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St. Francis Times

April 29, 2007
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Presiding Minister    Pr. Paul Brenner
Preacher                  Pr. Robert Goldstein
Assisting Minister     Rob Byrne
Healing Minister       Pr. Robert Goldstein
Sacristan                  Samuel Aller
Crucifer                   Sarah Wells
Lector                     Grant Burger
Ushers                    Carl Tebell & Leona Lee
Coffee Hour Host    Congregation Council
Counters                 Paul Knutson & Rob Byrne
Flowers Mari Irvin and Jeannine Janson, in celebration of their ninth wedding anniversary, April 25th, the pastoral staff at St. Francis who married them, the Reverends James DeLange, Michael Hiller, Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zilhart, and, of course, the community of St. Francis where they met while serving on council.

First Reading:       Acts 9:36-43
Second Reading   Revelation 7:9-17
Holy Gospel:        John 10:22-30
Psalmody:            Psalm 23

ROGINSKI ORDINATION SET FOR JUNE 16

Mark this date! Pastor-elect Dawn Roginski will be ordained at St. Francis on Saturday, June 16th in the afternoon. Dawn will be installed the following day during regular worship as Pastor of Parish Programs at St. Francis. This will be an Extraordinary ordination. Dawn cannot be ordained in the Ordinary manner by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) because she refuses to sign the ELCA’s unjust celibacy requirement expected only of LGBTI clergy. Dawn’s ordination is another expression of what St. Francis stands for in the continuing struggle for reformation of a Reformation church, the ELCA. Please reserve this weekend. It will be a festive and prophetic event.

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• David Brightman, Tom Metz, and family in the passing of David's mother, Lucy Brightman on April 10
• Grant Burger and family in the passing of Grant's father, August F. Burger
• Pat Stein and family who mourn the loss of Gloria Siech
• Chris Wogaman and family as they mourn the loss of Dorrie Jensen, grandmother to Chris
• Hilda, aunt of Deb Cote, diagnosed with breast cancer
• Tony Michelini, co-worker of Eric Shifler, under going lung cancer treatment
• Maria Ryndik, one of our seniors, with a growth on her lung, and her sister Madeleine and brother Conrad, who are both very ill
• Doris Davis, recuperating at home
• Bob Douglas
• James Huey, in transition
• Dale Johnson's mother, who had a fall and is in physical therapy
• Rob Zampetti’s father, out of the hospital, recovering
• Brian Knittel’s mother
• Mary Wiltse, sister of Mari Irvin
• Bill Hunter who is home at last
• Joe Rizzo’s mother hospitalized, and Dirk Adamsen, struck by car and recovering (both friends of Rob Zampetti)
• Ollie Payne
• John Duffy
• Rick Anderson
• Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis
• Dorothy Smith, of the childcare center, recovery from major surgery
• Pastor Bradley Schmeling and St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia, as they appeal the verdict of the Hearing Committee

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.

NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED AT BRUNCH TODAY

Today’s New Members Brunch is hosted by the Congregation Council. Please stay after church for a delightful meal, to welcome our new members and to learn something about each one of them. This event, on the fifth Sunday of the month, is part of a new program devised by the Congregation Council, to do something special on fifth Sundays during the year. The next fifth Sunday, July 29th, will be our first Fifth Sunday Forum and it will combine the coffee hour with an open forum of Council and Congregation on our worship life. Another Fifth Sunday Forum is planned for September 30th as an open forum on our Property.

GRANT BURGER TO STEP DOWN

Because of responsibilities related to the recent death of his father, Grant Burger has decided to step aside as President of the Council for the remainder of his term. The Congregation Council members expressed their thanks for his superb leadership. Grant will remain on council for the fulfillment of his term on council. Vice President Susan Tuccieri will assume the position of president. Our thanks to Grant and to Susan for their leadership.

MAJOR SYNOD VOTE

The 19th annual Assembly of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took place last week in Reno, NV. At the beginning St. Francis was welcomed publicly and allowed voice but not vote. The Assembly passed by a wide margin a resolution calling upon the ELCA to drop the celibacy requirement of LGBT clergy and laity. It was delightfully evident that the assembly voters, over 60% of whom were lay people, had made up their minds that it was time for an end to this fear bound discrimination.

What does this mean for us? First, that this synod, being the first of the 65 synods to meet before the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Chicago in August, has sent a message to them all.

Second, the Sierra Pacific resolution (many more synods have that very same resolution in the pipeline) now has to be voted on by that ELCA Assembly.

Third, the ELCA Church Council, the highest elected body in the ELCA, has voted to recommend to the August Assembly that changes to the Visions and Expectations rules for clergy be made by a simple majority and not a 2/3 vote as in the past. This rule change would make the passing of the Sierra Pacific resolution much easier. However such a change in the voting rules itself requires a 2/3 vote. But there is movement toward what St. Francis and First United justly stood for back in 1990.

