November Faithfully, Fr. Milton

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1 November 2018 As you can well imagine, I am still processing, emotionally and spiritually, our recent pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy. You have heard me say, although I was in Assisi last year, this experience was far more profound because I along with other members of our parish were counted among the thousands of other fellow pilgrims from around the world to be in Assisi, celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis. As best as I could discover, in Assisi, celebratory events connected to the Feast of Saint Francis began two days before the actual feast day, Oct. 4. On Tuesday evening, Oct. 2, on the plaza in front of Saint Francis Basilica, five large wood fired pizza ovens were set up. There was a battalion of young men and women rolling dough, ladling sauce and scattering cheese. On that night all-you-can-eat pizza and beer were given away to any and everyone gathered on that frosty night. On the following night in the city s square, there were dozens of booths and tables set with men and women dressed in period costumes serving, giving away lots of food. Lentils, cheesy flat bread, sandwiches, cookies, apples and free pouring wine were the menu. The act of feeding people, giving away food to the multitude seemed to be a celebrated theme in that ancient walled city, as Assisi remembered the life and ministry of Saint Francis. As I reflect on these tangible acts of charity, I understand more clearly today Saint Francis and his call to ministry as he sought to follow Jesus. How might this translate into my own life? How might this translate into the life of our church community? THE REV. MILTON C. WILLIAMS, JR. Faithfully, Fr. Milton

2 T HE R EV. D R. A N D R E W H A R M O N (D R E W +) Dear Faithful Franciscans, Fall is well underway, and I write on the eve of All Saints. All Saints is one of the principle feasts of the liturgical year and designated as one of preferred dates for baptisms. It is a day in which we recall generation after generation of the faithful. It is a time we focus not simply on the amazing things that pious and devout individuals did, but also on the myriad ways God graces particular lives, distinct personalities, dispositions, and loves. Falling on November 1 (celebrated the first Sunday in November at St. Francis), All Saints functions as a sort of signpost on the way to the end of the church year and then on to Advent. And with Advent and themes of longing on the horizon, I would invite you to think of saints as those who, through grace and gumption, persisted in the face of danger and difficulty. Saints are those who held fast to God, who worked tooth-and-nail for justice, who strove for peace, who embodied mercy day after day. THE REV. DR. ANDREW HARMON Seeking to live with patience and persistence can be especially challenging in a world that demands immediacy. It is easy to be swept up in anxieties of the present. I would encourage you in the second half of the Fall to take time to reflect on the beauty around you, in the natural world, in the faces of friends and family, in the unalloyed laughter of children. God is there. Sometimes the good is instant and immediate, but oftentimes, the good is slow and takes its time. May God grant us the patience to be surprised by the beauty mundane, to appreciate the stories of everyday faithfulness in our midst, as we joyously celebrate the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. Peace, Drew+ ADULT FORUMS SCHEDULE Nov. 11: Faith and Hope: What We Can Learn from St. Augustine, Dr. K. Michael Lamb, Professor, Wake Forest University Nov. 18: No forum this Sunday. Annual Parish Meeting. Nov. 25: Faith and the Poor: Hope and Help for Our Neighbors in Need, Rev. Myron Wilkins, Executive Director, Greensboro Urban Ministry Adult Forums meet Sundays in the Parish Hall from 9:15 2

