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St. Francis Times

February 18, 2007
The Feast of the Transfiguration

Presiding Minister    Fr. Evan Ardley
Preacher                  Pr. Paul Brenner
Assisting Minister     Jessica Prentice
Healing Minister       Pr. Paul Brenner
Sacristan                  Iris Vaughn & Samuel Aller
Crucifer                   Stephen Lawson
Lector                     Grant Burger
Ushers                    James Infusino & Brian Border
Coffee Hour Host    Scott Beckerley & Karen Custer
Counters                 Jim Kowalski & Susan Tucceri
Altar Flowers          are given to the glory of God from Ron Merk in memory of his late partner, Chris Holter, Chris’ father, Arthur M. Holter, Chris’ grandparents, Arthur M. and Ingeborg Holter, and Chris’ great grandparents, Pastor Edward M. Stensrud (Trinity Lutheran Church, SF) and his wife Julia.

First Reading:      Exodus 34:29-35
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2
Holy Gospel:        Luke 9:28-43
Psalmody:            Psalm 99

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Robert and John Goldstein, as they remember the full life of their mother, Vera Goldstein who passed recently;
• Bill Hunter;
• Parker Nolen, at home;
• Ollie Payne;
• John Duffy;
• Rick Anderson;
• Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis;
• Dorothy Smith, of the childcare center, recovery from major surgery;
• Chris Wogaman and family, on the news that the grandmother of Chris, Doris has inoperable cancer;
• Ed Houck, uncle of Sarah Wells, who has terminal cancer and is not expected to be on this earth much longer;
• Pastor Bradley Schmeling and St. John's; Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia, as they consider the next steps following the verdict of Pastor Schmeling's verdict.

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

ANNUAL MEETING RECAP

At this congregation's Annual Meeting last Sunday afternoon, the assembly approved the proposed budget of $506,306.00 for 2007 as presented. The congregation also approved the renewal and extension of our term call to Pr. Pieter Oberholzer, our Missionary to the LGBT people in South Africa, for another year.

Election results were as follows:
COUNCIL -- Jim Kowalski, Nancy Loewe and Mike Callahan (re-elected).

AUDIT -- Brian Border

NOMINATING -- Valerie Wagner (re-elected) and Paul Johnson

The officers for 2007 were also approved:
Grant Burger, President
Susan Tucceri, Vice President
Scott Beckerley, Secretary
Dale Leininger, Treasurer

Heartfelt thanks were extended to the retiring members of the Council: Paul Johnson, and Sarah Wells, as well as Mike Callahan, for accepting an appointment to council to fill a vacancy.
Congratulations! Also, many thanks to the 61 voting members who turned out for the meeting.

Lent at St. Francis

Ash Wednesday, February 21      Imposition of the Ashes
1:30 PM & 7:00 PM

Wednesdays in Lent

TAIZE
A Joint Lenten Journey by
St. Francis Lutheran Church
& Metropolitan Community Church
Wednesdays at 7 PM at St. Francis beginning February 28th

Joint Lenten Services

The New England Synod on its own has promulgated to their congregations a Synod Council resolution affirming the blessing of same-gender, committed relationships, including a rite of blessing. The resolution and guidelines were developed by that synod's Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Understanding and the Synod Council. Bishop Margaret Payne (left) of the New England Synod chaired the ELCA Studies on Sexuality Task Force that brought the ill-fated recommendations to the ELCA Church Council prior to the 2005 Assembly.

Emily Eastwood, Executive Director of Lutherans Concerned/North America, said "We applaud this timely, thoughtful, and bold action by the New England Synod which now serves as a witness to other synods and the church at large…. Our congratulations to the New England Synod Council and to the synod's Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Understanding. "

IMAGERY

A Study Group is being formed to develop a proposal of how to create a more inclusive visual environment in our Worship Space. Our present imagery is heavily masculine, and we need to include the feminine. Further, the imagery is European, and we have members of many cultures, and also need to examine multi-cultural images as well. If you are interested, please contact Paul Brenner either at prbrenner1102@yahoo.com, or by calling 415-420-0692.

MUSIC AT ST. FRANCIS

CHORAL FAVORITES

The Choir of St. Francis Church under the direction of Dr. David Schofield, performs choral favorites: great anthems and motets spanning 500 years.
Saturday, February 24th at 8 PM - Free Admission

MORE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE

St. Francis can now accept credit card payments through the Simply Giving program for your contributions to Mission & Ministry, Capital Campaign, Senior Center, St. Vincent DePaul, Music Program, and Youth & Family.

