St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

We will be worshipping The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost at 10:00 AM with the service being led by Rev. Kathy Crary. This Sunday the Readings will be:

Jeremiah 2:4-13
Psalm 81:1, 10-16
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14

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Jeremiah 2:4-13

In this passage of contrasts, God’s people are confronted with the senselessness of turning away from their God. Prophets falsely prophesy for no profit. The people, whom God has blessed over and over, chase after gods who are not even gods. Pursuing worthless things made the people themselves worthless. And the one true God, who is described as the fountain of living water, is abandoned and the people try to collect life-water in containers with cracks.

It is our tendency as humans to try to satisfy our deepest desires with cheap substitutes. By looking at our sins we will have clues as to what we really need. The people dug cracked cisterns indicating they knew they needed water. How might our misguided attempts to fill our deepest longings be a way to find our true heart’s desire in God?

The prophet brings a strong indictment against the leaders. As leaders of God’s people we have a responsibility to ask, “Where is the Lord?” It is our job to interpret life’s situations in light of God’s reality and lead people to see how God is there for them. Only then will we be able to offer the water that truly satisfies.

• Where do you see the Lord in your present situation?
• What worthless things are you chasing after that diminish your own worth?
• How might your sin be the very thing that can lead you to the fountain of living water?

Psalm 81:1, 10-16

In Psalm 81 a connection is made between hearing and obeying. The people do not obey because they don’t listen to God’s voice. Our English words obey and listen both share the same Latin root audire.

The psalmist suggests praise and remembering as ways to hear God. As we sing songs declaring who God is, and tell stories about all God has done, we will be open to hearing God’s voice. We will also desire to do God’s will, knowing God only wants the best for us.

God’s desire is to fill God’s people with good things. As we choose not to listen to God we are given over to the consequences of going it alone. As we turn back to God, our needs are met.

• What are some ways you have seen God show up on your behalf in the past?
• What practices help you listen to God’s voice?
• What good things are you missing from God because you have forgotten God’s goodness?

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Hebrews 13 tells us how to give thanks for “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28). By showing care for those in our communities of faith, as well as those who are strangers, we live out our gratitude for our place in God’s kingdom.

We are invited to use our imaginations to place ourselves with prisoners and those who are tortured. Rather than locking them away and forgetting about them, we are urged to enter their pain as if our own bodies were suffering with them. In God’s kingdom no one is outside of God’s concern.

We are also called to show our gratitude in how we deal with sex and money. In our temptation to meet these needs outside of God’s provision, we are reminded that God sees us and that God is with us. As we seek to care more about others and less about money we are reminded that God is always caring for us. God invites us to trust as we participate in this kingdom work.

• What would it look like for you to care for strangers and those suffering in prison?
• In what ways is your care for money and sex inhibiting your participation in God’s kingdom?

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Luke uses a familiar wedding banquet metaphor to show us what honor looks like in God’s kingdom.

Jesus notices that the guests at the dinner assume their own privilege in choosing their place at the table.  He invites them to let go of whatever it is that they feel makes them better than the others. His message is for those of us who feel we have a choice as to where we belong in the world. As we release our need to play the comparison game, and then identify with the lowly, we will be honored by God.

Jesus perfectly displayed this path of letting go of privilege in becoming human so that God could lift him up to the highest place (Philippians 2). Through this parable Jesus is inviting us to join him in this same journey of going down and being lifted up.

In the second half of this parable Jesus teaches what it looks like to use privilege to lift up others. Like God we are invited to do the same work in lifting up the humble. So in this great cycle of humility and being lifted up we participate with God in the lifting up of others.

• What privileged position are you being invited to let go of?
• How can you use the place God has given you to lift up those whom life has brought low?

This Bible study was written by Louise Samuelson for Proper 17 (C) in 2016.

