December 2014

My Dear Franciscan Friends,

Thanksgiving is positioned perfectly before the first Sunday of

Advent so that we end one liturgical year and begin the next with

the theme of gratitude lingering in our hearts and minds.

Gratitude for what has gone before and what lies in front of us

frames our communal experience. In the past how many people

have loved us? How many have been there when we needed them?

How many blessings that we could not have seen at the time, hid

themselves until our eyes and hearts were ready to receive them?

Gratitude for what is yet to unfold: knowing what we do about our

past, how can we not carry forward our faithful trust in the many ways God blesses us?

On our celebration Sunday November 23rd we gathered in church and in the parish hall to

thank God for providing for us as individuals and as a parish family. Infused in the joy of

our God inspired gifts for the capital campaign and our stewardship campaign was our

experience of gratitude for the love we have received from God through the good people of

St. Francis.

Incarnational theology rejoices in God's gift of presence in our lives. It motivates our

giving. It motivates our living and it moves our hearts in faith and gratitude.

Because....because...because...what has gone before will surely come around again. God

loved us so much that he sent his only Son to live and die with us so that as we live and die

with Him we will share not only in His life and death but also in his Resurrection.

The season of Advent helps us live anticipating so much: the birth of God in our midst, the

life of Christ amongst us, the presence of God in our sorrows and joys, and ultimately our

invitation by God to participate in eternal life.

Let us always live in hopeful expectation,

Michael

MICHAEL MOULDEN RECTOR

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Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 24th

4:00pm- Children's Pageant, Junior Choir singing, and

Holy Eucharist (Nursery available)

7:00pm- Christmas Music Prelude

7:30pm- Holy Eucharist with Choir

11:00pm- Holy Eucharist with Choir

Lessons and Carols Sunday, January 4th

8:00am- Holy Eucharist, no music

10:30am- Traditional Service of Lessons & Carols

(no Eucharist, Nursery available)

Christmas Day Wednesday, December 25th

10:00am- Holy Eucharist, no music

It's hard to believe that it's that time again, but our annual Christmas Pageant is coming

up! This year the pageant will be at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve and we need as many

children as possible to be sheep, donkeys, angels, cows, and a few Wise Men and

shepherds! If you would like your child to participate, please let

Amanda at amanda@stfrancisgreensboro.org know as soon as possible.

The rehearsal schedule is as follows:

December 6th, 10:00am--speaking parts ONLY

December 13th, 10:00am--all parts (please note this is a Saturday)

December 21st, 4:00pm--dress rehearsal for all parts

Christmas Eve

December 24th, 3:15pm--Meet in the Parish Hall

H O L I D A Y I N F O R M A T I O N

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Join your fellow Franciscans in the Greening of the Church on Sunday,

December 21st after the 10:30 am service. Families, oldster s,

youngsters and teens – everyone is invited to help in the hanging of

greens, garlands and wreaths and clean-up as we prepare our Sanctuary

for Christmas Eve. Bring rags and furniture polish to polish the pews.

If you need more info, call Kitty Baker at 676-2458.

See you on the 21st!

A R O U N D S T . F R A N C I S

Please mark your calendars for STOP HUNGER NOW on Sun-

day, December 7th starting at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall. This is the

assembly line event where we package meals to help feed people in im-

poverished areas of the world. This year we are very excited to be pack-

aging 25,000 meals! We will need plenty of people to come and help, so

please bring your family and/or a friend. This is a FAMILY outreach

event, folks of all ages are welcome! There will be nursery care provided

for our youngest members. Also, members from Beth-David Synagogue

have been invited to come and package meals with us, so this will be a

wonderful inter-faith event as well! If you have any questions please

contact Amanda at amanda@stfrancisgreensboro.org.

ALL-PARISH WORKDAYS

We will be holding our next Work Day on December 13th. This is your

opportunity to pitch in and help spruce up the St. Francis campus. We will

be clearing leaves, cleaning up the flower beds and transplanting some

border plants to make everything look neater and more uniform. Please

bring pruning saws, leaf rakes, shovels, trowels and work gloves if you

have them. We'll meet for a light breakfast and fellowship at 8:30, work

from 9:00 to 12:00 and break for lunch at noon. See you there!

