Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 12, 2025

You are welcome to the

8:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite I
with
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant
the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Preacher

10:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite II
with the St. Francis Choir
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant
the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Preacher

11:30 a.m. Forum Hour with Mr. Joe Reynolds “Experiencing the simple, the quiet, the awesome when walking in God’s Creation” in Millen Hall

Coffee Hour Follows Each Service in Millen Hall.

The 10:00 a.m. Service is also Livestreamed on YouTube.

View this Sunday's 10:00 a.m. Worship Bulletin

5:00 p.m. Second Sunday Contemplative Service
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant
Mr. Ridley Nelson, Reflector)

The Liturgy of the Word

The First Reading | Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
The Response | Psalm 66:1-11
The Second Reading | 2 Timothy 2:8-15
The Gospel Reading | Luke 17:11-19

Parish Prayer List

We pray especially for Pete & Patsie, Pepin, Barbara & Bill, Jennifer, Helen, Dan, Park, Ken, Andy, Nick & Gina, Randy, Jeff Sr., David, Jessica, Clara Sue, and Dut.

We give thanks for the Altar Flowers, given to the glory of God by Rick Entsminger in celebration of the wedding anniversary of Sarah & Rick Entsminger (OCT 8, 1988 at St. Francis.)

We pray also for Franciscans who are preparing for Holy Baptism, including Allen Bobbitt, son of David Bobbitt & Wayne Chen;
Parker Robinson, son of Amber & Matt Robinson;
Grace Czekaj, daughter of Katie Cjekaj;
Jaclyn Chappell, daughter of Alexandra & Scott Chappell;
Judy Fitzgerald and Brice Fitzgerald, children of Kristin Weston.

Priest-in-Charge Weston Mathews will be away from Friday, OCT 10th through Monday, OCT 13th, returning on Tuesday, OCT 14th. The celebrant on Sunday OCT 12th will be the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton and the preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby.

During this time, in the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact The Rev. Joy Warburton at familyministry@stfrancisgreatfalls.org.

Fall 2025 Sunday Forum Hour Schedule

October 12 at 11:30 a.m. “Experiencing the simple, the quiet, the awesome when walking in God's Creation” with Mr. Joe Reynolds

Mr. Joseph Reynolds

Married to Molly with three children and six grandchildren. Member of St. Francis since 1985, when we transferred from St. Paul’s, Rochester, NY.

I was employed in numerous professions from University administration to high school teacher for brief periods but worked primarily as an attorney for something like 36 years, initially practicing business law and then shifting to ethics and professional responsibility as General Counsel of the firm.

My avocations include writing (Measured Out in Teaspoons), reading, backpacking and traveling to different places in the world seeking beauty and inspiration, places like The John Muir Trail, Milford Track, portions of The Way of St. James in France and the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Inca Trail, The West Highland Way, Mont Blanc and a bunch of other trails, including the US, like the Appalachian Trail.

Some of us have not yet turned in our pledge forms. Pledge Sunday is Oct. 26th this year.

You are free to hand in your pledge and put it in the church collection basket, or email the information to Molly Reynolds, treasurer@stfrancisgreatfalls.org. We are very grateful for your contribution.

May your pledge be joyful in giving thanks for God’s blessings.

We have received 44 pledges totaling $294,085.

(46% of our goal!)

Send in your pledge now to raise the total to the goal of $630,000 and beyond!

A special THANK YOU to the following Franciscans

Terri Adams

Kathy & Dana Anderson

Clara Sue Ashley

Michelle Bias

David Bobbitt & Wayne Chen

Mattie & Duncan Bowden

Carolyn & Dut Brown

Nancy & John Burkley

Karen Butler

Sharon Callaway

Anne Carson

Carmela & Chuck Condro

Rick & Sarah Entsminger

Brenda & Chris Giragosian

Val & Bruce Goddard

Ginger & Edward Gotliffe

Lisa & Joe Hawke

Marylou & Tom Janczuk

Elizabeth & Joshua Kim

Jan & Bill Lane

Rick Larson

Loriana & Weston Mathews

Jessica & Kevin Maxson

Wendy & Gary Pan

Larry & Reyna Pratt

Tamber & Mike Ray

Tom Scott

Mike Shuler

Leslie Siegmund & Jack Mathias

Judy Stocks

David Tuma

Pepin Tuma

Jeanne & Larry Vote

Joy & Edmund Warburton

Second Sunday Contemplative Worship Series

THIS Sunday, October 12th, 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Celebrant: The Rev. Joy Y. Warburton
Reflector: Ridley Nelson
Violin: Pam Lassell*
Keyboard: Jeanne Vote
Cantor: Larry Vote

