SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
During Lent we journey with all those around the world who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil. In today's gospel Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water and Spirit. At the font we are given a new birth as daughters and sons of God. As God made a covenant with Abraham, in baptism God promises to raise us up with Christ to new life. From worship we are sent forth to proclaim God's love for all the world.
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
10:00 am - Journeys in Faith - Fireside Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:05 am - Confirmation - Confirmation Classroom
10:00 am - Adult Forum - Auditorium
Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation video – part one and discussion
10:15 am - Sunday School - School Rooms
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
3:00 pm - Night Ministry Concert - Sanctuary
HANDBELL CHOIR OF CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH
This Sunday we welcome to our worship the Handbell Choir of Calvary Lutheran Church from Richland Hills, Texas. The choir is under the direction of Lou Ann Fisher.
ADULT FORUM AT 10:00AM IN THE AUDITORIUM
With New Voices
Studying the Small Catechism with Pr. Elizabeth Ekdale and Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein
The Lutheran Community of faith today includes a rich and diverse choir of voices. This Adult Forum series invites you into a fresh engagement with the Small Catechism as a way of embodying the hope and grace from God in dealing with today’s challenging issues. We are not attempting to return to some imagined purified Christianity in the 1500s nor attempting to recapture some nostalgia rooted in the 1900s. We invite you to hear the gospel anew in our time and to be renewed in our voices for this day.
THIS SUNDAY: Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation video – part one and discussion
March 19: “What Does This Mean?”: Investigating the Texts of the Catechism
March 26: Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation video – part two and discussion
April 2: “This is Most Certainly True”: Living and Praying the Catechism in Daily Life
INSTALLATION OF PR. RON, MARCH 26, 2017
On March 26, 2017 at 11:00AM Pr. Ron Moe-Lobeda will be installed as our Associate Pastor. Dr. Phyllis Anderson will be preaching and Rev. John Kuehner, Dean of San Francisco and the Peninsula Conference will install Pr. Ron. Please note will still have our regular 9:00AM worship service that Sunday.
MEALS FOR THE SF INTERFAITH SHELTER
The SF Interfaith is going to provide dinners for 50 men at Caynon Kip facility in March. We need volunteers from St. Mark’s to help with the meals on March 13th and 22nd. Please contact John Elford at jbruceelford@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer.
MARTIN LUTHER TOWER’S ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of the Martin Luther Tower Corporation, whose Members are the MLT Board and the St. Mark’s Church Council, will take place on Tuesday, March 21st at 6 pm in Heritage Hall. A review of 2016 and activities for 2017 will be followed by the election of new Trustees of the Board. MLT residents and St. Mark’s members are invited to attend the meeting to hear reports, ask questions, and have dessert.
WELCA WORKSHOPS - SATURDAYS, MARCH 11, 18, AND 25 WOMEN AND JUSTICE, 10AM TO NOON IN HERITAGE HALL
Women of all ages are invited to learn about and discuss some of the many issues addressed in the ELCA’s upcoming Women and Justice social statement titled “Faith, Sexism, Justice”. Issues include: sexism, violence against women and girls, the misuse of scripture against women and girls, and economic sexism. There will also be opportunities to provide feedback for the draft social statement.
Teenagers are especially encouraged to attend on March 25, when we plan to study and discuss “Mis-representation” - how women and girls are depicted in media.
Childcare will be provided, and light refreshments will be served.
WOMEN'S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERINGS
All women are welcome to come and study together at our evening and/or morning Women of the ELCA Gatherings. In March our groups will meet on:
Second Tuesday – March 14 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 of Galatians will focus on “Heirs of the Promises” as found in the March issue of Gather Magazine.
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
UPCOMING MOSAIC TELEVISION SHOW WITH PR. ELIZABETH
Be sure to watch (or tape) the March 12 Mosaic show hosted by Pr. Elizabeth!
She interviews Gary Dreibelbis who wrote the book, “The Gospel According to Sesame Street”; Michael Pappas, Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council regarding religious institutions developing housing in San Francisco - including St. Mark’s development; and then discusses the meaning of Lent with Mosaic producer, Hugh Burroughs. KPIX (Channel 5), 5:00 am, on March 12.
PEOPLE NEEDED FOR THE VIGIL RECEPTION
After the Easter Vigil on April 15, there will be the Celebration of Easter and the Reception for New Members. If you are interested in being part of this important event, whether planning, set-up, bringing finger food, or clean up, please contact Suzanne Smith (suzathome@comcast.net) or 415/285-7438. Thank You.
LENTEN BOXES TO LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES (LIRS)
During the season of Lent, we are invited to remember the poor through our giving. Our Lenten coin boxes are for you to deposit your change or loose bills throughout the 40 days of Lent. The proceeds will be donated to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. who are partners of St. Mark’s AMMPARO Welcoming Congregation program. See the work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services at
www.lirs.org. Giving something up for Lent? Put the amount you would have spent on it every day into your box. Fill your box with coins or bills, or write a check to St. Mark’s with “Lenten Box” or “LIRS” in the memo line. LIRS thanks you!
SPIRITUALITY AND AGING GROUP
On Mondays from 11:00 - 12:00 Pr. Elizabeth will be hosting a group on "Spirituality and Aging" in the Brockie lounge of Martin Luther Tower. This group is open to the St. Mark's community as well. This group will offer a safe place to reflect on aging issues in light of our faith - whatever our faith may be or wherever we are in our faith journey.
CLIMATE JUSTICE AND HOPE: A SPIRITUAL-POLITICAL CALLING
Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Professor of Theological and Social Ethics at PLTS, will be the keynote speaker on the topic of "Climate Justice and Hope: A Spiritual-Political Calling" at an Interfaith Climate Conference held at Davis Community Church (412 C Street in Davis, CA) on Saturday, March 11, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. This event is co-hosted by the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Davis on behalf of the Sierra-Pacific Synod. The suggested donation is $10
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Preacher and Presiding Minister...The Rev. Ron Moe-Lobeda
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Ed Chitty (9); Greg Jahnke Ed Chitty (11)
Lectors...Suzanne Smith (9); Diana Gomez (11)
Chalice Bearers...Jane Borg, Nadine Robinson (11)
Acolytes...Nora Hurley, Linda Jackson
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Richard Boyle, Ed Chitty
Ministry of Welcome...Viknesh Silvalingam, Rachel Letchumanan (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Barbara Bock
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Nadine Robinson andKimberly Hamilton-Lam