Seventh Sunday of Easter
It is possible to hear in Jesus’ high priestly prayer, a prayer he offered shortly before his death, the petitions of the ascended Lord for his own throughout history—to our day—and beyond. Jesus prays for us. In holy baptism we become believers in God, have our robes washed in the flood of Christ’s forgiveness, and receive the gift of life forever with all the saints.
Join Us This Sunday
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:45 am - Sunday School - School Rooms
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:10 am - Confirmation - School Rooms
10:05 am - Adult Forum - Rev. Deborah Lee - Global Migration & Our Corner of the World: Faith Responses to Recent Migrants in the Bay Area - Auditorium
10:05 am - Journeys In Faith - Fireside Room
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
7:30 pm - SF Youth Ensemble - Sanctuary
Adult Forum: Sunday, May 8, Rev. Deborah Lee
Global Migration & Our Corner of the World: Faith Responses to Recent Migrants in the Bay AreaToday we welcome The Rev. Deborah Lee to St. Mark’s. She is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, has worked at the intersection of faith and social justice for over 25 years as an educator and organizer on issues of race, gender, a just economy, anti-militarism, LGBTQ inclusion and immigration Hear stories of recent immigrants - their joy and struggles. Learn about the immigration challenges and possibilities for ministries with the immigrants in the Bay Area and in California.
Next Week’s Adult Forum: Sunday, May 15, Pr. Tita - Global Music
One of the gifts we receive from our companions churches all over the world is their music. But since we are also a city of immigrants and diversity, we find some of these songs and music and around us. Come and learn global church music!
Spirituality and Aging group offered at Martin Luther Tower
Pr. Elizabeth will host a five session group on Mondays from 11:00 - 12:00 on “Spirituality and Aging” in the Brockie lounge of Martin Luther Tower. This group is open to the St. Mark’s community as well. This group will offer a safe place to reflect on aging issues in light of our faith - whatever our faith may be or wherever we are in our faith journeyRefreshments will be served.
Voice Newsletter Deadline
The Summer edition of the voice will coming out in the beginning of June and will cover the months of June, July, and August. Please submit all newsletter content by May 13th to Stefani at lawrence@stmarks-sf.org.
Pr. Elizabeth to host Mosaic television show on Sunday, May 8
Tune in or tape the show that Pr Elizabeth is hosting. on Mother’s Day. Her guests are three members of the Golden Gate Mother’s Group. Each of them share their joys and struggles of parenthood and the resources they have received from the Golden Gate Mother’s Group - a well known group of over 4300 mothers in SF! The shows air at 5:00 a.m. on May 8 - KPIX channel 5
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 May our groups will meet on:
Second Tuesday – May 10 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. Our Bible Study will be on “Mary and Elizabeth” as found in the May issue of Gather
Magazine. If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
Update on Call Process
Your St. Mark’s Call Committee has completed the ministry site profile for our opening for an associate pastor and the Congregational Council approved it during their April meeting. This document describes our mission and our search for a rostered leader. The next step will be to receive names of candidates from the Synod and begin interviewing. The Call Committee members are: Margaret McLean, chair; Gretchen Armstrong; Laura Evenson; Pastor Ekdale; Philip Krikau; Lew Randall; Cora Rose; and Andrew Sallach. Please hold the committee and their deliberations in your prayers.
Produce Market on the Square
Support our community market! Please come and purchase fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs every Wednesday from 11am-12pm in the Urban Life Center Auditorium! The market is co-sponsored by Episcopal Senior Communities and Martin Luther Tower.
Easter Midweek Services
Wednesdays at 6:45 pm
Beginning Wednesday, April 6, we will use “Unfailing Light,” a new
setting of the Holy Communion service composed by Marty Haugen, with text by Susan Briehl. This service was written especially for
evening, and was commissioned by the Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Texas in Austin.
6:00 - Community Dinner - All Welcome!
6:45 - Unfailing Light Worship
Vacancies at Martin Luther Tower
If you are interested in living at Martin Luther Tower or have a family member who is 62 years or older, you are strongly encouraged to fill out an application and get on the waiting list. Currently, there are several vacancies for studio apartments. Call 415 885-1084 for further information or go on the St. Mark’s website and look under the Ministry tab for Affordable Housing. The application is available on our website - www.stmarks-sf.org
The Festival of Pentecost - Sunday, May 15
Wear your reds, oranges, and yellows to worship on this festive Sunday when we celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit, confirm one of our confirmation students, Katherine Lam, and recognize God’s presence active in our lives and throughout the entire world. Note, even though May 15 is Bay to Breakers Sunday, we will have worship at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.! Come and celebrate the global dimension of God’s church on this Sunday.
Donate Flowers in 2016
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. Please go to http://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.
Thank You Note from Lava Mae
Dear Pastor Ekdale,
I am honored by your congregation’s support of our work. The Lenten offering will provide 156 showers for our guest - what a beautiful gift!
It amazes us still how something so simple- something most of us take for granted - delivered with radical hospitality can be so powerful.
My gratitude to your congregation, Doniece
Bay to Breakers on Sunday, May 15
We will be having worship services on Pentecost Sunday! Please plan ahead in order to attend either the 9:00am or 11:00 am worship service.
