ST. FRANCIS’ EPISCOP A L C H U R C H IN THIS ISSUE E U R E K A , M O

Page 1: Mom was a good mom

Page 2: From the Arch- deacon’s Desk

Page 3: Pentecost/ The Chalice Whitsunday; Stump the Vicar; Mother’s Day with M A Y 2 0 2 0 gratitude

Page 4: Masks for St. Luke’s; From the Bishop’s Warden

Page 5: Friends of St. Mom was a good mom! Francis; Garden Talk: Flowering Dogwoods by Father Al Jewson the second Sunday in May member most about her was

Page 6: Eureka Food My oldest sister, Jean Marie mothers everywhere gathered her goodness and compas- Pantry; Masks thank you; died on September 22, 2019, at churches, brunches, and sion. She was a warm, loving Prayer requests and was buried from St. Fran- other activities to be honored person who always took to Page 7: Bible Study; Book cis’ Church. Jean was develop- for 365 days of loving service time to find the beauty in Group; Mother’s Day mentally disabled and I was and parenting. This year, 2020 Prayer each person she met. It was her guardian from 1990 until our remembrance will be very from Lillian that I inherited the Page 8: Calendar her death; she lived in a facili- different. I’ll come back to gift of greeting strangers, talk-

ty that cared such individuals. this. ing with clerks by name at the When I arrived for a visit Jean check-out, greeting service would excitedly shout, “My personnel before I ask the broder, Afid (Alfred)!”, and location of an item, etc. Lillian run toward me in her awk- also taught us about Jesus, ward gate to hug and kiss me. Mary his mother and living Then she began her litany, our lives as children of God. “How Dina (Dayna)?” How Not everyone has good Cayin (Carolyn)?” On and on memories of her/his mother; her litany listed each person but I believe most mothers do by name. Then she would ask, and have done the best each “How mom?” I always re- could given the circumstances sponded “Jean you know in which they were raised and mom died and is in heaven.” any problems (baggage) they “I forgot,” she would say and carried with them. With an then always added, “Mom optimistic genre I believe The Chalice was a good mom, huh Afid.” Was our mom a good mom? most mothers are grateful for is published monthly by St. Francis’ Episcopal Of all the losses that members Yes, she was. Lillian had de- their children and truly want Church. Submissions are of our family experienced fects, some peculiar to her, to do the best job possible in due the 20th of each month prior to after our mother’s death in especially chronic depression. raising them. Sadly, the extra publication. 1992, I grieved most deeply She came from a family with baggage gets in the way Submissions may be sent by email to for Jean who continued to problems and married into a sometimes. Nonetheless, we [email protected] struggle with grief years after family with even more prob- can honor our mothers for the Publisher: our mother, Lillian, died. lems. In some ways, her love and mothering they were The Rev. Alfred Jewson The month of May, filled mothering reflected these able to provide us and be Editor: Jackie Selle with blooming flowers, conditions, but she tried by grateful for what we have re- shrubs, and warm sunshine everything within her to be a ceived. has always been a wonderful good mother. She did the Each year on Mother’s Day time to honor mothers. On best she could. What I re- in the various churches I

