TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Today’s gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting. Jesus’ saying on divorce is another of his rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of God’s law. Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples who are fending off the children should challenge us as well. What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a child does?
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
9:00 am - Blessing of the Animals and Holy Communion - Sanctuary
9:50 am - Sunday School - Sunday School Rooms
10:00 am - Confirmation - Youth Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Adult Forum: Chaplain John Swanson: Heritage Hall
Serving Military Personnel, Veterans, and their families
11:00 am - Holy Communion Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
2:00 pm - Young Women’s Choral Project Sectional - Conference Room
GUEST PREACHER AND ADULT FORUM LEADER ON OCT. 7 CAPTAIN JOHN SWANSON - UNITED STATES NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS/UNITED STATES COAST GUARD PACIFIC AREA CHAPLAIN
Our guest preacher at our 11:00 worship service and adult forum leader at 10:00 a.m. is Captain John Swanson - United States Navy Chaplain Corps. Chaplain Swanson is currently assigned to the United States Coast Guard Pacific Area Command in Alameda California. He is originally from Washington State, graduated from Pacific Lutheran University and Wartburg Theological Seminary. He served parishes in North Dakota and Illinois before begin commissioned as a Navy Chaplain in 1991. He has deployed to Somalia and the North Arabian Gulf and has received many awards and promotions in his service as Chaplain. Please welcome Captain John Swanson - Navy Chaplain to St. Mark’s on Sunday, Oct. 7. You are invited to attend the adult forum at 10:00 a.m in Heritage Hall where he will speak about chaplaincy and how he serves military personnel and families.
ADULT FORUM AT 10:00AM IN THe FIRESIDE ROOM - NEXT SUNDAY!
Oct. 14, 21, 28 - What does the Gospel of Luke mean?
What does the Gospel of Luke mean for our lives? Luke presents the story of Jesus as good news, challenge and hope. Join Pr. Elizabeth for an in-depth bible study on Luke’s gospel during these four Sundays.
NEW TO ST. MARK'S? NEW JOURNEYS IN FAITH GROUP FORMING
Information Gatherings for New Journeys in Faith Group: October 14 and November 18. 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 learn about participating in our next Journeys in Faith group. We will meet in the Urban Life Center in the Journeys in Faith room at 10:00 on October 14th and November 18th. For more information, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com)
SPECIAL LITURGY IN CONJUNCTION WITH CANONIZATION OF OSCAR ROMERO
On Sunday, October 14, we will remember and honor Archbishop Oscar Romero in our liturgy by utilizing many of the hymns in our hymnal that originate from Central and South America. On this day, the Roman Catholic Church will be canonizing Archbishop Romero in recognition of his testimony and witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in the context of a very volatile and hostile environment in El Salvador some 40 years ago. Given St. Mark’s relationship with the Lutheran Church of El Salvador and all of the ways that our members have been exposed to the memories of Archbishop Romero during our visits with our friends at Cordero de Dios, we use this day of worship at both of our services (9:00 and 11:00 a.m.) on October 14 to strengthen our connection and relationship with the people of El Salvador.
SFIC MONTHLY BREAKFAST
Thursday, October 11, 2018
8:00 am - 9:30 am
All are welcome! Bring a friend!
St. Mark's Lutheran Church (Heritage Hall)
1111 O'Farrell Street at Franklin, San Francisco
(Please do not park in the St. Mark's parking lot as those
spaces are rented to others. Parking is available
across the street at St. Mary's Cathedral at 1111 Gough Street).
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST HOST
MEDITATION
Rev. Dr. Carolyn Scott, SF Commissioner, OCII
Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure
PRESENTATION
The Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer
SFPD Community Chaplain Coordinator
Sergeant Art Howard
SFPD Community Chaplaincy Program Coordinator
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY
We are a part of the larger Interfaith Food Pantry group of 6 churches in San Francisco. Our shared responsibility is to distribute groceries, from the SF/Marin Food Bank, to 300 patrons on Saturday mornings. Distribution takes place at Old First Presbyterian Church on Sacramento St. between Polk and Van Ness. The next distribution date is: October 13
Come join the St. Mark’s volunteers at the next distribution!
Questions? Please contact coordinator Diana Gomez at dianamrsgomez@mindspring.com.
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 October our groups will meet on:
Second Tuesdays – October 9 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 “Repentance: If I Could Turn Back Time.”
