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St. Francis Times

May 21, 2006
Sixth Sunday of Easter

Presiding Minister Fr. Evan Ardley
Preacher Pr. Robert Goldstein
Assisting Minister Sarah Hall
Lector(s) Leona Lee
Healing Minister Pr. Robert Goldstein
Crucifer Rob Byrne
Sacristan Timur Muhrlin
Ushers Chuck Hancock
Counters Rob Byrne & Jim Kowalski
Organist Dr. David Schofield
Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God, and in memory of Dwayne Hines, husband of Beverly Hines
Coffee Hour Hosts NEEDED

Hebrew Lesson: Acts 10: 44-48a
Psalmody: Psalm 98
Christian Reading:  1 John 5:1-6
Holy Gospel:  John 15:9-17

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• The father or Wei Haur Lau,  diagnosed with lung cancer;  
• George, the father of Rob Zampetti, who is recovering from illness;   
• Ollie Payne as she recovers from a long illness;
• John Duffy, uncle of Dann Cantrell, as he goes through serious treatment.

Those serving in the world:

• 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;
• Catherine Coon and the Children of Hope Project in Uganda.

ADULT STUDY GROUP.  All are invited to join us as we continue studying a wonderful series by Professor Bart D. Ehrman looking at the first three hundred years of the formation of the Church “From Jesus to Constantine” Sundays at 9:45 AM.

PARTICIPATE IN ST. FRANCIS CHOIR. Each Sunday morning rehearsal is at 9:00 AM.  “To sing is to pray twice.”

A VOTE TO ELECT CALL COMMITTEE FOR NEW ASSOCIATE PASTOR will take place this morning in the Parish Hall following the worship service. The members of the congregation shall meet to elect the call committee tasked with recommending candidate(s) to this congregation for our Associate Pastor of Parish Programs position. Three members from Council and five members from the congregation at-large will be elected to this committee by voting members who are present. This vote will be conducted by secret ballot. Non-voting members may observe the meeting.

After the official voting meeting has been concluded/adjourned, the council would like to have an informal meeting/conversation about the organ refurbishing initiative and invites anyone in the congregation with an interest in participating in that conversation to stay for it.

SUNDAY, MAY 28 after worship, weather permitting, we plan to have coffee hour  in the garden  and behind the church  and to witness children of the congregation plant flowers in celebration of God’s rebirth of Creation.

COMMUNICATIONS / SOCIAL TASK FORCE: The Council has authorized the formation of a Communications / Social Justice Task Force to look at ways to express St. Francis’ views on social issues. Initially the focus will be on the various anti-gay marriage and anti-gay adoption / foster parent amendments that are being proposed for the fall election. If you are interested, please contact Ken Hedrick or Rob Byrne

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ORGAN REFURBISHMENT TASK FORCE? Our organ needs some loving care and we will be offering an informational “organ tour” for congregation members, and creating a task force to restore broken-down parts. Please talk to Deb Tully, Rob Byrne or Ken Hedrick.

AIDS WALK 2006 The Walk this year is Sunday, July 16th. I registered our 2005 team on May 15th, except for the two who will be gone on July 16th.  In addition 8 new members from St. Francis have been registered.  The following will be shocking news (Barbara should be sitting down): I  intend to do email communications with the team members.  And except for this Sunday, I will be at Coffee Hour to register new walkers.  Thanks for your support!   Max Kirkeberg

OUR VERY OWN JESSICA PRENTICE will be at Books Inc. on Market Street this Thursday, May 25 at 7:30 PM with her new book Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger for Connection.  Please join her and support St. Francis’ neighborhood bookstore!  She will talk about the evolution of the book, read a passage from it, and sign books.  She would love to see St. Francis’ folks there!

JON HOADLEY of South Dakota visited us a few months back to ask for help defeating a homophobic ballot amendment in his state this fall. Several St. Francis members made a donation to Hoadley’s group, South Dakotans Against Discrimination, to help it get organized and spread a message of tolerance and acceptance.  Check out their dynamic and colorful web site and learn about the group’s latest activities. The URL is: http://www.againstdiscrimination.org/ .

