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JANUARY 2005 VOLUME 13.1 The St. Francis Bulletin FROM THE RECTOR: New Year’s Day Service!!!!! On Sunday, January 1, 2006, we will have only one service at 11:00 a.m. Our regular schedule of 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. will return on Sunday, January 8. Of Things New. . . Since you will be receiving this shortly before the arrival of the new year, it is appropriate to offer you something new. I invite you to look at our new website, compliments of Pam Stephan, its original creator, and Don Watkins, both of whom have been working on this for the last few months. The new sight is more attractive, more informative and all around just better. You can check it out at A big thanks to Pam and Don for their work on the new website. If you have any suggestions that you think might improve the site, let them know. Of Things Not So New. . . 2005 had a major impact on the lives of thousands of people in our own country and around the world. There were two very large storms along the Gulf Coast and a devastating earthquake in Pakistan. Some of you are aware that St. Francis contributed $3000 out of our charity fund to the Salvation Army for hurricane relief after Katrina hit Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. What you probably don’t know is that the Vestry instructed me and my Charities Committee (Bill Ducker, Brian Hoard and myself) to use the bulk of our parish tithe money for charitable purposes. (Just as we ask you to tithe, the parish also gives a full ten per cent of our pledge and plate to either the EMC diocese, the national church and/or the charitable purposes that I just mentioned). Thousands of additional dollars were given in your name to both local and national relief agencies who used those gifts from you to aid many, many people who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But we didn’t stop there. In September and early October, you were generous enough to donate 1038 pounds of food to the food bank at Caritas of Austin. These donations were not just given in your name, they were actually brought in by you, and in abundance. I am extremely proud of the response St. Francis has made in the past year to the needs of people who were without basic necessities and I thought that you should be aware of the gifts that have been made in your name. Of Things To Come. . . . Christian education for everyone will resume on Sunday, January 8. I know that Amy Crandall will have something to say about what the children will be doing in their classes. As for the adult Sunday School the class that just finished studying the Nicene Creed (it was a great class) decided it wanted to go back to the Bible for the next semester. It was suggested that we study the Letter to the Hebrews and since that’s also one of my favorites, that’s what we will do. I will look for some appropriate study materials for the class and we’ll get into it on the 8th. For those of you who might want to be part of this I suggest that you begin reading Hebrews and if you have some study materials of your own, get to work on them. Of course I realize that there won’t be much studying done between now and then but I thought I would suggest it. Also on tap for the new year will be Confirmation classes for both adults and children. Father Stults will do the preparation for the children and I will do the adult class. I am proposing that we begin on Wednesday, January 11. I wanted to start on the 4th but since some local football team is playing what I understand is an important football game, probably no one would show up for the class. Actually, the teacher wouldn’t be there either. I plan to do this for about six weeks but instead of one hour, I liked to go 90 minutes for each session. If that is too strenuous we’ll revise the plan. As I always do, I would like to extend an invitation to any of you who have been confirmed and would like something of a refresher course in the Christian faith in the Anglican tradition to join us. The classes will start at 7:00 p.m., probably in the church. Finally, during 2005, Joe Faught, Tommy Crudup, and Joy Went left us and went home to the Lord. May they rest in peace! CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS After a very short two-week break for Christmas, the Sunday school classes begin on January 8. Leanne Read has agreed to work with the elementary-aged children and the leadership of the youth class switches to Wanda Stults. Her article describing her class appears in this newsletter. I will continue to work with the youngest of our children. I can speak for all the teachers in saying that it is a joy and privilege to teach the children of St. Francis. Thanks to the Rev. John Stults for leading the youth class the entire first semester, to Pam and David Stephan for working with the elementary aged class, and to Kay Francis for working with the youngest children. If you are interested in working with either of the younger two classes for 4-6 weeks, let me know. All the children and youth of St. Francis are invited to the Retirement and Nursing Center on Burnet Lane on January 29 from 3:30-4:30 as we worship with the residents with song, prayer, and Bible readings. If anyone has a talent to share with the residents, feel free to prepare something. This can be a song, a musical instrument, special reading, or a gift for the residents. I would like to say a big and public THANK YOU to Shirley Ellis for making the costumes used for our Christmas program. We now have a complete set of outfits for shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and the wise men to use year after year. Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, and guests who supplied the cast of characters for our program. It is interesting to produce a Christmas program here at St. Francis – each year is different and I never quite know what the result will be. -- Amy Crandell YOUTH CLASS During the months of January and February, Wanda Stults will be facilitating Sunday school for our older youth. The subject will be one’s identity: “Who Are You?” Those attending will need to bring a bible. Assignments for parental discussion will be given weekly. Please pray for spiritual growth for all our youth. MOTHERS’ PRAYER GROUP All mothers and grandmothers of the church are invited to attend the mothers’ prayer group at the home of Kay Francis, 125 Golf Crest Cove, in Lakeway. The group spends an hour on the second Monday of every month at 11 a.m. praying for their families. For more information, call Kay Francis at (512) 261-4325. BOSOM BUDDIES Merry Nell Drummond co-founded and leads a Christ-centered breast cancer support group named Bosom Buddies. Their mission is to ‘celebrate life in Jesus Christ.’ They do this through group sharing of prayer, scriptures, laughter, tears, as well as their experience, strength and hope. The only requirement for attendance is a stringent one: a person must have had breast cancer at some point in their lives! Bosom Buddies will mark its tenth anniversary this August. The group meets every Monday at noon at Westlake United Methodist Church in the library. For information, please call Merry Nell at 327-3363. Newsletter Submissions Any parishioner that has news of any kind they would like to share with everyone is welcome to send it in writing to Tricia Denslow at 640 B Lakeside Dr., Wimberley, TX 78676 or to her e-mail address (triciadenslow@yahoo.com). If received by the 20th, it will appear in next month’s newsletter. Rector: The Reverend Len Giacolone Birthdays: 1 Audrey Woodgate Anniversaries 7 Bill and Mary Campbell
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