Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for February 21, 2010

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

Sunday's Readings

• Deuteronomy 26:1-11
• Romans 10:8b-13
• Luke 4:1-13
• Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

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.

• Mary, beloved cousin of Tom Tradgardh, as she prepares to leave this life
• Chris Marckmann, brother of Brandee Marckmann
• Brandy, sister of William Brogan
• 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)
• 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
• Grace, mother of Dan Jones
• our shut-ins
• Those who use our facilities, especially our Seniors, and those attending the 12-step programs here, and the Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center. 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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  THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE

  James Kowalski, Nancy Loewe and Susan Tucceri will be honored this Sunday for their years of service on the Congregation Council. We are very grateful for using their excellent talents to guide St. Francis in its mission and ministries. Thank you Jim, Nancy and Susan!

                 

  2010 COUNCIL TO BE INSTALLED

  The 2010 Church Council will be installed during worship this Sunday. They are Brandee Marckmann, President, Rob Byrne, Vice President, Gabriel Proo, Secretary, Paul Brenner, Susan Kools, Steve Lawson, Tom Metz, Tom Tragardh and Elaine Whitney. Welcome!

  
  
  
  

  Today please take a nail from the plate at the end of the pews. Let your nail accompany you along your Lenten journey as a reminder of Jesus’ loving sacrifice and to give to it any sadness, any pain, and any suffering that “nails” you in your life. You will be invited to place the nail with all its gathered significance for you at the foot of the cross on Good Friday, April 2nd.

  

  Pastors Robert and Dawn will lead four studies of people on the edge of Jesus’ pain —beginning with Jesus himself. These devotional studies will take place on four Wednesday nights in Lent starting this Wednesday.

  
  

  ELCA APPROVES ANITA HILL

  
  

  The St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA as approved the Rev. Anita Hill for reception to the ELCA clergy roster. The synod’s Candidacy Committee panel communicated their decision as follows:

  At the recommendation of the panel that met with you on February 2, 2010, it was moved by Marty Ericson and carried that Anita Hill be received onto the roster of the ELCA for ordained pastors pending the implementation of the Vision and Expectations policy changes approved at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August 2009.

  Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries rejoices with Pastor Anita, with her congregation, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church and with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at this decision. We hope that other synods will find this to be a useful (for the ) reception and reinstatement process.

  You may wonder about question of reordination that we continue to deal with. Ultimately, the final decision regarding whether or not a received pastor is required to be ordained according to ELCA guidelines is up to the Secretary of the ELCA. The language of the St. Paul Area Synod Candidacy Committee sends a strong message to the Secretary supporting that authenticity and validity of extraordinary ordinations of GLBT pastors. This is a very positive and strong action.

  Amalia Vagts, ELM

  
  

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  ST. FRANCIS WILL DOUBLE YOUR HAITI RELIEF GIFT

  St. Francis will match your gift up to $1000. Please mark your check “Haiti”. So far $470 has been given by members and friends of St. Francis. If you are a THRIVENT MEMBER mark your check “Haiti—Thrivent” We will forward all Thrivent checks to Thrivent who will add an additional 50%!

  ELCA RECEIVES $4.6 M HAITI RELIEF FUNDS

  The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has received over 4.5 million dollars in relief funds as of last Wednesday. These funds are used to purchase medicine, drinking water.food, emergency shelter, sanitation and hygience kits and other materials of aid to the survivors.

  With the rainy season expected to begin at the end of March, it is critical that the people of Haiti have some shelter to help preserve health, sanitation and dignity, according to a Feb. 17 report from a Lutheran World Relief (LWR) assessment team in Haiti. To help "beat the clock," Lutherans are working quickly to set up shelters for Haitians displaced from their homes since the Jan. 12 earthquake. "The rains will also pose a threat to infrastructure," reported LWR. "On the road between Port-au-Prince and Jacmel, there are large piles of dirt that have been pushed aside by bulldozers. After the first heavy rain these areas will become a mess and possibly make the road impassable again."
  
  In the longer term, the focus will be on building permanent housing. "The fear of staying in a house or building for fear it will collapse; traversing around piles of rubble; the embarrassment of conducting private acts in public, these are now all accepted parts of daily life" in Haiti, said Chris Herlinger, communication officer for Church World Service (CWS), in a Feb. 15 report. Herlinger was on assignment in Haiti this month. More than 31,000 hygiene kits, some 4,500 baby care kits and about 4,000 blankets have been distributed in Haiti since the earthquake, reported CWS -- a partner of the ELCA.

  
  
  

  A THANK YOU

  Dear Friends at St. Francis and members of Church Council:
  May I express once again my deepest appreciation for the most generous gift sent to me on my 80th Birthday. The gift provided our household with a wonderful washer and dryer —the first we’ve ever had in our house for the 50 years we’ve lived here! It is such a help to me in caring for my Mother, Alma, and I do extend my thanks to you for your great generosity.
  
  Warmest Wishes,
  Donna and Alma Petersen
  
  (Donna and her mother lived at the back of the church when her father, Pastor Spener was pastor here. Donna sang for the San Francisco Opera and was knighted by the King of Denmark. Until very recently she would sing for the seniors around the July 4th holiday. Donna, now 80, cares for her mother, Alma, who is 108. May God bless them both. (Pastor Robert)

  
  

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  USHER TEAMS Click here
  
  
  
  

  • Feb 21 Ron Merk
  • Feb 21 Gabriel Proo
  • Feb 24 Brandee Marckmann
  • Feb 26 Thomas Huang
  • Feb 26 Stephen Lawson
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
  • Philipians 3:17 - 4:1
  • Luke 13:31-35
  • Psalm 27
  
  

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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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