Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for June 21, 2009 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER: |
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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. |
June 15, 2009
The paper’s editorial board said “The Obama administration, which came to office promising to protect gay rights...actually struck a blow for the other side last week. It submitted a disturbing brief in support of the Defense of Marriage Act, which is the law that protects the right of states to not recognize same-sex marriages and denies same-sex married couples federal benefits. The administration needs a new direction on gay rights.”
The Times referenced the couple from California who are challenging the act in Federal court. The administration brief “insists it is reasonable for states to favor heterosexual marriages because they are the ‘traditional and universally recognized form of marriage.’ In arguing that other states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages under the Constitution’s ‘full faith and credit’ clause, the Justice Department cites decades-old cases ruling that states do not have to recognize marriages between cousins or an uncle and a niece.
“The brief also maintains that the Defense of Marriage Act represents a ‘cautious policy of federal neutrality’ — an odd assertion since the law clearly discriminates against gay couples. Under the act, same-sex married couples who pay their taxes are ineligible for the sort of federal benefits — such as Social Security survivors’ payments and joint tax returns — that heterosexual married couples receive.
“The best approach of all would have been to make clear, even as it defends the law in court, that it is fighting for gay rights. It should work to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ the law that bans gay men and lesbians in the military from being open about their sexuality. It should push hard for a federal law banning employment discrimination. It should also work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act in Congress.”
Religious Institute News
No other President has ever uttered anything like these words:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.
I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors went further than the President. Just this week, it passed a resolution titled "Equality and Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans," including support for marriage equality along with endorsement of federal bills such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Okay, gang. When you read this, the AIDS Walk is a tad less than a month away. As of today, six (6) Lutherans have raised $2815 on-line. Thank you Patrick, Michael, Pastor Robert, Stephen Anika, Gabriel and Max. Three (3) Geographers have raised $2125, bringing our team total to $4940. This is quite good.
This total only includes on-line donations. If you have received checks or cash, those contributions have not yet been tallied in the on-line report.
As you know Gabriel and I just returned from China (Fabulous trip!), and so I have yet to send out my 200 plus solicitation letters. I am thus not in a strong position to suggest to the 52 Lutherans (and 36 Geographers), who show up as a $0.00 in my accounting sheet, that they get with it, that the walk is approaching, that time to ask is now and so on.
So I’ll simply say “Please begin your solicitations.”
Thank you all. Max.
To sponsor a walker, talk to one of the walkers on our St. Francis team. You can also sponsor a walker directly on-line by going to http://www.aidswalk.net/sanfran/, and click on the button on the left button that says Sponsor a Walker.
To find out who is on the St. Francis team, click on the left button of the homepage that says Team Info. On the following page, look for the link 2009 Registered Teams, and scan down for the team St Francis Lutheran Church/SFSUGeography-1127.
On Thursday, September 10, the All San Francisco Concert Committee will sponsor a concert for the whole community at Davies Symphony Hall. The Concert recreates the Opening Night concert program with Michael Tilson Thomas and pianist Ilya Yakushev:
For this to work for us we will need a minimum of 10 tickets at $10 each paid in advance no later than Sunday, July 26. Let’s go together and enjoy that special evening! See the pastors.
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USHER TEAMS | |
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Brian Border William Brogan Chris Buchanan Steve Casavant Lawrence Mortensen Timur Muhrlin | |
| Dave Walda Leona Lee Susan Tucceri Rose Woodvine | |
| Tom Metz Janet Thuesen Sarah Wells | |
| Max Kirkeberg Gabriel Proo Eric Shifler Carl Tebell | |
| Scott Beckerley Gene Clark | |
The Sign-up list is on the Parish Hall bulletin board. Please take a moment to sign up and help at worship service. Thanks.
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!
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Join us at the Thrivent Builds/Habitat for Humanity site this year on our special days. Thrivent is fundraising a third entire home in San Francisco. Real commitment to our community - and you can help. Our Lutheran sweat-equity and donor support will make it work. Mark your calendar to volunteer for our Build dates:
June 20th
July 25th
August 8th and more
Contact your congregational coordinator / Thrivent Champion Diane DeLange for more information.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity will also visit St Francis soon.
Lectionary for next Sunday
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.
Go back to the St. Francis home page
