26.08.2025
Saint Francis
St. Francis Weekly News
August 15, 2025
Passing of a Friend of the Congregation: Kathy Esselstyn
We mourn the loss of Kathy Esselstyn, a cherished friend of the congregation. Kathy began worshiping with us about two years ago and quickly became an integral part of our church life. Though she chose not to pursue formal membership, she rarely missed a service, often attended Bible study, regularly served as a lector, and most recently as a sacristan.
Kathy was a deeply private person with a great love for music. She had previously worked as the Gift Acknowledgment Coordinator for the San Francisco Opera. An avid reader, she generously donated several books to the St. Francis Library. Kathy also cared deeply about the Christian communities in Palestine.
With her passing, St. Francis has lost a kind, faithful, and remarkable soul. May she rest in peace.
Former Member and Pastors Coming to St. Francis!
On Sunday, August 17, Sarah Wells and Marsha White are planning to worship with us at St. Francis and stay for coffee hour. On Sunday, August 31, Pastors Phyllis Zillhart and Ruth Frost are planning to attend worship and coffee hour.
This Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM - Feast of Mary, Mother of Jesus
Worship Service with holy communion, in-person and live-streamed.
This Sunday we will pause our Revelation Sermon Series to celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of Jesus. The official feast day falls on August 15, when Christians around the world honor Mary’s remarkable life — not only as the mother of Jesus, but also as one of his first and most faithful followers. We are marking the feast this Sunday, August 17, the Sunday closest to that date. Martin Luther spoke of Mary with deep reverence, saying: “She is the highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ… She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough.”
A live-stream of the worship service can be accessed through the St. Francis YouTube Channel
Interested in obtaining a worship bulletin ahead of time? Go to the YouTube Link listed above and you will find a link for a bulletin for each Sunday! View service
This Sunday, August 17, at 12:30 PM - ELCA Churchwide Assembly Recap
This Sunday during Coffee Hour, Elaine Whitney will share her reflections on the recent ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Earlier this month, the ELCA gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, where leaders worshiped together, made significant decisions, and set a vision for the church’s future. Highlights included the election of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry, meaningful discussions on faith and civic life, and key resolutions on issues such as AI ethics and social justice. Come hear firsthand what happened and why it matters for our church today.
For detailed daily recaps, 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Archives - Living Lutheran provides excellent summaries.The Grand Canyon Synod https://www.gcsynod.org/news as the local host shared unique video highlights and reflections. For a thoughtful, personal perspective, a very interesting Substack post by Clint Schnekloth https://clintschnekloth.substack.com/p/what-happened-at-the-elca-churchwide offers insightful reflections on the Assembly’s significance and outcomes.
August 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM (via Zoom): Exploring the Book of Revelation
A 4-Part Bible Study Series (Companion to the Sermon Series)
Will there be a rapture?
How will we recognize the Antichrist?
Can we know when the world will end?
Revelation has long stirred fear and confusion — but what if it's actually a message of hope? Join us as we explore this powerful and often misunderstood book, uncovering its themes of resistance, perseverance, and healing for communities in crisis.
This weekly Zoom study will offer reflection, discussion, and resources for deeper exploration.
Dates: Mondays — August 4, 11, 18, and 25
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM (Pacific)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87408200336?pwd=p45hDtRcjFJevCz7uvXZnaJzC663Na.1
A phone-in option is also available. Please contact Pastor Bea for details.
All are welcome! Bring your curiosity, your questions, and an open heart.
If you are interested in the Revelation Sermon series and would like to hear the sermon or read the sermon text, you can find both on our new website: Church in San Francisco | St. Francis Lutheran Church
Every Sunday at 10:00 AM – Impromptu Choir (Note the new time!)
Our Impromptu Choir is still going strong — and we’ve moved our rehearsal start time to 10:00 AM (formerly 10:15).
This fun, informal group is open to everyone! No experience is needed — just bring your voice, your enthusiasm, and a love for joyful music-making.
We rehearse at 10:00 AM on Sunday mornings.
Come add your voice — we’d love to sing with you!
Exciting Updates and Upcoming Congregational Meetings
It’s been a season of transformation at St. Francis! The recent renovations are now fully complete — including the beautifully restored stained-glass windows, which are once again shining brightly.
We invite you to join us for two important upcoming gatherings:
August 24, 2025 @ 12:40 PM – Congregational Information Meeting (no vote)
Come hear the St. Francis Outreach Plan presented by the Outreach Study Group, along with an update from the Worship Visioning Team. It will be a day full of ideas, vision, and community sharing. Refreshments will be served after worship.
September 14, 2025 @ 12:40 PM – Congregational Meeting (with vote)
This brief meeting will focus on a proposed credit facility for the Legacy Fund. More details and a formal notice will be shared in August. Remote participation and voting via Zoom will be available.
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us in person or online. Zoom links will be provided in advance.
Sunday, August 31 · 1:00–3:30 PM Neighborhood Movie Screening – Dear White People
Join us for a relaxed afternoon of film, conversation, and community. We’ll screen the thought-provoking movie Dear White People, followed by a discussion. Doors open at 12:45 PM. Refreshments, raffle prizes, and good company provided! Accessible venue. For mature audiences. All are welcome. Please share this info with lots of people!
To RSVP go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1552347405879?aff=oddtdtcreator
Labor Day Community Cookout & Potluck - Monday, Sept. 1 (Noon to 3 PM)
Burgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided. Please bring a dish to share.
There will be music and prizes, and the event is free. All are welcome!
To attend, please RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1593183838749?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sign up for Worship Roles, Refreshments and Flowers
Here is a link where you can easily connect to all sign-ups: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/1047003888275452027/false#/invitation. Please note: some worship roles require training. If you are signing up with this link for the very first time, please check in with Pr. Bea first. Another way to sign up is to contact Pr. Bea at (408) 332-3638 or email her at pastor@sflcsf.org and she will take it from there.
Prayer Support and Prayer Ministry: Praying for each other is one of the central activities of a Christian Community. It is Christ's design for our life together, and it is a beautiful and powerful gift we can give each other. At St. Francis we offer the following prayer support:
The weekly prayer list: We keep a list of names of people who have asked for prayers either on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else.
The urgent prayer team: A team of people who will lift up a person or group of persons during a crisis or an emergency. (If you would like to join the team, please let Pr. Bea know.)
Prayers offered during worship: Please help us keep the prayer list up to date. If you wish to place a name on the prayer list, please contact Pastor Bea at pastor@sflcsf.org or the parish office at admin@sflcsf.org
Prayers after worship: This evolved from the healing prayer ministry offered before Covid. After worship you may take a seat in one of the pews and a prayer minister will come and sit with you. They will offer support, and if desired will pray for you and anoint you.
Donations - To make a donation to St. Francis, you can mail a check to St. Francis Lutheran Church at 152 Church Street, San Francisco, CA 94114.
Support the Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center (FOSF)
FoSF is a family-centered early care and education program where children, parents, and gardens grow, located at 50 Belcher Street, San Francisco, CA 94114. To make an online donation, go to www.fosf-childcare.org.
