THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Jesus begins his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets and follow him. In Jesus the kingdom of God has come near. We who have walked in darkness have seen a great light. We see this light most profoundly in the cross-as God suffers with us and all who are oppressed by sickness, sin, or evil. Light dawns for us as we gather around the word, the font, and the holy table. We are then sent to share the good news that others may be "caught" in the net of God's grace and mercy.
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
6:00 am - Interfaith Winter Shelter - Auditorium
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children's Time - Sanctuary
10:00 am - Adult Forum - Annual Meeting Highlights - Auditorium
10:00 am - Journeys in Faith - Fireside Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Confirmation - Confirmation Room
10:15 am - Sunday School - School Rooms
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
2:00 pm - SF Night Ministry Crisis Line Training - Fireside Room
4:00 pm - SF Early Music Society Concert - Sanctuary
5:00 pm - Interfaith Winter Shelter - Auditorium
ADULT FORUMS - JANUARY 22 , 10:00AM IN THE AUDITORIUM
This Adult Forum we will be discussing the highlights of the upcoming St. Mark's Annual Meeting and Special Congregational Meeting held on Jan. 29, 2017 immediately following the 11:00 service in the sanctuary. Please join leaders of St. Mark's in the auditorium at 10:00 Sunday morning.
WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY DINNER AND WORSHIP
All are invited to our weekly community meal at 6:00 and worship at 6:45. Come and relax over a meal with members and visitors of the St. Mark's community. Immediately afterwards, join the Pastors and our Director of Music for a lovely, contemplative worship service at 6:45 in the sanctuary. The service lasts 30 minutes and will include Holy Communion.
This weekly worship service is a wonderful time to receive with open hearts the gifts and presence of God. Come and rest. Come and be refreshed. Come and just be!
We are also looking for volunteers to help make community dinner possible! If you are available to pick heat/prepare food or help clean up after the dinner, please contact Winnie Heslin at heslin@stmarks-sf.org or call the church office at 415.928.7770.
ST. MARK'S VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN 2017!
We are in great need of new Volunteers who are looking for an opportunity to serve St. Mark's in 2017. Volunteers are needed to staff our church office, which is in the Urban Life Center. It is an excellent way to stay attuned to all that is happening at St. Mark's! Volunteers are needed to staff the office for a few hours each day between 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We will be most grateful for any amount time you can volunteer on a weekly basis. You will be answering telephones, answering questions, distributing mail and packages for staff as well as ULC building tenants, greeting visitors, helping with mailings to congregation members (when needed), helping assemble the weekly Parish Announcement bulletin (usually on Thursdays), plus assisting the staff and Pastors, however and whenever needed.
If you are interested in joining this important ministry, please call the St. Mark's office or contact Jane Borg either by eMail(janebborg@att.net) or during a Sunday Coffee Hour. All are welcome, no prior office experience is necessary. We are a child and pet friendly office!
2017 STEWARDSHIP UPDATE - FORWARD IN FAITH - LIFTED BY LOVE 2
Sincere GRATITUDE and THANKS for your 2017 annual pledge!! Your pledge of financial support becomes the foundation upon which the ministries and missions of St. Mark's depend*.
Haven't pledged? Uplifting financial incentive from our congregation - extended to Feb 1st! Two anonymous donors have offered to help with an incentive... "we are willing to donate $100 to the general fund for each pledge received between January 10th and February 1st, up to a total donation of $2,000.
This is a tangible thanksgiving for a successful call process and in support of "full staffing". We encourage the community of St. Mark's to take a definitive step to support the church we love."
With pledging, we are able to develop an annual budget and know what ministries we can continue!!
Where we are to date:
to date 2017: 93 pledges for a total of $331,808
Versus 2016: 114 pledges for a total of $386,646
(Note: all pledges are strictly confidential.)
We are unfortunately looking at some tough decisions as we are below last year's pledges.
We are greatly blessed with the many ministries* we support at St. Mark's! As we did during our Stewardship campaign, we encourage you to take time to reflect, and encourage you to ponder:
How do I spend my life?
How do I spend my time?
How do I spend my blessings?
* We are enriched by our many and various ministries at St. Mark's, including Sunday and mid-week worship; music & choir; children & youth with nursery, Sunday School and Confirmation; Journeys in Faith; Adult Education, SF Interfaith Homeless Shelter at St. Mark's, SF Interfaith Food Shelter, MLT affordable housing for seniors; SF night ministries; Cordero de Dios in El Salvador, to name just some of our ministries!
