We are pleased to announce that St. Francis Episcopal Church is the newest Veteran and Military-Friendly Congregation member to the VMFC network.
Thank you, Father Lawrence Recla for joining our mission—blessings of good health.
St. Francis is a strong supporter of our military, our law enforcement, and our emergency service providers. Every Sunday in our Prayers of the People, we corporately pray for our military at home and abroad. On the Feast of St. Michael and All Saints, we invite local LEOs and EMS to attend and be recognized and prayed over.
A dear friend of our congregation is the former Canon to the Ordinary for Episcopal Military and Federal Ministries, the Rev. Dr. Wollam Jensen. Rev. Dr. Jensen has attended services at St. Francis and is an old friend of our Priest in Charge.
Fr. Recla, our Priest in Charge, served as the last chaplain at the Ground Zero Morgue and has served as a chaplain for law enforcement agencies around the country. Fr. Recla, our assisting priest, Rev. Chapman, and our deacon, Rev. House, have all conducted services at Bushnell National Cemetery for Episcopal, Lutheran, and non-denominational internments on a regular basis, upon request by families whose loved ones are laid to rest there.
We are located about 25 minutes from The Villages, Florida, which hosts the largest American Legion Post in the country. Although we are an older, relatively small parish, we have a huge heart for the military and our veterans. We would be proud to be listed as a Military Friendly Congregation.
VA telehealth and tele-counseling are available and a good way to help veterans who are isolated and alone during this crisis. You can click here to learn more about the VA's Video Connect Help Desk Support.
