SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Blessings and curses abound on the sixth Sunday after Epiphany. We would do well to listen closely to whom the “blessed ares” and the “woe tos” are directed and to find our place in the crowd among those who desire to touch Jesus. The risen Christ stands among us in the mystery of the holy supper with an invitation to live in him and the power to heal us all.
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 - Adult Forum: Let’s Go to Seminary - Heritage Hall
“Dancing with Scripture” with Dr. Luis Menendez-Antuna
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 - American Bach Soloists - Sanctuary
ADULT FORUM AT 10:00AM in HERITAGE HALL
Let’s go to Seminary - February 3 - March 3
The “Let’s Go to Seminary” series features four of the core faculty and one senior adjunct faculty at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Their teaching reflects cutting edge developments in their respective disciplines, a passion for teaching and theological education, and the innovative new curriculum being launched at PLTS. That curriculum prepares future leaders of the church for transformative ways of doing and being church that are centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, generate life-giving relationships and spirituality, and advance social justice and environmental well-being.
Feb 17
Dr. Luis Menendez-Antuna, Assistant Professor of New Testament
“Dancing with Scripture”
Location: Heritage Hall
Feb 24
Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Professor of Theological and Social Ethics
“Christian Ethics as Radical Love Embodied”
Location: Heritage Hall
March 3
Dr. Carol Jacobson, Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Constructive Theology, “What Neuroscience Teaches us about Faith Formation”
Location: Heritage Hall
HOW ARE YOU DOING TO NUTURE YOUR FAITH IN THE NEW YEAR?
New to St Mark’s? Thinking about your faith journey and a community to support it? Thinking about becoming a member of St Mark’s? You are invited to join in on the newest group of Journeys in Faith! We meet on Sundays at 10:00 in the Urban Life Center in the Journeys in Faith room. Join us as we reflect together on our lives of faith. For more information, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com; 415-205-3292)
MT. CROSS SUMMER CAMPS
Registration is now open for the week-long camps at Mt. Cross Ministries--our Lutheran Outdoor Ministry just north of Santa Cruz. There are several exciting opportunities for children and youth of all ages. Brochures are available on the bulletin board and table in Heritage Hall. You also can go to www.mtcross.org for more information, costs, and registration. Register prior to May 1 for an early-bird discount. Think about coordinating your registration with other members at St. Mark’s so that your children can go to camp together.
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 February our groups will meet on:
Second Tuesdays – February 12 from 11:00am to 1:00pm in Heritage Hall.
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 “By Night and Day: Coming to Faith in Jesus..
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
HIKE WITH ST. MARK'S, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24
St. Mark’s Our Planet is back, celebrating God’s nourishing rains with a California winter hike. Join us on February 24 after the 11:00 worship. The hike planned is in San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica. Length of the trail is 4.4 miles and 900 feet elevation gain and loss. The Park’s coastal scrub, grassland, and riparian habitats host a diversity of flora and fauna with spawning habitat for steelhead trout. Participants should bring comfortable shoes and clothing, and a snack. Rain may change the hike location and length. Gather at 12:45 in front of the Church to arrange car pools. For more information you may contact Andrew Sallach: andrew.sallach@yahoo.com
MARTIN LUTHER TOWER & ST. MARK'S SENIOR LUNCHEON
St. Mark’s Seniors! Thursday, February 28th is the next MLT monthly luncheon in Heritage Hall, from 12:00-1:30pm. Please join us for a luncheon in celebration of Chinese New Year. We will be serving a variety of Dim Sum, Chinese Noodles, Mixed Vegetables and Custard Tart with Ice Cream for dessert. MLT resident, Tom Berg, will grace us with his musical talents at the piano. The cost is $2 at the door. Please sign-up in the MLT Office by Friday, February 22nd. Come be among friends. Hope to see you there!
DEVOTION BOOKLET FOR LENT AVAILABLE
The Lenten season is only 3 weeks away. In anticipation of this time of reflection, “Lasting Hope,” a Lenten Devotion booklet produced by Augsburg Fortress and based upon the Psalms that are assigned throughout the season is available for you to use throughout Lent. You may pick up a booklet beginning next Sunday, February 24 either in the Narthex or in Heritage Hall.
