First Reading:      Jeremiah 31:31-34 Second Reading  Hebrews 5:5-10 Holy Gospel:        John 12:20-33 Psalmody:           Psalm 51:1-12
	WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:
Richard Copperud Chung Bae Sylvia Beckerley, stepmother of Scott Beckerley, the father of Ted Hyrons Jan, sister of Pastor Anita Hill Ron Merk Bruce Jervis Bill Hunter Bob Douglas Sophie Barron, mother of James Barron Pr. Lionel Ketola Humberto Valle, friend of Dale Leininger Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis Eileen, the mother of a friend of Ken Hedrick 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.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING SUNDAY, MAY 3^rd AFTER WORSHIP

A congregation meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2009, immediately following worship. The agenda of this meeting will include adopting revisions to the by-laws regarding the name of the St. Francis Foundation and an extension to the line of credit with our bank. Information will be mailed to every voting member of the congregation in early April. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Don’t forget to pick up your stone at the back for Lenten devotion. There are still some available. Rub your worries into it and bring it back Good Friday, April 10^th.

Next Sunday’s Service will start with a Procession of the Palms from the Memorial Terrace. There will also be a reading of the Passion of Jesus the Christ according to St. Matthew with readers from our congregation.

Sunday April 5th Passion Sunday with Procession of the Palms

Thursday April 9th 7:00 P. M. Maundy Thursday

Friday April 10th 7:00 P. M. Good Friday Service - Adoration of the Cross

Saturday April 11th dusk- 6:45 P.M. The Easter Vigil

Sunday April 12th 11:00 A.M. The Feast of the Resurrection

Copies of the worship bulletin of Holy Week services last year will be in the Parish Hall after service today on the table under the King and Queen portraits. As told by several members during the last few Sundays, these services have provided meaningful experiences during this part of the Church year. You are encouraged to page through the worship bulletins and find out more about the Holy Week Services.

SUPPORT HOTEL WORKERS

Workers at the HEI Le Meridien and The Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf are seeking respect, job security, and better livelihoods for themselves and their families. Despite workers' repeated appeals for card check neutrality, both hotels have refused. As a result, workers at the Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf and HEI Le Meridian have signed petitions calling on guests to stop using these hotels. This is the first hotel boycott in San Francisco since Local 2's 2004-2006 contract disputes.

Workers at many other San Francisco hotels, including the InterContinental and St. Regis hotels, have been able to form a union through the majority sign-up process. Most of the major hotel corporations operating in San Francisco, including other Hyatt hotels, have adopted it for hotels they open in the future. These workers want the same respect and equality that other hotel workers have in the city and county of San Francisco and San Mateo. Hotel workers have received widespread community support.

The President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, David Chiu, has said, "Hotel workers and the hotel industry are critical to our city's economy, and we ask the Hyatt and HEI owners to respect workers' choice to organize freely as other San Francisco hotel companies already do." Elected officials, over 200 community and religious leaders, and over 1,000 individuals have already endorsed this boycott and pledged to not eat, sleep, or meet at Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf.

For more updates of this organizing campaign, please check the Local 2 website @ www.unitehere2.org.

You also can sign a boycott pledge! Sign this pledge and send the message to these hotels that they need to respect their workers!

EASTER FLOWERS

Flowers for Easter will be accepted at the church office through Friday April 10. The flowers can also be dropped off at one of the services that week, including the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening.

It is requested that you do not bring lilies since there are persons in the congregation and staff who would be negatively affected by the strong fragrance of these flowers. Please bring other colorful spring flowers to allow all to enjoy the Easter celebration.

Please contact Dave Walda at the office if you wish to bring flowers during the week day hours when the office is open.

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE SURVEY!

Who

Our congregation is joining over 1,200 congregations across the country to participate in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. Every worshiper age 15 and up will get to take part.

What

The U.S. Congregational Life Survey asks worshipers about their faith background and beliefs, involvement in the congregation, community involvement, and views about congregational priorities.

When

The short, easy-to-answer survey will be passed out during our worship service on May 3rd. There will be time set aside at the end of the service for worshipers to fill out the survey.

Why

This is a chance to let your voice be heard! We will receive a summary of our responses to help identify our congregation’s unique strengths and suggest steps for positive change.

www.uscongregations.org

PAUL BRENNER'S BOOK SIGNING

You are cordially invited to a Book Signing Party with the author on Saturday, March 28, 2 to 4 in the afternoon, in the St. Francis Lutheran Parish Hall. The Party will include a brief review of early Christianities and a reading from the novel. The historic novel is set in 68 CE and tells the story of what happened to the disciple loved by Jesus as he struggled against all attempts to silence his witness. Copies will be available for purchase. Checks and cash only. 10% of sales will be donated to St. Francis. Refreshments served. Congratulations Paul.

Pick up a copy of the Parent’s Newsletter from the Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center available in the Parish Hall

From Goodsoil.Org

Over two thousand rainbow scarves, created lovingly by volunteers, adorned voting members and supporters alike at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly in 2007 demonstrating support for a welcoming church. In August 2009, the ELCA meets for its next assembly.

There are several proposals before the Assembly that pertain to the full inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender members and their families in the life of the church. These decisions will be met with much soul searching and prayer.

To that end, LC/NA would like to provide prayer shawls to be used by participants at the assembly. These shawls will be for use in the chapel area and to remind participants to prayerfully consider every issue. LC/NA is requesting the participation of all Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregations to contribute at least one shawl. The shawls will be tagged with the contributing church’s name and story.

The shawls may be quilted, woven, crochet, or knit. The size should be about 72” x 18”. The design is left up to the person creating the piece. They can be as simple or elaborate as desired, with or without fringe, and of any color – the intent is to have a rainbow of individually colored, not rainbow-colored, shawls.

See Pastor Dawn for the knit and crochet patterns.

The Sign-up list is on the Parish Hall bulletin board. Please take a moment to sign up and help at worship service. Thanks.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

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!

Lectionary for next Sunday

• Matthew 21:1-11

• Passion of Jesus the Christ
  Matthew 26:14-27
  

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

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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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