First Sunday in Lent
These forty days called Lent are like no other. It is our opportune time to return to the God who rescues; to receive the gifts of God’s grace; to believe with the heart and confess with the mouth the wonder of God’s love in Jesus; and to resist temptation at every turn. This is no small pilgrimage on which we have just embarked. It is a struggle Jesus knew. It is a struggle Jesus shares. The nearness of the Lord, in bread and wine, water and word, will uphold and sustain us.
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:00 am - Endowment Committee Meeting - Fireside Room
9:45 am - Sunday School - School Rooms
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:05 am - Adult Forum—Disaster and Hunger - Auditorium
10:05 am - Journeys In Faith - Conference Room
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
3:00 pm - SF Night Ministry Concert - Sanctuary
Adult Forum series on Sunday mornings in Lent led
by Pr. Elizabeth and Pr. Tita 10:05 am in the auditorium
Over the next six weeks, we will journey together through the season of Lent, reflecting on hunger, hope, and God's love in a world of both abundance and need. Each weekly session is based on a devotion from ELCA World Hunger's 40 Days of Giving, a special devotional for you to use each day during the season of Lent. Extra devotional material is available in the narthex for you to pick up.
Midweek Lenten Series:
Open our Lives, O God.
We hope to accompany each other in our Lenten journey of prayer, reflection and silence. Every Wednesday (February 17, March 2,9,16), 6:00 pm Supper and Fellowship (Heritage Hall) followed by 6:45 Vespers Prayer Service (Sanctuary) and 7:15 Biblical Reflections and Conversation (Heritage Hall) focusing on “Bearing Fruit” Devotions will be led by our Pastors.
The season of Lent is a time of change. Come and let us journey together.
Bring a friend to share a meal, pray and worship!
Wednesday, February 24, 7 pm, in the Sanctuary
You are invited to a very special Lenten mid-week concert with the Augustana Choir of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois under the direction of Jon Hurty. This concert will be a special opportunity for us to listen and contemplate this season of Lent. Don’t miss this excellent ensemble.
Lenten Box Offering - Recipient Lava Mae
Lenten boxes made by St. Mark’s Sunday school children will be passed out on Sunday 2/14 during services. They will also be available for pick up during the following Sundays in Lent. Please fill them with your spare change or with a donation check and return them following Lent. This year the funds will be donated to Lava Mae. Lava Mae is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to deliver dignity and unlock opportunity for those experiencing homelessness - one mobile shower at a time. They do this by repurposing retired buses to provide free private showers, toiletries and toilet facilities. This enables mobility to serve the homeless residents of San Francisco where they live. For more information please visit lavamae.org
Do You Need A Baby 0r Pet Safety Gate?
A new Cardinal Gates Safety Gate (model PG35) with doorway extender is available in the Church Office. The gate features an auto-lock and is good for high traffic areas. The gate can fit doorways 29 to 33.25 inches wide and the extender widens it an additional 5 inches. The height is 29.75 inches. The retail value is $100. If you would like this item, a donation to St. Mark’s would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Chiara DeJoy at dejoy@stmarks-sf.org if you are interested in the gate or would like more information.
Love Is In The Aire
An afternoon of music to benefit San Francisco Night Ministry, Sunday, February 14, 2016 • 3pm
Champagne & Chocolate Reception Featuring members of the San Francisco Opera Chorus & Special Guests
St. Mark's Lutheran Church 1111 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco 94109 $25 at the door • $10 seniors & students
Questions:
Phone: (415) 935-7862
Email: office@sfnightministry.org
Direct your Thrivent Choice Dollars Now
Giving back has always been important to Thrivent and to us at St. Mark’s. Please take a moment to direct your Choice dollars – they will expire soon. This is an easy and cost-free way to help St. Mark’s ministries, stewardship, and capital campaign (or a charity you favor). In total, St. Mark’s members of Thrivent have a large bal-ance of Choice dollars waiting to be directed. Please do it NOW. Just go online: www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice and log-in, or phone 800-847-4836 and say "Thrivent Choice" at the prompt. If questions, ask Omer Voss or Greg Jahnke.
Memorial Service for Marge Jencks
A Memorial Service for Marge will be held February 24th at 11:00am. We give thanks to God for Marge’s witness of faith and her love of St. Mark’s. A lunch reception will follow.
Hello St. Marks Food Pantry Volunteers
Here is the list of our distribution dates for 2016. We have 8 dates—Did #1 already. The remaining St. Marks Distribution Dates for 2016 are: April 2, May 7, June 25, Aug 6, Sept 24, Nov 5. The time will from 7:30am-11:00am Please email me at dianamrsgomez@mindspring.com if you can volunteer on our next distribution: April 2.
President’s Day
The church office will be closed on Monday, February 15th for President’s Day. We will resume regular office hours on Tuesday, February 16th.
California Bach Society Concert, Friday, February 26, 8pm
California Bach Society, Paul Flight, Artistic Director presents ORATORIOS & DIALOGUES: A Genre Emerges. Friday, February 26, 8 pm, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Doors open 30 minutes prior to performance.
Advance Ticket Prices:
General - $28, Senior - $20, Students and Under 30 - $10
At the door: General - $33, Senior - $24, Students and Under 30 - $10
Special early bird discount for St. Mark’s Parishioners!
Order your tickets by 5 pm, Thursday, February 25 and get $5 off the price of General and Senior tickets. Order by phone: (650) 485-1097 and mention St. Mark’s SF, or online: http://www.calbach.org/tickets.pland enter the code stmarkssf (online orders subject to $3 handling fee.
Guide others to be wise with money and live generously Explore a career as a Thrivent Financial Representative
Thrivent is a membership organization of nearly 2.4 million Christians that offers a unique blend of faith, finances and generosity to help strengthen families and communities. We’re looking for men and women representatives who have a passion for building long-term relationships and helping others make the most of their time, talent and treasures, knowing their financial strategies are solid and on track.
Our ideal candidates are caring, self-motivated, trustworthy and have a passion for helping others. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about our financial representative opportunities, please contact Tim Barth at 916-759-9498.
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 February our groups will meet on:
Third Sunday Bible Study – February 21
from 10:10 to 10:50 in the Conference Room
All women are invited to come for Bible study from the Women of the ELCA’s Gather Magazine. Our winter study is on the book of Philippians and our monthly topic is “Servant-shaped Soldiers.”
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415-285-7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
What is Journeys in Faith?
We are forming a new group for Journeys in Faith! You are invited to join us. Our Sunday gatherings start shortly after 10AM in the Fireside room. Everyone is welcome to join in! Learn about this opportunity to set aside time this Winter for reflection on our faith and faith community. Journey with others who are considering joining St Mark's, being baptized, or affirming their baptism. All questions welcome. Contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com)
Worship Leaders This Sunday
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Richard Boyle (9); John Barton, Phil Krikau (11)
Lectors...Deborah Halladay (9) Bertie Brouhard (11)
Chalice Bearers...Jane Borg (11)
Acolytes...Linda Jackson
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Richard Boyle, Ed Chitty
Ministry of Welcome...Viknesh Silvalingam
Coffee Hour Chairs...Dana Utz, Patrick & Catherine Hurley
Next week Coffee Hour Chairs...John Elford, Marge Okuley, Hiroko Nagata
