Information and Resources
April 4, 2023
The Episcopal Branch of Christ’s Body: A Primer for Episcopalians Old and New
October 1, 2025

Connect and Serve

Connect and Serve




Opportunities abound at St. Francis
for members, new and old,
to connect with the
social, spiritual and service activities
of our parish.

Acolytes - Acolytes play a major role in the worship service at St. Francis. They carry one of the crosses, a taper, the gospel book, or the banner. In addition, they help the celebrant set up the communion table, stand at the Altar during the eucharistic liturgy and ring the Sanctus bells at specific times. The Acolytes have their own robing room adorned by photographs of all those who have graduated. St. Francis welcomes those between 2nd and 12th grade to join the Acolyte corps. For more information, contact David Brooks.
Altar Flower Delivery – Flowers from the Altar are delivered each week to people who may be ill, in the hospital or celebrating a birthday, birth or other special occasion. Please call the church office to help with this uplifting ministry.
Altar Guild - Members ready the church for worship by dressing the Altar, cleaning silver and caring for liturgical linens. New volunteers are always welcome. Contact Sherri Lewis for information on the set-up team.

Audio/Visual - The Audiovisual ministry is a critical technical component of St. Francis. We use it to help enhance our communications and engage the community near and far. Most visible is the live streaming of our services, including our Sunday worship, funerals, special services or events, the Rector's Study, and the occasional interview and recording of parishioners. The streaming is done from the media center in the sanctuary or by using the remote TV Media Cart. You do not have to be a techno-wizard to be involved, just have the willingness to learn a few things. Please get in touch with Everett Warren for more information.

Book Group – The St. Francis Book Group meets in the church library on the third Friday of the month at 1 pm (excluding summer months). Members of the group contribute book suggestions. Current book selections can be seen on the church calendar. New members are welcome anytime. Please contact Elizabeth Pitt for more information.

Choir – Adult choir members lead the congregation’s responses and singing during the 10 am Sunday services and other special services throughout the year. Members of the choir rehearse with the choir director weekly from 7 - 8:30 pm on Thursdays and 9:15 am on Sunday mornings. The choir sings on a September – June schedule. No musical experience is necessary! Please contact the Choir Director, Joe Perry, for more information.

Church Gardens – This ministry keeps our grounds at St. Francis beautiful by maintaining existing gardens and adding new plantings to enhance the aesthetic appeal of church surroundings. Veteran gardeners and horticultural novices lead spring and fall cleanups. Many beds can be maintained on your own schedule. For more information, please contact Jill Quinn.

Circle of Friends - This outreach ministry provides comfort and support for our church community. Each month they address special correspondence within the community for birthdays, baptisms, thinking of you, sympathy, get well and other occasions. Shelley Steel facilitates and organizes this ministry and relies a team of helpers to write, address and mail cards monthly. Card packets are placed in the Outreach file outside the church office for pick up. Contact Shelly to participate in this valuable ministry.

Coffee Hour – Members serve coffee and provide breakfast treats after the 10 am Sunday service during the school year. This important ministry allows us to get to know each other and connect after church on a more personal level. Written and personal instruction is provided. There is a signup sheet on the church bulletin board. Please contact Sue Kelly to help.

Fellowship – The Fellowship Committee plans numerous social events throughout the year. Francis and Friends and other events are announced in our monthly newsletter Fieldnotes, and signup boards are displayed in the narthex. All parishioners are invited to attend and bring guests. These are informal gatherings in a relaxed, fun environment. Please contact chair Sue Nangle to volunteer.

Flower Guild – The flower team arranges the beautiful flowers on the Altar each week. Please contact Carol Forte for information on joining the flower team.
Greeters – The greeters provide welcoming personal contact for first time and repeat visitors, as well as for long time parishioners. The primary goal of this ministry is to make visitors feel comfortable and welcome at our church. Members of this ministry usually greet once every month or two and are provided with easy written and personal instruction. Please contact Mike Lenkaitis for more information.

Intercessors – Readers offer Prayers of the People at the 10 am service each Sunday. New intercessors are always welcome. Please contact Ed Damerau for more information.

Justice & Action Committee

A committee of parishioners dedicated to Gospel-oriented social justice causes for the purpose of educating, orienting, and mobilizing interested members of the parish. This committee is ad hoc with any interested persons.  Please contact the chair of the committee, Connie Black, to be added to the distribution list.

Lay Readers – Adults and tweens/teens are welcome to read the lessons and lead the psalm on Sunday mornings. Minimal training is required, and personal instruction will be provided. Please contact the quarterly scheduler, Ed Damerau or Fr. Kevin to volunteer or for more information.

Lectionary Bible Study and Eucharist – Members meet from 10 - 11:30 am on Wednesday mornings to read and discuss Bible passages in preparation for the coming Sunday’s lessons, followed by Holy Eucharist. No prior background in Bible study is necessary and there is no homework. A Zoom link is also be provided by email on Mondays for those that prefer to attend virtually. Please contact Fr. Kevin (610-647-0130 or frkevin@stfrancisfields.org) for more information.

Meadow Minders

The Meadow Minders oversee the care and management of our grass and flower meadow, which runs along the north and east borders of the St. Francis Cemetery.  To join, please contact Phil Taylor.

Men’s Group – St. Francis has a fellowship group for men of the parish that meets for breakfast on the first Saturday of the month at the West Chester Diner. The Men's Group also helps with many odd jobs and projects at the church and set up for various events in the parish. Please contact the church office for more information.

Oblation Bearers - The role of Oblation Bearer is brief, simple, and important: they bring the offerings of wine and bread to the Altar before Eucharist. A sign-up sheet to serve as OB is in the Narthex. When your Sunday comes, the Ushers will be glad to guide you in this quick, simple, but important moment in our worship service.
Outreach – St. Francis participates in a variety of outreach programs throughout the year. Some programs involve collection and delivery of food, clothing and other items. St. Francis supports many local charities in our community through our time, talent, materials and financial donations. Information is available in the church bulletin or by calling the church office.
Sacred Bread Guild - Baking bread for Holy Eucharist was, for many centuries, a craft undertaken by members of the local church. The bread that was offered truly represented the “life and labor” of the parish. St. Francis is now using parishioner-baked bread. If you would like to become part of the Sacred Bread Guild, please contact Fr. Kevin. Gluten-free wafers will continue to be available.
The Rector’s Study – Periodic studies in Christian Discipleship are led by Fr. Kevin (or others) throughout the year. These generally occur on Sunday mornings beginning at 9 am, and last about 30-45 minutes. Lectures by Fr. Kevin are often recorded and made available online. Upcoming dates and topics are announced in the Sunday bulletins and other sources of parish communication.
Transportation for Parishioners – Volunteers provide residents of retirement communities with transportation to worship services and church activities. Please contact the church office or Shirley Warren for more information.

Ushers – Our Ushers welcome members and visitors at designated services, hand out bulletins, provide assistance, help with seating, gather the offering, manage the flow for receiving communion and handle other tasks as needed. Volunteers are scheduled for the 10 am Sunday services and other special services throughout the year. No experience is necessary and personal instruction will be provided. Please contact Mike Quinn for more information.

Vegetable Garden (in partnership with the West Chester Food Cupboard) – St. Francis tends a raised bed vegetable garden that grows and donates three crops per bed per season. The growing season starts in April and ends in late October. Volunteers meet one hour a week to plant, maintain and water plants. The church has donated over 265 pounds of produce a year. Please contact Mahala Renkey for more information.
This site uses cookies to improve your user experience. Read More