Who We Are
St. Francis is an eclectic, multicultural, and intergenerational community in Timonium, MD. We are radically welcoming here, and we invite you to “come as you are.” All are welcome at St. Francis – no exceptions! If you are LGBTQ+, divorced, a person with a disability or neurodivergence, or a person with spiritual questions that feel unanswerable, you are welcome in this community. We run the gamut of partisan political beliefs and world views, education, economic backgrounds, and first languages. On any day at St. Francis you may find a young acolyte in tie dye next to a vestry member in a suit. We are all beloved children of God!
Radical Welcome in Ministries
We are a deeply spiritual community, and we express our piety through a variety of practices. Our Music Ministries are welcome to all, no matter the experience level. Children are welcome during the whole Worship service, whether it’s at the children’s table or in a caretaker’s lap. Our Green Team gardens are open to all to enjoy. Our Food Ministry welcomes all without barriers. We take joy in serving our neighbors, here at St. Francis and in the surrounding community. We foster connections between one another and grow in our faith together.
How We Got Here
Beginning in early summer 2019, the congregations of St. Thomas’ in Towson and Epiphany in Timonium engaged in an intense process of discernment that prompted leadership from both congregations to decide unanimously to merge and become one, effective January 1, 2020 under the name St. Thomas-Epiphany Episcopal Parish. On July, 26, 2020, a new name for the united community was selected and we are now called St. Francis Episcopal Parish & Community Center.
Since 2020 we continue to grow and hit new milestones as a community. In 2023 we finalized out Community Agreements, an expression of our shared values. In 2024 we finalized the bylaws of St. Francis and welcomed a Spanish Ministry Intern. The future is bright at St. Francis!
Carrie Reed
she/her
Community Missioner
About Me:
I am a relatively new Episcopalian. My previous church home and place of employment was with a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Texas. Upon moving to Maryland from Texas, finding the Episcopal Church was an unexpected joy. I majored in English at the University of Texas at Austin. The English major in me loves the three-legged stool of Anglicanism and the feeling of acceptance that comes from bringing my whole self to church every Sunday, including my questions. I do love to analyze a text! I live in Baltimore City with my husband, young son, and cat. We love to go to the library on a Saturday, take a family hike, or explore some new facet of life in Baltimore.
My Role:
I am the Community Missioner at St. Francis. My role here is multifaceted. I direct our communications, including our e-newsletter, website, and social media. I oversee the daily comings and goings of our parish office. I guide our space sharing program. I track membership. I aid our wider Timonium community as a resource for all things St. Francis. I think creatively and strategically about opportunities to grow our community into the future.
My Dream for St. Francis:
I dream about fostering a culture that celebrates mistakes. Mistakes are gifts inviting us to ask questions, seek solutions, and find new ways to relate to and understand one another. Building community and creating a place of welcome is not without its challenges. As Robert Frost said, “the best way out is always through.” When we encounter roadblocks on our path, my hope is that we can approach blocks with a spirit of calm, curiosity, and mutual trust.
A Few of my Favorite Things:
I love the work of Fred Rogers, vegan hazelnut chocolate confections, contemporary and classic fiction, coffee, and a good sitcom.
Fun fact:
I am a multi award winning vegan chili chef!
The Rev. Giuliano Gargiulo
he/him
Assistant Rector
About Me:
I grew up in a quaint village in Northern Italy, a region enriched by vineyards, culture, and historic mansions. As the youngest of five children, my early years were marked by challenges, including my parents’ divorce and the loss of my mother during my teenage years. Despite these hardships, I found solace and purpose through my faith, which guided me towards a life dedicated to others. At 17, I joined a youth movement dedicated to supporting those in need across South America. This transformative experience led me to spend seventeen years in Peru, working tirelessly to bring dignity and relief to people living in remote Andean regions. After nearly two decades of service and seeing the completion of numerous community projects, I felt called to embark on a new journey. I moved to the United States, where I have continued my mission, now focusing on Spanish Ministry. I am thrilled to have recently joined St. Francis as Assistant Rector.
My Role:
As the Assistant Rector at St. Francis, my role is part of a broader assignment with the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. My mission is to develop and nurture new pastoral spaces to welcome immigrants Spanish speaking into our community. By bridging linguistic and cultural gaps, I hope to lay the foundation for a vibrant, multicultural congregation.
My Dream for St. Francis:
I envision St. Francis as a thriving and dynamic multicultural community where diversity is celebrated, and the unity of being part of one family is cherished.
A Few of my Favorite Things:
I am passionate about lifelong learning, currently pursuing a double major in Integrated Design of Communication at the University of Baltimore and Social Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University.
My journey is also enriched by my love for the arts and beauty, which I see as expressions of my inner need for harmony and elevation of the human spirit.
Fun fact:
I have a deep love for languages and cultures. I am fluent in Italian, Spanish, and English. Interestingly, my French skills seemed to vanish when I learned Spanish, but I am confident they are still tucked away somewhere in my brain.
