June 11, 2026 Newsletter
The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, June 14th, 2026
You are welcome to the
8:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite I
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Celebrant
the Rev. Linda Calkins, Preacher
9:00 a.m. Family Service in Millen Hall
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant & Preacher
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Assisting
10:00 a.m. Service of Holy Eucharis t Rite II
the Rev. Joy Y. Warburton, Celebrant
the Rev. Linda Calkins, Preacher
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Assisting
The 10:00 am Service is also Livestreamed on YouTube.
CLICK HERE to see the 10:00 a.m. service bulletin
5:00 p.m. Second Sunday Contemplative Worship Service
the Rev. E. Weston Mathews, Celebrant
Dr. Albert Lee, Reflector
Janet Durfee, Reader
Jamie Kim, Pianist
Hannah Harris & Byron Smith, Cantors
(read more below)
The Liturgy of the Word
THE FIRST READING | Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)
THE RESPONSE | Psalm 116:1, 10-17
THE SECOND READING | Romans 5:1-8
THE GOSPEL READING | Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23)
Parish Prayer List
We pray especially for Ross, Virginia & Paul, Peggy, Zain, Nuri, Fran, Antonio, Brooke & Marc, Hugh, Sr., Leslie, Bryan, Debra, Leon & Daphne, Richard, Carl, Jack, Andrew, Luke, Barbara, Gibbon & Bryan, Liam, Jennifer, Helen,
Jeff Sr., Jessica, Clara Sue, and Dut.
We ask your prayers of thanksgiving for the Altar Flowers, given to the glory of God by Joshua & Elizabeth Kim in loving memory of Bok Kim and
by Karen Butler in loving memory of Molly Butler Larsen.
We pray for all students who are preparing for final exams over the coming weeks.
We pray also for Franciscans preparing for Holy Matrimony
including Delcie Kestner & Chad Saucier.
New Family Worship Service Launch
this Sunday, June 14, 2026,
9:00 a.m. in Millen Hall
Join us as we introduce a joyful and welcoming worship experience designed especially for our young parishioners and their families.
Held on the second Sunday of each month, this approximately 30-minute service takes place between our 8:00 am and 10:00 am services in a relaxed, child-friendly setting. It’s a space where children are not just present—but fully included.
What Makes this Service Special?
This is worship through a child’s eyes. Children are invited to engage in ways that feel natural to them – whether that means sitting quietly, wiggling, lying down, or actively participating. All are welcome, just as they are.
Kids who are eager to be involved can take part in readings, music, offering, communion, and more – helping lead the service alongside our clergy and volunteers.
A Space Created for Them
Millen Hall will be transformed into a cozy, creative environment. The altar will feature artwork made by our youth, and soft seating like pillows and blankets will be available so children can feel comfortable and at ease.
A Glimpse of the Service
While each gathering may vary, a typical service may include:
o Candle Lighting by youth volunteers
o Opening Acclamation and Song
o Readings by the children
o A short, youth-focused homily
o The Peace and Announcements
o Offering or Food Drive participation
o Communion, with help from the children
o Closing Prayer and Song
o Candle Extinguishing by youth volunteers
This new offering is all about creating meaningful, engaging worship experiences for our youngest members—and supporting families in sharing faith together.
We would love for you to be part of it.
Come as you are, and bring the whole family.
Building a Community for our Families
St. Francis Community
Families are invited to be part of this new initiative as we seek to build community within the St. Francis family.
After each service, we invite you to stay awhile, enjoy one another’s company, and spend time in the beauty of the St. Francis gardens and grounds, including the children’s playground, especially during the summer months. It is a wonderful opportunity for children to play, for friendships to grow, and for families to connect and arrange playdates for their little ones.
We also encourage children to bring non-perishable food items each Second Sunday when we gather. Suggested items include peanut butter, canned corn, beans, shelf-stable milk, cereal, oatmeal, cooking oil, and similar goods. These offerings will be blessed during the service and donated to help support those in need within our community and beyond.
Youth Sunday – June 14, 10:00 am
Join us on Sunday, June 14 at the 10:00 a.m. service, as we celebrate Youth Sunday and recognize our graduating students.
Our young people will take leadership roles throughout the 10:00 a.m. service as readers, acolytes, greeters, and intercessors.
We give thanks for their gifts, their faith, and their contributions at St. Francis. Please come and support them as we celebrate this important milestone together.
Second Sunday Contemplative Worship Service
Sunday, June 14th,
5:00 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Celebrant: the Rev. E. Weston Mathews
Reflector: Dr. Albert Lee
Reader: Janet Durfee
Pianst: Jamie Kim
Cantors: Hannah Harris & Byron Smith
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.
Our next Outreach Committee meeting will be on Sunday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m.
We'll meet via Zoom
If you're interested in how St. Francis helps others in our community, our nation, and the world, please attend! The Outreach Committee disburses the church's outreach budget of $43,500 and coordinates parishioner involvement in activities like Rise Against Hunger and the Samaritan Ministry Christmas Party.
If you have questions, contact Jack Mathias (jackmathi@aol.com, 571.720.4730).
Diaper Drive for Two Episcopal Churches
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is home to several thriving Latino ministries. The Rev. Bryan Velez-Garcia (a friend of Rev. Joy’s) is the priest for two of these ministries, San Jose Episcopal Church in Arlington and Cristo Rey Episcopal Church in Springfield. These churches serve many families in need with babies and young children and have a program to provide diapers. They could use our help, and so we are holding a diaper drive to help them support these young families.
