THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

First Reading:      Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28
Second Reading  Romans 1:17-17, 3:22b-28, 31
Holy Gospel:        Matthew 7:21-29
Psalmody:           Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Betty Nelson, hospitalized
• Bill Hunter, recuperating at home
• Bob Douglas, home
• Bill Lawson, father of Steve Lawson, recovering
• George Elles, one of our seniors, recovering from surgery
• Humberto Valle, friend of Dale Leininger, recently diagnosed with lymphoma
• Diane Reyneker, teacher at Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center
• Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis
• our shut-ins
• Robert Gardiner, friend of Pastor Robert
• Dorothy Smith, of the childcare center
• Dale Leininger and Sandy Valle as they bike to Los Angeles for the AIDS Lifecycle Project

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 MINI-GALA IS COOKING THE BOOKS

KNUTSONS HAVE A DAUGHTER

Kristi Smith Knutson gave birth to her and Paul's second daughter, Penelope Camille, 7lbs 10 oz and 20 inches long, on Wednesday, May 21. Kristi wrote to us, "Our baby girl…is a peach!". Mother, new daughter, father, Emma and Jasper are fine.

BAR ARTICLE ON OBERHOLZER

The Bay Area Reporter published on May 28 an interview with the Rev. Pieter Oberholzer on the occasion of his visit to St. Francis. Here is an excerpt from the article: "Each year for the past 10 years the Reverend Pieter Oberholzer, a leader of the fight for LGBT rights in religious South Africa, has come to St. Francis Lutheran Church in the Castro seeking spiritual replenishment. "They sustain me," Oberholzer explained of his connection to the Castro-area congregation, standing outside of St. Francis last Sunday, May 18. "They pray for me every Sunday morning," Oberholzer said." For a rich story go to http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3005

Dale's link Sandy's link

Registration Deadline is June 1st
A St. Francis member has donated a scholarship of $85 towards registration costs. If you are interested please see the pastors. See below for registration info. Will you join us?
		Lutherans Concerned/North America invites people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to assemble with members of Reconciling in Christ and prospective RIC congregations at San Francisco State University July 3-6 under the theme, Hearts on Fire. We’ll worship together, using a rich variety of traditions of the worshipping community. We’ll provide a blend of the familiar and the unique drawing on our Lutheran heritage and the wealth of liturgical practice in the area. We’ll network with one another, hear stories of joy and frustration, and make decisions together about the future direction of Lutherans Concerned/North America.
Hearts on Fire. is more than a conference. We take pride in nurturing our participants. Many see the biennial assembly as a family reunion. In 2008, we hope to expand that family feeling by offering some new and exciting aspects to the assembly. Assembly Pre-Events offer extra education and edification before the assembly begins. Vacation Bible School will be offered for children of Assembly attendees and local RIC congregations. This will allow children to have a meaningful Assembly experience along with parents. Keynote Speakers include the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire. Information and Registration are at http://www.lcna.org/assembly/ This event is right in our backyard. We have been asked to provide many volunteers -the more the merrier. If you able to assist to any degree, please talk to the pastors. We also need to consider whether St. Francis will be a hospitality center because we are on the Muni line that goes to and from San Francisco State. Many attendees could stop at St. Francis as their beginning point for visiting the Castro community.

	ANOTHER ORDINATION IN JULY A FIRST FOR TEXAS
ELM Roster member Lura Groen has been called by Grace Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. The extraordinary ordination will take place on Saturday July 26th at 2pm, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, with a reception following at the church.
A WORD OF EXPLANATION
If you are visiting St. Francis you need to know that because the official Lutheran national Churches require only LGBTQ candidates for ministry to sign a vow of celibacy (not heterosexuals), a growing number of candidates are refusing to sign this unjust rule. Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) is the means by which congregations call these courageous clergy.

	DONATIONS NEEDED FOR GALA AUCTION
A large part of the financial success (and fun!) of our June 21 Gala, "Cooking The Books," depends on our silent auction. Please contribute items for auctioning. Donate artwork, event tickets, beautiful household items or gift certificates from your favorite local businesses. Food and cycling-related items are welcome! Donations may be dropped off at the church office until Monday, June 16.

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).

We have just the solution for you. On Sunday, June 15, The St. Francis/St. Vincent DePaul Committee will be having a bake sale before church and during coffee hour. Buy to fulfill your sweet cravings and help out the SF/SVDP committee meet its budget needs.

BULLETIN #2

So Gabriel and I have been away two Sundays and I left without appointing a sub-commandant to continue the good work of "growing the team". Alas, another, obvious sign of accelerating old age. Oh well - let's move on: Only Brandee and Bill responded to my last notice and asked to be removed from our roster. I graciously accepted and advised counseling. Thus - as of May 18 our team consists of 96 bodies, 34 of these are from school leaving Lutherans (and friends) with 62. Since then I have added 16 more geographers, but no (none) new Lutherans. This must change. See me after church to sign up - or to cautiously inquire as to your status on the roster. Keep the faith! Maxie

Adult Forum is currently reading La Vida Sacra. This book is about Hispanic religion and liturgy and how we can begin to understand its many gifts to enhance our life and worship as Christians.

Join us on Sundays at 9:30 AM in the Conference Room.

As you know our ushers do fantastic work. But we need some more efficient method for setting up ushers for each Sunday. We have come up with the concept of One Sunday a Month Ushering Teams. Briefly, there will be five teams of ushers for the four Sundays of every month -plus a fifth Sunday team. The beauty of the concept is that you usher only one Sunday a month and id your particular Sunday won't work for you the rest of the team covers your absence. You just let your team leader know if you cannot be there. If you are interested in participating let the pastors know. Pastor Robert .

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

TORNADO UPDATE

Through May 23, preliminary reports from the National Weather Service count 930 tornadoes for 2008, nearly equal to all tornadoes in 2007. The devastation has been widespread, with fatal tornadoes confirmed in 15 different states from Louisiana to Minnesota and from Colorado to North Carolina.

Lutheran Disaster Response coordinators are assessing the damage. In Iowa, Rev. Michael Stadie of Lutheran Services in Iowa reports that the F4-strength tornado at Parkersburg destroyed nearly 300 homes. Homes included dozens of members of Bethel Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation. Rev. Stadie is meeting with other faith partners, United Methodists, Presbyterians, Mennonites, and United Church of Christ, for long-term recovery plans.

In Minnesota, voluntary and governmental organizations are working with the town of Hugo. Cindy Johnson, with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, reports that Lutheran Disaster Response will be heading up the coordination of volunteers as well as partnering with other organizations to provide case management services. In Colorado, George Cummings of Lutheran Family Services of Colorado reports efforts are underway at Windsor, where over 100 homes and businesses were affected.

As we pray for those affected by storms, please also give a gift designated to the recovery of these communities. Gifts designated to a particular event will be directed in full - 100% - to those in need. Please note that you would like to give to the fund for "Tornadoes - United States." For more information, visit www.ldr.org/donate.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE CALENDAR

Lectionary for next Sunday

• First Reading: Hosea 5:15-6:6

• Second Reading Romans 4:13-25

• Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

• Psalmody: Psalm 50:7-15

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  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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  Last updated May 30 2008 by DW