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St. Francis Times

March 9, 2008
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

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

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Jim Asp, whose mother died on Tuesday
• Janet Thuesen, under-going knee surgery this week
• 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.

Pastor Robert's recent visit with Barbara & Jack Kling ; photo courtesy of Barbara Kling

Readers are needed for next Sundays’ Palm Sunday reading of the Passion. Please let your pastors know if you would read.

DEEPEN YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY
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.

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

LENTEN CROSS

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.

Bring Your Calendar Sunday - March 16
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! Here's a chance to team-up with others to do flowers and/or coffee hour. So check your schedule, bring your calendar, and PLEASE SIGN UP! We all can help! Thanks.

ADULT FORUM

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

EASTER DATE: ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME? VERY LIKELY
Easter this year is: Sunday March 23, 2008. As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier than it occurs this year (March 22) but that is pretty rare. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives, and only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old and above). None of us have ever, or will ever, see Easter come as early as March 22.		The next time Easter will be on March 23 will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so, if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones who were around for that!). The next time Easter will fall on March 22 will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818, so no one alive today has, or ever will, see it any earlier than this year! From Paul Brenner

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

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).

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.

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.

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

JANET THUESEN TREASURER-IN-TRAINING
	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.

CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT HEARS GAY MARRIAGE CASE

Shall equality under the law be carried through to the state’s legal concept of marriage? Or shall we once again have our hopes dashed? The justices have 90 days to make their ruling on the constitutionality of the current law restricting marriage to heterosexuals. This is a question of human rights not of legislation. The usual suspects were outside and inside the courthouse to spread fear and hate of LGBTI persons: the religious right, who do not bring evangel on this issue at all, but the age-old mistaken religious instinct for eternal permanence.

	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.

OUR LONDON MEMBERS TO VISIT

Rob Zampetti and Roy Matlofsky have sent word that they will be in town from May 8 to the 18th.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE CALENDAR

Lectionary for the Passion Sunday

• First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
• Second Reading Philippians 2:5-11
• Gospel: Matthew 26:14- 27:66
• Psalmody: Psalm 31:9-16

  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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