The Chalice Page 1 www.stfranciseureka.com served we honored mothers at our From the Archdeacon’s Desk I debated a long time whether or not Sunday worship in special ways; to write an article that had anything to sometimes it was the gift of a flower by Archdeacon Rebecca Barger do with COVID-19. Some days I still as a small token of appreciation and The old saying goes “a picture paints find that I am just about worn out sometimes it was a card children a thousand words,” then this timely from the constant bombardment of made in Sunday School the week pri- graph is at the least a short story. My information (useful and otherwise) as or honoring motherhood. This has husband, Phil, sent it to me in early well as the steady assessment of how been our way of honoring the place April as the pandemic was tightening we go about “maintaining” some sem- of mothering and those who do that its grip on the US. This graph was cir- blance of normalcy. But this graph is work in the life of the Kingdom. This culated throughout the Department useful in almost all predicaments in year it will be different. In our of Medicine and Division of Cardiolo- which we find ourselves—think hurri- Zoomed service there will be no flow- gy at BJC Hospital where he works. canes, fires or other natural disasters ers or cards handed to mothers in Between us, we were discovering the or a serious illness to name a few. This church. Coronavirus pandemic has many similarities in themes and topics graph is especially pertinent following changed the way we do most things of our respective Zoom meetings. Alt- the severe storms and destructive tor- even Mother’s Day. Please remember hough our “jobs” vastly differ, we nadoes that ripped through the South your mothers in a special way this share a core principle of bringing on Easter Day. year: a song, a flower from the gar- about healing or a sense of well- I have had the advantage of looking den, a homemade card, a telephone ness—whether it is healing the physi- at this graph over a period of time as call, even thanking your mother who cal heart or the spiritual heart. And the pandemic has progressed. I have is in heaven with the saints and an- like all good stories that we read, we observed in others and myself move- gels. Happy Mother’s Day on May 10! each take away an aspect from that ment between zones, movement that story that speaks directly to us, an ebbs and flows forward and backward, aspect with which we identify progressing and regressing. But what is through either life events or our for- of greatest importance is that there is mation. movement and we are not staying stagnant in one place specifically the “Fear Zone.” Many times that is how our relationship with God goes. There is movement, some days God’s spirit is strikingly present and almost palpable and then there are those days when we can’t lift the “veil” that covers us (heart and eyes) and keeps us from seeing God in those with whom we share life. As the title of the graph suggests, “Who do I want to be during COVID- 19?” my thoughts wonder too, as to who others see that I am during this present crisis? As much as I want to remain in the “Growth Zone” I found myself whining to a friend that I was tired of adjusting to changes and so on and so forth. As much of that was a “normal” reaction, I was aware that I had drifted out of the “Growth Zone” and had to readjust my thinking in or- der to get myself back. And I thought about the progression of the zones and in what zone we pres- ently “find” ourselves, and how that

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correlates to our action or response If you are fluent in a foreign lan- to this crisis. As Christians, God’s guage and interested in participating Happy Mother’s Day transforming love helps us to redirect in the reading from Acts on Pentecost with gratitude our self-absorbed inward focus to- please contact Fr. Jewson wards that of the suffering of others ([email protected]) with by Sheila McCart whose plight is far worse off than our your name and language gift. Even if As I sit here at home and watch the own. Love directs our responses. we have individuals reading who are beautiful sunrise come up over the Love helps us draw on our talents fluent in the same foreign language it 100-foot cliffside behind our house, I and spiritual gifts to discover ways to still adds to the ambiance of the read- am taken aback at the wonder, the help others. Love helps us remain ing. Please let me know as soon as tranquility, and the power of Mother grounded in that “Growth Zone” so possible so that this part of our liturgy Nature. My mind takes me to the very that our actions promote health and can be orchestrated for Pentecost word, “mother” as one definition wellness of others in the midst of so- Sunday. identified by the Merriam Webster cial distancing. We worship the God dictionary: maternal tenderness or of Love. There is a sense of peaceful- affection. As it relates to Mother Na- ness found in God’s love that is like ture in this moment of solitude, I no other. I believe God is found in the Stump the close my eyes and literally feel the “Growth Zone.” Maybe we should sun's rays caress my face and for a rename it the “God Zone.” During moment, enjoy the tenderness of an- this time of pandemic, isolation, and Vicar other sunrise too often taken for uncertainty, we can discover hope granted. and goodness when we move out of As Mother’s Day approaches, my the “Fear Zone” and bring ourselves by Father Al mind wanders back to the very mo- to reside in the “God Zone.” Jewson ment each of my daughters were born Q: Why is Pentecost Sunday also and how forever my life was uprooted The Day of Pentecost/ called Whitsunday? by the power of God and the grace A: Pentecost Sunday is one of the and blessing of filling my soul with Whitsunday special feast days in the Church year more love than I ever could have when baptism is encouraged to be known possible. The tiny but mean- by Father Al Jewson celebrated during worship. The name ingful moments in life---their laughter, This year May 31 celebrates the Day Whitsunday or Whit Sunday has been the little freckles across Jude’s face of Pentecost. Each year when the around for many centuries in Chris- and the true goodness that radiates reading from the Book of Acts: 2: 1- tian traditions that celebrate the li- from Tatum are glimpses of heaven 21 is read we have invited individuals turgical year. From our Anglican her- that I know all mothers have felt in who are fluent in various languages itage in Old English it was called their hearts in the experiences of rais- to take a part along with the English Hwita Sunnandæg and in Middle Eng- lish it was called WhitSondei, and is translated White Sunday. Pentecost Sunday is one of the special days in Discernment the Church Calendar on which bap- tisms are celebrated. In the past it Team was the custom that the newly bap- tized donned white garments after Members being baptized, hence White Sunday. By the way, what are the other spe- Paul Jokerst, Chair reading. It is a moving reading from cial feast days in the Church year Mike Rohan, Liaison to the BC that perspective. On Pentecost Sun- when baptism is encouraged to be Michael Booker Barb Sacco day this year we might be Zooming celebrated during worship? worship from our homes; but that Suzanne Jones Jack Lauless will not stop St. Francis’ Church from Marsha Smith Jerry Smith having a variety of languages used for the reading from Acts.

