Sunday, June 22, 2014

June 22, 2014: Live Stream of Worship: Pentecost 2A





Pentecost 2
 June 22, 2014
10 am Holy Communion Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran

Welcome to worship at Grace!
 Welcome to long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to faith. 
Welcome to all who have no church home, want to follow Christ, have doubts, or do 
not believe. Welcome to new visitors and old friends. Welcome to people of every age 
and size, color and culture, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic 
status, marital status, ability and challenge. Welcome to believers and questioners, and to 
questioning believers. This is a place where you are welcome to celebrate and sorrow, 
rejoice and recover.  This is a place where lives are made new.

Special Welcome to Newcomers
Welcome to our small community of faith.  While we are small in numbers, we have big hearts and a desire to grow.  In order to help you follow along, we have included all the materials you need for worship in this bulletin.

Please join us for worship any Sunday at 10am that you are able.  If you cannot join us in person, you can also join us online via live stream or by watching the archives of our worship and Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck anytime during the week at our website (www.gracesf.com), or on our mobile phone app, Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck, is available on Google Play and ITunes. 

If you have any questions about the service or about Grace, you can fill out the form in pew to let our pastor know you’d like to chat.  Or you can contact Pastor Megan Rohrer at pastor@gracesf.com.

Prelude:              "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!"                      Hymntune: Nicaea
Greeting:  
Water is poured into the baptismal font. 
P   The Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 
C   And also with you.




Prayer of the Day:
God, you are with us even when everything in our lives falls apart.  Help us to find your comfort in our deepest pain and to support each other until we see the day when your justice triumphs over everything that is painful.

Welcome           



First Reading: Genesis 21:8-21
8 The child grew, and on the day of weaning, Sarah and Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah noticed the child that Hagar the Egyptian had borne for Abraham, playing with her child Isaac. 10 She demanded of Abraham, “Send Hagar and her child away! I will not have this child of my attendant share in Isaac’s inheritance.” 11 Abraham was greatly distressed by this because of his son Ishmael.

12 But God said to Abraham, “Don’t be distressed about the child or about Hagar. Heed Sarah’s demands, for it is through Isaac that descendants will bear your name. 13 As for the child of Hagar the Egyptian, I will make a great nation of him as well, since he is also your offspring.” 14 Early the next morning Abraham brought bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away. She wandered off into the desert of Beersheba. 15 When the skin of water was empty, she set the child under a bush, 16 and sat down opposite him, about a bow-shot away. She said to herself, “Don’t let me see the child die!” and she began to wail and weep.

17 God heard the child crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. “What is wrong, Hagar?” the angel asked. “Do not be afraid, for God has heard the child’s cry. 18 Get up, lift up the child and hold his hand; for I will make of him a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went to it and filled the skin with water, and she gave the child a drink. 20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became a fine archer. 21 He made his home in the desert of Paran, and his mother found a wife for him in Egypt.

L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God


Psalm  86: 1-10    (read responsively)
1 Open your ears, God the most high, and answer me, for I am weak and helpless. 2 Save me from death, for I am loyal to you; protect your faithful one, for you are my God and I trust in you.
3 Have mercy on me, God the most high, for I pray to you all day long.
4 Make your faithful one glad, for I lift my soul to you, God the most high. 5 You are good and forgiving, God the most high, full of constant love for all who call on you.
6 Listen to my prayer, God the most high, hear my cries for help.
7 I call to you in times of trouble because you answer my prayer.
8 There is no other god like you, God the most high, not one who can do what you do.
9 When you act, all the nations will come and bow down before you, God the most high, and will pay honor to your Name.
10 How great you are, Worker of Marvels; you alone are God!

