St. Francis Episcopal Church
is located at
16608 Highway 76
Pauma Valley, CA 92061
link to Google maps click here
Mailing Address
St. Francis Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1220
Pauma Valley, CA 92061
Interim Minister: Father Robert G. Eaton
email address: stfrancisepiscopalchurchpv@gmail.com
Church phone: 760-742-1738
The United Thank Offering 'blue boxes' were collected and the monies will soon be on their way to the United Thank Offering organization. The United Thank Offering 'blue boxes' donation from St Francis parish totals $390.72. Good work!
You can find additional information about UTO on their webpage. Click here.
A Message from Father Rob....
"The Resurrection Appearances!"
From the Interim Minister, the Rev. Robert G. Eaton
The Gospel for Sunday has reminded me of the moments when I've wondered about the timeline of the various resurrection appearances. I was headed in a different direction for my sermon and even this column, when I realized this was a different story than what I was first considering. "Whoops!", I said to myself. This is not the risen Jesus on the beach beckoning the apostles out of their fishing boats and inviting them to a broiled fish breakfast. Instead, this Sunday's Luke story goes the other direction, so to speak. Here Jesus appears to the apostles like he did last week, and to prove his physicality, that is, that his resurrected body was not simply a ghost version, but real, touchable, functioning alive human body, he asks for something to eat. And they give him what THEY prepared, cooked fish.
How important it is (now exhorting myself again, as well as you) to read the scripture carefully, and every time you do read it - again and again - leave presumptions and old first impressions behind, so you can learn again. And every day dawns anew!
I'm helping my own discipleship here, and hopefully yours, by posting something new for me. I've never outlined the resurrection appearances in a complete chronological manner, but I've had many occasions of answering questions about when and where. Usually, the occasion was prompted by Gospel readings in bible studies or Sunday mornings where curiosity motivates the question: how does that fit in to the 40 days?
I discovered recently the nice attempt by a pastor who decided - after having the same experiences of questions himself - to take the proverbial bull by the horns and piece it together as best as possible. As soon as he did so, he immediately had readers picking at the very things he outlined in his preamble, idiosyncrasies that show up in comments throughout his timeline.
But to repeat his own caveats, the 4 Gospellers did not appear to have any writing seminars together, nor editing confabs, which means differences sometimes in impression of events, as well as style of reporting. With that in mind, and for all of our initial curiosities, here is what the liturgically-minded pastor put together. May it be helpful, reassuring, and motivating to your own witness - "He is Risen!" - and your testimony of the resurrected Jesus Christ in your own life!!
The highlighted enumeration of the appearances is mine.
The Appearances
That's a lot of good work by my bible-loving colleague in ordained ministry, and I salute his efforts. There is one more appearance of note in the book of Acts (and the same story related again in Paul's letters) , and that is when the Lord Jesus appeared to Paul, but well after Jesus had ascended.
There's an old Vacation Bible School (VBS) song diddy, complete with body movement, that I might as well throw in here, just to help underscore the value of Bible reading for our ongoing discipleship:
Read your Bible, pray every day / pray every day / pray every day;
Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow;
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
SO,Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.
BUT! Neglect your Bible, forget to pray / forget to pray / forget to pray;
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink;
And you'll shrink, shrink, shrink!
And you'll shrink, shrink, shrink!
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink
[SO, what should we do?! - Read our bibles! - Right!]
Read your Bible, pray every day / pray every day / pray every day;
Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow;
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
SO, Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.
(you can get a feel for this song at the following link, but it's not exactly the way I play it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4BEINEgZ9g ).
with love and prayer for you, God's People
Fr. Rob
You can find additional information about UTO on their webpage. Click here.
A Message from Father Rob....
"The Resurrection Appearances!"
From the Interim Minister, the Rev. Robert G. Eaton
The Gospel for Sunday has reminded me of the moments when I've wondered about the timeline of the various resurrection appearances. I was headed in a different direction for my sermon and even this column, when I realized this was a different story than what I was first considering. "Whoops!", I said to myself. This is not the risen Jesus on the beach beckoning the apostles out of their fishing boats and inviting them to a broiled fish breakfast. Instead, this Sunday's Luke story goes the other direction, so to speak. Here Jesus appears to the apostles like he did last week, and to prove his physicality, that is, that his resurrected body was not simply a ghost version, but real, touchable, functioning alive human body, he asks for something to eat. And they give him what THEY prepared, cooked fish.
