Holy Eucharist

Sunday services are 8 a.m. & 10:15

a.m. at
616 Stockell Drive, Eureka, MO.
Office: 210 S. Central Avenue, Eureka,
MO 63025
Phone: 636-938-3733
Website: www.StFrancisEureka.com

Vicar
The Rev. Sally S. Weaver
Phone Numbers:
Cell:
314-651-3836
Home: 636-938-7773

Deacon
The Rev. Rebecca Barger
Phone Numbers:
Home: 636-778-0799
Cell:
713-515-5676
Bishops Committee: Kevin Broom,
Sr. Warden, Sue Schmidt, Jr. Warden;
Donna Bernert; Jackie Selle; Dan Card;
Sally Hader; Joe OReilly; Sylvia
Ahmad; Jack Lauless; Jim Bowlin
Suzanne Jones, Treasurer
Convention Delegates:
Rich Mayfield, Arlene Underwood
Alternate: Linda Doolittle

Annual Meeting
An Annual Meeting is held each year at
the end of January at which new
Bishops Committee and Convention
Delegates are elected.
St. Francis Episcopal Church is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of
Missouri.

The Chalice is the newsletter of St.

Francis Episcopal Church, Eureka, and
is published at least 10 times per year.

Submissions for The Chalice are

due approximately the 20th of each
month and may be
e-mailed to the Office at
stfranch@sbcglobal.net.

The Chalice
St. Francis Episcopal Church
Eureka MO
January 2016

Pastors Corner
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus
was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise
men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is the child who
has been born king of the Jews?On
entering the house [the wise men] saw the child with
Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Matthew 2:1-2, 11a for Epiphany Sunday
The wise mens arrival at the house where Jesus lay
has given rise to the ritual of a house blessing during the
season of Epiphany. House blessings can be performed
by a priest or you can perform it yourself on your own
home. The rite is outlined in the Episcopal Book of Occasional Services.
To perform the rite youll need chalk, prayer, and a
desire for Gods blessing. Begin by gathering your
household around the lintel of your front door. Then say:
Peace be to this house and to all who dwell in it. With
the chalk mark the lintel of your front door as follows: 20
+ C + M + B + 16.
The C, M, and B stand for Caspar, Melchoir, and
Balthasar, the legendary names for the wise men. The 20
and 16 represent this year of 2016. This reminds you that
you are like the wise men who followed the star to Jesus
house. You too are on a pilgrimage to find, worship, and
follow Jesus.
You may follow the chalk-marking with a prayer:
O God, by the leading of the star you manifested
(Continued on page 5)

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Table of Contents
Adult Forum Calendar

Annual Meeting

3/4

ASA Statistics

18

Birthdays & Anniversaries

10

Book Group
Calendar

6
29

Call for Committee Reports

Christmas Message from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Contacting Pastor Sally

4
21

Earthy Soul

2
9

ECM Holiday Gift Wrapping

20

Financial Update

12

For These Times

From the Deacon

23

Lenten Book Study

20

Pastors Corner

Pastor Sally Vacation

Pictures
Prayer for St. Francis
Prayer list

22,
24-27
18
11

Property Update

Proposed Budget

15-17

Recipe of the Month

19

Red Wagon

10

Rides for Roger

Souper Bowl

St. Francis in Depth

17

St. Francis Planning Calendar

14

Thank you from Pastor Sally

Thank you from Deacon Rebecca

19

Trinity Hot Lunch

14

Upcoming Events

Worship Participants
Youth Group @ Pastor Sallys

25
5

The Vicars Calendar is

On-line
Pastor Sallys calendar is on our website,
www.stfranciseureka.com. Select
Calendar, then Vicars Calendar. Its
the only calendar Pastor Sally uses, so it is
complete and up-to-date.

Contacting Pastor Sally

If you call or e-mail Pastor Sally and she
doesnt respond, please let her know.
The best number to call
is her cell phone:
314-651-3836. Remember that theres a
middle initial, S, in
her e-mail address:
SallySWeaver@yahoo.com.
She wants to respond quickly, so please
let her know if thats not occurring.

