S a n F r a n c i s c o S t a k e

PPuubblliicc AAffffaaiirrss Issue 7 February 2013

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Peninsula Latter-day Saints Take Part in First-Ever Multi-Faith Service Event on MLK Day January 21 - We were proud to be among the nearly 200 members of diverse faiths to gather for a day of service in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was a ground-breaking event aimed at bettering the community and uniting believers from 14 churches, mosques, and synagogues. Organizers arranged eight projects located from South San Francisco to Redwood City. Participants had the choice to prepare a meal and serve it to residents at Safe Harbor Shelter - Samaritan House, reconstruct and restore an underprivileged and underfunded elementary school in San Bruno, prepare warm-weather items to be sent to Syrian refugees living in the Olive Tree Camp, sort books for needy schools, or throw a kick-off breakfast. Latter-day Saints organizers Heidi Kershaw and Debbie Grewal, from the Public Affairs Committee, directed a project at Belle Air Elementary School in San Bruno. Our efforts focused on the cafeteria, which needed to be refreshed with new paint. Norm Swaton, an expert craftsman in CS2, directed 35 volunteers as they took to the walls and stage with brushes and rollers. There was a tangible sense of delight and urgency to help. Within six hours, the cafeteria walls transformed from dingy beige to two shades of bright blue. Teachers and administrators were excited to see the improvement and noted that they couldn’t wait to see the students’ faces when they entered the next day.

Latter-day Saints members also helped collect items for 180 Syrian families living in a refugee camp along the Syria/Turkey border. The rainy season flooded the camp and humanitarian workers confessed to the press that basic needs could not be met. Through the interfaith network, organizers partnered with Helping Hands International for Relief and Development, an Islamic foundation dedicated to sending relief items directly into camps. Donations from all of the faith organizations totaled 61 large boxes weighing 30 pounds each. More than 1/3 of the 40- foot crate was taken by these donations. The crate left the peninsula and is currently on its way to Syria. The spirit of giving seemed to consume the larger community. Local businesses such as Happy to Fix It, BiRite Foodservice Distributors of Brisbane, and Recology of San Bruno donated their goods and services at no cost. Lowe’s and Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria of San Mateo gave deep discounts to accommodate the needs of the service project. We’d like to thank the members of our stake who contributed to this day. We could not have done it without you. _____________________________________________________

Glory! Glory! The Interfaith Choral Concert Marches On October 21 - Our Stake proudly took its turn this fall in hosting the fourth annual Interfaith Choral Concert. Choirs from five of our local churches once again gathered together to perform the music of their faiths.

Nearly 300 attendees heard pieces from the Requiem to Gaelic hymns, but the crowning moment was the finale: “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Directed by Brother Hansen of CS2 and accompanied by Thomas Joyce of St. Paul’s Episcopal at the organ, the choirs united together and sang with one voice, “Glory, glory, hallelujah!” It was a defining moment for both the performers and the audience as five separate faiths merged together to proclaim one clear message: Christ is our Lord and our Redeemer and He is glorious.

Participating choirs included St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Burlingame, The Episcopal Church of St. Matthews in San Mateo, First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame, the Congregational Church of San Mateo, and our stake’s all-star choir.

Debbie Grewal, Director of Public Affairs Linda Koeling, Community Affairs Richard Harris, SF Interfaith Council Rep. Jen Jacobson, Home and Hope Heidi Kershaw, Interfaith Relations, Media Relations Paul and Brittany Larsen, Social Media Misty Cox, Interfaith Blood Drive Matt Mosman, High Council Advisor

What’s Happening in Stake Public Affairs Thanksgiving Day Service Among Friends from Other Faiths November 22 - Our own Pacific and Gough chapel in San Francisco hosted the San Francisco Interfaith Council’s (SFIC) annual Thanksgiving Day Service for the first time. The meeting, held the morning of November 22nd, was a wonderful start to Thanksgiving Day for the 150 people who attended. The LDS church is one of the founding members of the San Francisco Interfaith Council, which was formed in 1989, following the Loma Prieta earthquake. The Council’s first task was (and is) to provide human necessities arising from a disaster. Attendees arrived to hear the organist’s rendition of the “Nutcracker Overture,” played as a tribute to the Christensen brothers, three LDS men from Brigham City, UT who founded the San Francisco ballet and who were the first to institute the Christmas time tradition of holiday-season Nutcracker productions. The program featured brief comments from a number of San Francisco’s faith traditions: Jewish, Muslim, Konko, Buddhist, and various Christian faiths, including representatives from Grace Cathedral, St. Ignatius, St. Mark’s, Calvary Presbyterian and others. Matt Mosman of the San Francisco Stake High Council welcomed all faiths to our chapel, telling the congregation of the church’s long history in San Francisco and in the state of California. He spoke of the arrival of the ship Brooklyn to San Francisco, saying of the 240 LDS settlers on that ship, “They settled around what is today Portsmouth Square, in Chinatown. They were farmers and miners and merchants, and among other things, they founded San Francisco’s first school and the city’s first newspaper.” He also told the congregants of the work of the Mormon Battalion, and of the battalion’s key role in building Sutter’s Mill and in finding gold along the American River. He said, “Today, we are thankful for the food on our tables, for roofs over our heads, for our friends and families, and for our places of worship. We are thankful for the beauty of the Earth. We are thankful for all opportunities to do God’s work, whether arising out of disaster or in response to the perennial conditions of hunger and sickness and misery in the world.”

Maryam Mahvi of the Bay Ward treated the congregation to an old Southern spiritual hymn, prompting SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas to comment that the service provided “the best music we’ve ever had at an interfaith event.” The Donovan girls of the Bay Ward also read the “Proclamation of Thanksgiving” by Abraham Lincoln, to the delight of the congregation. Pastor Maggi Henderson of the Old First Presbyterian Church delivered the keynote address, speaking eloquently and convincingly about how in the midst of all of our angst in today’s fast and confusing world, we can find comfort in the knowledge that we are all loved by our creator. The annual service raised over $1,500 for the work of the San Francisco Interfaith Council. ____________________________________________

Latter-Day Saints Serve and Prepare Food for Winter Shelter Program Latter-day Saints from the Golden Gate and Bay wards spent two evenings with the homeless in San Francisco. On December 3-4, approximately 35 members from the Golden Gate ward served together at St. Mark’s. Volunteers had the chance to serve a full plate to nearly 60 homeless men-and even had the resources to give seconds. Conversation flowed as the men worked their way through the line. One man noted, “The Mormon's know how to do this right." On January 17-18, 35 members of the Bay Ward had the opportunity to work at St. Bonafice near the Tenderloin. Before the meal began, the members sang a song and offered a prayer with the men. The volunteers dished up each plate and then delivered food to the tables, providing an opportunity to talk and get to know each other. Some volunteers just walked around and chatted, creating a meaningful experience for both sides. The men were very appreciative and some even commented that they felt the “holy spirit” during the song.

Save the Date April 27: Mormon Helping Hands Golden Gate National Cemetery: 1300 Sneath Lane, San Bruno 9AM - 12PM Come and beautify the cemetery and honor those who serve. Great missionary opportunity. Lunch to follow!