Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for December 20, 2009

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday's Readings

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

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)
• 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.

  HONORING GENE CLARK

  At Coffee Hour we will honor Gene Clark who has been a member through the predecessor Finnish congregation for over 50 years. Gene has been an organist here for many years and we are grateful when he substitutes from time to time. Thanks Gene.

  CAROLS CONCERT TODAY

  Today, December 20th at 3 PM 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.

  
  
  

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  D.C. APPROVES

  Joe Solomonese, Human Rights Campaign

  Marriage Equality passed in Washington D.C. last Tuesday. D.C. Council members did not cave under pressure from the threat of the Roman Catholic archbishop to cut social service programs if the bill passed. Members of the D.C. Council spoke with church officials to find common ground. But the archbishop refused to alter his official position.

  The bill now goes to the Mayor Adrian Fenty, who has promised to sign it. The U.S. Congress then has 30 days to review the legislation. After that window passes, the bill becomes law. The U.S. Congress can choose to intervene and overturn the law at any time.

  
  
  
  
  

  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.

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  THANKSGIVING PHOTOS

  Photos by Todd Hebron

  Attendance was lower, but it was very busy most of the time

  Rose and one of the kitchen helpers

  Carl, how many turkeys do we see?

  
  

  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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  At the Tuesday, Dec. 15, Council meeting: (1) The Council agreed with the Worship Committee's suggestion of renaming the "Feast of the Expulsion" to the "Feast of Hope;" (2) Good progress was made on preparing a 2010 budget to recommend to the congregation at the annual meeting on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010; and (3) Funding for a re-design of the St. Francis Website is being planned as part of next year's budget.

  
  

  Sunday, January 24, 2010 12:30-2:00 PM Lee’s 70th Birthday celebration in the Parish Hall, with lunch and party games hosted by the Lydia Circle. All members and friends of St. Francis are welcome!

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  GAY ACTIVIST KILLED

  Doug Ireland, Common Dreams.org

  Walter Trochez, 25 years old, a well-known LGBT activist in Honduras who was an active member of the National Resistance Front against the coup d'etat there, was assassinated on the evening of December 13, shot dead by drive-by killers. Trochez, who had already been arrested and beaten for his sexual orientation after participating in a march against the coup, had been very active recently in documenting and publicizing homophobic killings and crimes committed by the forces behind the coup, which is believed to have been the motive for his murder. He had been trailed for weeks before his murder by thugs believed to be members of the state security forces.

  In an open letter documenting the wave of political assassinations of Honduran queers Trochez had written that "Once again we say it is NOT ACCEPTABLE that in these past 4 months, during such a short period, 9 transsexual and gay friends were violently killed, 6 in San Pedro Sula and 3 in Tegucigalpa." At the end of this open letter, Trochez declared that "As a revolutionary, I will always defend my people, even if it takes my life". Sadly, that's what happened.

  
  

  ACCESS TO ELCA WORKING DOCS

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

  
  
  

  USHER TEAMS Click here

  
  

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  • December 21 Ted Hyrons
  • December 22 Charles Schuler
  • December 23 Samuel Aller
  • December 23 Leona Lee
  • December 24 David Bernstein
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
  • Colossians 3:12-17
  • Luke 2:41-52
  • Psalm 148
  
  

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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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  Last updated Dec 18 2009 by DW