The AssisterMARCH 2017 THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Minds to think Hearts to love Hands to serve

3545 CAHABA VALLEY ROAD, INDIAN SPRINGS, AL (205) 988-4371 STFRANCHURCH@BELLSOUTH.NET WWW.STFRANCISINDIANSPRINGS.ORG

We welcome you without concern for race, color, ethnic or national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age.

Maggie’s Meanderings

Over the years, I have had a number of people try to pick an argument with me, telling me in no uncertain terms that Lent is not Biblical and therefore it is not Christian! I remind people that Jesus did indeed spend 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness where there were beasts and he was tempted by Satan; where there was no nourishment nor water, and Jesus had to wrestle with that deprivation. We, too, enter into the wilderness, and we make the journey with Jesus and the disciples as they move toward Jerusalem and the Cross. We are preparing ourselves for the death of Christ, and then, finally, for his resurrection. Lent is a prayerful, spiritual discipline..

The season begins visually when the church no longer has its beautiful trappings. Silver chalices and patens, brass crosses and candlesticks, brilliant vestments, and flowers all go away. The church is left quite bare, with only wood and pottery to adorn it. The music is penitential, the “a” word is no longer spoken or sung, and none of it returns until the First Eucharist of Easter at the Vigil. We strip away all the celebrative aspects of our surroundings, and we enter into a time of fasting, prayer, and service.

For many of us, the “fasting” component is what we give up for Lent, and in addition to that, we usually add something to our lives like attending Morning Prayer at the church each weekday, reading a devotional book, or saying special family prayers each night. We try to be conscientious about what it means to us to approach – not just the cross and death of Jesus -- but also our own cross, our own death. The important thing for us to remember is that there can be no Easter day, no empty tomb, no resurrection without the suffering and death that comes first.

So join me as we prepare for a holy Lent. Join me in prayer, quiet reflection, and introspection. Join me as we make our annual journey to the cross, and finally, then, to the empty tomb.

Deacon’s Corner - Judy Lee

Dear Parishioners.

I thought I would write to all of you about your generosity for this past year, 2016. Through the budgeted outreach dollars and your continual generous giving to the Deacon’s discretionary fund for outreach, St. Francis has given to the following:

• Episcopal Relief and Development (Helps in many ways around the world. A couple of examples -You may know about goats & pigs donated to families, or mosquito nets that help reduce malaria or, closer to home, helping in Louisiana these past months after the flooding).

• Cahaba Valley Health Clinic (Dental & vision clinic held at St. Francis every July).

• Oak Mountain Mission Ministries (Besides the constant flow of canned goods, clothing and other objects, St. Francis donates dollars as well).

• Safe House (A place for abused women and children to go after leaving a difficult situation. Safe House helps the women recover sufficiently enough to find jobs to support themselves & their children).

• Dave Lambert (For his cassock and surplice & some dollars to start his discretionary fund at Epiphany, Leeds).

• Episcopal Place (For welcome bags that St. Francis supplies to new residents).

• Sawyerville (Food for the annual dinner St. Francis prepares & serves and dollars to help support the yellow hammer book program).

• ARISE (A statewide citizens' organization composed of faith and community groups that promotes state policies that improve the lives of low-income people).

• Trinity Commons (Episcopal Student Center – serves students at UAB, Birmingham-Southern College & Samford University).

• Shelby County Dept. of Human Resources (Gift cards for teenagers who are in foster care).

• Two by Two Animal Rescue (With a portion of the dollars going to a vet clinic to neuter & care for animals that are ill or injured).

• Special Equestrians (Folks with disabilities are able to ride horses).

• Down Syndrome Walk (In honor of Koa Vicens).

• Camp McDowell (For special sessions – folks of all ages with disabilities spend a week at camp).

