Thank you for exploring the Ministry Pages of St. Francis in the Fields.

Below you will find a list and a brief description of the various Ministry organizations that we have at St. Francis in the Fields.  By clicking on the heading of an organization you will automatically be linked to more detail within each group including a description of ministry for each class or activity, calendars, schedules, newsletters, photos, prayer requests, links, FAQ's and more.

• Children and Family Ministry exists to support, nurture and strengthen the family in the knowledge and way of the Lord.  We seek to know the virtues that lead to a life of faithful and fruitful living to the glory of God. 

Marriage Customary:

Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God and a Sacrament of the church offered within the community of St. Francis in the Fields. Accordingly we require that of the couple be Episcopalian and connected in some way to St. Francis in the Fields for your wedding to be performed here. The sacrament of Holy Matrimony is available to members of St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in good standing for at least one year, their children, or members of another Episcopal church within the Diocese of Kentucky whose sanctuary is not large enough to accommodate the number of wedding guests anticipated. Others may also be eligible for pastoral reasons at the discretion of the Rector. Other clergy persons may participate in the service by invitation of our Rector.   If either person has been divorced, permission must be obtained from the Bishop before a date for the wedding can be set. The clergy must counsel with the couple before requesting the Bishop’s consent.

Pre-marital Counseling:

All couples are required to receive instruction in the Church’s teachings concerning Holy Matrimony prior to being married.  St Francis in the Fields has determined that couples who engage in a program of counseling supported by a period of guided dialogue with an experienced mentoring couple, significantly enhance the success of their marriage.  Accordingly, we ask that each couple meet with a member of the clergy and be willing to participate in a six month period of Marriage Mentoring before a date for the wedding can be scheduled. 

Marriage Mentoring: 

Marriage Mentoring involves taking a written FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) inventory, which explores the couple's personality, family of origin, communication style, views on roles in marriage, views on children, finances and other areas the couple may not yet have explored together.  Subsequent discussions provide an opportunity for the couple to explore and communicate about potential critical areas in a guided and safe environment in the presence of a trained Marriage Mentoring couple before the marriage takes place.  As the sexual expression in the covenant of marriage is considered the ultimate form of communication, couples are encouraged to remain celibate throughout the mentoring process until marriage, or if living together, they are encouraged to separate.

If you are considering marriage as a life long covenant and would like explore having your wedding performed here, please contact our Director of Marriage, Mrs. Sandy Wood at 228-1176.

Music at St. Francis in the Fields

Music has been an integral part of the Christian Church since its origin. The Church has been a center for great musical experiences throughout the ages, bringing people into the Body of Christ and sending them forth into community. Music reaches the soul and connects with the Spirit in a unique and powerful way. The music program at St. Francis is dedicated to continuing this tradition, as we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Our goal is to share our musical gifts and heritage by singing God's praise to all people and by proclaiming his greatness through our worship.

We believe that God can be glorified through a rich setting of choral and instrumental music as it expresses and interprets faith. Such music raises our collective and corporate vision and elicits our best. It is the responsibility of the music leadership to foster knowledge and appreciation of appropriate music as it pertains to worship, the church, and the community.

Many styles of music are acceptable to God, and indeed the variety of what is offered in various churches and denominations is basis for great joy. St. Francis is in the relatively rare position of having the resources to offer traditionally approached, classically based repertoire. The parish has unusually rich resources and leadership, and it serves an educated and culturally sophisticated constituency for whom this literature provides a truly Spirit-filled worship experience. The danger of losing this rich heritage is of great concern not only to all who were nourished and raised on this foundation, but to a future generation who would be impoverished by its absence.

Pastoral Care at St. Francis in the Fields

A Collect for Pastoral Ministry: 

Grant almighty God, that those through whom the sick, infirm and those grieving are included in pastoral ministry through service, prayer, healing and the distribution of the Holy Communion may live in love and holiness according to your commandment, and at the last come to the joy of your heavenly feast with all your saints in light, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Rev J.D. Brown is the associate for Pastoral Care.  Assisted by Mrs. Sandy Wood, our Volunteer coordinator, the Pastoral Care Staff oversees a variety of needs for over 2000 parishioners, their family and friends.  Accordingly, St Francis in the Fields Pastoral Care program involves not only our clergy, but a wide variety of ministries that involve parishioners in prayer and service to those suffering from illness, loneliness, or other cirumstance. 

