March 13, 2016

Fifth Sunday in Lent
The Lord our God makes all things new. In the first reading God promises it. In the gospel Mary anticipates it, anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume in preparation for the day of his burial. In the second reading we recall the transformation of Saul, the persecutor, into Paul, the apostle. In baptism, God’s new person (you!) rises daily from
the deadly mire of trespasses and sins.

Join Us This Sunday

9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children's Time - Sanctuary
9:45 pm - Sunday School - School Rooms
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:05 am - Adult Forum - A Grand Cast (Joshua 5:9-12) - 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
12:30 pm - Call Committee Meeting - Fireside Room
1:30 pm - YWCP Sectionals - Fireside Room
4:00 pm - SF Early Music Society - Sanctuary

Adult Forum series on Sunday mornings in Lent led by
Pr. Elizabeth and Pr. Tita 10:05 am in the auditorium
We continue to 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. Wednesday (March 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!

Lenten Box Offering - Recipient Lava Mae
Bring your filled boxes back and hand them to an usher at worship during Holy Week or Easter.  Please fill them with your spare change or with a donation check. 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 re-purposing 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

CLU Choir Concert, March 21 at 7:00 pm
We have another opportunity to hear an outstanding Lutheran college choir this month.  On Monday, March 21 at 7 pm, the California Lutheran University Choir will perform in our sanctuary.  The CLU is located in Thousand Oaks, California, and the CLU Choir is under the direction of Wyant Morton.

Help Prepare St. Marks for Holy Week and Easter on March 19th
The Property Ministry Team invites you to join us as we prepare the church and grounds for this special season on Saturday, March 19th, from 9 AM until 12 Noon. For more information, please speak with Gary Schilling.

Tour of the Navigation Center and Pier 80 Homeless Shelters 
with Pr. Elizabeth on March 16

Pr. Elizabeth is touring these facilities along with Pr. Maggi Henderson from Old First Presbyterian and Rabbi Beth Singer of Congregation Emanu-El.  We are each bringing two key lay leaders who have worked with our homeless ministries.  The tours are set up in the morning of March 16.  Please contact Pr. Elizabeth if you are interested in joining her.

Easter Vigil Reception 
We are looking for some people to help coordinate and host the Vigil Reception the night of March 26.  If you are willing, please let Suzanne Smith know (suzathome@comcast.net or 415/285-7438).  We will meet after the 11:00 service on March 13 to plan.

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 March our groups will meet on:

Third Sunday Bible Study - March 20 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 "Being of One Mind."

If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.

Mosaic television show with Pr. Elizabeth to air March 13
Pr. Elizabeth interviewed Rev. John Weems, who serves Calvary Presbyterian and Bishop Ernie Jackson,  serving Grace Tabernacle.
These two clergy and congregations are developing relationships with each other.  One congregation is located in Pacific Heights - the other in Bayview/Hunter's Point. These dynamics contribute to a very engaging Mosaic television show which airs at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, KPIX (channel 5).  

Will I have enough to retire? 
Retire Wisely Workshop with Thrivent Financial representative Gregory Jahnke and Judith Dancer on Saturday, March 19 from 10-12:30 p.m. at JP Murphy Clubhouse, 1960 9th Ave, near Pacheco. RSVP ay March 15 to Jo Zemke at 415-437-7370 X211orjo.zemke@thrivent.com .

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.


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 balance 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. 

Worship Leaders This Sunday
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Sharon Reinbott (9); John Barton, Linda Jackson (11) 
Lectors...Suzanne Smith (9) Jo Chadwick (11) 
Chalice Bearers...Jane Borg (11)
Acolytes...Clovis Curl and Ericka Taylor
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Richard Boyle, Ed Chitty 
Ministry of Welcome...Tapio Boles (9); Viknesh Silvalingam, Rachel Letchumanan (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Barbara Bock
Next week Coffee Hour Chairs...Nadine Robinson and Kimberly Hamilton-Lam