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The elections are over, and newly elected officials will take office soon. I have talked with some of you who are reeling from the elections, and are experiencing a mix of negative emotions, and I know there are many in our congregation and church who are experiencing gratitude and a sense of peace at the outcomes of the elections. The first thing we must do as Christians, is to recognize that both the fear and grief, and also the hope and gratitude are valid. If my Christian brother, sister, sibling is in pain, she is in pain for a reason that is real and not imagined. And if my Christian brother, sister, sibling is rejoicing, she is rejoicing for a reason that is real and not imagined. When we do this we take the first step in fulfilling what Paul wrote about us as the Body of Christ. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26) and Love does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) The second thing to say, taking a step back (because we can all get caught up in the righteousness of our cause over against others), it is truly a beautiful thing that our Episcopal Church is 1/2 Democrat and 1/2 Republican, because it is a witness to the world that human beings can disagree without violence or hate. Human beings can disagree and still say, "At the end of the day, I will stand with my neighbor and with love." It is a witness to the world that what unites us as Christians, isn't a cult-like group-think, but rather what unites us is the life-changing, free love of Christ, given and poured out each week in the Holy Eucharist. If we stick with love, even when we disagree with or don't understand our neighbor, then the world has hope. The final thing to say before we pray is what love looks like. In the days following an election, love looks like solidarity. Solidarity with my neighbor, even (and especially) with the neighbor I disagree with. It means putting our arm around our neighbor's shoulders (metaphorically) and saying, "I'll be with you, no matter what. I voted the way I did because I think it will benefit all of us. But if it turns out that an outcome of this election is going to hurt you, I will stand with you and protect you." That's solidarity. None of us can foresee or control all the outcomes of elections. Only God can do that. What we are called to is solidarity with our real, flesh and blood neighbors. We are not called to allegiance to ideas or political parties, but to solidarity with our neighbors. Now, let us pray. This prayer is adapted from a prayer by St. Clement of Rome: Lord, we pray for our nation following the election. Grant to all our elected officials and judges, especially president-elect Donald Trump and vice-president-elect J.D. Vance, health, peace, harmony, and stability, so that they may blamelessly administer the government that you have given them. For you, heavenly Master, the King of the ages, give to human beings glory and honor and authority, so that by devoutly administering, in peace and gentleness, the authority that you have given them, all creation may experience your mercy. We pray that this might be so.
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Dear friends in Christ, below is a video from our bishop, Michael Hunn, urging us to the observance of Veterans Day. We give thanks for all who have honorably served our country and honor the many sacrifices they have made. We will celebrate the feast of All Saints on November 3 (technically it is Nov. 1, but the Book of Common Prayer allows us to move it to the closest Sunday). On that day we praise God for the shining lights of our faith - Francis of Assisi, Mother Theresa, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther King Jr., Mary Magdalene, Paul and Peter, and many others - who have showed us the way to God. They have revealed God's kingdom in unique and powerful ways. And so we remember them, praise God for them, and try to emulate their examples. At Saint Francis, we also remember those lesser saints in our lives, who have no less powerfully shaped our journey with God - grandmothers and grandfathers, godparents, parents, dear neighbors and friends, priests and pastors and deacons. This tradition of ours combines two separate feast days in our church - All Saints (Nov. 1) and All Faithful Departed (Nov. 2). The Commemoration of All Faithful Departed was adopted by our current Book of Common Prayer (back in 1979) as a way to emphasize the unity of the living and the dead in Christ, and as a recognition, I believe, that "saints," as the New Testament uses the word, includes all those who have been redeemed by Christ, both heroic saints (like Mother Theresa) and ordinary saints (like my grandfather). Thus, all are invited on Nov. 3 to bring pictures or mementos of dearly departed loved ones who have died in the faith. We will place them on special altars of remembrance and light candles for them, praising God for God's faithfulness to all the saints, the heroic ones and the ordinary ones. And may we vow every day to be saints too.   On Sunday we asked you to fill out a 1/2 sheet Reflection Guide on how we might practice the Way of Love, specifically “Rest”.
Each week we will have a different spiritual practice we are highlighting and asking you to reflect on. We know Worship is not an education event, but the content of worship is food to digest with the mind and heart. So, what should you do with those 1/2 sheet Reflection Guides? You could talk about them with friends over coffee/tea after service, or you could take them home and pray about them and write down what comes to you. If you are interested in doing so, you can turn in your ideas to the Green Box by the Community Board in the Lobby. Our Vestry will be reflecting on your ideas as they work on the 2025 strategic plan.  You may have noticed on Sunday that children joined us for worship. (Except our littlest ones, ages 0-5, who still can attend nursery during service.) This is an intentional shift, and we want you to know why, so that you too can join us in welcoming children into the company of Jesus.
1, More stable and consistent Christian Education time. When children’s Christian Education time was held during service (until the Peace) the time allotted for it varied each week, depending on the sermon and readings length, so that it made it very difficult to plan for and very inconsistent for the children. By allotting a consistent time of 9:30-10:15am, the children can have a solid and consistent routine each Sunday. 2, Better Christian Formation. The way children learn the Liturgy, the Creeds, and the Mysteries of the Faith are by taking part in them. It is a learning process for them, for sure, to sit for a long time, to be quiet at the right times, and to pay attention; but children can and do pray, sing, read along, and pay attention to the sacred Mysteries being done in the Church. What better way for them to learn than to be a part. Help our children grow in the Faith by being patient, praying for them when they are distracting (that will help you to grow in faith and prayer as well), and thanking God and their parents for bringing them to Jesus through the Church Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash |
St Francis Episcopal ChurchJesus's vision for the kingdom of God is that every person belongs, every person is valued, and every person has something unique to contribute. Through baptism we become the family of God, and this family can bless the whole world, by demonstrating the Love of God and inviting all into that Love. This page is here to show the many ways that we are living out the Way of Love. Come and be a part of something bigger and more beautiful than any one of us could imagine. Archives
December 2025
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We follow The Episcopal Church’s policies for abuse-prevention, including mandatory training and background checks for those who work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults. A copy of our policies can be found HERE and HERE in our office, or we can send you a copy upon request. Please join us in keeping all of God’s children safe.
We acknowledge the First Peoples of the land we live, work, worship, and walk on – land that has never been ceded or sold. We acknowledge their continued survival and spiritual connection to country and surrounding land, sky, water and sea. And, we pay our respects to their Ancestors and Elders past and present. These include the Pueblo, Apache, and Navajo peoples/nations, including the Sandia, Jemez, Zia, Santo Domingo, and Santa Ana Pueblos.