january 2012 -- the chalice from st. francis' episcopal church - eureka, mo
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Holy Eucharist
Sunday service is at 10 a.m.
at 616 Stockell Drive,
Eureka, MO.
Office: 210 S. Central Ave-
nue, Eureka, MO 63025
Phone: 636-938-3733
Website:
www.St.FrancisEureka.com
Vicar
The Rev. Sally S. Weaver
Phone No.s:
Home: 636-938-7773
C e l l : 3 1 4 - 6 5 1 - 3 8 3 6
Bishops Committee:
Richard Mayfield, Sr. War-den, Bob Hosutt, Jr. War-
den; Kathleen McDonald,
Clerk; Lori Scissors; Debbie
Pizzella; Michael Booker;
Paddy Wrob; Cassie Eck-
hardt; Barb Sacco; Steve
Strathearn
Nancy Bergman, Treasurer.
Annual Meeting
An Annual Meeting is heldeach year at the end of Janu-
ary at which new Bishops
Committee and Convention
Delegates are elected.
St. Francis Episcopal
Church is a mission of the
Episcopal Diocese of Mis-
souri.
The Chaliceis the news-
letter of St. Francis Episco-
pal Church, Eureka, and is
published at least 10 times
per year.
Submissions for The
Chalice are due approxi-
mately the 20th of each
month and may be e-mailed
to the Office .
The ChaliceSt. Francis Episcopal Church
Eureka MO
J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2
And Jesus saidFollow me and I will
make you fish for people.-- Mark 1:17
I write this on the day after Christmas,
as parish administrator Maxine Heller and I are putting away the 2011
files and making new folders for 2012. For St. Francis Church 2011
has been a year of growth. We have deepened our relationship with
Christ and one another, we have started exciting new ministries, and we
have added members to our parish. I will detail what has been accom-
plished at our annual parish meeting on January 22. There is so much
to acknowledge and celebrate.
What has fueled our growth in 2011? Prayer. Prayer is the fuel
that we run on.
Each week on Sunday we pray for the witness, renewal, and
growth of our parish family. As part of that prayer we ask that God
enable us to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all whom we
meet through our actions, our thoughts, our words. Its through prayer
that we become fishers of people. Our lure is Gods extravagant love.
God is our foundation: We are rooted and grounded in love.
We keep our relationship with God new and alive with prayer. And
that active engagement with God bears fruit, as we pour out the love
God feels for us onto others. We see Gods unfailing love at work at
St. Francis in the way we greet and care for one another, in the way we
The Pastors Corner
Continued on next page
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In this Issue
Adult Forum Calendar, p 3;
Annual Meeting, p 6;
Attendance Statistics, p 3;
Birthdays/Anniversaries, p 9;
Bishops Column, p 5;
Bishops Committee Information, p 6;
Bishop Smiths Visit, p 8;
Book Group meeting, p 4;
Bulletin Board, p 13;
Calendar, p 11;
Calendar for Vicar on Line, p 2;
Childrens Reflections, p 10;Contacting the Vicar, p 2;
Financial Update, p 13;
Foodsharing, p 9;
Greening St. Francis, p 8;
Humor, p 8;
Pastors Corner, p 1 & 2;
Photos Ops., p 7;
Prayer for St. Francis, p 9;Prayer list, p 10;
RSVP, p 4;
Upcoming Events., p 4;
Spiritual Offerings for the Week, p 8;
Stewardship Thought, p 10;
Thank you., p 12;
Tutoring, p 8;
VacationVicar, p 2;
Workshop, p 12;
Worship Schedule, p 12;
Youth Group, p 4.
worship, in the way we minister to the needs of the
world. God works through us, replenishing us
through prayer. Im looking forward to being a part
of St. Francis action-packed, God-filled 2012, fu-
eled by prayer.
Pastor Sally
The Vicars Calendar is On-line
Pastor Sallys calendar is on our website,
www.stfranciseureka.com. Select Calendar, thenVicars Calendar. Its the only calendar Pastor
Sally uses, so it is complete and up-to-date.
