Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for March 14, 2010

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

Sunday's Readings

• Joshua 5:9-12
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
• Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
• Psalm 32

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 (c)
• Jim Kowalski, whose grandfather passed away (c)
• the father of Rebekah Wu, (one of our choir singers)
• 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.
  

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  ELCA BISHOPS AGREE TO ACCEPT ELM CLERGY

  Amalia Vagts, Executive Director, ELM

  The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has recommended overwhelmingly the acceptance of pastors ordained extraordinarily by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM).

  Presiding Bishop Hanson said that three words had guided the conversation for him: reconciliation, recognition and recognizable. He said the committee sought to achieve a process that would provide reconciliation between ELM pastors, their congregations and their community of support with the ELCA; and between the ELCA and the wider church catholic.

  A proposed reception rite recognizes the extraordinary ordinations and also recognizes the new relationship between ELM and the ELCA. It includes the laying on of hands and an acclamation that are placed in a context that is authentic and speaks to what occurred--that these ordinations were not recognized by the ELCA, and that as you are received, they are now recognized.

  There was great joy in the room, from our table and the bishops' tables. It felt like a watershed moment. Indeed, Bishop Hanson described the experience as one of the moments in his ministry where he has experienced the church living as God calls us to live.

  There are some revision and finessing taking place by the Bishops on the Rite of Reception. We certainly expect and hope that such revisions will not become problematic to us.

  The final decision rests with the ELCA’s Church Council which meets April 19-21. The Church Council is an elected body of 37 members, 19 of which are laity. They are elected by the voting members at the Churchwide Assemblies. The Churchwide Church Council functions much like a church council of a congregation. Decisions are made for the whole church between the biennial Churchwide Assemblies.

  An ELCA press release can be viewed at http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4472

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  Bring Your Calendar Sunday will be next Sunday, March 21 during coffee hour. The new signup for April, May and June is posted, and worship participants can now pick their dates.
  
  Training for assisting ministers, crucifers and torch bearers will be held during the next two months. The following training has been rescheduled. If you are interested, please contact Pastors Robert or Dawn.
  Assisting Minister training - April 11, 2010
  Crucifer/Torchbearer - May 23, 2010

  
  

  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.

  

  The last Lenten study on people on the edge of Jesus pain, led by Dawn, will be on Mary, Mother of Jesus. This devotional study will be Wednesday night the St. Clare room. Press the office button to be let in.

  
  

  BEN & CHUNG SAY HELLO

  Dear Pastor Robert, we are fine, but not in sunny West Australia at the moment. We are in drizzly Hanoi. Back to Perth on Wednesday. Look for a postcard from us. Vietnam is great! Spent two fun days on a boat cruising Halong Bay with a lovely young couple from Queensland who are taking the train to Danang today then bicycling 1200 km to Saigon. Holy cow!

  Keeping up with all the excitement at SFLC and with the ELCA news via the weekly newsletter. How wonderful for everyone, especially clergy, huh? Hope the celebration is a good one. Our fondest regards to all. Can't believe we haven't made it back home in two years but let's see how 2010 goes. Looking forward to visiting or returning one day and hate to miss out on all the activity and changes at St. Francis. --Ben.

  
  

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  LESBIAN TEEN PROM FLAP SFGate, March 11, 2010 Sheila Byrd, Associated Press Writer

  An 18-year-old Mississippi lesbian student whose (rural) school district canceled her senior prom rather than allow her to escort her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo said she got some unfriendly looks from classmates when she reluctantly returned to campus Thursday.

  Constance McMillen said she didn't want to go back the day after the Itawamba County School Board's decision, but her father told her she needed to face her classmates, teachers and school officials.

  "My daddy told me that I needed to show them that I'm still proud of who I am," McMillen told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

  "The fact that this will help people later on, that's what's helping me to go on." The district announced Wednesday it wouldn't host the April 2 prom. The decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union told officials a policy banning same-sex prom dates violated students' rights. The ACLU said the district not letting McMillen wear a tuxedo violated her free expression rights.

  McMillen said she felt some hostility toward her on the Itawamba County Agricultural High School campus. "Somebody said, 'Thanks for ruining my senior year.'" McMillen said.

  The school board issued a statement announcing it wouldn't host the event in Fulton, "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events."

  Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/03/10/national/a155936S28.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0huUL3BPY

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  UPDATES TO ELCA DOCUMENTS

  Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) documents are being revised to allow for GLBT people to serve in ELCA rostered ministry. The ELCA is inviting your response 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

  The Sunday Adult Forum meets this Sunday to look at the changes, discuss them and respond to the ELCA. The Congregation Council will also discuss the proposed changes at the retreat this afternoon.

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  PASTOR ZILLHART'S SERMON ON YOUTUBE

  Pastor Zillhart’s sermon given at St Francis on February 14 can now be seen on Youtube.com. The recording is in two parts, and can be accessed by searching on the Youtube website with the search term “Pastor Zillhart”, or going to these links:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oFgsh6ipnE and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=250m3soXcaw.

  
  

  PALM SUNDAY March 28 11:00 A.M. TRIDUUM - THE THREE DAYS Maunday Thursday - April 1 7:00 P.M. Good Friday - April 2 - 1 P.M. and 7:00 P.M EASTER VIGIL - Saturday April 3 7:00 P.M EASTER SUNDAY - April 4 11:00 A.M.

  
  
  

  USHER TEAMS Click here
  
  
  
  

  • Mar 14 Max Kirkeberg
  • Mar 16 Janet Thuesen
  • Mar 17 Michael Callahan
  • Mar 18 Sylvia Braselmann
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Isaiah 43:16-21
  • Philippians 3:4b-14
  • John 12:1-8
  • Psalm 32
  
  

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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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