Camp Noah Kids Kits
We are gathering the following items for the 50 children who will attend the Camp Noah in Middletown, CA: Pack broadline washable markers (classic colors), 8-count washable watercolor paints with brush, glue stick, 24 count box of crayons (ONLY Crayola), kids-sized scissors, pens, pencil (unsharpened), pencil sharpener, 5-ounce container of Play-Doh (any color).
The Camp will be held on June 12-17, 2016 organized and sponsored by the Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. The Women of the ELCA of St. Mark’s will organize the packing of the kits which will be received until May 22nd. Please put them in the Camp Noah Box found in the narthex, and for more information please contact Nadine Robinson, 650-735-5036 or Marlo Tellschow, 415-771-6690.
Walk & Bike to Worship Week
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Walk San Francisco, San Francisco Interfaith Council and leaders from local congregations are partnering to create Walk & Bike to Worship Week from Saturday, May 21 to Sunday, May 29. Our date for St. Mark’s is MAY 29. There will be a blessing of the bikes in-between early and late services, at the bike rack on the side of the church.
Throughout the week various congregations will celebrate walking, biking and taking transit to their place of worship. Walk & Bike to Worship is an event that gives congregations and community members the opportunity to raise the visibility of walking, biking, and/or taking transit to worship to make communities safer and more pleasant places to live. Additionally, it’s a collective celebration that promotes physical activity, health, and safety for neighbors and the environment. Please join in and bike or walk to service on May 29! For more information contact Andrew Sallach at andrew.sallach@yahoo.com or Fred Blickle at blickle3@comcast.net
St. Mark’s Looking for Weekday Building Attendants
St. Mark’s is looking for one or two individuals with weekday morning availability to serve as an on-call paid building attendant for facility rentals. Attendants insure the security of the facilities during non-regular operating hours, perform various duties related to providing proper space setup, welcome and grant access to users of the facilities and secure the facilities after events. Training is provided. Qualifications: must be punctual, reliable, able to follow instructions, communicate effectively, and comfortable working with the public. Some knowledge of building operations is preferred. If you are interested in this position, please contact Chiara DeJoy at dejoy@stmarks-sf.org.
Grace Gathering, New Orleans, August 10-13
The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is an opportunity to rejoice in the life-giving, liberating power of the gospel. As part of the observance, we invite you to attend the Grace Gathering, in partnership with the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. This will be an opportunity to experience the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) when gathered as the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, prepare for further observances of the 500th anniversary and reflect on how the Reformation can continue to guide us today. For more registration and more information go to: http://www.elca.org/gracegathering/Gathering-Details
Interfaith Calendar and Activities in the Bay Area
Check out the websites - www.interfaith-presidio.org and www.sfinterfaithcouncil.org which highlight Interfaith events and activities throughout the Bay Area. There are many to choose from as we continue to take the first steps in getting to know our Interfaith neighbors. Note the upcoming Memorial Day remembrances on the websites.
Weekly Announcement Inserts
Please click the link below to see the inserts for this week.
Inserts
Worship Leaders This Sunday
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Sharon Reinbott (9); Ed Chitty, Linda Jackson (11)
Lectors...Robert Rathmell (9) Cora Rose (11)
Chalice Bearers...Jeremy McClain, Marisa Lee (9); Nadine Robinson (11)
Acolytes...Clovis Curl, Katherine Lam
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Richard Boyle, Ed Chitty
Ministry of Welcome...Randy Schieber, Tapio Boles, (9); Rachel Letchumanan, Donna Dindia, Viknesh Silvalingam (11
Coffee Hour Chairs...Donna Dindia and Chuck Lewis
Next Week Coffee Hour Chairs...Marie-Jose Baum and Kate Knickerbocker
Prayers of the Parish
Cassie Allen
Debbie Brant & Ted Bernardi
Pastor Raymond H. Birkel Diana Bock
Natalie E. Bock
Riley Brooks
Lee Bryan
Michelle Chernock
Corrine Cottrell
Marilyn Desmond
Bonnie Elliot
Debby Halladay
Jack Heiter
Carolyn Johnson
Taylor Jones
Arnold Lehmann
Margaret Massialas
Roderick Mobley
Stan Moeller
Lee & Irma Opitz
Ryan Parker
Cassie Pili
Lee Randall
Marc Randall
Pr. John Rutsindintwarane Travis Schwartz
Matt Seiples
Justin Stevenson
LaVonne Strutz, mother of Geri Bailey
Dana Utz
Carl Velleno
Jerry Witherspoon
Brent Wolfe
For Katherine Lam who will be confirmed on May 15 at the 11:00 service.
For all military personnel, especially Will Lehmann
For the growing families of St. Mark’s, especially those who hope for andthose who are expecting children
For the Mumeya congregation of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda
For the Cordero de Dios congregation in El Salvador
For our Missionary, Pastor Kate Warn, YAGM coordinator in Rwanda
For all Christians in the Holy Land, especially Bethlehem
For the people of the Gambia, Benin, Ghana
For the Kindergarten Cynthia Espinoza in Paraguay
For MLT Residents who are hospitalized or in hospice care
Every effort is made to keep the Prayers of the Parish current.
Please email Lawrence@stmarks-sf.org to add, remove or update a name on the prayer list.