How important it is (now exhorting myself again, as well as you) to read the scripture carefully, and every time you do read it - again and again - leave presumptions and old first impressions behind, so you can learn again. And every day dawns anew!
I'm helping my own discipleship here, and hopefully yours, by posting something new for me. I've never outlined the resurrection appearances in a complete chronological manner, but I've had many occasions of answering questions about when and where. Usually, the occasion was prompted by Gospel readings in bible studies or Sunday mornings where curiosity motivates the question: how does that fit in to the 40 days?
I discovered recently the nice attempt by a pastor who decided - after having the same experiences of questions himself - to take the proverbial bull by the horns and piece it together as best as possible. As soon as he did so, he immediately had readers picking at the very things he outlined in his preamble, idiosyncrasies that show up in comments throughout his timeline.
But to repeat his own caveats, the 4 Gospellers did not appear to have any writing seminars together, nor editing confabs, which means differences sometimes in impression of events, as well as style of reporting. With that in mind, and for all of our initial curiosities, here is what the liturgically-minded pastor put together. May it be helpful, reassuring, and motivating to your own witness - "He is Risen!" - and your testimony of the resurrected Jesus Christ in your own life!!
The highlighted enumeration of the appearances is mine.
The Appearances
- I. The morning of Day One of the Resurrection (Easter Day)
- A. Very early in the morning a group of several women, including Mary Magdalene, approach the tomb to complete burial customs on behalf of Jesus (Matt 28:1; Mk 16:1; Jn 20:1).
- B. They behold the tomb opened and are alarmed.
- C. Mary Magdalene runs off to Peter and John with the distressing news of likely grave robbers (Jn 20:2).
- D. The women who remain at the tomb encounter an angel, who declares to them that Jesus has risen and that they should tell this to the brethren (Mk 16:5 Lk 24:4; Mt 28:5).
- E. At first the women are filled with fear and depart from the tomb afraid to speak (Mk 16:8).
- F. Recovering their courage they decide to go to the Apostles (Lk 24:9; Mt 28:8).
- G. Meanwhile Peter and John go to the tomb to investigate Mary Magdalene’s claim. Mary follows behind them, arriving back at the tomb while Peter and John are still there. Peter and John discover the empty tomb; they encounter no angel. John believes in the resurrection; Peter’s conclusion is not recorded.
- H. The other women report to the remaining Apostles what the angel at the tomb said to them. Peter and John have not yet returned from the tomb and these remaining apostles are at first dismissive of the women’s story (Lk 24:9-11).
- I. Mary Magdalene, lingering at the tomb, weeps and is fearful. Peering into the tomb, she sees this time two angels who wonder why she weeps. Jesus then approaches her from behind. Not looking directly at Jesus, she supposes Him to be the gardener. When He calls her by name, Mary recognizes His voice, turns, and sees Him. Filled with joy she clings to Him (APPEARANCE 1) (Jn 20:16).
- J. Jesus sends Mary back to the Apostles with the news to prepare them for His appearance later that day (Jn 20:17).
- K. The other women have now departed from the Apostles and are on their way, possibly back home. Jesus appears to them (Mt 28:9) (after having dispatched Mary). He also sends them back to the Apostles with the news that He has risen and that He will see them (APPEARANCE 2).
- II. The afternoon and evening of Day One
- A. Later that day, two disciples on their way to Emmaus are pondering what they have heard about rumors of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus comes up behind them but they are prevented from recognizing Him. First Jesus breaks open the word for them; then He sits at table with them and celebrates the Eucharist, whereupon their eyes are opened and they recognize Him in the breaking of the bread (APPEARANCE 3) (Lk 24:13-30).
- B. The two disciples return that evening to Jerusalem and go to the Eleven. At first the Eleven disbelieve them just as they had the women (Mk 16:13). Nevertheless they continue to relate what they have experienced. At some point, Peter draws apart from the others (perhaps for a walk?). The Lord appears to Peter (APPEARANCE 4)(Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5). Peter informs the other ten, who then believe. Thus the disciples from Emmaus (still lingering with the Apostles) are now told (perhaps by way of apology) that it is in indeed true that Jesus has risen (Lk 24:34).
- C. Almost at the same moment, Jesus appears to the small gathering of Apostles and the two disciples from Emmaus (APPEARANCE 5). Thomas is absent (although the Lucan text describes the appearance as being to “the eleven,” this is probably just shorthand for the Apostles as a group). They are startled but Jesus reassures them and opens the scriptures to them (Lk 24:36ff).
