PENTECOST

On the fiftieth day of Easter we celebrate the Spirit, through whom and in whom the people of God are created and re-created. Pentecost is sometimes called the church's birthday, but might more appropriately be called its baptism day, since the gift of the Spirit is the fullness of baptism. Ezekiel's vision shows the Spirit resurrecting and re-creating not just individuals but a whole people. Romans makes it clear that God is in the process of re-creating the entire cosmos; yet the Spirit is also at work in the most intimate and personal way, praying in us "with sighs too deep for words" when we do not know how to pray.

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 Choral Eucharist Worship Service Sanctuary
12:15 pm Refreshments and Fellowship Hour Heritage Hall
4:00 pm SF Night Ministry Crisis Line Training Fireside Room

PENTECOST SUNDAY – MAY 20
One of the most significant festivals of the church year is this Sunday—the Sunday that we celebrate what often is termed “the birth of the church.” You may find it a challenge to get to church this Sunday because of the Bay-to-Breakers event. However, given that this is a festival Sunday, you might want to make a special effort to get to St. Mark’s and join in the celebration of what the Spirit is doing in and through the church today to make the good news of Jesus Christ known to the world. During the 11:00 a.m. service, you will have the opportunity to join in Jesus’ prayer in one of many foreign languages. To make our worship services more festive, you also are invited to wear something RED on this day. There are ways of getting around the Bay-to-Breakers event. Simply allow the Spirit (your GPS) to guide you in the right direction!

PROPERTY TEAM WORK DAY SATURDAY MAY 19, 2018 9:00AM-12:00PM
All members of St. Mark’s are invited to join the Team as we tackle our ToDo list of minor repairs and cleaning, getting the Church ready for Pentecost. Enjoy fellowship and a morning treat while we continue our stewardship of this beautiful building. Please contact Tim Bohan if you are able to attend, timelain@pacbell.net

ADULT FORUM IN THE FIRESIDE ROOM - NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 27 AT 10:00AM
“World Without Walls” pilgrimage to Palestine. Pastor Tita Valeriano was invited to join activists and faith leader immigrant advocates on a pilgrimage to immerse themselves in the lives of Palestinian leaders and advocates. Central to the goal was the interconnectedness of the people suffering and separated by walls that already exist and continue to be built, from Palestine to the United States and Mexico. Come and learn about the stories she heard, situations she witnessed and the lessons she learned about the importance of the voices of faithful people and the solidarity and intersectionality of challenges we face together.

UPDATE ON THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF RWANDA
Our Sierra Pacific Synod has a companion relationship with the Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR). These flourishing, mutual relationships strengthen the worldwide Lutheran community and deepen our global mission engagement. All of us have gifts to support God’s mission. There is no mission to, only mission with and among, and our connections with Rwanda embody this sentiment.

Pastor John Rutsindintwarane, Assistant to the Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda and Director of PICO Rwanda will join us in worship on Sunday, May 27 and will share information at the noon coffee hour about PICO Rwanda and the Lutheran Church of Rwanda.
Pastor John will also attend the SPS Assembly in Sacramento June 1-3 and will be the featured speaker at SPS “Rwanda Connection” in Sacramento on Saturday, June 9. Contact Allana Helland or Mary Ritter (mlrpeds@aol.com) for more information about these visits and other ways to get involved with our planning and hosting.

INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY
If you would like to participate in a solution to the World Hunger problem, right here in San Francisco, there’s an easy way to make a big difference in 300 local families’ lives. Join the St. Mark’s Food Pantry Distribution group. We’re a fun intergenerational group that bond together over the business of distributing food from the SF/Marin Food Bank to qualified participants. There’s a job for every age and body type. We would love to have you.

Our next distribution date is:
Saturday morning, May 19 at Old First Church, Corner of Sacramento and Van Ness

Free Parking in Old First Church Garage on Sacramento St.
Sign up for any or all shifts, by talking with Diana Gomez.
Phone: (415) 533-5205, dianamrsgomez@mindspring.com

WALK AND BIKE TO WORSHIP WEEK – MAY 26 – JUNE 3
The SF Interfaith Council is promoting the effort for these 2 Sundays that people walk or bike to their place of worship instead of driving. If you have the opportunity to do so, you are encouraged to give this mode of transportation a try, and make it a part of your weekly routine.

SPECIAL WOMEN’S BOOK GROUP MEETING
The Women’s First Tuesday’s Book Group invites all women to a special gathering on Saturday, May 26 from 10:00 to noon in the Conference Room. We will discuss the book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond.

INFORMATION SESSION FOR NEXT JOURNEYS IN FAITH GROUP - JUNE 10
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 June 10. For more information, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com).

