February 2015

Issue 11

The Results of Respect: Martin

Luther King Jr. Multifaith Day of
Service
January 19th: Its not every day
that over 525 volunteers, aged 585 yrs, come together from 20
various faith communities with 1
purpose in mind: community
service! Martin Luther King Day
was celebrated in this way thanks
to the year long organizational
efforts of the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition, which our stake
is proud to be a member of. This
was the 3rd year of the Peninsula
Mutli-faith Day of Service where
20 various projects are selected
and chaired by each faith house.
The day started with breakfast,
after which volunteers fanned out
up and down the Peninsula to
clean and beautify local schools,
sort and box donated coats and
books, prepare breakfast for day
laborers, and lunch for a shelter.

Some sang to the elderly at

nursing homes, while others were
reading buddies to children while
their parents attended a literacy
workshop. 50+ members from our
ward congregations signed up and
participated in these various
projects. Our stake was in charge

of craft projects that will be hand

delivered for the 2nd year to
orphanages in Ukraine.
Baby hats were being knitted,
kids were making rainbow
bracelets, decorating journals
and cards, as others were tying
fleece blankets. When photos
were shared of the Ukrainian
orphan children receiving such
goods from last years efforts,
eyes lit up and much meaning
was given to the crafts at hand.
In San Francisco, our churchs
name was proudly carried on a
banner as various Bay Ward
members marched in the annual
MLK Day parade (sponsored by
the San Francisco Interfaith
Council). We are proud to be
part of this incredible day of
service and honor. Thank you to
all who came out to participate!!

Debbie Grewal
Stake Director of Public Affairs:
grewal.debbie@gmail.com

Desirae Barton
Interfaith Relations, Media
Relations

Matt Mosman
High Council Advisor
mfmosman@gmail.com

Ashley Rasmussen
Community Affairs

Abby Donovan, Dennis Donovan, Patricia CardFarrell, Marty Severson,Tina Batara, Richard H.
Harris, and Lily Donovan march in MLK Day Parade

Jen Jacobson
Home and Hope

Paul & Brittany Larsen

Social Media

Andrea Weidemann
JustServe

Marlene Watkins sews bags for

one of the MLK Day projects

Mark Your
Calendars:
April 25th

The Craigslist of Service: JustServe.org

Imagine finding a diverse list of service projects
available to you, your family, and your quorum in
just a few clicks of a computer mouse. This is
now a reality with JustServe.org. JustServe is a
church-sponsored website where communities,
LDS families, and missionaries can find
opportunities to volunteer and serve their area.
Anyone, including non-members, can use it! The
JustServe website makes it easier for Latter-Day
Saints to better do that which they are already
trying to do, to care for the poor and needy,
hasten the work of salvation, and help improve
the quality of life in our communities. This

website gives families the power of quickly finding

meaningful opportunities to serve as a family. It is a tool
for quorums to find needed activities. This is invaluable
for Young Women and Men quorums who participate in
so many service activities. JustServe is also an excellent
way to strengthen communities. JustServe.org helps us
follow the admonition of the Savior to Love thy
neighbor as thyself. JustServe.org has officially been
launched in our area and we could use your help filling
the website with service opportunities. Please be on the
lookout for service projects, and notify us by email if
you have one to share: justservesf@gmail.com or
andreaweidemann@hotmail.com.

Just Serve
Helping Hands
Due to last years
popularity and
success, we will be
joined again by the
West SF Stake for a
variety of projects at
the beautiful
McLaren Park.
Lunch will be
everyones favorite
burritos!

Singing Praises: Fall Interfaith Choral Concerts

All the choirs at the Peninsula Interfaith Choral Concert

at Congregational Church of San Mateo

It reminded me
of the main goal
of all these
religions is to
just do good.
TILC member

Our Stake TILC Representatives:

Laruen Bingham & Cameron Fewkes

October 26th: 6 choirs, 6

churches, 6 years! Thats right!
Our public affairs committee is
proud to reach this milestone of
success in planning, executing
and participating in this much
anticipated yearly event. The
Peninsula Interfaith Choral
Concert was hosted this year by
Congregational Church of San
Mateo and all who attended
were treated to a variety of
joyful music, as each choir
performed music from their
faith tradition. Our stake choir
had a record number of singers
and performed exceptionally
well, under the direction of the
charismatic David Hansen from
the CSII ward. The culminating
finale performance did not
disappoint with a combined
choir of over 170 voices
melding together in a beautiful

harmony as they sang Mack

Wilbergs My Shepherd Will
Supply My Need. Proceeds
from the concert benefit Home
and Hope and this years
concert raised $5,000.
Participating church choirs
from: Congregational Church of
San Mateo, The Episcopal
Church of St. Matthews, First
Presbyterian Church of
Burlingame, Transfiguration
Episcopal Church, and St.
Catherine of Siena Church.
November 9th: Our choir also
participated in the San Francisco
Interfaith Council 25th Year
Celebration: Interfaith Choral
Concert. The historic First
Unitarian Universalist Church
was the beautiful venue for this
celebratory concert. The choirs
were all conducted by the gifted
former San Francisco
Symphony Chorus conductor,

Vance George. Our stake was

honored to sing with choirs
from Catholic, Baptist,
Buddhist, Jewish, Unitarian, and
Sufi faith houses. Attendees
experienced an evening of rich,
diverse, and uplifting music that
left all inspired.

Stake Choir at the San Francisco

Interfaith Council 25th Year Celebration:
Interfaith Choral Concert at the First
Unitarian Universalist Church

The Teens Take Charge: Teen Interfaith Leadership Council

This article was written by: Cameron Fewkes, a
member of the Crystal Springs 1st Ward
The TILC (Teen Interfaith Lead Council) is a
small group which includes representatives
from some of the religions in the Bay Area. The
group consists of Buddhists, Jews, members of
the CCB (Congregational Church of Belmont)
and members of the LDS San Francisco Stake.
Together we plan special service events to help
support out community and show our
companionship through working together.
On Saturday, September 20th, 10:00 am,
members of the TILC group and their
congregations, met near the Bay Trail in San
Mateo to participate in an annual service
project called The Bay Front Cleanup. The teens

Supplying the Warmth: Winter

Shelter 2014
December 15th-18th: The Bay and Golden Gate
wards rolled up their sleeves once again to help
some needy brothers find comfort when they needed
it most. For four nights our members prepared and
served dinner to 100 homeless men through the
Interfaith Winter Shelter program in San Francisco.
This marks our 5th year involved in this wonderful
program that was designed to augment existing
shelter opportunities during the coldest months of
the year. The men are provided with breakfast,
dinner, and a safe and warm overnight rest through
the efforts of 35+ participating churches throughout
the city. This compassionate service opportunity
allows us to give heed to Pres. Monson's additional
4th mission of the church, "to care for the poor and
needy". What a perfect way to share the true gift of
Christ during the Christmas season.

worked for three hours then enjoyed

doughnuts at the Fewkes home. "It was really
great to see the TILC get together as group
and work together to reach a goal. It reminded
me of the main goal of all these religions is to
just do good."-said one TILC member. The TILC
group has monthly meetings and does service
projects every other month. For more
information on the TILC group, contact Lauren
Bingham: lauren.bingham@yahoo.com and
Cameron Fewkes: camcam@gadflea.com

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