Sunday's Readings

• First Reading: Acts 4:5-12
• Second Reading: 1 John 3:16-24
• Holy Gospel: John 10:11-18
• Psalmody: Psalm 23

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

Richard Copperud Susan Kools Susan Tucceri Deb Tully, on the loss of her father Glenda Lisk Evelyn, aunt of Janet Thuesen, hospitalized 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 TODAY AFTER WORSHIP

A congregational meeting will be held today immediately following worship. The agenda will consist of the adoption of proposed revisions to the bylaws regarding the name of the St. Francis Foundation and an extension to the line of credit with our bank. Copies of the proposed bylaw changes will be available at this meeting.

NATIONAL SURVEY TODAY IN WORSHIP

St. Francis is joining over 1,200 congregations across the country to participate in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. Every worshiper, member, friend and visitor, will get to take part. We will be asked about faith background and beliefs, involvement in the congregation, community involvement, and views about congregational priorities.

The short, easy-to-answer survey will be passed out at the end of our worship service on May 3rd for us to fill out then and there. 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. More information at www.uscongregations.org.

HELP! HELP! HELP!

Hospitality Hour has lost two of our long-time client-volunteers. We need help, especially with clean-up. While the rest of us get to church at 7 AM, you (who volunteer) won’t have to be here until 9 AM, and should be finished in time for the Adult Forum at 9:45 AM. If we don’t get help, Max, Chuck, and Carl are likely to be surly and (even more) unpleasant. Please contact one of these three persons if you can help or need more information.

So here’s the deal. Though the AIDS-Walk this year is a tad distant (July 19), AWSF, the organization, is already up and running, leaving me faxes and emails and phone calls—and some of you are also getting stuff asking you to register. So I guess we should get going, too.

1. Plan your summer so that you are here for the Walk on July 19th.
2. Begin now to mend fences with all potential sponsors.
3. You will soon receive materials from AWSF if you raised money last year. That’s because I just registered you. If, for some truly tragic reason, you can’t help us this year, let me know and I’ll un-register you.

As for the rest of you, I will be hitting the tables at coffee hour to register you.

Let’s do grand work this year.

CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECISION DAY

The California Supreme court will soon rule on whether Prop 8 will stand. The court will give 24 hours notice of when they will issue their decision. On the day of decision there will be gatherings across the state. Here is the info about our local gathering for Decision Day:

5-6pm Pre-March Rally at City Hall
6-7PM March to MLK memorial
7-8:30PM Post-March Rally at Yerba Buena Gardens
go to www.equalitycentral.org for more info.

GAY MARRIAGE & NEW HAMPSHIRE

New York Times, April 29

The New Hampshire Senate voted narrowly on Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage, paving the way for the state to potentially become the fifth in the nation — and the third this month — to allow gay couples to wed.

The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 13 to 11 in favor of the bill, which was passed by the State House of Representatives last month, but only after a last-minute amendment strengthened language granting legal protections for religious groups and organizations that do not want to perform or otherwise help carry out same-sex marriages.

It is unclear whether Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, will veto the law or whether the new language will persuade him to endorse it.

REPUBLICANS RECONSIDER SAME SEX MARRIAGE POLITICS

New York Times, April 28

The fact that a run of states have legalized gay marriage in recent months — either by court decision or by legislative action — with little backlash is only one indication of how public attitudes about gay marriage appear to be changing.

More significant is evidence in polls of a widening divide on the issue by age, suggesting to many Republicans that the potency of the gay-marriage question is on the decline. It simply does not appear to have the resonance with younger voters that it does with older ones.

In the latest New York Times/CBS News poll, released on Monday, 31 percent of respondents over the age of 40 said they supported gay marriage. By contrast, 57 percent under age 40 said they supported it, a 26-point difference. Among the older respondents, 35 percent said they opposed any legal recognition of same-sex couples, be it marriage or civil unions. Among the younger crowd, just 19 percent held that view.

YOU CAN SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS CHILDCARE CENTER

Donate to the Community Thrift 623 Valencia St. San Francisco

The center accepts household items, including clean gently used clothing. Friends of St Francis Childcare Center receive 50% of the sale price. Their ID number at the Thrift is #50. For more info go to www.communitythriftsf.org.

Shop at Cole Hardware Stores

4 locations in San Francisco, Friends of St Francis Childcare Center receives a percentage of purchases made. Use #500 when paying.

Purchase Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center Logo products

Available items are tote bags, mugs and greeting cards. Contact the childcare center office for more information.

Sign up soon for the 2009 Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28. Both Lutherans and Episcopal bishops will be present, to celebrate communion for all and to walk with us. Join us and walk proud.

Read the latest newsletter from Inclusive and Affirming Ministries.

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

• Acts 8:26-40

• 1 John 4:7-21

• John 15:1-8

• Psalm 22:25-31

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:

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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