Second Reading: Romans 6:1b-11
Should we go on sinning so that grace might abound? 2 Of course not! We’re dead to sin, so how can we continue to live in it? 3 Don’t you know that when we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were baptized into Christ’s death? 4 We’ve been buried with Jesus through baptism, and we joined with Jesus in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by God’s glory, we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with Christ in the likeness of Christ’s death, we will also be united with Christ in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection. 6 We must realize that our former selves have been crucified with Christ to make the body of sin and failure completely powerless, to free us from slavery to sin: 7 for when people die, they have finished with sin. 8 But we believe that, having died with Christ, we will also live with Christ—9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again: death is now powerless over our Savior. 10 When Christ died, Christ died to sin, once for all, so that the life Christ lives is now life in God. 11 In this way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin—but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God

Duet:          "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" arr. Jane Marshall           Words: Thomas Chisholm                                                Music: Wm. Runyan                      MaryAnn Dale and SallyAnn Ryan  

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:24-39
24 “A student is not superior to the teacher; the follower is not above the leader. 25 The student should be glad simply to become like the teacher, the follower like the leader. “If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of the household! 26 “Don’t let people intimidate you. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing is hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops. 28 “Don’t fear those who can deprive the body of life but can’t destroy the soul. Rather, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna.

29 “Are not the sparrows sold for pennies? Yet not a single sparrow falls to the ground without your Parent God’s knowledge. 30 As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid of anything—you are worth more than an entire flock of sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before the Parent God in heaven. 33 Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before the Parent God in heaven. 34 “Don’t suppose that I came to bring peace on earth. I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 I have come to turn ‘A son against his father, a daughter against her mother, in-law against in-law.

36 One’s enemies will be the members of one’s own household.’ 37 “Those who love mother or father, daughter or son more than me are not worthy of me. 38 Those who will not carry with them the instrument of their own death—following in my footsteps—are not worthy of me. 39 “You who have found your life will lose it, and you who lose your life for my sake will find it.

The gospel of the Lord.                                Praise to you, O Christ.


Sermon              
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.  The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.




Hymn of the Day: Verses 1, 3, 4 and 5


Prayers of Intercession
A    During this season of Pentecost, we pray that the Holy Spirit will bring understanding, inspiration and health to the church, the world and all people in their need.  A brief silence.

Creating God, help us repair broken relationships, to clean up our messes and debts and to ask for help when we need it. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Parent God, bless all who are parents, the family and staff of the Grace Infant Care Center and all who have created families.  Help us to become better at loving and receiving love from others.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, guide our civic leaders and enable them to be good stewards of public trust, resources and properties.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who work in healing and caring professions.  Support doctors, nurses, partners, parents and friends who love and support others.  Provide healing and hope for those whose minds, bodies or spirits are in need of care.  Help us to live as fully as we can as we await the day all pain and suffering will end.   God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For whom and what else do the people of Grace pray?
(Please offer - silently or aloud- petitions to God.  End spoken petitions with “God in your mercy.”)

P Our prayers rise like incense and are held by a loving God who yearns for us to be our best.  May we sleep well, worry less, and live convinced that God is on our side.    Amen.


Peace
The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

P   The peace of Christ be with you always.                C   And also with you.

The people may greet one another with the sign of Christ’s peace, and may say, “Peace be with you” or similar words.    Then, the assembly is seated.


Offering
An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. 

Offertory:           "Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song"            Setting by John Carter
Offering Prayer:
After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.
A    Let us pray.   God, bless all that we have to offer.  May our financial support match the generosity of our lives.  Help us to be good stewards of our financial and emotional investments.  Amen.



Communion:


P  It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:




P   On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.



The Lord’s Prayer:  (This version is from the New Zealand Prayer Book)
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen.

Blessing

Announcements

Sending Hymn  The music is on the next page

Dismissal
A:  Go in peace and serve our God.
C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude:                "Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above"         Hymntune: Mit Freuden zart






Scripture in this service is adapted from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, by Priests for Equality.  2009, Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition. The traditional Lutheran liturgy is from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #28429. Hymns used with permission for worship and podcast under OneLicense.net  #A-723548.

