Matthew narrates one of Jesus' controversial parables, in which Jesus says the reign of God is like workers who get paid the same no matter when they start. When God changes his mind about punishing Nineveh for their evil ways, Jonah is angry. Yet God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. In baptism we receive the grace of God that is freely given to all. As Luther wrote, in the presence of God's mercy we are all beggars.
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:50 am - Sunday School - Sunday School Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Adult Forum - “Learning Together” - Heritage Hall
10:05 am - Confirmation Class - Confirmation Classroom
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
12:30 pm - El Salvador Travel Meeting - Conference Room
12:30 pm - Adult Education Meeting - Heritage Hall
ST. MARK'S COMMUNITY POTLUCK AND VARIETY SHOW, SEPTEMBER 23RD
Join us at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 23rd in Heritage Hall for St. Mark’s Community Potluck and Variety Show, as we gather to celebrate our wonderful community of faith.
You will not want to miss this memorable evening of delicious food, great conversation, fun entertainment and the opportunity to spend time with your St. Mark's community. To accommodate those we anticipate will attend, we will need about 15 hot dishes and the same number of salads, in addition to appetizers, punch, wine and desserts.
If you are able to help set up or clean up, please contact Laura Evenson at Laura@curl.net.
If you have talent to share for the evening, you may contact Greg Jahnke at gregjahnke@comcast.net
We look forward to seeing you on September 23rd!
THIS SUNDAY'S GUEST PREACHER
This Sunday we welcome Rev. Jim DeLange as our guest preacher. Pr. DeLange recently served at St. Francis Lutheran Church in San Francisco. We are delighted to have him as our preacher.
ANOINTING MINISTRY
This fall, we occasionally will have a station for anointing set up in the back corner of the sanctuary during the distribution of Holy Communion for anyone who would like to receive a prayer and be anointed with oil as a way of offering healing and hope for your lives. Whatever your challenge or burden in your life—no matter how great or how small—you are invited to come before or after receiving communion for this blessing.
ADULT FORUM BEGINS THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
FIRESIDE ROOM @ 10:00 A.M.
THIS SUNDAY - “Learning Together” - St. Mark’s AMMPARO committee invites you to hear a speaker tell their migration story and how they are impacted by today’s immigration policies. Bring friends and family to this adult forum that will broaden and humanize the immigration experience. There will be time for Q&A.
Next Weeks Adult Forum - Confronting Giants & Climbing Higher Mountains: Inspiring stories of California’s interfaith climate movement
For 17 years, California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL) has been living into its founding mission–to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming as a moral issue. Today, CIPL is a network of nearly 700 congregations of all faiths committed to addressing climate change from Chico to San Diego, Mono Lake to Monterey Bay. Together, CIPL and member congregations like St. Mark’s are making a real difference. Whether championing the first-in-the-nation cap on carbon, or calling for an end to new fossil fuel infrastructure projects, we, along with our member congregations, have been growing the interfaith movement to protect our common home. Since 2002, CIPL member congregations have prevented 223,822,567 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. At today’s forum Rev. Will Scott, the outgoing Program Director will share ways individuals and congregations can respond to urgency of the climate crisis with wisdom, courage, and compassion.
ADULT FORUM PLANNING MEETING THIS SUNDAY
If you have ideas and thoughts about topics for our Adult Forums, please join Pr. Elizabeth and others in Heritage Hall following the second worship service. If you are unable to attend but have suggestions, please feel free to e-mail them to her: ekdale@stmarks-sf.org
SAFE CONGREGATION TRAINING
The next training session for orientation to St, Mark’s Safe Congregation policy and practice is scheduled for Sunday, October 15 at 12:30 PM in the Fireside Room. Anyone and everyone who works directly with the children and youth at St. Mark’s is expected to take this training in order to know how best to create a safe environment for our children and youth. Those who took the training 3 years ago are expected to renew their training. Anyone else who might be interested in this training is encouraged to attend and participate. Margaret McLean and Mary Ritter facilitate this training and do a great job in ensuring that our Safe Congregation Policy is implemented and enforced so that our children and youth are invited into as safe an environment as possible. If you plan to attend, please contact Mary, Margaret, or Winnie in the church office.
