FIELDNOTES

February 2024

 The Monthly Newsletter of 

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Thank you for all the get well wishes, flowers, balloons, cards, and for all the prayers. They are all very much appreciated and really helped with my recovery! It's a joy to be a part of the great community of St. Francis-in-the-Fields.

Thank you so much for everything! It's good to be back!

Much love! Diane

Life, Lent, and the Language of Love

What’s your “Love Language”? If you’ve never read or heard of Gary Chapman’s 1992 book, The 5 Love Languages, you may be surprised to learn that we all experience both giving and receiving love differently. Written primarily for couples in a romantic relationship, Chapman explains how love can be expressed in different ways. And while one of those ways may be meaningful to one member of the couple - it may “fill their love tank,” as he says - that same way of loving may not be as meaningful to their partner. Being in a relationship, then, means learning about the other person, and learning what helps them feel loved. It also means examining ourselves to know what we think of love, and how we try to express it.

But love, and “love language,” is not limited to romantic relationships. When it comes to living out our faith - what Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls “Walking the Way of Love” - love is still something to be nurtured; a skill to be honed. Agape love, the selfless, God-kind of love spoken of in the Scriptures, requires a willingness to be shaped and formed by God. We have to learn to listen to others, while at the same time learning to listen to ourselves. Agape love is a love that is shaped over time as we open our hearts more and ask to be shaped in the image of Christ.

Think for a moment about Agape love as we enter Black History Month. Do we hear the unspoken volumes that come with that title? Are our hearts open to the fullness of the Black experience in America, and the history of both suffering and celebration that it entails? Do we shut down when race and racial issues are up for discussion, or can we find that place of empathy that helps, like Christ, to identify with the other and help bear their pain?

After all, that’s really what a “love language” is. It’s knowing how to be present to someone in a way that helps fill a void or heal a wound. It’s really not complicated, but it does take effort. And sharing intentional, well-honed, thoughtful love - whether that is Eros (romantic love) or Agape - is one of the most Christ-like gifts we can give.

During the upcoming season of Lent, I’ll be preaching each Sunday on one of the five love languages written about by Dr. Chapman. We’ll look at how the love languages appear in Jesus ministry, and how our own lives - with our spouses, our families, our jobs - can be richer when we consider specifically what kind of love needs expressing.

I hope you’ll come to worship throughout Lent, and I hope you’ll bring a friend. Let’s celebrate Life as we journey through Lent, and learn the Language of Love.          

Fr. Kevin+

Calendar

For the full calendar of events, please click the link below to the website. More information on many events at St. Francis can be found in this newsletter.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Calendar 

Selected Upcoming Events:

Saturday, Feb. 3 - Men's Breakfast Fellowship (9am; West Chester Diner)

Tuesday, Feb. 13 - Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (6pm to 7pm; Parish Hall)

Wednesday, Feb. 14 - Ash Wednesday Services (12pm & 7pm)

Sunday, February 18 - First Sunday of Lent

Wednesday, February 21-10am – 11:30am  Lenten Bible Study Begins (6 weeks)

                                                                       Witness at the Cross, by Amy-Jill Levine

Wednesday, February 21-6pm – 8pm   “Just War Theory” Begins (5 weeks)

                                                    (alternating locations; see website for details)

Tuesday, February 27 - Brown Bag Lunch

Saturday, March 2 - Men's Breakfast Fellowship (9 am, West Chester Diner)

Sunday mornings at 9 am: Practicing Theological Reflection

Beginning February 11, Fr. Kevin will lead a 2 Sunday series on the practice of Theological Reflection using various means and sources. Then on March 3, John Groch, an active parishioner and member of the St. Francis Vestry, will begin a 3-Sunday series on Theological Reflection in the realm of medical ethics. More information about that will be coming soon!

February 3: Men’s Breakfast Fellowship

The next Men’s Fellowship Breakfast will be held on Saturday, February 3, 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.

Shrove Tuesday (Feb. 13) and

Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14)

The Men’s group of St. Francis is pleased to announce the traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 13. Serving will being at 6pm.

Ash Wednesday services will be held on Wednesday, February 14, at 12pm and 7pm. Make plans now to step into the holy season of Lent with boldness and commitment as we head toward Holy Week and Easter.

