The Monthly Newsletter of 

Despite the pandemic, however, nothing has changed about Christianity. Ours is still an “embodied” religion. The story of our faith is still a story about a God who came down among us and shared our physical space, and about a people called to bear witness to that story by worshiping, studying, praying, and serving together. The first commitment of the newly baptized, arising from the Creed, is a commitment to embodied community: “Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?” Our answer: “I will with God’s help.”

Maybe, then, we can use these seasons, Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany - the incarnational seasons - to consider how we embody our faith. Do we put our bodies to the practice of prayer and study? Do we “break bread” with others in worship at the Holy Eucharist? Do we make our bodies part of the community of faith? Do we train our bodies to serve and care for others?

In our contemplations this Advent, let’s remember that when God came to us - for us - God came with a body; the body of Jesus of Nazareth. In that body, and through that body, God both enjoyed and savored what life he had, and offered it up in the service of all.

Holy Eucharist will be held each Sunday in Advent at 8am and 10am, and on Wednesdays following Lectionary Bible Study.

The Feast of the Nativity (Christmas) will be celebrated with Holy Eucharist on Saturday, December 24, at 5pm and 10pm, and Sunday, December 25 at 10am only.

The first Sunday after Christmas Day, January 1, the Feast of the Holy Name, will be celebrated with Holy Eucharist, Lessons and Carols, at 10am only.

Our two-service schedule of 8am and 10am returns on Sunday, January 8.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Calendar 

The total number of pounds for the Harvest Home Food Drive was 774 pounds. 

If you have any questions, please contact Diane in the office at 610-647-0130 or stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org. 

10 am Wednesdays: This weekly study group meets both in-person and on Zoom 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. Everyone is invited to attend. This group is a great way to get to know other people in the parish.

Sundays from 9 to 9:30am, beginning January 8. From January to May, join Fr. Kevin for background and interpretation of the last book in the Bible. A source of confusion for some, misuse and abuse by others, the Revelation to St. John is instead the most logical conclusion to the canon of Scripture, with a beautiful, hopeful, but challenging message for followers of Jesus Christ living in difficult times. Revelation is also an excellent book for learning and honing Bible reading and study skills useful to any Disciple.

Our second BBL session was held on a beautiful Autumn Day with 22 participants in attendance. Terri Potrako (VEP Executive Director) and Donna Dello Buono (VEP’s Senior Program Coordinator and Program Outreach Coordinator for the VEP Without Walls Program in Phoenixville) gave an informative presentation about the organization, its mission, and the services they provide. Both Terri and Donna thanked St. Francis Church for, not only their partnership and financial support over the years, but also for individual congregants who volunteer their time as tutors. Below are key highlights from their presentation:

Please add to your calendars and join us on Tuesday, December 6 for a presentation on “Mental Health” presented by Tracy Behringer, Chester County Hospital. According to a recent CNN poll, 90% of US adults say mental health is a crisis in the United States. We look forward to seeing you for this important topic.

Please note: The Committee is looking for speakers for 2023 so if you have an educational topic, a favorite hobby, or a vacation trip, etc., you would like to share, please contact Shirley Warren, Meridith Ridington or Esther Underhill.

The Fall 2022 issue of Caminos: Our Roads Together is available in the narthex. In an article on Combating Gun Violence one section titled "Do Something" is especially informative. We tend to think of this as a Philadelphia problem, but it is our problem too. The Diocese of Pennsylvania has taken this very seriously. 

One emphasis is on "recognizing the role of mental health." They encourage Mental Health First Aid and will offer programs for ministry leaders throughout the area. The program for our Brown Bag Lunch on December 6 is about mental health. The Diocese of Pennsylvania is attacking the issue of gun violence in many ways. One emphasis is on "recognizing the role of mental health." They encourage Mental Health First Aid and plan to offer programs for ministry leaders. Programs for youth have already begun. Although the emphasis may not be the same it could help each of us to better understand some of the problems involved.

Another suggestion is to donate blood. "Gunshot victims require an average of 10 times more blood than other trauma patients." A recent issue of The Philadelphia Inquirer (11/25/22) gave front-page emphasis to an article about the use of tourniquets to stop blood flow after an injury, as well as illustrated directions on how to make one. Some victims of gun violence don’t make it to the emergency room because of the rapid loss of blood. A recent Diocesan publication states that for those who make it to the hospital, “gunshot victims require an average of 10 times more blood than other trauma patients.” The Red Cross Blood Bank will be at St. Francis on December 12. Please be a donor if you can. While this may not directly help a victim of gun violence, it will help with the shortage of blood during the current crisis. If you can’t make it to this event, check to see if there is another nearby that fits your schedule.

You are invited to a Festive Christmas Party on December 9 from 6 to 9 PM. Please dress in your finest and come for an evening of celebration during this holiday season! Food and beverages will be provided by the fellowship committee. 

Friday, January 20, 7:30 pm

The Radium Girls, by Kate Moore

Your purchase will be available for pickup on December 3 from 9 – 10:30 am in the Parish Hall. 

Calling all bakers! St. Francis' annual Cookie Walk will be held Saturday, December 3 alongside the St. Clare's wreath and poinsettia sale. You can help in two ways: We need

1.) As many people as possible to bake cookies of all kinds.

Please bring to St. Francis BEFORE December 3.

2.) Help putting out signs. This is one of our best fundraisers of the year, and draws many people to St. Francis.

All proceeds will be donated to the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County. There will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex.

Contact: Michelle Samet.

Register for the Blood Drive at St. Francis on December 12! St. Francis will host our next blood drive with the American Red Cross on Monday, December 12 from 2-7 pm. 

Please consider donating blood to help patients in need in our community. If you are healthy and eligible, roll up your sleeve, book your appointment

at www.redcrossblood.org (search St. Francis Malvern) and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross!

Questions, contact Sue Lenkaitis.

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, December 28 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.

The Dellarias will be hosting a come-and-go event at their home on Friday, Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. Watch for more information coming soon!

Sight & Sound: Moses

Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster offers theatrical productions of biblical stories that are stunning in scope.

Fr. Kevin is gauging interest on taking a church group this spring. No date has been chosen, but tickets run from $74 to $89 for adults, and $39 for children 3 – 12.

To register, please contact the Rev. Canon Matthew Dayton-Welch, Canon for the Holy Land, at rector@stalbansnewtownsquare.org or via phone at (610) 356-0459.

The Annual Parish Meeting of St. Francis will be held on Sunday, January 29, following morning worship.

Here is the slate of nominees for Vestry. Suzanne Steinberg and Sherri Lewis will serve another term on Vestry.

Hello there. My official name is Katherine Schilling. I have been a member of St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church for approximately seven years. Previously my husband Charlie and I, having been born on Long Island, NY, spent our lives as trusty Long Island Catholics. A change came about me long before Charlie but we were so happy to have found a home for us both at St. Francis.

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, www.stfrancisfields.com.

Baptism is the rite of the Church initiating a new member into the Body of Christ. As declared in the Baptismal Covenant, Baptism comes with expectations and responsibilities for the Baptized, their sponsors (i.e., parents & Godparents), and the Congregation as a whole.

Additionally, according to The Book of Common Prayer (pg. 312), there are four Sundays on the liturgical calendar (the “Church Year”) when Baptisms are most appropriate: The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (1^st Sunday after the Epiphany), the Great Vigil of Easter, Pentecost, and All Saint’s Day (or the Sunday after). A fifth option includes any service of Holy Eucharist over which the Bishop presides.

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.