TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
Witnesses to the glory of God in the face of Jesus will be unable to avoid reflecting that glory in the world. It was true for Moses. It was doubtless true for Peter, James, and John. We pray that it will be true of all of us who see the glory of the Lord in the word and in the supper and who are being “transformed into the same image” by the Spirit of 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: Let’s Go to Seminary - Heritage Hall
“What Neuroscience Teaches us about Faith Formation” with Dr. Carol Jacobson
10:00 am - Confirmation - Youth Room
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
12:30 pm - Hospitality Meeting with Pr. Elizabeth - Heritage Hall
Adult Forum at 10:00AM
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.
March 3 - Dr. Carol Jacobson, Associate Professor of Practical Theology
and Constructive Theology, “What Neuroscience Teaches us about Faith Formation”
Location: Heritage Hall
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 10 - Overall Themes of “The Prophetic Imagination”
March 17 - Exploring the Importance of Grief and Lament
March 24 - The Place of Prophetic Consciousness in Today’s World
March 31 - Lutheran Theology and Our Prophetic Imagination
April 7 - Navigating Our Current Social Climate in the Way of Jesus
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!
PASTOR ELIZABETH ON AN UPCOMING MOSAIC TELEVISION SHOW
Tune in on March 10 at 5:00 a.m. on KPIX channel 5 when Pr. Elizabeth interviews three members from the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition. Rev. Connie Winter-Eulberg serves at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in San Mateo - Rev. Kristi Denham serves as minister at the Congregational Church in Belmont and Mr. Dick Heiman is a congregant at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo. They, together, with other religious institutions provide interfaith service projects, learning opportunities and worship experiences. Learn about this wonderful organization which fosters peace and understanding amongst many religions.
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)
CALLING THE BAPTIZED TO CONTINUING CONVERSATION
During our evening Ash Wednesday service, we will pray for those affirmers who have been participating in our Journeys in Faith ministry. The rite is described as follows: Calling the Baptized to Continuing Conversion. This rite signals a transition from an open-ended time of exploration of the Christian faith to a time of final preparation for Affirmation of Baptism. The affirmers are asked to continue on their journey towards affirmation, while the congregation commits to accompanying them on this journey. All gathered are called to continuing conversion, to die daily to sin, and to walk in newness of life.
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.
SAVE THE DATE
“Guardian Angel” training on Saturday, May 18, 9am - noon at St. Mark’s. Details to follow. See ELCA.org/AMMPARO, and look at “Guardian Angel” about Immigration courtroom spiritual accompaniment.
-Mary Ritter and Cora Rose,
St. Mark’s Sanctuary Team
DEVOTION BOOKLET FOR LENT AVAILABLE
The Lenten season begins on March 6 with Ash Wednesday. 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 this Sunday, February 24 either in the Narthex or in Heritage Hall.
RAINBOW NOT WALLS: SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER IMMIGRANTS
On Wednesday, March 13 Congregation Sha’ar Zahav (290 Dolores St.) will be hosting a Bay Area Forum in support of transgender members of migrant caravans who already are here and those on their way to San Francisco. Come and find out how congregations, community groups, and individuals can provide sponsorship, accompaniment, and vital resources so that people can be released immediately from ICE detention. This event, co-sponsored by St. Mark’s and other local congregations, will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
YOUNG ADULT GATHER AT ST. MARK’S
You are invited to get together with the Young Adults 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 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.
CAL LUTHERAN CHOIR IN CONCERT
The Choir of California Lutheran University will be presenting its spring concert at Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto (3149 Waverley St.) on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. Come and enjoy the blessed sounds of this amazing choir.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERINGS
All women are welcome to come and study together at our Women of the ELCA Gatherings. In March our groups will meet on:
Book Group - Saturday – March 9 from 10:00am to noon in the Conference Room in the Urban Life Center. All women are invited to come. Refreshments will be served. This month we will discuss Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny.
Second Tuesdays – March 12 from 11:00am to 1:00pm in the Fireside Room. All women are invited to come for study at 11:00 and at noon to bring their sandwich or salad and share fellowship. Drinks and dessert will be provided. Our Bible study will center on “Friends for Life in Christ.”
TWO YOUTH ELECTED TO THE SYNOD YOUTH COMMITTEE
Grace Ekdale Hoch and Halle Bohlig were elected at the Synod High School Retreat to serve on the Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee for one year. The Youth Committee meets during the Synod Assembly in the spring and contributes to the decisions of the Assembly with both voice and vote. The Youth Committee also plans and prepares for the annual retreats for both middle school youth and high school youth in the fall and winter. Thank you to Grace and Halle for being willing to represent St. Mark’s in this way and congratulations on your election.
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!!
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY, SATURDAY, MARCH 9
St. Mark’s members staff this food pantry on several Saturdays throughout the year at Old First Church in SF from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. You could help for any length of time by unloading the food from the truck, setting up the distribution sequence, or handing out food to over 300 people.
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...Rachel Boles (9); Libby Pfaff, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Dianne Velleno (9); Margaret McLean (11)
Communion Ministers...Cristin Owens, Mark Semonian (9); Nadine Robinson, Jane Borg (11)
Altar Guild... Jane Borg
Acolytes...Grace Ekdale Hoch, Tayte Sall
Sacristan...Liv Beck
Ushers...Jon Moeller, Vanessa Hierbaum (9) Donna Dindia, Linda Jackson, Pam Cheung (11)
Fellowship Hour Chairs...Rachel Boles, Kathy Lautz
Next Week’s Fellowship Hour Chairs...Diana & Greg Gomez