November 27, 2025 Newsletter
First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, November 30, 2025
You are welcome to the
8:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite I
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant & Preacher
the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Deacon
10:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite II
with the St. Francis Choir
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant & Preacher
the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Deacon
The 10:00 am Service is also Livestreamed on YouTube.
View this Sunday's 10:00 a.m. Worship Bulletin
The Liturgy of the Word
The First Reading | Isaiah 2:1-5
The Response | Psalm 122
The Second Reading | Romans 13:11-14
The Gospel Reading | Matthew 24:36-44
Parish Prayer List
We pray especially for Cammie, John, Francesca, Lee, Luke, Terry, Amelia, Cindy, Alessandro, Carl, Debra, Anne, Rachel, Pete, Susan, Pepin, Barbara & Bill, Jennifer, Helen, Park, Andy, Jeff Sr., Jessica,
Clara Sue, and Dut.
We pray also for Franciscans who are preparing for Holy Baptism, including
Grace Czekaj, daughter of Katie Cjekaj;
Jaclyn Chappell, daughter of Alexandra & Scott Chappell.
Note that the Rev. Weston Mathews will be away for the Thanksgiving holiday, from Thursday, November 27th through Sunday, November 30th; returning to the office on Monday, December 1st. For both the Thanksgiving Day service on Thursday, November 27th at 10:00am and the First Sunday of Advent services on November 30th, we will be led in worship by the Rev. Joy Warburton.
Advent Wreath Making – Sunday, November 30
Join us after the 10:00 am service for our annual Advent Wreath Making event! All are warmly invited — Franciscans of all ages - especially youth, children, and newcomers — to take part in this meaningful tradition as we prepare our hearts and homes for the Advent season.
All materials will be provided. Free-will donations are welcome to help defray the cost.
Plan to come, create, and share in the spirit of Advent together!
Please click here to use the Sign-Up Genius to let us know you plan to come.
Your sign up will help us determine the number of supplies we will need to have available.
Craft Sales in Millen Hall after each service this Sunday, November 30th
Craft Items from the Marketplace Craft Sales will be available to purchase from a table in Millen Hall after the 8:00am and 10:00am services today. Now’s your chance to pick up that sweet homemade craft item that you may have missed at last month’s Marketplace!
Sunday November 30th Outreach Committee Meeting at 7:00 pm via Zoom
The next Outreach/Ezo Committee will be this Sunday, November 30 at 7 pm. We will cover the latest from Ezo, Breakfast with Santa, the Samaritan Christmas party, the Hypothermia shelter, and more! We'll meet via Zoom. Please contact Jack.Mathias (571 474 6268, jackmathi@aol.com) if you have any questions.
Here is the Zoom link for the Outreach meeting on November 30 at 7:00 pm:
Topic: John Mathias' Zoom Meeting
Time: Nov 30, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81754342810
Giving Thanks for Mother’s Union Sunday
Sunday November 23rd, 2025 at St. Francis
Seeking to deepen their growing relationship with St. Francis, Great Falls, members of the Mothers’ Union of Trinity Episcopal Church, Diocese of Virginia, joined the congregation for worship and fellowship at the invitation of the Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. E. Weston Mathews.
Growing
Stronger Together
Pledging for 2026
The Adams’ Match Challenge
Did you Hear about the Adams’ Match?
A very generous offer has been made to boost the 2026 Pledges and to meet the goal of $630,000. The Adams’ Match challenge was made by Terri and Matthew Adams and was announced on Sunday.
Terri and Matthew are promising to match any new pledge or an increase of an existing pledge for 2026 dollar for dollar up to an aggregate total of $25,000. This challenge will end on January 31, 2026.
In the spirit of the Adams’ Match, which fosters a sense of belonging to St. Francis, we ask you to consider an additional gift to your already indicated pledge for 2026. The gift will be matched dollar for dollar. A new pledge to St. Francis for 2026 will be matched dollar for dollar (DOUBLED!) as well.
A $1,000 pledge or increase brings in $2,000 to St. Francis. It is that simple and wonderful!
You may send in your pledge increase amount or new 2026 pledge to the church office or email: treasurer@stfrancisgreatfalls.org.
Your gift will help us reach the pledge goal of $630,000 for 2026!
