The Flock St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church 20 Alta School Rd. Alta, Wyoming 83414 307-353-8100 email: sftetons@silverstar.com stfrancis.episcopalidaho.org All Are Welcome for Worship, Sunday School and Fellowship at 10AM Voice of the Vestry T H E P R I N T E D V O I C E O F S T. F R A N C I S O F T H E T E T O N S E P I S C O P A L The Mutual Ministry Review of 2016 was concluded with Canon Lucinda Ashby on March 23rd and discussed in vestry during the April meeting. It is important to keep clear the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the clergy and lay leadership. We are in the process of adjusting to our ministry model with many new roles and responsibilities. We have all come to St. Francis through different paths. Some are cradle Episcopalians and others have come from a variety of different faith experiences. We all have different expectations of how the leadership can best serve the congregation. Many of us grew up in a church with a full time priest who attended to preaching, pastoring as well as administering the church. In that time the family would load the station wagon with children and fill the pews on Sunday. Times have changed and our ministry model is changing to accommodate and sustain our parish. Community Priests share in the ministry of the parish with lay leaders. Priests use their skills to enhance and promote ministries within the parish, partnering with lay leaders to ensure that the parish is both worshipful and tending to pastoral needs. Together we create a healthy partnership to serve the congregation. Some have expressed a desire to build a rectory and have a full-time paid clergy. This is a wonderful ministry model to strive for and the desire for growth is both admirable and achievable. It is a common responsibility for all of us to participate in all aspects of parish life. The challenge of every church is to fill the pews and then expand the services to accommodate all the people. This is everyone s wish from Boise to Alta. The vestry and worship committee are always looking for ideas to engage the community as well as the members of St. Francis to serve and spread the Gospel of good news. I am happy to report our annual numbers are up for attendance and our outreach programs are continuing to draw people that have never been in the church, yet they have driven past for years. We are now available to host weddings on Saturdays with the termination of our long term lease agreement with the Seventh Day Adventist s. We will be able to offer church weddings with one of the most beautiful setting in the world. The vestry has created a committee to address this new mission. Pete Oslund has direct experience operating a wedding facility with Mary Lou in Colorado and will be our committee chair person. Anyone wishing to join the committee should contact Pete. We are excited to offer this Celebration and Blessing of Marriage and open our church to the faith community. God s peace, Rod
P A G E 2 St. Francis Snapshots Photos by Mary Lou Oslund The Steele family celebrates Easter with St. Francis (above right). Rod Gust leads the children in the Children s Moment (above.) A young parishioner goes on the hunt for Easter eggs (left). Rev. Mary Erickson leads the service (above). Parishioners enjoy the Easter Sunday potluck (left).
MAY 2017 PAGE Pepi Stiegler, Bill, Inger Trudelle, Dean Naylor, Dorrie Clevenger, Railer Dodge, Dorothy LaDuke, Roland Smith, Dan Manns, Marie Reppert, Kathleen Rodriguez, Brian, Bill and Helen, Jeffrey Holt, Faith, Tammy Andrews, Bob Partridge, Lorraine Brown and family, the Family and Friends of Ralph Sewell, Steve Porterfield, Danielle, as well as all faith communities and schools of Teton Valley. PRAYER REQUESTS CHURCH CALENDAR Weds@ 11:00am & Thurs @ 4:00 pm Mondays @ 6:00pm 2nd, 3rd & 4th Tuesdays @6:30:-8:00 pm 2nd & 4th Wednesdays @6:00-7:30pm Sunday, May 7th After Church Tuesday, May 9th @ 5:30 pm Sunday, May 14th After Church Mother s Day Potluck! Please bring a dish to share Sunday, May 14th in celebration of mother s everywhere. Book Club Meets Cub Scouts Meet Boy Scouts Meet Worship Committee Vestry Meeting Mother s Day Potluck EAT & MEET CHAIR NEEDED Thanks to Becky Park and Monica Hoth, the visionaries behind the beginning of our community outreach dinners, Eat and Meet has been wonderfully successful. In order for this social ministry to continue, we are in need of a chair person. What is required of the chair? Just organization! Determine a seasonally appropriate simple menu and ask parishioners to sign up to bring parts of the meal or to help with set up and clean up. If you'd be willing to be responsible for one of these two dates, please let Hope know. Here's another idea - ask a friend to cochair with you. The more the merrier. Thanks and God bless you for volunteering! Lisa & Kent Wagener May 17th APRIL ATTENDANCE Olivia Schulz May 6 John Parisee May 11 Chris Schulz May 14 Clarke Arick May 14 Mark Hanson May 21 April 2 31 April 9 28 April 16 73 April 23 17 April 30 28 3
