Monthly newsletter by St. Francis Anglican Church located in El Paso, Texas. Visit our website at: http://stfrancisanglicanchurch.org/

1. February, 2013 Exalt Educate Equip Evangelize Extend Issue #232
FROM THE DESK OF BISHOP FELIX ORJI:
Ash Wednesday
February 13
Holy Communion & Imposition of Ashes
6:30 am 12 noon 7:00 pm
Wednesday in Lent
Lunch with Teaching Series 12 noon
Holy Communion with Teaching Series 6 pm
February 20
“I Am the Bread of Life” – John 6:35-40
Bishop Felix Orji
February 27
“I Am the Light of the World” – John 9:1-41
Rev. Cindy Anderson
March 6
“I Am the Good Shepherd” – John 10:1-21
Deacon Mike Pomeroy
March 13
“I Am the Way, Truth, and Life” – John 13:36-14:7
Deacon Daphne Orgeron
(Continued)

2. PAGE 2
March 20
“I Am the Resurrection” – John 11:25-26; John 12:9-26 Dr. Bob Tipton
Holy Week
Palm Sunday - March 24
Holy Communion at 8 & 10 am
Maundy Thursday - March 28
Holy Communion & Stripping of the Altar 7:00 pm
Good Friday - March 29
Stations of the Cross
6:30 am and 5:45 pm
Good Friday Liturgy 5:00 pm
Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil & Baptism 7:00 pm
Easter Sunday
One Service at 10:00 am only

3. PAGE 3
Deacon Daphne: Daphne Orgeron
COINCIDENCES?
For several weeks now, we’ve been hearing sermons based on 1st Corinthians, telling us about the power of
the Holy Spirit. We’ve been cautioned several times that we must stay in touch with the Holy Spirit; in other
words, always be open to His message and/or intervention. Do you know anyone who doesn’t believe that
miracles still happen? Or perhaps you yourself believe they only happened in ‘Bible times’. Maybe some of
the things we term ‘coincidences’ are not coincidences at all, but rather are evidence of God continuing to do
His work here on earth. Let me give you an example which I learned of very recently.
Nicholas Malkani is the son in law of Mary Francis and Kim Keisling. He and his wife, Lucy, attend church
with Kim quite often. Sometime last year, Nicholas was in the hospital, and the doctors were trying to find out
what was causing him pain. It was a long trying time for the family, and during the stay, I took Nicholas a
prayer shawl. At that time, Nicholas has since told me, he was not a real believer. He didn’t attend church, and
had not been baptized. He said he had been very worried and scared in the hospital, and he found that the
prayer shawl seemed to bring him relief from his fears. He also told me that he had found it impossible to get
warm while he was in the hospital. At some point, he decided to spread the prayer shawl on his legs, and he felt
instant warmth. A nurse came in sometime after that, and when she put her hand on the shawl, she said it felt
like it emanated warmth.
To make a long story short, Nicholas is now well, and all better. A few weeks after he got out of the hospital,
he was baptized. He is now a strong Christian, and his prayer shawl stays on the back of his chair in his office.
I thank Nicholas for sharing his story with me. We can all use a word of encouragement from time to time, and
Nicholas’s story certainly encouraged me. I hope it encourages you… to take a closer look at the coincidences
that happen in your life. God is doing his work here on earth, through the power of His Holy Spirit. Prayer
shawls aren’t magic. But they are prayed into as they’re being made, and when the priest blesses them, he/she
is actually asking God to put His hand on them, and cause them to be a blessing to someone in need. And God
will do this if we will let Him. We must keep our ‘antenna’ out so we can notice His Holy Spirit making a dif-
ference in someone’s life, as well as our own. And this happens by our reading our Bible and praying daily. By
keeping God in our life daily, the Spirit will keep our minds open to recognize His work in our lives.
Please make it a point to seek out Nicholas and Lucy at church. Shake their hand, welcome them to St. Fran-
cis, and thank Nicholas for his testimony.
Deacon Daphne+

