December 11, 2025 Newsletter
Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 14, 2025
You are welcome to the
8:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite I
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Preacher
the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Deacon
10:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite II & Holy Baptism
with the St. Francis Choir
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, 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
5:00 p.m. Second Sunday Contemplative Worship service
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Celebrant
Elaine Warburton (daughter of the Rev. Joy Warburton), Reflector
Dana Anderson, Reader
Jamie Kim, Pianist
Amie Flowers Shakespeare, Cantor
The Liturgy of the Word
The First Reading | Isaiah 35:1-10
The Response | Canticle 15
The Second Reading | James 5:7-10
The Gospel Reading | Matthew 11:2-11
Parish Prayer List
We pray especially for Leon, James, Jon, Katie, Jackie, 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.
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.
Second Sunday Contemplative Worship Series
Sunday, December 14th, 5:00 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Celebrant: The Rev. E. Weston Mathews
Reflector: Elaine Warburton (daughter of the Rev. Joy Warburton)
Reader: Dana Anderson
Pianist: Jamie Kim
Cantor: Amie Flowers Shakespeare
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.
Greening The Church For Christmas: December 14th
This year we will be ‘greening’ the church immediately following the 10:00 am service on December 14th. The Altar Guild invites ALL interested parishioners to stay and help us prepare our worship space for a glorious celebration of Christ’s birth. The effort is a fun way to get involved! We especially need two or three individuals who are willing to help with hanging the large wreaths in the windows behind the altar.
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.
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.
Growing
Stronger Together
Pledging for 2026
As of December 9, thirteen people have accepted the match challenge.
They have pledged $13,350 toward the match.
$11,650 is still needed to meet the match offer of $25,000!
Don’t let this wonderful opportunity get away! Send in your match amount NOW!
87 Franciscans have pledged and/or added to meet the match for a total of $526,167.
More is needed to reach the $630,000 goal!
Add your name to the list of those who have pledged to St. Francis for 2026:
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
Reaching Beyond St. Francis to Raise Funds for
the Ezo High School
With the blessing of the vestry, the Outreach Committee recently launched a GoFundMe webpage to raise money for the high school that the Episcopal Diocese of Ezo, South Sudan, is trying to build. They already have students--but the students don't have a building! Bishop Isaac is attempting to meet the urgent need for a secondary school because the students who complete primary school have limited options. You can read some of their stories on the GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/build-a-high-school-in-south-sudan
This is a new venture for St. Francis as we try to reach out beyond the church to raise the needed funds. Here are some ways you can help:
Share the GoFundMe link with friends and family, for instance, in your annual Christmas letter, or in your email signature.
Ask for a donation to the fund in lieu of a Christmas present, or make a donation to the fund as a Christmas present for the person who has everything.
Spread the word about the fundraising through your clubs, classes, or other networks.
The Outreach Committee is hoping that we can all help to make a difference in the lives of these young people in Ezo. Thank you!
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.
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Dear Parents,
I hope you are all doing well this week.
I am excited to share that this Sunday, we will baptize the daughter, Jaclyn of our Crèche parents, Alexandra & Scott. This is a joyful and sacred milestone for their family, and I would love for our Sunday School children to be part of this celebration in support of Alexandra & Scott and their daughter, Jaclyn. At the appropriate time, I will invite the children to come up to the Font to witness the baptism.
Please bring your children to worship in the Sanctuary this Sunday morning so they can join us for the baptism. We are also inviting the children to help with lighting the Advent Candle at the start of the service—another meaningful way for them to be part of our Advent journey.
Rob Sumner and Evelyn Grace will lead the opening prayer at the Lighting of the Advent Wreath.
Thank you all for helping make this a warm, welcoming, and memorable day for Jaclyn and her family. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
God's peace and grace,
Joy
The Deacon's Corner with
Deacon Nancy Searby
Sharing the Good News of God's Love at the intersection of community and church
Wish List for Artemis House
Help bring joy to 13 individuals and families living in a domestic-violence shelter this season by supporting Artemis House.
Artemis House is one of four shelters under the umbrella organization Shelter House. It is a 24-hour emergency shelter serving individuals and families who are in danger due to domestic or sexual violence, stalking, or human trafficking.
Please consider adopting a family by December 17, 2025 by signing up at the Sign Up Genius link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4EA9AB2D6-60826900-wish. Please wrap the gifts, label with the family number and if for parent or child as designated in the family sign up, and provide gift receipts in an envelope. Gifts will be collected and blessed on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
If you have questions, please reach out to Melanie Sisson (melanie.sisson@icloud.com) and Elaine Warburton (elaine.warburton@shelterhouse.org).
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, Congregation Beth Emeth, and Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation 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
Creche Happenings!
This past Sunday, our very own Creche Singers performed at 4:00 p.m. at the Celebrate Great Falls Christmas Tree Lighting event in Great Falls. There were 18 Singers (and a few older siblings) from the St. Francis Creche who sang to help celebrate the lighting of the town Christmas Tree.
On the morning of Tuesday, December 9th, the Creche welcomed the Fairfax County Police department’s “Santa Ride” to the St. Francis parking lot. Santa, his reindeer, the Grinch, Olaf and other characters motorcycled in to greet the children awaiting their arrival outdoors. The St. Francis Creche collected unwrapped gifts for children of all ages and donated them to this program.
Fairfax County Police Department’s annual Santa’s Ride has collected and delivered toys and joy to children in hospitals and local charities for many years now.
Supporting the upcoming FACETS Hypothermia Shelter week (21-28 DEC) at St. Francis, where we will host 40 neighbors who are currently unhoused, our Creche students helped to assemble Hygiene Kits for all participating guests. Thank you St. Francis Creche!
The Creche Students continue to rehearse for their annual Christmas Pageant, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. next Wednesday, December 17th in the Sanctuary. A Cookie Reception in Millen Hall follows.
ALL are welcome to attend.
Living with Grief bereavement group will break for the remainder of 2025. Please stay tuned for more information on 2026 meeting dates.
For more information or to register contact Cate Riihimaki, LPC at cate@graymattersva.com
ALTAR FLOWER SPONSORS for 2026
The Flower Sponsor sign up chart for 2026 is now in the Narthex. Sponsoring flowers is a lovely way to give thanks for something or to remember someone or some event. Each Sunday has two slots (for two arrangements.) We ask for a donation of $75 per arrangement. To pay, you can use a donation envelope available in the Narthex racks or you can click here to pay on-line. (Please select Altar Fund in the drop-down menu.) If you pay online, please send Lynn Fallon an email (admin@stfrancisgreatfalls.com) with the sentiment you wish to have printed in the Sunday Bulletin.
… And if you are unable to get to church, you may choose a Sunday by emailing Jennifer Murphy at jenniferomurphy@gmail.com. She will enter your name on the chart.
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
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.
Beginning a Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew
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.
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. Wendy Filller, 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