“GOD ADORES YOU” POSTCARDS
Please bring back your “God Adores You” postcards for the National Youth Gathering. Return cards to Cora Rose or Cory Schoolland, or place in offering basket. Thank you for affirming Lutheran youth!

KEY RETURN
There are many people in the congregation who have church keys that they have been issued for a variety of roles and responsibilities. If you are in possession of a church key, are no longer in that role or responsibility, and are hanging on to your key for a matter of convenience, please return your key to the church office (Winnie). If you wish or need to keep possession of your key, please contact Winnie (heslin@stmarks-sf.org) so that she can begin to account for all of the keys that people have in their possession. Thank you.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEND THE SUPPORT NETWORK GATHERING FOR THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN EL SALVADOR?
Every 3 years, the congregations, synods, and organizations that support the Lutheran Church in El Salvador gather in El Salvador to coordinate their efforts so that the Church in El Salvador can receive the optimum volunteer and financial support in order to address their needs as the Lutheran Church in this country. Under the title of "En Cuentro," this gathering meets for 5 days to learn about and tour some of the major ministries of the Lutheran Church in El Salvador, to learn more about each other's involvement with this Lutheran Church, and to establish a common agenda of support for the next 3 years. The dates of this gathering are November 6 - 11, 2018 If you are interested in representing St. Mark's at this gathering, please speak with Liv Beck, Mary Ritter, or one of the pastors.

ST. MARK’S EL SALVADOR TRIP NOV 20-25, 2018: RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT CORDERO DE DIOS!
All members of St. Mark’s are encouraged to consider joining the next accompaniment trip to El Salvador on November 20-25, 2018 (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. As we build wonderful relationships with our Salvadoran Lutheran brothers and sisters, we learn and grow and share much.

Former travelers can answer questions about travel and safety issues. Let Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com) know if you are interested in going or if you have any questions. We will likely soon start purchasing airplane tickets - the tickets prices are good right now but will likely go higher.

The next planning meeting for the El Salvador trip will be June 10, after the 11:00 service.

SEND KATHERINE AND GRACE TO HOUSTON!
This summer our high school youth will be joining 30,000 other Lutheran teenagers in Houston for the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering! They’ll hear from inspiring speakers, do interactive learning activities with ELCA ministries and programs, participate in community service projects, do Bible studies, and participate in nightly worship. The cost is about $1500 per youth for the Gathering registration, transportation to and within Houston, food, and lodging. Can you help sponsor our students?

1) By check made out to St. Mark’s (or cash in an envelope) in the offering plate, being sure to note it for “Youth Gathering”

2) Online at www.stmarks-sf.org/give-a-gift (enter the preferred amount in the bar marked “other”, then enter “Youth Gathering” in the memo box to the right and click ‘continue’ to proceed on through with payment).

Thank you! The students appreciate your help and look forward to sharing their experience in Houston with you!

“FROM NINE TO NINETY” ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY AGING
St. Mark’s Seniors and adults of all ages: You are invited to join Pastor Elizabeth Ekdale, On Lok Chaplain, Hans Hoch, and MLT Service Coordinator, Ardath Grant to watch and discuss “From Nine to Ninety” on Wednesday, May 30 from 2:00-4:00 PM in Martin Luther Tower’s Brockie Lounge.

“From Nine to Ninety” is a documentary about Phyllis and Joe Sabatini, who at ages 89 and 90 live in the home of their daughter and son-in-law, where they relish time with their granddaughter Jacqueline. The film is Phyllis and Joe’s love story and an intimate portrait of three generations coming together to face the questions and consequences of aging. Come see the film and join the conversation about how to age with dignity.

Thank you to On Lok for loaning the DVD to MLT. Information about On Lok will be available at the screening. Refreshments will be provided. Please sign-up in the MLT Office by calling 415 885-1084

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
May 20th: Bay to Breakers, no Sunday School
May 27th: Last Day of Sunday School PARTY!!

YOU CAN NOW MAKE ONE-TIME DONATIONS TO ST. MARK’S USING PAYPAL GIVING FUND!
If you’d like to utilize this service, please see the instructions below:

Open or Download the PayPal App
Log in or Create an Account
Tap the “Send Money” Icon

Enter “give@stmarks-sf.org” in the search field and continue as prompted

WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Liv Beck, Katja Jackson (11)
Lectors...Suzanne Smith (9); Barbara Bock (11)
Chalice Bearers...Nadine Robinson (11)
Acolytes...Nora Hurley, Pam Cheung
Altar Guild...Rommel Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Sacristan...Pam Reynolds
Ushers...Omer Voss, Jerry Lundblad (9); Cristin Owens (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Diana & Greg Gomez
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Calvin & Gayle Culp, Philip Krikau