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ing their own children and simply “taking in” all that is marvelous about From the Bishop’s this role as mother. The last few weeks have been diffi- Warden cult for us all as we struggle to make sense of COVID 19 and the fear and by Jackie Selle anxiety that grips at our very core as This spring has certainly not been we struggle to maintain normalcy and what most of us anticipated. Until protection for those we hold most Masks for St. Luke’s now the arrival of spring typically meant warming temperatures, spring dearly to our hearts. I worry about my by Donna Bernert own mother whose immune system is showers, budding plants, and the de- On Thursday, March 26 a call came sire to get outside and enjoy nature. compromised by rheumatoid arthritis. in from Kimberly Taylor who works at She has always been who I can turn to Actually, those things haven’t St. Luke's Hospital asking the mem- changed. What has changed, though, in my most difficult moments, a pillar bers of St. Francis Church to assist in of stoicism and strength that can pull is the ability to get outside and enjoy making and donating face masks. In nature. Sure, it’s warmed up, it’s our family through any diversion as the time since that phone call came in, our family unit navigates through life. rained, and plants have sprouted and the members of St. Francis and the grown, but most of us have been con- I feel confident the prayers I lift up for ECW have made and delivered 661 her each day will keep her secure dur- fined to our homes for much more masks to help all those who work at than we would like due to COVID 19. ing this trying time. St. Luke's Hospital. Sally Hader has The very role of “mother” need not Sure, we understand why it is im- made over 60 masks to give out to the portant to stay at home, to minimize be defined by childbirth, but also in members of St. Francis. We were able the very love we show for our friends, our interactions with others, and to to accomplish this with the help of take safety precautions to minimize colleagues, church family and four- people laundering and ironing fabric, legged family members. It is ingrained the chance of spreading the virus, but some cutting fabric, others sewing the that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. in us as females to care for and nur- masks, and still others driving to pick ture, to worry and yet solve and em- Despite these restrictions and the up and deliver the masks. Most of all temporary closure of our building and brace those around us with as much this could not have happened without love as our arms can carry. I see this limitations on personal contact, the those who have contributed money to business of the church must go on as magnificent power in the love our fund this project. members are extending by sewing and we prepare to gather again. Many of Since our monetary donations have us are working hard to balance re- delivering face masks, in our food, slowed, we are now asking for dona- clothing and toy drives and simply duced incomes and perhaps new ex- tions of any fabric you might have that penses at home, so it’s easy to over- through the smiles that sustain us as is 100 percent cotton with a tight we come together on Sundays to look the fact that church expenses go weave. We are taking in used sheets on, just like personal ones. share in the word of God. and cutting out masks to be Although we may not be able to cel- Although it can be challenging, sewn. Anyone who has lightly used please make every effort to maintain ebrate Mother’s Day this year in per- sheets or fabric they would like to do- son at St. Francis or with our own fam- your planned giving as much as possi- nate, please call and the fabric can be ble so that we can continue the won- ily members, I do wish for each and picked up. You can also drop off the every one of you to feel God’s love, derful work that St. Francis parishion- fabric at Sally Hader's house at 300 ers do for each other and for our com- the strength he has given you to lead, Williams Drive in Eureka. There is a the wisdom to learn and the character munity. Tracey stops by the church clean, new trash can under the car building several times each week to to guide the next generation of port marked "Quilts" to put your do- “mothers” to use all the gifts our Lord pick up checks, make deposits, and nation in. keep the business side of things run- has bestowed on us for the greater Thank you one and all for your gen- good of our family units and for all of ning smoothly. None of this would be erous contribution of time and mon- possible without your support. So humanity. Each of us has the power to ey. Kimberly has told us they need as make a positive impact-- and my dear thank you to everyone who has many masks as we can make. There is worked so hard during this unprece- friends, so many of you do without no quantity or cut off date at this even knowing it. dented era of social distancing and time. online worship. Let’s plan a fabulous Happy Mother’s Day with Gratitude. The Chalice Page 4 www.stfranciseureka.com