- D. There is some debate as to whether He appeared to them a second time that night. The Johannine and Lucan accounts have significantly different descriptions of the appearance on that first Sunday evening. Is it merely a different recounting of the same appearance or is it a wholly separate appearance? It is not possible to say for sure. Nevertheless, since the descriptions are so different we can call it APPEARANCE 6 (Jn 20:19ff), though it is likely one and the same as “Appearance 5.”
- III. Interlude
- A. There is no biblical account of Jesus appearing to anyone during the week that followed. The next account of the resurrection says, “Eight days later,” namely the following Sunday.
- B. We do know that the apostles exclaimed to Thomas that they had seen the Lord, but that he refused to believe it (Jn 20:24).
- C. Were the apostles nervous that Jesus had not appeared again each day? We do not know; there are no accounts of what happened during this interlude.
- IV. One week later, Day 8 (aka 2nd Sunday of Easter)
- A. Jesus appears once again (APPEARANCE 7) to the gathered Apostles. This time Thomas is with them. He calls Thomas to faith, and Thomas now confesses Jesus to be Lord and God (Jn 20:24-29).
- V. Interlude two
- A. The apostles had received instructions to return to Galilee (Mt 28:10; Mk 16:7) where they would see Jesus. Thus they spent some of this interlude journeying 60 miles to the north, a trip that would have taken a considerable amount of time. We can imagine them making the trek north during the intervening days.
- VI. Sometime later (days or a week) at Galilee
- A. The time frame of the next appearance is somewhat vague. John merely says “after this.” It is likely a matter of days or a week at best. The scene is at the Sea of Galilee; not all of the Twelve are present. They have gone fishing and Jesus summons them from the lakeside. They come to shore and see him (APPEARANCE 8). Peter has a poignant discussion with Jesus and is commissioned to tend the flock of Christ (Jn 21).
- B. The Appearance to the 500 – Of all the appearances, you might think that this one would have been recorded in some detail since it was the most widely experienced. It would seem that many accounts would have existed and that at least one would have made its way into the Scriptures. Yet there is no account of it other than that it did in fact happen. Paul records the fact of this appearance in 1 Cor 15:6: Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep (APPEARANCE 9). Where did this take place? What was it like? What was the reaction? We simply do not know. Proof once again that the Bible is not a history book in the conventional sense. Rather, it is a highly selective telling of what took place, not a complete account. The Bible makes no claim to be something it is not. It is quite clear that it is a selective book (Jn 20:30).
- C. The Appearance to James. Here again we do not have a description of this appearance, only a remark by Paul that it did in fact happen 1 Cor 15:7: Then he appeared to James (APPEARANCE 10). The time frame of this appearance is not clear, only that it happened after the appearance to the five hundred and before the final appearance to the apostles.
- VII. The rest of the forty days (40 days = Easter to Ascension), perhaps starting around Week 4, or Day 22, half-way to the Ascension
- A. Jesus certainly had other appearances to/with the disciples. Luke attests to this in Acts when he writes, To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).
- B. During this time there is perhaps the one appearance we can attribute specifically to this time period as recorded by both Matthew (Mt 28:16ff) and Mark (Mk 16:14ff). It takes place on “a mountaintop in Galilee.” Mark adds that they were reclining at table. I refer to this appearance (time frame uncertain) as APPEARANCE 11. It is here that Jesus gives the great commission. Although Mark’s text may seem to imply that Jesus was taken up from this mountain, such a conclusion is rash since Mark only indicates that Jesus ascended only “after he had spoken to them” (Mk 16:19).
- C. Evidently Jesus had also summoned them back to Jerusalem at least toward the end of the period of the forty days. There they would be present for the feast of Pentecost. We can imagine frequent appearances with ongoing instruction, for Luke records that Jesus “stayed with them.” Most of these appearances and discourses are not recorded. Luke writes in Acts, And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4).
- VIII. The final appearance to the Apostles, and ascension
- A. After forty days of appearances and instructions we have a final account of the last appearance (APPEARANCE 12, or perhaps 512!) wherein He leads them out to a place near Bethany and gives them final instructions to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit is sent. And then He is taken up to Heaven in their very sight (Lk 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11).
