Parish Life
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St. Francis Parish Retreat 2010 - July 30th, 31st & Aug. 1st.
Held Annually in August at Camp McDowell Join Us!
Our annual parish retreat is scheduled for the weekend of July 30, 31st & Aug. 1st. This is the highlight of our year, a chance to get away from home and commune with nature and your fellow parishioners.
Those that want to hang around Camp McDowell will have their choice of activities-hiking, swimming, reading, knitting, rocking, napping....We are planning on having activities for children based on the number and ages of our children attending, so please sign soon to help us plan.
Saturday night is our community cookout. Just bring your favorite side dishes and join in the meal. Refer to the St. Francis Portable Brasserie/Tanning Bed handout for more information.
Directly after the Saturday night dinner, expect to hear some lively conversation, jokes, and storytelling on the front porch under the moonlight with a beer in hand....
Sunday morning after breakfast, which is again on your own or in the camp mess hall, we worship in the brand-new Chapel of St. Francis. Take a minute to go the Camp McDowell website and drink in the beauty and serenity of the chapel, and imagine how worship there will feel...
After worship we will check out and return to the real world. For those who don't have to hurry back right then, you can hang around Camp McDowell and hike, swim, and just visit.
End-Parish Retreat
St. Francis Food and Friends Groups (Supper Clubs) Sign up for fun today!
It's easy to join just download the Food and Friends form at the top of this page. Complete it and turn it in to the church or save your completed form to your documents and attach and email it to st.francis.foodandfriends@gmail.com. You can click on the address to start the email.
St. Francis Food and Friends Groups usually meet about once a month. Some are planned around an activity such as hiking or canoeing, some are planned around a meal in the host of the month home, and some plan to eat in a restaurant. You just can't beat the good times, good food and good friends. Check with the church office for information on when new groups are forming.
-End Food and Friends.
2010 Convention - A few words from Janet Griffin
My gratitude to each of you at St. Francis for allowing me to one of your representatives at the 179th annual convention of our diocese. It was wonderful to be so closely linked with some 500 fellow Episcopalians, working and worshiping together and raising our voices together in a oneness of spirit that was, indeed, very special. Next year the convention is scheduled to be in Birmingham and whether you go as a delegate or not, I urge you to set aside a little time to attend one or more of the sessions and feel the spirit and commonality of purpose that bonds us to the ninety-one Episcopal churches around the state. As Bishop Kee Sloan said in his sermon, "I am proud to be an Episcopalian. Proud that we are willing to address the questions even when they are difficult. What holds us together is the love of God we share in Jesus Christ." As Most of you probably already know Bishop Parsley is retiring as of 2011 saying that he would not be a "lame duck." Thanks be to God for that, for the time we have left together, and for the wonderful years he and Becky have shared with us. He gave credit to our own Bill Yon who said "transition is prime time for renewal". Being at the convention for three days personalized and put faces on the outreach projects we do as a diocese. We listened to and met people involved in the Sawyerville project, Haiti, Camp McDowell with its environmental center and plans for the new disability center, Cursillo, Happening, Vocare, New Beginnings, Krick and Krack and other organizations devoted to building community and serving the "least of these." The discussion of budgets (the diocese ended 2009 in the black by three dollars) and working on resolutions and attending workshops were also part of the weekend. Play time was a fun Saturday night barbecue with a live band, great food, and just getting to be with old and new friends from all over the diocese. The night continued on in the Hospitality Room at the hotel for the night owls.
I will leave you with a few thoughts and some of the most memorable lines that I have remembered and reflected upon and thought that you might like to do the same.
Haiti: "After the cameras leave, Episcopal relief remains." Judith Quick "We are not called to uncomplicated certainty." Kee Sloan "We must not stay too near where we got in." (using the story of the little boy who fell out of his bed). Kee Sloan "Put aside false pride, rigidity of thought, partisanship and the need to be right. (Being right is way overrated). It is better to be faithful, better to be loving, better to know that none of us have all the answers, better to know that we need God and each other" Kee Sloan "We are the PBS of the churches"John Meacham, editor of Newsweek and an active Episcopalian, because of the snow, was our videoconference speaker. He was inspirational and challenging. He challenged us to care beyond the rose windows and not be so obsessed with what happens inside. We should recover our connection with the world beyond the church. 
I will end with my favorite from Bishop Kee Sloan. "Please disagree. It is part of who we are. But disagree honestly, with the love and respect that you and your brothers and sisters deserve as children of God. In times of controversy, I invite you to be patient, with each other, with your priests, with your parishioners, with your bishops."
Janet Griffin
-End Convention 2010.
Covered Dish Festivities
Throughout the year, the Saint Francis community enjoys celebrating numerous important church and social events by sharing covered dish brunches, receptions, lunches and dinners. Tables are decorated and favorite dishes of all types including child friendly foods are shared by all. These events offer fun and fellowship and a chance to get to know each other better. Annual events include Easter, Pentecost, the Annual Parish meeting, and the annual Bishop's visitation and confirmation. In addition special social events are held throughout the year to celebrate transitions.
-End Covered Dish.
Men's Prayer Breakfast
The Men of St. Francis gather at 8 o'clock on the third Saturday of each month for a hearty breakfast. Conversation focuses on what is going on in our lives between Sundays -- at home, at work, and in the community. That gives us plenty to pray about, and we look for ways to give thanks for all of it. For more informaiton contact Bill Yon by email, nandjedi@aol.com or telephone 678.9455. Watch for sign-up sheets in the narthex.
