First Sunday of Christmas
As we celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, our gospel today confronts us with the death of innocent children at the hands of Herod. The birth of Christ does not remove the power of evil from our world, but its light gives us hope as we walk with all the "holy innocents" of past generations and today who have suffered unjustly. In our gathering around word and meal, God continues to redeem us, lift us up, and carry us as in days of old.
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children's Time - Sanctuary
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Parents with Kidlettes - Heritage Hall
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
ADULT FORUMS - JANUARY 8 AND 15
AMMPARO stands for "Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities". AMMPARO is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)'s initiative to accompany migrants in our midst and throughout the world.
Come on January 8 to hear a recent migrant talk about her experience - from leaving home to arriving in the United States and adjusting to life here. Then on January 15, we will explore ways we at St. Mark's might "walk with" migrants in our community and in the world.
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 January our groups will meet on:
First Tuesdays - January 3 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Fireside Room
All women are invited to come for dessert and fellowship for the first half hour and then discussion until 8:30. This month we will be reading Thirteenth Night: A Medieval Mystery by Alan Gordon which continues the story of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
Second Tuesday - January 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. This winter our Bible study will center on "Galatians: Christian Faith and Christian Freedom." Our program topic for January will be "No other Gospel."
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
MLT MONTHLY SENIOR LUNCHEON
St. Mark's Seniors! Please join us on January 12 in Heritage Hall from 12:00-1:30 pm for the first 2017 monthly luncheon for our residents of Martin Luther Tower. The cost is $5 to be paid by January 3 in the MLT office. Luncheon options include either Chicken and Dumplings with string beans or Rice Pilaf with Grilled Vegetables & Tofu. They both come with salad and dessert. Live piano music accompaniment will also be provided for all to enjoy. See you there!
SEEKING CHURCH COUNCIL NOMINEES The Nominating Committee (Marisa Lee, Mark Semonian, Suzanne Smith, Pr. Elizabeth) seeks St. Mark's members with a love for ministry and an interest in leadership to serve on Church Council in the upcoming year. Please contact Marisa Lee (marisalouie@gmail.com, 650-303-3111) if you would like to learn more about Council service and explore running for Church Council during the annual meeting in January.
NEW JOURNEYS IN FAITH GROUP STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR
All are invited to join this newest group of Journeys in Faith. Take advantage of this opportunity and set aside time this winter and Lent for faith reflection and renewal. Together, we journey to Easter, learning more about our faith and faith community. And, together we consider and prepare for joining St Mark's, being baptized, or affirming our baptism. Weekly meetings begin Sunday, January 8th. If you are interested or have questions, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com) for more information.
VOLUNTEER FOR THE INTERFAITH SHELTER
St. Mark's will be participating in the San Francisco Interfaith Council Winter Shelter program and will be hosting and Jan. 15th - Feb. 4th.
Please consider volunteering for this very worthwhile ministry. Volunteers will be needed to serve at both Breakfasts and Dinners. Please contact John Elford at 415-490-7966 or jbruceelford@gmail.com if you would like to participate in this ministry, which helps so many people in need at this time of the year.
ORGANIZING FOR PUBLIC MINISTRY, JAN. 15-20
Taught by a team of experienced Industrial Areas Foundation community organizers, this class will cover conceptual studies and practical skillbuilding in how to engage the public mission of the church in the world.
Learn practices for living as Church in the World, with special attention on:
- Mission,
- Sustainable leadership,
- Strategic thinking and acting,
- Forming collaborative relationships for missional action.
- Taught using presentations, discussions, role-play, readings, and class participation.
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, Dean of Academic Affairs and Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics, will be the assisting faculty member for this course.
Course Fee: $500 (for CEU credits)
Registration fee includes lunch Monday - Friday.
Register at https://ssl.charityweb.net/cdsp/event/IAF2017.htm
PLEASE CONSIDER PURCHASING A HYMNAL IN MEMORY OF OR HONOR OF A LOVED ONE.
We are in need of 25 additional hymnals - the cranberry colored hymnals in our pews. Each hymnal will be embossed on the front with St. Mark's Lutheran Church San Francisco.
On the inside of the hymnal will be a nameplate, which will include the name of the donor (or anonymous) and the name of your loved ones. The cost is $30. Please note your information on your check or on a separate piece of paper and submit to the office in care of Stefani Lawrence.
Please send all hymnal donations by Wednesday, Jan. 4. Thank you!
ENJOY THE CONVENIENCE OF ELECTRONIC GIVING
St. Mark's would like to remind you that we offer the ease and convenience of electronic giving as a way to automate your regular weekly offering. We offer several methods of electronic giving including: 1) Direct Debit Giving automatically transfers funds from your checking or savings account to the church. 2) Credit & Debit Card Giving: make offerings automatically on a predetermined schedule using a credit or debit card. You can visit www.stmarks-sf.org to set up an automatic donation plan, change your donation plan, make a one-time donation or view your online donation history. As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving. Authorization forms and additional information are available at the church office.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Richard Boyle (9); Phil Krikau, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Barbara McCormick (9); Rachel Letchumanan (11)
Chalice Bearers...Marisa Lee (9), Steve Ernst, Viknesh SIlvalingam (11)
Acolyte...Katherine Lam (11)
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Richard Boyle, Ed Chitty
Ministry of Welcome...Marisa Lee, Tapio Boles (9); Pam Cheung, Kimberly and David Lam, Tina Niu, Pedro Ospina, Linda R. Jackson (11)
Coffee Hour Chair...Barbara Bock
Next Week's Coffee Hour Chairs...Nadine Robinson and Kimberly Hamilton-Lam
PRAYERS OF THE PARISH
Cassie Allen
Ginger Armstrong
Debbie Brant & Ted Bernardi
Diana Bock
Natalie E. Bock
Jo Chadwick
Corrine Cottrell
Marilyn Desmond
Bonnie Elliot
Carolyn Johnson
Taylor Jones
Arnold Lehmann
Margaret Massialas
Roderick Mobley
Stan Moeller
Lee & Irma Opitz
Ryan Parker
Cassie Pili
Marc Randal
Travis Schwartz
Matt Seiples
Tim Selander and family
LaVonne Strutz, mother of Geri Bailey
Mary Sukanya
Marlo Tellschow
Pastor Rebecca Swee
Dana Utz
Jerry Witherspoon
Brent Wolfe
For Mark Semonian and family mourning the death of Mark's brother
For the installation of Pastor Joshua Serrano at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in San Carlos on Jan. 7 at 4:00
For Keith, son of Barbara Bock
For Joan, the mother of Barbara Engmann in hospice care
For all military personnel, especially Will Lehmann in Afghanistan
For the growing families of St. Mark's, especially those who hope for and those who are expecting children
For the Kigali Parish 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 Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
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.