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In Memoriam

John Hamilton Bell 26 Jan 1930 – 9 Aug 2025   John Bell of Oxnard, California, died peacefully on 9 August 2025.  John was born January 26, 1930 at 5:00 P.M. at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco.  He was the only child of John and Marian Bell. John grew up in San Francisco, attending Grant Grammar School, Lowell High School, and Santa Rosa Junior College.  He then enlisted in the Aviation Cadet program and earned his pilots’ wings with Class 51H.  After serving a period on active duty, he returned to college at U.C. Berkeley, and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He stayed active with Cal and the fraternity, often donating to their fundraising pursuits. He was also a long time Cal football season ticket holder and was in the stands at the famed Cal vs. Stanford game that featured “The Play.” In 1957, he joined Pan American World Airways, flying the Boeing 377, DC-4, DC-6, B-727, B-707, and B-747, retiring in 1990. He then served 10 years consulting as an Expert Observer with the NASA/University of Texas Crew Resource Management program.  John continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a Colonel in 1990, his last job an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer, helping many prospective cadets attend the Academy. While serving with the Air Force in 1953, he became attracted to Barbershop Harmony, and eventually joined SPEBSQSA in 1960. He was the lead in Buskers, his quartet that traveled for shows around the San Francisco Bay area. He loved music and sang in the church choir at both St Francis of Assisi in Novato and Trinity Episcopal Church in Sonoma for many years.  In 1963, John met the love of his life Peggy, in Honolulu. They married in Miami in 1964, and flew immediately to Berlin, Germany to start their new life together. They had their daughter, Cami, in Berlin 1965, returned to the bay area where they had their son, Jeff, in 1967. The family traveled all over the world on Pan Am passes during the airline’s heyday. He is survived by his wife Peggy (Nelson), daughter Cami Pinsak (Chris) of Camarillo, California, son Jeff (Kathy Hash) of Fairfax Station, Virginia, grandchildren Samantha and Lauryn Pinsak, and Cameron, Caitlyn, and Chance Bell. A memorial celebration will be held on 6 September at 1pm PDT at Trinity Episcopal Church in Sonoma, followed by a reception at Murphy’s Irish Pub, Sonoma. For those who are unable to travel, a streaming option will be provided when available. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Sonoma chapter of Meals on Wheels. John was a longtime volunteer when he lived in Sonoma. https://www.mowofsonoma.org.

Memories and Condolences

Holy Hikes’ Autumnal Equinox Service at Church of the Wildwood

Come join Holy Hikes and help us create a living liturgy at our Autumnal Equinox Service on September 22 at 12:30pm in Redwood Regional Park. Bring a prayer! Bring a poem! Bring an instrument and a song to share! We will create this liturgy together in this sacred place— a true living liturgy.    We will meet at 12:30pm at the parking lot at the end of the road at Canyon Meadow Staging Area in Redwood Regional Park. We will walk together from the parking lot, a 15-min (1/2 mile) walk along the flat, paved Stream Trail to the location of the old Church of the Wildwood at what is now named Old Church Picnic Area. There will be seating available during the service. See the walk here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Szg8ciAL6vDF7avJ6?g_st=im   We will open with Prayer to the Seven Directions and have space to create ritual together. You will help create this liturgy. If you play an instrument that’s portable, bring your instrument and a song to share. If there is a short reading or poem that is fitting for the solstice/equinox service that you would like to share, please bring it. We will have time for offering intercessions and thanksgivings, and there will be time for silent meditation. All are welcome to attend.   In 2025, Holy Hikes—San Francisco Bay Area will be offering four gatherings aligning with the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox, and Winter Solstice.    Meet at: Canyon Meadow Staging Area in Redwood Regional Park, Oakland, CA Walk to: Old Church Picnic Area When: September 22, December 21; meet at 12:30pm Stay up-to-date: Follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/holyhikes

Summer is over, and that means choir rehearsal is going to be back in full swing soon! If you have ever considered joining, now is a great time to start! Rehearsals are every Wednesday evening (starting September 10) from 6-7 PM in the sanctuary. We hope to see you there!

A new property improvement is just around the corner! Evelyn has initiated a relationship with a local company called Home Ground Habitats, who specialize in educating, building, and sourcing native gardens. We will be working with them to create a beautiful garden on the north side of our property around the church sign and outdoor cross. We have completed the initial steps of sheet mulching in preparation for this fall project. Please visit our website for more information!  https://stfrancisnovato.org/st_francis_wildlife_habitat_project More updates to follow!

Join the Celebration!

Do you have any new or used flower vases that you would like to donate for a good cause? Toni Shroyer will be using them to deliver flowers to senior citizens that live in care facilities. You may drop them off in the front room of the church on Sunday, or Monday through Friday to Nova in the church office.

Do you have news or a community event that you would like to share with your fellow parishioners? You are welcome to submit articles for the Transitus to Nova@StFrancisNovato.org anytime before Thursday at noon. I look forward to hearing from you!

-Nova Alexander

Pantry Donations Online Giving - Please use this link that leads directly to our new online platform.  Donate to the Pantry Online! Other ways to donate - There is a donation box on the Narthex entry table where you can drop some dollars. You may also add your cash or check to an offering envelope marked "PANTRY" and add to the offering plate during the service.

Other ways to donate - There is a donation box on the Narthex entry table where you can drop some dollars. You may also add your cash or check to an offering envelope marked "PANTRY" and add to the offering plate during the service.  Please visit https://stfrancisnovato.org/st_francis_community_pantry  for information and donation ideas.   If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Ellis at evbuch@yahoo.com or Nova Alexander at nova@stfrancisnovato.org. Thank you for your support!

Donate to the Pantry Online!