• Habitat for Humanity (Ellen Hamilton and Tim Shaffer have led a team or two over the years, to help

ST. FRANCIS’ 24th ANNUAL WOMEN’S RETREAT March 10 - 12 at Camp McDowell

The retreat begins Friday evening and runs through lunchtime on Sunday. If you can’t stay for the entire weekend, you’re welcome to come for just one night. Our lodge has a large common room with a fireplace and full kitchen, and eleven bedrooms, each with two double beds and its own bath. We’ll prepare our own meals in our lodge. The

cost is $63/night for those sharing a room, or $113/night for anyone who wants a private room. This price includes the $1/person/meal that we are charged for preparing out own food. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex.

• Greater Birmingham Ministries (Strives to serve God’s purpose of justice and peace by healing the wounds and struggles of the community and to help realize more just systems and more faithful relationships).

• Habitat for Humanity (Ellen Hamilton and Tim Shaffer have led a team or two over the years, to help build safe homes for families).

• Christ Episcopal Church, Fairfield (Had a fire in the kitchen. A church and community much in need).

• Human Needs (the vestry established & budgeted a discretionary bank account to help folks who come to the doors of St. Francis seeking help with rent, electricity, water, gas, food etc.).

All of these bullet points came to a total of $10,000.00! These dollars do not cover the generosity and labor involved in the Angel Tree, the turkeys & fixings at Thanksgiving, the labor at Habitat for Humanity, or at the Gumbo Gala or the Sawyerville meal. I am sure as write this article that I have missed something essential. Let me know what I have missed!

I am overwhelmed continually at the generosity of all of you. I thank God that I am part of such an energetic and generous community!

Almighty God, giver of all good things, help us to continue, as best we can, the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to abolish poverty. Hasten the day when all people, with many voices, will continue to nourish and feed this world and therefore glorify your holy Name. Amen.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! - For another wonderful year of energy and generosity.

I remember the last time my Nana came to visit from England. My mother declared the house a “pig sty” that needed to be cleaned. I was 15 and saw nothing wrong with it, and I’m not sure my father did either. My mother’s opinion was the only one that mattered, so they began the process of buying and hanging new wallpaper, buying new comforters and sheets for the beds, and scrubbing every nook and cranny of the house so that it would pass muster. The entire process of “fixing the house” was always very frantic and stressful—a stark contrast to the visit itself. In fact, I don’t think my mother ever truly relaxed until after Nana had left.

We are in a similar situation at St. Francis, as our house needs to be cleaned before the new priest arrives. Unfortunately, we still cannot announce who the new priest will be until after the candidates pass their oral exams in March. Make no mistake, we are getting a new priest this summer and the church needs some sprucing up. I’m not recommending that anyone run out to the store to buy rolls of wallpaper (not even the textured kind that you can paint), but we don’t want to take on that frantic pace employed by my parents when they realized Nana would be here in a month. There is much to do and clean up will be more involved than just one day for the inside and one day for the outside.

Already, the Men’s Prayer Breakfast has taken it upon themselves to fix the outbuildings. Do you belong to a group that can volunteer to take on a project? Not sure what to choose? Chip has a list! Is there something that has been driving you crazy that you would like to fix because it would give you personal satisfaction--the basketball post in the parking lot, perhaps? Speak to Chip or any other member of the Vestry to make sure that project hasn’t already been taken. You’re only in EYC and what can you do? LOTS!! I’m sure I’m not the only person who looks around the building and thinks something would look nicer if it just had a little touch up.

Yes, we are about to go through a big change at St. Francis this year. Yes, we need to prepare for that. Yes, things may be rocky for a little while as everyone adjusts to the change, but this is it! This is what all those hours of preparing a parish profile, selecting a Discernment Committee and interviewing two rounds of candidates has been for—a new priest will arrive this summer!

Change is sometimes difficult, but a lot of things remain the same. The Vestry and Clergy are still here for you, Judy Lee will have plenty of outreach projects for us this year, we will still compete in Gumbo Gala, we will still cook for Sawyerville, Book Club and Bible Study will continue to meet, Alina will continue to provide amazing music to enrich our worship experience, the Golf Tournament will take place this summer, and Janet Griffin will have plenty of photos to document it all.