Through candlelit prayer, contemplative silence, poetry, beautiful music, and Holy Communion from the Iona Celtic tradition, this service is different from what we offer on Sunday morning. A brief reflection on spiritual journey will also be offered by a member of St. Francis.

This worship series will be held on the second Sunday night of each month (except for August.) If you are looking for a new or different way to worship and a space to find your sacred center in the midst of a busy, distracted life, this may be the service for you.

*Pam Lassell has enjoyed a long career in the D.C. music world, with a particularly fruitful association with the major choruses as a violinist and contractor of orchestras. Her collaborations have included the Washington Bach Consort, Washington Chorus, Washington Concert Opera, the Choral Arts Society, Paul Hill Chorale, City Choir, Master Chorale, Choralis, Washington Concert Opera, and the New Dominion Chorale. She is grateful to be part of the service this coming Sunday.

The Deacon's Corner with
Deacon Nancy Searby

Sharing the Good News of God's Love at the intersection of community and church

A Chance to Meet Rt. Rev. Thomas Tut Gany, Bishop of the Diocese of Ayod, South Sudan

Bishop Thomas Tut will be in the Northern Virginia/Washington DC area for multiple meetings, and will join us at our Contemplative Service this Sunday, October 12th at 5 pm. Please stay after to welcome him to our area and learn a little bit about him. His Diocese of Ayod is in the Jonglei Internal Province, which is in the north and east of South Sudan. He founded and is still serving as the Executive Director of Christian Mission for Development (CMD) which focuses on institutional growth and development; water access, sanitation, and hygiene; nutrition; food security and livelihoods; protection and gender-based violence; education and child protection; healthcare, and peacebuilding and conflict transformation. In 2009, Thomas Tut translated part of “The Book of Common Prayer” into the Nuer language and printed over 5,500 copies, which are widely in use by all Nuer speaking congregations both in South Sudan and in East African Countries.

Sunday School Announcement

We’re excited to share that Sunday School begins this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the Red Classroom, located in the corner room next to the Nursery! Letters have been mailed to parents inviting their children to join us as we start a new season of learning and growing in faith together.

We’re blessed to have five excellent teachers who will rotate every month: Larry Pratt, Nancy Burkley, Pamela Tuma, MariLee Ransom, and Rev. Joy.

We look forward to spending time nurturing the children of St. Francis and helping them discover God’s love in fun and meaningful ways.

We are still looking for more teachers to assist with teaching classes
We hope to see you there!

Family Ministry Open House

Mark your calendars! Family Ministry will host an Open House on Saturday, November 8, at 4:30 pm, in Millen Hall.
All members and their families are invited for a conversation on our Family Ministry programs and discover ways to get involved.

More details will be shared soon — we look forward to seeing you there!

LIVING WITH GRIEF:

Next Meeting is

Tuesday, October 14th

at 10:30 a.m.

in the St. Francis Sanctuary

Countdown to the Fall Marketplace

Saturday, October 18th 9am to 2pm

You have time to volunteer to help or donate something for:

The Bake Sale - Kris Young kyoung4481@aol.com

The Book Sale - Pat Ward patwa@cox.net

The Craft Table - Clara Sue Ashley clarasueashley@gmail.com

The Garden Center - Melanie Sisson melanie.sisson@icloud.com

The Rummage Sale - Janet Durfee jmdurfee@comcast.net

Baskets Silent Auction - Jennifer Murphy jenniferomurphy@gmail.com

Hot Dog Lunch - Dana Anderson danarx76@gmail.com

Homemade Ice Cream - Ryan Jannise ryan@ryanjannise.net

Sponsorships and Questions - Kathy Anderson kquinnanderson@gmail.com or Carmela Condro ccondro@verizon.net

