FIELDNOTES

December 2024

 The Monthly Newsletter of 

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Advent: Silence, Simplicity, and Hope

When I was a kid sitting in the luncheon in elementary school with the cacophony of two-hundred other children laughing and shouting around me, I used to plug my ears for just a second and then release them. I wasn’t bothered by the noise. Honestly, I’m sure I was part of it. Rather, I was fascinated by the contrast. The brief muffling of the din from the cafeteria made the raucous room burst with sound when I opened my ears again. For some reason, after I did that, it sounded different than it had before. For a brief flicker of time, until my ears adjusted again, the noise around me burst into my ears with greater clarity. (Seriously, try it sometime…)

Coming out of Thanksgiving, and rolling into Advent, our lives are usually filled with a lot of busyness and noise. That’s axiomatic when it comes to our annual build up toward Christmas, and I don’t want to criticize or judge our culture too harshly. Beating ourselves up for how we should be or what we think we’re supposed to be rarely accomplishes anything, especially when it comes to spiritual things. But it doesn’t hurt us to take a moment and listen more deeply. To pay special attention. To plug our ears so the din is muffled, and the fullness of the season can maybe reach us with more clarity.



That’s why, throughout this season of Advent at St. Francis, we’re seeking to give more space in our worship for silence, simplicity, and slowness. It is not because our worship practices at any other time are bad or unspiritual, but because we want to make more room in this season for reflection, and to emphasize the rest that leads to renewal. At the very least, that’s a daily cycle that all of us follow in order to maintain our physical health. But it’s also a practice that aids in our spiritual health. Through periods of silence, simplicity, and slowing down - even briefly or moderately - we help keep ourselves attune toward the “still small voice” of God.

For the next four Sundays - the four Sundays of Advent - you will see intentional differences in our worship. Our music will have a certain tone and emphasis, our prayers will be simple and more contemplative, and a period of reflective silence will follow the sermon. In these moments, whether we are singing or sitting in quiet, just let your heart become open to God.

Because that is what this season of Advent is about: Opening our hearts to God so we are ready for that moment when God reveals our hope through Jesus Christ.

Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas,

Fr. Kevin +

Services of the Nativity

Everyone is invited to attend the services of Christmas at St. Francis!

Invite your friends and family, and gather around the Altar as we

welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!

 

Christmas Eve Services: Tuesday, December 24 at 5pm and 11pm.

Christmas Day Services: Wednesday, December 25 at 9am.

Christmas Lessons & Carols: Sunday, December 29 at 10am

Vestry Notes

The Vestry of St. Francis met in regular session at 7pm on November 19, 2024. After a time of devotion and prayer, the first portion of the meeting focused on financial matters. David Brooks, representing the Finance Committee, presented a draft of the 2025 budget for initial discussion. Several recent repair projects were noted, including damage to one of our cameras (estimate pending), recent leveling of the cemetery footpath, the relining of our well for $2,300, and the replacement of our aging boiler for an estimated $19,000. Funds for the boiler were provided by our Reserve Repair Fund, a savings account maintained by the Vestry for just such purposes. The intention is to rebuild this fund over the next three years to handle potential future repair issues. Discussion ensued on how to cover any potential pledge shortfall for 2025. 

During the second portion of the meeting, the Vestry focused on the mission and ministry of the parish. Nancy Needhammer is now serving as Pastoral Care Coordinator and will step down as Accounting Warden in January. Lisa Buono (formerly Colón), a member of St. Francis with decades of accounting experience, has graciously agreed to serve as the new Accounting Warden, beginning after the Annual Meeting in January. The schedule and procedures for the new “Vestry Person of the Month” was reviewed, with Vestry members signing up for selected months. Fr. Kevin asked for and received the blessing of the Vestry toward the creation of a new committee of members interested in social awareness and action. The final portion of the meeting, led by Fr. Kevin, included two exercises from Sustaining while Disrupting by Powe and Weems (Fortress Press, 2022). The exercises were designed to help the Vestry see the parish from an outsider’s perspective, and to consider more carefully the purposes underlying the ministries and events in our parish. The meeting concluded with the Prayer of St. Francis at 8:30pm. Vestry Meetings of St. Francis are public, and members of the parish are welcome to attend.

Fr. Kevin+

ALL Meetings, Events, and Repairs



PLEASE call (610-647-0130) or email (stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org) Diane Faison in the church office to schedule ANY events at the church!

Doing this helps prevent scheduling conflicts.

Sunday Advent Study: The Soul Felt Its Worth

December 1, 8, 15, 22

On each of the four Sundays of Advent, join Fr. Kevin for a discussion of the great hymns of Christmas, using the Advent devotional by Cameron Frank and Preston Norman. Copies of the book are available in the Narthex for $10.

Note: The Wednesday Bible Study has also chosen this study during Advent! The group will use the book for its studies on 11/27, 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18.

The group meets at 10am in the Library, or via Zoom.

Fellowship Meeting



There will be a Fellowship Meeting Sunday, December 1, following the 10 am service in the library to discuss the Festive Christmas Party. 

December 3: Enneagram Growth Group

The Enneagram Growth Group meets on the 1^st Tuesdays of each month, from 6pm to 8pm, at the Dellaria residence in Paoli. The next meeting is Tuesday, December 3.

For more information, contact Fr. Kevin or Donna Dellaria (donnadellaria@gmail.com)

December 7: Cookie Walk

Our annual Cookie Walk will take place on Saturday, December 7, from 9am to 11am.

We need members of St. Francis to do two things.

1.) Start baking cookies! (Or at least make your plans to bake.) ANY cookies or other baked items should have known allergens clearly labeled.

2.) Start telling your friends and neighbors! We need more people from outside of St. Francis buying cookies.

