FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
The welcome of baptism is for all God's children. This baptismal gift sets us free from the power of sin and death. In today's gospel, Christ promises that the disciple who gives a cup of cold water to the little ones serves Christ himself. From worship we are sent on our baptismal mission: to serve the little ones of this world and to be a sign of God's merciful welcome.
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
10:00 am - Parents with Kidlettes - Heritage Hall
11:00 am - Holy Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
3:00 pm - Wedding - Sanctuary
ADULT EDUCATION PLANNING TEAM MEETING ON SUNDAY, JULY 9
Join Pastor Elizabeth and others to dream and plan about adult education at St. Mark’s. We will meet in Pr Elizabeth’s office from 12:30 - 2:30 - all are welcome! Bring your ideas and hopes for growing your faith through education at St. Mark’s.
NEW TO ST. MARK'S? WELCOME!
Thinking about your faith journey and a community to support it? If you are interested in learning more about St Mark’s or maybe exploring making St Mark’s your church home, we would love to talk with you! The Journeys in Faith team invites you to meet for coffee or tea and conversation. If you are interested, or have questions, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com; 415-205-3292).
INTER-GENERATIONAL EVENT - SUNDAY, JULY 9
Everyone is invited to participate in this inter-generational event at St. Mark’s on Sunday, July 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Ron will be orchestrating some activities for people of all ages in the auditorium and plaza on this Sunday. Those who worship at 9:00 a.m are encouraged to stick around for this fun event, and those who generally worship at 11:00 a.m. are encouraged to come an hour early to join in the fun (as well as meet people who worship regularly at 9:00 a.m.). Come and join in this fellowship opportunity to bolster our sense of community.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERINGS
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:
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 (292-4496 or pamboruh@hotmail.com) with any questions. We will not meet in August.
Evening Gathering – July 11 from 6:30pm 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 The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity by Jeffery J. Butz and will set the reading list for the next year. We will not meet in August.
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
ST. MARK’S EL SALVADOR TRIP NOV 21-26, 2017: RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT CORDERO DE DIOS!
All members of St. Mark’s are encouraged to participate in the next accompaniment journey with Cordero de Dios, El Salvador on November 21-26, 2017 (Thanksgiving week). Singles and couples and families with children are all invited to travel with the delegation.
St. Mark’s is a sister parish with Cordero de Dios, in Soyapango, El Salvador. We have visited them several times and always learn and grow and share much as we build wonderful relationships with our Salvadoran Lutheran brothers and sisters!
Let Mary Ritter mlrpeds@aol.com know as soon as possible if you are interested in going, or have questions about travel and safety issues.
We have started purchasing airplane tickets - the tickets prices are good right now but will likely go higher. We hope to have all tickets purchased by mid to late July 2017. We will set dates in late summer and fall for learning and conversation about the trip. Watch for information about upcoming planning events.
“TELLING THE TALE” – STORIES FROM A THAILAND HABITAT BUILD
In March of this year, St. Mark’s members, Brian Richards & Greg Jahnke traveled to Thailand to help build two homes with Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. Join them in Heritage Hall on Sunday, July 23rd after the 9:00 service to hear stories from the build and to see slides of the work. Breakfast will be provided for all attendees. Children are welcome.
INDEPENDENCE DAY OFFICE SCHEDULE
The church office will be closed on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 in
observance of Independence day. The office will re-open on Wednesday, July 5.
ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH SEEKS EVENT HOSTS
We are currently hiring Event Hosts! The Event Host is a part-time paid position, who is on duty for meetings and events taking place on St. Mark’s Square.
As a representative of St. Mark’s, the Event Host serves as the liaison between St. Mark’s and the event taking place, providing quality customer service and hospitality to groups and attendees utilizing the facility. This includes providing facility access, monitoring the use of the spaces, ensuring the safety and security of the facilities during events, and upholding and communicating the facility use rules and regulations as needed. The Event Host may be required to assist with set-up of facility spaces, handle emergencies that may arise, and is responsible for securing facilities after events. Evening and weekend hours (often until 10 or 11 PM) required.
If you are interested in applying, please contact Deidre Rettenmaier at events@stmarks-sf.org or 415-928-7770 x2290.
ST. MARKS 6TH ANNUAL FAMILY CAMPING TRIP
This year’s camping trip will be at Portola Redwoods in the San Mateo mountains. it is a little over an hour from San Francisco and in a beautiful mountain area, but also not far from Pescadero.
Most people come Friday evening and stay through Sunday breakfast. We have hikes, games, campfire and outdoor Sunday Worship.
We do have a reservation on hold for Thursday night, August 3, if anyone would like to go up earlier, please let us know.
This is our 6th annual St. Marks Family Camping Trip, hosted by parents with Kidlettes. In late July, we will circulate a Sign up Genius list for families to sign up for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and campfire preparation. For more information contact Laura Dickinson at 415-730-9583 or larajdickinson@gmail.com.
ELEVATOR PROJECT – PROGRESS UPDATE
In June, the contractor (Plant) and architect (ARG) have focused their efforts on the infrastructure and construction details needed in advance of the arrival of the steel structural frame and the elevator installation. Because these initial steps have taken longer than estimated, Plant has focused on other tasks that are necessary for the elevator addition. In addition to refinishing the three pairs of doors at the church’s main entry, Plant has worked with ARG to resolve dimensional and design questions related to the foundation and site conditions. With these resolved, the workers set the steel base plates, anchor bolts and steel reinforcing before pouring the concrete foundation for the elevator addition. Inside, Plant has framed the new elevator equipment room (opposite the entry to the men’s restroom); electricians are bringing power to the new project; and finish carpenters are modifying balcony entry doors to provide an accessible path from the elevator to the balcony floor. In addition, ARG and Plant are making final material selections and preparing a mock-up of the exterior finishes for review, as required by our conditions for approval, by the San Francisco Planning Department.
Coordinating the steel, concrete and site conditions required more time than anticipated. As a result, the completion date has moved to early or mid-October, but Plant hopes to compress the schedule and complete the project somewhat earlier. The week of July 11 should bring dramatic changes: a crane is scheduled to move the steel frame into place. Following that task, the final form of the elevator addition will quickly take shape.
JOIN ST. MARK’S AMMPARO EMAIL LIST!
This spring our church joined the roster of ELCA Welcoming Congregations that provide pastoral (and sometimes physical) accompaniment to migrants. The Welcoming Congregations program is a part of AMMPARO, the ELCA’s effort to serve migrant children and families who are forced to flee their communities because of violence, poverty, environmental displacement, or lack of opportunities in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. You can stay informed of learning, advocacy, and service opportunities by getting on St. Mark’s email list for AMMPARO. How? Email ammparo@stmarks-sf.org or rose@stmarks-sf.org, or talk to Cora Rose at coffee hour.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero (9); Sharon Reinbott, Phil Krikau(11)
Lectors...Robert Rathmell (9); Bertie Brouhard (11)
Chalice Bearers...Cristin Owens, Beth Dioli (9); Jane Borg, Nadine Robinson (11)
Acolytes...Katja Jackson, Emma Gray
Altar Guild...Sharon Reinbott, Jane Borg
Sacristans...Ed Chitty, Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ministry of Welcome...Kimberly & David Lam (9); Pam Cheung, Linda R. Jackson (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...John Elford, Marge Okuley
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Donna Dindia, Chuck Lewis