We will be able to process MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. You can have these contributions deducted automatic-ally. There is a processing fee associated with using a credit card which the church absorbs: 2.75% for Visa, MasterCard and Discover and 3.5% for American Express. The current Simply Giving program of automatic deduction from your bank account still remains an option.

If you have any questions, or would like to sign up for Simply Giving, please contact Dale Leininger, Treasurer at 415-621-2635, extension 14, or by email at TreasurerSFLC@sbcglobal.net.

SUNDAY CLASS

We are reading Diana Bass' Christianity For the Rest of Us, a real alternative to the religious right and a model with which to test St. Francis' vision.

ROB & ROY UPDATE

Rob Zampetti and Roy Matlofsky, in London almost a week, find themselves living out of a hotel room due to problems with the temporary housing. They will be moving into the housing Friday, February 16, in Notting Hill, then begin the search for a permanent home.
They have been exploring their new home turf, visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum, SoHo, Covent Garden, Kensington Church Street, Vauxhall and Marylebone.
Our prayers & best wishes are with you guys.

ELCA TO REMOVE PASTOR SCHMELING, BUT...

As part of the struggle for justice in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) St. John’s Church, Atlanta and their pastor, the Rev. Bradley Schmeling, challenged the ELCA policy of the requirement of celibacy of LGBT clergy and laity.

The ELCA instituted disciplinary hearings against Pastor Bradley in January. The committee voted to remove Pastor Bradley Schmeling of Atlanta, GA from the clergy roster effective August 15, 2007. But the same committee also challenged the validity of the policy precluding pastors in same-gender relationships saying it is "at least bad policy, and very well may violate the constitution & bylaws of this church (The ELCA)."

The hearing committee called for the removal of the policy, giving two pathways to do so: through the judicial process of the committee on appeals, or through the legislative process of the Churchwide Assembly. Consequently, the hearing committee delayed the effective date of a decision to remove Pastor Schmeling until after the next ELCA Churchwide Assembly. We will see. We will pray. PR.

PR. MEGAN ROHRER'S COMMISSIONING SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25

St. Francis will formally commission Pr. Megan Rohrer as Missionary to the Homeless of San Francisco through the Welcome Ministry on Sunday, February 25th during the 11 AM worship service. Come to this celebration.

"MY LIFE, MY PLAN"

Are you living your life by "default" or by "design"? Do you have your own plan for your life or are you living according to someone else’s criteria? Give your life more intentionality. "My Life, My Plan" begins with hopes, dreams and goals. It is a program that will help you to dig deeper into what you value and begin to make choices from that place. Join us Saturday, Feb. 24 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at the LGBT Community Center at 1800 Market St for this important workshop Call Thrivent Financial at (415) 865-5515 to reserve a place or for further information.

RIC VESPER SERVICE

The SF Bay Area Chapter of Lutherans Concerned invites you to a Lenten Vesper Service at the recently restored St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at 1111 O’Farrell Street in San Francisco on February 28, 2007.

The half hour service will begin at 7:00pm. Preceding the service, join us for a simple Soup Supper at 6:00pm. This RIC fellowship opportunity provides a unique worship experience in St. Mark’s sanctuary that now looks much as it did in 1894 and you’ll hear the new Taylor & Boody Opus 37 tracker organ.

Child care will be provided for the 7:00pm worship service. For directions to St. Mark’s visit www.stmarks-sf.org. Please RSVP to your church office if you plan to dine with us and/or need child care.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Lectionary For Ash Wednesday

• First Reading: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
• Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
• Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
• Psalmody: Psalm 103

Lectionary For First Sunday in Lent

• First Reading: Deut. 26:1-11
• Second Reading:Romans 10:8b-13
• Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
• Psalmody: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY

1:30 Afternoon Service

• Presiding/Preaching Pr. Robert Goldstein
  
• Assisting Minister    Ken Broshous
  
• Lector   Jeannine Janson

7:00 Evening Service

• Presiding/Preaching Pr. Robert Goldstein
  
• Assisting Minister     Jeannine Janson
  
• Crucifer     Michael Mallory
  
• Lector     Grant Burger
  

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

Presiding Minister    Pr. Robert Goldstein
Preacher                  Pr. Robert Goldstein
Assisting Minister    Michael Mallory    
Healing Minister       Pr. Paul Brenner
Sacristan                 
Crucifer                    Brandee Marckmann
Lector                      Gabriel Proo
Ushers                     Needed
Coffee Hour Host    Leona Lee & Carl Tebell
Counters                  Glenda Lisk & Ken Hedrick

Please take note of the opportunities available to assist with the worship service. There are open slots for upcoming Sundays. Please sign up on the sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall.

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

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