The St. Francis Marketplace Rummage Sale – October 18

Hosted by: Women’s Group of St Francis

Accepted Items: Gently used household goods, kitchenware, linens, toys, jewelry, artwork, sporting equipment, gardening tools, luggage, small furniture, like new footwear, clothing (adult & children’s). Upscale Boutique: Higher-end items welcomed (jewelry, china, crystal, artwork, clothing etc).
Drop-off Times: Sundays – September 28, October 5, October 12 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at Millen Hall Annex. Please do not drop off outside of these times unless pre-arranged with a contact below.
Deadline: Last day to donate is Sunday, October 12.
Items Not Accepted: Mattresses, medical equipment, helmets, stuffed animals, toiletries, mirrors, items over 20 lbs. (unless pre-arranged and removed if unsold).

For questions, to volunteer, or arrange an alternate drop-off time, please contact Janet Durfee jmdurfee@comcast.net, Annette Bellino annette.bellino@verizon.net, or Ginger Roll rollginger@icloud.com

MARKETPLACE BAKE SALE NEEDS FREEZER SPACE

The marketplace bake sale is using the church freezer so if your group has items in it please remove non essentials by 10/12 when space will be created for bake sale storage.

Many thanks

~ Kris Young

Great Falls Artist Exhibits at the Marketplace

Elizabeth Freire (painting, sculpture) and Elizabeth Bertholon (painting, gold leaf) of the Great Falls Studios Tour will be part of St. Francis' Fall Marketplace on Saturday, October 18th.

Elizabeth Bertholon will have a game and coloring pages for visitors along with a chance to win a prize from her collections. She will show paintings, calendars and notecards. She is a modern painter with a love of color. Her art invites you to pause, feel and reflect. She grew up in Virginia Beach and travels to southern France to study and absorb its timeless sense of beauty.
Check out her art here at www.raptart.com

Elizabeth Friere is a Brazilian-born, contemporary American artist. Her works are part of the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Artistic-Cultural Collection of the Government Palaces of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and the Safra Bank, which has the largest private collection of sculptures in that country. Elizabeth continues living and developing her work at her studio in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC.
Check out her art at elizabethfriere.com

NOTE: St. Francis is an anchor site for the 2025 Great Falls Studio Tour: Studio Tour 2025 | Great Falls Studios

Sunday, October 19th

Baptism Reception for Allen Bobbitt in Millen Hall, after the 10:00 a.m. service.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate.

In gratitude for the warm embrace of this St. Francis community, Wayne and David invite you to lunch after the service in the Millen Hall to celebrate Allen’s baptism. Lunch will be catered by Greek Unique www.greekuniqueva.com.

A Special Invitation From The Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is having a meeting on Saturday, October 25th, 10:00 am in the Sanctuary and you are invited to attend. Please come and meet the members of the Altar Guild who take turns setting up the Altar/Church for Sunday Services and special services like Christmas, Easter, Baptisms, Funerals and Weddings. You will have a chance to ask questions about their very important contributions to St. Francis. In addition, there will be a quick tour of the sacristy where everything Altar Guild originates. Refreshments will be provided by the very talented Altar Guild members.

If you are planning to attend the meeting or have any questions, please contact Candy Burt candice.burt@gmail.com

Upcoming Mutual Ministry Review

Father Weston and the Vestry welcome your prayers and participation as we undertake the required process of Mutual Ministry Review (MMR) as part of our letter of agreement with the Dioceses for his service as our Priest-In-Charge (PIC). The process is carefully delineated, directed by the Canon to the Ordinary, coordinated by the Senior Warden, and involves a certified facilitator.

Our MMR will take place in September and October and will build on our commitment to open dialogue, trust, and a strong partnership between all of us as we love and serve in Christ.

We will be sharing information with you regularly over the next two months as we welcome your involvement in the MMR through questions, reflections, dialogue and an open forum on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 11:30pm.

Thank you for your valued prayers and essential participation.

Appreciatively,

Father Weston, Senior Warden Lynda Davis, and the Vestry

Chili Cook-Off 2025!

