September 4, 2025 Newsletter
This week, St. Francis invites all to gather for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the first Sunday of the Season of Creation on September 7th. Worship will be offered at 8:00 a.m. (Rite I) and 10:00 a.m. (Rite II with music), with the Rev. E. Weston Mathews presiding and the Rev. Joy Warburton preaching. Coffee hour follows each service in Millen Hall, and the 10:00 service will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
The parish continues to celebrate the energy of our community through outreach and formation. On August 31, volunteers assembled 42 care packages for Franciscan college students and young adults — a reminder of our love and support as they begin a new year away from home. Stewardship season is also underway, with Pledge Sunday moved up to October 26; parishioners are encouraged to return their pledges early.
This newsletter also lifts up upcoming opportunities for fellowship and service:
Deacon Nancy Searby will share insights from her ministry with the Sherborne Deanery Ezo-Link Team during the Sunday Forum on September 7.
Parishioners are invited to join a diocesan-wide Creation Care Book Journey and the “Vote Faithfully” initiative encouraging civic participation.
St. Francis will host a community-wide Rise Against Hunger event on September 26 to package 20,088 meals. Volunteers are needed!
The Fall Marketplace returns October 18, featuring books, crafts, baskets, baked goods, and a Garden Center brimming with mums and pumpkins.
Kick-Off Sunday is September 14, with the return of the parish choir, the Blessing of the Bookbags, a Welcome Brunch, and the Ministry Fair.
Music and the arts continue to flourish at St. Francis. The choir is accepting new singers, and on September 27 the sanctuary will host “Songs of Devotion and Dedication,” a concert featuring mezzo soprano Olivia Vote and pianist Sasha Beresovsky.
Throughout the week, parishioners can stay connected through contemplative prayer, Bible studies, men’s and women’s groups, and service opportunities such as Second Story dinners.
Together, these gatherings remind us that St. Francis is not only a place of worship but a vibrant hub of fellowship, learning, and community care.
Closing:
We look forward to seeing you in worship, fellowship, and service. May this Season of Creation be a time of renewal for us all.
