Reflection – Pastor Lori Inside This Issue

Continues page 2

Reflection cont. 2

Interim Ministry Update 2

Interim Ministry Update cont. 3

Thank you 3

Save the date & Prayer requests 5

Community Lunch 6

Birthdays 8

The Messenger Our Redeemerʼs Lutheran Church

609 Southwood Drive So. San Francisco, CA 94080

February 2012

“Some people give up sweets. Some people give up drinking. Some people give up Lent. Some people just give up. As a culture, we have pretty much given up disciplines like Lent.” That quote from a Lutheran pastor struck a chord with me. Our society is big on instant gratification, but on discipline … not so much! And yet … don’t we often hunger for a deeper connection to God and one another? Don’t we yearn for the powerful inspiration of the Spirit? Don’t we long to walk with Jesus? Ash Wednesday is Feb. 22, so this month we enter the season of Lent. Let’s make space for encounters with Divine Mystery. Let’s make a commitment to be intentional about making room for Jesus in our lives as individuals and as a community. Let’s “do” Lent, together. The focus of Lenten discipline is prayer, fasting and almsgiving: Prayer. Starting Feb. 29, we will share simple soup suppers together each Wednesday in Lent, followed by a brief time of guided prayer. Think of these Wednesday evenings as a time of respite and reflection. We need to eat anyway – why not share a meal with friends in the faith? We need Christ even more than we need food – why not bask for a few prayerful moments in the presence of our God? Fasting. Have you ever tried giving up something you like? What might that teach you about sacrifice or gratitude, weakness or strength, hunger or desire or contentment – in Christ? Some people give up ice cream or French fries, others give up a certain number of hours of television or computer games. But we can also fast from

World Hunger 3

Walter Johnson Remembered 4

Breaking the Barrier 7

Reflection – Continued

Interim Ministry Update – Pastor Lori

Continues page 3

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negative thinking, from gossip or from attempting to control everything. Almsgiving. The Social Concerns Committee has 30 offering boxes for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, and one has your name on it. See “World Hunger” on page 3 for more details. Keep in mind that almsgiving can also be acts of kindness, such as giving your time and attention to someone in need. As we commit to entering into Lent as a congregation, let’s remember that some people aren’t able to drive at night, and therefore often miss evening events. Please speak up if you need a ride or can offer a ride.

“Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your

strength.’ ” (Mark 12:29-30)

For these past months we’ve gotten to know one another and we’ve worked on communication and organizational issues – and through it all we’ve continued to listen to Christ’s call to ORLC. Now I am proposing some teachings, workshops and events that will bring ORLC to the place of selecting a call committee and beginning to create the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) later this year: * Feb. 12: Brief teaching after worship on the Lifecycle of Congregations * Feb. 26: Brief teaching after worship on Sizes/Styles of Congregations * March 10: Saturday morning workshop on Behavioral Covenant * April 22: 1st Who We Are, a congregation-wide event w/lunch after worship * May 13: 2nd Who We Are, congregation-wide event w/lunch after worship * May 27: Call committee election (after Pentecost worship) * Summer: Create and submit MSP to synod. Everyone’s participation is vital! Please plan to be part of these events; the learning and planning that you do together now will set the stage for success in the future. ORLC is at a

Interim Ministry Update – Continued

Thank You Notes

Special thanks to the Community Lunch volunteers who missed Walter Johnson's memorial service in order to serve lunch to 50 people who otherwise might not have had a meal that day; to James Greenstrand for putting together the annual report packets for the Congregational Annual Meeting; to Stan and Bill and all involved in dealing with the leak in the main office; to Barbara Irli, Steve Burke and Audrey Rohm for their service to the Church Council.

-Pr. Lori

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crossroads: will you continue to decline, or will you rise up stronger to continue as a powerful witness to Christ in this community and beyond? Every member of the body of Christ is needed!

In the Lord’s Prayer we pray “give us this day our daily bread.” We should also pray for those who are hungry and don’t have enough to eat. We at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church are trying to help. Each Sunday morning members bring food that is given to Catholic Worker House to feed the poor. Once a month the Congregation Activities Committee provides a delicious community lunch. At Christmas time a lunch was prepared for the men and women at Safe Harbor. The Social Concerns Committee is asking your support for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Boxes for coins will be available on Sunday, February 26. We ask that you use their boxes during Lent and give thanks for the many blessing you have received and to think about others who are not so fortunate. The boxes should be returned to church on Palm Sunday, April first. Thank you. Donna Triggas for The Social Concerns Committee

World Hunger: A Lent Focus

Submit your thank you messages by sending them to James.

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Walter Johnson Remembered

Rep. Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the passing of labor leader and longtime Secretary-Treasurer of the San Francisco Labor Council (and long time ORLC member) Walter Johnson:

“With the passing of Walter Johnson, the working men and women of San Francisco – and our entire nation – have lost an extraordinary champion, a powerful advocate, and an unrelenting voice for economic justice; many of us were proud to call him a friend.