I am proud to be a member of this church, and I am proud to have all of you in my church family. Whenever something needs to be done, this church comes together and finds a way to make it happen. I am excited for the transition we are about to enter and I am grateful to all of you for being patient during the process.

A philosopher by the name of Alan Watts once said, “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” Well friends, put on your boogie shoes, the music is starting!

Senior Warden - Karen Valencia

The Episcopal Church of St. Francis of Assisi Indian Springs, AL

Musical Meditations 2017 Meditative classical music performed by guest artists

during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 10 minutes before service. Everyone is invited!

March 5, Lent 1 Barbara Harrington, flute

March 12, Lent 2 Warren Samples, cello

March 19, Lent 3 St. Peter’s Bell Choir

March 26, Lent 4 Amy McLelland, piano

April 2, Lent 5 Marsha Gunter, harp

April 9, Palm Sunday Kevin Kozak, French horn

April 13, Maundy Thursday Zak Enikeev, viola

April 14, Good Friday Kevin Kozak, French horn

April 15, Easter Vigil Marsha Gunter, harp and Daniel Szasz, violin

April 16, Easter Day Diane McNaron, soprano and Kathleen Costello, clarinet

The Rev. Maggie Taylor, our Interim Rector, opened the meeting with a prayer.

Rector’s Report: Maggie thanked the congregation for welcoming her as our interim and said that she is looking forward to continuing to serve our parish as we await the arrival of our new settled rector. She emphasized that, as a newly graduated seminarian, this person will need the support of all of us.

Deacon’s Report: Deacon Judy Lee expressed her appreciation for the parish’s support of the many outreach programs that we have undertaken during the past year. She gave special thanks to all the volunteers who showed up to help with projects, with a very special thanks to Judy Franklin, our hardworking and tireless Senior Warden.

Senior Warden’s Report: Judy Franklin thanked the congregation for their support over the past year. Special thanks went to Deacon Judy for her leadership and support in so many areas, to the Discernment Committee, particularly Chairman Larry Parton, and to all those who have worked to keep the parish’s activities and programs going. She gave a brief report on some of those activities, and she also mentioned some of the community groups, such as Boy Scouts and TOPS, that use our facilities.

Outside Junior Warden’s Report: Irene Lanca thanked all those who cut grass, pulled weeds, and cared for flower beds. She reminded everyone that this work will be on-going and that more volunteers are always needed and welcome.

Inside Junior Warden’s Report: Karen Valencia reported on the repair and maintenance work that has been done over the past year – repair of the heating unit in the nave, the replacement of our ancient refrigerator, and multiple plumbing issues – and made special mention of the new air conditioning unit in the parish hall. She thanked everyone for their support, with special thanks to Bing Lingle for his help with so many tasks.

Treasurer’s Report (Dave Gifford) 1. So far this year our income has exceeded expenses by about $20,000. Not having a full-time

rector meant that our budget could cover some major unexpected expenses, such as replacing the parish hall air conditioning unit and repairing the heat in the nave.

2. 2017 Stewardship: The total amount pledged so far is $154,259; this represents 40 pledges. This past year we had fifty-nine pledges totaling $195,363; of that amount $14,000 has not been received.

3. The mortgage on the church is due to be paid off in thirty-eight months.

Election of Vestry Members: The three nominees – Karen Valencia (who had served for part of 2016), Helen Sparks, and Chip Dawson – were elected by acclamation to three-year terms.

Election of Delegates to 2017 Diocesan Convention: Judy Franklin, Janet Griffin, and Betsy Parton were elected by acclamation. The convention will be held February 17-18.

Deacon Judy dismissed the congregation.

Annual Parish Meeting December 18, 2016

KEEP US IN THE LOOP! Please send newsletter information and pictures to the st. Francis Newsletter editors, Ginny MacDonald, at left (vbmacd@gmail.com), and Kathy Seale, at right (ksseale@gmail.com).

CONVENTION!

Assister photographer, Janet Griffin

Concert

Flower Guild