Save the Date!
Summer Day Camp at St. Mark's: June 29-July 3, 2015
Children can come enjoy a week of faith-based fun here at St. Mark’s during the week of June 29 – July 3. Day Camp is a unique partnership between our congregation and Mt. Cross Lutheran Camp. Children will enjoy group games, arts & crafts, worship, community building activities and Bible Encounters. The camp is open to youth who have completed kindergarten through 6th grade. Visit http://www.stmarks-sf.org/summerdaycamp to sign up or for more information.
Training for New and Current Worship Leaders:
Saturday, March 28 at 12:00-3:00 pm
Have you ever been interested in serving Communion, reading Scripture, greeting visitors, carrying the processional cross, or arranging the altar flowers for Sunday worship? We are recruiting additional assisting ministers, lectors, acolytes, ushers, and other worship leaders. There will be a training on Saturday, March 28 at 12:00 pm. We will serve a light lunch before having a brief worship time and then training.
Please contact info@stmarks-st.org if you would like to sign up for this opportunity!
This Sunday, March 29, look in Heritage Hall for an opportunity to be a part of Bread for the World's 2015 Offering of Letters.
Imagine a world in which children no longer go to bed hungry.
Today, you can be part of Bread’s 2015 Offering of Letters by taking a few minutes to write letters to your members of Congress. Together, we can advocate that all children receive the “daily bread” that enables them to learn, be healthy, and grow strong.
Interfaith Food Pantry
Each year, St. Mark's — along with several other churches — rotates on a weekly basis to distribute food to the needy at Old First Presbyterian Church (1751 Sacramento Street near Van Ness Avenue.) We are looking for at least 12 volunteers for each session to help. The dates for 2015 are Saturdays March 28, May 9, June 27, Aug. 8, Sept. 26 and Nov. 7. The time commitment is from 7:30am-10:30am. Visit http://www.stmarks-sf.org/ministries/pantry to sign up or for more information.
Donate Flowers in 2015
The 2015 Flower donation chart is posted in the hallway across from the church kitchen. 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. Your donation can be in memory of a loved one or in honor of a particular occasion. The donation is $50 and can be paid via check in the offering plate. Please note "Flowers" in the memo of the check.
Dismantling Racism Workshop
St. Mark’s congregation has been invited to attend an important and very timely introductory workshop -- Dismantling Racism -- on Saturday, April 25, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Hope Lutheran Church in El Sobrante, CA.
For more information about this program, please talk to Pastor Deborah Butler at revdeb.hlc@gmail.com or call (510) 222-6394.
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 April our groups will meet on:
Evening Gathering – April 7 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Fireside Room
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 be reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achbe
Second Tuesday – April 14 from 11:00am to 1:00pm in the Fireside Room
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. This year our focus will be on Transforming Life and Faith by Carol Scheersten LaHurd and our program topic for April is “Inspired by the Risen Lord.”
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
Lenten Box Collections — Bring Easter Sunday
The money collected in the St. Mark’s Lenten boxes this year will be split between the Campaign for the ELCA and Lutheran Social Services of Northern California. The ELCA Campaign will support renewal efforts in 100 congregations, plant new congregations, and expand ministries to people with disabilities. Bernal Gateway Apartments (BGA) provides permanent housing for formerly homeless families located in the Mission. Lutheran Social Services provides onsite services, including encouraging academic success through tutoring and coordinated activities. Your support will help purchase arts and crafts supplies for after school activities with the children living at BGA. While all of the Sunday School-made Lenten boxes have already been distributed, you are encouraged to keep a collection of cash and change in an envelope, bag, or box of your own choosing, and bring this with you on Easter Sunday. Thank you!
News from Mt. Cross
Registration is now open for summer programs at Mt. Cross! This year's theme, "A Love that Never Ends", centers around discussion of Deuteronomy 6:5 and what it means to love as God loves. Visit the Mt. Cross website to view a list of exciting programming options for children, youth groups, and families: http://www.mtcross.org/#!summer-programs/c3vg
Mt. Cross has also begun hiring staff for the summer of 2015! Camp can be a transformative and rewarding experience for participants and staff alike. Know of anyone 18 years or older who would enjoy working at camp? Please encourage them to apply at: http://www.mtcross.org/#!employment/c1vud
Upcoming Sunday School Events
March 22nd: Big Group: all ages meet together to celebrate a Passover meal and learn about Jewish traditions.
March 29th: Big Group: all age groups meet together in the Urban Life Center to make Easter Crosses, and celebrate Palm Sunday.
April 5th: No Sunday School, but the Children's Chapel sings at both services!
April 26th: Big Group: all ages meet together with the Pastor, who will give a lesson on Communion and Baptism.
This is an excellent opportunity for our children to bond with their clergy.
May 17th: No Sunday School: Bay to Breakers Sunday makes it impossible for the teachers to be here!
May 24th: Memorial Day: Regular Classes
May 31st: Last Day of Sunday School. PARTY!!!!
Saturday, March 28
Journeys in Faith morning retreat. 9AM-12PM in the conference room. We will spend the morning reflecting on our baptism. All are welcome. Contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com).
The Cornell University Chorus
Cornell's premier treble voice ensemble, will be performing at First Unitarian Universalist Church and Center at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 3rd, as part of their California Tour. The Chorus has gained a reputation as one of the nation's most outstanding women's choirs. Comprised of fifty women from a variety of backgrounds, the Chorus has a repertoire spanning eight centuries and ten languages, including masses, motets, spirituals, folk, and a variety of other classical and contemporary piece.
Worship Leaders for This Sunday
Assisting Ministers... Sharon Reinbott (9); Phil Krikau, Ed Chitty (11)
Lectors... Liv Beck, Randy Schieber, Shannon Valenti, Matthias Will, Adrienne Nelson Brown, Robert Rathmell
Chalice Bearers... Lin Cerles, Jerrold Allen (9); Omer Voss, Jo Chadwick (11)
Welcome Ministry... Jerry Lundblad, Omer Voss (9); Jerry Lundblad, Debra Varian (11)
Refreshment Hour Chairs...Susie Smith and Fred Blickle
Next week: Brandee Marckmann, Bill Mooney, and Kathy Lautz; Diana and Greg Gomez