Vicars Vacation
Pastor Sally and Tony are on vacation from
Jan 2-13. The Rev. Dr. Warren E. Crews will be the
celebrant, preacher, and presenter at the Adult Forum
on Sunday, Jan 8. Pastor Sally will have limited cell
phone (314-651-3836) and Internet access while sheis away. If a pastoral emergency arises, please con-
tact the Rev. Warren Crews at 314-420-4830.
Contacting Pastor Sally
If you call or e-mail Pastor Sally and
she doesnt respond, please let her know.
The best number to call is her cell phone:
314-651-3836. Remember that theres a
middle initial, S, in her e-mail address:
[email protected]. She wants to
respond quickly, so please let her know if
thats not occurring.
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Here is the schedule of offerings at the Adult Forum on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to12:15 p.m. for the first part of 2012. The entire 2011 Adult Forum calendar for 2012 is on
our website at www.stfrancisereka.comselect Christian Education/Formation, Adults:
January 1 To be determined -- but something fun
January 8 Diocesan Convention 2011 -- The Rev. Dr. Warren E.
Crews
January 15 Dee LeahyFrom Haiti on the conditions there now.
January 22 St. Francis Church Annual Meeting
January 29 Bishop G. Wayne Smith
February 5 Judges 1
February 12 Judges 2
February 19 Samuel
February 26 Saul
March 4 Vicar's Forum -- quarterly goal review
March 11 Ministry Fair
March 18 Marcion
March 25 Constantine
April 1 Athanasius and Arius
April 8 Easter brunch
April 15 Strategic planning for St. Francis', part 1
April 22 Strategic planning, part 2
April 29 Strategic planning, part 3
Adult
Forum
Calendar
Sunday Attendance Statistics2010 2011
2nd Advent 42 54
3rd Advent 33 62
4th Advent 44 58
Christmas Eve 61 92
Christmas Day 4 23
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Youth Group January 25 Meeting
Our next meeting is at the parish house
(210 S. Central) on Wednesday, January 25 at
6:30 p.m. Deacon Harry Leip and food program
director Steve Turner from TrinitySt. Louis
will talk to us about the hot lunch program. St.
Francis provides the food and servers for the hot
lunch program at Trinity on the 5th
Sundays of themonth. The teens will also discuss their upcom-
ing plans for the Youth Group in 2012.
Upcoming Events St. Francis Book GroupPlease consider com-
ing to one or all of our book
group discussions. We meet
about every third Thursday
(checkThe Chalice, Sunday
bulletin, or contact Kevin
Selle for reminders of the
date each month) from 6:30-8:00 p.m., at the
Parish House. Everyone and every age is wel-
come. Feel free to bring your dinner and/or a
friend. If you have book suggestions let Kevin
know either in person, by phone or email at
January 19th Selection
Heaven is For Real,
by Todd Burpo
A young boy emerges from life-saving
surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to
heaven. Told by his father, but often in Colton's
own words, the disarmingly simple message is
that heaven is a real place and Jesus really loves
children.
RSVP
RSVP (Robe and Slippers Virtual Prayer)-- which is group Evening Prayer from our ownhomes using webcams and Skype -- will occur on
the last Tuesday of the month at 8 p.m.
Our next RSVP is January 31 at 8 p.m. Ifyoud like to participate, please send an e-mail ortalk to Jackie Selle ([email protected]), who
hosts the call.
Youth Groups DecemberCaroling
On Wednesday, December 14, St. Francis teens
and their friends, along with Sally Hader and Pastor
Sally, serenaded the residents of the nursing facility at
Marymount Manor with Christmas carols. We walked
the halls, accompanying our singing with guitar (played
by Alex Branchfield), bells, tambourine, and maracas.
It was an enthusiastic and joyous event.
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Rooted in Scripture: Synodical Governance
How do the Churches of the Anglican Communion practice their governance? De-
spite the notable differences in governance among the thirty-eight Provinces of the Com-
munion, there remains a simple answer, though with a rarified word: Anglican governance
is by synod. That is to say, Anglican governance includes laypeople, priests and deacons,
and bishops, all meeting together in a decision-making body. Typically, and historically,
representative laypeople together with priests and deacons constitute a synod, with a
bishop serving as president of the assembly. Our tradition invests substantive authority in
its bishops, but properly, bishops exercise no authority apart from the whole People of
God. The term bishop-in-synod best describes the seat of episcopal authority within An-
glicanism.