Have we missed an
important date for you or
your family?
Jot a note and put in the
collection plate. We want to
help celebrate everyones
accomplishments.

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Adult Forum Schedule

Adult Forums are held on Sundays from 11:55 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The complete
Adult Forum calendar is on our website at www.stfrancisereka.com select
Christian Education, Adults.

Adult Forums January & February

January 3

Minor prophets, part 1

January 10

Minor prophets, part 2

January 17

Bible trivia quiz show

January 24

Annual meeting

January 31

Wisdom literature, part 1

February 7

Wisdom literature, part 2

February 14

Conflict styles

February 21

Levels of conflict

February 28

Dysfunction in the Church

Bishops Committee and Diocesan Delegates

January 24 Annual Meeting
At our annual meeting on Sunday, January 24, following 10:15 a.m. worship,
the following slate of Bishops Committee members will be proposed for election to
a 3-year term:
Michael Booker
Bob Champlin
Rich Mayfield
Kathleen McDonald
We have had 2 additional vacancies on the Bishops Committee:
Jack Lauless is serving out Jim Eckhardts term (this has been previously approved by the Bishops Committee)
Sue Schmidt is slated to serve out Joe OReillys term this will be approved at the annual meeting
Our proposed delegates to the Diocesan Convention are:
Suzanne Jones
Kevin Selle
Linda Doolittle, alternate

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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 5: Womens Group meets at Kathleen OReillys
Monday, January 11: Deadline for Committee Reports
Thursday, January 14: The Book Group will discuss Christina
Baker Klines Orphan Train.
Sunday, January 17: Youth Group Souper Bowl
Wednesday, January 20: Youth Group at Pastor Sallys
January 24: Annual Meeting
January 25February 7: Vicars Vacation
January 31: Trinity Hot Lunch

St. Francis Annual Meeting

Grab a pen, pencil, or crayon (or whatever is handy) and mark your calendars! Yes,
its that time of year again! The Annual meeting will be on Sunday, January 24,
2016 and we will review and celebrate our achievements of the past year. The annual meeting will follow the 10:15 a.m. worship service and will also include congregational voting on the following essential items:
1. The proposed 2016 budget (see pgs 15-17), and
2. The slate of Bishops Committee candidates and Diocesan Convention
delegates.
Let your voice be heard and participate in this important time in St. Francis history.

Call for Committee Reports for 2015

Attention ALL Committee heads!
At this time, we are requesting that your committee report for 2015 be submitted by
January 11, 2016.
Your attention to observing this deadline is greatly appreciated as the preparation for
the final parish annual report requires a significant amount of time to compile, organize, and prepare for print. Thank you in advance!

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Youth Group Souper Bowl Sunday, January 17

The Youth Group will provide a meal of soup and bread on Sunday, January
17 following 10:15 a.m. worship. There is no cost, but donations are welcomed.
The money collected will be given to a charity (or charities) of the teenagers
choosing. Well let you know how much we raise and where it goes .

Youth Group at Pastor Sallys

Wednesday, January 20
The Youth Group is meeting at Pastor Sallys house, 2575 Sunrise Dr. in
Eureka, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20. Well discuss what we want to do in
2016 and well hang out and enjoy each others company.
If youre a teenager, youre automatically a valued member of the Youth
Group. Please come and feel free to invite your friends, too.

Pastor Sallys Vacation

Pastor Sally will be on vacation with Tony beginning Monday, Jan 25 and returning for worship on Sunday, Feb 8. The Rev. Dr. Warren E. Crews will be the
celebrant on Sunday, Jan 31 and Kevin Selle will preach that day.

(Pastors Corner cont. from page 1)

your only Son to the people of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to
your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
You may finish this rite with the following prayer:
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all
who live here with the gift of your love; and grant that they may manifest your love
to each other and to all those whose lives they touch. May they grow in grace and in
the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen them; and preserve
them in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen.
May your home be a place of warmth, laughter, and love in 2016.
Pastor Sally

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Book Group Meets January 14

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Thursday, January 14th at 6:30 at the Parish House
Multiple copies available @ Eureka Hills Branch, St. Louis County
Library; Easy order online from amazon.com.

