Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for January 10, 2010

BAPTISM OF JESUS

Sunday's Readings

• Isaiah 43:1-7
• Acts 8:14-17
• Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
• Psalm 29

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.

• Karen Olesen (c) and the husband and son of Cathy May (Karen’s cousin) who passed away in Seattle
• 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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  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.

  LECTOR TRAINING THIS SUNDAY

  The Liturgical Deacons would like to invite you to our Lector Training Session after church this Sunday. It will give you chance to learn more about the role, including an opportunity to practice from the lectern. If you attend the training session, there is no obligation for you to serve as a lector in the future. We just want to introduce you to the role, and hopefully, inspire you to take the leap-of-faith and give the lector role a try some Sunday morning.

  If you have any questions, feel free to speak with any of the deacons -- Grant, Burger, Bruce Jervis and Paul Johnson-- or Pr. Dawn.

  There will also be training for crucifer/torchbearers on February 28 after service, and for assisting ministers following service on March 21. Anyone interested are also welcome to these sessions too.

  
  
  

  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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  EMILY EASTWOOD ON PBS

  Phil Soucy, Lutherans Concerned

  In the Life," a program on PBS, is running an episode focused on leaders in the movement for full inclusion of LGBT people in various aspects of life and society. Emily Eastwood of Lutherans Concerned, the Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy of the Interfaith Alliance, three young professionals who started Broadway Impact in response to California’s Proposition 8, and Representative Barney Frank are the focuses of this episode, with additional commentary by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC.

  Also in the segment about efforts in the ELCA are former ELCA Presiding Bishop Herbert Chilstrom, Candidate for Ordination Javen Swanson, and Ann Craig, GLAAD Director of Religion, Faith & Values

  The episode will air locally on KQED on Sunday, January 10 at 11:30 PM and on 240 stations in 34 states. You can also view online or download the program in its entirety or some of its segments by going to: www.inthelifetv.org/html/episodes/93.html..

  
  
  

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  MY COUSIN MARY'S BIRTHDAY

  
  

  by Michael Petrelis

  Every Sunday we pray for my cousin Mary, as she wages a fight against cancer and other medical afflictions. I am genuinely grateful to my St. Francis family for all the continuing love and prayers on behalf of Mary. I have a brief update on her to share with the congregation.

  In December, Mary celebrated a birthday and when I spoke with her on the phone about it she was incredibly happy about the occasion. Her recent chemotherapy did little to diminish her upbeat spirit. It was great to share in her joy at the time, but that was not the only gift she gave me recently.

  At Christmas, I was able to not only speak with Mary, but thanks to both of us now having access to web cams, we were able to also see each other on our computer screens. I was blessed to see and hear my cousin, thanks to technology, making me feel close to her, even though we're on opposite coasts. She looked so beautiful, smiling on my monitor, it was like being in the same room with her.

  Many thanks for all your prayers and good wishes, and the Lord's love, for Mary, her health, and her spirit.

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  NEWS FROM SAM

  One of our members, Sam Henry, relocated to Kentucky last year, after retiring in San Francisco. Between retirement and the move, Sam volunteered in the kitchen for the Senior Center Program. Sam has recently informed the office that though he misses everyone, and has not found anything like the Senior Center folks. He has been asked to organize a “Friends of the Public Library” . Sam is also in the process of buying a house.

  
  

  UPDATES TO ELCA DOCUMENTS

  There are number of documents being revised by the ELCA to allow for GLBT people to serve in ELCA rostered ministry. The ELCA is inviting responses to these drafts.

  Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) may decide to develop an official response to these documents and it would be good for us to add our thoughts as well, so they can hear from a congregation directly affected by the proposed changes. You can find the documents here: http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Vocation/Rostered-Leadership/Ministry-Policies.aspx

  
  

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  NEW JERSEY SENATE DEFEATS GAY MARRIAGE BILL

  New York Times, January 8, 2010 TRENTON — The State Senate on Thursday rejected a proposal that would have made New Jersey the sixth state in the nation to allow marriages involving same-sex couples. The vote was the latest in a succession of setbacks for advocates of gay marriage across the country. After months of intense lobbying and hours of emotional debate, lawmakers voted 20 to 14 against the bill, bringing tears from some advocates who packed the Senate chambers and rousing applause from opponents of the measure, who also came out in force. The vote ends the effort to win legislative approval of the measure, and sets the stage for a new battle before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Supporters of gay marriage had hoped to win approval for the measure before Jan. 19, when Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who promised to sign it, will be replaced by Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie, who opposes it. With the effort to win legislative approval now dead, supporters of same-sex marriage vowed to focus their efforts on the state’s highest court,

  which in 2006 ordered lawmakers to give same-sex couples the same rights as others whether or not they called such unions marriages. The Legislature responded by enacting a civil unions law, but gay-rights leaders say that the measure still leaves them subject to discrimination when applying for health insurance or trying to visit partners in hospitals, and that they will ask the court to grant them equal treatment. “Even our opponents in the Legislature acknowledge that the civil-union law has not provided equal protection,” said Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, who has led the lobbying for the past six years and wept as the bill’s sponsor, Senator Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck, introduced it. The defeat in New Jersey, which has widely been viewed as one of the nation’s most socially tolerant states, was a significant setback for advocates of gay marriage. Last month, a similar measure was defeated in New York’s Legislature, and in November voters in Maine repealed a gay-marriage law in a referendum.

  
  
  

  U. S. CENSUS BUREAU RECRUITING CENSUS TAKERS

  Check out the bulletin board in the Parish Hall and take a pamphlet for further information on an employment opportunity.
  
  More info at www.2010censusjobs.gov or call 1-866-861-2010

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  USHER TEAMS Click here
  

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  • January 3 Bryan Addy
  • January 16 Jeannine Janson
  • January 18 Grant Burger
  • January 18 Paul Johnson
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Isaiah 62:1-5
  • 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
  • John 2:1-11
  • Psalm 36:5-10
  
  

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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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