NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Someone is casting out demons in Jesus’ name who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.
THIS SUNDAY AT ST. MARK'S
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Sanctuary
9:50 am - Sunday School - School Rooms
10:00 am - Confirmation - Youth Room
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
10:00 am - Adult Forum: “This is our Neighborhood” with Pr. Elizabeth - Fireside Room
11:00 am - Holy Communion Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
12:30 pm - Walking tour of the Tenderloin - Our Neighborhood
2:00 pm - SFNM Crisis Line Counselor Training - Fireside Room
PROPERTY DAY SEP. 29 AT 9:00AM
All are welcome to meet the Property Team as we experience the Church outside of the Sunday Sercvice, but in a spirit of service. If I have your email you will receive an update with our list of chores. For more information email Tim Bohan timelain@pacbell.net
ADULT FORUM
This is our Neighborhood
We will reflect on Bishop Bartholomew’s bible study on “Being Neighbor” and explore together the challenges and joys of deepening our relationships with the neighbors around St. Mark’s. At 12:30, we will walk to the Tenderloin Neighborhood with former San Francisco Night Minister, Rev. Chuck Lewis, and visit the Tenderloin Museum at 398 Eddy in order to learn more about the history and life of this neighborhood. There is a small entrance fee to the museum and an option to take a “walking tour” of the Tenderloin at 2:00 that day with one of the museum’s docents.
Oct. 7,14, 21, 28 - What does the Gospel of Luke mean?
What does the Gospel of Luke mean for our lives? Luke presents the story of Jesus as good news, challenge and hope. Join Pr. Elizabeth for an in-depth bible study on Luke’s gospel during these four Sundays.
NEW TO ST. MARK'S? NEW JOURNEYS IN FAITH GROUP FORMING
Information Gatherings for New Journeys in Faith Group: October 14 and November 18. New to St Mark’s? Thinking about your faith journey and a community to support it? What does it mean to be a member of a church? How do you become a member of St Mark’s?
All are invited to learn about participating in our next Journeys in Faith group. We will meet in the Urban Life Center in the Journeys in Faith room at 10:00 on October 14th and November 18th. For more information, contact Liv Beck (beckliv@gmail.com)
SPECIAL LITURGY IN CONJUNCTION WITH CANONIZATION OF OSCAR ROMERO
On Sunday, October 14, we will be using a Latino Liturgy to remember and honor Archbishop Oscar Romero who will be canonized in the Roman Catholic Church on this day. All of our hymns for this service will be hymns that originate from a Latin American country and will set the tone for this day of worship. Archbishop Romero belonged to the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church just as Santa Clara University is an institution of the same Jesuit order. Come and join in this special celebration.
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY
We are a part of the larger Interfaith Food Pantry group of 6 churches in San Francisco. Our shared responsibility is to distribute groceries, from the SF/Marin Food Bank, to 300 patrons on Saturday mornings. Distribution takes place at Old First Presbyterian Church on Sacramento St. between Polk and Van Ness. The next distribution date is: October 13
Come join the St. Mark’s volunteers at the next distribution!
Questions? Please contact coordinator Diana Gomez at dianamrsgomez@mindspring.com.
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 October our groups will meet on:
First Tuesdays – October 2 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Conference Room in the Urban Life Center. All women are invited to come for dessert and fellowship for the first half hour and then discussion until 8:30. This month we will discuss A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Blackman..
Second Tuesdays – October 9 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 “Repentance: If I Could Turn Back Time.”
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
TIME AND TALENT SURVEY
On Sunday, October 14, the Stewardship Team will take time at the end of each worship service to allow for people to fill out the newly revised Time & Talent Form. This is an opportunity for you to acknowledge how you would like to be involved in the life and ministries of St. Mark’s, both continuing in the service that you currently are doing, as well as indicating new ways that you would like to be engaged at St. Mark’s.
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! A CALL TO ADVOCACY!
