Join us for the Triduum and Easter at St. Mark's:
Maundy Thursday Worship on April 17
7:00 pm
Confession and Forgiveness * Holy Communion, Stripping of the Altar Service Concludes with Silence * There will be childcare for this service.
Good Friday Worship on April 18
12:00 pm
Stations of the Cross * Scripture Readings, Meditations and Prayers
7:00 pm
Liturgy of Good Friday * "Passion According to St. John" with St. Mark's Choir * Adoration of the Cross * There will be childcare for this service.
Easter Vigil Worship on April 19
8:00 pm
Service of Light and Service of Readings * Holy Baptism and Affirmation of Baptism * First Eucharist of Easter * Festive Reception to Follow * There will be childcare for this service.
Easter Sunday on April 20
8:45 am
Favorite Easter Hymns on piano accompanied with flute and oboe
9:00 am
Festive Easter Worship * Joyful, traditional Easter music * St. Mark's Adult and Children's Choirs * Special Easter gifts for all children * There will be childcare for this service.
10:15 am
Easter Egg Hunt * Children of all ages are welcome to this fun-filled, kid-friendly activity on the Square
10:30 am
Baroque Easter Celebration * Come and listen to glorious music by Pachelbel and Gabrieli celebrating Christ's Resurrection
11:00 am
Festive Easter Worship * Joyful choral and traditional Easter music * St. Mark's Adult and Children's Choirs * Organ, piano, strings and brass accompaniment * Special Easter gifts for all children * There will be childcare for this service.
Festive Easter Coffee Hour after both services.
Sunday School meets in Heritage Hall this Sunday at 9:30 am
We will practice the Palm Sunday Procession on a "donkey" and we will also have an Easter craft suitable for all ages. Those children interested in being in the procession should plan on staying for the first 10 minutes of the 11 o'clock service.
Easter Sunday: No Sunday School
April 27th: Passover meal celebration, learn about stories and celebrations from the Hebrew Scriptures
Confirmation at St. Mark's
Confirmation class meets weekly at 10:10 in the youth room. 6th-8th graders welcome!
Easter Sunday: No Confirmation Class
Give Thrivent Choice Dollars® to St. Mark's Now!
Thrivent Financial members: Direct your Choice Dollars to St. Mark's before May 31, and Thrivent will add $20 to your grant. Select us as the first organization when you make your direction(s). Thrivent's campaign "Direct Now...add $20" is for each Thrivent member directing Choice Dollars. Our members have $2,400 to donate! Check your Choice balance / donate online now or call 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and say "Thrivent Choice."
Lenten boxes to benefit Lutheran Social Services (LSS)
The Sunday School children have prepared Lenten boxes for your home. The recipient of the offerings this year will be Lutheran Social Services. Giving up something for Lent? - put the money you would have spent in the box. Maybe put all your spare change and small bills for the next six weeks. Bring it back at Easter. Remember LSS in your prayers.-St. Mark's Social Ministry
Register Now for Summer Day Camp at St. Mark's (June 30- July 4)
Day Camp is a unique partnership between Mt. Cross Summer Camp and St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Join us for a week of faith-based fun, which includes group games, arts & crafts, worship, community building activities and Bible Encounters. Location: Dates: June 30-July 4.|Time: 9am-3pm | Cost: $90. Full scholarships are available. | Age range: Youth who have completed Kindergarten through 6th grade | For more details and registration forms, please visit www.stmarks-sf.org.
Support the Interfaith Shelter Walk May 4th at Lake Merced!
St. Mark's confirmation youth invite you to join them to support the Interfaith Shelter. To sponsor a youth or register to walk, visit http://winterfaithshelterwalk.dojiggy.com/. We'll plan to leave St. Mark's Ellis street parking lot at 12:45 pm. All are invited to take part in this important fundraiser for our winter shelter.
Do you have any housing leads for members of St. Mark's?
Affordable housing is a concern for all residents in the Bay Area. We have a special interest at St. Mark's. Each year, beloved members of St. Mark's move out of the area due to lack of affordable housing. We'd like to utilize the power of the St. Mark's network to share possible leads with these families. Currently, we have the following affordable housing needs:
1. An active couple at St. Mark's is looking to purchase a condominium in SF for approx. $600,000.
2. An active couple at St. Mark's is looking for affordable rent near transit or to buy; their buy budget is no greater than $500,000.
If you have a piece of property that you might be willing to sell or have any leads for these two families, please e-mail Pr. Elizabeth at Ekdale@stmarks-sf.org. She will connect the two parties together. Thank you. (Please refer to article in current newsletter for additional details.)
Western States Youth Gathering June 27-July 1
Calling all high school students! WSYG is for high school youth (grades 9-12) in Lutheran congregations. WSYG occurs every three years, and is a partnership with California Lutheran University. WSYG will feature mass gatherings with great speakers and musicians; learning and small group experiences; worship that takes you in new directions; an immersion experience in Los Angeles; a Southern California beach party, and much more! Visit wsyg.com or contact Pastor Bekah for more details.
Malaria Campaign Challenge Grant
An anonymous member of St. Mark's has offered a $10,000 challenge grant for congregations in the Sierra Pacific Synod who are raising funds for the ELCA Malaria Campaign! The challenge provides a $1-for-$1 match. To have your gift doubled, please make your check out to St. Mark's and write "Malaria Campaign" in the memo line. Alternatively, you can click on the donate button on St. Mark's homepage and designate your gift to the Malaria Campaign. The challenge grant will be offered until the goal is met or until July 31.
Interfaith Food Pantry Dates for 2014
The Interfaith Food Pantry is held every Saturday at the Old First Presbyterian Church. Here are the St. Mark's dates in 2014: May 17th, July 12th, August 16th, October 4th and November 15th. All Faiths Dates in 2014: April 12th, June 21st, August 23rd, October 11th, December 6th. For more info, contact Wendy Figliuolo at Northern.cal@gmail.com.
Let's fill those Food Bank barrels!
Most needed foods are: tuna, canned meat, peanut butter, soup, chili, beans, cereal, canned fruit and vegetables and granola bars. No glass or perishable items; please donate only unopened items that you would eat, and check that items are still within their "Use before" date. Look for the green barrels in the Narthex.
Worship Leaders for this Sunday
Assisting Ministers...Liv Beck (9); Greg Jahnke, Brach Jennings (11)
Lectors...Liv Beck, Bertie Brouhard, Randy Schieber, Jeremy McClain, Brian Richards, Cora Lea Rose (9 & 11)
Acolytes...Nora Hurley
Chalice Bearers...Matt Helland, Suzanne Smith (9); Marisa Louie, Cora Lea Rose (11)
Welcome Ministry...Randy Schieber (9); Rachel Letchumanan, Viknesh Silvalingam (11)
Refreshment Hour Chairs...Cal & Gail Culp, Philip Krikau
Join us for Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday
9:00 am - Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday Liturgy
9:30 am - Sunday School Procession Rehearsal
10:00 am – Refreshments
10:10 am - Confirmation Class
10:10 am - Journeys in Faith Gathering
11:00 am - Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday Liturgy
12:15 pm - Refreshment and Fellowship Hour
1:00 pm - Worship at Nursing Home