.

And of course, there’s much more, including the everyday needs of our parish: Maintaining our buildings. Supporting our staff. Replacing old and broken equipment. Beautifying our grounds. These are all regular expenses of our parish, and they need your support.

With all that said – the goal of this year’s Pledge Drive is to increase giving by $32,000 over 2024 - an increase of about 9%. Hey – it’s Time to Grow!

We’re also going to involve our children in this year’s Pledge Drive, by asking them to commit to church and community service throughout 2025. We’ll do this especially by promoting our participation in the Presidential Service Award, which recognizes and rewards children and youth for serving others.

Finally, I share with you the thoughts of one of our fellow parishioners:

In a recent Facebook post, John Gallagher wrote: Every Sunday, I leave church feeling happy and at peace for my journey the coming week!”

That’s exactly how I feel after every Sunday service at St. Francis. If you feel the same (and I bet many of you do) – St. Francis deserves your financial support.

You will all be receiving a Pledge Card from me this week. If you don’t, please contact me – 610-724-0954 or dculver0203@gmail.com. We need your participation!

And remember: It’s Time to Grow!

ALL Meetings, Events, and Repairs



PLEASE call (610-647-0130) or email (stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org) Diane Faison in the church office to schedule ANY events at the church!

Doing this helps prevent scheduling conflicts.

Enneagram Growth Group

The Enneagram Growth Group meets on the 1^st Tuesdays of each month, from 6pm to 8pm, at the Dellaria residence in Paoli. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 1st.

For more information, contact Fr. Kevin or Donna Dellaria (donnadellaria@gmail.com)

October 5: Men’s Breakfast Fellowship

The next Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will be held on Saturday, October 5 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.

St. Francis Day is Coming!

Sunday, October 6

TWO Services: 8am and 10am

Start sharing the news with your friends and neighbors - St. Francis Day is coming!

That morning, we will have two services of Holy Eucharist that morning: Indoors at 8:00am, with Holy Baptism, and outdoors at 10:00am with the Blessing of the Animals.

If the weather is bad, the 10am service will take place in the Parish Hall – animals included.

At Eucharist: The names of pets who have died over the last 3 years will be read from the Altar. If you have a name you would like to be read, please notify the office by Tuesday, October 1.

October 11: Fellowship Gathering

The Fellowship Gathering will be Friday, October 11 from 6 - 8 pm in the Parish Hall.

All are welcomed!

Book Group: October 18

 The selection for the October 18 book group is

 The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride .

The novel takes place in Pottstown in 1972. Construction workers discover a skeleton while digging the foundation for a new development. The residents of Chicken Hill, a poor neighborhood, have been keeping secrets for many years.

Dates for Book Group: October 18, 2024, November 15, 2024, January 17, 2025, February 21, 2025, March 21, 2025, April 18, 2025, May 16, 2025.

October 12:

Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence

On Saturday, October 12, St. Francis will begin hosting the “Memorial for the Lost,” a visual reminder of lives lost to gun violence in Chester County, provided by “Heeding God’s Call,” an organization dedicated to reducing gun-related violence.

The memorial will stand on our property for two weeks.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP SET UP!

October 13: 5-week Study

On Sunday morning, October 13, from 8:45 to 9:45 am St. Francis will begin a 5-week study of gun violence entitled “Each Other’s Keeper.”

October 13: Outreach Meeting

There will be an Outreach Meeting in library on Sunday, October 13 following the 10 am service. 

Grab your coffee and a treat and join us! 

All welcomed to attend!

Deacon Collection

Each year at Convention time (10/18-10/19), the deacons of the diocese organize an outreach effort.

This year we will be collecting children's winter coats (as well as hats and gloves for those that cannot afford to purchase coats). 

A bin for donations is in the Narthex. Please be as generous as you can. 

Deadline is 10/17!

BROWN BAG LUNCH

Brown Bag Lunch – October 22, 2024

Inventors, teapots, bobbleheads, and ghost towns. What do all these have in common? Stories and connections you can only find by getting off the beaten path. Join us for Brown Bag Lunch on Tuesday, October 22nd, from Noon – 1 PM as Fr. Kevin shares tips and tools for finding the "Quirks of the Road." Learn how to find the "weird stuff" that can make every road trip an adventure.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 11:45 AM to allow mingling time and get their lunch and beverage so we can promptly start at noon.

The leadership of the BBL Ministry has changed, and there are fewer volunteers, so we have made a minor change by asking attendees to bring snacks and beverages with their lunch. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, October 22^nd.

October 27: Annual Fall Grounds Clean-up

Our annual fall grounds clean-up is set for Sunday, October 27th immediately after 10:00 am worship. If you can stay to help, even if just for a little while, it will be appreciated! 

Casual outdoor clothes may be worn to church that day. Bring a rake and work gloves if you have them available. 

Please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the narthex if you are able to help. If it rains, we will look to reschedule to a later date. 