Announcements:
You can find more information and find archived sermons and worship live streams at our website: www.gracesf.com  or on our blog: www.sfgrace.blogspot.com

Upcoming Events and Dates: 
·        Every Wednesday – June 11-September 24, 6:30-8pm  – Summer Bible Movie Night: (@ St Paulus Lutheran 1541 Polk St) We will be watching the 10 part Bible Series created by the History channel.  You can come and join us or you can use our study guide questions that are posted online and watch at home each week.  The Bible series is available for streaming on Netflix.
·        September 6 - Beatles Mass, 7pm Eucharist
·        September 20 – Neighborhood Block Party: I will work with Sup. Katy Tang to see if we can get the street blocked off and invites local business to come and join us.  If this isn’t possible, we’ll have a party in our fellowship hall for our neighbors.
·        October 4 – Night Ministry Fundraiser: We will invite singing groups to come to grace to help us raise money for the Night Ministry.
·        November 8 – Welcome Fundraiser: An event to raise money to serve the homeless and hungry in our Sunset neighborhood.

·        November 27 – Thanksgiving:  A meal served for 300 individuals (mostly homeless or seniors) by Welcome at St. Francis Lutheran Church.

·        December 4 – 18  - Holden Evening Prayer, 6:30pm: Each Thursday night in Advent.

·        December 6 – Beatles Mass: An event to raise money to serve the homeless and hungry in our Sunset neighborhood.

·        December 24 – Christmas Eve Service of Carols, 9:30pm 

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Pentecost 1A: Archived Video of Worship




Pentecost 1
 June 15, 2014
10 am Holy Communion Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran

Welcome to worship at Grace! 
Welcome to long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to faith. Welcome 
to all who have no church home, want to follow Christ, have doubts, or do not believe. Welcome 
to new visitors and old friends. Welcome to people of every age and size, color and culture, 
every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status, marital status, ability 
and challenge. Welcome to believers and questioners, and to questioning believers. This is a 
place where you are welcome to celebrate and sorrow, rejoice and recover.  This is a place where 
lives are made new.

Special Welcome to Newcomers
Welcome to our small community of faith.  While we are small in numbers, we have big hearts and a desire to grow.  In order to help you follow along, we have included all the materials you need for worship in this bulletin.

Please join us for worship any Sunday at 10am that you are able.  If you cannot join us in person, you can also join us online via live stream or by watching the archives of our worship and Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck anytime during the week at our website (www.gracesf.com), or on our mobile phone app, Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck, is available on Google Play and ITunes. 

If you have any questions about the service or about Grace, you can fill out the form in pew to let our pastor know you’d like to chat.  Or you can contact Pastor Megan Rohrer at pastor@gracesf.com.

Prelude:              "When Morning Gilds the Skies"                                               Joseph Barnby       
Greeting:  
Water is poured into the baptismal font. 
P   The Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 
C   And also with you.


Verses 1, 3 and 4

Prayer of the Day:
Loving God, help us to become students of your love and servants of your word.  Amen.

Welcome           

First Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4a
  IN THE BEGINNING 1 God created the heavens and the earth. 2 But the earth became chaos and emptiness, and darkness came over the face of the Deep—yet the Spirit of God was brooding over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Light: Be!” and light was. 4 God saw that light was good, and God separated light from darkness. 5 God called the light “Day” and the darkness “Night.” Evening came, and morning followed—the first day. 

6 Then God said, “Now, make an expanse between the waters! Separate water from water!” So it was: 7 God made the expanse and separated the water above the expanse from the water below it. 8 God called the expanse “Sky.” Evening came, and morning followed—the second day. 

9 Then God said, “Waters under the sky: be gathered into one place! Dry ground: appear!” So it was. 10 God called the dry ground “Earth” and the gathering of the waters “Sea.” And God saw that this was good. 11 Then God said, “Earth: produce vegetation—plants that scatter their own seeds, and every kind of fruit tree that bears fruit with its own seed in it!” So it was: 12 the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed, and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it.  And God saw that this was good. 13 Evening came, and morning followed—the third day.

14 Then God said, “Now, let there be lights in the expanse of the sky! Separate day from night! Let them mark the signs and seasons, days and years, 15 and serve as luminaries in the sky, shedding light on the earth.” So it was: 16 God made the two great lights, the greater one to illumine the day, and a lesser to illumine the night. Then God made the stars as well, 17 placing them in the expanse of the sky, to shed light on the earth, 18 to govern both day and night, and separate light from darkness. And God saw that this was good. 19 Evening came, and morning followed—the fourth day. 

