A Message from Jude+

Dear Family of St. Francis and all newcomers,

After tearfully saying goodbye to Paula+, this week begins our first steps forward, faithfully following where God leads us, even if we can't yet see or understand where that will be or how we are to get there! I want you all to know that I am here with you and available to you as your priest and companion on this walk. The love, time, treasure and talent you freely give to this parish overflows, and together:
We've Got This!

Going Forward:
  • Sunday worship will continue to live stream into your homes!
  • Drive-by communion resumes this Sunday, February 7th following 10am worship. - Email or text me 310-701-5966 for reservations (and our recordkeeping!)
  • Morning Prayer is on hiatus for the time being
  • Compline will continue every M-W-F at 7:00 p.m.
  • Meditation Group continues Thursday mornings at 9:30

Email Jude+, or call - Office - 310-375 4617 x225, cell - 310-701-5966.
Dear Family of St Francis,

'Thank you' and 'I love you' are my most important phrases. I am overwhelmed as I say them now, my heart is so full with all that I have received from you these past twelve years. I hardly have words for the extraordinary celebrations of this past Sunday in every aspect of the day. Before, during and after my last Eucharist with you was emotional for me. But my heart kept being lifter higher and higher with each family that drove by me in the car parade.

I posted on Facebook the balloon sculptures of “We love you” and “Happy retirement” that greeted me when I drove into my driveway. A big rose bush sat on my porch. My dining-room table is covered with your gifts, and cards are bursting out of a basket.

These last 4 days? I crashed! I am on empty physically but being sustained by the love energies of last Sunday and memories that I shall treasure forever. Someday soon I shall start my thank you notes but in this moment, I connect with you now and always ...

With love and the deepest gratitude,
Paula+
Paula+'s Last Sunday at St. Francis
What an emotional and beautiful day we celebrated on Sunday!
A moving service, including the handing over of the Keys, the Gospel, and the Elements of the Eucharist - and a profound and loving sermon from Paula+.
And then a tremendous drive-through farewell, including the Palos Verdes Police and Fire departments!
If you missed any of it here are some links for you:




Dear St. Francis Family,

What a send off!! Mother Paula was so very lovingly celebrated on her Retirement Sunday. Thank you to everyone for all the ways you joined in celebrating Paula’s 12 years of ministry at St. Francis. Paula will truly be missed, but she is with us in spirit as we go forward in our search to find a new Rector to continue her legacy of love for the people of St. Francis.

Each week, I will be updating you on where we are in the process of bringing in interim clergy and then as we move forward together, what the status and next steps are in our search. The process of calling a new Rector is one that takes significant time and discernment and I want to assure you that all voices will be heard as we move through this holy process together.

Our parish is in an enviable position of having a marvelous full-time Associate Rector, The Reverend Jude Lyons, on staff. Rev. Jude knows and loves us and is here to support our parish spiritually and to continue bringing us beautiful, meaningful worship on Sundays and pastoral care to all who have need.

I have been meeting with The Rev. Tom Quijada-Discavage at the Office of Formation and Transition Ministry regarding bringing on interim clergy. The role of our interim clergy will be to support us as a parish in transition, to support and work with Rev. Jude to bring God’s word to us on Sundays, to offer spiritual and pastoral care, and to help us grow in our understanding of who we are as followers of Christ while we seek new clerical leadership. The interim clergy person who will guide us will not be eligible to become our new Rector.

Fr. Tom has met with the Bishops has asked the Vestry to begin the process of meeting with interim clergy candidates. As there are 15 parishes currently in need of interim clergy we are moving as efficiently and thoughtfully as possible. Bishop John Taylor has been directly involved in suggesting interim clergy names for our consideration, and I could not be more pleased by the care and support we are getting from the Diocese. The Vestry is hard at work already and we will be in regular communication moving forward.

I am honored to serve as your Senior Warden during the transition and look forward to sharing the process with you and hearing your thoughts. God is in this with us!

Peace,
Senior Warden
Coming Up: Lent Begins on Wednesday February 17

Sunday February 14, after 10:00 a.m. worship
At the drive-by communion after the February 14th service, we will be handing out three things:
    1.  A Lenten Devotional Booklet (written by parishioners)
    2.  An envelope inviting you to participate in a fund-raising Lenten practice for
Habitat for Humanity (see below for more).
    3.  A baggie with a prayer card with a smudged ash cross on it for Ash Wednesday.
   If you wish to have this mailed to you, please email me by Feb. 8th.
Ash Wednesday
February 17th, 7:00 p.m. live on Facebook
Instead of Compline, I will lead an Ash Wednesday service.
During the imposing of ashes part of the service, we can impose ashes together, each from our homes, using the blessed ashes on the prayer card you received at the drive-by communion on Feb. 14th or received in the mail as requested.
Lent Worship
Sunday services during Lent will reflect visually the simple, bare, and stark aspects of this holy season. The prayers in the worship services will point us toward self-examination, forgiveness, and gratitude.
Lenten Series
Join us on zoom - Wednesday evenings - March 3, 10, 17 and 24 - zoom link details to follow.
Dr. Bill Creasy will be our Lenten series leader for the four Wednesday evenings in March. He is a much respected and much-loved Bible teacher and travel guide to the Holy Land, to the churches founded by Paul, and to other important sites in the history of Christianity. He will provide a video each week, available for viewing at any time, and then on Wednesday evenings, he and I will host a forum for questions and discussion to any and all who wish to join us on zoom. More information to follow. You can check him out at www.logosbiblestudy.com!
Help Habitat for Humanity as Part of your Lenten Practice
This year, as we can't use our hands, we will use our hearts and souls to support this wonderful cause. As described above, on February 14, as part of our drive-through communion, we will also be handing out an envelope to collect Lent donations for Habitat.
You can also donate in other ways:
(Click the Donate button, not Register)
For more information on Habitat here are two links for your interest:
Also, here are 2 other links that Habitat provided us that may be nice to post to our community:
  1. Covid-19 Emergency Relief Website
  2. Video on the work of Habitat for Humanity
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, and Spiritual Communion – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Worship bulletins are here.
  • 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 -
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 Jude+ at any time.

If you are in a position to do so, (only if - no guilt), you may also donate to Jude+'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 'Associate Rector's Discretionary Fund' in the memo line. Thank you!

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

Sunday's Sermon

"Get the vaccine; it’s safe and effective, medical experts tell fellow Episcopalians".
Contacts:
Jude+, 310-375 4617 x225.
You are not interrupting our work - you ARE our work!