Pastor Elizabeth attending ELCA Church Council Meeting, April 4 - 6.
She will be back at St. Mark's on Monday, April 7. Please keep the work of the ELCA Church Council and the ELCA in your prayers.
LSS Needs Your Help.
LSS is grateful to be the recipient of this year's Lenten Boxes. Nancy Nielsen, Deputy Director of LSS of Northern California, will visit St. Mark's today to describe the current challenges facing the Money Management Program in SF, which is being forced to relocate to new office space. She will also introduce the capital campaign necessary to fund this move. You can learn more about LSS and donate online at www.lssnorcal.org.
Eucharistic Ministers Training, Today at 12:30
We are developing a ministry of distributing communion to the sick and homebound. If you are interested in this training, please speak with Pr. Elizabeth or Pr. Bekah. This last training session is today, April 6 from 12:30 - 2:00 in the vestry. Entrusting this special ministry to trained laity enhances the pastoral ministry of our congregation. Those involved will discover that this ministry will enrich your own spiritual life as you share God's love with the sick.
We are a sacramental church and believe in the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion. By bringing these elements to the sick and homebound, you are sharing with them the crucified and risen Christ in, with and under the bread and wine. Thank you for considering whether you are feeling called to this special ministry. Feel free to e-mail Ekdale@stmarks-sf.org or Davis@stmarks-sf.org with your questions.
Midweek Lenten Activities
Lenten Supper in Heritage Hall at 6:00 pm
April 9
All are welcome to join us for this simple community dinner prior to worship.
Lenten Midweek Worship every Wednesday Evening from 6:45 to 7:15 pm
April 9
Refocus your hearts with a lovely sung service of Holy Communion during the season of Lent. There will be childcare for these midweek evening services.
Special Music for the Wednesdays in Lent
Wednesday Evening Lenten Services will feature a new setting of the Communion service for evening time by Aaron David Miller, utilizing a cantor and the voices of the assembled, this will be a lovely musical, contemplative addition to our Lenten journey. Before each service, we will hear music by C.P.E. Bach, the most famous of J.S. Bach's sons, becoming even more famous than his father among their contemporaries. C.P.E. Bach wrote some of the most personal, introspective, and beautiful keyboard music ever written, much of it for the clavichord, a very small, quiet instrument musicians of that time had in their homes for private use. C.P.E. Bach celebrates his 300th birthday March 8, 2014.
Women's Monthly Study Gatherings
All women are welcome to come and study together at our morning Women of the ELCA Gathering. In April our group will meet on:
Second Tuesday - April 8 from 11:00am to 1:00pm in the Fireside Room
All women are invited to come for study at 11:00 and then at noon to eat their sandwich or salad and share fellowship. Drinks and dessert will be provided. Our Bible study will center on "Rizpah, a Vigilant Mourner" using the Women of the ELCA's guide, In Good Company: Stories of Biblical Women.
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
Senior Sonoma Trip with lunch at La Salette Restaurant, April 11
All St. Mark's and MLT seniors are invited for a drive up to the town of Sonoma, a walk around the beautiful square, and lunch at La Salette Portuguese restaurant. Departure is at 10 am. To RSVP for the trip, please contact Sonia in the MLT Office (415.885.1084.)
Lenten boxes to benefit Lutheran Social Services (LSS)
The Sunday School children have prepared Lenten boxes for your home. The recipient of the offerings this year will be Lutheran Social Services. Giving up something for Lent? - put the money you would have spent in the box. Maybe put all your spare change and small bills for the next six weeks. Bring it back at Easter. Remember LSS in your prayers.-St. Mark's Social Ministry
Sunday School meets in Heritage Hall on April 13, Palm Sunday
We will practice the Palm Sunday Procession on a "donkey", we will also have an Easter craft suitable for all ages. Those children interested in being in the procession should plan on staying for the first 10 minutes of the 11 o'clock service.
Easter Sunday: No Sunday School
Confirmation at St. Mark's
Confirmation class meets weekly at 10:10 in the youth room. 6th-8th graders welcome!
