We are delighted to welcome Pr. Elizabeth Ekdale to the congregation of St. Francis, where she began serving as our vacancy pastor on a part-time basis. We extend to her a warm and heartfelt welcome.  

Pr. Elizabeth writes:

I am delighted to serve alongside you until your new Interim Pastor arrives.  I have a deep respect for the St. Francis congregation and Pr. Bea's leadership. Please know I am available for pastoral care, prayer and support during this "interim" time.  You can reach me on my cell phone at 415 846-4340 or by e-mailing pastor@sflcsf.org. I'll be with you providing worship leadership every Sunday, offering pastoral care, and being present for the staff, lay leaders, and community of St. Francis.   

Originally from New York, Irene Kaufman grew up and went to school in San Francisco. She brings an eclectic set of skills to her job, having worked as a Montessori preschool head teacher, an executive assistant, an office manager, and most recently, as an integrated nutrition health coach. Her interests include studying Italian,
knitting, gardening, yoga, and trying out new recipes. 

Originally from Georgia, Alice Ann Newman serves as food programs administrator, Facillities Manager, as well as church sexton. She runs the weekly food pantry through the SF-Marin Food Bank, and she supports kitchen staff and volunteers hosting the senior center program. Alice Ann loves interacting with the community and strives to make everyone feel welcomed, respected, and appreciated. Her favorite part of her job is helping people face-to- face and she finds her work deeply rewarding.

Beverly Hines visited St. Francis in 1985, liked Pastor De Lang’s sermon, and was welcomed by the congregation. Since then, Beverly has been on all the church committees at one time or another, except for the Worship Committee; chaired four of the committees; served eight years on the church Council; and served four years on the childcare Board of directors. Currently, she serves as the Senior Program Director, a role she has held for a number of years.

Diane Marshall’s involvement all started in 1986 when she introduced her mother to St. Francis Lutheran Church. She began coming once in a while to help serve lunches to seniors, and that role evolved to kitchen staff and then chef. As she says, “So that’s where you can find me: cooking.”

In 2017, Joseph Lopez was walking by the church and saw the food bank in progress. He asked if they could use some help and began volunteering. Later, in a conversation about the weekly senior lunch program, Joseph mentioned he is a chef, and he asked if the church could use some help. One thing led to another, and since 2018 he has worked twice a month as a paid employee, preparing meals with volunteers for seniors on Wednesdays.

Izobella Trofimova provides childcare during worship service. She is a loving grandmother of two; she is kind, patient, dedicated, and imaginative. The children love her and look forward to their time with her. Izobella has been screened by the congregation and follows the child-safety guidelines established by St. Francis.