4. PAGE 4
Bob Tipton: Resident Scholar
Worship
Bob Tipton
“Worship: n—(1a) reverence or devotion for a deity; religious homage or veneration; (1b) a church service or other rite
showing this; (2) extreme devotion or intense love or admiration of any kind.” [Webster’s New World College Dictionary]
Worshipping God is something we must learn.
As a child, I thought that worship was limited to (1b) a church service or other rite showing reverence or devotion. I had
been taught there were five acts of worship: the communion, the prayers, the songs, the Bible study (preaching), and the offer-
ing. Acceptable worship included these five acts. In Sunday school, I could put my nickel in the little bank for Jesus, learn a
Bible verse, and recite the prayer. When we went into “big church,” I could sin lustily (and perhaps off key), daydream through
the sermon (it was for the big people), and watch the communion. That was what I knew about worship. This served me well
until I was about nine.
Then my dad got sick, and he and my sister had to go down from the mountains while mother and I remained—mother was
teaching school. Life began to be serious. Making sure the animals that were cared for, that there was water (we got it from the
creek) and wood (we cooked and heated on a wood stove), and that all the other “men” things were taken care of were my re-
sponsibilities. And the place of God in my life suddenly became greater. I listened to the sermons—and discussed them on the
way home with Mom. I really studied the Bible, prayed and sang to God, and gave from my own allowance. This was all for
God. The morning of my tenth birthday, I announced my commitment to God—and you have never been as thoroughly cate-
chized as I was by my mother over the breakfast table. That afternoon I was baptized—born into God’s family, resurrected from
my miry grave in sin—and took my place in the family of God.
At some point the conversation of Jesus with the Samaritan woman (John 4.8-30) began to bother me. She had asked a very
simple question: which was the proper place for worship—the Jew’s temple or the Samaritan temple? But Jesus didn’t even
answer that question!
Instead He said that the place was not important; instead true worship was “in spirit and in truth.” I was told that “in spirit”
meant that whatever we did in worship had to be directed to and connected with God in heaven. In addition, we were to honor
God meaningfully—not just go through the motions. What we sang, for example, had to be what we really believed and felt; we
must know the words and what they mean, but more important is our meaning what we sing! Our singing should be lusty, en-
thusiastic, and express what we wanted to express to God. (As one lady said, “No matter how bad the music sounds to us, if we
are worshipping, it sounds beautiful to God.”) The same had to be true of all our worship. The emphasis must always be on our
sincerely meaning what we are saying and doing. We were literally gathered together before the throne of God in heaven.
Then worship moved out of the building and into life itself. Paul said, Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything
giving thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1st Thessalonians 5.17). It is good to have regular times for prayer.
It is also good to pray whenever it is convenient. One writer suggested that his prayers after his morning Bible study were the
best time of his day. Some Christians maintain a conversation with God most of the time: one noted that he was always mis-
placing things and then saying, “Now God where did I put my glasses?” Upon finding them, he adds, “Thank you, God.” An-
other, a truck driver, believed that praying as he drove through the night was when he was closest to God. Prayers do not have
to be formal; they are just our side of our conversation with God.
In the context of our daily imitating God, the apostle insisted: Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be
filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your
heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5.19). Singing is a “whenever” thing. A song that expresses our thought and feeling should burst
forth at any time. Some songs are prayers, some are praise; some are stories and some are requests; some are psalms or hymns
from past years; some are the song written yesterday to express a thought, emotion, or prayer of the composer. And God is not
concerned about the quality of the physical voice; the songs in our heart and head are as beautiful as those of the choirs of
heaven.
Giving ourselves and our possessions is part of worship when done in the name of the Lord. Jesus praised the Samaritan in
His parable for attending the wounded man and taking him to the inn where he would be cared for—paying the bill himself
(Luke 10.30-37). All our giving does not have to be put in the collection plate. Feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, tending
the sick, and lifting the spirits of those about us by giving of ourselves and our possessions is worship (James 1.27).
(Continued)