they must be a favorite food. They are very poisonous to humans though so don’t try checking out their flavor. Dogwood trees are a bit picky about their environment. Flowering dog- wood trees require well-drained soils so they don’t particularly like our heavy clay soils without good drain- age. They have a very shallow root system and are sensitive to heavy foot traffic compacting the soil around their root systems or disruptions in the soil surrounding them. A shallow root system also means that they can dry out rather quickly. They prefer a shaded or partially-shaded location and slightly acidic soils. The flowering dogwood was desig- nated as Missouri’s state tree in 1955. There are many stories of how the name was derived. One common thought is that the name dogwood comes from the Old English word ‘dagwood’ because its hard wood was used to make daggers. In the textile industry, the wood from dogwoods was used to make shuttles for looms because it is heavy, hard and fine- grained and because with wear it be- comes extremely smooth. These same potluck as soon as we can return to properties made it useful for golf clubs celebrate Easter, Mother’s Day, Garden Talk: and as wedges for splitting logs. missed birthdays and anniversaries, I’ve been thinking a lot about dog- and just the fact that we can be to- Flowering woods lately because they are in full gether again. Until then, stay safe. bloom and also because I plan to plant a new dogwood in the front garden of Friends of St. Francis Dogwoods the church to replace the one that died last year. A flowering dogwood by Kathy Regnier by Marsha Smith tree has been purchased, a cultivar Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center Surely one of our loveliest native called ‘Cherokee Princess’. This culti- may be temporarily closed due to Covid trees is the flowering dogwood, Cor- var sports large white blooms and is -19, but we have a fun memory to nus florida. In full bloom, they are very resistant to spot anthracnose and share with you. gorgeous but they look good all year canker, common diseases of dog- On March 2nd we celebrated Dr. round. With their bright berries and woods. The soil in the front garden Seuss's birthday and guess who came reddish-purple leaves in the fall, they will be amended to improve the heavy to visit? Thing 2! We were all so excit- are hard to beat for good looks. Their clay soil, and the level of the soil near ed! (Thing 1 felt a little under the berries are an important food source the dogwood will be raised in order to weather and needed to stay home). for songbirds and other small mam- improve drainage. Hopefully, we will Thing 2 read stories and played with mals such as squirrels and deer. I have a happy, healthy tree for many the children. The kids made fun crafts have watched big pileated woodpeck- years to come. So drive by the church to celebrate a special day of reading! ers hang upside down on small when you get a chance and check out Can you guess who Thing 2 is? Yes it's branches in order to reach them so our latest tree addition– I plan to our very own Mr. Herb! The Chalice Page 5 www.stfranciseureka.com

Face Masks Thank You Donna Bernert expresses her grati- tude for the efforts of the members of St. Francis’ Episcopal Church and oth- ers who have volunteered to assist Prayer List Requests with the project to make and deliver face masks. The vast majority of com- by Archdeacon Rebecca Barger I will continue to update and main- plant it later this week. pleted face masks are delivered to St. tain our prayer lists, so remember to I hope you are enjoying our flower- Luke’s Hospital. A hearty St. Francis submit your prayer requests to me via ing trees; they have been especially thanks goes to: Amy Booth (daughter of Donna and Joe Bernert), Polly phone, call or text (713/515.5676), or beautiful this year… or maybe I’ve email ([email protected]). We will just had more time to appreciate Broom-Morse and her daughters, publish the list in the weekly bulletin them. Amanda and Lydia, Linda Carter, Linda Dolittle, Sally Hader (who is also mak- that is posted online or sent out via ing face masks for parishioners), Janet email. Praying for those with specific Eureka Food Pantry Houseman, Corey Lawson, Pat Rohan, needs and for each other helps to deepen and enrich our lives through by Arlene Underwood Barb Sacco, Doris Schaefer, Sue our shared relationships with God and The Eureka Food Pantry remains Schmidt, Caitlin Selle, Jackie Selle; and each other. We are all part of this be- open to serve the needy in this area. drivers: Charlie Coleman, Becky and loved piece of the Kingdom that we If you have items to donate they can Wade Hall, Mary Ann and Chris Kind- call St. Francis’ church. God is listen- be delivered to the pantry during er, Kathleen O’Reilly, Doris Schneider ing to our prayers. the hours they are open for distribu- and Della Thompson. tion. Hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 11:30 am or Wednesday 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The pantry is located in The River Church (formerly Eureka United Methodist) located on Central Ave. The entry is on the lower south side of the building. The volunteers can take your items at the door. Their inventory is diminishing, so all non-perishable food items are wel- comed and used. In addition, paper products, grooming toiletries, cleaning prod- ucts, soaps, and sanitary products are welcomed. Particular needs at this time are macaroni and cheese mix, tuna and meat Helpers, canned fruits, pasta sauces, cereals, and jellies. Thank you for sharing.

