Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for November 8, 2009

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Sunday's Readings

• 1 Kings 17:8-16
• Hebrews 9:24-28
• Mark 12:38-44
• Psalm 146

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Richard Copperud
• Jack Kling
• Glenda Lisk
• Susan Tucceri
• Bill Hunter
• Bob Douglas
• Anita Cox
• Angie Tedder, aunt of Russ Morgan
• Phyllis Frohmuth, great aunt of Russ Morgan
• Les, father of Richard Peterson
• The father of Rob Zampetti
• Sylvia Beckerley, stepmother of Scott Beckerley,
• Sophie Barron, mother of James Barron
• Mary, cousin of Michael Petrelis
• Debby Schert, friend of Paster Paul
• Grace, mother of Dan Jones
• our shut-ins
• 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.
  

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  PAUL BRENNER PREACHING

  Pastor Paul Brenner will preach this Sunday, November 8. Pastor Robert will preside.

  GOING TO THE ENDOWMENT DINNER WEDNESDAY

  Members of the Congregation - Please join the St. Francis Endowment Committee as their guests for dinner to learn more about the Endowment, thank our supporters and celebrate our grant recipients on Wednesday, November. 11, 6 PM, at One Market Restaurant. The dinner will also recognize those individuals who have already included the St. Francis Endowment in their estate plans. If you plan on attending, please contact the church office as soon as possible.

  CALL COMMITTEE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 15

  Pastor Robert retires in May, 2011 —not 2010 as erroneously stated previously. On Sunday, November 15, 2009, the Nominations Committee will present a slate of candidates for the future Call Committee. According to our Constitution, all voting members of the congregation are invited to vote for four females and four males, with three of the elected being members of the Congregation Council.

  Please mark this date on your calendar and plan to vote on this very important step in the future of St. Francis. Bios will be published of all candidates.

  Running from Council:

  • Rob Byrne
  • Brandee Marckmann
  • Tom Metz

  Running from the Congregation

  • Grant Burger
  • Deb Cote
  • Greg Egertson
  • Marilyn Jackson
  • Leona Lee
  • Gabriel Proo
  • Tom Tragardh
  • Marsha White
  • Elaine Whitney
  
  
  

  PLEDGE FORMS DUE ON SUNDAY NOV. 15

  Pledge forms of Time, Talent and Treasure are due on Sunday, November 15. Please place your pledge forms in the offering plates or mail them to the church office in care of Treasurer Janet Thuesen before November 15. Our goal is to have 100% participation in the 2010 pledge program.

  
  
  

  Gala Results

  Preliminary figures indicate that we raised $8,551.00 from our recent GALA. Thanks to you all! And especially to the Ladies of the Lydia Circle Greg Egertson (Sister Hjordis Nordquist), Grant Burger (Sister Yvette 2K), Carl Tebell (Sister Carlotta ), Jim Remer (Sister Betty Windsor) and Pastor Robert (Makeover into Julia Child).

  
  

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  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

  For several years the statue of Mary has been loaned to us by Paul Brenner. Since Paul would like to have the statue back, the Worship Committee discussed what to do. They would like your feedback. Because the wooden statue was very dark and difficult to see, the committee was considering something more noticeable with improved lighting. As an experiment, Pastor Dawn loaned us the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe (pictured left) for your consideration, since the statue reflects much of the Latino culture of our community. Other suggestions include a matching white but smaller statue of Mary to that of Jesus on the lectern side of the Nave or a statue of St. Clare of Assisi, or Mary Magdalene (picturee right), reflecting the rehabilitation of her reputation as a financer of Jesus’ ministry. She was not a prostitute (Some scholars claim that was a third century libel to crush a women’s movement in the early church). Our membership is made up of people from very different religious traditions, from Roman Catholic, Protestant to no religion at all. The committee wants to hear from you. Talk to the pastors, Sam Aller, Stephen Lawson, and Paul Brenner.

  

  THANKSGIVING DINNER UPDATE

  Sign up sheets to help with the dinner and provide food will again be available in the Parish Hall after worship service. Your help in these areas would be greatly appreciated so that this year’s 26th Thanksgiving Community Dinner will be a success.

  Don’t forget to collect your coins in the small boxes we handed out. The funds collected from the boxes help to pay for the Thanksgiving Day dinner. Please bring the coin boxes to worship service on November 22.

  We are also collecting the following food items:
  Bags of stuffing
  Cans of cranberries
  Apple juice, canned
  Boxes of mashed potatoes
  Applesauce
  
  Bring any food donations to Sunday worship and place them in the food basket.

