FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
In Deuteronomy God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, who will speak for God; in Psalm 111 God shows the people the power of God’s works. For the church these are ways of pointing to the unique authority people sensed in Jesus’ actions and words. We encounter that authority in God’s word, around which we gather, the word that trumps any lesser spirit that would claim power over us, freeing us to follow Jesus.
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 - Journeys in Faith - JIF Room
10:05 am - Confirmation Youth Room
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Annual Congregational Meeting - Sanctuary
1:30 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
6:00 pm - SF Interfaith Shelter - Auditorium
ST. MARK’S ANNUAL MEETING
Everyone is urged to attend St. Mark’s Annual Meeting THIS SUNDAY in the sanctuary immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. We will receive the Annual Report from the leaders and staff of the congregation, adopt the 2018 budget, and elect new council members. Those in attendance also will hear reports from the Governance Task Force and those involved in the development of St. Mark’s Square. Plan to attend this very important meeting as we chart the course of our mission and ministries for this next year.
THANK YOU PASTOR ELIZABETH
20 years ago this week, Pastor Elizabeth Ekdale began her ministry with us at St. Mark’s. We will recognize and thank her for her tremendous service during 11:00 worship this Sunday, January 28. Please come for worship and participate in this momentous occasion. She has been a remarkable leader for our Congregation. Thanks be to God.
ADULT FORUM ON FEB. 4 IN HERITAGE HALL - NEXT SUNDAY
Orientation to Nueva Esperanza Program: Solidarity & Accompaniment with Migrant Communities
One year ago, St. Mark’s became an AMMPARO Welcoming Congregation. Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity’s Nueva Esperanza program is a collaborative initiative seeking to respond to the needs of recently arrived minors and families, and individuals released from detention who require support, housing, and resources. The Nueva Esperanza program offers the resources, passion, and presence of faith communities in direct accompaniment with our migrant neighbors. Learn more about how to form an accompaniment team at St. Mark’s by attending the Nueva Esparanza orientation!
NEW MEMBER DIRECTORY
We are working on updating the member directory and would like to make sure we have all of your most current information. Please send any updates to Stefani at lawrence@stmarks-sf.org. Thank You!
GRIEF GROUP AMD GRIEF COUNSELING AVAILABLE
Losing loved ones is one of the most difficult things we will ever endure. The trained clinical and grief counseling staff at Institute on Aging are available to help with grieving the loss of a friend, loved one, or associate. Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. a Drop-In Grief Group is available for free at 3575 Geary Blvd. Call Institute on Aging for further information 415 750-4111.
ST. MARK'S ELEVATOR UPDATE
You may be thinking...the elevator looks finished, but why isn’t it working? Well, that’s a good question! The project is essentially complete, but San Francisco Authorities - the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) and the Fire Marshal - have not yet closed out our project. These officials have recently required that we update the emergency signage throughout the building to comply with current life safety codes, a good thing in principle, but a delay nonetheless. To meet this requirement, our architects (Architectural Resource Group) and contractor (Plant Construction) are preparing emergency egress signage drawings to submit to DBI for review and approval. With approved drawings, St. Mark’s will then have new signage fabricated and installed, and we hope, quickly obtain a Certificate of Occupancy for the elevator project. Patience may be a fruit of the Spirit, as Paul wrote to the Galatians, but joy is also one of those gifts. We look forward to reporting that we have completed this long-awaited project.
SAFEWAY CARDS AND HEALTHY SNACKS NEEDED
On any given day, someone arrives at the doors of St. Mark’s needing a snack, a warm pair of socks, and some human kindness. St. Mark’s staff and volunteers offer these gifts of hospitality. We could use your donations of Safeway gift cards ($10 - $25) and healthy snack packs: cheese and crackers, peanut butter and crackers, etc,. Please drop off your donations to the church office or give to Pr. Elizabeth. Many thanks for your generosity and hospitality to our brothers and sisters living on the streets.
INTERFAITH HOMELESS SHELTER AT ST. MARK’S
St. Mark’s will be hosting the San Francisco Interfaith Council Winter Shelter Jan. 14th-Feb. 4th for 65 homeless men. Members of St. Mark’s will be preparing at 5:15 am and serving breakfast at 6:00 am every morning, and helping other groups to serve supper in the evening. If you are available for this very important ministry any morning or early evening during this week, please contact John Elford at 415-490-7966, or jbruceelford@gmail.com, or catch him after either service this morning. You can also sign up at: http://www.stmarks-sf.org/serve/
MUSIC LOVERS!
Save the date: Friday, February 9, 7:30 PM for a BENEFIT CONCERT at Zion Lutheran Church, 495 Anza Street at Anza, SF. The internationally recognized Friction Quartet will perform classical and contemporary string quartet repertoire.
All proceeds will directly address the needs of refugees on the ground in Greece and Turkey through the remarkable work of the all volunteer non-profit Sea of Solidarity, based in the Bay Area. The concert is sponsored by Zion Lutheran and Interfaith Welcome Bay Area Refugee Support. Learn more at: www.frictionquartet.com/home and www.seaofsolidarity.org
ATTENTION KNITTERS
When you have finished all your Christmas knitting, we need 30 more scarves for our guests at the shelter by the end of January. If you need yarn, Marge can bring out the “Yarn Closet on Wheels” from its hiding place.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero, Linda Jackson (11)
Lectors...Randy Schieber (9); Cora Rose (11)
Chalice Bearers...Jane Borg
Acolyte...Evan Schieber
Sacristans...Ed Chitty, Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers...Louis Gutierrez (9) Debra Varian (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Donna Dindia and Chuck Lewis
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Eva & Matt Dober, Kate Knickerbocker