BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
The Baptism of Our Lord cannot help but recall our own and all baptismal blessings. We recall and celebrate our adoption as daughters and sons, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promised company of almighty God when we “pass through the waters . . . the rivers . . . fire.” On this day the heavens open again, for this assembly, and we receive the gift of the beloved Son of God in bread and wine.
This Sunday at St. Mark's
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
Baptism of Catherine Lee
9:50 am - Sunday School - Sunday School Rooms
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Confirmation - Youth Room
10:00 am - Town Meeting about Sanctuary - Auditorium
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
4:00 pm - San Francisco Early Music Society Concert - Sanctuary
5:00 pm - Interfaith Winter Shelter - Auditorium
“TOWN MEETING: WHAT DO SANCTUARY CONGREGATIONS DO IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 2019? JANUARY 13, 2019 AT 10:05-10:50AM IN ST. MARK’S HERITAGE HALL
In November 2018, we held two Town Meetings on Sunday mornings to discuss whether St. Mark’s should become a Sanctuary Congregation. We looked at what Sanctuary looks like in the 21st century, the legal and financial issues associated with becoming a Sanctuary Congregation, and the differences between AMMPARO and Sanctuary.
Come and join us as this conversation continues THIS SUNDAY at 10am in the ULC Auditorium when we will hear about what Sanctuary congregations in San Francisco are doing now. We also will review a proposed St. Mark’s Sanctuary Declaration to be presented and considered at the St. Mark’s Congregational Meeting on January 27, 2019.
Be part of this conversation. Let us know if you have questions before or after the Town Meeting.
St. Mark’s Sanctuary Task Force
Laura Evenson, Kimberly Hamilton-Lam, Jason Jennings, Pastor Ron Moe-Lobeda, Cora Rose, Mary Ritter, Chair
VOICE DEADLINE
The next Voice deadline is Jan. 21, 2019, and will cover February, March, April, and May. The issue will contain highlights from the Annual Meeting, and information about Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Please send all submissions to Stefani at lawrence@stmarks-sf.org by Jan 21 to include your submission in the Newsletter. Thank you!
ADULT FORUM, JAN. 20 AT 10:00AM IN THE FIRESIDE ROOM
Prepare for the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 27 by receiving your annual report and 2019 Mission Plan, meeting nominees for Church Council, asking questions, and meeting leaders from St. Mark’s ministries this Sunday.
ST. MARK'S ANNUAL MEETING, JAN. 27 12:00PM IN THE SANCTUARY
We encourage all members and friends of St. Mark’s to participate in this Annual Meeting by asking questions, voting on the annual budget and Council members, hearing about the Annual Vision of Ministry for 2019, and celebrating our mission and ministries.
Elect Council Members
Reports and updates on Development, Governance work, Martin Luther Tower, and more.
Receive the Annual Report from leaders and staff
Adopt a mission plan (budget) for 2019
Learn about St. Mark’s impact in the community
Vote on whether St. Mark’s should become a Sanctuary Congregation
Come and meet other members of the congregation and participate in this important meeting.
INTERFAITH HOMELESS SHELTER
St. Mark’s will be participating in the San Francisco Interfaith Council Winter Shelter program and will be hosting January 13 to February 2.
Please consider volunteering for this very worthwhile ministry. Volunteers will be needed to serve during both Breakfasts and Dinners. Please contact John Elford at 415-490-7966 or jbruceelford@gmail.com if you would like to participate in this ministry, which helps so many people in need at this time of the year.
JOYOUS GENEROSITY COMMITMENTS - PLEASE TURN YOUR COMMITMENT IN!
As of this week, we have received $423,211 in commitments for 2019 with a total of 96 commitments out of a possible 186 giving units, totaling 52% participation. Thank you for everyone who has made a commitment! Our goal is to have everyone participate by sharing their commitment to St. Mark’s ministries. Please bring your commitment card to worship and place it in the offering plate, mail it to the church office, or go online and fill out your commitment card on the website: stmarks-sf.org/giveagift. Every commitment has a direct impact to St. Mark’s ministries in 2019 and our goal is to have 100% participation!
TREE DE-DECORATING, SATURDAY, JAN. 12 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
All members of Saint Mark’s Church Family are invited to join the Team as we de-decorate our Christmas trees. This goes a lot faster, and is easier than putting the decorations up. Enjoy fellowship and treats while we care for our beautiful Church. Please contact Tim Bohan if you are able to attend, timelain@pacbell.net or 415-694-9499
WOMEN’S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERING
All women are welcome to come and study together at our Women of the ELCA Gatherings. In January our groups will meet on:
Book Group - Saturday – January 12 from 10:00am to noon in the Conference Room in the Urban Life Center. All women are invited to come. Refreshments will be served. This month we will discuss The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jimenez.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DEBBY HALLADAY
Please join us as we give thanks to God for Debby Halladay on Saturday, January 19 at 11:00 am. A reception will follow in Heritage Hall. Cards of condolences for her family may be sent to her sister at the following address: Lauris Halladay, 7002 NE 66th St., Vancouver WA 98661
Memorial Gifts may be donated in Debby’s name to the following ministries:
Lutheran Social Service Of Northern California
Lutheran World Relief
San Francisco Night Ministry
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
SF INTERFAITH COUNCIL EVENT ON MLK DAY
The San Francisco Interfaith Council will be sponsoring its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Ceremony on Monday, January 21, beginning with a march starting promptly at 11:00 a.m. from Caltrain Depot at 4th and Townsend and ending up at Yerba Buena Gardens for the Ceremony at the conclusion of the march.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GATHERING
The high-school youth will be gathering on Sunday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. for their monthly conversation and fellowship in the Conference Room.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TO NUTURE YOUR FAITH IN THE NEW YEAR?