This collaborative style marks the Episcopal Church at every level of governance.
Parish meetings, required by canon, gather at least once per year. The rectornot a bishop,in this casepresides, and all adult confirmed laypeople of the parish receive seat, voice
and vote in this key parish body. Diocesan Conventions include all active clergy canoni-
cally resident in a Diocese, along with representative laypeople from the various parishes,
missions, and other faith communities. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church
meets every three years and has a distinctive synodical style, in that it is bicameral. The
bishops meet in one House, while the representative laity and clergy (deputies) from the
108 dioceses meet simultaneously in another House. Resolutions must pass both Houses to
be binding. The Lambeth Conference, an assembly of all active bishops in the Anglican
Communion who meet once each decade, though important, is not a synod, since it ex-
cludes laypeople and the other orders of ministry from its deliberations.
These musings are pertinent, coming on the heels of a very fine Diocesan Conven-
tion in November, and with the anticipation of Parish Meetings almost everywhere in Janu-
ary. Plus the General Convention meets in July 2012, this time in Indianapolis.
The synodical style of governance looks to Acts 15 for inspiration, and a glance at
Galatians 2 gives an interesting and alternative slant on the Acts account. Reflection on
these passages makes good preparation for any Church meeting.
Synods are by no means unique to the Anglican way, but they characterize our
method of governance at every level. They find their roots in scripture, and they take into
account the insight of everyone involved. At its best, synodical governance re-
sults in decisions transcending the mere sum of the individual insights. Here is
Spirit-inspired collaboration at its best.
Bishop Wayne Smith
January 2012
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Bishops Committee Meeting Schedule
The Bishops Committee typically meets on the
third Sunday of the month beginning at 12:15 p.m. All
are welcome to sit in and listen.
Highlights of the Bishops Committee Meeting
of December 18, 2011
Opening business
Pastor Sally noted that this is the last Bishops
Committee meeting for the outgoing group of
members, Lori Scissors, Bob Hosutt and Debbie
Pizzella, and thanked them for their leadership.
Approval of November 20
th
meeting minutes
Treasurers report
Approval of November financial results.
Budget for 2012
The Bishops Committee reviewed the proposed
budget and celebrated that we are in a very sta-
ble fiscal position compared to previous years.
A solution to the challenge of keeping the
Vicars Discretionary Fund better funded tohelp more of the people who come to the parish
for financial help was discussed for presentation
at the annual meeting.
The proposed budget was approved for presen-
tation and approval at the annual meeting.
Thanks go to the members of the Finance Com-
mittee: Suzanne Jones, Bob Hosutt, Pastor Sally
and Treasurer Nancy Bergmann.
Vicars report New uses, new key. Our community room is now
used by two groups: The Daisy Troop from Geggie
School and a new Al-Anon group. A new lock has
been installed on the outside door to the Community
Room. Any parish member with a current key to the
Parish House can still use the old keys on the Office
Door and gain access to the community room via Pas-
tor Sallys Office.
Bishops Committee News Vicars vacation: January 2-13. The Rev. Dr.Warren E. Crews will be available for Sunday ser-vices and for pastoral care.
Performance Appraisals will be held by the
Vicar in mid-January for the parish staff. Bob Ho-
sutt and Rich Mayfield, our wardens, will gather
input for Pastor Sallys performance review ac-cording to the form provided.
Candidates for Bishops Committee Members
The proposed slate for the 2012 Bishops Commit-
tee are Bob Champlin, Judy Cody and Jack Lau-
less; proposed Convention Delegates are Kevin
Selle, Sue Schmidt and alternate Alex Branchfield.
Closing business
Senior and Junior wardens had no new busi-
ness.
The Green ministry will provide a more visible
recycling bin for the kitchen area of the Parish
House, near the back door.
Closing prayer.
Submitted by Kathleen McDonald
Clerk of the Bishops Committee
Annual Meeting, January 22, 2012
What have we accomplished in the last
year? What will our budget be like next year?
