Weekly e-pistle 09/04/15

September 4, 2015 This Sunday, September 6th Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism Sunday Holy Communion - 10 AM   All are welcome to receive Communion! James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself shows partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today's gospel, speaking out of his human worldview -- but transcends those limits when she takes him by surprise with her reply.The story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings her or his need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir. In response to a statement and call to action from the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), our presiding bishop, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, has pledged ELCA congregations to participate on Sunday in "Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism Sunday." Click here to learn more. Be sure to bring your food donation for the food bank!         Sunday's readings:  Isaiah 35:4-7a Psalm 146 James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17 Mark 7:24-3      Other Happenings:     Next Sunday, September 13th, we will honor the work of teachers. Come pray with us for all who share in the vocation of teaching, and learn how we can support Vallejo's teachers.   God's Work. Our Hands. Week of Service - September 13-19  The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America designates the 2nd Sunday of every year as a "Day of Service." Each congregation chooses its own service project for the benefit of its local community. Because our service projects cannot be done on Sunday, we will celebrate a "Week of Service" September 13-19. At the Food Bank - Thursday, September 17, 6 to 8 p.m. We'll sort and box food donations at the main food bank warehouse in Concord! See what happens to your food barrel donations and how they get to those in need. Find out about other volunteer opportunities at the Food Bank. T Coastal Clean-up Day - Saturday, September 19, at an assigned spot here in Vallejo. This is a repeat opportunity you won't want to miss. Ask people who went last year about the fun time we had. "I was Hungry, I was Thirsty, I was in Prison and..." Workshop -  Saturday, October 24, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Davis, sponsored by the Sierra Pacific Synod Hunger Network. This workshop explores both the life-saving work of the ELCA Hunger Appeal and how reforming mass incarceration policies and practices is crucial to ending hunger and poverty in this country. Note: Sign up sheets will be available during coffee hour for each of the above events - or you can also register by emailing Judy Faye at judithfaye@aol.com. There will be carpool opportunities for all events outside of Vallejo. Don't have a St. Paul's/God's Work. Our Hands. T-shirt? Contact Judy! T-shirts are $8.00 each. Attention Youth 5th Grade & Older! You are invited to be an acolyte! Training is next Sunday, September 13th, immediately following worship. There will be time to learn about the tasks, practice what acolytes do, and ask lots of questions. Most of all we hope it will be a way for you to more deeply discover the gifts you have for being a leader in our congregation. See you there!  Brown Bag Ministry: We have been giving out quite a few Brown Bags lately, both at St. Paul's and to hungry people we encounter when in our cars.  This is a real blessing to those who rarely get a well balanced and nutritious meal.  We ask for donations as it costs about $4.00 to put together a bag.  You can either put donations in the jar in Fellowship Hall or make out a separate check to St. Paul's designating it for the Brown Bag Ministry.  Your compassion and generosity will be blessed. It's time to donate school kits for Lutheran World Relief!Lutheran World Relief has made a plea for school supplies. We will be taking the supplies to the annual "In-gathering" early in October. Please include the following for each kit: 5 spiral notebooks (70 pages) Ruler; scissors Pink eraser 5 pencils 5 pens 18 or 24 box crayons If you don't have time to shop, you may make a donation. $25 buys 6 school kits. Questions? Call Anita Patten at 707.745.0648. I Was Hungry, I was Thirsty, I was in Prison and ... Learn how faith and justice are intertwined in a hungry world!  This educational workshop by the Sierra Pacific Synod Hunger Network explores both the life-saving work of the ELCA Hunger Appeal, and how reforming mass incarceration policies and practices is crucial to ending hunger and poverty in this country. If there is an interest, a parallel children's program will be offered. Keynote speakers: Dr. Ryan Cumming, Hunger Education Director of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal; Laura Magnani, Director of American Friends Service Committee's Bay Area Healing Justice Program in California and coauthor of the AFSC publication, "Beyond Prisons: A New Interfaith Paradigm for Our Failed Prison System."  WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2015, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Davis, CA Worship Commission to meet Thursday September 1st at 6:30 pm at the home of Anna Hervey.  A volunteer Opportunity: Meals on Wheels need volunteers to take noon meals to the elderly and handicapped in Vallejo. Volunteers need their own car and insurance. Please call Millie at 707-644-6612 Flowers donated by Lisa and Wayne Olson(celebrating their 23rd anniversary)   Serving God on Sunday, September 6th Presiding Minister: The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond Assisting Minister: Don Ockrassa Crucifer: Bev Smith Lector:  Don Ockrassa Cantor: Ushers: Carmen Harnish and Matthew Hervey Fellowship Hosts: Matt Hervey and Lisa Olsen Sacristans: Kathy Campas-Sutin, Anita Patten and Jody Schumacher Flowers: Wayne and Lisa Olson  This Sunday, September 6th This Sunday, September 6th 9:00 a.m.  10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m.  Book Study Eucharist Budget Workshop   Monday, September 7th Wednesday, September 9th    7:00 p.m. CODA  Friday, September 11th   Sunday, September 13th 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Book Study Eucharist   Budget Workshop Christ's Care List Healing of body, mind and spirit: Vera Bennett Cassie Bremer (Jessica Nelson's daughter)  Cathleen Cardoza (Relative of Pr. Pamela)  Marty Clark   Margaret Cole Wayne (Vera Bennett's friend) Carleen Embree Dee Fix  Harold Fix Helen Gainey (Vera Bennett's friend) Shirley Gonsalves Dorothy Griffith (Pr. Pamela's mother)  Bessie Hawkins (Vera Bennett's friend) Mary Heitz Sheldon Heitz Anna Hervey Donald Hervey Sam Hervey Irene Ficsor (John Patten's sister) Jan Jackson Pr. Karen and Dave Johnson (Pr. Pamela's colleague and her husband) Louisa Johnson Cassy Kapsalis (friend of Judy Faye) Caryl Kroan Rick Kroan Loree Lucas Carol Massie (friend of Valda Rose)  Raul Matasol (friend of Pr. Pamela & Dave Pond)  Pr. Larry Nelson (John Patten's friend) Luna Nightshade  Nikkie (Vera Bennett's goddaughter) Pr. Jennifer Obermueller (Pr. Pamela's colleague) Jeanine Pai (Marian Smock's niece) Anita Patten Dean Pollock (Jody Schumacher's brother) Justin Pollock (Jody Schumacher's great nephew) Alissa Princewell Gary Schumacher Angelika Shanley Pr. John Sumwalt (Pr. Pamela's colleague) Bill & Betty Valentine (Vera Bennett's friends) Schiann Towle (Lisa and Dwayne Olson's daughter) Steve West (Don & Louisa Johnson's friend) Frances Wieber (Marian Smock's sister)      Our pastoral call process and each member of the call committee: Judy Faye, Chair Vicki Pyle, Secretary Frank Gonsalves Don Ockrassa Jessica Nelson       We also pray for: Safety in our community An end to racism and other injustice Mother Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC  St. Paul Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC A just and lasting peace in the Holy Land Those serving in the armed forces  St. Paul's Lutheran Church The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond, Interim Pastor 415.847.8030 (cell) pastorpamela@live.com 1300 Tuolumne Street Vallejo, California 94590

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