5. PAGE 5
My impoverished view of worship took a tremendous blow from my reading Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence
of God. Brother Lawrence devoted his life to living in God’s presence. His devotion and reverence for God were demonstrated
in all that he did in serving others: gathering, cooking and serving food were dedicated by Brother Lawrence to God as worship.
When he swept the kitchen, he devoted that to God as worship. In every act of every day, he was serving his Father. This does
not mean that he slighted the traditional acts of worship in any way—but rather that he demonstrated his reverence, devotion,
and love to God by serving others. In this way, his life WAS worship. We should dedicate all our actions to God. Thus when
we are studying or teaching God’s word, or singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in His presence, or praying for all those
who need prayers (which includes every person in the world, so praying should be never ending), or observing the Holy Eucha-
rist, or giving of our wealth, all these things must be dedicated as worship to God. From our rising up to our lying down—
everything—we live in the presence of God. Every thought, word, and action is to be offered to Him as worship.
In Our Lady’s Juggler, Anatole France tells the story of Barnaby, whose greatest desire was to worship Mary. After meet-
ing a prior and learning about the life of worship in the monastery, he became one of the brothers. There he saw everyone doing
something special as an act of worship—painting, writing, singing, gardening, cooking, or serving in some special way. But he
could do none of these things—he could only juggle. After some time, the prior noted that Barnaby would disappear into the
chapel at intervals, so he and two old monks investigated. The story ends with these words:
They saw Barnaby before the altar of the Blessed Virgin, head downwards, with his feet in the air, and he was jug-
gling six balls of copper and a dozen knives. In honor of the Holy Mother of God he was performing those feats, which
aforetime had won him most renown. Not recognizing that the simple fellow was there placing at the service of the
Blessed Virgin his knowledge and skill, the two old monks exclaimed against the sacrilege.
The prior was aware how stainless was Barnaby’s soul, but he concluded that he had been seized with madness.
They were all three preparing to lead him swiftly from the chapel, when they saw the Blessed Virgin descend the steps of
the altar and advance to wipe with a fold of her azure robe the sweat that was dropping from her juggler’s forehead.
Then the prior, falling down upon his face upon the pavement, uttered these words, “Blessed are the simple-minded,
for they shall see God.”
“Amen!” responded the old brethren and kissed the ground.
AMEN.

6. PAGE 6
FROM THE EDITOR:
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly known as Valentine's Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is observed
on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working
day in most of them. After New Year's Day, it is the most celebrated holiday around the world. St. Valentine's
Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popu-
lar martyrology associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for sol-
diers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman
Empire; during his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. Legend states
that before his execution he wrote "from your Valentine" as a farewell to her. Today, Saint Valentine's Day is
an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church. The Eastern Orthodox
Church also celebrates Saint Valentine's Day, albeit on July 6th and July 30th, the former date in honor of the
Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and the latter date in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of In-
teramna (modern Terni).
The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages,
when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which
lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting
cards (known as "valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline,
doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to
mass-produced greeting cards.

7. PAGE 7
Annual Church Meeting Sunday, Feb. 17th.
Please plan to attend this most important meeting. New Vestry members will also be
elected at this time.
YOUNG ADULTS FELLOWSHIP: The Bishop has asked Jason and Stephanie Chapman to lead
our Young Adults Fellowship. It will meet once a month. More information to follow.
SUNDAY LUNCHES: Cookies and drinks will be available after both services on every Sunday Ex-
cept The First Sunday, which will now be the pot-luck lunch. If you can help, call Linda Gunter at 203-4275.
ADULT CHRISTIAN EUCATION: Meets downstairs in the conference room every Sun-
day between 9:15 and 9:45 am.
YOUTH BIBLE STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP: All junior and senior high youth are invited to
participate. Sunday’s at 6:30 for dinner at the Church.
FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH: Parish Prayer Meeting at 6:30 pm. All other
Wednesdays: Evening prayer with homily at 6:00 pm.
LAVERDE CASA GROUP: Meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 6:00pm Pot
luck supper and bible study. We will be studying the book of James. Call Mike for more in-
formation: 490-5402.
FLOWER CHART - A new flower chart sign up is posted on the bulletin board across from the gift
shop. Sign up for flowers on the altar in memory of, in thanksgiving for, in celebration of, etc. The cost of a
flower arrangement is $30 each. Call Sheila Huchton at 833-2382 for more information.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER: Jim and Martha Williams will be leading the Intercessory Prayer minis-
try at St. Francis. Intercessory prayer will be offered in the library at 9:30am every Sunday morning. You are
welcome to join. It’s a time to pray for God’s power and blessing on our Sunday service. I asked them to
lead this ministry and highly recommend it to you. -Canon Felix

