Today is January 5th, the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Unlike our secular brothers and sisters, we Episcopalians like to keep Christmas going for the full twelve days. I put my normal diet on hold, and I have enjoyed seasonal treats like eggnog and fudge in abundance. Traditionally, the decorations come down on Epiphany, but I like to keep my tree up a bit longer until Candlemas Day (2 February) – I love the lights on these dark winter evenings.

The Twelfth Day of Christmas was often celebrated in times past with feasting and frivolity. That is the origin of the famous Twelve Days of Christmas song – it is a gathering of food (swans a-swimming in sauce, dancers (lords a-leaping), and musicians (drummers drumming). I think drums are a good way to close out the Christmas season.

Today we associate drums primarily with music, but historically, the drum was also used to send signals and communicate orders to armies on a battlefield. All of us should be drummers in our lives – announcing the good news expressed in the Christmas antiphon to all the world: Alleluia. To us a child is born: Come let us adore him. Alleluia.

Let us beat out the rhythm of God’s grace, peace, and love in our daily words and actions. Let us be drummers drumming the Good News of Christ, not only at Christmas, but all the days of our life. As the Psalmist says (Ps 150:4-6):

PS - reminder re email phishing fraud. Once again several people have reported receiving emails purporting to be from Jerry+. Jerry's email address is jerry.sather@stfrancispalosverdes.org. All staff email have the same format. If you receive a fraudulent email, simply mark it as spam and delete it. If you do open the email don't panic - just do NOT do anything the email requests, like sending money or gift cards etc. If in doubt, call the church office 310 375 4617.

Please come out this Saturday, to celebrate their journey with us and wish them well as they move on to their next adventure. There will be food, fellowship and fun! (no charge).

Please RSVP to Mary Deley as soon as possible with how many in your group will attend (so we know how much food to prepare), or call the church office at 310-375-4617.  

In case you missed the news, we have a new Rector joining us very soon. The Reverend Jason Shelby will be arriving from Mississippi, with his family, at the end of January. Just 4 weeks away!

His very first service at St. Francis will be on Sunday February 5.

We hope as many as possible will be there on that day to welcome the Shelby family, and start the process of getting to know each other.

In the meantime, please hold them in your prayers as they negotiate the challenges of a long distance move and transition to a new Parish.

Kick off your new year with some fun and friendship. Enjoy social time, a simple lunch and a guest speaker. We are pleased to be able to have Monique Sugimoto, from the PV library district. She will speak to us about “Doors Open Peninsula”, a program coming up in the spring. Come hear what it will include and how you might become part of it. To help with preparing the lunch, please email or call Claire in the church office (310 375 4617), if you can attend. All welcome - bring a friend. :)

Thank you and can't wait to see you!

Our Annual Parish Meeting will be held at the end of this month, on Rev. Jerry's last Sunday. We will review the state of the Parish, our activities from 2022, and elect new Vestry members. We hope you can be there.

This is the year you are once again invited to the St Teresa’s Chinese New Year Event! Chinese Food, Beverages, Auction (multiple formats), Fun!

Click here for The Episcopal News Update

8:00 a.m. - Rite I in-person worship in the Chapel, with hymns. This service is not live-streamed.

10:00 a.m. - Rite II in-person worship in the main church with music. Live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, and available for watching later.

Please contact Kristina Pelá to arrange for a Lay Eucharistic Minister to safely bring you communion.

A spiritual mind and body practice!

Parish Hall. No set fees - classes are free-will offering. Questions? Jill Fenske

Thursdays from 9:30-10:30am in our church sanctuary has re-started; masks optional. Please join us for meditation, followed by a time of conversation.

Note: Meditation is on hiatus over Christmas - we'll be back on January 12.

Contact - Susie Zimmerman

It's quick and easy to sign up - just pick a day. More than one person or household can sign up on the same day, so you don't have to be on your own.

Bring your children to Sunday School for our wonderful Montessori-based, Godly Play curriculum.

Godly Play makes meaning through story, wonder, and play. Nurturing spiritual lives by honoring the centrality, competency, and capacity of children. You and your children will be blessed by these teachings.

Contact Kristina Pelá.

Need someone's email, or even map directions to their home?

Go to https://servantkeeper.com/directory/sfc/login

The password is Romans12:4-5

Bookmark the link on your phone or computer and let your browser save the password and you will always be up to date with information!

We are here to do our best to help you with whatever you may need. We know circumstances can be difficult at any time. For help of any kind, or just a phone call, please email or call Jerry+ .

310-594-7984

Enews is sent weekly on Thursday afternoons: email Susan with your requests.

Office main line - 310 375 4617

The Rev. Jerry Sather 310-594-7984 - Priest in Charge (Interim)

Mark Bennett 310-594-7416 - Director of Music

Claire Erbeznik 310-375-4617 - Office Administrator & Receptionist

Susan Marshall 310-594-8427 - Communications Specialist

Elaine Mistele 310-594-8268 - Business Manager