St. Francis Honor Cards are a wonderful way to remem-

ber friends and family during the Christmas season. All

of the funds go directly to outreach throughout the com-

munity and the world. Cards are NOW ON SALE! They

are only $2 EACH! They are available in the office be-

tween 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday thru Friday.

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A R O U N D S T . F R A N C I S

On Sunday December 14th the Fellowship Committee will be hosting our second annual

Christmas dinner for the whole family:

Festivities will begin at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall

Christmas/Festive attire competition

Bring one main dish to share AND a side or a dessert, including whatever serving uten-

sils may be needed

Beverages will be provided

After dinner Christmas sing-along

No cost to attend

Please bring some canned or packaged food donations for our local Urban Ministry

A big Thank You to those who Sang their Support at the

Karaoke and Poker fundraiser in November.

The Fellowship Committee is scheduling some more great

opportunities for fellowship within our church community in

the new year including a new set of dinner groups, parents

night out, and a spring picnic.

Due to an increase in turnout, coffee hour will continue after

the 10:30 service. We hope you will join us during this

opportunity for fellowship.

Read your weekly E-mail express or follow us on Facebook for details on each event as it gets

closer.

If you have any questions or ideas for the committee, you can reach us

at parishlife@stfrancisgreensboro.org

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Unique arts & crafts, pottery, metal sculpture, wreaths, jewelry, gourmet food, quilts, origi-

nal art, stationery, hand crafted furniture, home décor, ornaments, tote bags, photography,

chicken pies & more!

www.stfrancisgreensboro.org

St. Francis Day School

invites you to our Annual

Holiday Market Saturday, December 6th

10 am until 3 pm

FREE ADMISSION

D A Y S C H O O L

The kids had a wonderful

feast! Featured in the

photo to the righ from left

to right are: Natty,

Sophie, Donovan, Paxton,

Thomas, Kosta, Logan

and Karina.

In the Pre K Class at the Day

School, they re-enacted the first

Thanksgiving. Featured in the

photo on the left of the

Mayflower Crew are from left to

right: Logan, Karina, Johnny,

Elle, Paxton (Back row), Front

Row-Donovan, Kyle.

Featured above in the teepee are

Donovan, Logan and Karina

sharing a turkey!

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Thank you to those who have contributed to the Annual Stewardship Campaign and / or the Capital Campaign!

(as of December 3, 2014)