20 God then said, “Waters: swarm with an abundance of living beings! Birds: fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky!” And so it was: 21 God created great sea monsters and all sorts of swimming creatures with which the waters are filled, and all kinds of birds. God saw that this was good 22 and blessed them, saying, “Bear fruit, increase your numbers, and fill the waters of the seas! Birds, abound on the earth!” 23 Evening came, and morning followed—the fifth day. 

24 Then God said, “Earth: bring forth all kinds of living soul—cattle, things that crawl, and wild animals of all kinds!” So it was: 25 God made all kinds of wild animals, and cattle, and everything that crawls on the ground, and God saw that this was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be stewards of the fish in the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, the wild animals, and everything that crawls on the ground.” 27 Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them. 28 God blessed them and said, “Bear fruit, increase your numbers, and fill the earth—and be responsible for it! Watch over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things on the earth!”5 29 God then told them, “Look! I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the earth, and every tree whose fruit carries its seed inside itself: they will be your food; 30 and to all the animals of the earth and the birds of the air and things that crawl on the ground—everything that has a living soul in it—I give all the green plants for food.” So it was. 31 God looked at all of this creation, and proclaimed that this was good—very good. Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day.   

2 :1 Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. 2 On the seventh day God had finished all the work of creation, and so, on that seventh day, God rested. 3 God blessed the seventh day and called it sacred, because on it God rested from all the work of creation. 4 These are the generations6 of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God


Psalm  8    (read responsively)
1 God, our highest leader, how majestic is your Name in all the earth!
You have placed your glory above the heavens!
2 From the lips of infants and children you bring forth words of power and praise, to answer your adversaries and to silence the hostile and vengeful.
3 When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place—
4 what is humanity that you should be mindful of that you should care for us?
5 You have made us barely less than God, and crowned us with glory and honor.
6 You have made us responsible for the works of your hands, putting all things at our feet— 7 all sheep and oxen, yes, even the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, the fish of the sea and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
9 God, our highest leader, how majestic is your Name in all the earth!




Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
11 And now, sisters and brothers, I must say goodbye. Mend your ways. Encourage one another. Live in harmony and peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the holy ones send greetings to you.

L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God


Anthem:                        "If You Love Me" Natalie Sleeth                         Grace Choir

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 28:16-20
16 The Eleven made their way to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had summoned them. 17 A t the sight of the risen Christ they fell down in homage, though some doubted what they were seeing. 18 Jesus came forward and addressed them in these words: “All authority has been given me both in heaven and on earth; 19 go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of Abba God, and of the Only Begotten, and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, even until the end of the world!”

The gospel of the Lord.                                Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon              
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.  The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.


Hymn of the Day:

 Prayers of Intercession
A    During this season of Pentecost, we pray that the Holy Spirit will bring understanding, inspiration and health to the church, the world and all people in their need.  A brief silence.

Creating God, help us repair broken relationships, to clean up our messes and debts and to ask for help when we need it. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Parent God, bless all who are parents, the family and staff of the Grace Infant Care Center and all who have created families.  Help us to become better at loving and receiving love from others.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, guide our civic leaders and enable them to be good stewards of public trust, resources and properties.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who work in healing and caring professions.  Support doctors, nurses, partners, parents and friends who love and support others.  Provide healing and hope for those whose minds, bodies or spirits are in need of care.  Help us to live as fully as we can as we await the day all pain and suffering will end.   God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For whom and what else do the people of Grace pray?
(Please offer - silently or aloud- petitions to God.  End spoken petitions with “God in your mercy.”)

P Our prayers rise like incense and are held by a loving God who yearns for us to be our best.  May we sleep well, worry less, and live convinced that God is on our side.    Amen.

Peace
The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

P   The peace of Christ be with you always.                C   And also with you.

The people may greet one another with the sign of Christ’s peace, and may say, “Peace be with you” or similar words.    Then, the assembly is seated.

Offering
An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. 

