Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for December 13, 2009

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday's Readings

• Zephaniah 3:14-20
• Philippians 4:4-7
• Luke 3:7-18
• Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER: To improve our ministry to those members of the congregation remembered in prayer, we are indicating those who would be open to a visit (v) phone call (p) and/or card (c). Contact the church office for further information.

• Richard Copperud (c)
• Glenda Lisk (v,p,c)
• Susan Tucceri
• Bill Hunter (p,v)
• Bob Douglas (v,c)
• 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.

  LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

  
  

  Dante Cecchini, a friend of St. Francis, will light the second candle of Advent, reminding us that we have begun the anticipation and waiting for God to come into our lives and broken world with forgiveness, healing and vision.

  
  
  

  HORROR IN UGANDA

  From David Mixner, Michael Petrelis, Pastor Robert

  President Barack Obama: There is very little time left to stop the horrendous legislation pending before the Parliament of Uganda. Here is what the Bill Number 18:

  *life imprisonment for homosexual acts
  *death penalty for any aggravated homosexual behavior
  *death penalty for people with HIV/AIDS who engage in such behavior
  *any one who attempts to commit homosexuality is sentenced to seven years
  *any one who supports or funds homosexuality is sentenced five to seven years in prison
  *three years in prison if you know someone that is homosexual and don't report them within twenty-four hours
  *the country will seek to extradite back to Uganda homosexuals who have fled the country

  Without a doubt, this is the beginning of a policy to eradicate homosexuality in Uganda. Never have we seen a Parliament pass such draconian measures against the LGBT community. Nations and their leaders around the world, with the exception of the United States, have loudly and repeatedly, without hesitation condemned Bill Number 18. Secretary Clinton made vague references in her World AIDS Day address. Reports have it that in an earlier version she actually mentioned Uganda but was told to take it out. President Obama, end your silence!

  KIRSTEN'S HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

  benefiting COMING HOME HOSPICE & MAITRI

  Saturday, December 12
  10 AM - 6 PM

  Kirsten Havrehed's home
  538 23rd Ave, San Francisco
  between Anza & Balboa

  Parking is difficult to find, accessible on the 38 Geary & 31 Balboa bus lines

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  STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE HOSTS COFFEE HOUR TODAY

  The stewardship committee will host “Bring-you-Calendar Sunday” at coffee hour today. Please consider a worship assistant opportunity and sign up as a lector, an assistant minister, a coffee hour host, a crucifer, or flower host for Sunday services.

  
  
  

  A CONCERT OF CAROLS

  On Sunday, December 20th at 3pm the St. Francis Choir will sing carols, both little known and familiar followed by a carol sing along It's an hour filled with Christmas joy. Admission is free, donations accepted. Plan to attend.

  DO WE HAVE YOUR PLEDGE?

  Member pledges of time, talent and treasure are critical to the council's budget planning process, which will begin in mid-December. If you have not turned in your pledge forms, please submit them to the church office in care of Janet Thuesen or place them in the offering plate as soon as possible. If you need pledge forms, please contact Dave Walda.

  
  

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  HOPE ALIVE! IN UGANDA

  

  Greetings from Kampala!

  Much has happened in the last four months! It's been incredibly busy, but good. I've now been in Uganda longer than I was in Cote d'Ivoire (just over seven and a half years). Hope Alive! is now seven years old. God continues to open doors for new adventures.

  To finance some of its own programs, Hope Alive! began a poultry project in Gulu (in the northern part of Uganda). This is where our child-headed households and Feeding Centre are located. We bought our first batch of chicks over two months ago. We started small this first time, to make sure we were doing things right. Of the 100 chicks we bought, 95 made it safely from Kampala to our new poultry house in Gulu.

  Last week, they went up for sale as broilers. All 95 were sold in one day, with people appearing for the next several days hoping to buy more.

  We are very thankful to God for the success of the project so far. We will buy our second batch of chicks soon and will at least double the number.

  
  
  
  
  

  Thanks to all who have chosen to gift a child at the Center. Please wrap your gifts and mark them clearly. If you will not be in church on December. 20th. you may bring them to Dave's office. Otherwise, plan to bring them with the Offertory on Sunday December 20. If you have not chosen a name and would like to, call Nancy Record 415-861-1818 days, or anytime on the cell: 415-286-8840.

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  ELM MEETS WITH ELCA

  At the invitation of the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), leaders of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) met with Bishop Mark Hanson and several leaders of the ELCA at the ELCA offices in Chicago.

  Pastor Anita Hill, who will preach at St. Francis on Sunday, December 27 for the Feast of the Expulsion/Hope, was an ELM delegate and provided this reflection of the meeting:

  For me, the day was an emotional roller coaster. Having heard the stories of Julie Boleyn, Erik Christiansen, Cindy Coleman, Jeff Johnson, Ross Merkel, and Jen Nagel, I attest that our roster was well represented and our words well received. Bishop Hanson's response was clear. He and other ELCA staff learned a lot from our presentations and heard both the joys of our ministries as well as some of the pain and difficulty we have faced.

  It is clear the landscape of the ELCA has changed and that no one has mapped (it) quite yet. No major decisions were reached, nor was that ultimately the goal of the day. There were small steps taken onto the road which will eventually lead to welcome of ELM roster members onto the ELCA rosters as well.

  We need more clarity about next steps in the ELCA's process and how ELM roster members who wish to join the ELCA roster might proceed.

  We, at St. Francis, are in a holding stage as we wait for the decisions and wording of documents such as Visions and Expectations as approved by the ELCA Church Council.

  The ELCA has made their working drafts on the Candidacy Manual and Vision and Expectations available in PDF form for study and comment at http://www.elca.org/ministrypolicies (at the bottom of the page). If you would like to partake in a discussion group on these documents see Pastor Robert.

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

  Be sure to attend worship service on December 27 when our guest preacher is the Reverend Anita Hill, of St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN.

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  USHER TEAMS Click here

  
  

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  • December 14 Susan Tucceri
  • December 16 Tom Tragardh
  • December 18 Fran Bridge
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Micah 5:2-5a
  • Hebrews 10:5-10
  • Luke 1:39-55
  • Psalm: Luke 46b-55
  
  

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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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