November 5, 2017

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord's table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.

THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S

9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:50 am - Sunday School - Sunday School Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Parents with Kidlettes - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Adult Forum - Fireside Room
Getting to know our Teaching Parish students: 
Mel Hartshorn and Pam Reynolds
10:00 am - Journeys in Faith - JIF Room
 
10:05 am - Confirmation Class - Youth Room
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall

FORWARD IN FAITH - BUILDING COMMUNITY
This Sunday we celebrate Commitment Sunday, November 5! Through you, the mission and ministries of St. Mark’s are made real. We invite you to join the community celebration this Sunday, as we joyfully bring forward our commitment. It is through fulfilling our commitment that yields the financial support of our 2018 General Fund, and our Capital Campaign.

Returning our pledge, is our personal act of giving, along with celebrating our time and talents.

Thank you to the community members who have already turned in your commitment (paper or electronic)!! We greatly appreciate!

Together we build our community, through our time, talents and gifts!

Thank you all for your continued generosity and commitment to the ministries of St. Mark’s!  YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

WINTER VOICE DEADLINE
The next Voice deadline is November 8, 2017.  Please send all submissions to Stefani at lawrence@stmarks-sf.org.  The Newsletter will cover December, January, and February. Thank you! 
 

NEW JOURNEYS IN FAITH GROUP STARTING THIS SUNDAY
New to St Mark’s?  Thinking about your faith journey and a community to support it?  You are invited to join the newest group of Journeys in Faith.

Our first gathering will be TODAY at 10:00 Sunday, November 5 in the Urban Life Center.  Look for the Journeys in Faith signs.    For more information, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com; 415-205-3292).  

SENIOR TRIP TO HALF MOON BAY, NOVEMBER 14, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Memorial Service will be Sunday, October 29th at 7 pm at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 401 Grizzly Peak Blvd. (cross street Spruce) in Berkeley. The congregation is encouraged to attend and be present in support of Barbara and all those who grieve Keith’s death.  

NOVEMBER SENIOR LUNCHEON
St. Mark’s Seniors, Thursday, November 16, is the next MLT monthly luncheon in Heritage Hall from 12:00-1:30 pm! Please join us for a delicious meal prepared by MLT’s very own Delvone Anderson and his wife, Linh. MLT resident, Tom Berg, will grace us with his talent on the piano! Entrée options are 1.) Roast turkey with Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and dressing, or 2.) Butternut squash risotto. Entrees come with a garden salad and French bread. Dessert will be apple and pumpkin pie. The cost is $5. Please pay by Friday, November 10 in the Office. Come be among friends. See you there!

WOMEN'S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERING
All women are welcome to come and study together at our evening and/or morning Women of the ELCA Gatherings.  In November our groups will meet on:

First Tuesdays – November 7 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Conference Room in the Urban Life Center.  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 discuss “Fierce Women of the Bible” by Alice Connor.

Second Tuesdays – November 14 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 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 the third section of the Apostles’ Creed – “I Believe in the Holy Spirit…”  We will also take our annual Thanksgiving Offering.

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

KYLE AND ROMMEL SCHIEFELBEIN-GUERRERO’s WEDDING
Kyle and Rommel Schiefelbein-Guerrero invite all of you to the blessing of their civil marriage, which will take place during the 11 am liturgy on Sundaay, November 12.  The liturgy will include selections of J. S. Bach’s cantata “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” as a reflection on the gospel assigned for that Sunday.  A festive reception in Heritage Hall including Filipino food will follow the liturgy, followed by dancing in the Urban Life Center.

AGING AND SPIRITUALITY GROUP
Join Pr. Elizabeth every Monday from 11:00 – 12:00 in the Brockie Lounge of Martin Luther Tower for this time of sharing and support. What are the challenges of aging in today’s world? What are the joys and surprises? How has your faith changed and grown with aging? All these questions and more are for us to ponder and consider together. This is a safe place to share your feelings, frustrations and joys about aging. All are welcome.

INTERFAITH WELCOME
Bay Area is a group of faith communities working together to help refugees new to the Bay Area.  In support of Interfaith Welcome, Zion Lutheran Church presents noted pianist Sarah Cahill in concert on Friday, November 10, 7:30 p.m.  Concert proceeds will benefit the Vision Project, which helps refugee girls in Oakland schools envision their futures in America.  Mark your calendars for November 10 to hear Sarah Cahill at Zion Lutheran Church, 495 - 9th Avenue at Anza Street, San Francisco (Richmond District.) 

Suggested donation:  $15 per person; $25 per family ( 3 or more.)

ST.MARK'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT WILL BE COMING SOON
Call all angels and shepherds for St. Mark’s special Christmas Eve Pageant. This family-friendly narration of the events surrounding the birth of baby Jesus includes a wonderful cast of angels and shepherds of all ages and wise men and their assistants. 

The Christmas Pageant will be on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 5pm. There will be two rehearsals on Saturdays, December 16th and 23rd beginning at 9am. Be sure to mark your calendars! There are many more roles available including stage crew and costuming. If you are interested in being a part of this tradition, then please email Mari Tuominen at maridesigns@earthlink.net.

ELEVATOR UPDATE
As we commemorated the Reformation of the Church, we can now see firsthand the re-forming of our church building’s exterior. The scaffolding is gone and the outside of the elevator addition is nearly complete! In the coming weeks, plasterers will apply a parge coat of stucco to match the exterior finish of the lower floor. Already, the contractors have installed new handrails at the ramp and the same metal workers are currently fabricating a new steel fence to replace the chain link fencing on the north side of the elevator addition. Inside, workers are installing the elevator mechanism and finishing the interior walls. Their final efforts will include painting, installing light fixtures and doors and laying carpet. When all is ready, Plant will schedule final inspections by San Francisco agencies and the State Elevator Inspector. Our congregation’s support of this important improvement to our building as well as our members’ continued contributions to fund this project are much appreciated. If all goes as scheduled, the elevator will be ready for use by Thanksgiving Day – yet another blessing for which we can be thankful!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS, NOV. 5
Don’t forget to “Fall Back” and change your clocks on November 4th.  

WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Barbara McCormick (9); Ed Chitty, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Dianne Velleno (9); Matthias Will (11)
Acolytes...Katherine Lam, Nora Hurley
Sacristans...Ed Chitty, Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers...Kimberly and David Lam (9); Pam Cheung, Linda Jackson (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Diana Gomez, Greg Gomez
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Calvin Culp, Gayle Culp, Philip Krikau