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Saint Francis of Assisi

By Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/82–1226) was an Italian mystic, poet, and Catholic friar best known for founding the Franciscan Order and for his radical embrace of poverty, humility, and care for all creation. He is one of the most influential and beloved figures in Christian history—celebrated for his devotion to poverty, his compassion for the poor and for animals, and his role in renewing medieval spirituality.

He was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in Assisi to a wealthy merchant family. He lived a carefree, privileged youth, known for charm, generosity, and love of revelry. He fought in a local war between Assisi and Perugia; was captured and imprisoned for over a year. This period of illness and reflection began shifting his worldview.

Francis experienced a profound spiritual transformation in his early twenties. He felt called by God to renounce worldly wealth. In a mystical encounter at the ruined church of San Damiano, he heard “Francis, go repair my church.” This experience led him to rebuild chapels and ultimately to renew the Church spiritually.

In 1209, Francis and his companions traveled to Rome, where Pope Innocent III approved their simple rule of life based on the Gospel. This became the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), a community committed to poverty, preaching, and service. He was canonized in 1228, just two years after his death.

The prayer below was ascribed to St. Francis in the 1920s although we do not know for certain that he was the author.  By one account, the prayer was found in 1915 in Normandy, written on the back of a card of Saint Francis. It is certainly a prayer that speaks to our world today.

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in self-forgetting that we find;
And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

April 19, 2026, 3rd Sunday of Easter
10 a.m. Sunday Worship

Announcements

  • Fellowship: Join us after worship on Sunday in the Fellowship Hall for coffee & conversation. All are welcome.
  • Wednesday Book Club: The Wednesday Book Club focuses upon What if Jesus was Serious – A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore. It meets at 10:30 a.m. each Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall. You can join at any time, so if you haven’t been able to attend yet, why not consider doing so.
  • Children’s Choir: Choir practice is at 3 p.m. today in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Bad Faith: At 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, Zion's Lutheran and United Methodist Churches in Trinidad invite you to view the film Bad Faith at United Methodist Church at 218 Broom Street in Trinidad. After the viewing, people are welcome to submit any questions/comments to the Rev. Jan Everhart who will lead a follow up discussion at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, in the Zion’s Fellowship Hall, 510 Pine Street in Trinidad. Light Snacks will be provided at both events. (See flyer below.)
  • Time of Prayer and Coffee: We are invited to join our siblings in Christ from the Methodist church for a time of prayer and coffee at 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at Kangaroo Coffee -- in the Marketplace on Commercial Street.
  • God’s Work Our Hands: Terri Watson is coordinating efforts to match people who are able to provide outreach and support to members of our congregation who need assistance, such as rides and errands. For more information talk to Terri or use the sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Zion’s Camp Out: Mark your calendars! We have reserved the group camping area at Trinidad Lake State Park May 31 (Sunday) through Wednesday June 3. We are looking for people interested in leading activities and coordinating this adventure. Please see Pastor Lisa if you have suggestions.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com.

E-formation

On this coming Sunday, we hear about three thousand people who were baptized and about two disciples who were surprised to discover that they were eating a meal with the Risen Christ. Come to worship: celebrate your baptism and join us at a meal with Christ.

Luke 24:13-35
The Emmaus story illustrates the weekly assembly of Christians, who first search through Moses and the prophets to hear about the messiah and who then share a meal and, in so doing, recognize the risen Christ. In keeping with Luke’s many parallels between the sexes, some contemporary artists depict the two disciples as a man and a woman. This Sunday in our congregations, we find Christ in the scriptures and recognize Christ at our table.

Acts 2:14a, 36-41
The miracle of the resurrection continues, as thousands of people repent, believe, and are baptized. As usual, Luke sees the purposes of this conversion to be the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are now this baptized community, assembling weekly for this apostolic teaching, the meal with the risen Christ, and our prayers.

1 Peter 1:17-23
According to this heavily metaphoric post-baptismal sermon, we are now the exile community that in Christ is judged, ransomed, purified, and born anew. The word grows in us each week, and the blood of Christ buys us back from the power of death.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785