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Spreading Love & Hope...
Welcome to Saint Francis Parish and Outreach!
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We are a resisting church!
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In the face of the darkness around us, Saint Francis Parish seeks to be a beacon of light and hope. We are a sanctuary for all those who need it. All are welcome!
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Join us every Sunday at 3:00 PM at 557 Greene Street in Augusta Georgia in the sanctuary of the MCC of Our Redeemer.
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March 23, 2025: Third Sunday of Lent
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Mass Intention: For the willingness to practice costly grace.
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March 30, 2025: Fourth Sunday of Lent
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Mass Intention: For the strength to help the poor and marginalized.
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For the St. George family; Fr. Bryan Wolf; Mary Nehls; for Kelesh’s daughter; James (Cancer); Linda (Cancer); Jacob (Cancer); James Long (Cancer); Mickey; Jacob Williams; Valarie and Boyfriend; Julie and Bill Cowitt; Kelesh and family; Lindsay; Sherlock Bones; Tatum Johnson (Job); Bishop James Long; David; John; Bishop Ben and Darlene Williams; Ryn Ingells; growth for our parish family; all those in the path of the wildfires and severe weather, end of hostilities in Ukraine and the Middle East; for an end to gun violence.
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Third Sunday of Lent - Cheap or Costly Grace
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Are we practicing cheap grace or costly grace? You may ask what I mean by that as so many have not heard of this distinction. Rev. Detrick Bonhoeffer is the one who discussed this distinction in his book titled The Cost of Discipleship.
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Our readings this Sunday give us a hint. God calls the people of Israel to trust in him and to follow him no matter what. Saint Paul tells the church at Corinth that they need to set aside their old ways to follow the message of Jesus. And Jesus tells the people who followed him that one must take the time to tend to the fig tree to receive fruit.
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All these point to the idea of a costly grace. A grace that requires action to be grace. Cheap grace doesn’t require anything of us. Bonhoeffer put it this way:
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“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
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On the other hand, costly grace requires us to set aside our biases, hatred, distrust, and lack of compassion to follow the message of love. Again, Bonhoeffer explained it this way:
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“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.”
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This Sunday we will look at how the difference between cheap and costly grace is important to know when Becoming a Resisting Church. And we will learn how to apply that as we resist the call of the world to seek power, money, and authority.
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I hope you will join us Sunday!
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Can't make it to Mass?
You can still join us virtually, you can by using any of the following outlets:
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Support our Parish!
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You can support our parish by using the following services:
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Our Parish Outreaches
Human First Outreach
This ministry focuses on providing food and toiletry supplies to the homeless in the Augusta, Georgia area. We provide feminine hygiene products to those that need them and food for the pets of our homeless friends and family.
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We are working to bring a human touch to this ministry as we encourage volunteers to engage with the individuals we are helping in a compassionate and loving way. We expect all volunteers to refrain from proselytizing and preaching to those we serve. Instead, take a hint from Hamilton “talk less, listen more”.
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If you would like to donate to this important ministry, you can visit our Amazon wishlist and purchase items to be sent directly to us.
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Reclaiming the Cross Outreach
Check out our newest outreach in which we work to set the record straight on what the Bible says about many of the issues facing our society today!
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Reclaiming the Cross is an outreach of our parish headed up by Subdeacon Luna Godsey.
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Podcast Outreach
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Our Parish goes social...
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