PRIDE PARADE - JUNE 25, 2006  St. Francis has participated for years, marching with the Lutherans Concerned contingent.  We'd like to do it again, and we're hoping we can match the efforts of St. Mark’s.  They have invited us to join them at a Potluck Supper and Tie-dyeing Party on Saturday, June 10 from 5 to 9 PM.  The objective is to have an impressive contingent all in tie-dyed T-shirts with the names of our churches stenciled on the front and back.  To that end can we ask you to sign up prior to June 10 to march?  There will be a sign up sheet at coffee hours.  Let's support this free way to make St. Francis’ presence known.      Max Kirkeberg and Pastor Robert

VOICE MAIL OPTIONS FOR YOU: Please note that the office phone system does take voice mail messages for Pastor Robert, Dave Walda, David Schofield, Beverly Hines, and Dale Leininger (treasurer) should the need arise.

Join the creators of the Juana opera, in this lively panel on the impact of homophobia and sexism in religion and how it affects local queer artists and religious leaders.  The discussion will be jump started with a short video (9 ½ minutes) of three years of workshop productions from Juana, the opera in development by Carla Lucero and Alicia Gaspar de Alba.

Confirmed panelists:

·      Virginia Benavidez, Photographer, Visual Artist

·      Maria Caruana, Freedom-in-Christ Church Pastor

·      Miguel Flores, Photographer, Visual Artist

·      Rev. Robert Goldstein, St. Francis Lutheran Church

·      Carla Lucero, Juana Composer, Co-Librettist

·      Alejandra Vila, Former Youth Minister, Catholic Church, Former Clergy, Metropolitan Community Church

Stay after the panel to get an update on the Juana opera, based on the life and poetry of 17th Century lesbian nun Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, who was persecuted as part of the Catholic Church’s Spanish Inquisition. 

Where:       SF LGBT Center, Rainbow Room.

When:        June 17th, 2 p.m.

Cost:           $5-10 sliding scale.

For more information please call Valentin Aguirre, Juana Opera Producer, at 415.355.0922 or email valentinaguirre@sbcglobal.net

Sun 21	Mon 22	Tue 23	Wed 24	Thu 25	Fri 26	Sat 27	Sun 28
8:45 AM Community Hospitality (PH) 9:00 AM Choir Rehearsal (S) 9:45 AM Adult Education Class (CR) 11:00 AM WORSHIP (S) 12:15 PM Coffee Hour & Voters Meeting (PH)	.	11:00 AM Staff Meeting (SC)	10:00 AM St. Francis Senior Center (PH) 11:00 AM Broadway by the Bay Highlighters (PH) 6:30 PM Personnel Committee (SC) 7:30 PM Memorial Terrace Meeting (CR)	.	.	.	8:45 AM Community Hospitality (PH) 9:00 AM Choir Rehearsal (S) 9:45 AM Adult Education Class (CR) 11:00 AM WORSHIP (S) 12:15 PM Coffee Hour (PH)

Participants for Sunday, May 28
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Presiding Minister Fr. Evan Ardley
Preacher Pr. Robert Goldstein
Assisting Minister NEEDED
Lector(s) Jessica Prentice
Healing Minister Pr. Robert Goldstein
Crucifer Greg Gomez
Sacristan Patrick Brown, Jr.
Ushers Max Kirkeberg & Eric Shifler
Counters Mike Callahan & Dale Leininger
Organist Dr. David Schofield
Altar Flowers Jim & Diane DeLange
Coffee Hour Hosts Sky & Denise Orun

Do you have an article or event you'd like included in The St. Francis Times? Please inform the Church Office by Thursday mornings. The Times is prepared on Thursday so our volunteers can duplicate and stuff it early Friday mornings. Articles may be submitted via fax or e-mail, short items or "Save the Date" entries are welcome via phone.

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