God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.
-- 1 John  4:16b

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In February of this year 4,037 same sex couples were married in San Francisco.  Mayor Gavin Newsom was celebrated as a hero and fighter for Civil Rights.  Six months later the California Supreme Court said that Mayor Newsom overstepped his authority and that the marriages and marriage licenses are void.  It was a very narrow ruling, and the Supreme Court did not address some key Constitutional questions, though it will do so later in the year.  Meanwhile, there are places all over the country that are facing Constitutional amendments about marriages on their ballots for the Fall.

We realize that the institution of marriage has been in a state of flux for a long time.  It was only after the Civil War that African-Americans were allowed to marry in all areas of the United States.  It was only after a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1967 that mixed race couples could marry anywhere in the U.S. In 2001 the Netherlands enlarged its definition of marriage to include opposite-sex and same sex couples.  Belgium and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia followed.

But what is marriage?  Marriage falls into two categories:  civil and religious.  Currently, these categories are  being blurred and confused.  As a civil right, marriage should be accessible to all committed couples in the United States of America.  The rights and responsibilities of marriage need to be accessible to any couple who is of legal age and willing to assent to them.  Civil rights must pertain and apply to all persons, not just to an exclusive group.

In November 2003, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts ruled that marriage should be accessible to all heterosexual and same-sex couples. 

As a religious rite, marriage takes place in the broader context of  love, community and justice.  In this theological context four things are evident:

1.  Any conversation about marriage needs to affirm that marriage's purpose and focus is always love, wholeness, justice and equality.  We give thanks to   God when marriage is a covenant which reflects God's covenant with us.

2.  However, any conversation about marriage needs also to take seriously the history of domestic violence, oppression of women and children and the misuse of the institution (including its historic racism).

3.  Any conversation about marriage needs to de-centralize marriage as the only expression of covenant and commitment between adults.  God has given to us many forms of relationship:  community, friendship, family bonds, etc.  Scripture gives us examples of all of these as holy and blessed; the relationships between and Jonathan and Ruth and Naomi, notion of the “People of God”  and that of the “Body of Christ,” for example.

4.  Any conversation about marriage must take seriously the reality that many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and heterosexual people have made conscious choices to covenant with one another in ways other than civil or religious marriage.  These covenants should also be honored and celebrated.

Let us engage in conversation about civil and religious marriage, so that love and justice may abound for all people.

Grace and Peace,
          Rev. Wilfried
          Rev. Wilfried Glabach
          minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

With your gifts to Neighbors in Need, the United Church of Christ engages in multiple ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, including the Council for American Indian Ministry - the voice for American Indians in the United Church of Christ.

Neighbors in Need helps these churches employ pastors, operate outreach ministries, and provide direct services in their communities.  In addition, your gifts support the Council for American Indian Ministry as they build community among the more than 1,000 American Indians who belong to UCC congregations scattered throughout the country.  One third of the offering under girds the work of the Council for American Indian Ministry.  Through NIN, the whole UCC can become partners with - and advocates for -  our American Indian brothers and sisters. 

The other two thirds of the offering supports justice advocacy and direct service projects including the UCC's Hunger Action Ministry, poverty reduction efforts, just-peace programs and community grants.

On Sunday, October 10th we will have a Neighbors in Need Special Mission Sunday  to dedicate our offerings.  This year's motto is “ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE.”   Please read the inserts and information in our bulletins, and give to the best of your ability.

 
In May, 2001 we started to worship in the Auditorium of the Urban Life Center.  St. Mark's Lutheran Church has been a wonderful host for us, and we enjoyed their hospitality.

But in a couple of months St. Mark's has to begin to retrofit their sanctuary, which means they have to move their two Sunday worship services into the Auditorium where we have been worshipping.  For us, this means moving our worship services to our new neighborhood.  Many of our congregants and visitors like our “Sanctuary” at 1302 Polk Street, and we will use it until the building is demolished.  We will worship at the Urban Life Center on September 5th, 12th and 19th.  Beginning on Sunday, September 26th we will worship at Polk Street every Sunday.

We are also planning to move our offices across the street from our Polk street site, to 1323 Polk Street in the Leland Hotel, hopefully in November.

 
Dear members and friends of FCC San Francisco,

Meanwhile I am back in Germany.  It took some days to really arrive “home,” because I took so many impressions, pictures and memories with me from San Francisco.

It was a rich and blessed time to stay with you - in your worship, in your meetings, in the choir. As I told it in my last sermon, at every time I felt welcomed and supported.

I appreciated being able to participate in your “Building 5 Committee” - I am sure that you will create a new church home, which will have the potential to serve the congregation and also the neighborhood on Polk Street.

During the worship services at the senior residences Coventry Park and Bridge Point, I felt quite familiar, because also in our parish in Essen we have worship services at a nursing home in our neighborhood.  I think that Senior outreach is an important ministry.

Beside my internship at your congregation I visited other local churches in San Francisco, the Night Ministry, and the Annual Meeting of the Northern California Nevada Conference - so many chances to experience different perspectives of church life!
And also during seven classes at the Graduate Theological Union Summer School at Berkeley - so many insights and new ideas - for instance, “new media in worship.”

And of course, I enjoyed your marvelous City of San Francisco, with all the different cultures and peoples, cinemas, museums, parks and Symphony Hall - and the many places to go by Wilfried's bicycle!

Thank you so much, and thank God who has led me this way.