That's a lot of good work by my bible-loving colleague in ordained ministry, and I salute his efforts. There is one more appearance of note in the book of Acts (and the same story related again in Paul's letters) , and that is when the Lord Jesus appeared to Paul, but well after Jesus had ascended.
There's an old Vacation Bible School (VBS) song diddy, complete with body movement, that I might as well throw in here, just to help underscore the value of Bible reading for our ongoing discipleship:
Read your Bible, pray every day / pray every day / pray every day;
Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow;
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
SO,Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.
BUT! Neglect your Bible, forget to pray / forget to pray / forget to pray;
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink;
And you'll shrink, shrink, shrink!
And you'll shrink, shrink, shrink!
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink
[SO, what should we do?! - Read our bibles! - Right!]
Read your Bible, pray every day / pray every day / pray every day;
Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow;
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
And you'll grow, grow, grow!
SO, Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow.
(you can get a feel for this song at the following link, but it's not exactly the way I play it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4BEINEgZ9g ).
with love and prayer for you, God's People
Fr. Rob
Do you want to learn more about the Episcopal Church of the United States? Select "More" from the menu at the top of this webpage. Choose "Episcopal Church" from the pull down menu. You will find there a history of the Episcopal Church and information about who we are as a worship community.
SEARCH TEAM NEWS... ... ... ....
Search Team reports that we are on schedule with the development of a Parish "Portfolio" and "Profile." Of interest will be the drone video of the property and facilities which will be attached to the Profile. You'll be able to view it yourself when it is edited down and uploaded to our parish website.
Speak to Search Team leader Sam Dreyer, Senior Warden Dave Winebarger or Fr. Eaton for more info.
Search Team reports that we are on schedule with the development of a Parish "Portfolio" and "Profile." Of interest will be the drone video of the property and facilities which will be attached to the Profile. You'll be able to view it yourself when it is edited down and uploaded to our parish website.
Speak to Search Team leader Sam Dreyer, Senior Warden Dave Winebarger or Fr. Eaton for more info.
Food For The Hungry Update
Update from Jennifer Wheelock
PLEASE no glass containers
Thank you all who have contributed to our food drive.
Items that are short in the pantry are highlighted below in yellow.
Please consider the items below as you are doing your weekly shopping. Don't feel like you have to get everything on this list. If everyone brought just a few of these items each week it would make a tremendous difference for those who could really use some help right here in Pauma Valley and Valley Center!
Each week 6 bags are provided for distribution by the Valley Center Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic.
Bags include:
- Box of cereal
- Can of tuna or chicken
- 16 oz. peanut butter
- Cans of green beans, corn, and fruit
- Can of beans or one-pound bags of dried beans
- 1 pound of rice
- 16 oz. or 24 oz. pasta sauce
- 1 pound of pasta any type
- Box of macaroni and cheese
- Kleenex and personal hygiene items.
Saint Francis Vestry & Staff
*************************
2024
Andre Padilla
Tomas Cerruti
2025
Eva Rosa
Dave Winebarger - Senior Warden
Renee Meyst - Junior Warden
2026
Jennie Myers
*************************
Treasurer: Eva Rosa
Organist and Choirmaster: Brett Michael Hauser
*************************
2024
Andre Padilla
Tomas Cerruti
2025
Eva Rosa
Dave Winebarger - Senior Warden
Renee Meyst - Junior Warden
2026
Jennie Myers
*************************
Treasurer: Eva Rosa
Organist and Choirmaster: Brett Michael Hauser
Click here for weekly readings from the Lectionary from the Episcopal Church. |
Report Misconduct
The Episcopal Church has suspended the statute of limitations for reporting clergy sexual misconduct. Until December 31, 2029, persons who believe they have been a victim of misconduct at any time in the past in our diocese may file a report with our intake officers: Equilla Luke, aequilla@icloud.com, or John Seitman, jseitman@edsd.org. If you believe you have been harmed, please make a report. Our diocesan task force on compassionate care is available to support you. Speak with the intake officers for more information.
The Episcopal Church has suspended the statute of limitations for reporting clergy sexual misconduct. Until December 31, 2029, persons who believe they have been a victim of misconduct at any time in the past in our diocese may file a report with our intake officers: Equilla Luke, aequilla@icloud.com, or John Seitman, jseitman@edsd.org. If you believe you have been harmed, please make a report. Our diocesan task force on compassionate care is available to support you. Speak with the intake officers for more information.