The Claddagh symbol a complicated line leaving heart and home and then
returning back again lies at the heart of this story.
Two women, one elderly and one teen, whose lives intersect each were orphaned at an early age and left to
survive in worlds closer to one another than either one
knows. The parallel stories are presented alternately
by this sensitive author and leave readers wanting to
talk to others about this wonderful story.
Come alone or bring a friend to our Book Group to share your reading experience. This rich story needs discussion among friends!

Pastor Sallys Conference Dates 2016

March 1-3, 2016: Clergy Retreat at Toddhall Retreat Center
September 27-29, 2016: Clergy Conference at Toddhall Retreat Center
December 1, 2016: Clergy Day at St. Martin's Episcopal Church

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602 Brewster Rd.: Property Update

Church Development Services has created a floor plan that still needs significant rework, so hasnt been shared yet. We anticipate a plan to share within the next
10 days.
We were hoping for a 10,000 square foot building. Given the costs, its clear
we cant afford a building that size. Were now working on a plan for an 8,000
square foot building. Even that will require a very large financial commitment on
the part of the Diocese.
Please put Saturday, February 20 on your calendars and plan on attending the
Diocesan Council meeting where Pastor Sally will present our plan and ask for financial help from the Diocese. The meeting is at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust St., 63103. The time is still to be determined. Your show of support is crucial.

Thank you from Pastor Sally

Dear people of St. Francis,
Thank you for the beautiful basket of chocolate bars for Christmas. I guess
its universally known that Im a chocoholic. Thank you for providing copious, delicious, and varied amounts of my favorite food. Id be lying if I said Im happy to
share them with you. But I am happy that you gave them to me.
Thank you for also for the cash for our ski trip. Tony has a tight grip on it because he knows that Id be stashing it in the Discretionary Fund and spending it to
help those in need, who abound at this time of year. So we both appreciate you providing us with funds to unwind in Colorado soon.
Finally, thank you for the privilege of serving as your priest for yet another
year. Its hard to believe Ive been the Vicar of St. Francis for 6 years. Time has
flown serving alongside you amazing, Christ-filled people. You are a blessing to my
life. You are the best gift of all.
~ Pastor Sally

Rides for Roger Shaw

The following is the schedule for rides to and from the 10:15 a.m. worship on Sundays.
Jan 3Sue & John Schmidt
Jan 17Sue & John Schmidt
Feb 7 Rich Mayfield
Feb 21 Donna Bernert
Mar 6 Sylvia Ahmad
Mar 20Sylvia Ahmad

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For these times we live in

A Poem
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into
a friend. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into
perfect timing, and mistakes into important events.
It can turn an existence into a real life, and disconnected situations into important
and beneficial lessons. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Melody Beattie

Extravagance UCC
No, my prayers will not stop the killing.
No, my prayers will not bring back the innocent.
No, my prayers will not relax the gnarled fist of hatred.
No, my prayers will not open the greedy hearts of those who profit from death.
But, my prayers can gently break the silence of despair.
But, my prayers can channel my rage at the machine.
But, my prayers can embolden me to be the hands and feet of The Divine.
But, my prayers can encourage others of faith to awake, arise and act.
I do not pray for God to send us a miracle.
I pray for God to remind us how to be the miracle.
I am because you are and only together, with a radical belief that a paradigm shift
is possible, active hope and faithful resolve to be the change we seek, can we
make it stop.
~ Kimberly Knight, Minister of Digital Community

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Earthy Soul
Any birth, let alone Jesus birth, is a miracle.Only God can create life
While we mortals participate in making children, God is responsible for the
spark that differentiates the living from the dead. Everything that is alive is
the work of God. It is God who breathes life into every living being.
Pastor Sally Weaver, Christmas Morning, 2015

