Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for May 16, 2010

SUNDAY OF THE ASCENSION

Sunday's Readings

• Acts 1:1-11
• Ephesians 1:15-23
• Luke 24:44-53
• Psalm 47

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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  STRONG VOTE INVITES BACK ST. FRANCIS & FIRST UNITED
  PR. JEFF JOHNSON ELECTED TO SYNOD COUNCIL
  BERKELEY UNIV. LUTHERAN CHAPEL CENSURE REMOVED

  
  

  History being made: as former Pr. Jim and Diane DeLange watch, Pr. Jeff Johnson, with tears, preaches the closing sermon of the Synod Assembly.

  
  The Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met in Reno, NV last weekend. On the last day, the resolution on St. Francis and First United was introduced to the Assembly. No one rose to debate the resolution and it passed 291 yes, 26 no and 10 abstentions. There was a long standing ovation. View the proceedings at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXLbLrpuGsQ.

  In the days preceding the debate the Bishop, Mark Holmerud, referenced the two congregations and his desire to see their relationship with the synod changed. The ELCA representative at the Assembly, The Rev. Susan Engh, told the Assembly that she was serving on the ELCA Church Council in 1995 and was very pained when the removal of the two congregations from the ELCA congregation roster was announced. Pr. Engh was delighted to read the resolution toward reconciliation.

  Our future has opened up a path to the ELCA. The resolution voted on recognized that the congregations were free to discern what they want to do. We, at St. Francis, will begin discussions on the issue quite soon. The congregation council will discuss the new unfolding situation at their coming monthly meeting. Let’s all pray that we may find God’s will for us.

  The final form of the resolution voted follows.

  Final Form of Resolution 2010-04 Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly

  A RESOLUTION CONCERNING POSSIBLE RECOGNITION AND RECEPTION AS ELCA CONGREGATIONS OF ST. FRANCIS LUTHERAN CHURCH AND FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH

  WHEREAS, First United Lutheran Church and St. Francis Lutheran Church were removed from the roster of ELCA congregations on December 31, 1995, pursuant to the ELCA process for discipline of congregations and following a five-year suspension; and

  WHEREAS, prior to the formation of the ELCA, St. Francis Lutheran Church was a member of The American Lutheran Church and First United Lutheran Church was a member of the Lutheran Church in America; and

  WHEREAS, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly has affirmed this synod’s efforts to “maintain a strong bond of fellowship” with these two congregations, and the ELCA Church Council has expressed the hope for “eventual reunion” between them and the ELCA (Churchwide Assembly action CA95.7.74 and Church Council action CC95.11.105); and

  WHEREAS, at the direction of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA Church Council has adopted amendments to the ministry policies of this church that allow First United Lutheran Church and St. Francis Lutheran Church to apply for recognition and reception into the ELCA; and

  WHEREAS, “recognition and reception into this church of transferring or independent congregations by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is based on the judgment of the synod and action by the synod through the Synod Council and Synod Assembly” (ELCA Churchwide constitutional provision 9.25.); and

  WHEREAS, neither of these congregations is a “member of another church body,” and neither of them is a “congregation newly formed by” or “established by” the ELCA (ELCA Churchwide constitutional provisions 9.25. and 9.62.h.); therefore

  BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly affirm that the mission and witness in this synod and of the whole ELCA would best be served by making it possible for these two congregations to participate fully in the life of the synod and the ELCA and resume the status they had prior to their removal; and

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly direct the Synod Council and Bishop to take steps necessary to allow First United Lutheran Church or St. Francis Lutheran Church, should either of them desire, to be recognized and received as ELCA congregations, with their status as former members of predecessor church bodies unchanged.

  Submitted by the San Francisco Conference

  Introduced on behalf of the Conference by the Rev. Elizabeth Ekdale, Senior Pastor, St. Mark Lutheran Church, San Francisco since the Dean, the Rev. Susan Strouse, is pastor of First United Lutheran Church.

  
  
  

  LETTER FROM PASTORS PHYLLIS AND RUTH

  Dear Members and Friends of St. Francis,

  A new heart I will give you and a new Spirit I will put within you. I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” -Ezekiel 36:26

  With joyous hearts we heard the good news of the resounding passage of the synod resolution inviting into the ELCA for First United and St. Francis. This is truly an historic moment.