Annual Stewardship Campaign $ 594,954

Capital Campaign $ 1,392,120

John & Virginia Achey

Anna Clare Allen

Sidney & Mary Allen, Jr

Michael & Laura Ambler

Joann Miller Anderson

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Lois Bailey

David & Kitty Baker

Nancy E. Baldwin

Sandi Banner

Florence Barakat

Bob & Anna Barclay

Sharon Barnes

Dennis & Betty Barry

Dick Battle

John & Chris Beaman

Ben Bowers

Doris Bradley

Jim & Beth Bramhall

Bill & Wanda Brannon

Rick & Brenda Brantley

Jay Brennan

Mark & Katherine Brigham

Martha Anne & Wes Buffaloe

Linda Willis & Robert Burgin

Beverly Burke

Cynthia & Jim Butner

Lee & Lesley Cahalan

Jim & Missy Chance

Nancy H. Clark

Peggy & Jim Clark

Ken & Claudia Clarke

Frances Collier

David & Kris Cooke

Jim & Vara Cox

Ross & Debbie Cox

Ann Crandall

Paul & Trish Crowell

Dennis & Linda Dalton

Brian & Anna Dancy

Don & Jane Darnell

Mary Dator

Keir, Jennifer & Caroline Davis

Richard L. DeCoste

Brian & Caroline DeWyer

Robert Dixon & Susan French

Jim Donnelly

Sam & Ann Doyle

Randy & Linda Duncan

Rob & Donna Ehinger

Linda Erickson

Charlie & Cathy Fetter

Mike & Mary Flinn

Elizabeth S. Frassineti

Michael & Alice Gaines

Jeff & Suzie Gardiner

Shirley Gardiner

Alfred & Rose Garvey

John & Sherry Gibson

Grover Godwin

June T. Gordon

Bruce & Barbara Haldeman

Jerry & Melissa Harrelson

S T E W A R D S H I P

Larry & Brenda Hartsell

Sonia Haslam & Gary Meyer

Grant & Julie Haviland

Jane Anne Hayber

Angela & Larry Hobbs

Karen Hodgin

John & Kathie Huff

Gail & Ken Huggins

Chris & Robb Hutchison

Elaine Hyatt

Robert & Karen Isner

Catharine Isaacs

Bill & Karen Johnson

Freddy & Mary Marr Johnson

Roger P. Johnson

Samuel Johnson

Dan & Ginger Jones

Roland & Marcia Jones

Will & Olive Jordan

Jim & Martha Kaley

Al Kamperman

Paul & Laura Kilmartin

Ralph & Andrea Knupp

Robert & Michelle Koehler

Bill & Susan Kopald

Pete & Dana Koval

Paul & Sally Krauss

L.C. & Gayle C. Lackey

Cheryl Landon

Charlotte Layton

David & Tina Lee

Leslie Leland

Bruce & Ellen Lyon

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Brian & Cory MacKenzie

Robert & Melinda Madtes

Joanie Maheffey

Dennis MaKool

Charlene Marchant

Michael & Jane Marshall

Patrick & Doreen Marshall

Sara B. Marshburn

Billy & Jane Martin

Kaye Mathews

Halstead & Karen McAdoo

Brian & Kathy McCarthy

Robert & Karen McDowell

Donald & Anne Mellen

Anne Mezgar

Dick & Katherine Miller

Woody & Jean Miller

Robert & Catherine Milikin

Rowdy & Allison Mize

Michael & Maggie Molnar

Margaret Montana & John Owen

Jack & Carol Mooney

Samuel & Emily Moss

Michael Moulden

Mariana Newton

Margaret Nowell

John C. & Ann Oakley

Cameron Gordon Peck

Lawrence Phillips

Marshall & Sandra Pittman

Tom & Suzanne Plihcik

Robert & Mary Plybon

Chris & Andrea Pollina

Greg Porter

Michael & Marcella Preuss

Emily Ragsdale

Robert & Diana Sue Ramos

Robert & Patricia Rathbone

Dave & Claudia Reich

Christopher A. & Terri W. Relos

Ted & Rita Reynolds

Bill & Jorgann Rogers

Bill & Millie Ronemus

Allen & Cricket Rushing

Patricia L. Russell

Allen & Ginger Sallez

T. Lynn & Melissa Sandlin

Rick & Carolyn Saunders

Jim & Anita Schenck and

Mary Schenck Dator

Mary Fran Schickedantz

Lee & Teresa Schrader

Don & Martha R. Shafer

Robert M. & Carol Shearin

Joyce M. Shields

Michael & Sandra Shields

Ken & Stephanie Sigmon

Mike & Jackie Sigmon

In Memory of Marie Skinner

Don & Peggy Smith

Lauren & Charlie Smith

Shirley A. Smith

Dave & Midge Spong

Bill & Cathy Sternbergh

Margaret J. Stevens

Walker & Blanche Stevens

Joseph & Nancy Stiefel

Van & Jane Stubbs

JJ & Virginia Summerell

Steve & Janice Sund

Jim & Anita Tanner

Robert & Lorraine Taylor

John & Jane Teer

Walt Thompson

F.R. & Sara Tollison

Emily Tyler

Larry & Susan Tysinger

Larry & Marty Upson

Randy & Cindy Uzzell

Kurt & Carol Van Tine

Jean Waller

Fred & Gail Warnecke

S T E W A R D S H I P

Mike & Donna Warrick

Philip & Ruby Weathersbee

Jim & Sally Weeks

Geoff & Gina Wehe

Walker Weigel

Bill & Sherry Welch

Wayne & Becky Welch

Ella Wertz

Dale & Anne Whitfield

Jeff Williams

Chris Wolf

Jim & Jane Woody

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OUTREACH PROJECT OF THE MONTH

This Sunday, December 7th, the loose offering from all 3 services will go

towards this month's Outreach opportunity: Stop Hunger Now. All cash

loose offering and checks with "Stop Hunger Now" on the memo line

will go towards this wonderful global hunger relief organization. The

actual meal packaging event is also this Sunday, December 7th,

at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall. Please see the Stop Hunger Now article for

more details on this event.

