Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for April 18, 2010

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Sunday's Readings

• Acts 9:1-20
• Revelation 5:11-14
• John 21:1-19
• Psalm 30

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.

• Jack Kling
• the father of Rebekah Wu, (of our choir)
• Chris Marckmann, brother of Brandee Marckmann
• 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
• Moonyeen, friend of Paul Brenner
• 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 COUNCIL APPROVES FINAL WORDING THAT WELCOMES ELM PASTORS AND LGBT COUPLES

  Statement from ELM Website

  Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) gives thanks that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is now living more fully into the inclusive vision that many have had for this church for so long.

  The ELCA made historic advances toward being a more inclusive church when the ELCA Church Council formally adopted changes in ministry policies last weekend. The change in policy allows people in same-sex relationships to serve as pastors and rostered leaders in the ELCA.

  The documents approved this weekend include a Rite of Reception for extraordinarily ordained pastors on the ELM roster, the ELCA Candidacy Manual, Vision & Expectations (used to establish expectations for rostered leaders), Definitions & Guidelines for Discipline (used for discipline of rostered leaders), and changes to the Board of Pensions policy to include same-sex partners and families. All votes passed overwhelmingly. Members of the ELM roster who wish to begin the process to join the roster of the ELCA may do so immediately.

  Twenty years ago two ELCA congregations, St. Francis Lutheran Church and First United Lutheran Church, broke with ELCA policy to call an openly gay man, Jeff Johnson, and two openly lesbian women, Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart. The actions of these congregations and pastors began a movement now known as Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. Their vision has made it possible for dozens of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to follow a call to ministry. It is a joyful time in the church as the ELCA opens wider its doors to the fullness of God's creation.

  We express gratitude for the congregations and individuals who have long supported gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pastors during times when they were punished and alienated for doing so and for those who continued to follow a call to ministry despite incredible barriers. We give thanks for the Goodsoil Legislative Team, Lutherans Concerned/North America, the voting members of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, staff, Church Council, Conference of Bishops and the leadership of Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson.

  We give thanks to God and pray that one day all may find that the doors of the ELCA are open wide to them.

  
  

  IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE

  Pastor Robert

  From the day St. Francis and First United Lutheran Churches of San Francisco chose to call openly gay clergy and to ordain them we have been part of a long and faithful struggle to bring this Gospel justice to the larger Lutheran Community.

  23 years ago when I came out to my Bishop I was “asked” to leave that synod. It took me a few years to trust the church enough to return to the pastorate and eventually to become a spokesperson for LGBTQ rights in the Metro Chicago Synod.

  This week, by the grace of God, it is official! What we struggled for has arrived, bringing the ELCA into a stronger position for 21st Century evangelism. Let’s cut the cake and celebrate!

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  CARDINAL: GAYS = PEDOPHILES

  Brad Haynes, Associated Press

  SANTIAGO, Chile. The Vatican's second-highest authority says the sex scandals haunting the Roman Catholic Church are linked to homosexuality and not celibacy among priests.

  Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, made the comments during a news conference Monday in Chile, where one of the church's highest-profile pedophile cases involves a priest having sex with young girls. "Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relation between celibacy and pedophilia. But many others have demonstrated, I have been told recently, that there is a relation between homosexuality and pedophilia. That is true," said Bertone. "That is the problem." His comments drew angry reactions from Chile's gay rights advocates. "Neither Bertone nor the Vatican has the moral authority to give lessons on sexuality," said Rolando Jimenez, president of the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation in Chile.

  Jimenez also said no reputable study exists to support the cardinal's claims. "This is a perverse strategy by the Vatican to shirk its own ethical and legal responsibility by making a spurious and disgusting connection," he said. At least one of the highest-profile pedophiles in the Chilean church victimized young girls, one of whom became pregnant. The priest, shuttled all over place by the church, was eventually sentenced to 12 years in prison for abusing 10 teenage girls.

  
  
  

  WORSHIP PARTICIPANT TRAINING Crucifer/Torchbearer - May 23, 2010

  

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  Dear Pastor Robert,

  Thank you for your continued work for peace and justice through your partnership with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Because of your committed support, next year we will be expanding to 4 houses in the Bay Area and have 22 volunteers at 17 placements!

