Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for October 5, 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.

First Reading:      Isaiah 5:1-7
Second Reading  Philippians 3:4b-14
Holy Gospel:        Matthew 21:33-46
Psalmody:           Psalm 80:7-15

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Eric Shifler, home recuperating
• Evan Ardley
• Walter Huxley, partner of Ken Hedrick, who will be having major surgery on October 13
• Richard Kowalski, father of Jim Kowalski, recuperating
• Cathy Singleton, aunt of Pastor Dawn in a severe auto accident
• Lisa's daughter Amber, with addiction problems, and son Aaron serving in Iraq
• Bill Hunter
• Bob Douglas
• Sophie Barron, mother of James Barron
• Humberto Valle, friend of Dale Leininger, diagnosed with lymphoma
• Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis
• our shut-ins
• Robert Gardiner, friend of Pastor Robert
• Those who use our facilities, especially our Seniors, and those attending the 12-step programs that meet here. We pray for their continued health, happiness and success.

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 Hope Alive Project in Uganda.

WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP Q & A

What is Stewardship at St. Francis?

Stewardship is our congregation deciding together how to best use our collective resources to make our ministry happen. For example, we called our pastors, Pastor Robert and Pastor Dawn, to lead us, to lead our worship, and lead our ministry programs. We have committed to their presence and to make supporting them and their work a priority of our giving of time and money.

SPIRITUALITY DISCUSSION IN OCTOBER

Members of the Stewardship Committee are starting a series of small group discussions that will enable about 6 St. Francis members to meet 3 times to discuss a topic of interest.

The first two will be on Wednesdays, October 8, 15, and 22 at the church at 6:30 pm, lasting for 45 minutes to an hour. Nancy Loewe will host a group to talk about daily spiritual practices (What works for you?) and Jim Kowalski will host three sessions learning about and practicing lectio divina (read a brief passage out loud; read it again several times – sharing each time on a focused thought). No need to sign up for either group – please just attend.

We are considering other topics for the future so please make suggestions to committee members or chair Brandee Marckmann.

Starting October 5th, the Love Loaf Coin boxes will be available at Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall. Please take one home with you. All funds raised are used for the St. Francis/St. Vincent DePaul Programs.

DEFEATING PROPOSITION 8

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

Persons may volunteer, or host a house party, just to name a few opportunities. 415-267-3101 WWW.EQULITYFORALL.COM

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.

CASTRO STREET FAIR

St. Francis will be represented at the Castro Street Fair this Sunday, which starts at 11 AM. Pastor Dawn will be setting up with some help. Others have already signed up to be at the booth. There will be a new banner with some handouts prepared for the day.

The booth for St. Francis is located on 18th Street, between Hartford and Castro on the south side of the street. The booth number is 18-322. Above is the map of the street fair layout.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Francis invites you to their OCTOBERFEST to be held on Sunday, October. 26 after worship. Brats, sauerkraut, beer and apple cider. $15 –VISA, Mastercard and American Express accepted. Your donation will assist the ministries of St. Francis’ St. Vincent de Paul society.

THANKSGIVING DAY AT ST FRANCIS

The St. Vincent DePaul Committee continues to prepare 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.

Many thanks for those who have donated food items for our annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner. We now have enough instant mashed potatoes, turkey stuffing, chicken broth, cranberry sauce, and apple sauce. We still need canned yams/sweet potatoes and spiral hams.

Beginning Sunday, October 26 there will be sign-up sheets for Thanksgiving volunteers and those donating turkeys or ham, giving time to roast turkeys, and providing deserts. These sign-up sheets will be available every Sunday thereafter until Thanksgiving. \We still need financial contributions to purchase the many non-food items required for the Thanksgiving dinner. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Special SVDP Giving envelopes are 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.

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

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

SYNOD HEARING ON ELCA DRAFT STATEMENT ON HUMAN SEXUALITY

WHEN Friday October 10, 2008 7:30 PM
WHERE St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 1111 O'Farrell St. @ Franklin St)
WHY The ELCA is writing a social statement on human sexuality. We need your input to improve it.
Download a copy at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney

I need an interim place to stay in San Francisco for the month of December while waiting for my new place in Oakland to be remodeled.

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).

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!