News and Announcements

March 2004

Evening Prayers

Wednesday, March 3 - 7:00-7:40 pm

Adult Education Classes - 9:30 am, Sundays, Munro Room

Steve Johnson teaches a Lenten Study of Second Isaiah, Chapters 40-55

March 7 I Will Be With You (43-45)

March 14 Reassurance for God’s People (46-48)

March 21 The Servant (49-50)

March 28 Suffering Servant (51-53)

Jazz Vespers

Sunday, March 14, 5 p.m. - Pianist Geoffrey Keezer

From the Wilderness to Jerusalem: Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

Cindy Burt, Moderator of Worship Committee

“What are you giving up for Lent?” is a question that many of us have answered for years. We sometimes respond with answers like “chocolate” or “smoking.” We know that life will not change significantly whether or not we give up our favorite treats, but we seem to feel that we should make some sacrifice to make the world a better place during the Lenten season.

Lent simply means “spring season.” During this season we see many changes in our environment from melting snow in colder climates to the blossoming of flowers in the Bay Area. Within the Church Lent refers to the time in Jesus’ life when he retreated to the desert and reflected for 40 days and 40 nights. Many believers observe this period by setting time aside to carry out a spiritual discipline--prayer, meditation, and study.

As we reflect upon what the season of Lent means for us, should it be about more than kicking a chocolate habit or sacrificing a favorite television show? Can these really bring us spiritual growth?

In much the same way that flower buds strengthen themselves by sprouting roots and stems as they prepare to present themselves to the world as blossoms, we can take this Lenten season to burrow into our faith and show growth in our life as members of our faith community. In a time of uncertainty, growing in faith over a period of 40 days and 40 nights seems like a small sacrifice. Please consider:

Coming to the Adult Christian Education Forum at 9:30 on Sundays
Engaging in a personal journey using Steve Johnson’s daily Lenten study of Isaiah 40-66 (copies available in the Narthex)
Signing up for the Old First Retreat at Westminster Woods with Dr. Butin
Coming to Evening Prayer the first Wednesday of the Month
Coming to worship each Sunday morning
Coming to Jazz Vespers on the second Sunday at 5PM
Coming to the Holy Week Services
Fully participating in the joy of worship Easter Sunday

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Lent and Holy Week Events

Feb 25 - Ash Wednesday

7:30 pm service with imposition of ashes

Feb 29 - Lent I,

11:00 am Worship; Dr. Emerson preaching

Mar 3 - Evening Prayers, 7:00pm

Mar 7 - Lent II,

11:00 am Worship; Dr. Emerson preaching; Communion

Mar 14 - Lent III,

11:00 am Worship; Dr. Emerson preaching

5:00 pm Jazz Vespers- Rev. Keenan Kelsey

Mar 21 - Lent IV

11:00 am Worship; Dr. Emerson preaching; Communion

Mar 26-28 - All-Church Retreat

Mar 28 - Lent V

11:00 am Worship, Meghan Rohrer preaching

Apr 4 - Palm Sunday

11:00 am Worship, Leslie Veen preaching

Apr 7 - Evening Prayers, 7:00pm

Apr 8 - Maundy Thursday

6:00 pm service of worship, foot washing, agape feast

Apr 9 - Tenebrae

8:00 pm worship service of darkness, scripture readings, and music

Apr 10 - Easter Vigil

7:30 pm, Christ Candle-Making;

8:00-9:00 pm, Lessons & meditation

Alternative: Vigil at Grace Cathedral 9:00 pm-12:00 am

Apr 11- Easter Sunday

9:00 am Pancake Breakfast, Lilification of the Sanctuary

11:00 am Service of the Resurrection – Choir and Brass

Easter Egg Hunt Following Service - Fagler/Yamauchi's home

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All-Church Retreat March 26-28

Old First’s 2004 Spring Retreat will feature a study of the Trinity based on the book of the same name by Dr. Phil Butin, and with his leadership. It will be held at Westminster Woods in the Russian River country. Dr. Butin, president of San Francisco Theological Seminary, will lead and stimulate discussion of the Trinity with the focus of “God’s Community as a Model for Our Community.”

The weekend begins on the evening of Friday, March 26, and continues through Sunday worship. It will provide a chance for fellowship, relaxation, and fun for all ages.

