08.08.2025
Saint Francis
St. Francis Weekly News
August 8, 2025
ELCA Churchwide Assembly Recap
You might have heard that the ELCA recently gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, for its 2025 Churchwide Assembly, a vital event where leaders worshipped, made important decisions, and set vision for the church’s future. Highlights from the gathering include the election of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry, thoughtful discussions on faith and civic life, and key resolutions on topics like AI ethics and social justice. 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.
Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Exploring the Book of Revelation - Part 5
Worship Service with holy communion, in-person and live-streamed.
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
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
August 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM (via Zoom): Exploring the Book of Revelation
First Gathering of 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.
Worship Music Updates
For the month of August, we are pleased to welcome Ray Capiral as our interim music director and organist/accompanist. Here’s a brief introduction:
Ray Capiral is a pianist, organist, composer, arranger, teacher, choral director — and an avid knitter. A largely self-taught musical prodigy, he began formal piano lessons at 15 and was performing major works by Chopin and Beethoven within a year. He studied at the Pasadena Conservatory and with master pianist Mario Feninger, whose musical lineage includes Nadia Boulanger.
Ray holds an AA in music performance from Pasadena City College and a BA in music composition from UCLA. After accompanying and teaching extensively in Los Angeles, he moved to the Bay Area in 2011, where he served in music leadership roles at Open Door UMC, Mira Vista UCC, and Bethany UMC. In 2020, he briefly worked in artist management in New York City before returning to the Bay Area, where he now resides in Oakland.
Today, Ray teaches over 25 private piano and composition students, works remotely for Arts Management Group, and collaborates with organizations like the National Children’s Chorus and Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choirs. He is also the founder and Choral Artistic Director of Lamorinda Chorus and co-leads the Lamorinda Community Band.
And yes—we continue, as always, with our impromptu choir at 10:15 AM on Sunday mornings. Come early and sing with us!
Every Sunday at 10:15 AM – Gathering of the Impromptu Choir
We’re excited to invite you to join our Impromptu Choir — a fun, informal group open to everyone! No experience is necessary — just a willingness to sing and share in joyful music-making. All are welcome!
Practice begins at 10:15 AM, just before worship.
Come add your voice — we’d love to have you with us!
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.
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.