On paper, the long wait is over. The Winter Solstice has passed and our darkest moments are behind us. The bustle of Christmas, at once joyous and anxious,
loving and lonely, deeply sacred and filled with fiscal profanity, is behind us too and
we look to a new year.
ButThe evidence that we will live increasingly in the light of the sun and in
the light of the Son is too small in the first weeks after Christmas. I need faith to remember that I am joy-filled and to act accordingly. It takes faith for me to move
through grief in the company of my siblings, where I ought to be. It takes faith to
want to be resolute about new behaviors, to act as though the light will be there
when I need it. Just as I struggle to get out of bed before sunrise, I struggle to
unlock the faith that is hibernating in my winter self. The cold and dark of winter
will be with us for many weeks.
Pastor Sallys words on Christmas day gave me a key to unlocking the faith I
need in this cold, dark, lonely time. That key is gratitude. Gratitude opens my cold
heart to make room for faith in the coming light. I am grateful to the God who
breathes life into every living being.
Even in the wet, gray, short days of January and February, Gods life shines
through Gods creatures. I see it in the iridescent blue of the indigo bunting, and the
brilliant red of the cardinal when their colors show against white snow and brown
branches. I give thanks for that sight, and I give thanks for my dad, who taught me
to see the birds and taught me their names trumpeter, grackle, starling, phoebe,
chickadee, hawk. I hear it in the silence of a snowfall, a silence so complete that it
is full, not empty, full of the peace of God. I thank God for that silence and for the
comfortable, companionable silences I can experience with my brothers and sisters,
not only those I was born with, but those I am related to in Gods extended family,
especially those at St. Francis. I smell Gods life in the hot, spiced foods we make
to warm us as we eat and I feel that spicy gratitude extend to the family and friends
who share it with me. Sometimes spiciness and richness can give you a bellyache,
but the goodness of it usually makes that worthwhile. Just so, being with my whole
family can be uncomfortably overwhelming, yet so worth it!
(cont. on pg 13

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Red Wagon
December Birthdays
Anne Booker

Jan 6

Lydia Broom-Morse

Jan 10

Kathleen McDonald

Jan 24

Della Hosutt

Jan 30

Ernie & Rosie Benecke Jan 17

In 2014, 48.1 million Americans

lived in food insecure households,
4.6 million seniors 65 and older were
in poverty.
Please remember the food pantry
when you shop:
peanut butter, jelly,
canned meats,
canned pasta meals,
individual packs of
fruits, applesauce,
puddings, instant oatmeal packs, dry cereals.
Also, always needed
items paper and sanitary products, soaps, dental items, etc.

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Preparing for Sunday

Prayer List
Tom & John

Sons of Paddy Wrob

Jennifer
Judy

Parishioner

The Barger
Family

Parishioner

Nick

Parishioner

Laura

Parishioner

Billie

Mother of Jerry Smith

Horst

Brother of Brigitte Jung

Roberta

Carly Champlins sister

Gwen & Rhonda Rosie & Ernies daughters-inlaw

Joe

Son of Donna & Joe Bernert

Patrick

Friend of Cheryl Foster

June

Barbi Clicks friend

Johanna

Jack Lauless mother

Shaylin & the Friends of Barb Sacco

Combs family
Bridget

Sylvia Ahmads friend

Dayna

Rebecca Bargers friend

Jan

Debra Stones friend

Travis

Brenda Russells brother

The homepage of our website,

www.StFrancisEureka.com, now contains the
icon shown here. Clicking on this icon brings up
the Bible readings for the
upcoming Sunday. Not
only can you read the
Scriptures appointed,
theres a brief explanation of each passage.
This is a good and easy way to prepare for
what youll hear at Sunday morning worship.

St. Francis Spiritual Offerings

during the Week
Mondays from 5:30-6:15 p.m. at the
parish house (210 S. Central) we gather for
prayer. We pray for the people of St. Francis, those who havent joined us yet, those
on our prayer list, the needs of our community, and the world. We close each session
at 6:05-6:15 p.m. with New Zealand Night
Prayer.
Fridays at 10 a.m. at the Parish House
(210 S. Central) we study the Bible readings
appointed for the upcoming Sunday.
Please join us for this meeting whenever you
can, whether weekly or once in a while. All
are welcome.