  Once we were asked in an interview in 1990… how long it would take for the church to change its discriminatory policy. Ruth replied, “About twenty years.” The interviewer was startled by our lengthy estimate…. Well, here we are, twenty years later, and Ezekiel’s “heart of stone” has been turned to a “heart of flesh.”

  The people of the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly have given themselves and the ELCA a chance to embrace an opportunity for healing that will reverberate through the national Church body.

  It is our hope that St. Francis and First United will give prayerful consideration to the invitation from the Sierra Pacific Synod that will surely follow....We know that whatever you decide, it will be determined by the furthest horizon you can see and the greatest good you can imagine. The future is here, and it is indeed yours.

  On a personal note, we are deeply grateful for the ministry opportunity given us through our extraordinary calls to St. Francis. Our years in ministry with you from 1990 to 2005 remain among the most cherished years of our lives. Thanks be to God for all the saints of St. Francis, past and present!

  You are in our thoughts and prayers and deep in our hearts at this transformational moment in the history of the Lutheran Church.

  With grateful hearts, The Revs. Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart

  PR. BRADLEY SCHMELING AND PARTNER PR. DARIN EASLER BOTH REINSTATED

  

  Pastor Schmeling was removed from the ELCA roster in 2007 by church trial after telling his bishop that he was in a relationship with Easler. Pr. Easler had already been dropped from the ELCA roster after coming out to his congregation and bishop in Southeast Minnesota. Both were reinstated by the ELCA this week.

  
  

  LUCY WALDA MEMORIAL THIS SUNDAY

  A memorial service will be held this Sunday, May 16 at 3 PM at Garden Chapel, 885 El Camino Real, So. San Francisco 650 583-2510. A reception will follow at David's condo complex in Brisbane. Directions will be available at the memorial service.

  
  
  

  PASTOR DAWN'S FAREWELL

  Sunday, June 13, will be Pr. Dawn's last Sunday with us as Pastor of Parish Programs - her three-year call is ending then. She will preach a farewell sermon, and the congregation will have a farewell luncheon immediately after worship (in place of coffee hour).
  
  Luncheon hosts will be our own Lydia Circle members! Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. More details will be announced next week.

  Thanks to everyone who participated in the recent Senior Center raffle. The Senior Center Ministry raised $349 toward their program at a program and lunch is provided to them for a very low cost . The winners were Mike Karmar, Karen Olesen, and Wes Winters.

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  WORSHIP PARTICIPANT TRAINING Crucifer/Torchbearer - May 23, 2010

  
  

  Notice #3

  If all is going well (and at my age I surely know that “all going well” is rare), you now have information from the Aids Walk San Francisco on what the money you raise will go for, on the continuing need to support the HIV + folks, and tips on raising money. I assume they will also tell you about websites (a mystery to me), Facebook, Twitter, email and texting (all mysteries).

  So I assume you - on those quiet moments - when you are alone and not watching tv - you are thinking about the best way to raise money. If you need help (mail, postage, writing skills)I may be able to help. My hope is that you are approaching readiness on our AWSF quest.

  Thank you for your commitment, and good luck.

  Oh yeah - consider soliciting friends to join our team. Toch!! Maxie

  
  

  CHICAGO PARTNERED LESBIAN APPROVED FOR ORDINATION

  Julie Boleyn, open lesbian/partnered seminarian, was approved for ordination by the ELCA Metro Chicago Synod. The Candidacy Committee understood this to be an historic step, and acknowledged that there are likely more to come as Metro Chicago will likely receive many candidates who are not welcome in other synods.

  Join us for a Delectable Evening of Local Fare Gourmet bites, ultra-boutique wines, microbrews and a silent auction await! Annual Friends of St. Francis Spring Fling Wednesday, June 9 starting at 6:30 P.M. North Arcade of the San Francisco Ferry Building. Our annual Spring Fling event is not only a fun and scrumptious way to spend an evening but is also a wonderful cause. All proceeds benefit the Friends of Saint Francis Childcare Center. To purchase tickets go to www.fosfchildcare.org

  
  
  
  
  

  The Bay to Breakers Race is this Sunday May 16 starting at 8 AM. Though the course does not come close to St Francis, it may disrupt the travel to church, depending upon the originating destination.

  
  
  
  
  • May 21 Jim Remer
  • May 21 Deb Tully
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Acts 2:1-21
  • Romans 8:14-17
  • John 14:8-17, 25-27
  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
  
  

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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 May 20, 2010 by DW