THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third Sunday in Lent. Lent is a season of repentance. Cut it out or get cut down! The warnings are accompanied by God’s invitation to attentiveness: “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.” The landowner’s ultimatum is forestalled by the gardener’s readiness to till the ground one more year. That is good news for all of us. Thanks be to 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 Adult Forum: Heritage Hall
The Place of Prophetic Consciousness in Today’s World - Pr. Elizabeth
10:00 am - Confirmation - Youth Room
10:00 am - Journeys in Faith - JIF Room
10:00 am - Sanctuary Task Force - Break 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
Sundays – March 10 – April 7
10:00 AM in the Heritage Hall
RELENTLESS HOPE: EXPLORING OUR BIBILICAL WITNESS IN A TIME OF DESPAIR
Drawing upon the book, “The Prophetic Imagination,” by Walter Brueggemann, Pastor Elizabeth and Pastor Ron will delve into some of the themes of this prophetic treatise and address questions about our public worship and witness in this modern world.
March 24 - Pr. Elizabeth - What does it mean to have a “prophetic consciousness”? How do we as Christians envision the world as the way God wants our world to be? Why is the message of the prophets so often threatening to the status quo? Come and explore these evocative questions and bring your questions to the conversation.
March 31- Pr. Elizabeth - What, if anything, does Martin Luther have to add to our contemplations about the role of the prophetic imagination in the church? Does the theology of the cross speak to us today and help us be faithful to the gospel of Jesus in these challenging times? How do we nurture relentless hope in our own lives and in the community of St. Mark’s? Come and discuss these questions and others that we raise together.
April 7 - Pr. Ron - The contemporary church must ask itself: How are we to navigate our current social climate in the way of Jesus? Is social justice an integral part of our faith and practice? Why or why not? Come and explore these questions and bring your own.
MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS MEETING
Our next Ministry Team meeting will be Thursday, March. 28, 7:00 - 8:30 in the Conference Room. We are looking forward to conversation regarding the three Annual Goals and how each team is contributing toward those goals. In addition, we are already looking at the Fall schedule and want to ask if Ministry Team leaders are willing to prepare and host a Ministry Team Fair on Sept. 8. Let’s discuss and make a decision at our meeting on 3/28. See you then, Pr. Elizabeth and Pr. Ron
JOIN US FOR JOURNEYS IN FAITH
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)
LENTEN OFFERING BOXES TO SUPPORT WILDFIRE VICTIMS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Giving something up for Lent? Put the amount you would have spent on it every day into your St. Mark’s Lenten box. The money you deposit into your St. Mark’s Lenten box during the 40 days of Lent will be donated to the community of Paradise Lutheran Church in order to assist their members who were victims of the wildfire in 2018.
During the season of Lent, we are invited to care for the hurting and vulnerable through our giving. You may pick up your box in the Narthex. Fill your box – decorated by St. Mark’s Sunday School children – with bills and coins, or write a check to St. Mark’s with “Lenten Box” or “Wildfire Victim” in the memo line. Please turn in your box as a part of your offering on or before Easter Sunday. Thank you!
MARTIN LUTHER TOWER AND ST. MARK'S SENIOR LUNCHEON
St. Mark’s Seniors! Thursday, March 28 is the next MLT monthly luncheon in Heritage Hall, from 12:00-1:30pm. Please join us for Soup N’ Sandwiches, etc. We will be serving Minestrone Soup, ½ Sandwich (Turkey or Ham), Mixed Greens with Vinaigrette and Ice Cream Sundaes for dessert. MLT resident, Tom Berg, will grace us with his musical talents at the piano in a tribute to the songs of Cole Porter. The cost is $2 at the door. Please sign-up in the MLT Office by Friday, March 22nd by calling 415-885-1084. Come be among friends. Hope to see you there!
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GATHERING NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 31
St. Mark’s Seniors! Thursday, March 28 is the next MLT monthly luncheon in Heritage Hall, from 12:00-1:30pm. Please join us for Soup N’ Sandwiches, etc. We will be serving Minestrone Soup, ½ Sandwich (Turkey or Ham), Mixed Greens with Vinaigrette and Ice Cream Sundaes for dessert. MLT resident, Tom Berg, will grace us with his musical talents at the piano in a tribute to the songs of Cole Porter. The cost is $2 at the door. Please sign-up in the MLT Office by Friday, March 22nd by calling 415-885-1084. Come be among friends. Hope to see you there!