“Walter Johnson was a giant in the labor movement, a veteran of World War II, and a man of great generosity, passion, and commitment. He dedicated his life to advancing and expanding the rights of workers – the cornerstones of a thriving middle class: fair pay for a full day’s work; equal rights and protection in the workplace; social justice and opportunity for all. Walter’s imprint can be seen across our city, whether in better conditions for home care workers, greater access to health care, more affordable housing options for families, or increased diversity at San Francisco City College. In San Francisco, you knew you were doing something right when Walter said, ‘you can keep your job’; he was truly a San Francisco institution.

“Walter Johnson’s life was a story of courage, leadership, and extraordinary service to the labor community and the people of San Francisco. His legacy will live on in our continued pursuit of fairness and workers’ rights in our city and across the country. We hope it is a comfort to his family and loved ones that so many share in their grief at this time.”

Save the Dates!

Claudia Anderson (Schizophrenia & anxiety) Calvin Burns (brother-in- law of Walter Johnson, on dialysis) Claude Chirolo (Mel Chirolo’s brother, cancer) Mel Chirolo (mourning the passing of Eva, his wife of 63 years) Cool Family (mourning the passing of their mother Josephine Cool) Denelle Crespo (16 year-old teenage girl; gradually loosing her eye sight; cause unknown; family friend of Judie & Tom Oliver) Tylor, David, & Diane Flynn Patty Banegas (mourning the passing of her mother, Lorraine Gerdes) Ann Johnson (sister-in-law of Walter Johnson) Mike Lewis (the Quades’ son-in-law; cystic fibrosis) Betty Merellas (multiple medical problems) Niel Nielson (Parkinson’s) Sindy Olsen (mother-in-law of Beverly Boblitt’s grandson Devin; inoperable brain tumors) Dennis Quade (Parkinson’s) Timothy Repp (son of Kathy Repp, repeated strokes affecting his eye sight) Jay Sage (Will & Steve Kongle’s grandfather; multiple medical problems) Sauer Family Triggas Family (mourning the passing of Jim Triggas) Anna Van Nuys (wife of John Lutz’ father; cancer) Amodeo Family Harper Mettenbrink Bishop Mark Holmerud Julia Meldrum

If you wish to Add or Remove names please call the office 650-583-5622

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Community Lunch Sat. Feb 18th

Men’s breakfast @ Calvary Lutheran, Sat., Jan 28, 8 am

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Feb. 12 and 26 brief teachings after worship on Lifecycle of Congregation and Sizes/Styles of Congregations.

Ash Wednesday service, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m

Lent Soup Suppers and Prayer, 6 p.m. each Wednesday of Lent beginning Feb. 29

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January Community Lunch - Judie Oliver We begin our new year on a sad note. Our friend and Community Lunch enthusiast, Walter Johnson passed away earlier this month. Walter’s service was held on the same day as our lunch but we knew Walter would want it to go on without interruption. I had various plans in place in anticipation of being short handed but once again, was pleased and amazed at how we pull together to make things happen. I would like to thank Marit and Audrey for coming early to help set up before going to the service. Sam for greeting, Darlene Marsh for serving and offering the blessing, Patty, Inga, Hari, Diana for serving, Tom and Vickie for dishing chicken pot pie and salad. South San Francisco Mayor Garbarino and his wife, Elaine, provided pastries and baguettes to our 50 guests for dessert. Many of you felt between a rock and a hard place wanting to be in two places at once. Please be assured that you were where you needed to be. Walter appreciated your presence at his memorial but would also appreciate the importance of serving those less fortunate and in need of a meal. Walter was watching over us and I’m sure he’d say ‘you can keep your job’! I would also like to remind everyone that if you are traveling please save the shampoo and soap from the hotel. Our supplies are dwindling so any extra toiletries (toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, etc) would be greatly appreciated. The next luncheon is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2012. Set-up and food prep begins at 10:30 a.m, lunch is from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., with clean-up starting at 12:00. The menu will be Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes, Salad, Rolls, Dessert, Fresh Fruit, Coffee/Tea or Lemonade. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. You can contact me via email at judieoliver@yahoo.com or phone 650-488-0704. Peace – Judie Oliver

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Our Redeemerʼs Lutheran Church 609 Southwood Drive So. San Francisco, CA 94080 Phone: 650-583-5622 Worship: Sunday 10:30am Interim Pastor Lori Eickmann Music Director Jeanette Cool Council President Helen Greenstrand Vice President Bill Zemke Secretary Audrey Rohm Treasurer Patty Banegas Financial Secretary Claudia Quade

Birthdays For The Month February 2 | Dennis Quade 6 | Jeffrey (Lutz) Dean 9 | John Lutz 9 | James Lutz 10 | Audrey Rohm 14 | Rev. Merton Johnson 28 | Will Kongle