Who will be our leaders in all this? If you need or
want answers to these questions, be sure to put St.
Francis Annual Meeting on your calendar for
Sunday, January 22nd, immediately following the
worship service.
In our American Episcopal Church, mostparishes hold a meeting each year to elect a new
slate of candidates to the Bishops Committee, to
elect new delegates to the Diocesan Convention,
and to approve a proposed budget.
Bishops Committee nominees are Bob
Champlin, Judy Cody and Jack Lauless.
Convention delegates are Kevin Selle, Sue
Schmidt and Alex Branchfield as alternate.
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St. Nicholas makes a
Visit to St. Francis
On December 3, St. Fran-
cis parish house was the scene of
a visit by St. Nick. The event was
open to children from the area topurchase and wrap small gift items
for their parents and friends.
Katie and Abby Jones were
among the children greeting St.
Nick (aka Ed Kindley!).
Christmas at St. Francis means.
.a beautifully decorated worship space,
lots of good food, visiting with friends. And the
best part-welcoming the baby Jesus.
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Consider this: Glorious Gray?
On any given sunny day, its
hard not to notice the beauties of
Gods creation, no matter what the
season. In the winter, bluebirds andcardinals light up against the snow.
Rime-drenched grasses sparkle along
the roadside. In springtime the pinks
of dogwood and redbud appear amid
the still-brown trees, promising delights yet to
come. Summer grows in the sunlight with plants
and baby animals appearing bigger, stronger and
more beautiful with every day. Cool water invites a
splash and a chance to fish for your dinner. The au-
tumn sun sets leaves ablaze with color and the har-vest is golden.
But where is the God of creation on the cold,
dreary gray days where the sun is hiding behind a
blanket of gray clouds? We have a lot of those
where we live. Surely this place in the cycle of na-
ture has some reminders of its Creator. Do we just
need to look harder? Or is this fallow season here
for a purpose? Where is Gods glory reflected in
gray? Perhaps the question is: How can I feel andshow my appreciation for the gifts of Gods Earth in
the season of still, of gray, of sunless?
Submitted by Kathleen McDonald
Tutoring
Our free tutoring ministry, under the leader-
ship of Jackie Selle, resumes on Wednesday, January
4, 2012. If you are interested in helping school chil-
dren with their homework, please let Jackie know.
Well offer this service every Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. at the parish house, 210 S. Central Ave.
St. Francis Spiritual Offerings
during the Week
Mondays from 5:30-6:15 p.m. at the parish house
(210 S. Central) we gather for prayer.
We pray for the people of St. Francis, those
who havent joined us yet, those on our prayer list,the needs of our community, and the world. We
close each session with Night Prayer from 6:05-6:15
p.m.
Fridays from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Parish House
(210 S. Central) we study the Bible readings ap-
pointed for the upcoming Sunday.
Please join us for these meetings whenever
you can, whether weekly or once in a while. All are
welcome.
Bishop Smiths Visit on January 29
Our Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri,
George Wayne Smith, will visit St. Francis at 10
a.m. on Sunday, January 29. Bishop Smith will be
baptizing three and confirming/receiving six of our
beloved members. Bishop Smith will also engage
us in conversation during the Adult Forum (11:30-
12:15 p.m.) that day. Please plan on being at wor-
ship on January 29 for this festive event.
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Prayer for St. Francis
We pray for the witness, renewal, and
growth of our parish family. Living
God, infuse us with your love. Enableus to proclaim the good news of Jesus
Christ to all whom we meet through
our actions, our thoughts, our
words. Make St. Francis' Church a
place of invitation and welcome, a safe
harbor and a beacon of the light of
Christ. Amen.
Foodsharing
Its cold outside. Its time for soup. This rec-
ipe is for a traditional Greek soup, Avgolemono
Soup. If you have picky eaters at your house, just
call this chicken rice soup. Everyone will eat that!
6 cups chicken stock or broth
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, chopped
2 bay leaves
cup orzo or rosamarina pasta, or rice
3 eggs
juice of one lemon (more if you like this fla-vor)
Bring chicken stock to a boil. Add onions, garlic,
carrot and bay leaves. Reduce heat and sim-
mer for 30 minutes.
