St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

"You are a unique and beloved child of God. Wherever you find yourself in your journey, you are welcome here. Please join us soon and share the joy of God's loving presence. In God's house there are no strangers."...

Pam Earley Caring For Children In The Nursery

- The community of St. Francis of Assisi welcomes you

- St. Francis is an open and inclusive community

- St. Francis is a safe place to ask questions

- Find the lost, heal the broken, celebrate God’s love for all!

Worship Schedule

- Sunday Morning Service - 8:00am | 10:00am

- Christian Formation - 9:00am { all ages welcome }

Nursery Provided

Click here for directions to the church

http://sfaec.org/id28.html

What Do Episcopalians Believe?

The Episcopal Church has its roots in the Church of England, becoming a self-governing church body with the end of the American Revolution. Like other churches in the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church stands squarely in the Reformed tradition, yet considers itself just as directly descended from the Early Church as the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. Episcopalians celebrate the Holy Eucharist in ways similar to the Roman Catholic tradition, yet do not recognize a single authority, such as the Pope of Rome.

Unique to Anglicanism is the Book of Common Prayer, the collection of worship services that all worshipers in an Anglican church follow. It’s called “common prayer” because we all pray it together, around the world. The first Book of Common Prayer was compiled in English by Thomas Cranmer in the 16th Century, and since then has undergone many revisions for different times and places. But its original purpose has remained the same: to provide in one place the core of the instructions and rites for Anglican Christians to worship together.

Episcopalians believe that every Christian must build an understanding and relationship with God’s Word in the Bible, and to do that, God has given us intelligence and our own experience, which we refer to as “Reason.” Based on the text of the Bible itself, and what Christians have taught us about it through the ages, we then together sort out our own understanding of it as it relates to our own lives.

News at St. Francis

United Thank Offering Ingathering is May 18th.

Rector Search Committee

Meeting May 13th

The search committee is now in full swing. One of our ongoing objectives is to keep the St. Francis family informed as we proceed. As we have said before, there will be some times when we will necessarily withhold information for reasons of confidentiality. We are not at that point yet, and I am pleased to offer this report of our meeting. cont. click here http://sfaec.org/id26.html

Ann Swint Resigns

Ann Swint Resigns as Children’s Ministry Director

After three years of a wonderful job leading and teaching our children Ann has decided it is time to move on, but the good news is she will still be a parishioner at St. Francis. During the 10 a.m. service John Rouser made the announcement and presented Ann with a garden statue of St. Francis in appreciation for her work. The children gave Ann a tee shirt they made to show their thanks for what she has done for them.

ADULT EDUCATION: SUNDAY MORNING

Fr. Bowlin will begin an adult forum on Sunday, May 4. The class will begin at 9:00 A.M. each Sunday in the classroom at the end of the hall on the right and last approximately forty-five minutes. We will conclude the class on June 29.

The subject of the forum will be a discussion of Episcopal Church liturgy. We will pay particular attention to the Book of Common Prayer.

Among the topics of discussion will be the history of the Prayer Book – its primary author, the development of its contents; what is included in the Prayer Book – all those “other services” that we seldom or never use; what we do in celebrations of the Holy Eucharist and why we do what we do. We will also look at other liturgical resources of the Episcopal Church.

If you have ever wondered where our liturgy comes from, or “why do we do that,” this class is for you. Even if you cannot attend all sessions you are welcome and encouraged to join in the conversation.

ADULT EDUCATION: MIDWEEK

Beginning Tuesday, May 13, the group that formerly met on Wednesday for prayer and study will switch nights. Starting on the 13^th there will be a brief prayer service followed by a book study in the library. The book that we will read and discuss is C. S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce. This is Lewis’ allegory about what heaven looks like. It is a fun and provocative book. If you are planning on attending, please speak with Fr. Bowlin so that enough books may be ordered.

The last Tuesday of each month will see the return of a healing service within the context of the Holy Eucharist.

If you have previously been unable to attend for any reason, we invite you to come and “try it on for size.”

St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

7555 Ooltewah-Georgetown Road

Ooltewah, TN 37363

Telephone: 423-238-7708

Fax: 423-238-7672

Main Church E-Mail: sfaec@comcast.net

Rev. Bowlin’s E-Mail: rectorsf@comcast.net

Internet: www.sfaec.org

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