  On April 17, 2010 we will be celebrating 30 years of working for peace and justice at our 30th Anniversary Celebration. Our local church partners, non-profit partners, Local Support Committee (LSC) members, and alums will be coming together to “Reconnect, Recharge, and Reinvest” at Newman Hall in Berkeley, and we would like to invite your congregation to join us at this momentous occasion.

  James Boyd,
  LVC Board member.

  From Pastor Robert:

  I hope we can be present for this event. If you would like to join me and others please speak to me, call or email me. If you cannot go, then offering envelopes are available in the upper narthex on the long table under the front window.
  
  Event to be held at New man Hall, 2700 Dwight Way, Berkeley You can learn more about this anniversary celebration and purchase tickets at: http://www.ulcberkeley.org/30thanniversary/
  
  You can email locally: BayArea@LutheranVolunteer Corps.org

  
  
  
  

  During coffee hour, take a look at the latest Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center display located on the wall at the south side of the Parish Hall, next to the door to the Memorial Terrace.

  
  
  
  

  FREE FARM

  The Free Farm is located in the vacant lot that used to be St. Paulus Lutheran Church (Eddy & Gough in San Francisco), before it burned down in 1995. We’ve partnered with No Penny Opera, Produce For the People, Stanford’s Gleaning Project, the Diocese of California to transform the site into a space for community arts, health education and of course free food for the neighborhood.

  Currently we’ve completed a mural, built a ramp, steps, a shed and planted strawberries, artichokes and irises. In process is a garden mound labyrinth, a green house and large beds for growing bulk produce. It is estimated that the site will grow 12,000 pounds of produce each year that we will give away for free!

  Work days are (vegan lunch provided):
  Saturdays 10am-2pm; Wednesdays 11am-2pm

  
  
  

  OBAMA WIDENS MEDICAL RIGHTS FOR LGBT PARTNERS

  Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times

  President Obama on Thursday issued new rules aimed at granting hospital visiting rights to same-sex partners.

  The rule changes will also make it easier for gay men and lesbians to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners. In it, the president said the new rules would affect any hospital that participates in Medicare or Medicaid.

  “Every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindness and caring of a loved one at their sides,” Mr. Obama said in the memorandum, adding that the rules could also help widows and widowers who rely on friends and members of religious orders who care for one another. But he says gay men and lesbians are “uniquely affected” because they are often barred from visiting have spent decades.

  Richard Socarides, who advised President Bill Clinton on gay rights issues, said that while the memorandum on its own did not grant any new rights, it did “draw attention to the very real and tragic situations many gays and lesbians face when a partner is hospitalized.” Ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to find a better way to handle such situations, Mr. Socarides said, is “the kind of thing the gay community was hoping Obama would do right after he was inaugurated.”

  Several states have tried to put an end to discrimination against same-sex couples, and Mr. Obama said he intended to build on those efforts. He said the new rules would make clear that designated visitors should enjoy visiting privileges that are no more restrictive than those enjoyed by immediate family members.

  The rules will take time to draft and put in place, and so Mr. Obama’s order will have no immediate effect. Even so, gay rights groups called it a major advance for the families of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender individuals.

  “It’s a huge deal,” said David Smith, vice president of policy for the Human Rights Campaign, which worked with the White House to develop the memorandum, in an interview Thursday night. “Nearly every hospital in the country will now be required to provide hospital visitation rights to LGBT families. It’s an enormous step. In the absence of equal marriage rights in most jurisdictions, this step provides an essential right to LGBT families for a gay person or a lesbian person to spend time with their partner in a critical situation.”

  Gay rights advocates said the rules change was inspired by one of those cases involving a same-sex couple, Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond, who were profiled in The New York Times last year. After Ms. Pond was stricken with a fatal brain aneurysm, Ms. Langbehn was denied visiting rights in 2007 by a Florida hospital.

  On Thursday night, Mr. Obama called her from Air Force One to say that he had been moved by her case. He apologized for how (they) were treated.

  
  
  
  
  • Apr 18 Lynne Ohlson
  • Apr 20 Beverly Hines
  • Apr 22 Hans-Christian Kasper
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Acts 9:36-43
  • Revelation 7:9-17
  • John 10:22-30
  • Psalm 23
  
  

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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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