Dear Family of St. Francis

Advent is here! You are in it whether you feel it or not. There is a heavenly closeness with you and God right now because God is entering again the celebration of the gift of becoming one of us. Pause and let yourself be aware of this season – Advent is a time of HOPE even though times are tough and getting tougher – emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The decision to cancel outdoor worship last Sunday, November 29, was hard to make. Even though the Supreme Court ruled that churches and protests were exempt from government mandates, my decision to cancel outdoor worship was to protect the health and safety of our parish family given the extraordinary upsurge of the coronavirus.

Everyone I have talked to is hanging on by a thread. We have had no coffee hours or events or fellowship moments to be in person and see a smile. Last Saturday, with the spike in COVID cases up, I asked myself, “what would love do?” and my heart said protection first. The disappointment of not gathering for outdoor, in-person worship is keenly felt. The energy of presence is the energy of God’s love.

So last Sunday, we worshipped live at 10am. We were inside our church but not in-person and outdoors as planned. Inside the church there was only staff (clergy, an altar guild member, and production team) and the family who lit the Advent wreath candle and did the readings. We shall continue livestreaming Sunday worship going forward because it unites us in time! Livestreaming at 10 will always be a part of Sunday worship even when we are back in church someday. Livestreaming worship can meet the needs of those who cannot leave home for health reasons and for all those who are parishioners geographically far way.

I have been specific about worship because I would like you to take the survey we are sending out Friday. How can we do better? What are your thoughts in general?

NOTE: We shall continue to offer Communion under Special Circumstances for those who would like to receive the consecrated wafer, the Body of Christ. To protect your health and safety, we shall not be in-person outside church but offer a “drive through” option. There will be two stations: drive up to the first to share in prayer, then drive up to the second station to receive Holy Communion and a blessing. The time for Holy Communion as a “drive through” will be 11:15 until noon at the church curb. Please text - 310-995-6519 - or email me so we know who might be coming!
Advent is here whether you feel it or not. Advent HOPE is a spiritual muscle to embrace. The Light of Christ will shatter the darkness of fear, anxiousness, tiredness and wondering about the future…

With love and care and prayers for your strength and safety!
Advent Quiet Day Opportunities
“While it is Still Dark”: An Advent Quiet Morning
Friday, December 11: 6:00 am – 9:00 am
Led by Dr Kathleen Staudt
Poetry, Journaling and Guided Prayer
Cost: 0 - $30 (choose your donation)
Cultivating Silence, Stillness and Solitude During the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Saturday, December 12: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm 
Offered by Stillpoint
Led by Peter Traben Haas, Spiritual Leader in Contemplative and Centering Prayer
Two parts with ‘screen’ break in between
Cost: $60 (will receive a $60 discount code to invite a friend for free)
‘Tis the Season of Giving
Food and Toy Drive for Harbor Interfaith
Sunday, December 13th drive by and drop off
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Drive down to the parking lot, turn around, come back up curbside in front of the church. Youth volunteers will unload your car! Adult volunteers will thank you with a little gift!!! Contact - Gayle Taylor
For Thanksgiving we gave 45 bags of food; 9 turkeys, $400 in food gift cards!!!
THANK YOU to all who donated, to Trace, Ethan, and Jacob who unloaded cars, to Mary Deely and Kathy Compton for the bright orange fellowship tables, to Gayle Taylor and Kathy Compton for driving the donations to Harbor Interfaith, and to Gayle Taylor for spearheading the whole thing!!!
Donate and Offer a Tribute for Christmas Flowers

Our church will still be decorated for Christmas for our online worship. Remember, thank or honor a loved one by making a donation to the Altar Guild.
Email the following details to Mary Sanchez, no later than Sunday December 13.
Name of Donor; message for bulletin eg. "Given in loving memory of... or in Thanksgiving for... "etc.
The minimum suggested donation is $30. Checks should be made payable to 'St. Francis Altar Chapter' and marked 'Christmas Memorial Flowers'. Mail it to St. Francis Church, 2200 via Rosa, PVE, CA 90274.
Knitters and Crocheters!
Behold! An open invitation to any knitters or crocheters to call or text Anna Eakins...for an interesting Covid project. 310 297-0701.
Simplify Your Giving!
Use automatic bill pay for your pledge to St. Francis. You choose the payment frequency and date that works for you.

Look for Bill Pay or similar when you’ve logged in to online banking. Then add St. Francis as a new payee. You don’t need the church bank details - only the address and phone number: St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274. 310 375 4617. And thank you!!
Bible Study Returns
Tuesday evenings, January 5th - February 9th, 7:00-8:30 pm
Join Jude+ for a 6-week class
We will study Matthew 5-7, The Sermon on the Mount,

The plan is to read a short chapter a week along with Matthew 5-7. Levine invites us to “hear old songs in a new key.” She describes The Sermon on the Mount as Jesus’ theological pep talk that inspires us “not just to feel better but to do better … to find the resources needed for living the life to which God is calling us.”

This should be a wonderful deep dive into this famous scripture.

If you’re interested, go ahead and order the book and begin reading the Introduction and Chapter One for the first class! There is scholarship money available if help is needed buying the book. Be sure to email Jude+ if you need help. So, mark your calendars for the 6 Tuesday evenings Jan. 5 – Feb. 9!!!
Be together - 5 days a week, as well as Sundays.
Morning prayer twice-weekly, led by Paula+, and Compline three times per week, led by Jude+ and a team of lay leaders. Each service includes the traditional service, plus words from the leader, and explanations of the readings. They are prayerful and quiet, a far cry from the turmoil of the world, and medicine to help us heal and be comforted and inspired.
Watch Our Services Live via Facebook
You do not need to have a Facebook page to view our content. Just click here to view our page. If you don't have a facebook account, or have forgotten how to log into it, just ignore any prompts to log in etc. The page should be visible to anyone. Still having trouble? Email Susan Marshall, for help.

Weekly Worship - all via our Facebook page
  • Sunday Readings, Music, Sermon, words from Paula+, and Spiritual Communion – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Worship bulletins are here.
  • Morning Prayer - Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 a.m.
  • Compline (prayer for the evening) - Monday, Wednesday and Friday Evenings, 7:00 p.m.
Livestreams are also saved to our Facebook page, so you can watch again at any time if you miss one. Plus our sermons are also available as separate audio recordings here.

Other Offerings and Meetings
Zoom groups -
The Bellringer
At the current time, our monthly newsletter is on hiatus, but we'd still love to hear from you. If you have any updates or items you would have submitted for publication in normal times, send them along to Susan and we will publish them in this enews instead!
Do you need help of any kind?
Physical, Spiritual, Psychological, Material?
We are here to do our best to help you with whatever you may need. We know circumstances are difficult for many at this time. For help of any kind, or just for a Zoom or Facetime or phone call, please email or call Paula+ or Jude+ at any time.

If you are in a position to do so, (only if - no guilt), you may also donate to Paula+'s Discretionary Fund to help those at St. Francis in financial need. Send checks to 2200 Via Rosa, PVE 90274, made out to St. Francis Church, with 'Rector's Discretionary Fund' in the memo line. Thank you!

Email Paula+, 310-995-6519
Email Jude+, 310-701-5966.
View or download our bulletins - bulletins will be posted in time for livestreaming.

Sunday's Sermon
Contacts:
Paula+, 310-375 4617 x223.
Jude+, 310-375 4617 x225.
You are not interrupting our work - you ARE our work!