Cost is $150 per adult, $90 age 12-18. Look for the signup table at Coffee Hour.

Leslie Veen heads the Retreat Committee, whose members are Bart Crosby, Connie Johnson, Steve Johnson, Jonathan Lee, Harriet MacLean, Don Pender, Becca Smith and Robert Wood.

Pam Sebastian Featured in April Concerts

Old First member Pamela Sebastian will be the soprano soloist in two concert programs at the beginning of April.

The first program is J.S. Bach's majestic "St. Matthew Passion" which will be presented by the group Soli Deo Gloria, Allen H. Simon, director. Concerts will take place on Friday, April 2 at the Piedmont Community Church in Piedmont at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, April 4 (Palm Sunday) at St. Gregory Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco (Mariposa and De Haro) at 3:00 pm. Other soloists include Brian Staufenbiel, Evangelist; Chad Runyon, Jesus; Sally Mouzon, alto; and David Newman, bass.

On Good Friday, April 9, Pam will sing Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" with mezzo-soprano Janet Campbell in a concert at Calvary Presbyterian Church, Fillmore at Jackson, at 8:00 pm. The text of "Stabat Mater" comes from a medieval hymn that tells of Mary grieving by the cross of her son. It has been set by many well-known composers to great effect. Pergolesi might have been better known than any had he not died in 1736 at the age of 26. This wonderfully sensitive work for two voices, strings, and organ shows the mark of true genius. The Calvary Chancel Choir will also be on the program, along with a professional orchestra and organist Charles Worth, all directed by Alden Gilchrist.

Pam Sebastian may not be as familiar to many Old First members as her husband John because she has been the soprano soloist at Calvary for nearly ten years, but Old First is still still her church home. In addition to singing at Calvary, she is a long-time professional member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus and has often been a soloist with the chorus and also with the Symphony itself. She is also a member of the professional Philharmonia Chorale, which sings with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and has appeared as a soloist with many organizations throughout the Bay Area and abroad.

Mark Your Calendar

Sunday, May 16 — Anniversary Lunch to celebrate Old First’s 155th birthday.

Saturday, June 26 —Potluck Supper and Games Night

Special Week at Ghost Ranch in July

Pam Byers and Rosemary Bledsoe can attest that the opportunity to work with the leading lights of the Presbyterian Church is one major benefit of their work for the Covenant Network.

The week of July 26 - August 2, many of these folks will be at Ghost Ranch for a seminar called “A Church for Our Time”: Susan Andrews (current GA moderator), former moderator Howard Rice, Deborah Block of Immanuel Presbyterian in Milwaukee, John Wilkinson of Rochester NY’s Third Presbyterian, Tim Hart-Andersen of Westminster Presbyterian in Minneapolis, and two seminary presidents - Cynthia Campbell of McCormick and Ted Wardlaw from Austin.

They are sure to attract a host of kindred spirits, who will enjoy challenging classes and something new at the Ranch revival-style preaching and worship in a tent every evening. If you’ve ever considered going to Ghost Ranch, this is the time to do it.

Complete information is available from the Ghost Ranch website, www.ghostranch.org, or from the Covenant Network office, 415-351-2196.

2004 Budget Approved

Our total budget for 2004, less the special Severance Fund, is $341,000, which is $48,000 less than last year. Pledge income is projected to be $261,000 — 12% less than last year.

The $54,000 Severance Fund has been fully subscribed from special contributions.

Cost reductions have been effected by having a half-time Temporary Supply Pastor for the first half of the year and by reducing our benevolence commitments. Session has agreed that any surplus for the year will be added to the benevolence budget.

Interim Pastor Nominating Committee

Old First’s Session has elected an Interim Pastor Nominating Committee. It consists of Session’s Personnel Committee - Phil Pollock (moderator), George Becker, Cindy Burt, Jonathan Lee, Steve Taber, Lori Yamauchi and Roger Lindahl - plus three other members: Carol Carter, Barry Clagett and Emmy Clausing.

Church Officers Retreat Offers Questions and Hope

Old First’s Elders and Deacons met Feb. 6 and 7 at the Sequoia Seminar Retreat Center in Ben Lomond to think about the current state of our church..