YOUNG ADULT GATHER AT ST. MARK’S
You are invited to get together with the Young Adults(18-32) at St. Mark’s on Sunday, March 31, at 12:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room for a simple luncheon and an opportunity to make some new acquaintances as well as to get to know each other a little better. We will share in some formal introductions facilitated by Pastor Ron as well as have the opportunity to meet and get to know our new pastoral intern, Sonja Pilman. Please let Pastor Ron (moe-lobeda@stmarks-sf.org) know if you intend to participate so that we can plan the meal accordingly. You are more than welcome to invite your friends to join us for this casual gathering and conversation.
PROPERTY TEAM DAY SATURDAY APRIL 6, 2019 9:00AM-12:00PM
All members of St. Mark’s are invited to join the Team as we prepare our Church for Palm Sunday and Easter. We will tackle our ToDo list of minor repairs and cleaning. Enjoy fellowship and treats while we continue our stewardship of this beautiful building. Please contact Tim Bohan if you are able to attend, timelain@pacbell.net 415-694-9499
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GOING TO EL SALVADOR THIS NOVEMBER?
For the past several years, a delegation from St. Mark’s has gone to El Salvador over the Thanksgiving week to visit with the members of Cordero de Dios, our sister Lutheran congregation in San Salvador. We would like to organize another delegation this year in order to continue building on the relationships that we have established over the years. If you are at all interested in going on this delegation or simply in learning more about this opportunity, you are invited to a gathering this Sunday, March 24, 12:30 p.m. in Heritage Hall around one of the circular tables. If you are interested, but are unable to attend this Sunday, you may contact Mary Ritter (mlrpeds@aol.com) or Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com) to let them know.
ST. MARK'S MEN'S RETREAT
Now is the time to make preparation for our next Men’s Retreat to be held at the Mercy Center in Burlingame on Friday and Saturday, June 7-8 (4:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.). Under the theme, “The Connection between My Faith and Daily Life,” we will explore topics such as our faith journeys, our experiences in the Church, the challenges of our society, our relationship with God, and our involvement with the St. Mark’s community. The retreat will include 3 meals, single-room occupancy overnight, and our meeting room where we also will gather for worship at the end of the retreat. The cost is $160 (or $70/day = $140 for commuters) to be paid to St. Mark’s and earmarked for “Men’s Retreat”. To register, you may use the Welcome Card and give it to Pastor Ron, email Pastor Ron at moe-lobeda@stmarks-sf.org, or respond to the forthcoming email about the retreat. The registration deadline is Monday, May 6 as we need to submit an accurate count to Mercy Center by then. This event is a great opportunity for the men of St. Mark’s to come together and strengthen the relationships that we already have with one another.
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!!
DONATE YOUR THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS® NOW..!!
If you have Thrivent Choice Dollars®, please direct them by March 30 to enrolled organizations (including St. Mark’s). Last year, 2,508 Pacific Sierra members directed Thrivent to donate $653,835 Choice Dollars® -- out of $44 million that Thrivent Choice® paid to churches and nonprofits. Just log in and donate at https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/living-generously/thrivent-choice/ or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice”. Thank you for your generosity and support.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Barbara McCormick (9); Linda Jackson, Evangeline Dai (11)
Lectors...Becky Burad (9); Lisa Gray (11)
Communion Ministers...Mark Semonian, Kate Kickerbocker (9) Jesse Peirce, Jane Borg (11)
Altar Guild... Jane Borg
Acolytes...Tayte Sall, Emma Gray
Sacristan...Matthias Will and Liv Beck
Ushers...Louis Gutierrez (9); Gail Culp, Cal Culp, John Elford
Fellowship Hour Chairs...Lisa Gray, Mari Tuominen
Next Week’s Fellowship Hour Chairs...Donna Dindia, Chuck Lewis