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
TIME AND TALENT SURVEY
On Sunday, October 14, the Stewardship Team will take time at the end of each worship service to allow for people to fill out the newly revised Time & Talent Form. This is an opportunity for you to acknowledge how you would like to be involved in the life and ministries of St. Mark’s, both continuing in the service that you currently are doing, as well as indicating new ways that you would like to be engaged at St. Mark’s.
OCTOBER SENIOR LUNCHEON
St. Mark’s Seniors, Thursday, October 18 is the next MLT monthly luncheon in Heritage Hall, from 12:00-1:30pm! Please join us for an Oktoberfest-inspired meal of Beer & Brats. Entrée and sides include delicious meat or veggie hot dogs with all the fixins’, potato salad, coleslaw, and chips. Dessert will be chocolate cake. Beer and non-alcoholic beer will also be served. MLT resident, Tom Berg, will grace us with his musical talents at the piano. The cost is $5. Please sign-up in the MLT Office by Friday, October 14 by calling 415.885.1084. Come be among friends. Hope to see you there!
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.
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.
2018 ST. MARK'S ENDOWMENT GRANTS
The St. Mark’s Endowment Committee is pleased to announce this year’s grant recipients, given to organizations involved in service to the community and the world in line with St. Mark’s mission.
St. Mark’s Community Garden to support its refurbishment
ReconcilingWorks Sierra Pacific to increase the group’s visual identity as they march in the SF Pride Parade
St. Mary and Martha Lutheran Church in San Francisco to support their program providing assistance to immigrants
Mariposa Lutheran Church in Mariposa to support their after-school program for high risk, low income and LGBTQ children and youth
Christ Lutheran Institute of the Performing Arts (CLIPArts) in Visalia, CA to support their performing arts program for low-income, at-risk children
Advent Lutheran Church in Morgan Hill, CA to support their Beloved Community Arts Center providing a youth music program in partnership with the local LatinX community
Asociacion para la Diversidad Sexual en El Salvador (ALDES) to support media training in El Salvador for local journalists to provide tools and raise awareness on reporting that is sensitive to the LGBTQ community
Rukundo Foundation in Rwanda, to support providing basic school supplies to street children
We are extremely grateful to all those who expressed an interest in funding from St. Mark’s Endowment. Please reach out to a member of the Endowment Committee if you have further questions regarding the Fund or the grant process.
SANCTUARY AT ST. MARK’S?
CONSIDER SHARING YOUR OPINION WITH THE SANCTUARY TASK FORCE.
St. Mark’s Sanctuary Task Force has been asked by Church Council to consider whether St. Mark’s will declare itself a Sanctuary congregation. The Task Force is working with Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity www.im4hi.org to learn about Sanctuary.
We would like to hear from St. Mark’s congregation members about this possibility. Please consider scheduling a 20-30-minute conversation with a Task Force member in the next few weeks. The interviews can be on the telephone or in-person or in writing – it would be your choice.
Prior to the conversation, it would be helpful if you read and prayerfully considered a one-page description of the 21st century Sanctuary congregation. We can give you the document to read.
If you are interested in sharing your opinion, please email Mary Ritter mlrpeds@aol.com or call 510-895-0336 to get a copy of the one page Sanctuary description and schedule a time to talk with one of the Task Force members.
Thanks in advance for considering this.
Sanctuary Task Force Members:
Mary Ritter, Chair
Laura Evenson
Kimberly Hamilton Lam
Jason Jennings
Pastor Ron Moe-Lobeda
Cora Rose
SAVE THE DATE!
21st Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
7:00 am - 9:00 am
Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post Street (at Laguna)
San Francisco
"30th Anniversary Observance of
Interfaith Winter Shelter"
** Sponsorships and individual tickets
will be available for purchase online soon! **
For additional information about the Interfaith Winter Shelter please visit:
Interfaith Winter Shelter
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers... Jennifer Sun (9); Phil Krikau, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Suzanne Smith (9); Matthias Will (11)
Communion Ministers...Beth Dioli, Aaron Greig (9); Nadine Robinson, Geri Bailey (11)
Altar Guild...Cora Rose
Acolytes...Katja Jackson, Jesse Peirce
Sacristans...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers... Jon Moeller, Vanessa Hierbaum (9); Pam Cheung, Linda Jackson (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Diana & Greg Gomez
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Calvin & Gail Culp, Philip Krikau