February Calendar &

Worship Schedule
The deadline for the February newsletter,
calendar & worship schedule is January 22.
Items not received by that date may not
make the publication. If you have items for
any of these publications, please send or email to Barbi Click in the parish office
(stfranch@sbcglobal.net).

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Financial Update November 2015

Actual for
Nov 2015
Total Income

YTD 2015
Actual

YTD 2015
Budget

$ 27,018

$ 12,135

$152,881

$ 133,491

26,643

12,216

162,382

137,414

($ 9,502)

($ 3,923)

Total Expenses
Difference

Budgeted for
Nov

375

$(

81)

Checking AccountRockwood Bank

Balance in Diocesan Investment Trust
Custodial account held by the Diocese
1.00.004 St. Francis Building ac-#10159203
Vicars Discretionary Account
Total

11,279.29
11,738.27
24,307.04
16,436.07
281.18
64,041.85

If you have further questions, talk to the Vicar. Pastor Sally values input and
is happy to have a conversation at any time about St. Francis.
COMMENTARY:
This commentary is the first to reflect the building fund contributions under the Income section with the corresponding 602 Brewster expenses, so please note the bottom line changes respectively.
OTHER MATTERS FOR THE COMMITTEE:
The Finance Committee met on Dec. 3 to review the 2016 budget draft. Additional
pledges were received after Consecration Sunday, providing us with an anticipated
2016 income of $135,303. A few line items, including Vicars stipend and benefits,
were modified in order to project a balanced budget as needed with our building project during 2016. Today, the 2016 budget draft will be reviewed, discussed, modified as needed, and approved for presentation at our annual meeting on Jan. 24,
2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Suzanne
Suzanne Jones, Treasurer

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St. Francis Planning Calendar 2016

January 2016
Reports for annual meeting written
Souper Bowl Jan 17
Annual meeting Jan 24
Vicars vacation Jan 25-Feb 5
Adult Forum schedule
Community Services Ministries schedule
Youth Group schedule
Report for Diocese and National Church: Parochial report, sexual misconduct
form, list of Bishops Comm. members, Metro IV delegates, etc.
Tutoring

(Cont. from page 9)

At mid-day I love to feel the warmth of the sun on my face as the rest of my
body is cuddled in layers of warm fabric, made with human hands from natures
gifts. I love the warmth of my great-nephews who came to Communion with me at
Dads funeral so I wouldnt be alone. I love seeing the warmth of Gods love shared
as my nieces and nephews share laughter and new, adult lives with one another. I
love watching new friendship developing between St. Francis kids, whether they
meet up every Sunday or only on vacations. I appreciate these things with the
senses I was given at birth and I am grateful for the way Gods life uses my body to
fill my soul. Every living being reflects God, and when I recognize my gratefulness
for that fact, my soul is unlocked to let in the light, let it shine in and shine out again
in love.
by Kathleen McDonald

