Happy New Year, St. Francis! I hope this season has been one of rest, joy, and renewal for you and your loved ones. As we step into 2026, I want to say how genuinely good it feels to be back together after the holidays and to look ahead at all that is unfolding in the life of our parish. There is so much to be grateful for, and so much to be excited about!
First, I am thrilled to announce the launch of Liturgy Lab, beginning on February 1. These will be evening services held at 5:00 pm, once a month, designed to explore historic and alternative forms of the Eucharistic service. Liturgy Lab is meant to be experiential and communal: we’ll worship together, then gather for dinner and conversation to reflect, learn, and ask questions. It’s an invitation to deepen our understanding of the liturgy by fully participating in it. More details are coming soon, and I can’t wait to share them with you!
On February 15, we will offer an Instructive Eucharist, a rare and wonderful opportunity to walk through the service step by step, with explanations of what we do and why we do it. This is especially meaningful for anyone who is curious about the rhythms of worship, and whether you’re new to the church or have been here for years, I hope you’ll join us.
I’m also happy to share that our Youth Group, Teen Tuesdays, met again on January 6 and will continue meeting every Tuesday in the Parish Hall, just as before. All teens ages 13–19 are warmly welcome to attend—friends included! It’s a relaxed, supportive space to connect, ask questions, and build community.
Finally, a reminder that Faithful Families will continue in 2026, with a small change: beginning in February, our monthly potluck will move to the fourth Sunday of each month. As a reminder, all families are warmly welcome to share a meal, connect, and spend time together after our Sunday morning worship.
Thank you for being such a vibrant and caring community. I am so grateful to walk into this new year with you, and I look forward to all that God has in store for us at St. Francis!
Shelley Reece
Missioner for Programming and Youth
shelley.reece@stfrancispalosverdes.org