February 19, 2017

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

In today's first reading we hear, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Yet we know we cannot achieve perfection. Our attempts to love neighbors and even our enemies fall short of what God desires for us. Yet in Jesus we see one who loved even those who persecuted and killed him. We are made holy in baptism, and forgiven at the table of God's mercy. As a people made holy by God, we go in peace to love as we have been loved.

THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
10:00 am - Holy  Communion with Children's Time
 - Sanctuary
10:00 am - Journeys in Faith -
 Fireside Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour
 - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Confirmation
 - Confirmation Room
10:15 am - Sunday School
 - School Rooms
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service
 - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour
 - Heritage Hall
4:00 pm - SF Early Music Concert - Sanctuary

ST. MARK’S HANDCRAFTERS RETREAT AND REPORT FROM MACEDONIA
Knitters, crocheters and all handcrafters are invited to join a retreat on Saturday, February 18th, in Heritage Hall beginning at 10 AM. Greg Jahnke will report back on the handmade items St. Mark’s sent to The Republic of Macedonia during his recent trip there with Thrivent Builds.

YOUNG ADULT DINNER AND FELLOWSHIP
On Wednesday, February 22nd at 6:00 pm in Heritage Hall we will be an opportunity to meet with Pastor Ron prior the evening prayer.  Do not miss it. Please contact Erin Scheller for more information at ees4794@gmail.com. 

INVITATION TO PARENTS OF CONFIRMATION STUDENTS
Parents and students will gather together on February 19th during our class to formally meet Pastor Ron. We will meet in our Confirmation Classroom after taking communion at the 9:00 am service. Please bring snacks to share. 

MLT MONTHLY SENIOR LUNCHEON
Once a month, we provide a low-cost and delicious meal for all Martin Luther Tower residents and Seniors from St. Mark’s.  

We are looking for donations of gift cards, candy, toiletries, movie tickets, hats, mittens, throws, and other household items to raffle off for the residents.  The raffle would be free for all who attend the luncheon and your donations would be greatly appreciated.  

Please contact Pr. Elizabeth (ekdale@stmarks-sf.org) if you can donate any items. 

DONATIONS INVITED FOR THE ST. MARK’S SENIOR CENTER LUNCHEONS!
Once a month, we provide a low-cost and delicious meal for all Martin Luther Tower residents and Seniors from St. Mark’s.  

We are looking for donations of gift cards, candy, toiletries, movie tickets, hats, mittens, throws, and other household items to raffle off for the residents.  The raffle would be free for all who attend the luncheon and your donations would be greatly appreciated.  

Please contact Pr. Elizabeth (ekdale@stmarks-sf.org) if you can donate any items. 

SPIRITUALITY AND AGING GROUP
On Mondays from 11:00 - 12:00 Pr. Elizabeth will be hosting a group 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 journey.

ADULT FORUM - ANTI-RACISM - THIS SUNDAY AT 10:00AM IN THE AUDITORIUM
Join us for a Conversation about Anti-racism led by Joaquin Sanchez of the Bay Area Organizing Committee. Joaquin is our organizer and has worked with St. Mark’s leaders for many years.

DISCOUNT FOR ST. MARK'S MEMBERS FOR SF GIRLS CHORUS
The San Francisco Girls Chorus is offering a 25% discount for tickets to their concert with virtuoso organist Paul Vasile at Mission Dolores, Saturday February 25th, at 8:00 P.M. To claim the discount, use the code FIRSTCHURCH when ordering tickets at https://www.cityboxoffice.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=2241

NORTH GERMAN MASTERS BEFORE BACH
Artistic Director Paul Flight presents an engaging program that highlights the rich musical tradition of northern Germany in the 17th and 18th centuries, a musical legacy that greatly influenced Johann Sebastian Bach. Our concert features rarely performed motets by Dietrich Buxtehude and Johann Schop, the chorale cantata Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott by Franz Tunder, and Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz, a cantata by 17-year-old Georg Philipp Telemann. The chamber choir will be joined by Bay Area baritone Jeffrey Fields and a Baroque string ensemble.

Friday, February 24, 8 pm – San Francisco: 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 - $35, Senior - $25, Students and Under 30 - $10

Special early bird discount for St. Mark’s Parishioners!
Order your tickets by 5 pm, Thursday, February 23 and get $5 off the price of Advance General and Senior tickets (discount does not apply to Students/Under30). Order by phone: (650) 485-1097 and mention St. Mark’s SF, or online at http://www.calbach.org/tickets.pl  and enter the code stmarkssf (online orders subject to $4 handling fee).

HELP A FAMILY AT BERNAL GATEWAY
URGENT REQUEST for household items for a newcomer family at the Bernal Gateway apartment complex: a Latina mother with three children.

They need 4 wooden chairs (they have only a table; brown color preferred); a vacuum; a set of drinking glasses; a large package of toilet paper; two dozen bars of soap (Dove suggested).  If you can donate any of these items or can contribute some money to help purchase them, please contact Linda Krauskopf (415-285-4424).  We hope to fulfill this request THIS WEEK!  THANK YOU!

WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY DINNER AND WORSHIP
All are invited to our weekly community meal at 6:00 and worship at 6:45. Come and relax over a meal with members and visitors of the St. Mark's community.  Immediately afterwards, join the Pastors and our Director of Music for a lovely, contemplative worship service at 6:45 in the sanctuary.  The service lasts 30 minutes and will include Holy Communion.  
This weekly worship service is a wonderful time to receive with open hearts the gifts and presence of God.  Come and rest.  Come and be refreshed.  Come and just be!

We are also looking for volunteers to help make community dinner possible!  If you are available to pick heat/prepare food or help clean up after the dinner, please contact Winnie Heslin at heslin@stmarks-sf.org or call the church office at 415.928.7770.  

WELCA WORKSHOPS - SATURDAYS, MARCH 11,18 AND 25
WOMEN AND JUSTICE, 10AM TO NOON IN HERITAGE HALL

Women of all ages are invited to learn about and discuss some of the many issues addressed in the ELCA’s upcoming Women and Justice social statement titled “Faith, Sexism, Justice”.  Issues include:  sexism, violence against women and girls, the misuse of scripture against women and girls, and economic sexism. There will also be opportunities to provide feedback for the draft social statement.
 
Teenagers are especially encouraged to attend on March 25, when we plan to study and discuss “Mis-representation” - how women and girls are depicted in media.

PREPARING FOR LONG-TERM CARE
Did you know that developing a long-term care strategy can help you: Preserve your independence? Protect income and Assets? Reassure your family about the future? Please join us for a complimentary presentation to learn more. Saturday, March 11, 2017 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. J P Murphy Club House, 1960 9th Avenue (at Pacheco), San Francisco. RSVP to Linda Jackson at Thrivent Financial at 415-437-7370 or email linda.jackson@thrivent.com. Lunch will be served.

WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY

Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Phil Krikau, Kyle Schiefelbein (11)
Lectors...Dianne Velleno (9); Diana Gomez (11)
Chalice Bearers...Nadine Robinson (11)
Acolytes...Grace Ekdale-Hoch and Katherine Lam
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Richard Boyle, Ed Chitty
Ministry of Welcome...Amy Brendel, Omer Voss (9); Sarah Wentker, Larry DeSpain (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...John Elford, Marge Okuley, and Hiroko Nagata
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Donna Dindia and Chuck Lewis