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Trinity Hot Lunch

Save the date! Sunday, January 31st, 2016
The 31st is the fifth Sunday of this
January, the first fifth Sunday in 2016,
and the very next occasion for St. Francis
to offer hospitality with a hot, healthy, delicious lunch for the hungry neighbors at
Trinity Church in the Central West End.
Trinitys Hot Lunch program is a
long-term, ongoing ministry of Trinity s
food ministry. Their pantry is open three
days a week to meet the needs of
neighbors who struggle to feed their families and themselves, but who do have access to some cooking facilities. On Sunday, every Sunday, volunteers from different
faith-based congregations in the neighborhood or in the diocese come to Trinity to
serve a hot lunch to the men, women, and children nearby who need a hot meal.
Each hosting congregation plans, provides and serves a meal for the guests.
St. Francis has been serving on the fifth Sundays for more than ten years.
Lately, by request, weve served the same wildly popular fried chicken along with a
vegetable side or two and a fruit-cup dessert. Whenever we add cookies or candy,
they are very much appreciated. Excitement builds, and not just among the children!
Current leaders of this ministry include Steve Strathearn and Donna Bernert.
For each of our Sundays, they are looking for 10-13 volunteers from St. Francis (or
friends & relations). We generally carpool to Trinity, gather and divide up the jobs:
reheating, plating, ticket-collecting, beverage pouring, and the wrap-it-to-go station.
Our goal is to have enough volunteers serving in these categories and still have a
few volunteers who can show Gods hospitality by sitting with our guests and sharing a meal with them.
If you have never tried serving in this particular traditional ministry, or if its
been a long time since you went (did you know the hall and kitchen have been recently remodeled?) join your church friends on Sunday, January 31st, just after adult
forum. Well return to the Lodge parking lot by about 3 or 3:15. Tell Donna Bernert
or Steve Strathearn that you plan to go. Come on along!
by Kathleen McDonald

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Sunday Worship
Attendance Statistics
2014

2015

1 Advent

72

66

2 Advent

63

71

3 Advent

54

62

4 Advent

64

74

Christmas

114

93

1 Christmas

66

57

Average Sunday Attendance for the year:

2014 57
2015 61

St. Francis In-Depth

If you would like more details about St. Francis finances, the Bishops Committee
meetings, and the Vicars activities, please see the bulletin board in the lower level
of the Lodge. There you will find two months worth of:

Bishops Committee meeting minutes

Monthly financial reports

Treasurers commentary

Vicars activity reports

Prayer for St. Francis

We pray for the witness, renewal, and growth of our parish family. Living
God, infuse us with your love. Enable us to proclaim the good news of Jesus
Christ to all whom we meet through our actions, our thoughts, our
words. Make St. Francis' Church a place of invitation and welcome, a safe
harbor and a beacon of the light of Christ. Amen.

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Recipe of the Month

Crock-Pot Au Gratin Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 Lbs russet potatoes (Peeled, rinsed and
sliced into about 1/6th inch slices)
2 Cups Extra Sharp Cheddar
Cheese (Grated)
1 1/4 Cup heavy whipping cream
3 Cloves garlic (Finely minced)
2 - 3 Teaspoons fresh rosemary (Finely
minced)
salt & pepper (To Taste)
butter (For buttering the pan)
Directions:
Butter a large 3.5 - 4 quart slow cooker with the butter and set aside.
Layer half of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Drizzle potatoes with half of the cream, rosemary and garlic and sprinkle with a
bit of salt and pepper. Add half the cheese on top.
Create another layer of potatoes, drizzle with cream, rosemary, garlic & salt and
pepper and top with cheese.
Cover slow cooker with lid and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or until the potatoes are "fork tender" and the cheese is melted and everything is bubbly.
submitted by Sylvia Ahmad

Beloved parishioners of St. Francis,

Once again my heart is moved by your generosity and the love that you have
shown to me. Thank you for the gift you gave to me at the Christmas Eve service! The beautiful angel figurine rests on my work desk and as I gaze upon her,
I will always be reminded of your thoughtfulness and kindness. It is a great
pleasure to be worshiping and working with all of you.
Thank you, again.
Sincerely,

Deacon Rebecca

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2016 Lenten Book Study

The season of Lent is soon approaching in which we turn our focus towards
repentance and renewal as we journey towards Easter. Therefore, a perfect time for
us to do a spiritual book study!
Once again, we will be offering a 6-week Lenten book study beginning on
Thursday, February 11, 2016. We will meet from 7:00-8:00PM at the parish house
(210 S. Central Ave.) The study book is The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything; A
Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, SJ, and can be found at
www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. Below is the schedule for the
chapters that we will be focusing on:
Feb. 11 - chapter 3 What Do You Want? Desire and the Spiritual Life
Feb. 18 - chapter 4 Beautiful Yesterdays, Finding God and Letting God Find You
Feb. 25 - chapter 6 Friendship with God, Father Berrys Insight
Mar. 3 - chapter 8 The Simple Life, The Surprising Freedom of
Downward Mobility
Mar. 10 - chapter 10 More by Deeds Than by Words Friendship and Love
Mar. 17 - chapter 11 Surrendering to the Future Obedience, Acceptance,
and Suffering
Please join us as we delve into this thought-provoking book for a time of
spiritual exploration, reflection, and insight during the Lenten season. Come for the
discussion, even if you cant make all of the sessions.
~Deacon Rebecca

