My Dear Franciscan Friends,

When I studied Chaucer at Guildford, we were asked to memorize

the prologue to the Canterbury tales. To this day a certain line em-

bedded in my heart’s mind still speaks and teaches.

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,

And bathed every veyne in swich licour

Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

Writing in the 14th century, Geoffery Chaucer described the natural

rhythm of Spring with its showers soaking into the roots of the March

drought to such a complete extent that every vein leading to every plant was bathed in liquor

so powerful as to regenerate the life of every flower.

After the season of Lent, we enter into the depths of Holy Week a drought of sorts that pre-

cedes the rejuvenating power of Easter Joy. While one might reflect upon the respective and

collaborative purposes of dry spells and spring rains, it is the phrase, ‘perced to the roote,’

that opens the door to my heart’s reflections.

How deeply does the love of God seek to flow into the human spirit, and into the thirsty

ground of creation? To the root! To radical depths love seeks to the carry the powerful

’licour,’ it is no superficial transformation that God seeks. Rather Easter Joy and Resurrec-

tion power are not satisfied until they fill the very core of our hearts healing every wound.

Our wounds fester with fear, angst, sadness, alienation and anger, while the healing licour of

God engenders a new reality in which our wounds are transformed, like the wounds Jesus

suffered on the cross, into sources of compassion, peace, love and forgiveness.

During this Holy Easertide may God’s love pierce us to the core and may we as newly flow-

ering people be so alive with joy that our touch is light and lifegiving.

Peace,

Michael+

April 2012

MICHAEL MOULDEN RECTOR

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While Robert's away - the kids shall play! March activities included a beautiful afternoon cleaning

up our Adopt - A Street, Lawndale Avenue followed by a St. Patty's Day rafting trip to Charlotte's

US Whitewater Center and an exciting start to senior sermons. Stay tuned for more youth ser-

mons and youth updates!

Y O U T H A C T I V I T I E S

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SUNDAY Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an ass (the mount traditionally chosen by a king who

came in peace) and was welcomed as the Messiah by crowds who cried out, “Blessed is he that

cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” The chief priest and scribes

(Ecclesiastical lawyers) were annoyed at the challenge to their authority (They had denied that

Jesus was the Christ) and feared that the popularity of Jesus would anger the Roman authorities

who had put them in office. They were very much more annoyed by what happened on...

MONDAY, when Jesus cleansed the temple. “He cast out them that sold and bought in the tem-

ple and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers,” to who He said, “My house shall be called

the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” The scribes and the chief priest im-

mediately decided to destroy Him.

TUESDAY Jesus returned to the temple and taught there. He answered many questions and told

many parables to illustrate His teaching, and all the efforts of the scribes and chief priest failed

to trap Him in His own words or to embarrass Him; they met in the upper rooms of the temple

to continue their search for a way to be rid of Him. They found the way on ...

WEDNESDAY, when Judas Iscariot came to them and agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of

silver. He said that he would let the temple guard know which was Jesus by a kiss. Jesus knew,

even foretold, Judas’ betrayal, but He went ahead with His plan to observe the Feast of the Pass-

over with His followers on ...

THURSDAY. He met with His twelve Apostles in the upper room of a home in Jerusalem and

ate with them. After supper, He “took bread” and “took the cup” and thus instituted the “Lord’s

Supper” - the Holy Communion or Eucharist, as it is now called. Afterwards, they all went to

pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, where everyone but Jesus fell asleep. When the temple

guard arrived, Judas Iscariot, by the pre-arranged signal, betrayed his Master to the authorities.

During the night and early morning, Jesus was tried on trumped-up charges, and finally was

illegally convicted on His own testimony. On ...

FRIDAY, Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried. By ...

SATURDAY, He had descended into hell.

T H E F I R S T H O L Y W E E K

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An Outreach Committee allocation was approved as follows:

Groceries on Wheels - $5000

The day school posted a financial gain of $1800 in February. 71 students have committed

to the 2012-13 school year.

The property committee reported that kudzu removal will begin in late March. Additional

parishioners are needed to assist in this long-term project.

The Community Garden is at 100% capacity.

Confirmation and a visit by Bishop Curry are planned for May 27.

V E S T R Y H I G H L I G H T S

C H A P T E R S I N O U R L I V E S

DEATHS:

Nelson Babb, father of Claudia Reich

Dot Pate, Parishioner

Richard Coffin, brother of Tina Lee

Margaret Ragsdale, mother-in-law of Emily Ragsdale

Jean Riddick, Parishioner

Paul Dodge, Parishioner

Bill Dunning, brother of Rebecca DeCoste

TRANSFERS OUT:

Jamie Dickens to St. John's Episcopal Church, Charlotte, NC

Danny, April, Riley and McKenna Hall to Westover Church, Greensboro, NC

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T R E A S U R E R ’ S R E P O R T

A “side-by-side” of January and February of 2012 compared to 2011 is

below:

Revenue is up slightly due to parishioner payments in 2012 of 2011 pledges. Thanks you! Ex-

penses, while more than last year, result from two payments of the diocesan “fair share” assess-

ment in 2012; in 2011 there had only been one payment through the end of February last year.