P A G E 4 May Services Volunteers MAY 7 Fourth Sunday of Easter Celebrant: Rev. Deb Adams Lay Minister: Rod Gust Lay Reader: Angie Warner Greeter/Gift Bearer: Lisa Wagener Refreshments: Monica & Hannah Hoth Altar Flowers: Easter Lilies Sunday School: Monica Hoth First Reading: Acts 2:42-47 Psalm: 23 Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25 Gospel: John 10:1-10 MAY 14 Fifth Sunday of Easter Morning Prayer Worship Leader: Rod Gust Lay Minister: Angie Warner Lay Reader: Beverly Charette Greeter/Gift Bearer: Beverly Charette Refreshments: Mother s Day Potluck Altar Flowers: Angie Warner Sunday School: Anna Anschutz First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm: 31:9-16 Second Reading: Philippians 2:5-11 Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66 MAY 21 The Sixth Sunday of Easter Celebrant: Rev. Frank Johnson Lay Minister: Bev Palm Lay Reader: Carol Taylor Greeter/Gift Bearer: Carol Taylor Refreshments: Erica Tremblay Altar Flowers: Jaine Lewis Sunday School: Jaine Lewis First Reading: Acts 17:22-31 Psalm: 66:7-18 Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-22 Gospel: John 14:15-21 MAY 28 The Seventh Sunday of Easter Celebrant: Rev. Deb Adams Lay Minister: Erica Tremblay Lay Reader: Sharon Froberg Greeter/Gift Bearer: Rod Gust Refreshments: Sharon Froberg Altar Flowers: Rod Gust No Sunday School: Kids in Church First Reading: Acts 1:6-14 Psalm: 68:1-10, 33-36 Second Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 Gospel: John 17:1-11
P A G E 5 Summary Minutes of the Vestry / March 14, 2017 Present: Rod Gust, Jim Steele, Cheryl Reinertsen, Monica Hoth, Sharon Froberg, Clarke Arick and Nancy Parisee Rod Gust called the meeting to order at 530pm and Clarke gave the opening prayer after designation of various members for chaplain (Clarke), facilitator (Monica) and Sharon (minutes). St. Francis Staff Priest The Rev. Debra Adams 208-201-5467 sfpriest@silverstar.com Senior Warden Rod Gust 307-413-2102 rodgust@gmail.com Junior Warden Clarke Arick 706-338-9113 sfjuniorwarden@silverstar.com Treasurer Cheryl Reinertsen 307-353-2299 sfttreasurer@silverstar.com Parish Assistant Hope McKenzie 307-353-8100 sftetons@silverstar.com Parish Sexton Angie Warner 208-354-2242 sftstaff@silverstar.com Parish Historian Toni Hill 208-354-2747 The minutes of the February 2017 meeting were reviewed by all with motion for approval by Rod and second by Nancy. All in favor for approval. Action Items: Rod initiated general information discussion from vestry agenda beginning with note of 7 th Day Adventists departure to another worship space and ramifications of that departure on our parish. Some discussion of various ways to publish availability of our space for weddings and other events. Nancy suggested connection to event planners in Jackson as a new way to advertise our availability. Discussion of checking our building availability policy and possible updates it might need as well as ways we might improve photos on website to look more attractive for outside events. Additional discussion of Teton Arts Council/Cort Breckenridge support, need for Easter lily sign-up sheets to be readied, Lent in general and Bishop Currys recommendation during that period (which is unfortunately now past) for us to do some form of drive for ERD support. Discussion of ERD support in general including what we have already done as a parish and what areas we might like to focus on in the future for our ERD support. Discussion of new Minister of Music progress and two candidates that have expressed interest with decision still in progress at this time. Senior Warden s report: The recent dinner and music event was discussed and proceeds from it, which totaled $1306., were donated to the Community Resource Center with much gratitude expressed to us from their executive director, Megan O Brien. General discussion of continuing this type of event in the future which can enable our parish to support needs in the valley and ways we can continue to improve communication and setup to support and better manage this type of outreach activity to enable it to run more smoothly. Discussion of Tin Cup event coming in July and progress/detail of monies spent from last years event given by Cheryl. Rod suggested the idea of stories that he and others of the parish could tell during services that occur during the giving period and the possible benefit to all listeners of knowing the good that is done by the parish with Tin Cup donations. Junior Warden s report: Clarke still waiting to hear from various contacts regarding spring cleaning, snow blowing and and other general maintenance needs. Roof snow issues of previous concern are no longer a current problem with present snow melt conditions. Shrove Tuesday dinner was a success land well attended. Treasurer s Report: The financial reports