8. PAGE 8
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY: Now Studying Exodus. Meets Wed. at 7:00 am (after 6:30 wor-
ship). Breakfast included! All men are invited.
PRAY ACROSS THE MILES: If your children are away at school or getting into the work-
force, they need prayer support. Join us to hold our children and each other before the Lord in
an informal prayer group which meets every other Tuesdy (please note day change) from 6:00
to 6:30 pm at Mark and Martha Heath’s home: 5709 Bonneville. Anyone is welcome. For
more information, call Nancy Hill, 479-5513.
PASTORAL CARE - Please pray for Ed Azar, Ann May, Kay Lassiter, Susan Smith, Heather Stevens,
Ainsley Hines, Bill Bihn, Mary Lou Nelson, Karli Baldwin, Jenny, Sharon Carr Leamon, Sharma Brown,
Mary Jane Brown, Clif Stevens, Midge McReynolds, Ed Moore, Pat Tipton, Loretta Ackley, and Gete and
Barney Garbow.
TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY: If you are unable to drive due to illness, recent surgery etc.,
please call the church office and speak with either JoAnn or Lea . We will try and find you a ride to church,
doctor appt. etc.
CHURCH FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE: An exciting idea for decorating next year’s parish hall
Christmas tree has been suggested. Yes, we know that is almost a year away, but as you are packing up your
Christmas decorations, save a special ornament. Bring it to church in a sandwich bag (protected if fragile)
and labeled as to how you would like your family identified-ie-Uphoff Family or all the family's names etc..
A red plastic box will be in Fries Hall; just place your ornament in it. For and questions, call Lynn Payne
(584-2740) or Jim or Neva Uphoff. (581-1292).
WOMEN’S RETREAT: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Women’s Retreat scheduled for Febru-
ary has been cancelled. We will instead have a Parish Retreat in the fall with Bishop Terence and Hazel Kel-
shaw here in El Paso.
COMMUNITY CORNER - Ways to Help
Angela Guevara Child Development Center –
Rock babies and/or read to preschoolers
Kelly Memorial Food Bank –
Donate staples for the hungry- beans, rice, cereal, etc.
L B Johnson Elementary School –
Volunteer to mentor children once a month for 45 minutes beginning in the fall
Rescue Mission –
Provide bake goods the first Sunday of the month
Contact Sudy Todd for more information or to volunteer 490-5349 or sudyt@hotmail.com

9. PAGE 9
JUST FOR FUN ETC….
Kids On Love and Marriage
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?
"You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports, she should like it
that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming." Alan, age 10
"No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all
way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with." Kirsten, age 10
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
"Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then." Camille, age
10
"No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married." Freddie, age 6
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
"Married people usually look happy to talk to other people." Eddie, age 6
"You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids." Der-
rick, age 8
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
"Both don't want no more kids." Lori, age 8
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
"Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys
have something to say if you listen long enough." Lynnette, age 8
"On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough
to go for a second date." Martin, age 10
WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
"I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure
they wrote about me in all the dead columns." Craig, age 9
WHEN IS IT OK TO KISS SOMEONE?
"When they're rich." Pam, age 7
"The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that." Curt, age 7
"The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with
them. It's the right thing to do." Howard, age 8
diaper-changing." Kirsten, age 10
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
"There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?" Kelvin, age 8
"You can be sure of one thing - the boys would come chasing after us just the same as they
do now." Roberta, age 7

10. PAGE 10
EVERY WEEK AT ST. FRANCIS… CLERGY AND STAFF
BISHOP FELIX C. ORJI, Rector
THE REV. DAPHNE ORGERON, Deacon
Sunday THE REV. Dr. MYLES CALVIN, Asst. Priest
8:00 am Worship Service THE REV. CINDY ANDERSON, Asst. Priest
10:00 am Worship Service DAVID BASCH, Lay Pastor
10:00 am Children’s Sunday School THE REV. H. EUGENE MYRICK, Rector Emeritus
MIKE LAVERDE, Lay Pastor (Pastoral Care)
4:00-6:00 pm Youth Bible Study PAUL COLEMAN, Lay Pastor (Bible Study and
Discipleship)
STEVE ANDERSON, Lay Pastor (Evangelism and
Missions)
Child care is provided RANDALL CROSSLAND, Chair of Buildings and
Grounds
Dr. BOB TIPTON, Scholar in Residence
LEA MAGRUDER, Director of Music, Church
Secretary
JOANN CASPER, Parish Administrator
SONIA LOPEZ, Sunday School Director
Wednesday LEA MAGRUDER, Secretary
6:30 am Morning Prayer & Bible Study
VESTRY
weekly at the church. Bill Burton, Sr. Warden
7:00 pm Bible Study; Parish Prayer Meeting— Bill Stevens, Jr. Warden
1st Wed. of the month Mark Musgrave, Treasurer
Justin Benedict, Sonny Brown, Bill Burton, Jason
Chapman, Elvia Crossland, Sonia Lopez, David
Thursday Moody, Bernard Moye, Ron Munden, Kirk
7:00 pm Choir Practice Rosenlund, Pam Slusher, Melinda Skillern, Bill
Stevens, Kevin Coleman (Youth rep.)
****
FRANCISCAN : Editor; Jim Uphoff Staff; Neva
Uphoff, Loy Doty
Inside this issue:
From The Bishop Page 1
Deacon Daphne Page 3
Bob Tipton Page 4
From the Editor Page 6
St Francis Happenings Page 7
Just For Fun Page 9