Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Called to contemplate the cost of discipleship today, we might be helped by translating Paul’s request to Philemon into our prayer of the day: Refresh my heart in Christ. Strengthened by the company and forgiveness of the Christ in the blessed sacrament and recalling God’s grace in remembrance of baptism, we can be strengthened in this hour to “choose life”—to choose life in God as our own.
This Sunday at St. Mark’s
9:00 am - Holy Communion with Children’s Time - Auditorium
10:00 am - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Fireside Room
11:00 am - Holy Eucharist Worship Service - Auditorium
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Fireside Room
St. Jude 5K
In September, communities across the country will join together to raise money through the St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. Thrivent Mutual Funds is honored to sponsor St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to support children and families as they battle childhood cancer.
This inspiring, family-friendly 5K event helps raise funds to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.
Event Details:
Please join our team for the St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer.
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2016
Location: San Francisco Zoo, I Zoo Road, San Francisco, CA 94132
Time: 7:00 AM to 11 :00 AM
Register online: http://www.thrivent.com/offers/st-jude.html
National team: Thrivent Mutual Funds
Our team name: Thrivent - San Francisco
Save the date for God’s Work Our Hands Sunday
Sunday September 11, 2016
Join us as we serve our community together with thousands of other ELCA congregations during the ELCA wide day of service. Come to worship on this Sunday with opportunities to participate after each service.
- Personal Care Kits Assembly and Honoring our First Responders
Everyone is welcome to join us on the square after each service, Sunday school children too, as we assemble personal care kits that will be distributed to San Francisco citizens in need. This September 11 marks the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. A station to offer prayers and make thank you cards will be set up after each service to remember those first responders who rush in to protect us. The cards will be delivered to our local first responders after the event.
- Service Project at Lutheran Social Services in the Tenderloin
Join us after the 11 o’clock service as we walk over together and provide grounds clean up and painting for LSS. LSS provides much needed case management, financial management, housing services and training for those in need. Help us support this wonderful organization. Please contact Cristin Owens (cristinowens@gmail.com) or Clovis Curl (clovisameliahs@gmail.com) for more information
Welcome to our new Events Administrator
We welcome J. Jeff Badger as our new Events Administrator. “J. Jeff,” as he is mostly known, has a rich and varied background in performing arts administration and management. J. Jeff will be responsible for calendaring all events in the Church and the Urban Life Center, as well as handling all wedding, concert, and other event inquiries on behalf of St. Mark’s. Please contact him at badger@stmarks-sf.org or (415) 928-7770 ext. 2290 if you need to reserve space for a ministry meeting.
Two new user friendly electronic resources are recommended by your Pastors
The Small Catechism is available from Augsburg Fortress as a free app for your phone.
Presiding Bishop Eaton has encouraged congregations to study the Small Catechism as we move into the 500th anniversary commemorating the Reformation.
In addition, there is a free digital download titled Together by Grace - Introducing the Lutherans which is a study guide on the history of Lutherans and who we are now in the 21st century. Enjoy!
https://www.augsburgfortress.org/media/downloads/TbG_StudyGuide.pdf
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 September our groups will meet on:
Evening Gathering – September 6 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Fireside Room
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 be reading the first three chapters of Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery of Loving by Krista Tippett.
Second Tuesday – September 13 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 will be on “Jonah and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” as found in the September issue of Gather Magazine.
If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Smith at 415.285.7438 or suzathome@comcast.net.
Office Closed for Labor Day
The Church office will be closed on Monday, September 5th in observance of labor day. The office with resume normal hours on Tuesday September 6th.
Interested in planning activities for St. Mark’s related to the Holy Land?
Let’s meet and discuss ideas and new developments, education, arts, books, information, service opportunities - connect with others who share your concerns - time and place TBA soon! Meantime, let Linda Krauskopf know of your interest. Email: jklmk@comcast.net or call the church office.
Join us for Night Ministry’s Annual Fall Gala
The members of the Governing Board of the San Francisco Night Ministry invite you to attend their Fall Gala under the theme “1001 Nights around the World: An International Extravaganza”.
Proceeds will support the ministry and outreach of Night Ministry which has offered pastoral care, counseling and crisis intervention every night of the year between the hours of 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM for the past 52 years!
Saturday, October 8, 2016, 5:30–8:30 p.m.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (Urban Life Center)
1111 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco CA, 94109
Reception, program, live music, small plates from around the world, beer and wine bar, soft drinks, with silent, live and reverse auctions
$104.00 General Seating at
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2589844
Sponsorships available upon request by contacting Night Ministry at
Office@sfnightministry.org
Help Wanted and Needed!
Presently we are in great need of more Assisting Ministers and Acolytes. If you are interested in serving in either or both of these important ministries of worship please speak with either of our Sacristans. Sacristan Richard Boyle will be available after both worship services this month to train anyone interested in participating in these ministries. Don’t be shy. The training is not difficult, and the view from the chancel is lovely!
Donate Flowers in 2016
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 http://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.
Worship Leaders This Sunday
Guest Musician...Stacy Cullison
Assisting Ministers...Sharon Reinbott (9); Ed Chitty, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Barbara McCormick (9); Rachel Letchumanan (11)
Chalice Bearers...Shannon Cheng (9); Nadine Robinson, Viknesh Silvalingam (11)
Acolytes...Mila & Tayte Sall
Sacristan and Altar Guild...Ed Chitty
Ministry of Welcome...Pam Cheung, Kimberly and David Lam, Tina Niu, Pedro Ospina, Linda R. Jackson (11)
Coffee Hour Chair...Brandee Marckmann, Bill Mooney, and Kathy Lautz
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Diana and Greg Gomez
Prayers of the Parish
Cassie Allen
Michael Aune
Debbie Brant & Ted Bernardi
Pastor Raymond H. Birkel
Diana Bock
Natalie E. Bock
Riley Brooks
Ed Chitty
Corrine Cottrell
Marilyn Desmond
Indar Dutt
Bonnie Elliot
Jack Heiter
Carolyn Johnson
Dennis Jones
Taylor Jones
John Krauskopf
Stephen Krefting
Arnold Lehmann
Margaret Massialas
Roderick Mobley
Stan Moeller
Lee & Irma Opitz
Ryan Parker
Cassie Pili
Marc Randall
Travis Schwartz
Matt Seiples
Tim Selander and family
LaVonne Strutz, mother of Geri Bailey
Dana Utz
Carl Velleno
Jerry Witherspoon
Brent Wolfe
For all military personnel, especially Will Lehmann
For the growing families of St. Mark’s, especially those who hope for andthose who are expecting children
For the Kigali Parish of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda
For the Cordero de Dios congregation in El Salvador
For our Missionary, Pastor Kate Warn, YAGM coordinator in Rwanda
For all Christians in the Holy Land, especially Bethlehem
For the people of Papua New Guinea, the Islands of the Indian Ocean
For the Kindergarten Cynthia Espinoza in Paraguay
For MLT Residents who are hospitalized or in hospice care
Every effort is made to keep the Prayers of the Parish current.
Please email Lawrence@stmarks-sf.org to add, remove or update a name on the prayer list.