Remove bay leaves
Add orzo to the soup. Continue to simmer for 20
minutes until the orzo is cooked.
Use a wire whisk to beat eggs and lemon juice
together in a small bowl. SLOWLY pourabout cup of the soup into the eggs and
lemon juice, stirring constantly. This will
help prevent the creation of scrambled eggs in
your soup.
Slowly pour the egg and lemon mixture into the
soup. Continue to cook over low heat, stirring
constantly. Keep stirring a minute or two as
the soup thickens.
Note: This recipe is taken from a fun kids storycalled Everybody Serves Soup by Norah Dooley. If
you want to read the story or find lots of good inter-
national soup recipes, you can check your childs
school library.
Submitted by Kathleen McDonald
Birthdays in January
Anne Booker January 6
Kathleen McDonald January 24
Della Hosutt January 30
Have we missed an important date for you or
your family? Make sure the Parish Adminis-
trator has all the important dates for you in
the church records.
Anniversaries in January
Rosie & Ernie Benecke January 17
Cassie & Jim Eckhardt January 17
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Our Childrens Reflections on
God and the Gospel
Yesterday was my birthday!
On angels
I have a thought that they are real and
that they are always beside me.
On Christmas...
Since I cant write stuff, can I just draw
stuff?
Every time Mommy and
Daddy put water to the Christ-
mas tree it gets bigger and fatter
and fluffier.
Jesus could celebrate Christ-
mas with me.
Jesus could forgive me for
Christmas.
A activity seen (nativity
scene) is something you put up for
Christmas and you dont play with it or it
will break.
How do you prepare your heart for Jesus?
Be nice. Be good. Help other people.
Donate.
How do we get messages today?
Christmas cards
In our school we are not allowed to send
messages and especially we dont send
any with glitter. Everything on earth is made of star stuff.
What is star stuff?
Little organisms. Everything is made of
star stuff.
Tom & John Sons of Paddy Wrob
Judy Parishioner
Sam & Jan Parents of Della Hosutt
Bob Brother of Barb Sacco
Peter Friend of Paddy Wrob
John Member of Masonic Lodge
Mike Friend of Sally Weaver
Mimi Daughter of Paddy Wrob
Bethany Granddaughter of Dale Herz-
Pam Cousin of Michael Booker
Juanita Sister of Susan Stuckey
Mary Friend of Della Hosutt
Marshall Friend of Sue & John Schmidt
Don Cousin of Debbie Pizzella
Prayer List
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St. Francis Episcopal Church210 S. Central Avenue
Eureka, MO 63025
Please call or e-mail the Parish Office
([email protected] ) with items for the cal-
endar before the last week in each month to get
on the following months calendar. Shaded area
indicates days Maxine is in office, from 8 till
noon, unless indicated otherwise.
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Worship Participant Schedule January 2012
Ministry 01-Jan 08-Jan 15-Jan 22-Jan 29-Jan
SACRISTAN Rich Mayfield Jim Eckhardt Rich Mayfield Jim Eckhardt Rich Mayfield
LECTORS
Kathleen McDon-
ald & Paddy Wrob
Sarah Branchfield
& Alex Branchfield
Kristie Lenzen &
Kevin Selle
Paddy Wrob &
Barb Sacco
Kathleen McDon
ald & Bob Smith
INTERCESSOR Bob Smith Sue Schmidt Kristie Lenzen Barb Sacco Bob Smith
CHALICE Michael Booker Barb Sacco Kevin SelleKathleen
McDonald Michael Booker
ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER
ALTAR GUILD Jerry SmithBrigitte Jung &Linda Doolittle
Jerry Smith &Stevie Sewell
Brigitte Jung &Jerry Smith
Linda Doolittle &Stevie Sewell
USHER Bob Smith John Schmidt Rich Mayfield Michael Booker Nick Sacco
TELLERSBob Smith & Rich
MayfieldBob Champlin &Suzanne Jones
Arlene Underwood& Bob Smith
Jim Eckhardt &Bob Champlin
Rich Mayfield &Suzanne Jones
HOSPITALITY/COFFEEHOUR Arlene Underwood
Guiding Good ChoicesA free program
A family management and skills building course for parents of adolescents and teens ages 9-14.
