Community Updates (10/5/23)
From our new Interim Priest:
Dear all,
Today is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. I have been looking back through Facebook posts and include here my favorite picture of all time! It was taken in 2020 during our Pandemic lock down and I call it “two Franciscan friars, masked Stacey and Daz”!
I love St. Francis because he has become a universal icon for what it means to be a humble religious person concerned with the poorest among us. Yes, he loved animals and the earth too! Once, when praying at the church of San Damiano, Francis heard Jesus speak to him and say “Francis, rebuild my church.” Francis is also purportedly the person who “invented” the Christmas crèche.
In an interesting way, Francis has transcended Christianity and can be an image for all of us trying to appreciate what we do have, while at the same time rebuilding the structures our world has outgrown.
Blessed St. Francis day and see you at church on Sunday, with bells on and Pet Blessing (see below!) afterwards!
Stacey
The Rev. Stacey Grossman
St. Francis Day and Blessing of the Animals - THIS Sunday, October 8
This Sunday, October 8, we will bless animals in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. We will gather on the patio at 1 pm to bless animals, pictures, and stuffies. We also welcome pictures of pets of blessed memory!
"First Friday Fellowship" is Coming THIS FRIDAY!
A new monthly Fellowship event kicks off Friday Oct 6th at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. This event is a "Holy Spirit" potluck where you bring anything you would like to share to eat and we gather for a casual meal to talk, laugh and enjoy each other's company. We will have a sign up on the bulletin board however you can come without having signed up. There is no charge, we ask that you bring a food item to share, your own silverware and dishes and a beverage for yourself. This will make setup and clean up easy for all. Each month will have a different theme and in October we will celebrate the fall season.
Update on our Future Rector Search:
The Vestry is actively working with candidates in October. More news to follow!
Join us for the Pastoral Care Committee meeting on Friday, October 10, at 10:00 am. We will be meeting with Rev. Stacey in the Narthex at church. Plan on having lunch at the Country Inn after the meeting.
Betty Consorte, Chairperson
Marianne Schmidt, Scribe
Here is a direct link to our weekly “An Episcopal Sermon” podcast.
Each weekly podcast episode is a live recording of the Gospel reading followed by the sermon based on that reading from our Sunday services. A new episode is posted on our website every Monday (in case you missed it on Sunday). This podcast provides thought provoking messages that can be listened to anywhere at any time.
Enjoy!
Link for this week:
https://www.churchinalmaden.org/news/sept24-2023-an-episcopal-sermon-mct6m
Maui Wildfire Victim Donations
If you are interested in donating for the victims of the devastating wildfires in Maui, please consider donating funds to the Episcopal Relief and Development at
https://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-you-can-do/give/donate-now/individual-donation/.
Also to an organization associated with the Diocese of Hawaii called "A Cup of Water" at
https://www.episcopalhawaii.org/a-cup-of-cold-water.html
Bishop Robert and the Diocese of Hawaii have invited you to pray along with them and have offered these prayers:
Almighty God, who is our strength and our refuge; be with those who are besieged by fire, guide those who evacuate so that they may find care and comfort in a safe place; protect their homes and their pets, their neighbors and their friends, so that they may return home to a loving community. We ask this in the name of Jesus your son, who abides with you and with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, whose love encircles us; sustain those who respond when wildfires roar, keep them safe from harm and hold them in your sheltering embrace so that they may complete these burdensome tasks, return home to their families, and keep the lives and homes of all they protect safe from harm, in the loving name of Jesus, who gave his life for all. Amen.
Loving God, our strength in times of despair, be with all those who have lost their homes to wildfire, comfort them in their distress, strengthen them for the journey ahead, and sustain them with your loving embrace, that they may find a sense of home once again. We ask this in the name of your son Jesus Christ, who heals the sick and restores the lost. Amen.
Prayer Vine
Kathleen Eagan is the director of the Prayer Vine. If you have any prayer requests that we can be praying for, please contact her at kathleeneagan34@gmail.com. Also if you are interested in becoming a part of the volunteers who are the Prayer Warriors, please let Kathleen know.