-End Men's Prayer Breakfast.
Welcome Newcomers Gathering
From time to time St. Francis invites all who are new or who would like to know more about St. Francis to a Newcomers Gathering at the Kaminski home. One recent gathering was February 28, attended by Linda Ring, Larry & Betsy Parton, Nancy Kirby, Jeff, Shelly, & Piper Stevens, Liz Smith (accompanied by Dale), and Janet Griffin. Several of our leaders from Vestry and the Newcomers Team were also there to greet and get to know them better, including Sr. Warden Anne Hartline, Jr. Warden David Cypher, Janet Palmer, Bill Howell, Ellen Hamilton, and Gwen and myself. It was a fun afternoon. We are glad they are with us, and look forward to them being more involved at St. Francis.
-End Newcomer Gathering.
St. Francis Trunk or Treat - Last Sunday in October 
Great Parish Fun for the whole family. If you have those small ghouls and goblins, dress them up and trunk or treat in the St. Francis parking lot after the 2nd service. The larger ghouls and goblins will decorate their car trunks and have buckets of goodies to give away. Everyone enjoys story telling and hotdogs. Come and join us!
-End Trunk or Treat.
Habitat for Yon - Fall workday at Bill Yon's, St. Francis Priest Associate (Ret.).
A fall Saturday morning St. Francis workday. Sign up next time and join in the community spirit at St. Franics.
-End Habitat.
St. Francis Ornament Exchange 2010
Mark Your Calendars for Fun! 1st Thursday in December
The women's ornament exchange is an annual "pot luck" fun-filled event held the first Thursday in December for women of the church. The event is festive with beautiful decorations, scrumptious food and drink, and relaxed visiting among old and new friends. The evening culminates with a "Dirty Santa" Christmas ornament swap, and much laughter until the last person leaves. This is an event you should not miss.
-End Women's Ornament Exchange.
St. Francis Wacky Bowling Challenge Non-Yoots vs. Yoots - The 2010 Challenge is March 28th - Yoots vs. Non-Yoots Wacky Bowling Tournament. The Yoots WILL reclaim the trophy this year!
Report by Bob Byrd, EYC Advisor, on the Wacky Bowling challenge issued by a Non-Yoot (adult) to the EYC Yoots (youths). Please note the disclaimer that the term adult is used "loosely": The first annual Yoots vs. Non Yoots Wacky Bowling Tournament took place on February 15th. I regret to say that the Non-Yoots won, but it's a hollow victory - their winning score depended in part on several Yoots bowling strikes in frame 8. Furthermore, I have learned that two Non-Yoots actually practiced an entire game of Wacky Bowling prior to the tournament. The trophy may be theirs, but the moral victory is ours. Just wait until next year, and the trophy will have our names on it!
-End Whacky Bowling.
St. Francis Mardi Gras: Mardi Gras Party!A St. Francis Family Parish Event And Outreach Opportunity! Mark your calendars for fun the Saturday prior to Ash Wednesday - February 13, 2010.
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!
Please join us in the Parish Hall on Saturday, February 13th from 6PM-9PM for the annual Mardi Gras Party. There will be a King and Queen, children's parade, music, dancing, food and face painting.
2009 Mardi Gras Video
Costumes and fun hats are not uncommon at our Mardi Gras party! Show your Mardi Gras flare with your own spin. Costumes are optional but encouraged. There will be a prize for the best costume and the best family in costume. Check out the Sign Up Sheet for food, beverages, utensils, etc. for the covered dish supper. The St. Francis annual Mardi Gras party is set for Saturday, February 13th, 2010. For a good time call Archie Creech at 612.5788. ----End Mardi Gras.
St. Francis Women’s Retreat Report by Ellen Hamilton 
A small group of women descended on Camp Mcdowell on September 18. Included were Betty Bond, Stacey Barber, Ellen Hamilton, LeeAnne Ramey, Decie Harper, Leathea Gray and June Byrd. In addition, our old friend Cozy Ledford joined us from Atlanta. As tradition demanded, the first item on the agenda was for all of us to pile into Betty Bond’s station wagon and head for the Mexican Restaurant in Jasper. After a lively meal it was back to the cabin for stories and libations.
Saturday was a relaxing day for some- reading, knitting and enjoying each other’s company. For others it was a day for hiking to both Tiller’s and Leafy Brook. Tiller’s is really just a beach on Clear Creek, but offers a wonderfully cool swimming hole with a rock to jump off of and a small rapid you can sit in. It was perfect for our 90-something degree weather. Leafy Brook is a trail along a small tributary to Clear Creek that runs through a cut in the rocks. So you hike up the creek below ground level, with lots of ferns, dripping water, and rock faces to admire. Of course after these hikes there was a very productive tick check, with Betty extracting one particularly bad one from Ellen’s hair.
We had great fun Saturday afternoon making greeting cards for our Card Ministry. LeeAnne provided the supplies and artistic encouragement and June Byrd wowed us all with her creativity. Dinner was delightful on the porch during a huge thunderstorm. We had a nice visit from our EYC group who were up there on their retreat. They brought us some delicious brownies for dessert. In return, we led them to Tiller’s for some great swimming on Sunday morning.
Women’s retreat is different every year. The one common thread of course is fellowship with other women of St. Francis. Spending time together away from family and responsibility is a great way to get to know each other on a more intimate level. It is also a lot of fun. I hope each of the women at St. Francis will consider joining us for next year’s retreat.
-End Women's Retreat.