Last Saturday, 17 refugee kits from St. Francis were delivered to the Refugee Care Collective. https://refugeecarecollective.org
It is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes the city of Portland to come alongside refugee families as they work to rebuild their lives. It is sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries. Refugees arrive to Oregon with few possessions, and have to quickly build their lives again. Restart kits are plastic tubs filled with essential household items, and a complete set is formed by eight unique restart kits – one for each area of the home. The kits are received by newly arriving families and individuals, meeting a tangible need and communicating a message of welcome. It’s a first step in saying, “You are not alone. We are here for you.” Outreach committee would like to thank you for your ongoing support. 

In addition to funding all of the supplies for 11 of the kits, Outreach has distributed $1,000 to purchase backpacks and $500 for school supplies to children identified as needing help in low income housing in Wilsonville. We have also allocated funds to help with the purchase of new school shoes. For the next few weeks, we will continue to collect coats, jackets, and tarps to assist St. Timothy’s in Brookings. The needs of the homeless in their parish are growing.

Thank you!
Carole Biskar

Adult Formation in August and September will center on Spiritual Care for Caregivers.
​Join Brendan and Terri on Sundays at 9:15 am and share conversations about the challenges and support for caregivers. Whether you are a professional caregiver or caring (now or in the future) for someone you love, please join us! We will be using wisdom from a book by nurse and priest Jean Denton called Walking Each Other Home. The book is available through Amazon or local bookstores if you’d like your own copy. Please also plan to reflect on your own feelings and thoughts using a journal, art supplies, or recording device; this won’t be shared but will be helpful.

Let’s Do Lunch is back with a new day! We hope you can join us on Tuesday, July 5th at 11:45 am. We will meet at Abella Italian Kitchen. A head count is helpful so there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. 
Questions? Contact Peggy Danford or Sandi Thompson.

One of the many lovely traditions at our St. Francis Church involves the making of origami doves which are hung from the chandeliers in the Nave for Pentecost Sunday on June 5.
 
Before the doves are folded, you all are invited to write a prayer of petition or thanksgiving on the prayer paper.
 
The paper will be available in the narthex on Sunday, May 8, until the actual date of folding them on May 29. You may also submit an online prayer through the website, News Page.
 
The doves flying over us on Pentecost are an awesome, powerful sight, and a remembrance of how we are uplifted and comforted by the prayers of others. Look for the prayer papers and take part in this beautiful connection with our loved ones.