Marin Lutheran Church

Sunday Morning Adult Education
July 10, 17, 24 & 31 – 10:15 a.m.
Embracing an Adult Faith: Marcus Borg on What it Means to be Christian
Pastor Tom Gable will lead a discussion on this topic beginning at 10:15 a.m. on the above Sundays. 
You do not need to have read the book to participate in the discussion.
Each topic includes a 10-minute video presentation by Marcus Borg.

Religious/Spiritual Films and Discussion in July
July 14, 21 & 28 – 6:30 p.m.
We will watch and then discuss a film that raises interesting and profound spiritual questions.
Chosen films TBA
Come enjoy a Thursday evening movie and discussion.

Dessert & Discussion Bible Study in August
August 15, 22 & 29 – 6:30 p.m.
On these Monday evenings Pastor Tom Gable will look at a few of the parables of Jesus.
Parables are stories that Jesus told that show us how Godworks in or lives and the world.

Join us for any or all of these summer adult education offerings.

SonSurf – BEACH BASH!

Vacation Bible School for ages 3 years old through 5th grade.
August 1-5, 8:30 a.m. – 12noon

The kids learn about God’s love while having loads of fun with music, skits, stories, games, crafts and snacks.

Closing Ceremony is on Sunday, August 7th at 11:00 a.m.
The kids get together and show us all what they have learned during the week.
A picnic lunch follows this service.

Enrollment is filling up, if you are interested in finding out more about this program call, 924-3782.

A Concert of joyful singing and joyous singers.

Featuring: Marin Harmony & Sing We EnchantedSunday, May 15 at 4:00 p.m.
Marin Lutheran Church
General $20 / Seniors & Students $10 – tickets at the door
A reception follows the concert
Proceeds benefit the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Marin Harmony – a community chorus of 26 singers that perform a capella do-wop and jazz arrangements. Directed by Rebecca Jones, the chorus performs for the county’s numerous retirement communities, and in July 2010 won 5^th place at the Marin County Fair’s Marin Star Search Group Competition.

Sing We Enchanted – performs a variety of three to five part a capella music – madrigals, light classics, folk music, and old familiar favorites for cancer patients at the UCSF Parnassus campus and at the Mt. Zion Cancer Center, through the Art for Recovery program. Directed by Deborah Hahn.

We will be holding three small group gatherings for the purpose of enjoying fun and fellowship as well as having the opportunity to talk about the mission, ministry and funding of same in a small group.  The spots are limited, so if you are interested in attending one of these gatherings please sign up at church or call the church office to reserve a space (924-3782).

Holiday Weekend Brunch – for 10
Saturday, May 28th at 11:00 a.m.
Yvonne Weidmann is hosting

Coffee & Dessert – for 10
Friday, June 3rd at 7:30 p.m.
Karen Anderson is hosting

Summer Family Barbeque – for 4-5 families with children
Saturday, June 4th at 5:30 p.m.
Karen & David DiDonato are hosting

Thank you to the above council members for hosting these groups.  If you need directions to their homes, please contact the church office.

At 8:00 p.m. on Good Friday, April 22nd, join us for a Tenebrae service.  Through the spoken Word, music and candlelight, we hear the Passion story of our Lord.  The service ends with Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross as we await Easter morning.

What is a Tenebrae Service? 

This service is one of the oldest traditional services in the Christian church.  Tenebrae (Latin for darkness) was the name given to this medieval predawn prayer celebrated by monks during the last three days of Holy Week.  Through the years, it was moved to Holy Wednesday evening and then later to Good Friday evening. 

In the beginning of the service, the sanctuary is filled with light.  As the Passion of St. John is read, the candles are extinguished – representing the disciples and other followers of Christ as they all gradually took to flight.  The ensuing darkness symbolizes the growing fear and hatred of the world against the Savior. 

The Procession of the Cross, or the Adoration of the Cross, is also steeped in our Christian tradition.  It acknowledges the cross as a sign of the world’s redemption. 

The strepitus, a loud noise, breaks the silence towards the end of the service.  It’s symbolism is multi-layered:  for the earthquake at Jesus’ death, the closing of the tomb and a foreshadowing of the rending of Christ’s tomb at Easter.

The large candle, the Paschal candle, symbolizes our Savior.  It is removed to symbolize his death.  

We are people who know the end of the story. We know that death does not have the last word.  The final theme of Good Friday is not lament but triumph.  The concluding verse, spoke by the pastors, echoes this note of confidence: 

By your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.