The hotly contested St. Francis Chili Cook-Off is just around the corner. Start combing your recipes and sourcing your chiles for this event on Sunday, October 26, at 5 pm in Millen Hall. Not interested in cooking a chili? Then come and have dinner. All diners will get to vote for the prize-winning chili. The winner will receive the coveted St. Francis Chili Trophy. Besides a variety of chilis, there will be cornbread, hot dogs for the children, salads, and deserts. Children (and the young at heart) are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. This is always a fun event, and everyone is welcome. Donations at the door will go toward the FACETS - St. Francis coalition hypothermia shelter held on our grounds from December 21 - 27, 2025.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

In thanksgiving for our many blessings, we are holding our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for the many needy families served by Second Story (a local organization dedicated to youth and families)

There are three ways to help:
1. Send or bring a $65 check made out to St. Francis Church for a Thanksgiving “basket” of food. Please write “Food Drive“ on your check.

2. Use PayPal-Donate Now on the church website to donate $65. Select Outreach from the optional drop-down list and put “Food Drive” in the memo field.

3. Assemble a food “basket” of all of the items on the list below. Please put the grocery gift card in an envelope marked “Food Drive” and put it in the offering plate or send it to the church office. Food “baskets” should be put in a bin in the hall outside Millen Hall. Questions? Contact Ginger Roll rollginger@icloud.com

Drive ends Sunday, November 2nd

Crèche Happenings

This Saturday, October 11th the Creche Preschool is hosting a Family Photo Fundraiser at St. Francis in Millen Hall from 8:00am to 12:00pm. This invitation is open to all families at St. Francis, too. Please come to join in for this fabulous family photo fundraiser. Details below.

FOR THE COMMUNITY

Amadeus Concerts Inc., Presents
Max Jacobs Quartet
NOV 2nd 4:00 p.m. at St. Francis

Concerts & Events

Amadeus Concerts offers accessible venues and warm hospitality. Our regular season concerts are on select Sundays at 4pm at a variety of venues around Great Falls and McLean, VA. These events always have a 30-minute pre-concert talk at 3:15pm, led by our Executive and Artistic Director, and are followed by a post-concert reception with the artists.

Our 2025-2026 Season is now live! Head on over to our ticket page to purchase your season pass or individual tickets. Our Season Brochure for 2025-2026 can be viewed here.

In the Millen Hall Theatre Space at St. Francis

NOV 14, 15 @ 7:30pm

NOV 21, 22, @ 7:30 pm; SUN-23 matinee @ 2:00 pm

NOV 28, 29 @ 7:30 pm

About the event

Winner of the 2009 Tony-award for best play.

What begins as a polite meeting between two sets of parents, convened to resolve a playground scuffle between their children, quickly spirals into an evening of accusations, shifting alliances, and brutal honesty. In Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage, civility is tested as social masks slip, and the refined surface of adulthood cracks to reveal something far more primal.

With biting wit and razor-sharp dialogue, Reza exposes the fragility of manners, the absurdity of self-importance, and the wild chaos lurking just beneath the rules of polite society. Hilarious, unsettling, and uncomfortably relatable, God of Carnage is a comedy of manners without the manners—where the real playground may not belong to the children at all.

Featuring Tim Byer, Nate Eagle, Samantha Mitchell, Arianne' Warner

Directed by Natasha Parnian

Stage Managed by Katelyn Burton

________________

Doors open 30 min before performance.

PLEASE NOTE: Online ticket sales close 30 min before the show. After that point, tickets can be purchased at the door, while supplies last. This show is recommended for ages 16 and up. A limited number of student tickets (10 per performance) are available online and at the door-first come, first served.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds. Rainchecks and exchanges are considered on a case by case basis.

God of Carnage is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

ONGOING WEEKLY ACTIVITIES AT ST. FRANCIS

Morning Prayer offered MON-FRI, at 8:00 a.m. via Zoom

All are invited to immerse themselves in this supportive offering from St. Francis Church where we regularly pray for one another and our mission in the world.

Click here to connect to Morning Prayer via Zoom.
Zoom ID: 968 1679 4908; Passcode: church

Contemplative Prayer: Mondays at 7:30-8:30 p.m.

