The Song of Saint Francis

Transcription

1 The Song of Saint Francis Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church Salter Path, North Carolina January 2016 It s a Date! 1/6 Taizé service 1/13 Prayer Shawl ministry 1/13 Art gallery opening 1/27 Prayer Shawl ministry 1/27 ECW Bunco 2/9 Pancake supper 2/10 Ash Wednesday 3/20 Palm Sunday 3/24 Maundy Thursday 3/25 Good Friday 3/27 Easter The Sacredness of Each Moment This New Year is traveling at warp speed. Before any of us are ready, major events on the church calendar will stare us down. Ash Wednesday, for example, will be on February 10, Palm Sunday on March 20, and Easter Day will be on March 27. Those are the scheduled events that claim their places far in advance. Unscheduled events will lay claim to our time as well. They will be just as fast, just as slippery. We will pencil them onto our calendars, some welcome and celebrated, some sources of anxiety and fear. Kathryn Hudson and I talked about that recently. Actually, we were discussing how some parts of our liturgy come alive for me on one Sunday, and the next Sunday another whole area could seem most fluid and energetic. She acknowledged that we may be more aware of the sacredness of some moments, but all of time is sacred. No moment is more sacred than another. The more open we are to Spirit, the more we search for the presence of God in each tick of the clock, the more we find that Presence and miracle are constantly at work in our lives. I hope that in this New Year we will become more aware of the sacredness of each day, and the opportunities that we have to do the work God is calling us to do. Whether the days come at warp speed or as slow as molasses, I hope we can know the grandeur and magic of each day as it comes to us, and that in each day we will know love and joy, Presence and Spirit. humility. And, because we are a community named for St. Francis, I hope that whatever season of the year we are in, we will use that time to know the importance of I have high hopes for our parish as we begin another year together. I love being here, it is wonderful that Rob Skirving is our bishop, and I love it that you are here. We greet the New Year as a family. Much love, Everett+

2 Page 2 As we started planning for the new year, I reflected on what I consider one of the more necessary elements of a healthy parish. In any group it is natural and expected to have times when members have different solutions for an issue. On those occasions, the ability to work together to find compromise is fundamental to a successful resolution. This ability is especially important with a church s vestry. I will encourage discussion more in the future before and during monthly meetings. We are blessed with a varied group having different ideas and perspectives. I ask that all these views be brought forward so the best decisions can be made when we set policies for the benefit of our parish. There will be times after deliberation that all will still not agree with the majority. That is when acceptance and support of decisions made will be needed from those that dissent. And there will be A United New Year by Stover Morris Angel Tree Success! by Phyllis Makuck Thanks to an outpouring of support from St. Francis by the Sea, the Angel Tree site we manage in partnership with Shepherd of the Sea was a tremendous success. We provided gifts for 256 angels, 19 of which St. Francis took and parishioners shopped for. In addition 16 parishioners actively helped manage the Shepherd of the Sea site, setting up, calling families, times when the majority will err. I pray we have the courage to admit that error and then correct it. If our guiding objective is what is best for the church, its people, and the ministry; then with God s help we should not fail. I have been guilty of building imaginary walls that were guarded at all costs without consideration of how much better my life would be without them. Pride, arbitrary timelines, outdated beliefs, and unfounded fears were things I stubbornly protected. I ve learned we can tear down those walls by simply changing our mind and what a relief it can be. Compromise and acceptance are readily available and conflict is never necessary when we keep an open mind. To me St. Francis is a gift to its members. A very special place that God has provided and we are fortunate to be the current stewards of its safekeeping. Let s move forward as a family united so we may pass this treasure to those that will be its future keepers. Prayer Shawl...Plus! processing applications, signing out angels, signing gifts in and out, delivering gifts as well as shopping with donations, some of which came from St. Francis, and wrapping gifts that were bought. Seeing the joy on faces of families as they received their gifts made the hundreds of hours we together devoted worth it. The Prayer Shawl Ministry will gather on Wednesday, January 13 and 27, at 10:00 in the parish hall. Come and share your talent, whether or not your item is intended for the Prayer Shawl Ministry. All are welcome to join the gathering to knit one and pray too. Yarn is available free of charge. Beginners are always welcome! 6 Denise Sessoms 9 Landon Preswood 10 Bill Horton 13 Pam Horton 14 Sharp Kemp 16 Eric Fearrington January Birthdays 17 Mike Hartman 18 Leann Sanders 20 Linda Laughton 21 Tanner Hahn 23 Alicia Ragsdale 23 Dick Watson 24 Kellie Ragland 25 Barbara Bagby 25 Mary Malhiot 28 Julia Burns 29 Ted Goetzinger 30 Martha Edwards 30 Renfro Sproul

