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St. Francis Times

March 2, 2008
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

WORSHIP PARTICPANTTODAYNEXT SUNDAY
Presiding MinisterPr. Dawn Roginski Pr. Robert Goldstein
PreacherPr. Robert Goldstein Pr. Dawn Roginski
Assisting MinisterBarbara Kling Bruce Jervis
Healing MinisterPr. Robert GoldsteinPr. Dawn Roginski
SacristanSamuel Aller Samuel Aller
CruciferBrandee Marckmann Marilyn Jackson
LectorJames Asp Glenda Lisk
OrganistGene Clark Dr. David Schofield
Ushers / GreetersLeona Lee & Chuck Hancock Timur Muhrlin &
Lawrence Mortensen
Coffee Hour HostPaul Johnson &
Stephen Lawson		Scott Beckerley &
Karen Custer
CountersGlenda Lisk & Rob Byrne Jim Kowalski & Susan Tucceri
Please take note of the opportunities available to assist with the worship service. Please sign up on the sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall.



First Reading:      1 Samuel 16:1-13
Second Reading  Ephesians 5:8-14
Holy Gospel:        John 9:1-41
Psalmody:           Psalm 23





Praying Hands

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:


  • Phil Horne
  • Diane Reyneker, teacher at Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center
  • Shana Reznek, friend of Janet Thuesen
  • Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis
  • our shut-ins and Devin Grant who has moved to assisted living in Ashland Oregon
  • Dorothy Smith, of the childcare center
  • Pastor Bradley Schmeling and St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia, as they ponder their future with the ELCA

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 Children of Hope Project in Uganda.
 

PEW REPORT ON RELIGIOUS LOYALTY

The press was busy last week reporting on the Pew Forum’s, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. It appears that 44% of Americans have shifted religious affiliation. While the percentage of "unaffiliated" had grown to 16% of adults that "does not mean that Americans are becoming less religious. Contrary to assumptions that most of the unaffiliated are atheists or agnostics, most described their religion as unaffiliated.’" We are very much aware of both the fluidity and, I think, the higher numbers of unaffiliated in our city. The more secular character of the Western states, except perhaps Utah, the great influence of secularism in the state universities, and the damage done by hierarchical religion, plus anti-women and anti-gay religious expression have all combined to make the secular climate strong here.

We have designed our liturgy with both Catholic and Protestant worship traditions in mind. This liturgical compromise has had its critics and it is always open to improvement. Also our balance between formality and informality, as well as the intimacy of our nave are all factors in our ways of connecting to visitors to worship. These are but a step in our outreach to San Francisco.

No less important is our outreach to the community. Our compassion for our poorest citizens and our faithful stand for justice for sexual minorities in church and society has drawn new members too.

Another group within the unaffiliated and the "turned off" are those who yearn for community, but are seemingly unable to relate to even our worship. A movement called the "Emerging Church" appears to be an expression of the Holy Spirit in reaching these persons. I am aware of such an emerging church congregation in one of the most secular neighborhoods of Seattle that is growing quite well. This could be a model we could adapt to relate to that constituency in San Francisco -perhaps including persons from our 12 step programs convened here.

The future lies in bringing forward the truths of the past in forms that speak to the cultures of post-modern society -especially in San Francisco. May God guide us in that process. Let’s think and pray on that as part of our Vision.

Pastor Robert



JANET THUESEN TREASURER-IN-TRAINING

Janet Thuesen

With the retirement of Dale Leininger March 1st we are pleased to announce that Janet Thuesen has agreed conditionally to be our new treasurer.

Thanks Janet!

Dale was honored for over 8 years as our treasurer last Sunday.




Stories to Tell

DEEPEN YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY
nail

The nail given to you is for you to attach every pain and suffering you bear to it. You are invited to lay that nail and its personal symbolism at the foot of the cross on Good Friday.

