ST. FRANCIS VOTES TO ACCEPT SYNOD INVITATION

At the Congregation Meeting last Sunday, July 25 after worship, and after considerable discussion, St. Francis members voted overwhelmingly to accept the synod invitation to rejoin the ELCA. The motion adopted was:

Resolved, that St. Francis Lutheran Church joyfully desires to be restored to membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and accepts the invitation of the Sierra Pacific Synod to begin the process.

Where do we go from here?

Well, in regard to that question, the operative word of the resolution is the last phrase: “begin the process.” We have voted to accept the Sierra Pacific Synod’s invitation and begin the process of working with the synod council and the bishop’s office to complete the process.

The next step is to bring our congregation’s constitution into compliance with the ELCA’s Model Constitution for Congregations. The Council met last Tuesday and setup a subcommittee to do just that. We hope to be able to submit to the Synod Council such a proposed constitution for approval by their September Synod Council meeting.

Then, all members will be provided the opportunity to review the proposed updated constitution before a special congregational meeting is called for the first vote. Then, according to our present constitution, still in effect, the ratification vote will take place at our Annual Meeting in 2011.

This vote began an extraordinary day, both in the life of St. Francis –completing 20 years of a courageous stand for justice and equality, and in the ELCA with the Rite of Reception onto the Roster of ELCA clergy conducted at St. Mark’s of seven of the ELM pastors in the Bay Area. At the end of that wonderfully exhausting day, we were all buzzing with the affirmation, the excitement and the promise of God fulfilled that if we knock the door will eventually open. That day both the ELCA’s church doors opened to all people affirming all sexual identity, and the doors of St. Francis opened to the whole Lutheran Church. What a great day!

At a special worship service tentatively set for Sunday, Nov. 7, the congregation of St. Francis will welcome Bishop Mark Holmerud of the Sierra-Pacific Synod and celebrate its reunion with the ELCA. The media is invited to witness this festive event, and more details will be available soon.

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER: To improve our ministry to those members of the congregation remembered in prayer, we are indicating those who would be open to a visit (v) phone call (p) and/or card (c). Contact the church office for further information.

• Faye Robinson
• Jonaven,19 months old and hospitalized for cancer
• Sharon McKinnon, friend of Paul brenner
• the father of Rebekah Wu
• Chris Marckmann, brother of Brandee Marckmann
• Richard Copperud (c)
• Glenda Lisk (v,p,c)
• Bill Hunter (p,v)
• Bob Douglas (v,c)
• Les, father of Richard Peterson
• The father of Rob Zampetti
• Sylvia Beckerley, stepmother of Scott Beckerley,
• Sophie Barron, mother of James Barron
• Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis
• Grace, mother of Dan Jones
• Bob of New York
• our shut-ins
• Those who use our facilities, especially our Seniors, and those attending the 12-step programs here, and the Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center. We pray for their continued health, happiness and success.

Those serving in the world:

• The Rev. Megan Rohrer, Missionary to the Homeless of SF through The Welcome Ministry;
• The Rev. Pieter Oberholzer and his partner, Fanie Zondagh, and the staff at Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM) in South Africa, serving LGBT people and allies;
• Catharine Coon and the Hope Alive Project in Uganda.

GLORIOUS DAY AT ST MARKS LUTHERAN CHURCH!

In this New York Times’ photo there is something we long wondered whether we would ever see: an ELCA Bishop receiving our ELM pastors into the Clergy Roster of the ELCA. But there it was in a worship service at St. Mark’s, San Francisco, (ironically and in healing, the location of the trial that led to the removal of St. Francis and First United Lutheran Churches), attended by almost 700 people in absolutely joyous celebration of worship and the Rite of Reception of ELM ordained pastors. In the photo above, Bishop Mark Holmerud, of the Sierra Pacific Synod, liturgically lays hands on the Rev. Sharon Stalkfleet. Pictured from left the Revs. Craig Minich and Megan Rohrer and on the right edge, the Rev. Ross Merkel. Also received onto the ELCA Roster of Clergy that day were the Revs. Dawn Roginski, Paul Brenner and Jeff Johnson.

WELCOME TO OUR SAVIOR'S LAFAYETTE We welcome members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Lafayette, California to worship this morning. The delegation will meet with St. Francis members over lunch to dialog over becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation, welcoming all into the life of their congregation. The RIC program is provided by Lutherans Concerned to aid congregations in welcoming publicly and from the heart Christ’s call to reconcile with one another.

NOTICE #11 July 29, 2010 If you remember it takes a while for AWSF to do their calculations and get the results to us. I’m told we’ll have statistics to share next week. In the meantime, keep collecting pledges. In the past week I’ve taken in $1285 and I know more will come in. I have yet to hear from 29 Lutherans who are on our team. If you collected nothing, let me know. Better yet, write a check (Thank you, Greg). Thanks for reading (you are reading my notice, aren’t you?). Thanks.Little Maxie

Paul Johnson crowned as a Star Walker

Chris Buchanan and Paul Johnson waid with other down John F. Kennedy Dr.

Support volunteers Beverly and Carl at the team table

Enjoying the sandwiches prepared by Carl and Chuck

Placards of our members who have passed away from AIDS

August 4 Joyce Ridley August 7 Greg Gomez

Safeway parking permits are available in the back of the church. The permits allow parking for Sunday services ONLY.

St. Francis Lutheran Church

A Place for Gathering: Memory, Presence and Promise
152 Church Street, San Francisco, CA 94114-1111

(415) 621-2635 FAX (415) 621-8819

Contact us:

Directions to St. Francis: Ext 21
Worship Service schedule: Ext 20
Pr. Robert Goldstein: Ext 11
Dave Walda, Senior Parish Administrator: Ext 10
Clifton King, Sexton
Brandee Marckmann, Congregation President
Janet Thuesen, Treasurer

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday

General Email: St.FrancisSF - at - sbcglobal.net

The Rev. Robert Goldstein: RevRGoldstein-at-sbcglobal.net
Dr. David Schofield StFrancischoir-at-sbcglobal.net
David Walda, Senior Parish Administrator: St.FrancisSF-at-sbcglobal.net

Deadline for Times material is Wednesday at 2 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate all submissions according to space availability.