C A P I T A L C A M P A I G N

WITH JOYFUL PURPOSE

Sunday, November 23rd, was surely a day of Joyous Celebration at St. Francis! It was the formal

culmination of our Stewardship and Capital Campaigns, and parishioners have opened their hearts

to St. Francis. As of December 3rd, our totals are (Drum Roll, please!!!!!)……….$594,954 for

Stewardship and $1,392,120 for the Capital Campaign.

From the beginning, we have stressed the importance of pledging first to the Stewardship Cam-

paign and then to the Capital Campaign with what generosity is left. Without a successful Steward-

ship Campaign, we simply cannot fund the many St. Francis ministries or support our dedicated

and hard-working staff. Yearly Stewardship pledges are what keep St. Francis running, and, with-

out them, our church cannot survive.

The Capital Campaign has been a smashing success with pledges to date surpassing the initial goal

of $1.2M by $192,120, and we are moving toward our secondary goal of $1.6M. While this cam-

paign has been hugely successful, our Stewardship pledges are about $5,046 short of our goal.

We are hoping to hear from all Franciscans. If you have not yet pledged, we invite you to make a

pledge and join the rest of our dedicated congregation with a vision towards a new day for St.

Francis. You may simply place your pledge card in the collection plate on any Sunday, mail it in,

or conveniently drop it off at Linda Allgood's office at church. Since we have not met our goal

with regard to the Stewardship Campaign, and we need to know how to budget for 2015, we ask

that any outstanding pledges be made to the Stewardship Campaign as soon as convenient.

The three of us have found this journey as Tri-Chairs a spiritual and enriching process. We have

learned more about you, more about ourselves, and more about St. Francis. We are truly humbled

by the faithful support of our congregation, and we thank all of you who have pledged or plan to

pledge to St. Francis. Our hope is that all St. Francis Parishioners will be a part of these important

Campaigns as we give to capital and programmatic needs. Thank you for helping ensure that St.

Francis and our ministries are something we can proudly pass on to the next generation.

Kris Cooke, Susan Tysinger, and Jim Tanner

Capital Campaign Tri-Chairs

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A D V E N T W R E A T H M A K I N G

The Book of Common Prayer defines the rite of Confirmation as "a

mature public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities

of Baptism." Confirmation signifies the passage into adulthood within the

Church, and we want our confirmands to be able to make adult decisions

about their faith and their involvement in their parish.

Taking this as our foundation, we are excited for this year's Confirmation

class to begin very soon, on January 11! The class will be open to any

person in at least the 8th grade. We will be using the "Confirm not

Conform" curriculum, which emphasizes the need and right of youth to forge their own faith

identity. We will meet each Sunday afternoon from noon-1:30pm, with lunch provided. We

will not meet as regularly scheduled on Parish Hall Eucharist Sundays (first Sunday of each

month), but will instead use those Sundays as make-up days for those who have missed

sessions. The cost is $75 per student, to cover the lunch expenses.

If you would like to sign up a youth for the Confirmation class, please email me at

amanda@stfrancisgreensboro.org or call me at the church office at 336-288-4721, ext.13. This

should be a wonderful class, and I look forward to exploring our faith identity with these

students!

2014

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O P P O R T U N I T I E S F O R D I S C H I P L E S H I P

Nursery Care (Ages 0-3) is available beginning at 9:00 and runs through the 10:30 Service.

Sundays during the 10:30 Service Children: (PreK-5th Grade) Classroom

#9,10/12 . The children will join the congrega-

tion at the Peace before Communion.

