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St. Francis Times

March 16, 2008
PALM SUNDAY

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Scott Beckerley and family on the death of Scott's grandmother
• Jim Asp, whose mother died recently
• Janet Thuesen, recovering from knee surgery
• 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.

Our condolences to Scott Beckerley on the death of his paternal grandmother last week and to Jim Asp whose mother passed away the week previous.

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

Bring Your Calendar Sunday Today
Sign up today 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 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.

NEW ELCA SEXUALITY STATEMENT SHOWS A DIVIDED SPIRITLESS CHURCH
The 50 page Draft Statement on Human Sexuality, released on Thursday shows no movement toward justice for LGBTQ persons or their advocates. It is available online at: http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/. The draft neither prescribes nor recommends any changes in the current policy or practice of the ELCA related to the legitimacy of same sex committed relationships (p. 36: Line 1103ff). Rather, the best that could be said is that it provides another theological framework for further conversation and deliberation by the church about such policy changes that could be implemented through resolutions or other policy revisions considered at Churchwide Assemblies. (Haven’t we been here before?) But more sorrowfully, not only does it reserve marriage to heterosexuals but exalts hetero-sexual marriage "as blessed by God as a primary basis of human community".(p.38) While the "a" gives wiggle room, the thrust of the report as a whole really puts down single people and homosexual couples. Its message is that single people have integrity (Ibid.) but the report does not say they are "blessed as a primary basis of human community." Of course it follows that homosexual couples do not appear as a primary basis of human community. This report cannot bring itself to speak justly -only politely about LGBT people. On decisiveness it can only say that the church is divided and, weakly, to discuss homosexual persons and relationships in terms of our community of sinfulness with heterosexuals and to commend that we are all justified by faith (p.37). The report refuses to step over the divide and speak a word of prophetic courage of even showing an inclination towards support of gay people.		It is almost hilarious that we get this saccharin of "care for and support of same-gender-oriented people and their families" while also commending without even the slightest hint of critique that "some pastors will advocate repentance and celibacy" of LGBT people. (Ibid) Where are these same gender people and their families? -floating in outer space? Where is someone who will stand up and say like Paul, "Why do you make LGBTQ (Gentile) people in your heterosexual (Jewish-Christian) image, pastor?" Where is the courage even to say that we do not commend this behavior by clergy? No, once again the ELCA continues to be paralyzed spiritually by the need for unity of the church over courage and justice. Heterosexual marriage has now been exalted to the point of idolatry -which encourages further oppression under the cover of spiritualized Lutheran justificationism, equanimity and saccharin counsels. Sooner or later, or sadly, never, the ELCA will get the courage to say what is right, just and faithful -rather than bow once again to finding consensus and now the exaltation of marriage. This report is more wasted energy. It is another expensive conference that refuses to face the reality that we disagree and cannot find consensus. It is lukewarm -and we know how the Lamb feels about that. Much angst and effort was no doubt expended -but most went to their heterosexual homes just wanting to be nice in that Lutheran way. But this report is not nice. It is unfaithful to the Gospel. Because this sexuality report is a draft, our input is encouraged by Nov. 1st. A special class open to all should begin to read, discuss and critique the theology and its insipid, non-prophetic role. Pastor Robert and Dawn

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

	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 Easter Sunday

• First Reading: Acts 10:34-43
• Second Reading Colossians 3:1-4
• Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10
• Psalmody: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

  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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