HISTORIC MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS WEEKEND

Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministries (LLGM) originated as a ministry out of St. Francis in 1989 that led to the historic calls and ordinations of both Ruth & Phyllis (and Jeff Johnson at First United) in 1990. From those beginnings, LLGM and its affiliate organization, the Extraordinary Candidacy Project (ECP) which reviews and certifies candidates for ordained ministry that are otherwise denied credentialing by the ELCA, have grown to not only a national but even an international presence. The ECP Roster now numbers about 50 clergy either ordained, approved for ordination or in the candidacy process. This past February, the Boards of LLGM and the ECP and the ECP Roster agreed to merge their organizations into one, yet to be named organization that will continue the work of credentialing and placing sexual minority clergy in called ministries of both traditional (congregational) and non-traditional settings.

Many of the St. Francis family have been actively involved in leadership roles within these organizations as well as served by clergy on the ECP Roster from their inception to the present day. Current members of the St. Francis family serving the ECP, LLGM and/or "new organization" are Brad Hubert and Mari Irvin, and those on the ECP Roster include Pastors Goldstein, Pieter Oberholzer and Megan Rohrer as well as Dawn Roginski, who will be ordained and installed at St. Francis on June 16 and Greg Egertson (approved for ordination).

Please raise up and hold in prayer all those gathered this weekend in San Francisco from across the country for the first Board Summit of these bodies as they work to lay the foundation for the new organization that the Spirit may lead them to do the work needed for the Church today and into the future.

Also, please offer a special prayer of thanks for Jim & Diane DeLange as well as Greg Egertson and our fellow SF Conference Parishes: Christ Church & First United for providing generous and warm hospitality for those attending the meetings this weekend.

MUSIC AT ST. FRANCIS

CHORAL READING, HAYDN NELSON MASS

Palestrina Missa "Aeterna Christi Munera"
Saturday, May 5th at 9:30 AM - Free Admission

COME TO COMMUNITY NIGHT

The next Community Night is May 2nd. Please call Dave (ext. 10) at the church office if you plan to attend.

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.

FRIENDS OF ST. FRANCIS CHILDCARE CENTER MOMENT

This year’s Spring Fling on May 12th not only features a Silent and Live Auction, but you can even try your hand at Roulette or Blackjack in our Casino! Lots of ways to take home some fabulous prizes! Please RSVP soon to attend. Buy your tickets online at www.fosfchildcare.org. And bring your friends!

To order tickets for the Spring Fling Auction and Casino Night go to the Childcare Center website website.

AIDS WALK 2007

I’m happy to report that as of Thursday, April 26th, I have heard from no one who was on our AIDS Walk team last year. Why is this good? Because only those who cannot or will not do the walk this year (July 15-- save the date) were to call me by this Sunday, April 29th. On Monday I will register our team again -- all at once, efficiently. Then soon you will receive your AWSF packet and begin acquiring sponsors. Yea, yea, yea! Max Kirkeberg

PAM WALTON TO BE AT THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB

Pam Walton, producer of "Call to Witness", that documents the journey of Phyllis Zillhart, Ruth Frost and others, will discuss her work in a forum "Leading the Way: Using Documentary Film in the Quest for LGBT Equality". The forum will be held on May 15th, 5:30 PM, reception; 6 PM program at 595 Market St 2nd Fl.; $8.00 members, $15 non-members. Call 415-597-6700 for more information.

SF FREEDOM SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Saturday, May 12th at Saint Francis Lutheran Church, SF Freedom School presents: The Black Response to Racist Violence (1890-1970): Pacifism, Tactical Nonviolence and Armed Self-Defense.

PERFORMANCE & PARTICIPATORY DISCUSSION, featuring Awele Makeba, storyteller, actor and teaching artist for social change. Audience discussion led by Dr. Kathy Emery with participation by veterans of the Civil Rights Movement and United Playaz. Food from 6-7PM. Performance begins at 7 PM. Sliding scale admission.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Lectionary For Easter 5

• First Reading: Acts 11:1-18
• Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6
• Gospel: John 13:31-35
• Psalmody: Psalm 148

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

Presiding Minister    Pr. Robert Goldstein
Preacher                  Pr. Robert Goldstein
Assisting Minister         
Healing Minister      
Sacristan                 
Crucifer                   Paul Johnson
Lector                      Leona Lee
Ushers                     Needed
Flowers                   Chuck Hancock
Coffee Hour Host     Barbara, Jack, Faye & Clifton
Counters                  Glenda Lisk & Rob Byrne

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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