Sundays 9:15-10:15 am Children's Chapel: (PreK-5th Grade) Sanctuary

Middle School Class: St. Mike’s

Coffee Talk: (High School) Classroom #3

Women’s Bible Study: (Delicious Bakery)

Women's Bible Study meeting will be Sunday

mornings at 9:15 at Delicious. We will read Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis. It can be found on-line

through Amazon in both paperback and kindle editions and also through the Greensboro Library.

Adults - Forum: Library

December 14th and 21st

ADVENT STUDY: THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’ Birth

All are invited to prepare for Christmas during the Season of Advent by reading Borg and Cros-

san’s book, The First Christmas, (Harper One). “This book treats what may be the best-known

stories in the world. The stories of Jesus’s birth are the foundation of the world’s most widely

observed holiday.” What better time to delve deeper in to these stories than Advent, the season of

preparation for our celebration of Jesus’ birth. The authors are not concerned with the “factuality

of the birth stories” but rather the “historical and theological understanding of both the First-

Century and the Twenty-First Century contexts”. Purchase your copy of this very readable book

today and get started. On December 14th and 21st, the last two Sundays in Advent, The Rev. Dr.

Paul Crowell will discuss this book during the Sunday Forum at 9:15 AM. Come and share in the

discussion with your questions and insight. All are welcome, even if you haven’t read the book!

C H A P T E R S I N O U R L I V E S

DEATHS:

Anne Ravenel, mother of Renee Gaunt

Olivia Simmons, parishioner

Hugh Wilson, uncle of Melissa Sandlin

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V E S T R Y H I G H L I G H T S

E N D - O F - Y E A R C O N T R I B U T I O N S

Please feel free to call either Linda at the church office (288-

4721) to find out your pledge balance. All 2014 contributions

are due into the office by Sunday December 28, 2014 to make

the end-of-the-year deposit. Thank you for your timely commit-

ment to these matters.

The Lindas

The 2015 Flower Chart will be posted in the hallway beside

the sacristy on December 7th. Altar flowers, given to the glory

of God, are provided each Sunday through your generous gifts

made in memory of, in celebration or honor of the important

people or events in our lives, and we are grateful for this beau-

tiful support of St. Francis worship.

Guidelines:

More than one family may sign up for each Sunday.

Please use your first and last name when signing up.

The donation is $60.00. Specific flower requests may be honored for an additional fee.

Local and seasonal flowers will be the preferred choice.

Please note that as the flowers are a gift given to the glory of God, arrangements will be

broken down at the end of the service and distributed to those in need in the parish family

by loving volunteers, and therefore will not be available to be taken home by the donor.

The wording of the flower dedications are requested from the donor the Monday before

the Sunday which you are giving flowers. Editing may occur with the wording and final

arrangement decisions to keep them consistent with Church tradition.

Lenten arrangements will be greenery.

Introduction of new Vestry Members: Pat Russell, Cindy Clark Patterson, Grant Haviland, and

Geoff Wehe.

Thank you to outgoing members - Dick Miller, Midge Spong, Charlie Fetter, and Claudia Reich

Announcement of new Senior Warden - Jim Cox

Upcoming events: Holiday Market on 12/6 and on 12/14 we will have our annual Christmas Sing

-A-Long/Covered Dish Dinner. We will also be forming new Dinner Groups in January.

S T . F R A N C I S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H A Parish of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina

The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, Bishop

The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, Bishop Suffragan

P A R I S H S T A F F

ST. FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 3506 Lawndale Drive

Greensboro, NC 27408

The Rev. Michael Moulden, Rector

Amanda Harmon, Director of Children's and

Youth Ministry

Rae Augustin, Day School Director

Sam Doyle, Choir Director

Pat Copley, Organist

Jane Woody, Junior Choir Director

Linda Allgood, Parish Administrator

Bonnie Thyer, Communications Coordinator

Linda Lambe, Bookkeeper

Ken Cressman, Facilities Manager

Rigoberto Bautista, Custodian

On the web at: www.stfrancisgreensboro.org

Phone 336-288-4721 Fax 336-288-4760

St. Francis Day School 336-288-4740