Thank you!

November 7 - Thistle Hills - Annual Dinner and Silent Auction

Join us for a celebration of the journey of Thistle Hills residents on Thursday, November 7 beginning at 5:30 p.m. to 8 pm at Getman Hall, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1105 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton, PA 19341. 

Dinner, Conversation, Silent Auction and Thistle Hills pottery available for purchase. You will also hear from a resident who will be graduating soon.

RSVP and Ticket Purchases available online. $100 a person, $175 a couple.

You may also call 610-384-4771 to reserve and mail checks to Thistle Hills, 323 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA 19320.

December 10 – 13:

Lection Divina/Centering Prayer Retreat

This December, prepare your heart for the joys of Christmas by participating with Fr. Kevin and others in a silent retreat at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY.

Come for a few days of quiet and learn the ancient practices of Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer, walk the beautiful trails along the Hudson River, and worship with the Brothers in the rhythm of monastic life.

The cost of $420 covers room and board. Interested individuals should contact Fr. Kevin. Holy Cross is an Anglican Benedictine Monastery.

Vegetable Garden News

Another big corn delivery – 216 pounds - to the West Chester Food Cupboard courtesy of Bob Lange of Sugartown Strawberries by John Groch on September 23. That brings John’s deliveries of corn to 1,009 lbs for the season. 

For our Vegetable Garden we have worked hard as a team to keep the garden watered during this very dry summer. Maria Huggins waters on many weekends for us.

And we have delivered 483 pounds for vegetables ready to distribute to the West Chester Food Cupboard.

We are still growing green beans, yellow squash, peppers, lettuces and even fall radishes. We have big patch of tomatillos growing. 

Next year we will plant them with a climbing structure.

Church Farm School

Church Farm School Requests Gently Used Clothing for Scholars.

Church Farm School is an independent boarding and day college preparatory school for bright, motivated young scholars in grades 9-12 looking for an extraordinary educational opportunity at a reasonable cost.

To help these terrific scholars with their wardrobes (they are required to wear coats and ties for Chapel, dress in business casual attire for school and keep their clothes in good condition), the School enthusiastically requests donations of gently used or new clothing, appropriate for teenage boys in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. 

Donated items can be put in the bin located in the narthex.

For more information about donating clothes please contact Cindy VanHefter cvanhefter@gmail.com

Join the Worship Committee!

The St. Francis Worship Committee meets several times a year to review, discuss, and plan the worship life of St. Francis.

The WC is collaborative group, open to exploring new ideas within the theological spirit and tradition of the Episcopal Church.

If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Fr. Kevin or Joe Perry.

Wednesday Bible Study



This weekly study group meets both in-person and on Zoom Wednesdays at 10 am to discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday.

Those who attend in-person gather after for a brief service of Holy Eucharist.

A weekly email link is sent out for those who desire to attend virtually.

Let’s play Pickle Ball!

If anyone is interested in helping set up a Pickleball tournament between St. Francis and the Church of the Good Samaritan, please contact Suzanne Steinberg at 610-608-0830.

We’re hoping to hold an event in the near future so please consider being part of this fun, friendly game!

Pickleball is Mondays from 5 to 7. All are welcome. A link to register was sent out via Constant Contact.

Please sign-up using this link! Sign-up!

Walking With Friends

Anyone can do it. No power walking here - just a Monday morning pleasure walk enjoying friends and East Goshen Park. No reservation needed. The walk will begin at 10 am.

Come as you're able and your schedule allows. We meet at the parking area on the north side of Paoli Pike at the traffic light. Hope to see you then 

Circle of Friends

The Circle of Friends will meet in person, in the library, on Wednesday, October 23 at 5:30 pm.

If you are unable to join us in person but would still like to participate, packets can be prepared for pickup or delivery as needed. 

Please contact Shelley Steel at 610-299-3963 or shelleybsteel@gmail.com.

Immigration Ministry

The Mykhalchuk family continues to do well in West Chester. For more information about the family, visit Welcome.US | ‘I can’t stop a war, but I can help a family’ for the story of their ordeal and immigration to the U.S. 

The welcome.us site also provides a great deal of information about how Americans can help refugees in practical ways. 

Contributions to the Mykhalchuk family can be made at https://gofund.me/3f258bbd. 

A furniture pick-up for the Nationalities Service Center refugee program is planned for this fall. Please send photos of items to John Groch at 610-547-3583.

Altar Flowers

Please sign up for altar flowers in the book in the back of the church. The donation for the flowers is $50. 

Thanks. If you have questions contact Pam Hudson, pchudson715@gmail.com.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

689 Sugartown Road

Malvern, PA 19355

610-647-0130

stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org

stfrancisfields.org

The Very Rev. Kevin Dellaria, Rector

 Diane Faison, Parish Administrator & Deacon

Joe Perry, Music Director