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)
WISE WOMEN AND WISE MEN OF ST. MARK'S
The 2019 LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN THE H0LY LAND still has some openings! Hosted by The Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and Dar al Kalima University in Bethlehem, this travel seminar once again enjoys the excellent leadership of John Lindner and Palestinian-American Mike Abel. It offers “new and creative ways to understand and respond to the …Israel/Palestine conflict…” as well as “different strategies for resisting the power of empire and supporting those who both struggle against it and suffer its daily injustices and violence.”
The program this year is March 25th – April 8th and will feature some special attention to the issues related to Jerusalem as well as the special day at Dar al Kalima to focus on issues for Palestinian Women. (We will also have a special dinner that evening to announce the new Women of Vision endowed scholarship!) Here is a link to the brochure: http://brightstarsbethlehem.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/190305.pdf The DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION has been extended to JANUARY 25th (60 days prior to departure). Prospective participants should feel free to contact John Lindner (2019bethehem@gmail.com) about program or GTD to register and to make travel arrangements.
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY, SATURDAY JAN. 26
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. To sign up contact Diana Gomez at dianamrsgomez@mindspring.com
ST. PAULUS LUTHERAN CHURCH GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY
Please join the St. Paulus community and Mayor London Breed on the site of the old church building destroyed by fire 24 years ago, on Sunday, January 27 at 2:00 pm. The congregation is constructing a new home and community space, built in its historic location. In addition, condominiums will be built on the site at 950 Gough St.
MLT & ST. MARK'S JANUARY SENIOR LUNCHEON
St. Mark’s Seniors! Thursday, January 24th is the next MLT monthly luncheon in Heritage Hall, from 12:00-1:30pm. Please join us for Soup ‘N Sandwich, etc. You have a choice of Chicken or Vegetarian Gumbo, ½ Egg Salad or ½ Chicken Salad Sandwich. All entrees come with a Garden Salad with vinaigrette dressing, chips and cheesecake for dessert. MLT resident, Tom Berg, will grace us with his musical talents at the piano. The cost is $2 at the door. Please sign-up in the MLT Office by Friday, January 18th. Come be among friends. Hope to see you there!
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
February 10: Big Group: Valentines for MLT and Lenten Box art.
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!!
ST. MARK'S WELCOMES A PASTORAL INTERN
This Sunday, we welcome Sonja Pilman who begins her pastoral internship at St. Mark’s. The internship is 12 months long and split with St. Andrew’s in San Mateo. Sonja Pilman is going to be 50% of the time at St. Mark’s and 50% at St. Andrew’s. Sonja is a candidate for ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and her internship is part of her candidacy requirements.
She grew up in Switzerland and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Theology from the Universities of Zurich and Basel respectively. Also in Switzerland, she has worked as a youth director in Zurich for two years and has done a substitution for a pastor on maternity leave.
In 2016 she came to the Bay Area with her husband Markus Pilman for his job. They both fell in love with the diversity of California’s nature, cities, and culture. They have settled in very well. Sonja is now looking forward to being able to continue her path of becoming a pastor.
St. Andrew’s in San Mateo has been the parish she has been an active member at for a year now. She took a Lutheran Worship class at PLTS in Berkeley, did Clinical Pastoral Education at UCSF, and went through the needed part of the ELCA Candidacy process.
She has a great passion for preaching and for working with youth in confirmation. She is eager to learn about joys and challenges of a congregation in San Francisco.
In addition to church and family life, her interests are traveling, time with friends, cooking, and great TV shows.
Sonja Pilman is looking forward to meeting you and having your support in this year of learning and growing. If you would like to serve on her Internship Committee, please speak with Pr. Elizabeth.
You're Invited!
Please join the San Francisco Interfaith Council and local civic leaders as we explore together the interconnections of faith, financial empowerment, and community strength. Co-hosted by a planning committee of women of faith and action, including Congregation Emanu-El Senior Rabbi Beth Singer, Human Rights Commissioner Hala Hijazi, St. Mark's Lutheran Church Lead Pastor Rev. Elizabeth Ekdale, and Grace Cathedral’s The Rev. Canon Dr. Ellen Clark-King, this special "mini-summit" will feature nationally recognized leaders, San Francisco Treasurer José Cisneros and Commissioner on the Status of Women Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz.
Financial Capabilities: A Social Justice Issue
Thursday, January 31, 2019
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Latino/Hispanic Community Room of the San Francisco Main Public Library
*Refreshments will be provided*
This event will help raise awareness about the vast inequities in pay and wealth impacting our diverse San Francisco community, pioneering local efforts responding to this challenge and strengthen economic security and mobility for our families, and ways we can support this important work. The program will feature faith leaders on social justice, a keynote from Commissioner Schwab-Pomerantz on the importance of financial capability, and a vibrant discussion led by Treasurer Cisneros about the San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment’s programs, and powerful roles the faith-based community can play to expand this work. We will be joined by a strong delegation of peers from amongst San Francisco’s various faith-based congregations, community associations, labor organizations, and social service organizations. We look forward to seeing you in the new year.
San Francisco Interfaith Council
P.O. Box 29055
San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 474-1321
office@sfinterfaithcouncil.org
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... Liv Beck (9); Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Becky Burad (9); Cory Schoolland (11)
Communion Ministers...Cristin Owens, Mark Semonian (9); Geri Bailey, Jesse Peirce, Jane Borg (11)
Altar Guild...Jane Borg
Acolytes...Grace Ekdale Hoch, Tayte Sall
Sacristan...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers...Randy Schieber, Tapio Boles (9) Donna Dindia, Linda Jackson, Pam Cheung (11)
Fellowship Hour Chairs...Donna Dindia, Chuck Lewis
Next Week’s Fellowship Hour Chairs...Eva & Matt Dober