Let’s all help Terri and Matthew
as they help St. Francis
reach the 2026 Pledge goal so that we may all continue to know and share God’s grace.
End of Year Donations
As 2025 draws to a close, it is important to be aware that all pledge contributions and other donations to St. Francis must be processed within required deadlines. Cash/check contributions must be physically received in the church office or postmarked by December 31, 2025. Stock contributions must be in St. Francis’s investment account and sold by December 31, and therefore should be initiated at least two weeks before the month’s end to ensure timely processing. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Molly Reynolds, Treasurer, treasurer@stfrancisgreatfalls.org
The St. Francis Women’s Group
The St. Francis Women's Group weekly coffee at Starbucks will not be held on Friday, November 28th. They will meet again on December 5th. Questions? Contact Annette Bellino at annette.bellino@verizon.net
St. Francis Women’s Group Christmas Get-Together
All the women of St. Francis are invited to a casual get-together on Friday, December 12, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the home of Leslie Siegmund. Arrive when you can, and please bring a small plate of sweet or savory treats to share. We’ll take a break from the Christmas bustle to enjoy some fellowship and holiday goodies. Please let us know if you plan to come so we have enough eggnog! R.S.V.P. to lesiegmund@aol.com or call or text 703-282-2878. The address is 11308 South Shore Road, Reston. Bring a newcomer or friend! Sponsored by the St. Francis Women’s Group.
Sunday School Continues Every Sunday
10:00 - 10:30 am
Ages 3 - 10
Join us every Sunday during the 10:00 a.m. service for Sunday School!
Children are invited to gather for stories, prayer, and activities that help them grow in faith and friendship. Children will return to worship during the sharing of the Peace.
Classes meet in the Red classroom upstairs next to the Nursery.
For more information or to volunteer, please email Rev. Joy at familyministry@stfrancisgreatfalls.org.
Dear Parents,
We are excited to start preparations for our Christmas Pageant! Rehearsals will begin this Sunday, November 30, during our usual Sunday School time, and will continue throughout the Advent season.
If your child would like to participate in this year’s pageant, which will be held at 3:00 PM on Christmas Eve, please be sure to bring them to the rehearsals as we prepare to share the joy of Christmas together.
I appreciate your support, and we look forward to a wonderful celebration!
Thanks, Joy
Donations for Christmas Music and Altar Flowers
Each year St. Francis is beautifully decorated for Christmas with poinsettias and greens. We also have special music during the Christmas services. It is a custom at St Francis for parishioners to make Christmas donations to the Altar Guild and to the Music Program to support these groups’ efforts at Christmas and throughout the year. Donations may be given in memory of loved ones or in thanksgiving for someone or something special.
If you would like to give to either or both of these funds, please fill out the envelope enclosed in your Sunday bulletin and put it in the offering basket. You can also send a donation directly to the church office – 9220 Georgetown Pike Great Falls, VA 22066. To have your memorials or thanksgivings listed in the Christmas service bulletins, the church needs to receive your donation by the third Sunday of Advent, December 14th, 2025.
To contribute electronically, you may click on the “Give” button on the website www.stfrancisgreatfalls.org.
At the drop-down menu, you may choose to direct your gift to the Altar Guild or to Music. (If you wish to split your contribution, you will need to complete two transactions, one indicating Altar and the other indicating Music.) If you do donate via the website, please email the parish administrator at admin@stfrancisgreatfalls.org to let her know how to designate your gift in the Christmas Bulletin.
Thanking you in advance for your support.
The Deacon's Corner with
Deacon Nancy Searby
Sharing the Good News of God's Love at the intersection of community and church
FACETS Hypothermia Shelter Program at St. Francis: December 21 - 27
St. Francis Church, in conjunction with Fairfax Area Christian Emergency and Transitional Services (FACETS), will host a hypothermia shelter for 40 of our unhoused neighbors during Christmas week. This is part of FACETS's yearly Hypothermia Prevention and Shelter Program, which ensures that no person loses their life to hypothermia during the winter season. Guests will arrive at St. Francis at 5pm each day and will leave by 7am the following morning, except for Christmas Day.
