Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for September 21, 2008

More ushers are needed, especially for the 3rd Sunday. If you would like to help or need more information, contact Dave Walda at the church office. There is a listing of the usher duties available on the website under “Worship & Spirituality” and from Dave.

We appreciate all the help that individuals give for our Worship Services.

Our condolences to the family of Diane Reyneker, who passed away last week. Diane was a teacher at the Friends of St. Francis Childcare. May God bless her and keep her.

ST. FRANCIS TEAM READY TO RACE

Barbara Kling reports that 28 persons have registered for the team, St. Francis and Friends.

Thanks to Deb Cote and Sue Burns for hosting a successful wine tasting at their home led by our very own sommelier Scott Beckerley (see below) $2925 was raised that day. Right now the Team total is $5580. You can donate by going to the Komen website: www.komaensf.org.

VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 8

We all need to focus on defeating Proposition 8 to end Gay marriage. Pastors Robert and Dawn have been meeting and working with others to integrate St. Francis into the adventure and struggle to keep back the religious forces of darkness and homophobia. Here’s how you can help:

Dialogue Dinners

From our Council Retreat we decided to help bridge differences with the religious community by inviting members of a congregation to dine at a restaurant in their community with some of our members. We have begun to send out invitations to churches in the Bay Area that are not RIC* and are awaiting their response.

Would you be willing to dine with other Lutherans to build relationships of respect and trust through mutual sharing of your stories?

This is definitely a tasteful way to build bridges of understanding and respect that could lead to their voting No on 8. We need diners. No pastors. Please volunteer and tell your pastors.

*RIC = Reconciling in Christ—congregations that have followed the Lutheran process to become welcoming to LGBTQ persons.

THE NO ON 8, EQUALITY FOR ALL CAMPAIGN (WWW.EQUALITYFORALL.COM)

This organization is composed of many organizations including PFLAG. Persons may volunteer, or host a house party, just to name a few opportunities.

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

(www.eqca.org) located at 2370 Market St 2nd Fl, 415/581-0005 ex 300. Individuals can help by hosting a party or fundraising event, or even becoming an EQCA member and fundraise on-line. See their website for a host kit and more information.

WORSHIP & CASTRO STREET FAIR SIGNUPS

Thanks to all that signed up last Sunday as a worship participant. There are some openings through the end of the year. There are some openings for the booth at the October 5th Castro Street Fair. The sign up for that is also on the same bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

SENIOR COOK

Anyone interested in the job description for the Senior Cook opening should contact Pastor Dawn or go to the St. Francis website www.st-francis-lutheran.org. The deadline is Sept. 30, 08.

THANKSGIVING DAY DONATIONS

The St. Vincent DePaul Committee is preparing for the Thanksgiving Day Dinner offered to the community at no charge. Due to increased cost of food, a decrease of food available at the San Francisco Food Bank, and a decrease in contributions to the St. Vincent DePaul fund, the committee is asking for help from you.

How can you help? First, donations of food will be needed. In particular, we need donations of turkey stuffing (dressing), powdered mashed potatoes, canned sweet potatoes and turkeys. Second, financial contributions will also be needed for those items that cannot be purchased ahead of time. Anything that you can donate will be greatly appreciated.

Donations of food can be brought on Sunday or you can make arrangement with Dave Walda to bring it during the week. More specific information will be given out in October and early November.

Special envelopes are also available on the usher’s table in the Narthex and Parish Hall literature rack by the elevator door for making financial donations, which can be left in the offering plate or returned to the office.

Feel free to contact Chuck Hancock, chair of the SVDP Committee or Dave Walda if you have further questions.

Join us this Thursday. Pastor Robert.

The Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality prepared by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America is available by going to theELCA website at the ELCA.org for the PDF document.

Lutherans Concerned of North America has their response to this statement at www.lcna.org/lcna_downloads/lcna_draft_social_statement_response.pdf. In this document, LC/NA has detailed the strengths of the ELCA Draft Social and the suggested changes and additions.

David Schofield has developed a website devoted to the St. Francis Choir. It is located at WWW.STFRANCISCHOIR.ORG. This site has pictures and information about the choir and upcoming performances. There is a link to the new website on the St. Francis Church homepage.

Our choir will be starting up again on Saturday. September 27 with an open choral reading at 9:30am in the church. We will be singing the Victoria Requiem and Missa O Quam Gloriosum.

The choir will sing on Sunday. September. 28th at the service. Rehearsals are at 9 AM in the organ loft. Those of us blessed with a love of music and singing are encouraged to offer their gift to the parish in the service of God and consider joining the choir. Those already in the choir will tell you that giving your time and voice gives back big dividends: a great time with a good group of folks, a chance to make music and be challenged, that wonderful feeling that you made a difference. Inquiries may be made to drdave@stfrancischoir.org.

PHOTOS FROM THE WINE TASTING

OTHER PHOTOS FROM SCOTT

From Scott Beckerley

Marilyn with a pile of Teddies

Grant Burger & Pastor Dawn with Katy Luther. This was Katy’s last visit to St. Francis before returning permanently to Wittenberg

Iris Vaughan and Nancy Loewe

Pastor Dawn greeting Janet Thuesen, Paaske and Janet’s cousin Sue Sorensen

Lucy Walda

I need an interim place to stay in San Francisco for four to five months, November.-February while waiting for my new place in Oakland to be remodeled. Even a month or two would be helpful.

Am Interested in a room, house sitting, any ideas? (I'm moving all my furnishings to my son's house and will be traveling light).

Nancy Record 415-861-1818 (work)

BLOGGING ON THE TEXTS

Pastor Megan Rohrer, of the Welcome Ministry, has started a blog on each Sunday’s lectionary texts. Megan posts her reflections each Monday at http://http://queerbiblestudy.blogspot.com.

USHER TEAMS

More ushers are needed, especially for the 3rd Sunday. If you would like to help or need more information, contact Dave Walda at the church office. There is a listing of the usher duties available on the website under “Worship & Spirituality” and from Dave.

The church office is open from 8:30 am to 5 PM, It is highly recommended that appointments be made when visiting Dave Walda, the Senior Parish Administrator to insure that he will be available to assist you. Thanks!

FUNDRAISER FOR THE WELCOME MINISTRY

Saturday November 8th 10:00 AM to 2 PM
Old First Presbyterian Church

A fine opportunity to recycle things you don't need. Bring small household items: blankets, knicknacks, electrical appliances, (all in working condition), lamps, dishes, pans, books, tapes, dvds, etc.

We will not accept clothing for the rummage sale, but the Welcome Ministry does need clothing for adults. Please do not bring items to the church on Saturday or Sunday. Contact Pastor Rohrer for more info at 567-2661 Help us out while you help yourself!