Easter Sunday: No Confirmation Class
Help Prepare St. Marks for Holy Week and Easter on April 12th
The Property Ministry Team invites you to join us for coffee, pastries and gardening as we prepare the church and grounds for this special season on Saturday, April 12th, from 9 AM until 12 Noon. Bring your gardening gloves!
Register Now for Summer Day Camp at St. Mark's (June 30- July 4)
Day Camp is a unique partnership between Mt. Cross Summer Camp and St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Join us for a week of faith-based fun, which includes group games, arts & crafts, worship, community building activities and Bible Encounters. Location: Dates: June 30-July 4.|Time: 9am-3pm | Cost: $90. Full scholarships are available. | Age range: Youth who have completed Kindergarten through 6th grade | For more details and registration forms, please visit www.stmarks-sf.org.
Support the Interfaith Shelter Walk May 4th at Lake Merced!
St. Mark's confirmation youth invite you to join them to support the Interfaith Shelter. To sponsor a youth or register to walk, visit http://winterfaithshelterwalk.dojiggy.com/.
Western States Youth Gathering June 27-July 1
Calling all high school students! WSYG is for high school youth (grades 9-12) in Lutheran congregations. WSYG occurs every three years, and is a partnership with California Lutheran University. WSYG will feature mass gatherings with great speakers and musicians; learning and small group experiences; worship that takes you in new directions; an immersion experience in Los Angeles; a Southern California beach party, and much more! Visit www.wsyg.com or contact Pastor Bekah for more details.
Do you have any housing leads for members of St. Mark's?
Affordable housing is a concern for all residents in the Bay Area. We have a special interest at St. Mark's. Each year, beloved members of St. Mark's move out of the area due to lack of affordable housing. We'd like to utilize the power of the St. Mark's network to share possible leads with these families. Currently, we have the following affordable housing needs:
An active couple at St. Mark's is looking to purchase a condominium in SF for approx. $600,000.
An active couple at St. Mark's is looking for affordable rent near transit or to buy; their buy budget is no greater than $500,000.
If you have a piece of property that you might be willing to sell or have any leads for these two families, please e-mail Pr. Elizabeth at Ekdale@stmarks-sf.org. She will connect the two parties together. Thank you. (Please refer to article in current newsletter for additional details.)
Malaria Campaign Challenge Grant
An anonymous member of St. Mark's has offered a $10,000 challenge grant for congregations in the Sierra Pacific Synod who are raising funds for the ELCA Malaria Campaign! The challenge provides a $1-for-$1 match. To have your gift doubled, please make your check out to St. Mark's and write "Malaria Campaign" in the memo line. Alternatively, you can click on the donate button on St. Mark's homepage and designate your gift to the Malaria Campaign. The challenge grant will be offered until the goal is met or until July 31.
Interfaith Food Pantry Dates for 2014
The Interfaith Food Pantry is held every Saturday at the Old First Presbyterian Church. Here are the St. Mark's dates in 2014: May 17th, July 12th, August 16th, October 4th and November 15th. All Faiths Dates in 2014: April 12th, June 21st, August 23rd, October 11th, December 6th. For more info, contact Wendy Figliuolo at Northern.cal@gmail.com.
Worship Leaders for this Sunday
Assisting Ministers...Sharon Reinbott (9); Kyle Schiefelbein, Linda Jackson (11)
Lectors...Dianne Velleno (9); Dana Utz (11)
Acolytes...Clovis Curl
Chalice Bearers...Mark Semonian, Liv Beck (11); Jane Borg, Jo Chadwick (11)
Refreshment Hour Chairs...Greg & Diana Gomez
Join us for Worship this Sunday (Fifth Sunday in Lent)
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children's Time
10:00 am - Sunday School
10:00 am - Refreshments & Parents with Kidlettes
10:10 am - Confirmation Class
10:10 am - Journeys in Faith Gathering
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist
12:15 pm - Refreshment and Fellowship Hour
12:30 pm - Eucharistic Ministry Training