We greatly appreciate your thoughtful consideration of your pledge to St. Mark's, and your continued giving of your time and talents. It is with gratitude and celebration that we embrace our love of our community, and continue to be lifted by love at St. Mark's!
Click here for pledge form
NEW JOURNEYS IN FAITH GROUP STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR
All are invited to join this newest group of Journeys in Faith. Take advantage of this opportunity and set aside time this winter and Lent for faith reflection and renewal. Together, we journey to Easter, learning more about our faith and faith community. And, together we consider and prepare for joining St Mark's, being baptized, or affirming our baptism. You are welcome to join usthis Sunday at 10:00AM in the Fireside Room. If you are interested or have questions, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com, (415) 205-3292) for more information.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE!!!!!! A VERY NEW AND VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND OUR CONGREGATION: WHAT WOULD LUTHER DO TODAY?
Have you ever wondered what Martin Luther would do if he were here today? Join Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and thousands of learners around the world in a free course where you will learn how to apply Luther's thoughts and writings to contemporary issues.
Offered by ChurchNext in partnership with Augsburg Fortress and United Lutheran Seminary, this course or "Big Class" provides a rich learning environment for those seeking to gain a better understanding of how Lutheranism might address current affairs.
The course opens January 16 and is free through January 30. Because you can watch the course anytime, it's perfect for individuals, as well as small and large groups. (Group resources are available here.)
Secure your spot and learn in a community with those around the world and with Presiding Bishop Eaton how Martin Luther might deal with the pressing issues of today. REGISTER HERE
MULTIFAITH DAY OF LEARNING ON TEENS AND MENTAL HEALTH HOSTED BY PENINSULA TEMPLE SHOLOM, JANUARY 22, 2017 2-5PM
Come join the Multifaith Day of Learning on Teens and Mental Health hosted by Peninsula Temple Sholom to explore the unique role the faith community plays in the youth mental health crisis. This is a great opportunity for: Clergy, lay leaders, youth leaders, teens and their families. Peninsula Temple Sholom is located at1655 Sebastian Dr. Burlingame, CA 94010. To RSVP or for questions contact Arlene Rosenberg abrosenberg@comcast.net.
GAME ON! ST. MARK'S BOARD GAME NIGHT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 4:30 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. IN HERITAGE HALL.
Come for a night of board game fun, food and fellowship! Please free to bring your favorite board games. If you don't have any games to bring, please don't worry; we'll have plenty of games for all ages (3 to 103) and abilities on hand. Pizza will be served (free-will offering).
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINE
Please submit all announcements to Stefani Lawrence (lawrence@stmarks-sf.org) on Wednesday by 12pm, if you would like them included in Sunday's Parish Announcements. All submissions received after the deadline will only appear in our online announcements that are published Friday evenings.
MLT MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
MLT is looking for a new Maintenance Technician to work at the Tower. Visit http://www.stmarks-sf.org/jobs/ for more information.
ST. MARK'S FOOD PANTRY
If you would like to participate in a solution to the World Hunger problem, right here in San Francisco, there's an easy way to make a big difference in 300 local families' lives. Join the St. Mark's Food Pantry Distribution group. We're a fun intergenerational group that bond together over the business of distributing food from the SF/Marin Food Bank to qualified participants. There's a job for every age and body type. We would love to have you. Our next distribution date is:
Saturday morning, January 28th
Old First Church
Corner of Sacramento and Van Ness
Free Parking in Old First Church Garage on Sacramento St.
Sign up for any or all shifts, by talking with Diana Gomez.
Phone (415) 533-5205 dianamrsgomez@mindspring.com
7:30 - 9:00 AM- Unload
9:00 - 10:30 AM- Distribute
10:30 - 11:30 AM- Clean up
Future St. Mark's Food Pantry distribution dates in 2017 are as follows:
January 28, March 11, April 29, June 10, July 22, August 26, October 21, and December 2.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Steve Ernst, Ed Chitty (11)
Lectors...Suzanne Smith (9); Cora Rose (11)
Chalice Bearers...Nadine Robinson, Steve Ernst (11)
Acolytes...Nora Hurley, Grace Ekdale-Hoch
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Richard Boyle, Ed Chitty
Ministry of Welcome...Marisa Lee, Louis Gutierrez (9); Larry DeSpain (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Susie Smith and Fred Blickle
Next Week's Coffee Hour Chairs...Brandee Marckmann, Bill Mooney, Kathy Lautz