SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
The second covenant in this year's Lenten readings is the one made with Abraham and Sarah: God's promise to make them the ancestors of many, with whom God will remain in everlasting covenant. Paul says this promise comes to all who share Abraham's faith in the God who brings life into being where there was no life. We receive this baptismal promise of resurrection life in faith. Sarah and Abraham receive new names as a sign of the covenant, and we too get new identities in baptism, as we put on Christ.
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: Deliberating About Genetics - Fireside Room
10:00 am - Journeys in Faith - JIF Room
10:05 am - Confirmation - Youth Room
11:00 am - Choral Eucharist Worship Service - Sanctuary
12:15 pm - Refreshments and Fellowship Hour - Heritage Hall
4:00 pm - American Bach Soloists - Sanctuary
BLESSING OF CANDIDATES FOR AFFIRMATION - THIS SUNDAY
This rite calls on the congregation to pray for and with those who are preparing for Affirmation of Baptism, and for the sick, those in need, and all of God’s creation. The candidates are presented with a copy of Luther’s Small Catechism, a physical symbol of the Christian life of prayer. The candidates are blessed as they continue their journey of renewal through the season of Lent.
CALLING ALL POTENTIAL WORSHIP ASSISTANTS
One of the central disciplines of Lent is prayer, and the communal prayer for which we gather on Sundays requires a committed group of volunteers. During this season of preparation and reflection, you are invited to discern a call to serve as a chalice bearer, altar guild member, usher, assisting minister or lector. If interested, speak with Kyle or e-mail him at kschiefelbein@ses.gtu.edu. No experience necessary – training provided!
ADULT FORUM AT 10:00AM IN THE FIRESIDE ROOM - THIS SUNDAY
THIS SUNDAY: Deliberating About Genetics
Lutherans Doing Ethics
If theology is how we speak about God, then ethics is how we speak about life. Ethics is our lived response to the good news of the gospel. As Lutherans, we have a penchant for ethics—for recognizing that we are sinners striving to live as saints. But, as Lutherans, do we think differently, live differently precisely because we are Lutherans? Please join us as we consider “Lutherans Doing Ethics.” These 4 forums are facilitated by Dr. Margaret McLean, Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies and Associate Director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University and member of St. Mark’s.
UPCOMING FORUMS:
March 5 Deliberating End of Life Options
March 11 Deliberating Together from Birth to Death
MIDWEEK LENTEN SUPPER AND WORSHIP ON WEDNESDAYS
Join our “Lenten Journey to the Easter Vigil” during this Lenten season by coming to our Midweek Lenten Supper and Worship on Wednesday evenings, February 21 – March 21. A simple supper of soup and bread will be served at 6:00 p.m., followed by our worship service in the sanctuary at 6:45 p.m. For our worship services, we will be using 5 of the assigned lessons for the Easter Vigil as our theme and emphasis for each week leading up to the Easter Vigil.
February 28 - Genesis 7:1-5,11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13 - Flood
March 7 - Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 - The Red Sea
March 14 - Isaiah 55:1-11 - Salvation for All
March 21 - Daniel 3:1-29 - The Fiery Furnace
If you would be willing to provide soup and/or bread for one of our Lenten suppers, please email Deidre at events@stmarks-sf.org. Food for 12 – 18 people usually is sufficient. Thank you.
LENTEN BOXES TO LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES (LIRS)
Giving something up for Lent? Put the amount you would have spent on it every day into your St. Mark’s Lenten box. The money you deposit into your St. Mark’s Lenten box during the 40 days of Lent will be donated to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS). LIRS has been caring for immigrants and refugees in the United States for over 70 years. Look at http://lirs.org, or @LIRSorg on Facebook, for information about Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. You can also see a video, “The Journey” at https://vimeo.com/117593637. The 5-minute video is about young unaccompanied migrants from El Salvador, the difficult journey they have made, and their lives now filled with hope because of the accompaniment of Lutherans and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.
During the season of Lent, we are invited to care for immigrants and refugees through our giving. 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!
You can get your colorful decorated box, one per family, from any usher or worship leader during the season of Lent.
GRIEF GROUP AND GRIEF COUNSELING AVAILABLE
Losing loved ones is one of the most difficult things we will ever endure. The trained clinical and grief counseling staff at Institute on Aging are available to help with grieving the loss of a friend, loved one, or associate. Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. a Drop-In Grief Group is available for free at 3575 Geary Blvd. Call Institute on Aging for further information 415 750-4111.
LET'S CELEBRATE TEA IN THE TENDERLOIN, SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2-5PM
You are warmly invited to celebrate with Lutheran Social Services at 191 Golden Gate Ave. Staff will be on hand for you to tour their amazing office complex and learn about some of their exciting work. RSVP to events@lssnorcal.org
ST. MARK'S MEN'S RETREAT
All of the men of St. Mark’s are encouraged to attend the upcoming Men’s Retreat on Friday – Saturday, April 27 – 28 at Mercy Center in Burlingame. Please mark your calendar for this special opportunity to spend 24 hours with other men (however you self-identify) from St. Mark’s and engage in a conversation about the joys and challenges of being a male person of faith in our contemporary culture. Pastor Ron will be facilitating this retreat, and will draw us into conversations around the topic, “Men Also Have Feelings.” The cost is $154/person for the overnight, 3 meals, and our meeting room. You may submit a check to St. Mark’s and earmark it for “Men’s Retreat.” We may check in any time after 4:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, have supper at 6:00 p.m., and conclude our retreat at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Please let Pastor Ron know if you need a scholarship to defray your expenses.
To register, please make a note on a Welcome Card with your name and put it in the offering plate, or email Pastor Ron at moe-lobeda@stmarks-sf.org. The registration deadline is Monday, March 26 as we need to submit an accurate count to Mercy Center by then. You will receive more detailed information about the retreat after you have registered. This event will be a great opportunity for the men of St. Mark’s to come together and strengthen the relationships that we already have with one another.
WORSHIP LEADERS THIS SUNDAY
Director of Music...Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Assisting Ministers...Rachel Boles (9); Greg Jahnke, Steve Ernst (11)
Lectors...Robert Rathmell (9); Cory Schoolland (11)
Chalice Bearer...Steve Ernst, Nadine Robinson
Acolytes...Katherine Lam and Linda Jackson
Sacristans...Ed Chitty, Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero
Ushers...Louis Gutierrez
Coffee Hour Chairs...Andrew Sallach, Elaine & Tim Bohan
Next Week’s Coffee Hour Chairs...Susie Smith and Frederick Blickle