3 Page 3 Grace Notes by Linda Laughton, Music Director What a joy-filled Advent and Christmas we have experienced! The Celtic Evensong and Communion Service, the Jennifer Licko Celtic Christmas Concert, caroling at Christmas Cheer, the Children's Nativity Pageant with a Service of Lessons and Carols and Eucharist, caroling to our homebound church family in Pine Knoll Shores, Christmas Eve Service, The Handel's MESSIAH sing-along and festive parties every weekend through the season. We certainly celebrate our savior's birth! Musicians love St. Francis by the Sea! Participation in the 2015 Messiah Sing -along nearly doubled from 2014, which is what we had hoped, so we are planning the 2016 sing-along. We laud our gracious conductor, Lewis Moore; our organist, the dauntless David Leahey; and our impressive string ensemble: Chris Ellis, Dee Braxton-Pelligrino, Heather Barlow and Barbara Gates, who, we are very happy to say, have agreed to return for Messiah 2016 December 26, Thanks to our generous sponsors: Regina and George Hirasawa, Bobbie Hill and Harold O'Briant, Terry and Craig Griffin, Layne and Ron Helwig, Betsy and Jay Randall, Mark Laughton, and Charlie McCurry. Thank you to for acting as event registrar, and to all who provided food, beverage, time, effort and the spirit to make it happen. Here are three things that make our events stand out among others: 1. The PEOPLE. Very simply, the folks at St. Francis by the Sea know how to make people feel welcome. From cheerful greetings to bountiful snacks and refreshments, our hospitality is second to none. 2. The PLACE. We refer to our sanctuary as a perfectly tuned acoustic bowl because it is. Not only is the sanctuary highly favorable for music, it is aesthetically lovely and a peaceful space. 3. The THING. We take great care to ensure that every event at St. Francis by the Sea is a special event. Lewis mentioned in his comments to the Messiah assembly that St. Francis by the Sea is the only sing-along that goes cover to cover without skipping a thing. I share this from the evening: One pair informed me at sign-in that they didn't know we were singing the entire oratorio and that they would leave after the first section (the birth of the Messiah) but they stayed and sang until the end (the life, passion, death and resurrection). A good example of our unique mix of people, place and that special thing we do. And now we take a deep breath in and out and enter into January. Consider the imagery of prayers floating up to God like smoke from burning candles while we await illumination in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Consider being surrounded by the heart sounds of a congregation singing simple Taizé melodies in the beautiful sanctuary of St. Francis by the Sea in the evening. The choir invites you to join us for this annual lay-led Epiphany Taizé Service of Light and Silence, Wednesday, January 6 at 6pm. Bring only your hearts and prayers and prepare yourself for an infusion of God's peace. I love that we offer this service in Epiphany following the busy-ness of the Advent and Christmas seasons; the tempo and texture of the music is in every way slower and softer than, say, a rigorous chorus by Handel! I hope you will plan to join us and chill. The service lasts approximately 50 minutes. Stay tuned! -Linda Laughton

