Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for November 29, 2009

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday's Readings

• Jeremiah 33:14-16
• 1 Thess. 3:9-13
• Luke 21:25-36
• Psalm 25:1-10

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

• Richard Copperud
• Jack Kling
• Glenda Lisk
• Susan Tucceri
• Bill Hunter
• Bob Douglas
• the family of Eric Shifler on the death of Eric's sister Ellen Zoppi
• 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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  DURING THIS FLU SEASON, hand sanitizer is available on the table in the Narthex as a precaution to prevent the spread of germs. Please feel free to use it. However, if you do become sick, please stay home so that others attending here do not become infected. Thanks.

  GABRIEL PROO RECEIVES
  KIRSTEN HAVREHED AWARD

  

  During worship last Sunday, Gabriel Proo accepted St. Francis’ Kirsten Havrehed Award for outstanding stewardship by serving on the Board of the Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center for 9 years and for his love and enthusiasm for the children and teachers of the Center. Current and former members of the Board were invited to the front with Gabe: to his right: Nancy Loewe, Sally Large, director, Nancy Record, David Mould and Fran Kearny. Gabe also asked members of St. Francis to serve on the Board. Congratulations Gabe!
  Photo Michael Petrelis

  
  

  WORLD AIDS DAY, DECEMBER 1

  St. Francis will observe World AIDS day in the Prayers of the People during worship this Sunday. We remember all those who died of AIDS and those who live daily with the disease. Please see page 22 for information on a citywide service at St. Mark’s this Tuesday evening, December 1.

  
  
  

  + IN MEMORIAM +

  At the end of each month, we will celebrate the life of family and friends who are interred in our Memorial Terrace. This November, we celebrate the life of Gloria Siech, pictured below. A tribute to her written by her partner, Pat Stein, is below. We send our thoughts to prayers to Pat and to her beloved Gloria, who is at rest in the SFLC Memorial Terrace.

  
  

  My Gloria’s ashes are mostly at St Francis where she rediscovered her Lutheran heart. But she’s traveled with me and with friends and family who have left a little more of her in places she loved.
  
  Some of her ashes are in a place where her heart never left, her hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  Among the many other stops in her continuing travels are Paris,in the rose garden by Le Sacré-Coeur and the Seine from the Pont Neuf here our hearts soared as we watched fireworks over the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Eve.
  
  In Assisi, a place whose spirituality touched both our hearts. At Keawakapu Beach on Maui where we lost our hearts to the beauty of so many sunsets, and at Kahaluu Bay where her heart almost stopped when she discovered she was swimming with 7 turtles.
  
  At Sea Ranch where we joined our hearty friends every year for long weekends of fun. At Tennessee Valley Beach where she reached so many goals in recovering her heart's fitness.
  
  And at Point Lobos where 31 years ago we had our first weekend away and planned that one of us would toss ashes there when the time came.  My heart stood still as it always did when the wind caught her and took her on further travels.

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  MAY WE HAVE YOUR PLEDGE?

  A heartfelt thank you to those of you who have pledged your time, talent and treasure to St. Francis! If you haven't turned in your 2010 pledge forms, please do so as soon as possible by placing them in the offering plate or by mailing, faxing, or e-mailing your forms to the church office in care of Treasurer Janet Thuesen.

  The stewardship committee would love to see St. Francis be a model congregation with 100% of our membership making a pledge of time, talent and treasure to our faith community.

  So far, we've received many pledges of time and talent and financial pledges of over $140,000.. Of this amount, the council, stewardship committee and St. Francis staff have pledged a combined total of $60,774. Our goal for this year is $170,000.

  
  

  Highlights from November Council Meeting

  • The council approved the benevolence committee's recommendations for the $16,000 budgeted for benevolence giving. This figure represents 10% of our projected mission & ministry offerings.
  • In January the council will contact Rev. Nancy Feniuk Nelson, Bishop's Associate of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA, for guidance with our pastoral call process.
  • The council will begin budget deliberations in December.
  
  

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  ST FRANCIS TO PROVIDE MEALS FOR SHELTERS

  St. Francis has signed up to provide food for a men's shelter on 3 nights during the winter. The dinners, prepared by Carl, will be one Decemnber 1 at St. Boniface, January 13 at St. Mark's Lutheran, and January 27 at St. Boniface. Four persons are needed to assist. If you are interested, contact Carl.

  
  

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  KIRSTEN'S HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

  Benefiting Coming Home and Maitri

  Saturday, December 13
  
  10 AM - 6 PM
  

  Kirsten Havrehed’s Home

  
  

  538—23rd Avenue San Francisco (between Anza & Balboa*

  * Parking is difficult to find Suggested Muni lines 38 Geary & 31 Balboa

  
  
  
  
  

  St. Francis is again having the Christmas Angels Gift Program where members are asked to give a gift or gift card to a number of needy families at the Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center. Nancy Record will have the names of the 10 families available next Sunday, November 29, from which interested members can choose. There will also be information on suggested gifts. Please see Nancy at church November 29th if you are interested.

  
  

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

  Upcoming concerts:

  Annual Carol Concert
  Choral Favorites Concert

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  WALKING TOUR WITH MAX KIRKEBERG

  The Walking Tour offered at the Gala still has room for 3 more walkers. The walk will be through the Golden Gateway and Embarcadero Center complex located in the center of downtown on December 19, 10 AM.

  The cost is $20.00, which goes to St. Francis Lutheran Church. If you are interested, contact Dave Walda at 621-2635, and he ill add you to the walk list after you have turned in your check.

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  USHER TEAMS Click here

  
  

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  • November 29 Arni Lovitt
  • December 3 Barbara Kling
  • December 3 Julie Riffle
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Malachi 3:1-4
  • Philippians 1:3-11
  • Luke 3:1-6
  • Psalm: Luke 1:68-79
  
  

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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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  Go back to the St. Francis home page

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