SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Forerunners and messengers advance the advent of our God. While John the Baptizer’s voice in the wilderness may be the principal focus of the day, Malachi’s prophecy could as easily herald the coming of Jesus as forerunner of the Lord of hosts. Finally all the baptized are called to participate in the sharing of the gospel. In so doing we prepare the way for the coming of the Savior and assist all flesh in capturing a vision of the “salvation of God.”
This Sunday at St. Mark's
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:50 am - Sunday School - Sunday School Rooms
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Confirmation - Youth Room
10:00 am - Adult Forum: Gisela and Doug Daetz-Palestine Journeys - Fireside Room
10:00 am - Journeys in Faith - JIF Room
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
4:00 pm - SF Early Music Society Concert - Sanctuary
UPCOMING MOSAIC TELEVISION SHOW HOSTED BY PR. ELIZABETH
Tune in on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 5:00 am on KPIX (channel 5) to watch Pr. Elizabeth interview one of St. Mark’s faith neighbors. Pastor Vanessa Southern is the Senior Minister at First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco and shares with Pr. Elizabeth background on the denomination and the various ministries in her parish. Learn about our neighbors across the street from us - First Unitarian Universalist Society - by watching Mosaic on Dec. 9.
THIS SUNDAY’S ADULT FORUM AT 10:00AM IN THE FIRESIDE ROOM
We welcome Gisela and Doug Daetz of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Los Gatos, as they present JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM AND BEYOND: Personal Encounters in Palestine. Join us for an eye-witness account based on their experiences in Bethlehem and other communities in the West Bank of Palestine. The emphasis will be on the courageous people they met during their travels.Their tour was sponsored by the non-profit BRIGHT STARS OF BETHLEHEM, founded by Dr. Mitri Raheb, former pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, and President of DAR AL-KALIMA UNIVERSITY (Home of the Word). BRIGHT STARS OF BETHLEHEM is dedicated to helping people in the Holy Land have life and have it abundantly. To that end it supports the health, educational, cultural and spiritual development of people in Palestine. With international support it has helped build the university, dedicated to educating the youth of Palestine and offering enrichment programs to people of all ages.
CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE – ONE MORE DAY!
The Giving Tree for the Family Christmas Party at Bernal Gateway Apartments will be up for one more Sunday (December 9) so that you can still pick up a tag or two on that day, purchase a present for a child, and return it (unwrapped) to the church office by Monday, December 10. Please make sure that the tag is securely attached to the present. Lutheran Social Services coordinates this party, and our St. Mark’s volunteers will assist in serving the meal and distributing the presents. If you would like to contribute a pie(s) for dessert, please contact Jane Borg. Thank you for your participation in bringing a little more joy to these children and youth at Bernal Gateway.
WOMEN'S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERINGS
All women are welcome to come and study together at our evening and/or morning Women of the ELCA Gatherings. In December our group will meet on:
Second Tuesday – December 11 from 11:00am to 1:00pm in Heritage Hall. All women are invited to come for study at 11:00 and then our Christmas Luncheon. Our program will be led by Debby Halladay on “Not Just ‘Christmas” - Icons and Art about Stories in Matthew 1-2, and Luke 2. Bring your Bible
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
CALLING ALL ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS!
Preparations are underway for the St. Mark’s Christmas Pageant! If you have participated in the past you know it is a great event. If you haven’t, please consider starting a new tradition this year! All families are welcome, and there is a role for everyone!
The Pageant is at 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Call time will be 4:00 p.m. Rehearsals are Saturday, December 15 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (although we will likely stagger the rehearsal so not everyone has to stay the entire time), and Sunday, December 23 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Note this change from previous years! The second rehearsal is on Sunday so we don’t have to break the set down after rehearsal, and to free up that final Saturday of December. We will make sure there is enough food for everyone to eat for lunch.
Please contact Matt Helland (helland@nka.com) if you plan to participate or if you have any questions.
PROPERTY TEAM CHRISTMAS TREES AND DECORATING DAY, SATURDAY DECEMBER 15, 9:00AM-12:00PM
All members of Saint Mark’s Church Family are invited to join the Team as we put up and decorate our Christmas trees. We will also tackle our ToDo list of minor repairs and cleaning. Enjoy fellowship and treats while we prepare our beautiful church for Christmas celebrations. Please contact Tim Bohan if you are able to attend, timelain@pacbell.net 415-694-9499
DEC. 16: CIDER, COOKIES, AND CAROLS
You are invited to bring cookies to share on Sunday Dec. 16th between services in Heritage Hall. We’ll sip hot cider, sing carols together, and share Advent traditions. Bring a friend and let’s celebrate the joy of Advent and Christmas!
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS LIBRARY BOOKS AVAILABLE TO CHECK OUT
A selection of Advent and Christmas titles are available to check out from the church library this Sunday. We are bringing the library to you in Heritage Hall after both worship services. Browse available titles, quickly set up a library account, and take home a book! The library is being newly reorganized with an online catalog and circulation features, thanks to a Thrivent Action Team grant. For more information, contact Cora Rose and Marisa Lee at library@stmarks-sf.org.
JAM SALE IN HERITAGE HALL TO BENEFIT ST. FRANCIS LUTHERAN SENIOR CENTER
Looking for a tasty Christmas gift that benefits local seniors? We are helping St. Francis Lutheran sell homemade jam made by their late longtime member Kirsten Havrehed, known to many at St. Mark’s. Kirsten hosted an annual holiday boutique every year to raise funds for senior and hospice programs in San Francisco. After Kirsten’s death in September, this year’s jams were given to St. Francis to sell, with all proceeds going to their senior center program. Cora Rose and Marisa Lee will be helping with jam sales this morning at the church library table. Jams are $5 for a 1/2 pint.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR DECEMBER 15
Christmas Simulcast Service with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and our Washington National Cathedral! This wonderful, bilingual (Arabic-English) service bridges the Atlantic Ocean and the Separation Wall for this twelfth annual carol-filled celebration of Jesus’ birth! Tune in on YOUTUBE.COM/WNCAT(HEDRAL- 6:30 AM Pacific Time (9:30 Eastern Time) on Saturday, December 15. See our St. Mark’s Facebook page to connect to the order of service, prayers ad familiar carols. Start your day early to pray and sing along with our fellow Christians in Bethlehem!
2019 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
Our 2019 Membership directory will be in production soon and we want to make sure we have the most up-to date information. Please send any address changes to Stefani at lawrence@stmarks-sf.org by January 2. Thank you!
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
December 23 and 30: No Sunday School
January 6: Big Group Community Service: Stockings for the Homeless
February 10: Big Group: Valentines for MLT and Lenten Box art.
March 10: Big Group: Mardi Gras/Lent observance.
March 24: Big Group: Pastor led lesson on the Sacraments
April 14: Big Group: Palm Sunday lesson and activity.
April 21: Easter: No Sunday School
April 28: Big Group: Passover meal and lesson.
May 19: Bay to Breakers, no Sunday School
May 26: Last day of Sunday School PARTY!!