The Stewardship Committee will be sponsoring two opportunities in March for people to participate and deepen their Lenten experience thru Lectio Divina,

a method of contemplative prayer centered around a scriptural reading with attention to its different levels of meaning for each participant. We will gather at the church on Thursday, March 13, and Wednesday, March 19 at 7 PM. No sign-up is required. Please see Jim Kowalski, Grant Burger or the pastors if you have any questions.

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LENTEN PREACHING

During the Sundays in Lent the Pastors will focus their sermons on Catechism and its meaning for today.


Deepen Your Faith
Plan to attend Holy Week Services this year.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 20-22


Coming to St. Francis:
  • Nails & cards for Lent
  • Easter Vigil champagne


EASTER AT ST. FRANCIS

Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday March 16
Triduum - The Three Days
Maundy Thursday, March 20 7 PM
Good Friday, March 21 Noon & 7 PM
Easter Vigil, March 22 at dusk

Easter Sunday, March 23

Children's Easter Egg Hunt after service



LENTEN CROSS
altar at Lent

Every Lent since the 1990’s we use the cross created by the artistically gifted Jack Kling from driftwood he collected. We thank Jack for this gift from his heart to ours as we remember the sacrifice of Christ to end all suffering. This cross also reminds us that God’s reconciling and healing work has been given to us in grace.




NEW MEMBER BRUNCH

SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, April 13:following worship to formally introduce the fall 2007 new members to the congregation! This festive, annual gathering is for every member and all visitors attending worship that Sunday.



Pastor Dawn
This photo surfaced recently from among the Seniors
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THE HOMELESS AND ST. FRANCIS

Members have raised concerns regarding homeless persons and access of members and visitors to St. Francis on Sunday mornings. We pastors encourage the St. Francis community to consider prayerfully the complex situation we are all trying to address and we recommend to Church Council that the next Fifth Sunday Forum on March 30th be devoted to a congregational discussion towards a faithful response of these matters.

Pastors Robert Goldstein and Dawn Roginski

In the meantime, please bring any concerns you have to Council members & the Pastors so that we can assure they are appropriately addressed.



YOUR PASTORS CARE

If you would like one of your pastors to listen to your concerns or pain, don't hesitate to ask us -make an appointment, or ask us to call you or mark the pew card. We can be distracted at times on Sundays, so it is best to set aside another time when we can really listen. Pastors Robert and Dawn



ADULT FORUM


Adult Forum is currently studying the Sunday lectionary. Join us on Sundays at 9:30 AM in the Conference Room.

basket

THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKET

San Francisco has nearly 150,000 persons who live under the threat of hunger.
Consider purchasing extra cans of food, and bring them on Sunday to put in our basket. Food not used for Hospitality will be donated to the San Francisco Food Bank. Food that can be accepted include canned vegetables, canned fruit, tuna, canned meats, soups, stews and chili, peanut butter and cereal (no glass containers or perishable food, please).




join us

For Easter Lunch

Several St. Francis people are going out to lunch at Sinbad’s after Easter Sunday’s church service. If you interested in joining them, please talk to Barbara Kling.



Bring Your Calendar Sunday - March 16

 Mark the date

It's time again to sign up for Sunday worship opportunities through June 2008 as lectors, ushers, coffee hosts, providers of altar flowers, crucifer and assisting minister. Grant Burger will be leading the process once again on March 16!

Here's a chance to team-up with others to do flowers and/or coffee hour. So check your schedule, bring your calendar, and SIGN UP! THERE'S SO MUCH WORK TO DO!




NERT



birthday logo



  • March 2 Barney Peralta
  • March 4 Rachel Markel



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    Lectionary for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

    • First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14
    • Second Reading Romans 8:6-11
    • Gospel: John 11:1-45
    • Psalmody: Psalm 130

      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
      Pr. Dawn Roginksi Ext 12
      Dr. David Schofield, Music Director: Ext 23
      Senior Center Coordinator: Ext 22
      Dave Walda, Senior Parish Administrator: Ext 10
      Clifton King, Sexton
      Susan Tucceri, Congregation President
      Treasurer: Janet Thuesen

      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
      The Rev. Dawn Roginski RevDRoginski-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.
       

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