5 Thursday sessions from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Rockwood south Middle School, 1628 Hawkins Rd, FentonFebruary 2: How to prevent drug use in your familyFebruary 9: Setting guidelines: How to develop healthy beliefs and clear standardsFebruary 23: Avoiding trouble: How to say no to drugsMarch 1: Managing conflict: How to control and express your angerMarch 8: Involving everyone: How to strengthen family bonds
To register: Kristin Bengtson, 636-733-2158 or [email protected]
A note of thanksfor the many
scarves our pa-
rishioners knitted
and donated to
St. Marthas
Hall.
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Fields at Night
The moon is glistening off the fields tonight
Bedecked with coverlet of snowy white
While distant pines appear as shadows gainst
The grey horizon fading now from sight.
Dare I now cross those silvery fields and leave
My footprints bedded in the sparkling snow?
And should some unknown searcher look for me
Twould not be difficult to follow where I go.
Nature at times can most exquisite be,
Though often human eyes refuse to see
How wonderful and marvelous the earth
To intricate designs and form gives birth.Oh, such a night deserves an artists brush
Upon a canvas stretched across the sky;
And yet impossible I think twould be
To capture all the beauty eyes may see.
I guess museums have a rightful place
Since we can never travel back in time,
But there one captures just a fleeting glimpse
Of bygone settings, context, space and clime.
But I do rather prize the here and now;
To see the world unfolding with my eyes;
Experiencing with every breath and step,
Each day and hour filled with grand surprise!
Just like the fields that now before me lie,
Such peaceful idyll ought not be disturbed;
Yet, I must go, my duty draws me forth
Although such action leaves my soul perturbed.
The moon is glistening off the fields tonight
And I, a lonely travler, have no right
To wreak such havoc; better that I stay
And drink my fill of such a lovely sight.
Edward E. Kindley
Wildwood, 2-2-11
Jim Eckhardt Interviewed on NPR
Jim Eckhardt was recently interviewed on
National Public Radio regarding gift giving.
Jim said there was a time hed fill his holi-
day shopping cart with toys for his six grandchil-
dren. But seven years ago, he had an epiphany:The kids had too much stuff. You look at all the
things we throw away and that money could be put
to better use, Eckhardt said.
After checking out alternatives, Jim settled
on the idea of farm animals. He decided hed give
one animal on behalf of each grandchild through
the organization, Heifer International.
Heifer International has been around since
the 1940s; currently as about $100 million in annualrevenues and 400,000 donors. In a nutshell, it uses
the teach a man to fish model through giving.
Economic development experts say these
programs cant reverse poverty all on their own.
What youre trying to do is establish a base from
which individuals who are really poor generate a
source of income for many years to come, says
Dean Karlan, a professor of economics at Yale who
studies solutions to poverty.
St. Francis has contributed to Heifer Inter-
national on various occasion for a number of years.
Bishop Stephen Dokolo from the Diocese of
Lui participates in a Sunday Eucharist at St.
Francis during his recent visit and tour of the
parishes in the Diocese of Missouri.
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Spotlight on.George and Vernell RasmussenAt their best, kids in church youth groups form lifelong friendships. George and
Vernell Rasmussen can go one better. Their youth group friendship, which has lasted
forever, also grew into a love story. George the Boy Scout, and Vernell, the girl from
the Girls Friendly Society at St. Stephens House in the south end of St. Louis met at
the churchs camp, St. Stephens in the Hills, located waaaay out in the country, be-
tween Eureka and Allenton. On that day, George was playing the trumpet in the living room of the camp
while Vernell was in the kitchen doing dishes. I didnt like that, Vernell reports, and besides, I thought he
was cute. So I threw him a kitchen towel and had him come help me dry the dishes. The two became good
friends and ran in the same crowd for four years. We knew what we were getting into, says George, We
actually liked one another! But their road to a lasting marriage was not smooth early on. Vernells mother
wanted her to marry someone else and would not let her date George. So, six months or so after her gradua-
tion from Cleveland High School, they eloped. Vernells mother was sure that the marriage wouldnt last.