Are you frustrated by current policies of our government that seem inconsistent with your Christian faith? Come to this workshop (Presented by the Sierra Pacific Synod Hunger Network) and learn how to be an effective advocate for change!
Saturday, October 13, 2018, 9:30 to 3:00 p.m. at
Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Davis, CA
Only $10 for the day, including lunch; no charge for congregational hunger contacts, youth, college students or seminarians. If you take AMTRAK California, rides to the workshop will be provided. For questions contact Edie Lott at http://thelotts@gmail.com, 530 414-0799 cell or 530 582-5362. To register email Edie with the information requested and pay any fee when you arrive.
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.
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.
2018 ST. MARK'S ENDOWMENT GRANTS
The St. Mark’s Endowment Committee is pleased to announce this year’s grant recipients, given to organizations involved in service to the community and the world in line with St. Mark’s mission.
St. Mark’s Community Garden to support its refurbishment
ReconcilingWorks Sierra Pacific to increase the group’s visual identity as they march in the SF Pride Parade
St. Mary and Martha Lutheran Church in San Francisco to support their program providing assistance to immigrants
Mariposa Lutheran Church in Mariposa to support their after-school program for high risk, low income and LGBTQ children and youth
Christ Lutheran Institute of the Performing Arts (CLIPArts) in Visalia, CA to support their performing arts program for low-income, at-risk children
Advent Lutheran Church in Morgan Hill, CA to support their Beloved Community Arts Center providing a youth music program in partnership with the local LatinX community
Asociacion para la Diversidad Sexual en El Salvador (ALDES) to support media training in El Salvador for local journalists to provide tools and raise awareness on reporting that is sensitive to the LGBTQ community
Rukundo Foundation in Rwanda, to support providing basic school supplies to street children
We are extremely grateful to all those who expressed an interest in funding from St. Mark’s Endowment. Please reach out to a member of the Endowment Committee if you have further questions regarding the Fund or the grant process.
SANCTUARY AT ST. MARK’S?
CONSIDER SHARING YOUR OPINION WITH THE SANCTUARY TASK FORCE.
St. Mark’s Sanctuary Task Force has been asked by Church Council to consider whether St. Mark’s will declare itself a Sanctuary congregation. The Task Force is working with Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity www.im4hi.org to learn about Sanctuary.
We would like to hear from St. Mark’s congregation members about this possibility. Please consider scheduling a 20-30-minute conversation with a Task Force member in the next few weeks. The interviews can be on the telephone or in-person or in writing – it would be your choice.
Prior to the conversation, it would be helpful if you read and prayerfully considered a one-page description of the 21st century Sanctuary congregation. We can give you the document to read.
If you are interested in sharing your opinion, please email Mary Ritter mlrpeds@aol.com or call 510-895-0336 to get a copy of the one page Sanctuary description and schedule a time to talk with one of the Task Force members.
Thanks in advance for considering this.
Sanctuary Task Force Members:
Mary Ritter, Chair
Laura Evenson
Kimberly Hamilton Lam
Jason Jennings
Pastor Ron Moe-Lobeda
Cora Rose
SAVE THE DATE!
21st Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
7:00 am - 9:00 am
Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post Street (at Laguna)
San Francisco
"30th Anniversary Observance of
Interfaith Winter Shelter"
** Sponsorships and individual tickets
will be available for purchase online soon! **
For additional information about the Interfaith Winter Shelter please visit:
Interfaith Winter Shelter
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Assisting Ministers...Sharon Reinbott (9); Linda Jackson, Pam Reynolds (11)
Lectors...Robert Rathmell (9); Barbara Bock (11)
Communion Ministers...Cristin Owens, Mark Semonian (9); Libby Pfaff, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda (11)
Altar Guild...Cory Schoolland
Acolytes...Alison Schieber, Grace Ekdale-Hoch
Sacristans...Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers... Jerry Lundblad (9); Larry DeSpain (11)
Coffee Hour Chairs...Brandee Marckmann, Kathy Lautz
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Diana & Greg Gomez