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

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

Sunday's Readings

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

• Shirley Skeen, friend of Ken Broshous
• 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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  Bring Your Calendar Sunday is today 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

  CONGREGATION DENIED LEAVING ELCA

  ELCA New Service

  CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The synod council of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) declined a request from a Fort Pierce, Fla., congregation to terminate its membership in the denomination after the congregation successfully completed two votes to leave as required by the ELCA Constitution.

  The decision was a rare instance in which required synod council approval was denied. David D. Swartling, ELCA secretary, said he was not aware of another instance in which a congregation's request to terminate its relationship with the ELCA since the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly had been denied.

  St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fort Pierce, was founded in the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA). The ELCA Constitution states that congregations established by the LCA must "receive synodical approval" before terminating their ELCA memberships. St. Peter's decision to leave resulted from its disagreement with actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly on same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders.

  The synod council made the decision during its Feb. 27-28 meeting, and the congregation was informed in writing last week, said the Rev. Edward R. Benoway, bishop, ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, Tampa. "The synod council prayed about this decision, and for missional reasons, we felt we could not approve this," he said. Benoway told the ELCA News Service that there's no other ELCA congregation in Fort Pierce.

  St. Peter's current annual report lists 105 baptized members, with an average worship attendance of 46 people. Members voted 20-0 to leave the ELCA

  "This is the first (former) LCA congregation in the synod that has voted to terminate its relationship with the ELCA. Fort Pierce is an important mission field for us, and we want to maintain our witness to this community. Bishop Benoway said he called to inform the congregation's pastor, the Rev. Theodore C. Rice, of the synod council's decision. He also said the pastor and he agreed to meet to discuss the situation.

  
  

  NEXT SUNDAY IS PALM SUNDAY
  	We will begin the service on the Terrace, weather permitting at 11 AM, and process upstairs. The Passion According to Luke will be read dramatically.

  POPE VISITS LUTHERAN CHURCH IN ROME

  This afternoon, Benedict XVI visited the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rome, a building inaugurated in 1922, where he was welcomed by Jens-Martin Kruse, pastor of the city's Lutheran community. John Paul II visited the same church in December 1983, for the fifth centenary of the birth of Martin Luther. As the Pope and the Lutheran pastor advanced towards the altar, a choir of Lutherans and Catholic seminarians sang Mozart's "Jubilate Deo". Following a greeting from the president of the Lutheran community, Pastor Kruse and the Pope both delivered homilies. Benedict XVI gave thanks for the fact that "we are gathered here on this Sunday singing together, listening to the Word of God, listening to one another and looking towards the One Christ, bearing witness to the One Christ" Continuing his homily, delivered off-the-cuff in German, the Holy Father noted how "we hear many complaints about the fact that there are no longer any new developments in ecumenism. "Yet", he insisted, "we can say with gratitude that there are many elements that unite us. "We must not content ourselves with the successes of ecumenism over recent years, because we still cannot drink from the same chalice or gather together around the same altar", he said. "This", he went on, "cannot but make us sad because it is a situation of sin; and yet unity cannot be achieved by men. We must entrust ourselves to the Lord, because He is the only one Who can give us unity. Let us hope that He brings us to that goal". Recalling words used by Pastor Kruse in his homily, the Holy Father agreed that the main common ground between Lutherans and Catholics "must be the joy and hope we are already experiencing, and the hope that our current unity may become even deeper". At the end of his visit the Pope gave the Lutheran community of Rome, which is made up of 350 faithful, a mosaic depicting Jesus Christ, a reproduction of an original located under the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter's Basilica.

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  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.

  
  

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  At the last Gala, we won a Lydia Circle-catered dinner. We would like to publicly thank Yvette, the celebrity chef of the evening - Carlotta (her brother Carl is in the picture - she had retired for the evening after a long day) and Jordess for the wonderful dinner and speculator evening. We invited two couples to join us, who both said it was one of the most memorable evenings of their lives. Thank you ladies. Ken Hedrick / Walter Huxley

  
  
  

  EASTER FLOWERS

  As part of our Easter tradition, the chancel will again be decorated with flowers. It is requested that lilies not be brought since there are persons in the congregation and staff who would be negatively affected by the strong fragrance of these flowers. Colorful spring flowers would be preferred as an alternative.
  
  Those who will bring flowers for the Chancel are asked to put their name on the special sign-up sheet that is posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.
  
  The chancel flowers will be accepted at the church office through noon Friday April 2nd. The flowers can also be dropped off at one of the services that week, including the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening. Please contact Dave Walda at the office if you wish to bring flowers during the week day hours when the office is open.

  

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

  
  

  For those of you who are unable to make the Oscar Romero observance at Grace Cathedral on Saturday March 27 at 11 AM, there is another observance at Mission Presbyterian on Wednesday, March 24th at 6PM, 23rd and Capp in the Mission District. The church is on 23rd Street one block east of Mission Street.

  
  
  

  SERBIAN MASSACRE CAUSED BY DUTCH GAY TROOPS?

  New York Times, Friday, May 19

  A retired American General, before the Senate Armed Services Committee, claimed that the Dutch army, who have allowed gay troops to serve openly since 1974, was so demoralized by gays in their ranks that they could not stop the massacre by Serbian troops. The Dutch government responded with both anger and bemusement by this bizarre & unfounded claim.

  Once again, another super alpha straight male reveals his ignorance and homophobia. General Sheehan, please fade away….. Pastor Robert

  
  
  
  

  USHER TEAMS Click here
  
  
  
  

  • Mar 23 Elaine Whitney
  • Mar 24 Richard Copperud
  • Mar 24 Karen Custer
  • Mar 25 Emma Knutson
  • Mar 26 Sarah Hall
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Isaiah 50: 4-9a
  • Philippians 2:5-11
  • Luke 22:14 - 23:56
  • 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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