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The
Sierra Pacific Synod
Weekly
E-Newsletter
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Sierra Pacific Synod
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April
29, 2011
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So they
left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his
disciples.
--Matthew 28:8
Mary Magdalene and Mary walked
to Jesus' grave, expecting to find death. It's understandable.
Images of violence filled their minds. Thoughts of their
vulnerability and mortality deadened their spirits. Death had
become the defining story of their lives.
Instead of death, the women met a resurrection messenger who
said, "He is not here: for he has been raised, as he said."
As they hurried to tell others, the risen Jesus met them.
They were changed. Now resurrection, not death, would define their
lives.
Jesus lives! Now
resurrection, not death, defines our lives. Jesus continues to meet
you in resurrection messengers, just as Jesus met me in Pastor Josephus
Livenson Lauvanus, president of the Lutheran Church of Haiti. As we
walked through the ruins and rubble that lie in the aftermath of Haiti's
earthquake, Pastor Livenson Lauvanus proclaimed, "We will not be
defined by rubble, but by restoration, for we are a people of the
resurrection."
Baptized into Jesus' death and
raised to newness of life we, too, are people of the resurrection.
We, too, are resurrection messengers. We, too, are about
God's work of restoration.
The world aches to hear the
message we have to tell. Sing with joy! Jesus lives! We
are a people of the resurrection.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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We invite you to lift up these ministry partners in
prayer:
Hope Lutheran Church, Rossmoor;
Lutheran Church of the Master, Sacramento; St. Matthew's Lutheran Church,
San Francisco; Hope Lutheran Church, San Mateo; Christ Lutheran Church,
Visalia
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ELCA
Response to Severe Storms
An outbreak of severe spring
storms has wreaked havoc across the southern United States. ELCA
Disaster Response is already at work with local Lutheran congregations
and the Southeastern Synod staff to assess what is needed. Only one ELCA
congregation is reported to have severe damage from a tornado. Please
keep in your prayers Pastor Sandy Niiler and the people of Christ
Lutheran in Cullman, Alabama.
This is one of several severe
storms this spring. Communities across the Midwest have been
fighting back flood waters. A dam in southeastern Missouri was
overwhelmed earlier this week, flooding more than 100 homes. In
recent weeks, tornadoes were responsible for widespread damage in
Missouri and the Carolinas.
The ELCA stands ready to respond
in all areas affected. Our congregations are experts at serving in
their communities - when and where it is needed most. Our first and
best response to all disasters is prayer. Please pray for all those
affected by these terrible storms.
Contributions can be made to ELCA
Disaster Response designated for "U.S. Severe Storms."
All designated gifts will be used entirely (100 percent) in
response to these disasters. These gifts will help families whose lives
and livelihoods have been disrupted by these natural disasters. Thank you
for your gifts and prayers!
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ASIAN MINISTRY CONSULTATION
Do you want to learn more about Asian and
multicultural ministry? The Asian Commission of the Episcopal
Diocese of California invites you to attend a 2-day consultation, June
10-11, in Alameda. The event will take place at Christ Episcopal
Church, 1700 Santa Clara Ave.
The consultation will provide an opportunity
to learn, connect and celebrate. For a brochure, please click here; to
register, here. For
more information you may contact Rev. Tita Valeriano, our ELCA
representative, by email or by phone at 773-383-3856.
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Your
church may be eligible for a payroll tax credit!
Did you know the Small Business Health
Care Tax Credit included in the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act is available to church employers? Even
though churches don't pay the same taxes as other businesses, this refundable
credit is available to churches to help offset health insurance
premiums.
Can your church answer "yes" to these
questions?
- We pay the premium for our employees'
health insurance
- We have 25 or fewer "full time
equivalent" employees
- Our employees' average wages are less
than $50,000
If
you answer "yes," your church may qualify for a money-saving
credit of 25% of health premiums paid... and the insurance can be from
the ELCA health plan or through another insurance company.
