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St. Francis Times

June 3, 2007
Festival of Holy Trinity

Presiding Minister    Pr. Paul Brenner
Preacher                  Pr. Robert Goldstein
Assisting Minister     Dawn Roginski - Pastor Elect
Healing Minister       Pr. Robert Goldstein
Sacristan                 Samuel Aller
Crucifer                   Ted Hyrons
Lector                     Chuck Hancock
Ushers                    Sarah Wells & Marsha White
Coffee Hour Host    Leona Lee & Carl Tebell
Counters                 Paul Knutson & Debora Tully
Flowers are given to the glory of God from Diane and Jim DeLange in honor of their 15th wedding anniversary

First Reading:       Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Second Reading   Romans 5:1-5
Holy Gospel:        John 16:12-15
Psalmody:            Psalm 8

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Faye Robinson, at home recovering from surgery
• Jane Huey, mother of James Huey, who has health concerns
• Hilda, aunt of Deb Cote, diagnosed with breast cancer
• Tony Michelini, co-worker of Eric Shifler, under going lung cancer treatment
• Bob Douglas
• James Huey
• Rob Zampetti’s father, recovering
• Brian Knittel’s mother
• Mary Wiltse, sister of Mari Irvin
• Bill Hunter at home
• Ollie Payne
• John Duffy
• Rick Anderson
• Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis
• Dorothy Smith, of the childcare center, recovery from major surgery
• Martha Littlefield, who completed radiation treatments (from the Senior Center)
• Pastor Bradley Schmeling and St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia, as they appeal the verdict of the Hearing Committee
• Dale Leininger and Michael Mallory on their trek for the AIDS Lifecycle June 3^rdto 9^th, and their roadies, Karen Oleson and Gabriel Proo.

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.

CORNERSTONE UPDATE

The 100th Anniversary Committee is planning for the reinstallation of the cornerstone we removed for the 100th Anniversary of the church building last year. The date for reinstallation is September 16, 2007, the 102nd anniversary of the laying of the original cornerstone on September 17, 1905. We want the congregation to see what we are putting in the cornerstone, so the actual reinstallation will take place after that.

We are limited to the size of the original lead box that was installed in 1905. The specific items have not been determined yet. With only a limited number of items to be placed in the box, an extensive list of commemorative items that could not fit will be placed in the cornerstone to be opened 100 years from now. The actual contents of that list are to be stored in the history room of the SF Public Library. The Library has agreed to participate.

Committee members are: Donna Petersen, Kirsten Havrehed, Max Kirkeberg, Gene Clark, Paul Groth, Pr. Robert Goldstein, Jim DeLange, chair.

ELCA SYNODS VOTING ON LGBT JUSTICE

In response to St. Francis’ calling Phyllis Zillhart and Ruth Frost, the ELCA forbids non-celibate LGBT clergy from serving in that Church body. Goodsoil, the umbrella organization working to end those discriminatory rules, drew up three resolutions (called "memorials") for all 65 synod assemblies to vote on that call for the end of those rules.

Four more ELCA synods passed the memorial for the elimination of the policies precluding rostered service for candidates in committed same-gender relationships. These four synods are Oregon, Metro New York, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest Washington. This brings the running total to eight synods, (the first four synods are Sierra Pacific, South-Central Wisconsin, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Northeastern Minnesota) with assemblies yet to come in most metropolitan areas. With eight out of nineteen synod assemblies passing this memorial, we are ahead of expectations by four synods.

Even in those synod assemblies which have defeated our memorial our team of synodical allies performed a minor or sometimes major miracle just to get the memorial to the floor. We expected defeats in those synods. Still I want all of you to understand that having official floor conversations regarding justice for LGBT people is always helpful in the long run. This is a marathon we are running. Several of these synods saw organized allied legislative action for the first time. Some had wonderful hospitality suites greeting new friends for future action. Also, you should know that, in several of these synods, votes were quite close.

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.

FIFTH SUNDAY FORUM

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.

MONTHLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Coffee hour hosts who provide those great goodies on the last Sunday of the month are being asked to provide the birthday cake for the month’s birthday recognition. This request is being made since the person who previously supplied the cake (Faye Robinson) is not in a position to do it anymore.

The church office will send reminders to persons signed up for the last Sunday.

AIDS WALK UPDATE

You’ve had two weeks off- I think - in terms of an AWSF update from me due to my return to the Midwest for my 50th college reunion (it was awesome and really, really Swedish). But now it’s time to focus on AWSF and our team. I went to a team leader meeting on Wednesday where I heard 2 big messages:

Message #1: 42 Bay Area AIDS organizations will be the recipients of our fundraising. And thanks to cuts in federal funding, our efforts are really critical. In past years, total federal funding locally was $23 million each year. This was reduced to approximately $14 million this year, and the impact will be significant. Message: we need to do even better than we did last year (when we did a wonderful job of fundraising).

Message #2: Every walker has a webpage. These are critical components in finding sponsors. Be sure you take every advantage of this aid (alas, I haven’t a clue what a webpage is, nor how to use it but I plan to learn, I think).

I hope you are moving along on fundraising. And let’s hear it for the bicyclists and our roadies. Max Kirkeberg

Pastor Bradley Schmeling, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Atlanta, GA for whom we have been praying and supporting, has been on trial by the ELCA for living with his partner, another ELCA pastor. The trial ended with the remarkable contradiction of a ruling that Pastor Schmeling should be removed from the clergy roster because the current rules left no choice, but that those rules were "bad policy" or even "unconstitutional". The hearing gave an August date, after the ELCA Assembly in Chicago, for his removal from office and recommended either an appeals process or Assembly action to end those rules.

Pastor Schmeling took the first course and appealed this decision. Bishop Warren, who filed the original complaint, issued a cross-appeal stating that the hearing committee had overstepped its bounds by extending the removal date to August 15, 2007, for giving an opinion that the policy was "at least bad" and "very well may violate the Constitution and Bylaws of this church," and for suggesting the legislative means to eliminate the policy. Warren requested that the Committee on Appeals act to remove Pastor Schmeling from the clergy roster immediately.

Pastor Bradley Schmeling responded with a cross-appeal challenging those assertions. Bishop Warren then responded to Pastor Schmeling's appeal. The final round of responses is due on June 1, 2007. The decision of the Committee on Appeals is "normally" rendered within 60 days, or by August 1, 2007, five days before the beginning of the Churchwide Assembly in Chicago Illinois.

LLGM MISSION ALERT AVAILABLE

The May 2007 issue of Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministry’s Mission Alert is available on the Narthex table. It features the upcoming ordination of Dawn Roginski at St. Francis next month.

"LEARNING TO FLY"

"Learning to Fly", a documentary to be shown at the LBGT Film Festival, will feature Rachel Hoobing and her ballroom dance competition for the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago last year. The film will be shown on Saturday June 16, 11:30 AM at the Roxie Film Center. Information is at www.frameline.org or 415-703-8650.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Lectionary For Second Sunday after Pentecost

• First Reading: I Kings 17:17-24
• Second Reading: Galatians 1:11-24
• Gospel: Luke 7:11-17
• Psalmody: Psalm 30

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

Presiding Minister    Fr. Evan Ardley
Preacher                  Pr. Robert Goldstein
Assisting Minister     Dawn Roginski - Pastor Elect   
Healing Minister       Pr. Robert Goldstein
Sacristan                 Samuel Aller
Crucifer                  
Lector                      Needed
Ushers                     Scott Beckerley & Churck Hancock
Flowers                   Needed
Coffee Hour Host     Diane & Jim DeLange
Counters                  Jim Kowalski & Scott Beckerley

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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