4 Page 4 For the Kids of St. Francis by Marian Goetzinger I can t get that song out of my head. Pa rum pa pum pum I can t get the images out of my head either, and why would I want to? I can see the little shepherds, Zane, Liam and Poole with their stuffed sheep looking at the baby in the manger with adoration just like we d asked them to. Did they remember to imagine Baby Jesus there? I be- lieve they did. Seventeen year old Zach, who d never participated in a Christmas pageant before, grinning from ear to ear, as John, lit the candles and pro-claimed the coming of the Lord. Those beautiful angels, Sydni, Ainsley and Andi looking very celestial could not have been more perfectly cast. Sydni s solo was a beautiful opening for our event. Sofia, Jackson, Tanner and Boston presented the readings clearly and succinctly and brought the story alive. Sofia as Mary and Marshall as Joseph looked for all the world like proud, yet worried parents. Sasha as King Herod and Tanner as King Ahaz were stunning in their fine royal costumes. The three magi, Tyler, Matthew and Nikolas brought gifts and presented them lovingly to the baby. Boston, the Little Drummer Boy, knelt at the manger while keeping the drum s rhythm perfectly. And then the promised one, The Risen Lord in his shining white robe played by Jackson, completed the cast of the Kid s of St. Francis Christmas Pageant and live nativity. For me, the images and sounds of the Children s pageant are the best part of Christmas. This year we had seventeen young people from age 3 ½ to 17 participating. It was special to have three teenagers among us this year. It gets a little bigger and better each year. We started with practices in November. On December 12 th, we helped at Hope Mission then practiced. Then we had a sleep-over retreat at my house on Friday the 18 th and practiced. On Saturday, December 19 the children walked in costume in the Pine Knoll Shores Christmas parade singing The Little Drummer Boy as they walked accompanied by Charlie with his guitar. That event made the inside front page of the local paper. I have a feeling we ll be asked back next year. By the time the pageant was over on the 20 th I think all the children were ex- hausted. I know I was, but it was a good exhaustion. Thank you all for your support. So many people do much to make this special event possible for our children. A special thanks to all the parents, Linda Laughton, Meredith West- brook, Amy Hahn, and Charlie McCurry who put in long hours working on casting, music, costumes, and direction, and to my husband Ted, who helped with everything and put up with me and a house full of children. What do you think? Should we do it again? We did it! Thanks to the generosity of our parishioners and a donor who topped us off in December, we completed the challenge match of the Nellie Seale Endowment Fund. We appreciate the support of everyone who stepped up to help the church reach this important goal.

5 Page 5 Lay Ministry Schedule January 1/3 1/10 1/17 1/24 Youth Sunday Vestry Stover Morris Larry Castle Tim Bradford Terry Smith Lector Libba Shelton Romaine Riddle Prayers Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Chalice Altar Guild Andy & Marilyn Smetana Bobbie Hill Andy & Marilyn Smetana Phyllis Makuck Jolene McCann Bobbie Hill Bob Gallo Marian Goetzinger Linda Seale Crucifer Beth Beswick Torch Bearers Scott Shelton TimBradford Scott Shelton Sound System John Marriott Stover Morris John Clarke Larry Castle Nursery Bobbie hill Sam Baxter Jeannie Baxter Beth Beswick Children s Homily X X X Meredith Westbrook/Amy Hahn Children's Class Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger X 1/31 Heather Pace Carol Eaton Richard Seale Jolene McCann Betsy Randall Tim Bradford Larry Castle Beth Beswick Kyle Venable Bobbie Hill X Marian Goetzinger Children s Class Assistant Rita Roberts Meredith Westbrook Mary Kurek Ainsley Horton Amy Hahn Coffee Hour Marion & Stover Morris Betsy & Jay Randall Romaine & Dan Riddle Linda & Richard Seale Heather Pace & Kyle Venable February 2/7 Vestry Lector 2/10 Ash Wednesday 2/14 2/28 Youth Sunday Prayers Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Chalice Altar Guild Andy & Marilyn Smetana 2/21 Carol McVitty Crucifer Torch Bearers Sound System Nursery Children s Homily X X X X Amy Hahn Children's Class Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger X Children s Class Assistant Rita Roberts Mary Kurek Amy Hahn Sandy Giovannini Ainsley Horton Coffee Hour Jean & Jim Turner X Sharon & Rick Watling Jeannie Baxter & Jan Corsello Beth Beswick & Jolene McCann

6 Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church PO Box 7 Salter Path, NC Save the dates! First Class Mail Buy a brick to commemorate something special to you! More info at or contact the church. Adult Forum at 9:00 am; Sunday Service and Children s Class for ages 4 and up at 10:00 am Wednesday Celtic Eucharist at 12:00 noon Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church is a parish in the Diocese of East Carolina The Right Reverend Robert Skirving, Bishop The Rev. Everett Thomas, Ph.D. Phone: (252) stfrancisbts@gmail.com Sharon Watling Parish Administrator Phone: (252) stfrancisbts@gmail.com Linda Laughton Music Director Vestry Class of 2016 Tim Bradford Stover Morris, Senior Warden Heather Pace Vestry Class of 2017 Larry Castle, Junior Warden Harold O Briant Romaine Riddle Class of 2018 Beth Beswick Terry Smith Sharon Watling Clerk of the Vestry David Shapiro Sexton The Song of Saint Francis is a monthly publication of Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church. North side of NC 58 between Mile Marker 10 and 10½ PO Box Salter Path Road, Salter Path, North Carolina (252) All rights reserved stfrancisbts@gmail.com