Weekly News from St. Francis Lutheran Church for May 23, 2010

DAY OF PENTECOST

Sunday's Readings

• Gen 11:1-9
• Acts 2:1-18
• John 14:8-17, 25-27
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

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)
• 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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  PR. MEGAN ROHRER TO PREACH SUNDAY

  
  

  The Rev. Megan Rohrer, Director of Welcome and our missionary to the streets of San Francisco, will bring the Pentecost sermon this Sunday, May 20th. Welcome Pastor Rohrer.

  
  
  

  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.

  A few additional details regarding Pr. Dawn's departure: She will be moving out of the parsonage at the end of June and we are anticipating members of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps will be moving in during August.

  The Deaconate has already been meeting with Pr. Paul Brenner for support and guidance - thank you Paul! Pr. Robert will be involved with the ministry of St. Vincent de Paul as needed.

  A mailing was sent out this past week requesting gifts to help with the cost of Pr. Dawn’s move. Those interested can return the enclosed envelope to the church office. Checks should be written to St. Francis with “Roginski gift” on the memo line, [rather than directly to Pr. Dawn as was indicated by mail]. Please make your donation by Wednesday, June 9, in order to have it included. Extra envelopes are available on the table in the Narthex.

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  BEVERLY HINES TO DIRECT SENIOR CENTER
  Beverly Hines will be replacing Pastor Dawn as the Senior Center Program Director, a role that she worked in prior to Pr. Dawn being called. Beverly will begin her work officially on Wednesday, June 16 - Thank you Beverly!

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  COUNCIL WILL SET DATE FOR VOTE ON THE ELCA

  Now that the Sierra Pacific Synod in Assembly in Reno, NV has voted overwhelmingly to invite St. Francis and First United Lutheran Churches to rejoin the ELCA, there will be dates set for information meetings and for an official congregational meeting to vote on that issue. Such a vote will allow us to begin the call process. The interim pastor issue will be treated separately at a later date.

  

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  Notice #4 May 18

  We’ve started. 118 are on our team and 5 have begun raising money electronically. Of the 5 persons, 2 are Lutherans and 3 are Geographers. (I’m counting myself as a Lutheran for this one.) They (we) have raised $675. Yea! We lost a couple of Lutherans but I think we’ve gained about 5 more Geographers. That means the young ones (geographers) are out-numbering the elders. About time youth got into the actions.

  Nearly every year I hear complaints that the overhead at the SF Aids Foundation is too high. Currently 70-75% of funds raised go to services. Compare that to the Avon Walk 2 years ago when 56-61% went to services. Thus our walk compares favorably with most nonprofits. My own sense is that people use this statistic as a way to get out of helping. I know that we don’t all have to be in the same place at the same time. (Thank you, Lee.)

  So my advice is - just move on. If you want to help deal with San Francisco’s AIDS crises, then this walk works. If those who complain about the high overhead have better alternatives, I’m all ears.

  But enough with the negatives. Our walk is joyful - we raise lots of penga - we make a difference. Let’s get going. Maxie

  
  
  

  First-Ever Transgender Advocacy Day to Address Economic, Health Disparities in Transgender community Held in Sacramento

  Almost 100 leaders from the transgender community and their allies gathered at the state Capitol for the first-ever Transgender Advocacy Day. Presented by Equality California Institute and the Transgender Law Center, participants met with state legislators to educate them on the need for good jobs and healthcare in the transgender community.

  “Transgender Californians are twice as likely to earn wages below the federal poverty line compared to the state’s general population,” said Equality California executive director Geoff Kors. “We must act swiftly in order to bring an end to this economic disparity. In partnership with our state’s leadership, I am confident we can help ensure equal access to economic opportunities for all Californians.”

  Participants also discussed the Data Inclusion Act, an Equality California-sponsored bill introduced by Assemblymember Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance), which is the first bill in the nation that would require the state to add questions about sexual orientation, gender identity and domestic partnership status in the voluntary demographic section of California’s government forms, enabling the state to gather vital data about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community’s use of public services, such as health care, unemployment, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and programs for women, infants and children.

  “One reason transgender Californians are overlooked in state programming is that we are not counted in the U.S. Census and other population surveys,” said Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center. “With the Data Inclusion Act, the state can ensure that transgender Californians receive the services and support we need to thrive.”
  CONTACT: Vaishalee Raja
  PHONE: 916-284-9187
  EMAIL: vaishalee@eqca.org

  
  
  
  
  
  • May 26 Adam Maass
  
  
  

  Lectionary for next Sunday

  • Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
  • Romans 5:1-5
  • John 16:12-15
  • Psalm 8
  
  

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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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