SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
A woman finds healing by touching Jesus’ cloak, and a girl is restored to life when he takes her by the hand. In both cases a boundary is crossed: in Jesus’ time the hemorrhaging woman was considered ritually unclean, polluting others by her touch, and anyone who touched a corpse also became unclean. In Mark’s gospel Jesus breaks down barriers, from his first meal at a tax collector’s house to his last breath on the cross as the temple curtain is torn in two. We dare to touch Jesus in our “uncleanness” and to live as a community that defines no one as an outsider.
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
11:00 am - Holy Communion Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
HEALING STATION THIS SUNDAY
During the distribution of communion this Sunday (July 1), you are invited to come to the healing station in the back corner of the sanctuary for any special prayers that you might want for yourself or for others in your life. Pastor Ron will be available to hear your request, and respond accordingly.
FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER – DAY OF MOBILIZATION
As an AMMPARO congregation, St. Mark’s is committed to advocating for immigrants, especially immigrant children and youth. Given the recent developments in separating families who have entered this country, Saturday, June 30 has been designated (by ELCA AMMPARO and many other organizations) as a national day of mobilization to express our concern for this most recent policy. Even though a new Executive Order has been issued to keep immigrant families together, now these families can be detained indefinitely until such time as they will be processed. There will be several rallies throughout the Bay area as a part of this mobilization. One that is especially significant to our AMMPARO team at St. Mark’s is being held at the West County Detention Center in Richmond at 11:00 a.m. this Saturday, June 30 (that’s TOMORROW). Join us if you are able.
SENIORS ARE INITED TO A BBQ
On July 6, we will celebrate the 4th of July with a festive BBQ in Heritage Hall. Wear your red, white and blue attire and sign up by calling the Martin Luther Tower office: 415 885-1084. This BBQ is free for all Senior members of St. Mark’s. The festivities begin at 12:00. Friends are welcome too - cost is $5.00 which can be paid at the door.
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AT ST. MARK’S
As you may have noted in the latest newsletter, the Outreach Team is organizing the congregation into neighborhood groups beginning next fall for the purpose of building community and creating a local support network for our members. During the next month, members of the Outreach Team will be approaching people in the congregation and asking them to be Coordinators of their neighborhood group. Coordinators will receive a lot of support from the Outreach Team in this endeavor, and will be invited to an orientation later in August. If you would like to learn more or would like to volunteer to be a Coordinator for your neighborhood, please contact any member of the Outreach Team: Cora Rose, Steve Ernst, Geri Bailey, Bertie Brouhard, Andrew Sallach, or Pastor Ron.
SANCTUARY TASK FORCE
The Church Council has decided to establish a Sanctuary Task Force in order to explore the possibility of St. Mark’s becoming a sanctuary congregation. The Task Force would do the necessary background research in order to educate the congregation about the meaning and extent of being a sanctuary congregation and to guide the congregation through a process of discernment in order to make this decision. We need one more member-at-large from the congregation to fill out this Task Force. If you might have any interest in serving on this Task Force, please speak to Mary Ritter or Pastor Ron.
UPCOMING MOSAIC SHOW HOSTED BY PR. ELIZABETH
Tune in July 8 at 5:00 a.m. on channel 5 (KPIX) for Pr. Elizabeth’s hosting of the Mosaic show. Her guest is Rev. Deborah Lee - Executive Director of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. Rev. Lee speaks passionately about just and fair immigration practices, the prevention of separation of families, and what congregations and individuals can do to uphold the basic human rights and safety of migrant children and their families
PRAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANT DETAINEES MONTHLY VIGIL AT WEST COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, JULY 7, 11:00 - 12:00 PM
On Saturday, July 7, the Interfaith Movement for Human Dignity will be
sponsoring its monthly vigil at the West County Detention Center in Richmond on Saturday, July 7 at 11:00 a.m. This interfaith prayer vigil is a wonderful opportunity for people of faith to gather in the place where these sojourners are being detained for an indefinite period of time as the result of entering this country illegally.
Join Pr. Elizabeth and other St. Mark’s members at the West County Detention Center (5555 Giant Hwy, Richmond, CA)
Our prayer vigil will be hosted by the Green Gulch Zen Center.
All are welcome!
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS IN THE SUMMER?
Why not? It is never too early to begin planning ahead! Advent is a time of preparation, faithful waiting, and hopeful anticipation for the arrival of the Christ-child. This year St. Mark’s will publish its own devotional book for the seasons of Advent and Christmas to help the community prepare for and celebrate these rich seasons. Each devotion will be written by members and friends of St. Mark’s. We will need 33 volunteers. Families are encouraged to write a devotion together. If you are interested in contributing to the publication, please visit www.stmarks-sf.org/advent-and-christmas-devotions/ for details and information. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Warmly, Pr. Elizabeth
WOMEN'S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERING
All women are welcome to come and study together at our morning and/or evening Women of the ELCA Gatherings. In July our groups will meet on:
First Tuesdays – July 3 from 6:30 pm to 8:30pm in the Conference Room in the Urban Life Center. All women are invited to come for dessert and fellowship for the first half hour and then discussion until 8:30. This month we will discuss and select books for the coming program season beginning on September 4. We will not meet in August
Second Tuesday – July 11 luncheon at noon at Eliza’s, 2877 California St.
All women are invited to come to our annual luncheon out. Please contact Pam Ruh (415/292-4496) or pamboruh@hotmail.com) with any questions. We will not meet in August.
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
INFORMATION SESSION FOR NEXT JOURNEYS IN FAITH GROUP - JULY 15
New to St Mark’s? Thinking about your faith journey and a community to support it? What does it mean to be a member of a church? How do you become a member of St Mark’s?
All are invited to come to an information session for our Journeys in Faith group. We will meet in the Urban Life Center in the Journeys in Faith room at 10:00 on July 15th. For more information, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com).
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero (9);Phil Krikau, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Dianne Velleno (9); Cory Schoolland (11)
Communion Ministers...Cristin Owens (9); Steve Ernst (11)
Acolytes...Ed Chitty, Rommel Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Altar Guild...Jane Borg
Sacristans...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero, Ed Chitty
Ushers...Omer Voss, Marisa Lee (9) Pam Cheung, Linda Jackson, Charles Jacobs, Dianne Jacobs (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Nadine Robinson, Kimberly Hamilton-Lam
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Andrew Sallach, Elaine Lanier-Bohan & Tim Bohan