Episcopal City Mission Gift WrappingDecember 14

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The following is the transcript of the Presiding Bishops Christmas message.

Christmas Message 2015

Hello. Our original plan was for me to tape a Christmas
message in front of the United Nations building in New York
as a way of sending a message that this Jesus of Nazareth
whom we follow came to show us the way to a different
world, a world rounded in Gods peace and Gods justice,
Gods love and Gods compassion.
I recently had surgery and so we had to change those
plans and so Im here in Raleigh on Capitol Square. Christ Church is here and were
filming this message here just as a way of giving me a chance to say Thank you to
all of you who sent cards and prayers in my recent surgery. Im doing well and Im
coming back to work.
But I did want to say something to you. It occurs to me that this Jesus of Nazareth really does make a difference. And God coming into the world in the person of
Jesus matters profoundly for all of us regardless of our religious tradition.
In the park across from the United Nations, the Ralph Bunche Park, the words
of the Prophet Isaiah are quoted,
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks
Nation will not rise against nation
Neither shall they learn war any more
Whats not there is another part of that passage thats in the second chapter of
Isaiah, and it says,
Come, let us go to the mountain of God,
That he may show us His ways and teach us His paths
We who follow Jesus believe that the mountain came to us when God came
among us in the person of Jesus to show us the way to live, to show us the way to
love, to show us the way to transform this world from the nightmare it often is into
the dream that God intends for us all.
So, as the words were spoken on that night when Jesus was born, peace, good
will to all people, God bless you, God keep you. A blessed Advent, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all.
The Most Rev. Michael Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

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Wrapping gifts for Agape House with Youth Group -Nov 30, 2015

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www.stfranciseureka.com

From the Deacon

St. Theresas Prayer
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you
are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those
gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May
you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your
bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there
for each and every one of us. Amen.
Friday morning Bible Study begins with this prayer. I like this prayer. I have
noticed that certain lines or sentences strike me differently from week to week.
Something will stand out or hit close to home one week, then the next week not so
much as a new line will linger with me throughout the day. Maybe one week I am
looking for peace within my soul. Or, I deeply sense that Im really where I am
meant to be at this time in my life. Or it may be, what about my gifts? Have I
made proper use of them?
My thought is thenso, why is this?
I have wondered if it could be the subtle, oh so subtle, nudging of the Spirit.
We live in an environment where we are bombarded with loud noises and bright
flashing signsall intended to grab our attention. (Think of the bright red and gold
Christmas decorations in the stores, and the holiday songs playing before Halloween, systematically grabbing our attention!) How often do we try to tune-out these
boisterous distractions particularly when we are trying to focus on our shopping?! I
cant imagine a world in which the Spirit would have to get our attention in such a
manner.
True, at times it is hard to decipher the Spirits calling through the noise of our
world. But to decipher it is necessary. We are asked to seek God out in quietness, to
be attentive to the stirring of the Spirit within us. To some extent we have the power
to alter the environment that we live in because there are ways to reduce the distractions in our lives. But it is up to us to make this happen, the Spirit wont do that for
us. In the smallest of ways, as in the lines of a simple prayer, I believe that the Spirit
can and is working in and through us. It is up to us to be attuned to the Spirit calling
out to us, even in the smallest, subtlest of ways.
In Christs service,

Deacon Rebecca

Deacons Vacation
Deacon Rebecca, Phil and Sarah will be away visiting family in Virginia beginning
Wednesday, December 30, 2015 and returning home on Monday, January 4, 2016.