The Day School continues to be successful financially. A modest gain was experienced in Feb-

ruary and the trend appears to be on target to meet its budget expectations. They also report that

they now have 71 students registered for the Fall Semester. This is great news. Congratulations

to Rae, Kit, Staff and all who have helped and continue to make the Day School success.

The next report will cover the 2012 First Quarter results including the Budget comparison.

In God’s Peace.

Larry Upson

Jan & Feb Jan & Feb 2012

2012 2011 Versus

Actual Actual 2011

Accounts

Revenues

Total Revenues $98,912 $91,456 $7,457

Expenses

Total Expenses $103,832 $98,837 ($4,995)

Net Total Gain/(Loss) ($4,919) ($7,381) $2,462

LARRY UPSON

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F R I E N D S F R O M S T . F R A N C I S

Friends from St. Francis is a ministry active at the time of a death in a parishioner's family to

help ease the grieving process for the family.

Please consider joining us in this gratifying ministry.

We work closely with the church staff and our rector, Michael Moulden.

We provide ushers and house sitters at the home of the deceased during the funeral and/or

visitation

We initiate and provide a visitation usually the night before for the family

We plan and implement a simple reception after the funeral for the family

We relay a request from the family to the shepherd's staff for a meal at the shepherd's staff

discretion

We write a personal letter to the family immediately after the death and make a follow up

call six weeks later.

We deliver a "We Care Basket" to the family if they would like to have one. The basket

contains paper products, prayer book, hymnal, St. Francis note cards, and other useful items.

If you would like to be a part of this meaningful ministry, there is a place for you. Contact

Ellen Lyon at 288-8018 or elyon@triad.rr.com or Beth Bramhall at 282-1032 or

mamab@triad.rr.com

Join the fun the night before the booksale for a special book Preview for Franciscans only.

You'll be able to shop ahead of the crowds, enjoy hors'doevres and wine and visit with your

church friends. April 25th, 5:00-7:30. Free child care provided in St. Mike's (includes snacks).

Suggested donation: $8.00/person.

Watch for sign-up in the courtyard or church office starting March 25!

B O O K S A L E P R E V I E W P A R T Y

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O U T R E A C H

The Outreach Committee continues to receive requests weekly from many local non-profit agen-

cies who need not only financial assistance but also volunteer assistance. This month we are fea-

turing Housing Greensboro, an organization that helps low income homeowners with "desperately

needed repairs to make their homes, warmer, drier and safer." Please take a look at the flyer at

http://www.stfrancisgreensboro.org/documents/Outreach/Housing-Greensboro.pdf and see if you

have a skill that you can share. In addition to the donation to Housing Greensboro, the Outreach

Committee and Vestry approved grants to Horsepower, Adult Center for Enrichment, Family Ser-

vices of the Piedmont (specifically Clara House), Court Watch of NC, and Out of the Garden Pro-

ject.

Bari Oodee, the young man from Nigeria who plays in our Heaven Help Us Band, is working hard

to complete his senior year in high school. He would also like to find some work on the week-

ends. Contact Mary Plybon, Jimmy Weeks, Dan Jones, Kathy McCarthy, Jacob Bauser or Betty

Barry who will happy to provide a stellar recommendation and contact information.

Be sure and come to the Franciscan Book Sale Party this year....the Outreach Committee will have

displays and posters of many of the projects that have been funded this year. See how the St. Fran-

cis Book Sale profits help our community and world.

B O O K S A L E

54th Annual Book Sale

Thursday, April 26th 10:00am - 8:00pm

Friday, April 27th 10:00am - 8:00pm

Saturday, April 28th 10:00am - 1:00pm

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S T . F R A N C I S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H A Parish of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina

The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, Bishop

The Rt. Rev. Albert (Chip) Marble, Assisting Bishop

The Rt. Rev. William Gregg, Assistant Bishop

P A R I S H S T A F F

ST. FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 3506 Lawndale Drive

Greensboro, NC 27408

The Rev. Michael Moulden, Rector

The Rev. Robert Black, Assistant Rector

Rae Augustin, Day School Director

Liz Harvey, Youth Activities

Sam Doyle, Choir Director

Pat Copley, Organist

Jane Woody, Junior Choir Director

Linda Allgood, Parish Administrator

Bonnie Thyer, Communications Coordinator

Linda Lambe, Bookkeeper

Mike Taylor, Facilities Manager

Rigoberto Bautista, Custodian

On the web at: www.stfrancisgreensboro.org

Phone 336-288-4721 Fax 336-288-4760

St. Francis Day School 336-288-4740