Don't miss your chance to receive this money-saving credit. The
deadline for filing your claim is May 15, 2011! Click on the link
above for more information from the ELCA Board of Pensions.
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A HUGE thanks to
all those who graciously volunteered to calligraphy certificates of
Anniversary of Ordination or Commission for our rostered leaders. Julie
Dachtler, Woodland; Mary-Rita Williiamson, Rohnert Park; and Robert
Schmitt, Alameda, completed 50 certificates in beautiful, personalized
calligraphy. The certificates will be presented to the leaders at
the Synod Assembly banquet dinner or mailed to those unable to be present
that evening.
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SYNOD
CALENDAR
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May 12 Synod Council, Hyatt
Regency, Burlingame
May 12 Assembly Planning
Committee, Hyatt Regency,
May 13-15 Synod Assembly,
Hyatt Regency, Burlingame
June 2-4 Anti-Racism Training,
Mt. Cross
June 2 Episcopal Lutheran
Ascension Day Service,
Stanford University
June 9 Council of Deans, Office
of the Bishop, Sacramento
June 10-11 Asian Ministry
June 24-25 Synod Council
July 1-5 Western States Youth
Gathering, California Lutheran
University, Thousand Oaks
July 14-17 Women of the ELCA
Triennial Gathering, Spokane, WA
July 22-24 ELCA Men in Mission
Triennial
Gathering, Indianapolis
August 1-3 North American
Catechumenate Gathering, SF
August 14-20
Churchwide
Assembly, Orlando, FL
August 26-27 Candidacy Committee
September 23-24 Synod Council
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
October 11-13 Professional
Leaders' Conference, Asilomar
October 21-22
Candidacy
November
4-6 Hunger Education
Retreat,
Mt. Cross
2012
January 5-9 Bishops' Academy
January 18-19 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ
the King Retreat
Center, Citrus Heights
March 1-6 Conference of Bishops
March 10 Rwanda
Connections
Committee
Annual Meeting,
Sacramento
July 18-22 ELCA Youth Gathering,
New Orleans, LA
October 4-9 Conference of
Bishops, Lutheran Center,
Chicago
2013
January 16-17 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ the King
Retreat
Center, Citrus Heights
February 28 - March 5 Conference
of Bishops
October 3-8 Conference of
Bishops, Lutheran Center,
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VOLUNTEERS
STILL NEEDED!
Sierra
Pacific Synod Assembly
May
13-15 - Hyatt Regency, Burlingame
For more infor-
mation, Click here or contact Mary Ann Fiene at 650-563-9680
(home) or 805-218-0462 (cell) or send an email to
sign up!
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Shalom Camp Meeting: DATE CHANGE
Please
note, Mt. Cross made a mistake in the original posting for the Shalom
Camp meeting. The informational / planning meeting for Shalom Camp
at Mt. Cross (July 10-15) will be held on Thurs., May 5th, 10 a.m.
at Advent Lutheran Church, Citrus Heights. All pastors, youth
directors and sponsors who are bringing youth to Shalom Camp should attend.
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Last
Chance!
As of March 11, 96 rostered
leaders and/or spouses have participated in Health assessment. That
number adds up to 40.8%. In order to get a 2% discount for all the
churches, we need 57 more before
April 30th. Come on,
people! What if you are the one church/person that keeps us from
the total? Just do it!
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Take
the Health Assessment by APRIL 30!
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Breakfast
Meeting with LOPP & LAMN
The Lutheran Office of Public
Policy - CA
& Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Nevada are hosting a breakfast
on Saturday at the Synod Assembly in Burlingame, featuring California
Senate Budget Committee Chair Mark Leno. Reservations required - click here for
more information. Members and friends of area congregations
are also welcome to attend.
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LIKE the
Sierra Pacific Synod!
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claimed . . . gathered . . . sent
The Sierra Pacific Synod
PO Box 276648, Sacramento, CA 95827-6648
916-756-1665 · 800-275-3522
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