3 T HE R EV. A U D R A A BT BEING PART OF GOD S MISSION BRINGS US INTO NEW RELATIONSHIPS Ways to Get Involved Right Now with our Wider Community Contact the Rev. Audra Abt, Missionary Associate if you are interested in any of these ministries below (audra@stfrancisgreensboro.org) THE REV. AUDRA ABT These invitations are made with hopes that you will sense God s invitation somewhere to allow your life to be transformed as you get involved with people whose lives and cultures are different from your own. Please don t hesitate to be in touch with me if you have any questions! Audra + Missionary Associate at St. Francis ADULT FORMATION GATHERING with HOLY SPIRIT & ST. BARNABAS Sharing Faith and Stories of Our Loving, Liberating, Life-giving God Sunday, Nov.4, 4-6 St. Francis Parish Hall We will share Biblical stories of Liberation, followed by conversation to help us get to know each other and practice skills we need to listen for God s hand at work in our community. This is a chance to deepen our faith and build connections with other Episcopalians in North Greensboro as we grow in mission together! HOUSE CHURCH, BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH HISPANIC NEIGHBORS Saturday, Nov. 10, 6-8 the Garay home (4622 Mercury Dr, Apt. H) Please bring a dish to share for the potluck after. House Church worship is simple and humble, but it includes all the elements of a Sunday Eucharistic worship in an intimate environment. Dress is casual, and we do a lot of singing and reflecting on the Scriptures (with translation, so that all voices can be heard and understood) to build community and a sense of fellowship. FLU SHOT CLINIC & COMMUNITY LUNCH PARTY Sunday, Nov. 11, 12:30 3 Church of the Holy Spirit Along with a free lunch and activities for kids (for which we could use some volunteer help!), free basic medical health screens will be offered, and adults who are uninsured can get free flu shots.volunteer for 1-2 hours to help make the fun come alive! Contact audra@stfrancisgreensboro.org. 3

4 BL ESS ING O F T HE ANI MAL S A large crowd of people and pets filled the courtyard Oct. 7 for St. Francis annual Blessing of the Animals. Father Drew blessed a motley assortment of dogs and cats; some of them were a bit uncertain about being sprinkled with water. Meanwhile a representative from Edzootainment taught visitors about other animals, including a brightly colored exotic bird, snakes, turtles and tortoises. 4

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6 T HE R E A C H F R O M T H E O U T R E A C H C O M M I T T E E Shea's Chase Nov. 10 Shea's Chase, a 5K Run and Walk to benefit mental wellness in our community, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 10, at 11:00 a.m. starting at Revolution Mill. Sign up to walk or run with Team Ronemus now at All proceeds support our Mental Health Association in Greensboro. Music and food will follow the race. Volunteers are also needed; call Millie Ronemus at for details. Help us to increase awareness about mental illness! Hurricane Relief The Outreach Committee has sent donations to the Diocese of East Carolina to support hurricane relief there, as well as to the diocese of the panhandle of Florida for relief efforts from Hurricane Michael. Rise Against Hunger Dec. 2 Mark your calendars for the EYC s annual Rise Against Hunger meal preparation Dec. 2 in the parish hall. Outreach has sponsored meal purchases to support world hunger efforts, with a percentage of those going to meals in the US. Join the EYC for this special fellowship opportunity! Mustard Seed Community Health: Empowering Our Community with Good Health Outreach has sponsored a Full Day of Health in honor of the Feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4, The Mustard Seed Community Clinic provides medical and mental health services for those in need. For more information, please visit Community Housing Solutions News Outreach will sponsor Community Housing Solutions Aging Gracefully in Place program, which provides nursing and occupational therapy assessments to guide accessibility planning. The renovations made by CHS workers enable elderly homeowners to remain in their homes, adding stability to at-risk neighborhoods in Guilford County. To learn more, please visit PEAK Adventure Ministries Outreach has made a grant to PEAK Adventure Ministries, a faith-based mentoring and discipleship program that seeks to lead young people out of poverty through fun adventures, Bible study, job mentoring, and hiring them out for paying jobs created through their Summer Work Project, which St. Francis has supported in the past. For more information, visit Sanctuary House Greensboro Thanks to all the volunteers who made the Sanctuary House BBQ and Brunswick Stew fund raiser a success! Your time and talents were much appreciated by Jodi Lorenzo- Schibley and her staff for making this event to promote mental wellness a true partnership. Please visit to learn more. 6

7 M S. F E L I C I A C O L E C H I L D R E N S & Y O U T H M I N I S T R Y Hooray for Boo Bash! A HUGE thank you to all the families and friends who joined us for this year s Boo Bash! We had a great turnout and the EYC had a fantastic time working with the children. We can t wait to have an even better bash next year! Advent Wreath Making We invite all St. Francis families to join us on Sunday, Nov. 25, at 9:15 a.m. in the courtyard for our Annual Advent Wreath Making. All materials & supplies will be provided, if you would like to contribute a small donation, baskets will be available. We re excited to continue this tradition and kick off the holiday season with our Parish! FELICIA COLE This Month s EYC Service Project On Nov. 11 in lieu of EYC, the St. Francis Youth will be working with our friends at Church of the Holy Spirit at their Flu Shot Clinic & Community Lunch Party from 12:30-3:00 p.m. There will be lots of different ways for the youth to serve members of our community. Looking for an Easy Way to Serve the Youth? We need volunteers to help us feed the youth at EYC on Sunday nights! Any member of the parish is invited to help with EYC by bringing dinner on Sunday night, and hanging out with us as we spend time together. If you re interested in serving or learning more, please Felicia Cole at youth@stfrancisgreensboro.org. Peace to you, Felicia Cole 7