HOSPITALITY AT ST. MARK'S
“Hospitality involves food, love, empathy, warmth and caring. It means helping people to feel that they belong, they matter, they are noticed and heard. It is the most reliable source of social capital within congregations and beyond for better lives and a better world. It also happens to be the way of Jesus” Source: ELCA website
Join Pr. Elizabeth if you would like to join this new ministry team. We will meet in Heritage Hall at 12:30. This team will coordinate the hospitality events at St. Mark’s Oktoberfest, receptions, potlucks and other ways we can expand our Hospitality Ministries. If you are unable to attend but would like to participate on the Hospitality Team, please send Pr. Elizabeth an e-mail at ekdale@stmarks-sf.org or leave a message at 415 928-7770 ext 2300. All gifts are welcome on this team!
JOYOUS GENEROSITY COMMITMENTS - PLEASE TURN YOUR COMMITMENT IN!
As of this week, we have received $439,821 in commitments for 2019 with a total of 114 commitments out of a possible 186 giving units, totaling 61% participation. Thank you for everyone who has made a commitment! Our goal is to have everyone participate by sharing their commitment to St. Mark’s ministries. Please bring your commitment card to worship and place it in the offering plate, mail it to the church office, or go online and fill out your commitment card on the website: stmarks-sf.org/giveagift. Every commitment has a direct impact to St. Mark’s ministries in 2019 and our goal is to have 100% participation!
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
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!!
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED FOR PRESIDENTS' DAY
The church office will be closed on Monday, February 18 and will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, February 19.
CALIFORNIA BACH SOCIETY, MARCH 1, 8PM
RACHMANINOFF ALL-NIGHT VIGIL
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s monumental All-Night Vigil has been described as “the last great crowning achievement of Russian Orthodox choral music, a masterpiece from a composer at the peak of his creative powers.” Often called the “Rachmaninoff Vespers,” nine of the Vigil's fifteen movements are based on Orthodox chant. Paul Flight leads a chorus of 35 singers with soloists Gabriela Estefanie Solis and Mark Bonney. For this program, we are delighted to welcome Glenn Miller and Eric Alatorre, two of North America’s finest basso profundos.
Friday, March 1, 8:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran, San Francisco . Doors open 30 minutes prior to performance.
Advance Ticket Prices: General - $30, Senior - $25, Under 30 - $10
At the door: General - $35, Senior - $30, Under 30 - $10
Special Early Bird Offer for St. Marks Parishioners! Order tickets by Thursday, February 28, at 5 p.m. and receive $5 off Advance price General or Senior tickets (discount does not apply to Under 30). Order online at http://www.calbach.org/tickets/ and enter the code SFMARKSSF (all uppercase) in the promo code box on the checkout page (online orders subject to handling fee).
DONATE FLOWERS
St. Mark’s members and friends can sign up to donate flowers for the chancel on a Sunday by placing your name on the chart for the Sunday you wish. We still have dates available in December for Advent so please sign up!
Your donation can be in memory of a loved one or in honor of a particular occasion. Please go to www.stmarks-sf.org/flower-donations/ to sign up on our online chart. If you are unable to sign up online please call the office (415-928-7770).
The donation is $50 and can be paid via check in the offering plate. Please note “Flowers” in the memo of the check. If you would like to submit your payment online please click on the donate tab on the main page on St. Mark’s website and enter your flower donation under the “other” option and write flowers in the box.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Jennifer Sun (9); Libby Pfaff, Linda Jackson (11)
Lectors...Barbara McCormick (9); Jesse Peirce (11)
Communion Ministers...Aaron Greig, Kate Knickerbocker (9) Geri Bailey, Jesse Peirce (11)
Altar Guild...Cora Rose
Acolytes...Alison Schieber, Grace Ekdale-Hoch
Sacristan...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers...Omer Voss, Tapio Boles (9) Jerry Lundblad, Larry DeSpain (11)
Fellowship Hour Chairs...Andrew Sallach, Elaine & Tim Bohan
Next Week’s Fellowship Hour Chairs...Susie Smith, Frederick Blickle