were presented by Cheryl and discussed. Nancy motioned for approval, Clarke seconded and motion approved by all. Cheryl reported that $750. went to ERD for hurricane relief and suggested that we should continue, as previously discussed in action items, to identify before next vestry meeting, those projects we want to support. We want to focus on asking for donations, the timing of best expressing that need and try to make those decisions during next vestry meeting in April. Committee Reports: Worship: Rod reported that as we transition through worship type, that music is essentially the responsibility of the priest. A worship meeting with Deb, Rod, Lisa and Canon Lucinda is scheduled for March 23 rd with Ministry Review focus. General discussion by all regarding the need to clarify details of Debs ministry. Worship schedule of music through April/Easter will be done by Nancy G. Pastoral Care: Discussion of designated funds to Cort Breckenridge/Teton Arts. Outreach: Discussion of Eat & Meet and continuing to evaluate how well it is working with regard to outreach in general. Vestry should continue to look at it as we progress through the summer months and into fall. Need expressed by all that getting more people of parish involved as we continue forward with vestry members not continuing to manage the event and other new members coming forward. For now, Rod will take responsibility for April (soup dinner focus) and Sharon will take June (salad dinner focus). Christian Education: Monica discussed need for new life in SS program to bring back meaningfulness for children and continuing childrens moment in service. Closing prayer by Clarke. Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm. Respectfully Submitted, Sharon Froberg
P A G E 6 FAMINE RELIEF St. Francis Vestry Members Senior Warden Rod Gust 307-413-2102 rodgust@gmail.com Junior Warden Clarke Arick 706-338-9113 patriciasticher@yahoo.com Nancy Parisee 208-354-6406 njparisee1@yahoo.com Pete Oslund 208-456-2774 mloslund@aol.com Monica Hoth 208-201-3281 monica.hoth@gmail.com Jim Steele 937-231-1141 connsteele@msn.com Sharon Froberg 503-318-2060 frogwumin@silverstar.com The giving community that is St. Francis has been a leader in local outreach ministry in Teton Valley. In November 2008, parishioners identified a critical shortage and started the food bank which continues to support families in need to this day. Through our Tin Cup efforts we furnish children with back to school supplies, help adults and families who have had temporary difficulties meet their financial obligations, and assist our citizens in getting back to health by seeing to it that they have medical services they need. We even provide gas cards so they can get to those critical medical appointments. Every other month we offer a free meal and fellowship to anyone who needs or wants it through our Eat and Meet event. Now we have the opportunity to extend our outreach beyond our valley to a desperate situation in the world. On February 20 th the United Nations declared a famine in Sudan. When the United Nations makes such a declaration it does so because people have already begun to die from lack of food. Episcopal Relief & Development has been active for more than two years supporting local efforts to provide food aid in South Sudan, but they cannot do it without our help. If you would like to be a partner in this effort, bring a check made payable to ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development) to church Sunday May 21 st and place it in the offering plate. If you ll be out of town but would like to participate, mail a check to the church at 20 Alta School Road, Alta, WY 83414 by that same date. The Vestry will match with budgeted funds all donations received up to a total of $1,000. Your checks and the Vestry s match will be sent together to the Diocese for use in this relief effort. Perhaps our gift which seems to be meager in the face of broad scale famine will multiply like the parable of the five loaves and two fish which fed five thousand! Treasurer Cheryl Reinertsen 307-353-2299 sfttreasurer@silverstar.com
P A G E 7 MAY Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 11AM 4PM AA 7:30PM 7 10AM Fourth Sunday in Easter Rev. Deb Adams Worship Committee 10 AM Sunday School 8 9 Cub Scouts 6:30-7:45 PM Vestry Meets 5:30 10 11AM Boy Scouts 6:00 7:30 PM 11 4PM 12 AA 7:30PM 13 14 10AM Fifth Sunday in Easter Morning Prayer Rod Gust Mother s Day Potluck! 15 16 Cub Scouts 6:30-7:45 PM Vestry Meeting 5:30 PM 17 11AM 18 4PM 19 20 10AM Sunday School AA 7:30PM 21 10AM Sixth Sunday in Easter Rev. Frank Johnson 10AM Sunday School 22 23 Cub Scouts 6:30-7:45 PM 24 Centering Prayer 11AM Boy Scouts 6:00 7:30 PM 25 4PM 26 27 AA 7:30PM 28 10AM Seventh Sunday in Easter Rev. Deb Adams 29 30 31 Centering Prayer 11AM No Sunday School
St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church 20 Alta School Rd. Alta, WY 83414 Return Service Requested