AGING AND SPIRITUALITY GROUP
Join Pr. Elizabeth every Monday from 11:00 – 12:00 in the Brockie Lounge of Martin Luther Tower for this time of sharing and support. What are the challenges of aging in today’s world? What are the joys and surprises? How has your faith changed and grown with aging? All these questions and more are for us to ponder and consider together. This is a safe place to share your feelings, frustrations and joys about aging. All are welcome.
NEW TO ST. MARK'S? WELCOME!
If you are interested in learning more about St Mark’s, we would love to talk with you! All questions are welcome. Contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com; 415-205-3292).
WELCOMING OUR TEACHING PARISH SEMINARIANS
St. Mark’s has been blessed with two students from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary who will be involved with our congregation as their teaching parish. They are Pam Reynolds and Molly Hartshorn—both second-year students. We will be installing them as ministers of St. Mark’s this Sunday and have the opportunity to pledge our support to them in their ministry with and among us.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
Thanks to several members of St. Mark’s, residents of Martin Luther Tower will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and go to a movie. Your donations of gift cards to Peet’s, Starbucks and AMC Movie Theaters, will be given to residents who cannot afford to do so. Your generosity and kindness extends the love of Christ to these residents. Thank you.
THE NEW AED MACHINE
We are pleased to announce that we have acquired an AED machine for the church, in the event of cardiac emergencies. This life saving device is an important addition to our church building and is mounted in a wall cabinet next to the eastern Heritage Hall doors (near the women’s restroom). The purchase of this AED was made possible due to a Thrivent Grant from the Semonians - thank you!
ELEVATOR PROJECT UPDATE
With the steel frame and floor slabs in place on each floor level, the elevator shaft is taking shape! Plant Construction has installed the metal studs that form the exterior walls and in the coming weeks will apply the exterior sheathing and plaster base coats that support the outside brick finish of the addition. On the inside, the contractors will install the fire protection system (sprinkler piping), additional steel supports for the elevator rails, electrical wiring and the drywall finish for the interior elevator lobbies. With the San Francisco Planning Department’s approval of the exterior finishes in place, Plant will move quickly in the coming weeks, but even so, the projected completion date is in late October or early November. Finally, we invite you to make a gift to the Capital Campaign. This Campaign pays for the cost of the elevator, stained glass window refurbishment and the new floor in the Sanctuary. Please note Capital Campaign in your check or donate online at www.stmarks-sf.org/give-a-gift.
“TRAVELERS TO EL SALVADOR”
MEETINGS AUGUST 27, SEPT 24, OCT 22 AND NOV 19
Nine St. Mark’s members have made a commitment to visit our sisters and brothers at Cordero de Dios November 21-26, 2017. It is not too late to join the group. Please contact Mary Ritter mlrpeds@aol.com or Matt Helland helland@nka.com if you have questions.
Travelers will meet monthly before the trip to discuss accompaniment, the growth of our relationship with Cordero de Dios, and travel and safety concerns. We hope all travelers can attend all the sessions. Save these dates and times: August 27 at 12:30, September 24 at 12:30, October 22 at 12:30, November 19 at 12:30. The meetings will be in the Conference Room.
HYMNFEST AND OKTOBERFEST, OCTOBER 28
Saturday, October 28 will be a memorable day as we gather for a special commemoration of the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation, celebrate 50 years of Martin Luther Tower ministry, and highlight our stewardship efforts and the mission of St. Mark’s. The day begins at 1:00 PM with a Hymnfest featuring a festival of Reformation music presented by St. Mark’s choir members in concert with choir members from the Sierra-Pacific Synod and members of the SF Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. At 2:30 PM, we will transition to our annual Oktoberfest in the St. Mark’s Square. Come for an afternoon of great food, fun entertainment, and a bouncy house for the children. This event is open to everyone in the community. So, invite your friends and neighbors to join in this wonderful German festival—this year in honor of the 500th commemoration of the Reformation. Suggested donation is $10/person. Martin Luther Tower residents are free. Please contact Cristin Owens at cristinowens@gmail.com if you are able to help with any of the set up, food preparation, or clean up.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Barbara McCormick (9); Phil Krikau, Ed Chitty (11)
Lectors...Suzanne Smith (9) Roberta Brouhard (11)
Chalice Bearers...Mark Semonian (9); Nadine Robinson (11)
Acolytes...Evan and Alison Schieber
Sacristans...Ed Chitty, Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers...Marisa Lee, Louis Gutierrez (9); Larry DeSpain (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Marie Jose Baum, Kate Knickerbocker
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Barbara Bock