Flower Delivery.  Our Flower Delivery ministry regularly takes the flowers used to adorn the altar on Sunday to those who may have an ongoing pastoral concern.

Good Samaritans.  Our Good Samaritans is a network of parishioners who prepare meals for families who may be undergoing a pastoral crisis.

Healing Team.  Our healing team meets weekly to offer intercessory prayer for those who ask for it and regularly assembles during Sunday worship to offer laying on of hands and prayer for those who wish to come forward to receive this ministry.

Lay Eucahristic Ministry.  Finally, our Lay Eucharistic Ministers regularly take communion to shut-ins, the sick and infirm who are unable to attend regular worship.  

If you have a pastoral need, know of someone who might benefit from this ministry, or feel called to assist in this powerful ministry of the church, please contact the Pastoral Care Staff at 228-1176. 

Volunteer Ministry- "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

The St. Francis in the Fields "Volunteer Commitment" program was first introduced in June 2003.  Parishioners can find out about volunteer needs in the Sunday leaflet and in the monthly newsletter, "The Canticle".  Since its inception, many new ministries have been created to meet the growing needs of the parish.  This program was designed to enhance our vision of being a "servant driven church".   Since 2003, an entire volunteer community has gotten involved in serving and devoting their talents and passions in accomplishing God's work.  This "volunteer explosion" is what happens when Christ's followers offer their hearts and talents to meet these needs.  Serving others is a wonderfully rich experience that will forever change who you are. 

Areas of opportunity to volunteer at St. Francis would be in the following ministries:

WORSHIP - Altar Guild, Flower Delivery, Charlice Bearer, Acolyte, Sr. Acolyte Scheduler/Mentor, Usher, Usher Coordinator, Daughters of the King, Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Sunday Collection Counters, Church Office Volunteer, Good Samaritans, 3rd Tuesday Luncheon Series, Healing Blanket Ministry, Marriage Mentor, Lay Eucharist Minister, Kilgore Committee, Prayer Chain

EVANGALISM & OUTREACH - Greeters, Alpha Leaders, Portland Elementary School, Aunt Mary's Storybook (women's prison ministry), Norton's Hospital and Women's Board, Habitat for Humanity, Youth Missions, Cabbage Patch, Episcopal Church Home, Prodigal Ministries, Small Group Dinner Ministry

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION - Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School, Adult Education, Tuesday Morning Bible Study, Youth Solid Rock 

YOUTH MINISTRY - Youth Ministry Fundraisers:  Vintage Car Show, St. Francis Golf Scramble. Coordinator for Youth Missions, Youth Event Helpers (Retreats, Sunday night activities), Sunday School Teachers 7-12 grades.

CHILDRENS MINISTRY - Greeters, Alpha Kids Teacher, Newborn Baskets, Confident Kids Teacher, Bulletin Boards, Substitute Teacher, Vacation Bible School, Mom's Group, Bible Kids

MUSIC - Senior Choir, Boys & Girls Choirs 

To find out about these and other opportunities available, contact Sandy Wood, Volunteer Coordinator, sandyw@stfrancisinthefields.org

 "Can you hear me Now??" is out theme this year.  As I grew up my parents would always tell me how stubborn I was.  I would do things my way and I often found out that doing it my way, even though my parents invited me to do it another, caused me pain.  Today, I think we live in a stubborn society.  We try to do things out way even when we know that our heavenly Father is guiding us in another way.  God is asking us, Can you hear me now?  If the answer is Yes!, God says good.  If the answer is no, God is telling us that it isn't those who hear his commandments that brings approval, it is those who hear the commandments and obey the commandments that are declared right in God's sight.  Romans 2:13