Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for February 28, 2010

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

Sunday's Readings

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

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.

• Sarah Wells
• Jim Kowalski, whose grandfather passed away
• the father of Rebekah Wu, (one of our choir singers)
• A prayer of thanksigivng for the life of Mary, beloved cousin of Tom Tragardh, who passed away last Friday, and prayers of comfort and healing for her family
• Chris Marckmann, brother of Brandee Marckmann
• Brandy, sister of William Brogan
• 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.
  

  ---

  ---

  LSS DAY SUNDAY

  Nancy Nielsen, Deputy Director of the San Francisco and Oakland Programs of Lutheran Social Services of Northern California (LSS) will be present Sunday and speak at Coffee Hour.. LSS responds when people are vulnerable because of homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction or disaster. Providing support services and compassionate guidance, we help individuals and families to stabilize their lives and become self-sufficient.

  LSS currently serves 2075 clients in Sacramento, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties. Its programs include money management services, case management in transitional and permanent supportive housing sites, case management and housing services for emancipated former foster care youth, disaster preparedness training, and long-term disaster response services for Hurricane Katrina survivors.

  As a public benefit corporation and a 501 (c) 3, LSS is funded by individual and corporate donations, government contracts, grants, and by the support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and their member congregations. The agency is accredited under the Council of Accreditation for Children and Family Services. LSS also works as the lead affiliate for Northern California for Lutheran Disaster Response.

  
  

  ---

  
  

  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 are leading studies of people on the edge of Jesus’ pain —this week Mary Magdalene. These devotional studies take place on Wednesday nights in Lent in the St. Clare room. Press the office button to be let in.

  
  

  NEW CHURCH PROPOSED

  Leaders of (anti-gay) Lutheran CORE released a proposal for the reconfiguration of Lutheranism in North America on Thursday, Feb. 18. The proposal calls for the continuation of Lutheran CORE as “a community of confessing Lutherans” and for the formation of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC), a new Lutheran church body.

  Lutheran CORE’s national Convocation Sept. 25-26, 2009, in Fishers, Ind., asked that a proposal for the “reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism” be prepared and brought to Lutheran CORE’s 2010 Convocation Aug. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. The proposal released Feb. 18 is a response to that request. It was released now so that Lutheran CORE members can provide input to aid in drafting the proposals to be considered by the 2010 Convocation.

  The actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August to affirm same-sex sexual relationships and to allow pastors and other rostered leaders to be in those relationships in spite of the teaching of the Bible have been seen by many ELCA members as evidence that the Bible no longer functions as the ultimate norm for the faith and life of the ELCA. Similar concerns are being expressed about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELIC).

  Of 10,000 ELCA congregations, 220 congreg-ations have voted once to leave the ELCA. Two votes, each with a 2/3 majority, are required. So far 28 congregations have attained that require-ment, but several others failed to reach it. (Editor)

  
  

  ---

  

  ELCA INCREASES HAITI RELIEF

  CHICAGO (ELCA)- Focusing on immediate provision of shelter and non-food items as the rainy season approaches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced it has increased its financial commitment by $2.5 million toward earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

  The ELCA will provide an additional $1.5 million to the Lutheran World Federation's Department for World Service (LWF-DWS) and $1 million to the Lutheran Church in Haiti, said Megan Bradfield, associate director, International Development and Disaster Response, ELCA Global Mission.

  Through Feb. 24 the ELCA has received more than $5.8 million in gifts in response to the earthquake, including a matching gift of $320,000 from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Minneapolis, said Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA treasurer. The ELCA is developing a long-term plan for funding ongoing relief efforts in Haiti, Bradfield said.

  According to the Rev. Joseph Livenson Lauvanus, president of the Lutheran Church in Haiti, wrote, "Port-au-Prince has now become a desolate place with no sign of activities. The buildings that are still standing are potential problems for both those who have their tents near them and the pedestrians. The government now is trying to smash down all the buildings that have cracks and cannot be used any more. The aftershocks are still prominent in Port-au-Prince."

  Lauvanus wrote that church yards are "the best shelter place one can find," and are crowded with people.

  Please note:

  Members of St. Francis have given $1038 to Haiti relief. After this Sunday the Thrivent funds will be sent to Thrivent for 50% matching and which they will forward to the ELCA. The remainder of our gifts will be sent by St. Francis directly to the ELCA. Any further contributions will be sent to the ELCA as necessary. So do make a contribution!

  
  
  

  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)

  
  

  ---

  
  

  LSSNC RESPONDS TO POLK STREET EXPLOSION LAST MAY

  Notes from Nancy Nielsen, Deputy Director in charge of San Francisco programs:

  It was an exhausting but also good experience for our staff and our partners as we were able to respond to the needs of the Polk St. residents and coordinate an appropriate response. When we first heard about the blast Friday morning near to 990 Polk. None of us had any idea of what the next 36 hours would bring. By about 4:00pm we began to get word that it would most likely be 12 - 24 hours before the building would have power. Our first response was to look for food for that evening's meal for the residents who would have no cooking facilities, limited funds to go out to eat, and serious mobility issues that would make it unsafe for them to exit the building using the emergency stairs. Even if they could make it down the stairs from the top floors, getting back up would be problematic.

  While the onsite staff ordered pizza and developed a plan to take it to every floor, Mecca and I began looking for flashlights and lanterns. It was past 5:00pm when I put in a call to Brian Regin from the Red Cross who is the new chair of NorCal VOAD. I told him we were looking for about 120 flashlights plus lanterns for the common areas. His response was immediate! "One of our partner agencies needs help: we'll be there.

  From LSSNC News

  
  
  

  USHER TEAMS Click here
  
  
  
  

  • Mar 2 Michael Deschenes
  • Mar 4 Rachel Catt
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Isaiah 55:1-9
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
  • Luke 13:1-9
  • Psalm 63:1-8
  
  

  ---

  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.
   

  ---

  Go back to the St. Francis home page

  ---

  

  Counter provided by digits.com
  Last updated Mar 11, 2010 by DW