Offertory: "One Voice"             Ruth Moody
Trio: Hilda Schedler, Jeannie Wilson, Sally Ann Ryan
Offering Prayer:
After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.
A    Let us pray.   God, bless all that we have to offer.  May our financial support match the generosity of our lives.  Help us to be good stewards of our financial and emotional investments.  Amen.

Communion:


P  It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:


P   On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.



The Lord’s Prayer:  (This version is from the New Zealand Prayer Book)
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

Blessing

Announcements



Sending Hymn: 

 Dismissal
A:  Go in peace and serve our God.
C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude:                Postlude: "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"                    John Zundel


Scripture in this service is adapted from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, by Priests for Equality.  2009, Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition. The traditional Lutheran liturgy is from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #28429. Hymns used with permission for worship and podcast under OneLicense.net  #A-723548.   Worship Cast #6400

Announcements:
You can find more information and find archived sermons and worship live streams at our website: www.gracesf.com  or on our blog: www.sfgrace.blogspot.com

Upcoming Events and Dates: 
·        Every Wednesday – June 11-September 24, 6:30-8pm  – Summer Bible Movie Night: (@ St Paulus Lutheran 1541 Polk St) We will be watching the 10 part Bible Series created by the History channel.  You can come and join us or you can use our study guide questions that are posted online and watch at home each week.  The Bible series is available for streaming on Netflix.
·        September 6 - Beatles Mass, 7pm Eucharist
·        September 20 – Neighborhood Block Party: I will work with Sup. Katy Tang to see if we can get the street blocked off and invites local business to come and join us.  If this isn’t possible, we’ll have a party in our fellowship hall for our neighbors.
·        October 4 – Night Ministry Fundraiser: We will invite singing groups to come to grace to help us raise money for the Night Ministry.
·        November 8 – Welcome Fundraiser: An event to raise money to serve the homeless and hungry in our Sunset neighborhood.

·        November 27 – Thanksgiving:  A meal served for 300 individuals (mostly homeless or seniors) by Welcome at St. Francis Lutheran Church.

·        December 4 – 18  - Holden Evening Prayer, 6:30pm: Each Thursday night in Advent.

·        December 6 – Beatles Mass: An event to raise money to serve the homeless and hungry in our Sunset neighborhood.

·        December 24 – Christmas Eve Service of Carols, 9:30pm 


Today’s Worship Participants:
Preaching and Presiding: Pastor Megan Rohrer
Music Director: Dorothy Clazie
Assisting Minister: Hilda
Lector: Alita
Coffee Hour Host: The Avanzino Family

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Grace Featured on ELCA.org

Are We Really an Aging Church  


By Megan Rohrer

In the past 12 years I’ve preached at countless Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregational and Swedenborgian congregations nearly every Sunday. But, I could count on two hands the number of congregations who had worshipers younger than me.

During this same period, I baptized six adults and two children. Only the children were baptized in congregations. The adults, who were almost all younger than I was, asked me to baptize them in bars, restaurants and gardens. Each of these baptisms was accompanied by a story about how the individuals had become estranged from congregational worship.

With each baptism, I thought about all the people who have declared that the Lutheran church is dying and aging. Is it true, or are we pushing people away and letting people believe the lie that they are unable to be loved by God.  And if people gain church membership through their baptism, then why are so few members choosing to attend worship?

When I was called as the pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Francisco’s Sunset District this past February...

- Read more at the ELCA's Living Lutheran.

T-Shirt Fundraiser to Print Christian Education Books for our Pews

http://teespring.com/GraceLutheran
Click the box above to learn more and order.  You'll get a free book with each t-shirt or hoodie you order.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Grace Welcomes ALL

Welcome to long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to faith. Welcome to all who have no church home, want to follow Christ, have doubts, or do not believe. Welcome to new visitors and old friends. Welcome to people of every age and size, color and culture, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status, marital status, ability and challenge. Welcome to believers and questioners, and to questioning believers. This is a place where you are welcome to celebrate and sorrow, rejoice and recover.  This is a place where lives are made new.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Pentecost Worship: Archived Video

Video of the Full Worship Service:

Audio of the Sermon: 
http://sfwelcome.sermon.net/20100551#.U5S_wKat9IM.facebook