Blessings and peace to all of you and the whole congregation!

Uli
Ulrich Holste-Helmer
 

Thank you to those who placed gifts in our offering of about $70, especially earmarked for Cornell.  Whatever gift you can give, either clothing or financial, is greatly appreciated. 

ST. MARK'S AND FCC JOIN FOR ADULT FORUM
The idea of “rapture” – the return of Christ to snatch born-again Christians off the earth – is a very popular interpretation of the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible. This interpretation is a jumping-off point for the best-selling series of “Left Behind” books. 

Many Christian churches and Biblical scholars view rapture theology as a distortion of Christian faith with little Biblical grounding. But what is the Bible's understanding of terror, evil, and the end of times? Or of God acting in the world today? Answers can be found in the book of Revelation, but the answers will vary depending on biblical interpretation and on which story you read.

Pastor Wilfried Glabach, who is currently writing his dissertation on the book of Revelation, will guide us through 2 sessions about the book of Revelation and its end-times consequences for today.  Meet on Sundays September 12th and 19th from 10 to 10:45 AM in the Fireside Room.

For more information, please contact Wilfried:  (415) 441-8901 or e-mail:  minister@sanfranciscoucc.org.
 

The Rev. Kristi Denham, pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, will be the keynote speaker.  A liturgical dancer and teacher of spiritual dance, she will speak on Embodied Spirituality.

The Rev. Nancy McKay will lead a workshop on Prayer and the Immune System, using “several kinds of prayer that bless and bask in joy and gratitude rather than beseech. …”

The Rev. Linda McLain, who has been a guest preacher at FCCSF, will employ a technique called InterPlay, which utilizes simple movement, made-up songs and short stories to promote spiritual growth in a fun way.

There will also be workshops on The History and Rewards of the Labyrinth, Worship Music - What Matters and Faith in Art, in which participants create a paper “Quilt.”

Register by Friday, September 17th.  Cost is $215 for the weekend; $75 for Saturday only (9 AM to 10 PM) includes lunch and dinner. 
See the flyer on the back table for the registration form, scholarship and other information

INQUIRER'S CLASS
Anyone interested in becoming a member of this church or learning more about it are invited to an Inquirers Class on Sunday, September 5th after coffee hour in Wilfried's office.  A second meeting will be announced; contact Wilfried for the date. 

BUILDING 5 COMMITTEE MEETS
The Building 5 Committee will meet on Thursday, September 9th at 
7 PM in Heritage Hall.

JOINT ADULT FORUM
 Join the Rev. Wilfried Glabach and St. Mark's for a joint forum on end-times in the Book of Revelation on Sundays, September 12th and 19th from 10 - 10:45 AM in the Fireside Room.

SENIOR SERVICES FOR SEPTEMBER
September 8th:  Eden Villa -- 2750 Geary Boulevard, 3 PM
September 15th:  Bridge Point -- 1601 19th Avenue, 3 PM
September 21st:  Coventry Park -- 1550 Sutter Street 3 PM 

All are welcome to attend.  For questions or further information, contact Rev. Wilfried:  (415) 441-8901 or e-mail:  minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

The Committee - Lucille Dean, David Farmer, Herb Lilly ( Moderator Nancy McManus and the Rev. Wilfried Glabach  serve as ex officio members) -  would like your input on what you like about the proposed Constitution and what changes you would like.  This meeting is for discussion ONLY; there will be no voting at this time.  If unable to attend, phone, mail, e-mail or fax your comments to any of the committee members.

COUNCIL MEETING 
If necessary, there will be a Council meeting on Sunday, September 12th in the Fireside Room after the Town Hall Meeting .  Contact Moderator Nancy McManus to place items on the agenda.

RAINBOW
We will meet on Sunday, September 12th at 6:30 PM at the home of Joe Story and Joe Acosta for a pot luck dinner.  Contact “the Joes” for directions to their home and further information.

WORSHIP AT POLK STREET
Starting Sunday, September 26th we  will worship at 1302 Polk Street every Sunday until we demolish the building.  Join us at 11 AM.
 

5th:  FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
        Worship -- Urban Life Center Auditorium 11 AM Wilfried Glabach Preaching
         Inquirer's Class -- Minister's Office  12:30 PM

6th:   Labor Day -- Office Closed

8th:  Eden Villa Service -- 2750 Geary Boulevard 3 PM

9th:  Building 5 Committee -- St. Mark's Heritage Hall 7 PM

12th:  FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
          Joint Adult Forum - Urban Life Center Fireside Room  10 AM 
          Worship -- Urban Life Center Auditorium 11 AM Wilfried Glabach Preaching
          Town Hall Meeting -- Urban Life Center Fireside Room  12:30 PM 
          Council Meeting  -- Urban Life Center Fireside Room  2 PM (tentative)
          Rainbow Fellowship -- Joe and Joe's 6:30 PM

13th:  Lower Polk Neighbors -- 3 PM

16th:  Columns DEADLINE 

18th:  Bridge Point Service -- 1601 19th Avenue 3 PM

19th:  SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
         Joint Adult Forum - Urban Life Center Fireside Room  10 AM 
         Worship -- Urban Life Center Auditorium 11 AM  Nancy McKay Preaching

21st:  Coventry Park Service -- 1550 Sutter Street 3 PM 

26th: SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST/CHRISTIAN EDUCATION WEEK
          Worship -- 1302 Polk Street 11 AM Wilfried Glabach Preaching