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.
This Sunday at St. Mark's
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:50 am - Sunday School - Sunday School Rooms
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Adult Forum - Heritage Hall
Overall Themes of “The Prophetic Imagination” with The Rev. Ron Moe-Lobeda
10:00 am Confirmation - Youth Room
10:00 am Journeys in Faith - JIF Room
11:00 am Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
Adult Forum at 10:00AM
Sundays – March 10 – April 7
10:00 AM in the Heritage Hall
RELENTLESS HOPE: EXPLORING OUR BIBILICAL WITNESS IN A TIME OF DESPAIR
Drawing upon the book, “The Prophetic Imagination,” by Walter Brueggemann, Pastor Elizabeth and Pastor Ron will delve into some of the themes of this prophetic treatise and address questions about our public worship and witness in this modern world.
March 10 - Overall Themes of “The Prophetic Imagination”
March 17 - Exploring the Importance of Grief and Lament
March 24 - The Place of Prophetic Consciousness in Today’s World
March 31 - Lutheran Theology and Our Prophetic Imagination
April 7 - Navigating Our Current Social Climate in the Way of Jesus
MIDWEEK LENTEN SUPPER, WORSHIP & BIBLE STUDY
On Wednesdays throughout Lent, we will gather for a full evening of community time. A simple supper will be served from 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. in Heritage Hall. A suggested donation of $3 will help to defray the cost of the meal. Worship will take place in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. around the theme, “Perfect Love Casts Out Fear.” Each week will draw upon a lesson from the New Testament to highlight this theme, and give people an opportunity to gather in song and prayer in reflection about how God’s love is embodied in their lives. At 7:30 p.m., people will return to Heritage Hall to join with Pastoral Intern Sonja Pilman in taking a look at the assigned texts for the following Sunday. Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of this time of fellowship and reflection in the middle of the week, and continue this journey of Lent in anticipation of the resurrection of Jesus, our Savior.
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY, SATURDAY, MARCH 9
St. Mark’s members staff this food pantry on several Saturdays throughout the year at Old First Church in SF from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. You could help for any length of time by unloading the food from the truck, setting up the distribution sequence, or handing out food to over 300 people.
PASTOR ELIZABETH ON AN UPCOMING MOSAIC TELEVISION SHOW
Tune in on March 10 at 5:00 a.m. on KPIX channel 5 when Pr. Elizabeth interviews three members from the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition. Rev. Connie Winter-Eulberg serves at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in San Mateo - Rev. Kristi Denham serves as minister at the Congregational Church in Belmont and Mr. Dick Heiman is a congregant at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo. They, together, with other religious institutions provide interfaith service projects, learning opportunities and worship experiences. Learn about this wonderful organization which fosters peace and understanding amongst many religions.
JOIN US FOR JOURNEYS IN FAITH
New to St Mark’s? Thinking about your faith journey and a community to support it? Thinking about becoming a member of St Mark’s? You are invited to join in on the newest group of Journeys in Faith! We meet on Sundays at 10:00 in the Urban Life Center in the Journeys in Faith room. Join us as we reflect together on our lives of faith. For more information, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com; 415-205-3292)
BAPTISM OF REX ANDREW DIOLI TODAY
Rex Dioli is being baptized at the 9:00 a.m. service today, and welcomed into the body of Christ as well as this community of faith. We rejoice with his family as he is ordained to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and we pray for his parents and sponsors as they promise to guide him in his journey of faith and service.
LENTEN OFFERING BOXES TO SUPPORT WILDFIRE VICTIMS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Giving something up for Lent? Put the amount you would have spent on it every day into your St. Mark’s Lenten box. The money you deposit into your St. Mark’s Lenten box during the 40 days of Lent will be donated to the community of Paradise Lutheran Church in order to assist their members who were victims of the wildfire in 2018.
During the season of Lent, we are invited to care for the hurting and vulnerable through our giving. You may pick up your box in the Narthex. Fill your box – decorated by St. Mark’s Sunday School children – with bills and coins, or write a check to St. Mark’s with “Lenten box” or “Wildfire Victims” in the memo line. Thank you!