  
  
  

  Join fellow members at the Adult Forum every Sunday at 9:30 AM as we read together Martin Luther, A Life, by Martin Marty. The book is only $10 to keep. We will read together, chapter by chapter during the forum. Come and learn how a famous scholar assessed Martin Luther. See you there!

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  WEBSITE DESIGNER NEEDED

  We are looking for someone to help us improve our website layout more effectively. If you or someone you know could help us, please let the church office know.

  
  
  

  For information about our choir, go to www.stfrancischoir.org or contact David Schofield

  Concerts this year include:
  
  Jean Richafort, Requiem in Memorium Josquin
  DesPrez
  Annual Carol Concert
  Choral Favorites Concert

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  USHER TEAMS Click here

  
  
  

  ELECTION RESULTS

  Phil Soucy, Lutherans Concerned

  
  

  The results of the elections Tuesday were a mixed bag of progress and disappointment.

  In Maine, the law passed by the legislature approving gay marriage was repealed by a vote of 53% to repeal versus 47% to retain. Fifty-four percent of the registered voters in Maine participated in the hotly contested election. Commenting on the election results, Jesse Connolly, who managed the effort to retain the law, thanked everyone who helped in any way to get the vote out and then said, "We're in this for the long haul. For next week, and next month, and next year-- until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family and that will always be something worth fighting for."

  In Washington State, Referendum 71 to repeal domestic partnership rights failed by 22,000 votes, leaving the legislation in effect. The measure to repeal was voted down 51% - 48%, with nearly 1 million voters participating.

  Kalamazoo, Michigan, voters upheld its new non-discrimination laws, 7671 yes - 4731 no.

  And in Houston, Annise Parker, the openly lesbian City Controller, received 30.5% of the vote in the mayoral race. She and her nearest opponent Gene Locke, who received 25.9%, will be in a run-off election.

  
  

  "MAGDALENE: The Mary Magdalene Story "

  Saturday, November 7th, 8pm - Musical by Katie Ketchum

  Ebenezer/herchurch, 678 Portola Dr. San Francisco

  $20. At the door. Complimentary Tickets for all registered for the November 6-8 Faith and Feminism-Womanist-Mujerista Conference at herchurch.

  After a successful run at the Sacramento Theatre Company last year, Katie Ketchum will be performing her one woman play with music-- "MAGDALENE; The Mary Magdalene Story" in San Francisco.

  "Magdalene" features Mary Magdalene in her many roles throughout herstory. The play revolves around a modernized version of the Gospel of Mary of Magdala found in Egypt 100 years ago. "Magdalene" also includes a bevy of traditional biblical characters, and some not so traditional characters, including the Jewish follower, an Egyptian goddess initiate, the prostitute, and present day rapper, all passionately played by Ketchum. Lighting and costumes are by Elisha ONeil.

  Albert Goodwyn of The San Francisco Bay Times said, "Mary Magdalene is intense in both its onstage activity and its intellectual content and it's thoroughly enjoyable on a visceral level." and Jim Carnes of the Sacramento Bee said, "Ketchum is a fetching performer. Ketchum sings well, has written some witty ditties in the gospel and rockabilly veins, and plays a mean Jerry Lee Lewis-style piano."

  Katie Ketchum studied composition with Dr. Samuel Dolin at the Royal Conservatory of Music and piano with Columbia Recording artist Weldon Kilburn in Toronto , Canada . She has a Masters Degree in Performing Arts and is a certified Music For Young Children teacher. In her teens she won many piano and voice competitions sponsored by Her Majesty the Queen of England in Canada . She is a National Endowment for the Arts recipient for her one woman show on the life of Mary Cassatt the American painter and will be presenting an evening with the Romantic pianist Clara Schumann in the summer of 2010. Ketchum founded a music school 26 years ago that is now part of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

  
  
  
  

  • November 9 Deb Côté
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Daniel 12:1-3
  • Hebrews 10:11-25
  • Mark 13:1-8
  • Psalm 16
  
  

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  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:

  Directions to St. Francis: Ext 21
  Worship Service schedule: Ext 20
  Pr. Robert Goldstein: Ext 11
  Pr. Dawn Roginksi Ext 12
  Senior Center Coordinator: Ext 12
  Dave Walda, Senior Parish Administrator: Ext 10
  Clifton King, Sexton
  Brandee Marckmann, Congregation President
  Janet Thuesen, Treasurer

  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.
   

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