HOLY TRINITY

When we say God is the triune God, we are saying something about who God is beyond, before, and after the universe: that there is community within God. Our experience of this is reflected in Paul’s words today. When we pray to God as Jesus prayed to his Abba (an everyday, intimate parental address), the Spirit prays within us, creating between us and God the same relationship Jesus has with the one who sent him.

THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S

9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:50 am - Sunday School Celebration - Sunday School Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Adult Forum: Pastor Tita on trip to Palestine - Fireside Room
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
12:15 pm - Conversation with Pastor John from Rwanda - Heritage Hall
6:00 pm - Wagner Society of Northern California Concert - Fireside Room

ADULT FORUM IN THE FIRESIDE ROOM - THIS SUNDAY 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.

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY
The church office will be closed on Monday, May28 and will reopen with our normal business hours on Tuesday, May 29.

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.

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
Next Sunday, June 3, three of our young people, Halle Bohlig, Meghan Foster, and Katja Jackson, will be affirming their baptism at the 11:00 a.m. service as they are confirmed as members of this congregation. We remember these young people in prayer this week and celebrate with them in the completion of this instructional ministry that has laid the foundation for their lives in the years to come.

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).

SIERRA PACIFIC SYNOD ASSEMBLY
This coming weekend, voting members of the Sierra Pacific Synod will be gathering in Sacramento for the annual Synod Assembly, Friday through Sunday, in order to worship together, consider the budget for the next year, elect new Synod Council members and voting members to the ELCA National Assembly, and deal with any resolutions submitted to the Assembly. The voting members from St. Mark’s are Nadine Robinson, Steve Ernst, Margaret McLean, and Mary Ritter, along with Pastor Elizabeth and Pastor Ron. We hold the entire assembly in prayer this week as these voting members are in conversation, discernment, and decision making about the mission and ministries of our synod.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LENTEN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES!
We received over $2660.00 through your Lenten coin boxes for this wonderful ministry. Many thanks for your generosity.

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.

NEED BABYSITTING, PET-SITTING, OR A "PARENT'S HELPER"?
At coffee hours on June 3rd, Grace and Katherine are selling vouchers good for their babysitting and petsitting services to raise funds for their trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering. Vouchers can be redeemed at a time arranged with Katherine and Grace.

Can’t make it to coffee hour on Sunday, June 3, but still want to buy some of their time? Email Cora at rose@stmarks-sf.org! Want to contribute but don’t need someone to watch a child or pet? The youth accept donations too.

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 27th: Last Day of Sunday School PARTY!!

SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 8 AT 7:00PM
Zion Lutheran Church and San Francisco Refugee Welcome Committee will host their third BENEFIT CONCERT FOR REFUGEES. Talented musicians are donating their musical talents to aid refugees stuck in refugee camps in Greece. Finish your week with a beautiful concert and at the same time know you are helping some of the neediest refugees, fleeing from war and persecution, eager to find safety and a new start for their uprooted lives. Program details to follow soon.

WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Greg Jahnke, Linda Jackson (11)
Lectors...Robert Rathmall (9); Diana Gomez (11)
Chalice Bearers...Steve Ernst, Nadine Robinson (11)
Acolytes...Evan Schieber and Alison Schieber
Altar Guild...Linda Jackson
Sacristans...Pam Reynolds
Ushers..Louis Gutierrez, Marisa Lee (9); Larry DeSpain, Gail Culp, Cal Culp (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Calvin & Gayle Culp, Philip Krikau
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Lisa Gray, Mari Tuominen