Left: Sally Hader and Donna Bernert pack lunches for distribution at Trinity.

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ernment was formed in the new Unit- Below: Della Thompson captured Bible Study is ed States of America? Who were the this image of the moon rising over people whose visions shaped so much St. Francis — two beacons of light in Zooming Along of who we now are? the dark! Although it reads as comfortably as by Kathleen McDonald a novel, its non-fiction roots are found We’re getting pretty good at this in the letters, diaries, sketches and meeting-online-and-not-in-person legal records of the founders. It gets stuff at St. Francis, and many of our exciting, real, beautiful, and ugly by growth ministries are spiritually turns. Give this book a try! based. Now that people are asked to If you need a copy, it’s available be at home, some people who nor- through amazon.com. At this mo- mally work an eight or twelve-hour ment, Sylvia Ahmad and Kathleen day are able to participate in the daily McDonald each have a copy belonging offices, and some able to participate to the county library. Since we can’t in our Friday morning Bible Study. return them just now, you’re wel- Our Bible Study group, with help come to borrow. from Herb Smith (Zoom Master) and The Zoom meeting link will be sent Paul Jokerst (Virtual Verger) has by email to all regular members and worked through tech issues, through to any member I have forgotten but health challenges, and through spiritu- who lets me know they’d like to come al challenges that arise from our stud- and any new ‘bookies’ or history ies of the scriptures. It’s been a won- geeks who’d like to join us this time. derful way to connect with one anoth- Please call Kathleen McDonald at 636- er and with the Sunday readings. If 667-6299. you would like to attend Bible Study just once or indefinitely, please con- tact Kathleen McDonald at 636-667- 6299. God of life and love, on this special day we give you thanks for those who have given us life. We praise you, O God, for your gift of motherly love, both gentle SF Book Club and fierce, both strong and humble, both kind and true. For those mothers who have joined you in heaven and whom we miss this day, we give you thanks. For mothers who work day and night to raise and care for Reads Again! their children, we give you thanks. And we also remember those mothers who labor at this task alone. by Kathleen McDonald For women who are new mothers and those who are expecting, we praise you, After a month’s postponement for O God, for the joy and anticipation of new life. Grant that we never forget our social distancing, the St. Francis Book duty to uphold these growing families – that in our shared life together we all Club is ready to read and to discuss, may hear the call to be your disciples in this world. even though it’s online and not in per- For mothers who have lost a child to death and must carry on, we ask for your son, the book we’ve been ready to mercy. May we all sustain these mothers in their time of need and reach out to share. them in compassion and love. For all of the women who have wanted to have The Pioneers, by David McCullough, children of their own but did not, we give you thanks. These women have been is the kind of historical narrative that living examples of your love and grace as they have answered the call to nurture breathes life and story into the events and care for others. that shaped our country’s settlements, We also pray, O God, for the mothers who have failed to live up to the call of not only geographically but with the motherhood. We believe you are a God of healing and we new American ideals of morality, reli- remember that we all stand in the need of your grace. We gion, and even government. How did praise your name and lift all mothers, those we have men- we come to live in the sort of commu- tioned and those left unmentioned. nities that were settled after the gov- (Adapted from a Mother’s Day Prayer at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, Macon Georgia.)

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2

10 am Bible Study

St. Philip and St. James, Apostles 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8:30 am 10:15 am Holy Morning Prayer 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 10 am Bible Study Eucharist (Live- 5 pm Evening Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Morning Prayer streamed on FB) Prayer 1:00 pm Chalice Fourth Sunday 6 pm Meeting of Easter Worship & Music 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10:15 am Holy Eucharist (Live- 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 10 am Bible Study streamed on FB) Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Morning Prayer

Mother’s Day 6:30 pm Book Group Fifth Sunday of Easter 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 10:15 am Holy Eucharist (Live- 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 10 am Bible Study streamed on FB) Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Morning Prayer

Rogation Sunday 6:30 pm Bishop’s Committee Sixth Sunday of Easter Chalice deadline 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 10:15 am Holy Eucharist (Live- 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 10 am Bible Study streamed on FB) Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Morning Prayer

Seventh Sunday of Easter (Sunday after Ascension Day) 31 10:15 am Holy Eucharist (Live- streamed on FB)

The Day of Pentecost (Whitsunday)

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