Your help is needed to support this effort. Please sign up on one or both Sign Up Genius sign up pages. One is for volunteers (greeters, dinner teams, hospitality teams, breakfast teams, plus other support positions) and one is for donations of perishable and non-perishable foods and supplies. You can also support monetarily by clicking the Give button on St. Francis's website; PayPal has an option for FACETS in the drop down menu.
Sign Up for VOLUNTEERS
Sign up for DONATIONS of FOOD/SUPPLIES
We are excited to have a number of coalition partners joining us to support the shelter. These partners include the Young Men's Service League, and other Episcopal churches in our North Fairfax region. Additionally, Temple Rodef Shalom and Congregation Beth Emeth have generously offered their support on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when our guests will be with us for the whole day. We look forward to working with our partners to provide a safe, warm, and festive shelter for the most vulnerable among us. We welcome additional coalition partners, so please share this information with anyone you know who would like to contribute in some way. Thank you for joining this important work of loving our neighbors in Fairfax County.
If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Maxson jessica.c.maxson@gmail.com or Scott Perkins ohio4csp@hotmail.com
December 7th at the 10:00 am service is Scout Thank You Sunday
Please join us on this special Sunday in Advent when we give thanks for St. Francis Scouts who have served St. Francis this year and have been an important part of our common life.
December 7th at 4:00pm Great Falls Celebration of Lights
You are invited to support our Creche Singers as they open this year’s Christmas Tree Lighting at the Great Falls Celebration of Lights beginning at 4:00pm. For more information about this community event please visit Celebrate Greatfalls at www.celebrategreatfalls.org.
St. Francis Scout Troop #55 Camp-out & Cooking Competition at St. Francis DEC 12-13
Beginning at 4:00pm on Friday, December 12th, Troop #55 Scouts will be camping out on the St. Francis churchyard and using their cooking skills, set out on a friendly Cooking Competition that will culminate on Saturday, December 13th with the judging of the different cuisines in Millen Hall.
December 13th at 1:00 pm Great Falls Area Ministry Blue Christmas service at BrightView in Great Falls
Interested in bringing a loving presence to members of our community in a continuing care facility? Please join the clergy and members of Great Falls Area Ministry churches for this special service where we acknowledge grief, sadness, hope, and healing.
Music Notes from Director of Music, Larry Vote
St. Francis Episcopal Church Community Messiah Sing
If you are a lover of G.F. Handel’s Messiah, as a listener or singer, plan to come to the Community Messiah Sing at St. Francis on Saturday, December 13, at 5 pm. At that time Larry Vote, Director of Music, will lead the St. Francis Choir, soloists, players from the Paragon Philharmonic, organist, Sasha Beresovsky and members of the community in Part One, the Christmas Portion, of Handel’s immortal work. Bring your own score or purchase a score at the event itself. Bring a friend to join in mounting a large chorus in the grand style of Messiah readings taking place concurrently around the world. The Messiah Sing is free and open to the public. However, free will donations will be gladly accepted to help defray the cost of this event.
We are Seeking Two New Members for the St. Francis 2026 Vestry Committee
With two of our current members rotating off the Vestry early next year, please consider praying about and running for Vestry in 2026 for a 3-year term. Elections will take place at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 25th, 2026. If interested, please contact either our
Senior Warden, Lynda Davis lyndacdavis@aol.com,
Junior Warden, Pepin Tuma pepintuma@gmail.com, or
Priest-in-Charge, Weston Mathews rector@stfrancisgreatfalls.org
Thank you for your consideration.
Also Seeking New Members for our 2026 Endowment Committee
Elections will take place at our Annual Congregational Meeting on January 25, 2026. Stay tuned for more information. Finance experience preferred.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
In the Millen Hall Theatre Space
at St. Francis
NOV 28, 29 @ 8:00 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. We pray using the Forward Day by Day daily prayer link of the Book of Common Prayer that automatically updates for each day's readings (link: https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/pray). On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we pray Rite I, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we pray Rite II.
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.
*** The St. Francis Women's Group weekly coffee at Starbucks will not be held on Friday, November 28th. We'll meet again on December 5th. Questions? Contact Annette Bellino at annette.bellino@verizon.net ***
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.
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. Julieta Bonafe, 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
and Rise Against Hunger Chair
facilities@stfrancisgreatfalls.org