We hope you can join us via Zoom videoconference.
For more information and any questions, please contact the coordinator for the program: Kathy Anderson, 703-476-9065 or kquinnanderson@gmail.com.

Click here to connect to Contemplative Prayer via Zoom.
Zoom ID: 998 1159 6134; Passcode: church

Men’s Group: Wednesdays 8:35 a.m.
Reading and Discussing the Book of Hebrews

All are welcome. Questions? Contact Stu Edwards elchivogoat@cs.com

Click here to connect to the Men's Group via Zoom.

Zoom ID: 922 8116 0056; Passcode: church

St. Francis Social Hour meets on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.

Join us for casual conversation. Grab your favorite beverage and let's reconnect!
Click here to connect to the St. Francis Social Hour.
Zoom ID: 935 2210 0835; Passcode: church

Thursday Afternoon Bible Study at NEW TIME of 3:00 p.m.

Meetings take place via Zoom on Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to join and participate in interesting discussions.

This fall, we will be studying Lord, Teach Us to Pray by John C. Purdy, a Kerygma resource that offers meaningful insights into the power of prayer.

Our group meets weekly via Zoom, creating a welcoming space for learning, reflection, and fellowship. Whether you have joined us before or are new to the group, we would love to have you with us.

The resource book is available here:

https://kerygma.com/products/lord-teach?_pos=2&_sid=013c64283&_ss=r

For further information contact Amelia Logan at ameliavinteriors@gmail.com
Click here to connect to the Thursday Afternoon Bible Study.
Zoom ID: 836 1505 5434; Passcode: TABS24

Women's Group Coffee on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to NOON at Starbucks in Great Falls

The St. Francis Women's Group has an open invitation to meet at the Starbucks in Great Falls every Friday morning. Please join us.

Second Story Dinners: Sundays at 5:15 p.m.

Needed: Volunteers to prepare and deliver Sunday dinners to the Second Story Teen Crisis Center on Gallows Road. Volunteers work solo or in pairs, according to their wishes.

Dinners are made on the first, third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of the month. The count for a meal typically ranges from five to eight persons. It has been as many as twelve. Volunteers receive reminders when their Sundays are coming up.

Please contact Jennifer Murphy at jenniferomurphy@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer for this ministry or if you have any questions.

Learn more about our life at St. Francis

through our website stfrancisgreatfalls.org:

worship services including daily Morning Prayer
community concerts
pastoral care
Creche preschool ministries
local and international outreach events
fellowship opportunities
Bible studies and small group opportunities including Contemplative Prayer

Emergency Pastoral Number: 703.759.2082 x 102

Do you have a news item you would like to share through the Weekly Franciscan? Or do you have a photo from life at St. Francis you would like to submit? We welcome and rely on your participation.

admin@stfrancisgreatfalls.org

Clergy and Staff

The Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Priest-in-Charge

The Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Associate for Family Ministry

The Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Deacon

Ms. Lynn Fallon, Parish Administrator

Mr. Larry Vote, Music Director
Mr. Sasha Beresovsky, Organist
Ms. Cristi Leslie, Creche Preschool Director
Ms. Carol Withers, Bookkeeper
Mr. Dominic Pelegrin, Sexton
Ms. Rita Arteaga, Nursery Attendant
Ms. Sandra Loucks, VTS Seminarian

2025 Vestry Members

Lynda Davis, Senior Warden
Pepin Tuma, Junior Warden, Christian Formation
Cathryn Lee, Register, Christian Fellowship
Molly Reynolds, Treasurer
Kathy Anderson, Worship & Spiritual Care
Chris Giragosian, Mission & Mission Partnerships
Elizabeth Kim, Evangelism & Communications
Jessica Maxson, St. Francis Music & Arts
Larry Pratt, Stewardship & Fundraising
Steve Riihimaki, Family Ministry & Creche Board

Brice Eldridge, Facilities Manager, Creche Board Chair, Rise Against Hunger Chair
facilities@stfrancisgreatfalls.org

October 9, 2025 Newsletter

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 12, 2025

The Liturgy of the Word

Parish Prayer List

Fall 2025 Sunday Forum Hour Schedule

Growing Stronger

Together

Pledging for 2026