Contact Michelle Samet for information on this important event at michellesamet@yahoo.com

All proceeds go to the HEADstrong Foundation.

December 8: Church School

Church School (a.k.a., Children’s Sunday School) classes will be held on Sunday December 8. 

Have you seen the number of children we have? This is the most important and growing ministry in our church!

Please consider using your time and talent as Church School Teacher.

In the coming months, we want to expand Church School to at least two Sundays. For more information, contact Sherri Lewis.

December 8: Children’s Tree

Our Sunday School children will be decorating Christmas tree ornaments during their Sunday school class on December 8, 2024, they will then be decorating the Christmas tree in the Narthex after the 10:00am service.

Please join us for coffee hour in the Narthex.

December 8: Christmas Caroling

People love Christmas Carols! We will have an old-fashioned Caroling Party on Sunday, December 8th from 4:00 to 6:30 pm. This is meant to be a family event, so all ages are welcome.

The Quinns have offered to host, with caroling on Wistar Road in Paoli. Caroling would be about an hour, followed by some nice warm soup, hot cocoa, and cookies. 

More information to come, but if interested please save the date!

December 13: Festive Christmas Party

Please join us for our annual Festive Christmas Party on Friday, December 13 at 6 o’clock in the parish hall. No need to bring a thing except yourselves.

All beverages and food are provided in celebration of the season. We hope you will join us for a festive, fun-filled evening of fellowship.

There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex and rides will be provided as needed. 

Deacon Collection: 6^th Annual Holiday Card Distribution

DelCo Coalition for Prison Reform. You can donate boxed holiday cards, through AMAZON, which will be distributed to the men, women, and teenagers housed at a prison facility. During this holiday season, you can help bridge the gap between incarcerated persons and their loved ones. 

The deadline is 12/15/24 and the prison will pay for postage. Below is the QR code! 

Thank you!

Backpack Project for Our Brother’s Place

Members of the St. Francis parish family are again asked to remember the homeless people who seek shelter and a way to improve their lives at Our Brother’s Place, a unit of the Bethesda Project in Philadelphia, as you do your Christmas shopping.  

St. Francis has supported this very important outreach program for over 25 years, and the needs of those who are helped are as great.  Personal articles most needed include: backpacks and warm winter clothing (such as jackets, socks). Other items needed include gloves, hats, scarves, blankets, and toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shaving cream, shampoo, etc.).

PLEASE DO NOT WRAP GIFTS!  Collection bins are in the Narthex.  

The deadline for bringing your Backpack Project gifts to the Church is Sunday, December 15, 2024.  

If you would like more information regarding this very meaningful Christmas outreach project, please contact Jim Crowley (crowleyjamesm@gmail.com).

We thank you in advance for your generous support of the needy.

December 18: Daytime Christmas Fellowship!

Our annual Daytime Christmas Fellowship Party will be held on Wednesday, December 18^th, from 12pm to 1:30pm.

As usual there will be food, Christmas Carols, door prizes, and maybe a few surprises. Everyone is welcome!

If you can help bring someone who doesn’t drive to the event, please see Fr. Kevin.

January 10: Open House at the Dellaria’s

Fr. Kevin & Donna Dellaria will be hosting their annual Epiphany Open House on Friday, January 10, from 6pm to 9pm. This is a come and go event and everyone is invited.

Please bring a dish or drinks to share. The address is 303 Weatherstone Drive in Paoli. Entering into the Weatherstone townhome community off of Devon Road, the house is in the first court to the right in the middle of the 300 unit. There is a statue of St. Francis next to the front door.

Park where you can.

January 17: Book Group

Book Group does not meet in December. Our next meting will be on January 17, 2025. 

We will be discussing The Local, a legal thriller by Joey Hartstone. 

A freewheeling small-town attorney takes on a national murder trial when an out-of-town client is accused of killing a federal judge in Texas.

BROWN BAG LUNCH

BROWN BAG LUNCH – NEW SEASON BEGINS JANUARY 28th



The BBL Ministry is excited about the upcoming 2025 season, which starts on Tuesday, January 28th. Deacon Diane will discuss “the road to becoming a deacon.” The schedule for the year's first half is listed below, so please mark your calendar. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your continued support.

1. Tuesday, January 28: “The Road to Becoming a Deacon” – Deacon Diane

2. Tuesday, February 25: “Introduction to Ennergram” – Donna Dellaria

3. Tuesday, March 25: “Sharing Vacation Pictures” – Larry & Helen Schroepfer

4. Tuesday, April 22: “Church Farm School” – History of Church Farm School

5. Tuesday, May 27: “A Civil Rights Journey” – Stephen Godsall-Myers

Shirley Warren, Cindy VanHefter, and Sheila Rees – BBL Ministry Team.

Circle of Friends

The Circle of Friends will meet in person, in the library, on Wednesday, December 18 at 5:30 pm.

If you are unable to join us in person but would still like to participate, packets can be prepared for pickup or delivery as needed. 

Please contact Shelley Steel at 610-299-3963 or shelleybsteel@gmail.com.

Ministry to Refugees

On November 21, 27 pieces of furniture were collected for Nationalities Service Center, bringing the total to 313. 

The agency is increasing its efforts to serve as many refugees as possible and is in need of sofas, upholstered chairs and kitchen tables and chairs. 

Please send photos to John Groch at 610-547-3583. 

NSC has many volunteer opportunities (nscphila.org).

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, pchudson715@gmail.com.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

689 Sugartown Road

Malvern, PA 19355

610-647-0130

stfrancisfields@stfrancisfields.org

stfrancisfields.org

The Very Rev. Kevin Dellaria, Rector

 Diane Faison, Parish Administrator & Deacon

Joe Perry, Music Director