8 V E S T R Y C A N D I D A T E S LAURA AMBLER My husband, Michael, and I and our two daughters have been a part of St. Francis since Both girls were confirmed at St. Francis and we have enjoyed calling this church our home for the past 14 years. During this time, I was involved with EYC in many different capacities, served a short term on the Membership Committee, and then found my passion with serving as the coordinator for food service to the Pathways Shelter, a Greensboro Urban Ministry program I look forward to the possibility of serving on the Vestry at St. Francis. I believe that service is the best way to give back, impact those around you, make needed change and to pay it forward. My prayer is that I may faithfully serve our church using my experience and talent to help us grow in many directions. I graduated from UNCG in 1990 with a BA in Organizational Communication. I currently work for Rutter and Associates as a Project Manager / Sales Associate in the Contract Furniture industry. Throughout my 27-year tenure in the furniture industry, I have experience working with people, organizational processes, budgets, planning, communications and customer service. BETTY BARRY As a Hickory, NC, native, I was educated at Lenoir Rhyne College and at Bowman Gray School of Medical Technology. My two sons and I landed in Greensboro in 1978 when I took a management role in the lab at Moses Cone Hospital. I later became the Medical Practice Administrator at Tannenbaum Medical Associates in 1984, then merged into Eagle Physicians, and became their first CEO in After that, I worked as practice consultant across North Carolina for Sharrard, McGee until retirement in I was the Local and state President of Medical Practice Managers Association. I have been a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church since 1978, where my sons and I found a natural, nurturing parish, and I became confirmed in 1980 as Episcopalian. I met and married Dennis Barry in 1982 at St. Francis. Dennis and I have five sons all together and seven grandchildren ages Our favorite interest is our lake house, which has been an escape and refuge for us for many years. We both enjoy boating, water sports, wildlife, and just being near the water. I also volunteered with our local Urban Ministry at Potter s House, the Greensboro Science Center of Greensboro as a docent and Board member, served on Guilford College Board of Visitors, Chairperson in 2006, enjoy a hiking group, a local garden club, a book club, and traveling to remote spots for vacations, reading, hiking, kayaking, and enjoying wildlife. At St. Francis, my main interest has been Outreach, where I served as chair/co-chair for over 6 years. I ve also participated in St. Clare s, Shepherd s Hands, Book Sale, Altar Guild, and some volunteer gardening on the grounds. I recently attended the pilgrimage to Assisi with fellow Franciscans, an inspiring experience. 8