Welcome Ministry Director Megan Rohrer lead a study of personal conflict management styles; Deacons and Elders discussed community-building and communications.

The church leadership brainstormed answers to some relevant questions: “How has Old First changed in the last two years?” “What have we learned about the pastor/congregation relationship and about the church in general?” “How has God walked with us?” “Into what is God calling and shaping us?” “What should be our goals and priorities for 2004?”

Results from the Leadership Retreat were discussed at our Feb. 8 congregational meeting and will be held up to guide our Session and Board of Deacons in the coming year. Individuals who would like a full copy of the retreat discussion may contact Roger Lindahl (415-585-3904).

The retreat was generally upbeat. Our leadership showed an eagerness to facilitate reconciliation and build community as we move through the current process of seeking a new pastor.

The discussion of Goals and Priorities for 2004 included:

Commitment to Christian Education
Enhancement of small groups
Stabilize our programs – inventory who is participating
Focus on community building
Increase participation in OFC social activities
Find new community models for small groups, looking to PCUSA research materials
Come to clarity on what we want in a pastor, resolve differences
Restart every-members visitation
Strengthen connection to Presbytery and communicate to congregation
Identify individual members who might participate more or who are disenfranchised

Pastoral promptings

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts --

The storm clouds produce the rain, which brings the streams of living water.

This rite of spring coincides with Lent — a time when we turn to that which brings living water in our lives. The storm clouds may trouble us. Yet, as I see them from the study window I also picture the snow that those same clouds will bring the mountains The vision then comes of summer and the rushing, roaring, laughing, singing waters that cascade from Thunder Mountain down past one of our favorite trails in the wilderness area that is the Colorado Rockies. What life comes from true living water!

The storm clouds of spring, Lent if you will, bring nourishment not only of the land but of our souls as we move through the days of this year.

To that end, the sermons of this season begin February 29th with Luke’s version of the temptation of Jesus, and move on through the issues of grief, prayer, and forgiveness. Comes the last Sunday in Lent and Megan Rohrer will preach; Palm Sunday, Leslie Veen will take the pulpit. (I will be away but return in time for the Holy Week and Easter services of worship). Our centers of focus will be:

February 29 -- Luke 4: 1-13, Politics and the Temptation of the Soul

March 7 — Psalm 27 and Luke 13:34, On Dealing with Grief

March 14 -- Luke 11:1-13 and Philippians 3:17-4:1, The Promise of Prayer

March 21 — Isaiah 55:1-9 and Luke 15:11-24, The Condition is

Forgiveness

March 28 -- John 12:1-11, The Poor, the Prophet, and the Priests: Relearning and Rewriting the Gospel of John (Megan Rohrer)

April 4 -- Palm Sunday: Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 118:1-2,19-29; Luke 19:28, Will the Real Messiah Please Stand Up? (Leslie Veen)

April 11 -- Resurrection Day: John 21:1-19

Rather than group Lenten programs at the church this year, the officers and staff suggest to you a form of private meditation. I particularly commend to you Cindy Burt's article on the next page. A meditative process I have found helpful begins with reading each passage silently and then looking at any commentary on the passage — such as Steve Johnson’s. Follow that by reading the passage again, but aloud. Pick a verse or two that strikes you and say it quietly to yourself again and again until it becomes part of you. Close your eyes, and focus on that verse. Pray, then, for the Holy Spirit to guide you in understanding and living by that verse through the day. When you retire that night, think again of that verse and pray, “Lord, into your hands I commend my soul.” With that thought,, allow yourself to fall asleep.

Thus may the discipline of these weeks so refresh and renew us that Holy Week and the day of Resurrection my strengthen us for whatever life may bring.

Faithfully,

James G. Emerson, Jr.

Lectionary

Mar. 7 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

Gen. 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps. 27; Phil. 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

Mar. 14 - 3rd Sunday in Lent

Isa. 55:1-9; Ps. 63:1-8; 1 Cor. 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

Mar. 21 - 4th Sunday in Lent

Josh. 5:9-12; Ps. 32; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Mar. 28 - 5th Sunday in Lent

Isa. 43:16-21; Ps. 126; Phil. 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8

Apr. 4 - Palm/Passion Sunday