THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
The disciples make a big splash and breakfast with the risen Jesus in the gospel. Wading in the water (remembering our baptism) and eating with Jesus (celebrating the holy communion) is our weekly encounter with the risen Christ. Jesus asks us, with Peter, again and again: Do you love me? And Jesus invites us, again and again, to follow him bringing the Easter life to others.
This Sunday at St. Mark's
9:00 am - Holy Communion and 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: Introduction to Liberation Theology - Heritage Hall
Part 1 with Sonja Pilman
10:00 am Journeys in Faith - JIF Room
10:00 am Confirmation - School Rooms
11:00 am Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
12:15 pm Hospitality Team Meeting - Heritage Hall
12:30 pm Sanctuary Team Meeting - Conference Room
12:45 pm Labyrinths and Wildflowers Hike - Off-site
4:00 pm American Bach Soloists - Sanctuary
ADULT FORUM - LIBERATION THEOLOGY, SUNDAY MAY 5, 10AM IN HERITAGE HALL
May 5 - Introduction to Liberation Theology - Part 1 with Sonja Pilman
The forum will cover some of the basics of Liberation Theology in the 20th century, particularly of Latin America. The movement of the Liberation Theology sought to apply religious faith by helping the impoverished and oppressed through involvement in political affairs.
In the 1950s and the 1960s, liberation theology was the political praxis of Latin American theologians, such as Gustavo Gutiérrez of Peru, who coined the term in 1971, and Leonardo Boff of Brazil. This theology is important in El Salvador, too, where St. Mark’s has a Sister Parish.
May 12 - Introduction to Liberation Theology - Part 2 with Pr. Elizabeth
HIKE SUNDAY MAY 5: LABYRINTHS AND WILDFLOWERS
Join us for a 1.5-2 mile easy to moderate hike in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland Hills on Sunday May 5. Sibley has 3 hidden labyrinths, and we know where they are! We will also enjoy all the wildflowers the park has to offer. Afterward, everyone is invited to Sharon Reinbott’s house nearby. We’ll meet in front of the church at 12:45 pm, and carpool over to the East Bay. Please see Sharon Reinbott or Andrew Sallach if you’re interested, emails sharon.reinbott@gmail.com and andrew.sallach@yahoo.com.
HOSPITALITY TEAM MEETING ON SUNDAY MAY 5 AT 12:15 WITH PR. ELIZABETH
“Hospitality involves food, love, empathy, warmth and caring. It means helping people to feel that they belong, they matter, they are noticed and heard. It is the most reliable source of social capital within congregations and beyond for better lives and a better world. It also happens to be the way of Jesus” Source: ELCA website
Join Pr. Elizabeth if you would like to join this new ministry team. We will meet in Heritage Hall at 12:15. This team will coordinate the hospitality events at St. Mark’s: Oktoberfest, receptions, potlucks and other ways we can expand our Hospitality Ministries. If you are unable to attend but would like to participate on the Hospitality Team, please send Pr. Elizabeth an e-mail at ekdale@stmarks-sf.org or leave a message at 415 928-7770 ext 2300. All gifts are welcome on this team!
VOICE DEADLINE
The next Voice deadline is May 15, 2019, and will cover June, July, and August. Please send all submissions to Stefani at lawrence@stmarks-sf.org by May 15 to include your submission in the Newsletter. Thank you!
RETURN YOUR LENTEN OFFERING BOXES
Please bring them to church and turn them in with your regular offering. Thank you!
ST. MARK'S MEN'S RETREAT
Today is the deadline to sign up 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.
WOMEN’S MONTHLY STUDY GATHERINGS
All women are welcome to come and study together at our Women of the ELCA Gatherings. In May our groups will meet on:
Second Tuesdays – May 14 from 11:00am to 1:00pm in the Fireside Room
All women are invited to come for study at 11:00 and at noon to bring their sandwich or salad and share fellowship. Drinks and dessert will be provided. Our Bible study will center on “From generation to generation: Two-way blessings” as found in our gather magazine.
SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE
May 19: Bay to Breakers, no Sunday School
May 26: Last day of Sunday School PARTY!!
OPEN QUESTIONS “GLOBAL CAFÉ” CONVERSATION – SUNDAY, JUNE 9
As you may know, the Church Council has decided upon 3 questions that would guide congregational discussion throughout this year. They are:
How shall we make St. Mark’s more visible in the community?
How shall we grow as a congregation while deepening & maintaining relationships?
How shall we engage with the dramatic changes in our neighborhood?
YOU have an opportunity to participate in exploring some ideas about answers to these questions on Pentecost Sunday, June 9. After each worship service, the Church Council will host a “Global Café” in Heritage Hall where we will gather around tables and engage in guided conversations that will focus on these 3 questions. Your thoughts, ideas, and opinions are very important and would be welcomed as a contribution to this discussion. There will be plenty of “café” food to share during the process. You can anticipate an 80-minute session, so if you normally worship at the 11:00 a.m. service, you probably want to plan on attending the session following that worship service. If you have any questions or want more information, please contact Greg Jahnke at gregory.jahnke@thrivent.com.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Phil Krikau, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Randy Schieber (9); Barbara Bock (11)
Communion Ministers...Rommel Schiefelbein-Guerrero, Aaron Greig (9); Jane Borg, Nadine Robinson (11)
Altar Guild... Jane Borg
Acolytes...Tayte Sall, Rommel Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Sacristan...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers... Jon Moeller, Vanessa Hierbaum (9) Donna Dindia, Linda Jackson, Pam Cheung (11)
Fellowship Hour Chairs...Andrew Sallach, Elaine & Tim Bohan
Next Week’s Fellowship Hour Chairs...Diana & Greg Gomez
PRAYERS OF THE PARISH
Cassie AllenTaylor JonesTravis SchwartzDebbie Brant &Steve KreftingMatt Seiples Ted Bernardi Ruth KrikauLaVonne Strutz, mother ofNatalie E. BockMildred Mays Geri BaileyRichard BoyleCarol Melissa MenjivarMary SukanyaJo ChadwickHiroko NagataDiana SwartEd Chitty, Sr.Lee & Irma OpitzMarlo TellschowMarilyn DesmondRyan ParkerDana UtzRobyn Flores-VioletteCassie PiliJerry Witherspoon Jack HarmonMarc Randall Brent WolfeDaniel Bearss Caron Womsley
For the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Christians living in Bethlehem and Palestine
For all military personnel, especially Will Lehmann
For the growing families of St. Mark’s, especially those who hope for and those who are expecting children
For the Kigali Parish of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda
For the Cordero de Dios congregation in El Salvador
For Bishop Medardo Gomez from the Salvadoran Lutheran Church
For our Missionary, Pastor Janelle Neubauer, YAGM coordinator in Rwanda
For the people of Papua New Guinea, and the islands of the Indian Ocean
For the Kindergarten Cynthia Espinoza in Paraguay
For MLT Residents who are hospitalized or in hospice care