That was 70 years ago! Just this summer, all of George and Vernells living relatives gathered together tocelebrate that 70th anniversary, including their four children, twelve grandchildren and seven great-
grandchildren.
Until their first child was due, Vernell worked as a bookkeeper at Scruggs, Vandervoort and Barney, a
downtown department store. George worked for Kroger until he received his draft notice just a year after they
were married. George fought in World War II in Europe and North Africa as an anti-aircraft gunner. He
served as a sergeant with a crew that was really sharp. Today, Georges brown wool uniform jacket is
framed with a plaque that tells of some of the sites of his service: Sardinia, Corsica, Italy, France, and Austria,
including the freezing cold Battle of the Bulge. Once drafted, George served four years. Vernell admits that
she spent a lot of time crying. During a good bit of Georges service, all of his mail was delivered to another
sergeant with the same name. Until that snafu was worked out, George did not get any of the letters or care
packages sent to him by his new wife. The war years, Vernell claims, were not the good old days. They were
horrible! At last, after four years, Vernells friend who worked at Jefferson Barracks called her. George is
coming home tonight. George did come home.
The first of their four children was born a year later. George says, We made an agreement. I would
make us a living and Vernell would stay home with the kids. Kids need parenting. George worked for a few
more years at Kroger, and then, at the urging of his father-in-law got a job at Reynolds Metals. This was a ter-
rific job for George and allowed him the time and money he wanted to raise his family. He stayed there for
thirty-five years, retiring only when the company closed their St. Louis buildings.
George and Vernells first house was in south city, but in 1962 they moved to North County. Briefly they at-
tended St. Barnabas but spend most of their years at St. Stephens Ferguson where Vernell served a term on
the vestry. All four of their children, Tom, Sue, Dick and Tim finished college and have good jobs, something
that makes George and Vernell very happy and proud. Tom, Sue and Dick all live out of town, but Tim and
his sons live in the Legends and invited his parents to live with them.
Seventy years in the same marriage, thirty five years in the same job, years and years in the same par-
ish. These two new members of St. Francis have a real history of finding something good and sticking with it.
Continued on next page
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The Chalice Page 15 www.stfranciseureka.com
St. Francis In-Depth
If you would like more details about St. Francis finances, the Bishops Committee meetings, and
the Vicars activities, please see the bulletin board in the lower level of the Lodge. There you will find two
months worth of:
Bishops Committee meeting minutes;
Monthly financial reports;
Treasurers commentary;
Vicars activity reports.
Additionally, on the Sunday immediately following the Bishops Com-
mittee meeting which is on the third Sunday of the month, the financial results
for the previous month will be reported in the bulletin insert.
Financial Update November 2011
November 2011
Budgeted for
November
YTD 2011
Actual
YTD 2011
Budget
Total Income $ 9,604 $ 8,847 $100,833 $ 97,317
Total Expenses 7,794 9,546 90,650 97,966
Difference $ 1,810 $ 699 $ 10,183 $ (649)
Checking AccountRockwood Bank $ 14,007
Balance in Edward Jones Money Market 1,666
Balance in Diocesan Investment pooled fund-general 4,652
Custodial account held by the Diocese 26,000
Balance in Diocesan Investment pooled fund-Sp Growth 2,903
If you have further questions, talk to the Vicar. Pastor Sally values input and is happy to have a conversa-
tion at any time about St. Francis.
Rasmussens continued.
In that vein, you should know that George spent 40 years man and boy in the Boy Scouts. His own scout
leader served as his mentor including sending letters that helped to get him through the war years. Vernell
proudly explains that George earned the Silver Beaver award, scoutings highest honor. When his own sons
came along, George was very active for many years as scout leader. His own three sons earned the Eagle
Scout honor as did almost forty other boys under his leadership.
When George and Vernell moved to Eureka they came to St. Francis at the recommendation of people
at St. Stephens. Were so glad they did! Theyre happy to have found a church home with a vicar that they
really, really like and a place where they feel truly welcome.