Tuesday was a big day at St. Francis. We welcomed our new interim, The Rev. Jerry Sather, to his first day with us. Jerry+ will be settling in this week and will preach this coming Sunday, March 21. I encourage you to join us for livestreamed worship at 10:00 a.m. on YouTube and Facebook. Please come meet Jerry+ at our drive-through communion this Sunday!

Tuesday evening the Vestry had a lengthy meeting to review the brand-new diocesan guidelines for resuming physical presence in church. After much discussion and consideration, the Vestry voted to make preparations to begin in-person worship again starting at 10:00 a.m. on April 18. We will begin on this date inside the church at 25% capacity, strictly following all state, local and diocesan guidelines for health and safety. Click here for diocesan guidelines.

Livestreaming of services will be a permanent feature of worship at St. Francis and will always be available going forward. If you cannot be present with us physically, we can always be together virtually, and we are fully committed to bringing our worship to all who are unable to attend in person.

Once we have had some time at this new capacity and understand what is needed to worship safely in our particular setting the Vestry will consider next steps for other services and gatherings. We must take small steps, with utmost care and love. Your forbearance as we move cautiously is grace and blessing.

We are creating a system to decide who will fill the 25% capacity of the pews each Sunday. I will be announcing the procedure as soon as it is finalized. With such small indoor capacity, some weeks you may be disappointed by not being part of the physical congregation, as we need to spread attendance opportunities fairly among over 400 members. Please be patient - as case numbers drop and vaccination numbers rise we expect that the regulations will allow us to slowly increase our capacity.

I will be updating you regularly about our worship planning. Thank you for your prayers and patience as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of regulations that impact our

worship.

Click here to read an important message from Bishop John Taylor in response to recent statements from the Catholic church regarding the blessing of marriage. It is my hope that all persons who come to St. Francis will find a place of love, inclusion, and justice, without exception or qualification. May our parish always be filled with people fully committed to living out their baptismal covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons loving our neighbors as ourselves, striving for justice and peace, and respecting the dignity of every human being.

Peace,

Senior Warden

First things first! Welcome to Jerry+ and Annette! We are all so eager to get to know you and for you to get to know us and for all of us to take the next steps forward together. How wonderful it is that the Holy Spirit has moved to bring you here to walk with us through Holy Week and the Resurrection into New Life. Blessings and welcome!

Speaking of Holy Week – mark your calendars for Thursday, April 1st at 7:00 p.m. for a Maundy Thursday service where we bless and share bread, wine or other beverage, and a light meal together, as Jesus did with his friends at the Last Supper. The service leaflet will be in the enews next week, and as part of the packet we will be handing out at the drive-through communion following the Palm Sunday Service. Maundy Thursday begins the Triduum, the three holy days of Easter. Let's begin that journey together, as part of the family of St. Francis, by sharing in this beautiful service and meal. Details of other Holy Week services to come next week

Feel free to contact me for more information.

Again, welcome to our new Interim Jerry+ and Annette!!!

Blessings,

Jude+, 310-375 4617 x225, cell 310-701-5966.

We are still offering drive-through Holy Communion on Sunday mornings - the times are 11:30 to noon. Please RSVP to Jude+ either by text 310-701-5966 or email.

Our discussion topics change every week. Look at our posts on Facebook and Instagram, to get a feel for the types of subjects we have previously covered. But some of our best conversations happen during open discussion sessions. 

St. Luke's needs men's pants: blue jeans, casual pants like dockers, and sweatpants. Smaller sizes (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) are especially needed, along with socks and underwear. Everything must be clean and cannot have holes or be torn. Mattias can do contactless pick up donations at donors' doorsteps the week of March 15-19 between 3-4 pm. Click here to email him.

Thank you!

Each session is unique; you can join anytime; view videos if you can, but not required.

Jude+, 310-701-5966.

You can watch them any time from tomorrow, and then as often as you would like !!!

Meeting ID: 838 6573 1354

Passcode: 675214

This year, as we can't use our hands, we will use our hearts and souls to support this wonderful cause. Here is how you can donate if you would like to:

(Click the Donate button, not Register)

For more information on Habitat here are two links for your interest:

Sunday Morning Worship – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Worship bulletins are here.

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.

Zoom groups -

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.

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.

Contacts:

The Rev. Jude Lyons, 310-375 4617 x225, cell 310-701-5966.

You are not interrupting our work - you ARE our work!