December 18, 2025 Newsletter
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 21, 2025
You are welcome to the
8:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite I & Healing Prayer
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Celebrant
the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Preacher
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Assisting Clergy
10:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite II & Healing Prayer
with the St. Francis Choir
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Celebrant
the Rev. Dr. Nancy Searby, Preacher
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Assisting Clergy
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 7:10-16
The Response | Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
The Second Reading | Romans 1:1-7
The Gospel Reading | Matthew 1:18-25
Parish Prayer List
We pray especially for Mahan and Mozhan Motahari, 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.
Growing
Stronger Together
Pledging for 2026
As a Christian, our "why," or purpose, centers on glorifying God, growing in a relationship with Jesus Christ, and loving Him and others, leading to a life reflecting His kingdom through worship, service, shared faith, and becoming more like Him daily, thus finding meaning beyond self-fulfillment.
When we glorify God, we magnify God's worth and show His supreme value in all aspects of life, not just religious acts.
We fulfill the greatest commandments to love God with our heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself, as taught by Jesus.
We wish to thank you for your kindness and generosity this Christmas (and all the year through).
Anyone who wishes to turn in their 2026 pledge form and/or respond to the ADAMS’ MATCH with an increase to their pledge, please contact:
treasurer@stfrancisgreatfalls.org
As of December 16, fifteen people have accepted the match challenge.
They have pledged $14,550 toward the match offer of up to $25,000.
88 Franciscans have pledged and/or added to meet the match for a total of $527,367.00.
Let’s reach the goal by Christmas!
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
Will your Employer Match your St. Francis Giving?
Does your employer offer to match your donations to St. Francis? What an easy way to increase the church’s income! Please consider joining in any program that is available to you. As treasurer, I will gladly confirm the dollar amount of your eligible donations to the church. Why wait? Act now to increase St. Francis’s coffers without another penny coming from your pocket!
Bookkeeper changes
Carol Withers, parishioner and bookkeeper for St. Francis, will be stepping down as our bookkeeper gradually as she transitions the new bookkeeper. However, Carol will continue as a volunteer working with the church finances (Bless her!!). We have engaged the services of Wendy Filler who provides bookkeeping for several Episcopal churches in this area. Wendy lives in Grottoes, Virginia, about 2 ½ hours away. She will be working remotely regularly connecting with St. Francis for both church finances and Creche needs. We will provide her with information as needed by electronic communications such as check requests, deposit information and reports, etc. If you need a check or payment of some sort, please allow at least a week for processing. As always, feel free to email me at treasurer@stfrancisgreatfalls.org or Carol at cywithers77@gmail.com with any questions you might have.
Molly Reynolds
Treasurer
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!
Join the Joy
Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsals
10:00 AM, December 21
Ages 3 - 10
This Sunday, we will hold a dress rehearsal for the cast. Parents, please bring your child(ren) to the 10:00 a.m. service so they can try on their costumes ahead of Christmas Eve.
Please note: Due to the Hypothermia Shelter, we will gather in the Nursery upstairs at 10:00 a.m. and then proceed downstairs to the Conference Room opposite Rev. Weston’s office.
During the exchange of the Peace and Announcements, Ushers will alert the Teachers for children to rejoin their families for Holy Communion.
If your child would like to participate in this year’s pageant but you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time! Bring them on Sunday.
Teacher: Ms. Nancy, and Rev. Joy
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are always needed. Please email Rev. Joy at familyministry@stfrancisgreatfalls.org for more information.
Christmas Eve Pageant – 3:00 p.m.
Our Christmas Eve Pageant will start at 3:00 p.m.. If your child is participating, please arrive at the church by 2:30 p.m. so we can get everyone into costumes and prepared for the service. We aim to create a joyful, intergenerational retelling of the Christmas story for all.
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 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 - 28
Creche Happenings!
Join us as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the St. Francis Creche Preschool!
This January marks the 25th anniversary of the first class at the Creche preschool in spring 2001. Since that time the Creche has nurtured, educated and supported all around growth in preschool aged children. We will be celebrating and recognizing this wonderful milestone with a luncheon, speakers, kids activities and more after the service on January 11, 2026.
Who: All are welcome
What: Anniversary celebration of the Creche preschool. Food and drink will be served.
Where: Millen Hall
When: January 11, 2026 at 11:30am (after the 10:00am service)
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact Steve Riihimaki via text (703-624-6388) or email (sriihimaki@verizon.net).
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.
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.
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