DEVOTION BOOKLET FOR LENT AVAILABLE
The Lenten season begins on March 6 with Ash Wednesday. In anticipation of this time of reflection, “Lasting Hope,” a Lenten Devotion booklet produced by Augsburg Fortress and based upon the Psalms that are assigned throughout the season is available for you to use throughout Lent. You may pick up a booklet beginning this Sunday, February 24 either in the Narthex or in Heritage Hall.
MT. CROSS SUMMER CAMPS
Registration is now open for the week-long camps at Mt. Cross Ministries--our Lutheran Outdoor Ministry just north of Santa Cruz. There are several exciting opportunities for children and youth of all ages. Brochures are available on the bulletin board and table in Heritage Hall. You also can go to www.mtcross.org for more information, costs, and registration. Register prior to May 1 for an early-bird discount. Think about coordinating your registration with other members at St. Mark’s so that your children can go to camp together.
SAVE THE DATE
“Guardian Angel” training on Saturday, May 18, 9am - noon at St. Mark’s. Details to follow. See ELCA.org/AMMPARO, and look at “Guardian Angel” about Immigration courtroom spiritual accompaniment.
-Mary Ritter and Cora Rose,
St. Mark’s Sanctuary Team
RAINBOW NOT WALLS: SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER IMMIGRANTS
On Wednesday, March 13 Congregation Sha’ar Zahav (290 Dolores St.) will be hosting a Bay Area Forum in support of transgender members of migrant caravans who already are here and those on their way to San Francisco. Come and find out how congregations, community groups, and individuals can provide sponsorship, accompaniment, and vital resources so that people can be released immediately from ICE detention. This event, co-sponsored by St. Mark’s and other local congregations, will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
YOUNG ADULT GATHER AT ST. MARK’S
You are invited to get together with the Young Adults at St. Mark’s on Sunday, March 31, at 12:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room for a simple luncheon and an opportunity to make some new acquaintances as well as to get to know each other a little better. We will share in some formal introductions facilitated by Pastor Ron as well as have the opportunity to meet and get to know our new pastoral intern, Sonja Pilman. Please let Pastor Ron know if you intend to participate so that we can plan the meal accordingly. You are more than welcome to invite your friends to join us for this casual gathering and conversation.
CAL LUTHERAN CHOIR IN CONCERT
The Choir of California Lutheran University will be presenting its spring concert at Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto (3149 Waverley St.) on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. Come and enjoy the blessed sounds of this amazing choir.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERINGS
All women are welcome to come and study together at our Women of the ELCA Gatherings. In March our groups will meet on:
Second Tuesdays – March 12 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 “Friends for Life in Christ.”
ST. MARK'S MEN'S RETREAT
Mercy Center in Burlingame has been reserved for a Men’s Retreat on Friday – Saturday, June 7-8 (4 p.m. – 4 p.m.). Mark the date on your calendar NOW, and watch for more information next week about registration. The deadline for registration is Monday, May 6.
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
March 10: Big Group: Mardi Gras/Lent observance.
March 24: Big Group: Pastor led lesson on the Sacraments
April 14: Big Group: Palm Sunday lesson and activity.
April 21: Easter: No Sunday School
April 28: Big Group: Passover meal and lesson.
May 19: Bay to Breakers, no Sunday School
May 26: Last day of Sunday School PARTY!!
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. We still have dates available in December for Advent so please sign up!
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.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Evan Schieber (9); Greg Jahnke, Katja Jackson (11)
Lectors...Randy Schieber (9); Cory Schoolland (11)
Communion Ministers...Beth Dioli, Kate Knickerbocker (9); Steve Ernst, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda (11)
Altar Guild...Cory Schoolland
Acolytes...Grace Ekdale Hoch, Katherine Lam
Sacristan...Libby Pfaff
Ushers...Randy Schieber, Evan Schieber, Alison Schieber (9) Donna Dindia, Linda Jackson, Pam Cheung (11)
Fellowship Hour Chairs...Diana & Greg Gomez
Next Week’s Fellowship Hour Chairs...Calvin & Gail Culp, Philip Krikau