FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Our God is constantly making 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.
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
The contemporary church is called to navigate our
current social climate in the way of Jesus - Pr. Ron
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
12:30 pm - Teaching Parish Committee - Conference Room
PROPERTY TEAM DAY SATURDAY APRIL 6, 2019 9:00AM-12:00PM
All members of St. Mark’s are invited to join the Team as we prepare our Church for Palm Sunday and Easter. We will tackle our ToDo list of minor repairs and cleaning. Enjoy fellowship and treats while we continue our stewardship of this beautiful building. Please contact Tim Bohan if you are able to attend, timelain@pacbell.net 415-694-9499
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.
April 7 - Pr. Ron - The contemporary church must ask itself: How are we to navigate our current social climate in the way of Jesus? Is social justice an integral part of our faith and practice? Why or why not? Come and explore these questions and bring your own.
BLESSING OF CANDIDATES FOR AFFIRMATION
In our 11:00 a.m. service THIS SUNDAY, the congregation will be praying for and with those who are preparing for Affirmation of Baptism, and for those who are sick or in need, and for all of God’s creation. The candidates are blessed as they continue their journey of renewal through the season of Lent.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERINGS
Come to the Women’s Monthly Bible study this Tuesday – April 9 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. Our Bible study will center on “Seeing the Risen Christ.”
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY, SATURDAY, APRIL 13
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. For more information contact Diana Gomez at dianamrsgomez@mindspring.com
SHARE OUR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER CELEBRATIONS WITH CORDERO DE DIOS!
We are looking for ways to deepen our relationship with Cordero de Dios while including more members of St. Mark’s in this sister parish relationship. One way to do that is by sharing letters and pictures. On Palm Sunday, April 14, please join us in Heritage Hall at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm to write a short note to Cordero de Dios describing the Holy Week and Easter Celebrations at St. Mark’s. What does Holy Week mean to you? How do we celebrate the death and resurrection at St. Mark’s? We will send these notes, along with pictures from Holy Week and Easter, down to our brothers and sisters at Cordero de Dios.
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 Victim” in the memo line. Please turn in your box as a part of your offering on or before Easter Sunday. Thank you!
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
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!!
EASTER VIGIL RECEPTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Vigil Reception on Saturday evening, April 20, following the Vigil Worship service, is one of the most festive and joyful receptions of the year. Traditionally, we “break the Lenten fast” at the Easter Vigil reception with rich and delicious food such as fresh strawberries, baked goods, and other goodies.
We are looking for volunteers to help with the reception - Lindsey Carlin is our reception coordinator. Please contact her at lindseycarlin5@gmail.com if you would like to support and be a part of the festive Easter celebration. Thank you!
UPCOMING MOSAIC TELEVISION SHOW WITH PR. ELIZABETH
Please tune in (or record) Pr. Elizabeth’s upcoming shown KPIX Channel 5. She interviews Laura Magniani who has dedicated her work and life to the abolishment of the death penalty and ending the abusive practice of solitary confinement of prisoners as a management tool. Laura works for the American Friends Service Committee and is a Quaker. This show will air on two Sundays: April 14 and 21 at 5:00 am.
UNDERSTANDING PALESTINE THROUGH THEATER!
Come and see “Scenes from 71 Years”: stories of family and friends revealing the real human story of daily life in the shadow of the Separation Wall in Palestine. Presented by Golden Thread Productions and Palestinian-Irish playwright Hannah Khalil; cast includes members from the Bay Area Palestinian community; U.S. Premiere. April 5 - May 5, 2019 at Potrero Stage, 1695 - 18th Street, San Francisco. Tickets: $15 - $38 ; call 415-626-4061 or email: boxoffice@goldenthread.org.
ST. MARK'S MEN'S RETREAT
Now is the time to make preparation for our next Men’s Retreat to be held at the Mercy Center in Burlingame on (Friday and Saturday, June 7-8) (4:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.). Under the theme, “The Connection between My Faith and Daily Life,” we will explore topics such as our faith journeys, our experiences in the Church, the challenges of our society, our relationship with God, and our involvement with the St. Mark’s community. The retreat will include 3 meals, single-room occupancy overnight, and our meeting room where we also will gather for worship at the end of the retreat. The cost is $160 (or $70/day = $140 for commuters) to be paid to St. Mark’s and earmarked for “Men’s Retreat”. To register, you may use the Welcome Card and give it to Pastor Ron, email Pastor Ron at moe-lobeda@stmarks-sf.org, or respond to the forthcoming email about the retreat. The registration deadline is Monday, May 6 as we need to submit an accurate count to Mercy Center by then. This event is a great opportunity for the men of St. Mark’s to come together and strengthen the relationships that we already have with one another.
TWO SANCTUARY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: COURT ACCOMPANIMENT & COORDINATING
The St. Mark’s Sanctuary Team is hosting a Guardian Angel training in Heritage Hall on May 18th from 9 am - 12 noon. This session will train you to volunteer in immigration court by offering spiritual accompaniment, providing physical accompaniment, and sharing resources for unaccompanied migrant children and single-parent families going through immigration court. Mary Campbell, director of AMMPARO ELCA in Chicago, will lead the workshop. The training prepares volunteers to accompany in teams of two (ideally one a Spanish speaker, though this isn’t required) at immigration court in San Francisco. No legal experience is needed, and the time commitment is very flexible.
Why are we doing this? As sisters and brothers in Christ, our church is called to bear witness to the conditions impacting so many communities, and to work to find solutions that will acknowledge the humanity in all of God’s children. Join us in making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families.
Furthermore, for a volunteer interested in a deeper, more regular opportunity to support sanctuary, the St. Mark’s Sanctuary Team and Sierra Pacific Synod Guardian Angel seek a Volunteer Coordinator who would spend 4-5 hours a week communicating with a court clerk about upcoming cases, and connecting Guardian Angel volunteers to accompany specific people.
Interested in either training to be a Guardian Angel volunteer or stepping up as the Guardian Angel Volunteer Coordinator? Please RSVP for training or to indicate interest in the coordinator position at 415-294-1832 or email at FLeBAS@ses.plts.edu.ter
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARK'S
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Phil Krikau, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Robert Rathmell (9); Cory Schoolland (11)
Communion Ministers...Aaron Greig, Cristin Owens (9)
Nadine Robinson, Geri Bailey (11)
Altar Guild...Cora Rose
Acolytes...Evan Schieber and Alison Schieber
Sacristan...Liv Beck
Ushers...Jon Moeller, Vanessa Hierbaum (9)
Donna Dindia, Linda Jackson, Pam Cheung (11)
Fellowship Hour Chairs...Eva & Matt Dober
Next Week’s Fellowship Hour Chairs...Barbara Bock