There are three ways you can participate:
1. Send or bring a check to church and write “Diaper Drive” on the memo line.
2. Use this linkto donate through the St. Francis website.
Please select Outreach in the drop-down menu.
3. Bring diapers of any size and put them in the bins across from Millen Hall.
Other baby items, such as wipes, are also welcome.
For information please contact Ginger Roll at rollginger@icloud.com The drive ends on Sunday, June 21.
The Deacon's Corner with
Deacon Nancy Searby
Sharing the Good News of God's Love at the intersection of community and church
Activate your racial justice heart:
attend the racial justice & healing training:
“I Will, With God’s Help”
Hosted by the Arlington Region June 20, 2026 9:00 am – 3 pm
Located at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4250 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA
To Register, contact Tammy Lewis at tlewis@episcopalvirginia.org
SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
St. Francis Marketplace will be a Family Fun Day: A Fall Fund Raiser with the Creche School
BOOK SALE
Once you enjoy your summer reading, save all your books for our fall event on October 17. Pat Ward will announce when the collection of books will begin. NO TEXT BOOKS, please!
Happy Reading! More to come from Kathy Anderson and Carmela Condro
Do you want to help or have questions? Please contact Kathy Anderson kquinnanderson@gmail.com or Carmela Condro ccondro@verizon.net
Sunday School on hiatus until the Fall
Ages 3 - 10
Volunteers Teachers are always needed. Please email Rev. Joy at familyministry@stfrancisgreatfalls.org for more information.
Baptisms at St. Francis
If you're interested in being baptized or having a child baptized, please email familyministry@stfrancisgreatfalls.org or call the church at 703-759-2082.
SASHA BERESOVSKY CONCERT JULY 5
The new date will allow us to celebrate our country's 250th with American composers!
Get your tickets now. There are spots remaining.
To pay on-line, click here and choose “Other” from the drop down box and enter "Auction Concert" in the memo - OR put a check in the offering plate on Sunday with “Auction Concert” in the memo line.
Attendees will be furnished the address and parking instructions prior to the event.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
Mindful Valley Meditation Retreat
at St. Francis
Saturday, June 13th, 2026 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
No Self, No Problem – Exploring Anatta
*Both In-Person & Private Live-Streaming Attendance Options are available.
For Registration information CLICK HERE and scroll down.
The word anatta – which means no permanently abiding self – is at the very heart and core of Buddhist meditation practice, yet it is one of its most misunderstood concepts.
When we explore anatta through our meditation practice, it doesn’t mean we’re trying to get rid of who we are; it means we’re becoming more and more willing to see through the small, false, often negative ideas or beliefs of what we call “self.”
In actuality, we are so much bigger than who or what we think we are. In fact, we are not only vast, but constantly fluid and changing: new in each moment, and dying in each moment … much like waves on the ocean.
During this silent meditation retreat, we’ll be exploring anatta through various teachings, along with meditations designed to help us loosen our tenacious grip on the ego and sense of “self,” so that we can experience more freedom, peace, and ease in our lives.
The format will include both guided and silent meditation, a dharma talk, and walking meditation both inside and on the lovely, spacious church grounds. Lunch will be in silence, and participants are asked to bring their own.
Please note: These daylong retreats usually fill with a waiting list about 3 weeks prior to the day of retreat. Meditation experience is recommended, but not required. These retreats are not recommended for those under age 18.
New to retreats? Read: What Is A Retreat Like?
SHELL FISCHER, Mindful Shenandoah Valley's founder and guiding teacher, offers more than 30 years of extensive mindfulness training, practice, and study. She's a Buddhist teacher, trained in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition at Naropa University - the nation's leading contemplative university - and in the Theravadan Vipassana (Insight) tradition by Dr. Tara Brach - one of the world's preeminent Insight meditation teachers. Learn more about Shell here...
WORDS&MUSIC: “Day” Concert
Saturday, June 27th at 4:00pm
“This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Part 2 of our themed concert venture, following NIGHT. From selections by American composer Ned Rorem, to shape note music, to the Beatles, we will “shed a little light” in our closing program of the season. We are excited to be presenting this program at two venues with which we have an historical association.
Ticket Link:
https://www.universe.com/events/day-tickets-PHR1KN?unii-trigger-open=PHR1KN
Words&Music Website Link: https://www.wordsmusic.org
Vacation Bible School (VBS) Offered at at Christ the King Lutheran Church this Summer
We encourage families to sign up for VBS:
· https://vbspro.events/p/christtheking2026
For age 3 to rising 6th grade (should be potty-trained)
Rising 10th graders through college students may volunteer
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
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.
We are 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. Please submit by close of business on Tuesdays each week.
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. Linda Calkins, Assisting Clergy
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
2026 Vestry Members & Roles
Lynda Davis, Senior Warden
Pepin Tuma, Junior Warden
plus Christian Formation and Worship & Spiritual Care
Cathryn Lee, Register plus Communications
Kathy Ditmore, Christian Fellowship, Communications
Chris Giragosian, Outreach and Mission & Mission Partnerships
Jessica Maxson, SF Music & Arts
Holly Piper, Evangelism
Larry Pratt, Stewardship
Steve Riihimaki, Family Ministry
Molly Reynolds, serving Treasurer
Brice Eldridge, Facilities Manager, Creche Board Chair
and Rise Against Hunger Chair
facilities@stfrancisgreatfalls.org