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Diocesan Advent Lessons & Carols - Dec 6, 2015

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www.stfranciseureka.com

Caroling at Marymount - Dec 17, 2015

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Christmas Eve 2015

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More Christmas Eve 2015

www.stfranciseureka.com

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JAN 2016 WORSHIP LEADERS SCHEDULE

JAN 3

JAN 10

JAN 17

JAN 24

Lectors

Kathleen
OReilly
Bob Smith

Tim Booker
Michael
Booker

Kathleen
McDonald
Kevin Selle

Barb Sacco
Bob Smith

Paddy Wrob
Michael
Booker

Intercessors

Kathleen
OReilly
Bob Smith

Sue Schmidt
Michael
Booker

Kathleen
McDonald
Kevin Selle

Barb Sacco
Bob Smith

Paddy Wrob
Michael
Booker

Chalice

Michael
Weaver

Barb Sacco

Michael Booker Kevin Selle

Kathleen
McDonald

Acolyte

Rich Mayfield Amanda

Broom-Morse

Jerry Smith

Katie Jones

Kevin Selle

Torch-bearers

Sue & John

Schmidt

Carly & Bob

Champlin

Arlene
Underwood
Jack Lauless

Sue & John

Schmidt

Annette
Carr
Barb Sacco

Altar
Guild

Brigitte Jung
Sue Schmidt

Linda Doolittle Brigitte Jung

Jerry Smith
Kathleen
OReilly

Linda
Doolittle
Sue Schmidt

Brigitte
Jung
Jerry Smith

Usher

John Schmidt Bob Smith

Michael
Booker

John
Schmidt

Tellers

Suzanne
Jones
Bob
Champlin

Rich Mayfield Arlene

Bob Champlin Underwood
Bob Smith

Suzanne
Bob
Jones
Champlin
Rich Mayfield Arlene
Underwood

Eucharistic
Visitor

Kevin Selle

Sally Hader

Paddy Wrob

Ministry

Rich Mayfield

Kathleen
McDonald

JAN 31

Deacon
Rebecca

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www.stfranciseureka.com

JANUARY 2016 @ St. Francis

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1
NEW
YEARS DAY
10 am
Bible Study

3 The Epiphany
8 am HE
9 am Choir Pract
9:30 am Property
10:15 am HE
11:55 am Adult Forum

4
5:30 pm
Prayer Group
6:30 pm
Worship &
Music

5
6
6:30 pm
12:30 pm
Womens
Crafternoon
Group at K.
OReillys

8
9 am
Staff meeting
10 am
Bible Study

10
8 am HE
9 am Choir Pract
9:30 Property
10:15 am HE
11:55 am Adult Forum

11
5:30 pm
Prayer
Group

12

13
12:30 pm
Crafternoon
6:30 pm
Tutoring @
Lodge

14
6:30 pm
Book
Group,
Orphan
Train

15
10 am
Bible Study

16

17
8 am HE
9 am Choir Pract
9:30 am Property
10:15 am HE
11:55 am Adult Forum

18
5:30 pm
Prayer
Group

19
6 pm
Communications &
Marketing,
parish

20
12:30 pm
Crafternoon
6:30 pm
Tutoring @
Lodge

21

22
10 am
Bible Study

23

24
8 am HE
9 am Choir Pract
9:30 am Property
10:15 am HE
11:55 am Adult Forum
11:45 am Annual Mtg

25
5:30 pm
Prayer
Group

26

27
12:30 pm
Crafternoon
6:30 pm
Tutoring @
Lodge

28

29
10 am
Bible Study

30

31
8 am HE
9 am Choir Pract
9:30 am Property
10:15 am HE
11:55 am Adult Forum
1:30 pm Trinity
Hot Lunch

Vicar Vacation January 25February 7

AA, Al-Anon and Overeaters Anonymous meet at
the parish house on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
and Sunday.

All worship services will

be at the Masonic Lodge.
And all other events will
be at the parish house
unless otherwise noted.

Vicar Vacation January 25February 7