Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for May 2, 2010

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Sunday's Readings

• Acts 11:1-18
• Revelation 21:1-6
• John 13:31-35
• Psalm 148

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.

• the family of Lucy Walda
• 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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  LUCY WALDA PASSES

  Lucy Walda, mother of our Parish Administrator Dave Walda, passed away in her sleep at a hospice on Wednesday evening, April 28. Dave had visited her after work and noticed she was breathing with some difficulty.

  Lucy was born on June 29, 1920 in the small mining town of Pioche, NV., and moved to San Francisco in 1953. She was married to George Walda who preceded her in death in 1994. They had two children, David and Steven. The family were members of St. Paulus Lutheran Church until a couple of years ago.

  Lucy was a regular at the Senior Center and worship. She would always smile and grasp the pastor’s hand with firm joy as she received communion from her pew. It was easy to love her and we all did. Lucy will be missed. We ask God’s peace on brother David. Pastors Robert and Dawn.

  A memorial service will be held on Sunday May 16 3 PM at Garden Chapel, 885 El Camino Real, So. San Francisco (650) 583-2510.

  For the Lamb will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

  
  
  

  THE REV. JAMES DELANGE PREACHES & PRESIDES TODAY

  The Rev. James DeLange retired as Senior Pastor at St. Francis Lutheran Church in November, 1999, after serving for 18 years. During those years, he turned our 100 year-old church on the edge of survival into a vibrant, nationally recognized congregation, primarily by an intentional outreach to sexual minority people and to senior citizens living in the neighborhood. He also led several building projects that restored our San Francisco landmark church and the creation of the Memorial Terrace.

  One of the architects and founders of Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries (now Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries), Pastor DeLange provided the leadership at a critical time when LLGM transitioned from a local ministry to a national mission society that provides financial, pastoral and legal support to Lutheran sexual minority pastors and to the congregations that call them. ELM is now headquartered in Chicago.

  Since his retirement, Pastor DeLange has been active with the San Francisco Interfaith Council and has served as Chair for the past six years. He and his wife, Diane, make their home in San Francisco and continue to worship at St. Francis Church.

  
  
  

  ST. FRANCIS AND FIRST UNITED DIALOG WITH ELCA

  Phil Soucy LC/NA

  Just as there has been movement in the relationship of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA) and St. Paul-Reformation Church (see that article), there has been growing momentum in the relationship of St. Francis and First United with the ELCA in the last 10 days.

  Nothing could have happened until the April meeting of the ELCA Church Council at which LGBTQ clergy and couples were approved and the ELM pastors were welcomed. St. Francis’ Church Council then met with Associate to Synod Bishop Pr. Nancy Nelson on Wednesday, April 21 to continue and intensify the level of dialog. Part of our intensity came from moving on with integrity from the past broken and ambivalent relationship and part from the need to get clear how we can get the call process moving for our new pastor. Lacking that clarity was a major reason the Call committee could not meet. Dialog with ELCA continued.

  It became clear in our meeting with Pr. Nelson that we couldn’t go any further until the order for our expulsion was rescinded With the Synod Assembly coming this Thursday, May 6 in Reno, how could we rejoin the synod from a likely friendly welcome when the expulsion was still in effect? So we created a resolution asking the synod assembly at Reno to ask the ELCA Church Council to rescind the expulsion order.

  Then members of the Goodsoil legislative team, especially Jeremy Posadas informed us that constitutionally it is the sole province of the synods to act on these issues —even the former ELCA Secretary was quoted as insisting on that in other situations. So the strategy changed. There was no expulsion order to rescind but rather a resolution was written for the Sierra Pacific Synod in Reno to invite St. Francis and First United to return to the ELCA. It was worded in such a way that, following such an invitation, both congregations would be free to decide whether to accept that invitation for themselves. Keep tuned in, more later. Pastor Robert

  
  

  ST. PAUL-REFORMATION BACK IN ELCA

  St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, has been informed the 9-year-old censure and admonition placed on the congregation has been lifted. The congregation was informed during worship on Sunday, April 25, that these adverse actions had been lifted on April 21.

  The censure and admonition, as well as sanctions, had been imposed on the congregation by the ELCA as a reaction to the April 28, 2001, ordination of the Rev. Anita Hill as a pastor at a ceremony presided over by the Rev. Paul Tidemann, then pastor of St. Paul-Reformation.

  Present for the ceremony and participating in the laying on of hands were the Rev. Paul Egertson, then bishop of the ELCA Southwest California Synod; the Rev. Dr. Krister Stendahl, Bishop Emeritus of Stockholm, Sweden and retired Academic Dean of the Harvard Divinity School; the Rev. Lowell Ehrdahl, Bishop Emeritus of St. Paul Area Synod; and the Rev. Stanley Olson, retired bishop of the Pacific Southwest Synod (Lutheran Church in America).

  The ordination was an act of the congregation gathered, under a provision in the Lutheran Confessions that allows congregations to ordain when bishops can't or won't. The call and ordination were acts of ecclesiastical disobedience. The sanctions were later lifted, but the censure remained in place until this April 21.

  Again, we have the signs of changed policies coming out of the decisions of the church at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. These signs are uplifting and encouraging, like the signs of Spring following a long, dark and difficult Winter. In this Eastertide, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the promise of salvation that pulls us all through the difficulties of life.

  The news from St. Paul-Reformation is also cause for celebration, and we rejoice with that congregation and Pastor Anita Hill, that, holding steadfast to their decisions, they have come through vindicated and restored.

  
  

  SENIOR DRAWING FOR MOTHER’S DAY

  The Senior committee is having a drawing to raise money for the senior program. Prizes include a beautiful homemade afghan throw made by Diane Marshall (the daughter of Beverly Hines) and other fabulous prizes. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. See Beverly Hines or Iris Vaughan to purchase tickets. Get them while they are hot!!

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  DR. DAVE PLAYS THE CATHEDRAL ORGAN

  
  

  Our organist, Dr. Schofield will play an hour long, all Bach program on the great Ruffati organ at St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough St. at Geary St. on Sunday, May 2nd at 3:30 pm. The concert is free, donations accepted. The program includes the St. Anne Prelude and Fugue, Fantasie in G major, the Pastorale, and some of the individually transmitted organ Chorales.

  
  

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  WORSHIP PARTICIPANT TRAINING Crucifer/Torchbearer - May 23, 2010

  
  

  If you were on the team last year and cannot do the Walk this year please phone Max at (415-282-6022) and he will remove your name. He promises to be pleasant about it —or not to be unpleasant.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  • May 4 Robert Goldstein
  • May 5 Roy Matlofsky
  • May 6 Susan Kools
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Acts 16:9-15
  • Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
  • John 14:23-29
  • Psalm 67
  
  

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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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  Last updated April 30, 2010 by DW