9 V E S T R Y C A N D I D A T E S DUANA CISNEY I am a proud member of an active family of 5. My husband, Rich, works in TV news and together we have 3 fabulous children: Alexandra and Samantha (15) are sophomores at Grimsley and Michael (19) currently in the workforce and discerning his next steps. We are, and have always been, faithful members of any congregation of which we have been a part. It is important to us to give, serve and worship together. My family and I moved back to Greensboro in November of 2015 and St. Francis was our first choice as a parish home because of the leadership and the vibrant youth ministry program. We were immediately welcomed into this community and looked for ways we could serve and contribute in meaningful ways. I retired from youth ministry after 13 years; however, I felt called to continue to serve youth, so I responded to the invitation to serve the as the Acolyte Director here at St. Francis. Other areas of service to the church include: leading a book study, chaperoning the annual high school mission trip to Glory Ridge each summer, and participating with Heaven Help Us in the Contemporary Worship Service. Other ministry experience includes: Youth Ministry Coach for the Diocese of North Carolina helping congregations assess their needs and supporting/networking Youth Ministers. Diocesan Council member, which is like the vestry for the diocese, with similar roles and responsibilities. Author of a youth devotional called Cross Words that uses scripture to walk through everyday experiences. Editor of the Glory Ridge newsletter; sharing what God is doing in that part of the world. Professionally, I work in the technology field building databases for an on-demand time and attendance system and providing continued support for my clients. The core values of my life: faith, service, stewardship, empowerment, sustainability, and health can be seen throughout all this work. I can t articulate a why I want to serve on the Vestry of St. Francis other than I truly feel called by God to serve in this way. With your blessing, and as it says in our Baptismal Covenant, I will, with God s help. Thank you for your consideration and the invitation to serve. ROBERT KOEHLER I have attended St. Francis Episcopal Church since 1999 but I didn t actually join St. Francis until I was confirmed in My more well-known wife, Michelle, and I were married by Father Schnatterly in November of that year. For many years after that, we were known as the family with nine kids taking up the whole second row on the left. Only five were ours, but we were also watching over our four nieces on weekends. The kids are grown and gone, but we continue to call St. Francis our church home. I have been involved with St. Francis since those times. I served on the Vestry in the mid-2000s at a time of uncertainty between permanent rectors. I was part of the Discovery Committee, which helped St. Francis prepare for our new rector, Father Moulden. I am a frequent usher, have been involved in dinner groups, worked the Book Sale and have assisted with Sunday School activities over the years. Originally from New Jersey, I have lived in Greensboro since the early 1980s. I am trained as a family practice physician and I am now the Medical Director of PACE of the Triad, a program that serves the frail elderly. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with Father Milton, the Vestry, the church and the community to, as prayed in the BCP, to do the work you have given us to do. 9

10 A R O U N D S T. F R A N C I S BABY SHOWER FOR FR. DREW AND ANNA NOV. 7 The Fellowship Committee is inviting all the St. Francis ladies to a baby shower for Anna & Drew s newest little girl. Please RSVP and look at the attached link for details DAY SCHOOL HAMS IT UP! Day School families are selling HoneyBaked Ham gift cards to raise funds for scholarships and playground improvements. Visit: HoneyBaked_Ham_Gift_Card_Fundraiser. WOMEN S MINISTRY EVENING PRAYER NOV. 14 Please join us for a special Women's Thanksgiving Evening Prayer Service Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Francis Episcopal led by The Rev. Hunter Silides, chaplain of Canterbury School. Enjoy refreshments in the Parish Hall following the service. Come, and bring a friend! PARISH WORK DAY The Property Committee is having a work day Nov. 17 from 8:30 a.m. until noon. If you are available, please help clean up the grounds. HOLIDAY MARKET DEC. 1 The annual Holiday Market benefiting the Day School takes place Dec. 1 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at St. Francis. Admission and parking are free. Shop for crafts, pottery, jewelry, gourmet foods and more! CAMPAIGN UPDATES Stewardship Campaign: 144 pledges totaling $483,573 towards a goal of $650,000. Capital Phase 2 Campaign: 41 pledges totaling $279,780 towards a goal of $500,000. Please return your pledge cards ASAP! Or pledge online at 10

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12 S T. F R A N C I S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H A Parish of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina The Rt. Rev. Samuel Rodman, Bishop The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, Bishop Suffragan P A R I S H S T A F F Rector: The Very Rev. Milton C. Williams, Jr. Assistant Rector: The Rev. Dr. Andrew Harmon Choir Director: Sam Doyle Junior Choir Director: Jane Woody Assistant Choir Director: Benita McFarland St. Francis Day School Director: Kit Hargett Parish Administrator: Linda Allgood Communications Coordinator: Michelle Hines Director of Children and Youth Ministry: Felicia Cole Book Sale Manager and Membership Coordinator: Mark Hamby Bookkeeper: Blair Barnett Sextons: Jack Steelman & Bo Edwards Custodian: Rigoberto Bautista ST. FRANCIS VESTRY: Senior Warden: Chris Relos, Junior Warden: Bruce Lyon, Clerk: Kathie Huff, Treasurer: Rick Saunders, Sonia Haslam, Robb Hutchison, Dana Koval, Mary Dator, Melinda Madtes, Dick Maxwell, Lynn Sandlin, Virginia Summerell, Jim Woody St. Francis Church: , St. Francis Day School: ST. FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 3506 Lawndale Drive Greensboro, NC 27408