Book Group

Friday, February 16 at 7:00pm (Library)



Beginning Feb. 21 (morning)

Study: Witness at the Cross

This year, our Lenten Bible Study takes us to the foot of the Cross, to examine it from the perspective of each evangelist, and the people they portray in their Gospels.

In Witness at the Cross, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine shows how the people at the cross each have distinct roles to play.

Six Wednesdays, 10am to 11:15am, St. Francis Library, with Holy Eucharist to follow. Zoom links for the Wednesday Bible Study are sent weekly by email.

Click here for more information

Beginning Feb. 21 (evening) – Study: Just War Theory

In 2003, the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church called on its members to study and understand the ancient Christian understanding of "Just War Theory". But what is Just War Theory? And what does it mean for followers of Jesus Christ?

This year, at this critical global moment and as part of our Lenten journey, St. Francis will partner with St. Peters to explore these important questions.

Five Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm, with alternating locations. Visit our website for details. Click Here

2024 Brown Bag Lunch Speakers’ Schedule

The BBL Ministry had a very busy and productive 2023. Please reference the 2023 Annual Report for more detailed information. One of our goals was to publish a list of speakers and topics in advance so parishioners could have this for planning purposes. Please note this schedule may change.

As mentioned in the January weekly Bulletin, we are happy to announce that Cindy VanHefter has joined the team. Also, the BBL date changed from the second Tuesday of each month to the fourth; however, the time remains the same (Noon-1:00 PM). To respect everyone’s time, we are encouraging attendees to arrive by 11:45 AM to allow time for mingling and to get their lunch and beverage to the tables so we start promptly at noon.

2024 Spring BBL SCHEDULE

Feb. 27   The Rev. Timothy Gavin, Head Chaplain of The Episcopal Academy and Interim

Rector of St. Alban’s Church. He will discuss his book “A Radical Beginning- A Journey Through the Prayers of St. Francis”

Mar. 26   Paoli Hospital (Mainline Health): A Matter of Balance. Presentation on fall prevention.

Apr. 23   AARP   Scams and Fraud Protection

The BBL Ministry has four volunteers and we are looking to add a few more. If you are interested in learning more about what we do, please contact one of the members listed below. We are also looking for future speakers (parishioners or external) so if you would like to be a speaker or know someone who would like to be a speaker, please contact one of the members.

BBL Ministry Team: Esther Underhill, Meridith Ridington, Cindy VanHefter, and Shirley Warren.

National Anthem at the

Reading Fighting Phils!



Once again, St. Francis has been invited to sing the National Anthem at “Baseball Town” in Reading. Our date is Saturday, June 15; 6:45 start.

Mark your calendars and plan to have a great time. Tickets will go on sale later in the year. You do NOT have to sing in order to attend . . . but it is a lot of fun!

Episcopal Visit: September 15, 2024

The Bishop is coming! The Bishop is coming! Our first in-person Episcopal visit in over six years is scheduled for Sunday, September 15, 2024. Over the coming months, we will be gathering a list of people who are seeking Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation.

A Confirmation class for adults and for youth will be made available later in the year. If you seek any of these rites of the Church, please contact Fr. Kevin or Deacon Diane.

Pre-Marital and Marital Coaching

Fr. Kevin is now a certified Facilitator for the Prepare/Enrich pre-marital and marriage assessment program.

For over 35 years, the Prepare/Enrich assessment tool has been used by Facilitators to help couples strengthen and enrich their relationships.

If your relationship or that of someone you know could benefit from a short-term program of assessment and conversation, please reach out to Fr. Kevin for more details.

Coffee Hour



Coffee Hour hosts are needed for 2024! Please consider hosting a Sunday or two.

Contact Sue Kelly or sign up in the Narthex.

Circle of Friends

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, February 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.

Additionally, if you know someone who would benefit from a note of encouragement, well wishes or any other message from our ministry, please contact Sue and we will add them to our list. We want to ensure we're reaching those who need it most. 

Immigration Ministry

To do more for refugees, please visit nscphila.org where you'll find many opportunities to donate your services or contribute goods to persons in need. 

Sign up for NSC's newsletter to get periodic updates on what you can do to help. 

For future furniture pickups, send photos to John Groch.

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.