FIELDNOTES

May 2024

 The Monthly Newsletter of 

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Connections: Seeds of Growth

As a native Texan, one of the many things I’ve loved about living in the northeast is flowering trees. Sounds crazy, right? In west Texas, for the most part, trees don’t flower the way they do here in Pennsylvania, and so the seasonal beauty in the spring is not nearly so vibrant. But what IS common - what the trees of both states (all states, actually) share - are the pollen . . . and the seeds! This time of year, seeds are everywhere. As the flowers fall off and fruit begins to bear, thousands of seeds are scattering around, hoping to take root, to start something new. Of the thousands of seeds that fall from a tree, how many have a chance? Not many. And yet, year after year, the tree keeps working. It keeps making the seeds. It keeps making new possibilities.

This won’t come as a surprise, but the only way anything ever grows is by taking risks; by trying something new; by connecting, in some fresh way, with the world around. This is the case for trees, but it’s also the case for human beings. If we want to find the spice of life, we have to grow the peppers!

For me, personally, the last couple of years have been very fruitful and rewarding. As I’ve taken steps to expand my own horizons in the church and the community, I’ve been rewarded with new relationships and fresh ideas and energy. I’ve seen God working in ways I’ve never seen before, and it’s forced me to catch up; to expand my own vision. I guess you could say I connected with some of the seeds that were falling all around me, and I’ve had the pleasure now with watching them grow. And that’s something I hope all of us are doing. Exploring possibilities, and watching God do new and wonderful things.

At St. Francis, there are seeds falling all the time; ministries and opportunities where people can catch a seed, make connections, plant something wonderful, and watch a sapling grow. From writing notes to helping plan a party to tending the garden to taking Communion to someone in their home. These are all seeds, just waiting to be planted and nurtured. And it’s all a part of keeping ourselves and our church fresh and vibrant and moving forward. It’s all a part of our mutual ministry.

All that is to say: If you’re not active right at St. Francis in some way, there’s a role for you. (We’ll make one up if we need to!) And if you’ve been active in one way, maybe you would like to try something new and different. And of course, good leaders in our churches are needed to serve in the Diocese as well, and I would be glad to help you with that and get you connected in such a way that you could bless and serve many churches.

Quality friendships, a sense of fulfillment, the contribution of talents and skills, personal growth - these things aren’t separate from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are some of the ways we embody the Gospel. They’re ways we live out this Good News for all to see - as branches, attached to the vine, and bearing much fruit.

So get connected! Catch some seeds! Dig in the soil and see what comes up. Let’s all grow together in the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Kevin+

ALL Meetings



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

Doing this helps prevent scheduling conflicts.

Worship in the Garden (10am)



Outdoor services of Holy Eucharist will be held at 10am on the first Sunday of each month through October 6. Pets are welcome! For inclement weather, watch for emails, Facebook posts, etc., with information about moving the service indoors.

May 4: Men’s Breakfast Fellowship

The next Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will be held on Saturday, May 4 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.

Fellowship Meeting



Fellowship committee will be meeting after church Sunday, May 5 to plan the Year End Picnic on June 2. 

We are looking for people to join the committee and hope to see anyone who is called to help at that meeting!

Let’s play Pickle Ball!

The kick off party will be May 6 from 5 to 7.

Please come anytime to play Pickleball and enjoy some fellowship and refreshments.

This is a BYOB and appetizer to share event.

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

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 May 7.

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

Book Group

Friday, May 17, 7:30 pm (Library)

The last book group meeting for the Spring will be on May 17.  We will be discussing West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge an historical novel inspired by the true story of two giraffes who traversed America in 1938. The giraffes miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. Then follows a twelve day journey in a custom truck to deliver these first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo.

May 19: Church School

Church School will be May 19 at 10 am. All children are invited!

Vacation Bible School at St. Francis July 29^th to August 1^st

Contacts: Sherri Lewis and Jill Quinn. We are happy to announce the return of Vacaion Bible School this summer for children ages 4 thru 5th grade. We will meet from 9:00 am to 11:30 am Monday July 29th thru Thursday August 1st. The program is “I Wonder” from Grow Kids Curriculum. Registration forms are available in the Narthex or on the website.

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. 

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 

National Anthem at the

Reading Fighting Phils!



Tickets are now on sale! Join St. Francis and other churches of the Brandywine Deanery for a night of fun at “Baseball Town” in Reading!

Tickets are $14.00 each. Anyone interested can join us on the field to sing the National Anthem before the game!

A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. Bring a friend. Bring lots of friends! Come and catch a hot dog from “Crazy Hot Dog Vendor”! This annual event is always a night of fun!

Episcopal Visit: September 15, 2024

Our next Episcopal visit is scheduled for Sunday, September 15, 2024.

If you plan to seek Confirmation (for those un-Confirmed), Reception (for those Confirmed in another denomination), or Reaffirmation (for those who wish to renew their vows of Baptism and Confirmation), please notify the Parish Office.

A Confirmation/Episcopal 101 class is being planned. More information will be available soon.

Summer Fellowship



Fellowship hosts are needed for the summer months of June, July, and August! Please consider hosting a Sunday or two.

Contact Sue Kelly by email at tkelly1839@aol.com or 267-304-2419 or sign up in the Narthex.

BROWN BAG LUNCH IS TAKING A HIATUS

With the upcoming Memorial Day holiday and summer vacation, the Brown Bag Lunch Ministry is taking a hiatus from May through August.  

We will be back on Tuesday, September 24 with a presentation by Chester County History Center “Many Nations”. Chester County celebrates 300 years of diversity through the lens of migration. From contact between the Lenape and the first European settlers in the 1600s, people from around the world have called Chester County home. Learn about the ways national and international events have led to such a diverse local population that continues to make a significant impact on our community.

The BBL Ministry is looking for new speakers or topics so if you know someone who would like to present to the congregation, please contact Shirley Warren, Esther Underhill, Meridith Ridington, and Cindy VanHefter.

Also, we are looking for volunteers so if you are interested, please contact Shirley Warren.

Thanks again for your continued support and see you on September 24th.

Circle of Friends

The Circle of Friends will meet in person, in the library, on Wednesday, May 22 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

New opportunity to help refugees in West Chester. A Ukrainian family (grandmother, mother and two teens) from Kharkiv have moved to West Chester through the sponsorship of a local couple. They hope to move into an apartment, and the mother hopes to find employment as soon as possible. In the meantime, funds are being raised for rent and other living expenses at https://www.gofundme.com/. More information about the family is posted on this site.

Refugee Furniture Drive. On April 23, 30 pieces of furniture were delivered to Nationalities Service Center, bringing the total to 231 over the past two and a half years. Thanks to all participants!

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.