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At its most recent meeting, the Church Council of
the ELCA voted to bring forward to the Churchwide Assembly in
August the proposed Social Statement, Report and
Recommendations of the Task Force on Human Sexuality. It
also affirmed the position of the Secretary of the ELCA, David
Swartling, that a 2/3 majority will be needed to approve the
Social Statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," but only
a simple majority vote will be required to approve the
Recommendations and implementing resolutions offered by the
Task Force. The most up-to-date version of the Report
and the Recommendations is available at ELCA.
This "vote before the vote"
has been the source of much conversation as these issues are
brought forward for further deliberation in the church.
What hasn't been talked about nearly as much is how this
conversation is being "overheard" by those who are outside of
the ELCA. There are no doubt people in the communities
we serve who would favor opening our roster to include openly
gay or lesbian persons, just as there are people who would
disapprove of such a decision. The ultimate decision of
this church, therefore, and the process of how we arrive at
such a decision, will be an important part of our witness to
the larger community.
I pray this
awareness, the awareness of how our conversations are being
overheard, will guide us in how we talk to one another, pray
with one another, disagree with one another, covenant with one
another and in how we, as a community of believers in Jesus
Christ, receive the ultimate decision of this church. I
pray our words and actions we will be compatible with the
words and actions of Christ, because that is a witness worthy
of the grace we have received and have been called to
share. It's how we are best heard and
overheard.
God's Peace,
Bp.
Mark
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We remember in prayer . . .
The granddaughter of Pastor Vern Holmes (American,
Woodland), who remains seriously injured following an
automobile accident.
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CONGREGATIONS IN TRANSITION
Key:
(1) Seeking an interim
pastor
(2) Forming a call committee
(3) Developing
profile
(4) Preparing slate of candidates
(5)
Interviewing
(6)
Calling
Congregation
Interim Pastor
Aptos, Christ
(3)
Herb Schmidt
Davis,
Incarnation
(3)
Stan Niemi
El Dorado Hills, St. Stephen's (3)
Fremont,
Good Shepherd South
Asian Ministry
(2)
Ray Waespi
Fresno, Hope
(5)
Roger Lee
Half Moon Bay, Coastside(4) L
Andersen
Hollister, Trinity
(2)
Scott Minke
Kingsburg, Concordia (3)
Carl Bengston
Los Altos, Immanuel
(3) Marcus
Hess Marysville, Faith
(4)
Kirk Shipley
Merced, Shepherd of the Valley
(5)
Arlynne Turnquist
Mi-Wuk
Village, Mt Calvary
(5)
Eric Yochheim
Oakland, Bethlehem (1)
Orland, First
(2)
Bill Kees
Redding, St. James (3)
Rio Linda,
Calvary (4)
Todd Eckblad
Sacramento, Our Redeemer
(5)
Dick Smith Sacramento, St. Paul (1)
Salinas, El Buen Pastor (6)
San Leandro,
Epiphany(4) Lori Eickmann
San
Leandro, St. James (4)
Turlock, Light of Christ
(3) Frank Starkey
Visalia, Christ (Pastor of
Discipleship) (5)
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MINISTRY/ROSTER
CHANGES
April Almaas (newly ordained) to
Associate Pastor, Holy Redeemer,
Newark
Jonathan Yurk (newly ordained) to Holy
Cross, Reno
Donald Heinz (retired), transferred
to Southwestern Washington
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A NOTE TO SPOUSES OF CLERGY, AIMS &
DIACONAL MINISTERS 
From Debbi
Holmerud:
Dear Spouses of Clergy, AiMs, and
Diaconal Ministers,
Hopefully by now you have received a
letter from me that includes a survey which asks for your
input regarding our annual Spouse Retreat. The note asks
you to return your survey either by completing the survey
online using Survey Monkey, or by returning the hard copy to
Michelle O'Berg. Much to my chagrin I included an
out-of-date address for Michelle. If you are planning to
return your survey by mail, rather than using Survey
Monkey, please return your survey to:
Michelle O'Berg
1837 Valota Road
Redwood City, CA 94061
Thank you so much, and I apologize for
the confusion.
Debbi Holmerud
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WORKSHOP ON THE WISDOM OF THE ENNEAGRAM: REFLECTING THE
FACE OF
GOD
Enneagram is
a dynamic personality system that describes nine distict
patterns of thinking, feeling and acting. It is used as
a spiritual tool to help us better understand ourselves,
others, and our relationship with God.
When:
April 25, 9:00am - 4:00 pm
Sponsored
by: First United Lutheran Church, San
Francisco
Location:
Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678 Portola Dr., San Francisco,
CA
Cost:
$20.00 - includes lunch
Registration
and information: Call 415-359-1025
or register on line at www.fulc.com
Leader:
Ruth E. Snyder from Buffalo, NY. Ruth is a Spiritual
Director with particular expertise in Enneagram, Systems
Theory, Conflict Management Congregational /Organizational
Visioning, Prayer and Spirituality of Dreams. A
former ELCA pastor, Ruth received a D.Min from Chicago
Theological Seminary in Spirituality and Spiritual
Direction. She now serves the United Church of
Christ.
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SPIRITUAL
RETREAT FOR NORTH COAST
LUTHERANS
Saturday, May
2, the Lutheran Church of Arcata is sponsoring a
one-day Spiritual Retreat for North Coast Lutherans:
THE STILL, SMALL
VOICE: Listen; Pray;
Worship. With the goal of
making this an annual event, the retreat will take place
from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.
Featuring
opening worship, morning and afternoon break-out sessions and
lunch, presentations will include Christian Meditation;
Writing Psalms as a Means to Prayer; The Labyrinth as a tool
for Christian spiritual exercise; and a mentored spiritual
growth ministry for the congregation. Presenters include
the pastor and members of the congregation.
The retreat
is offered at no charge, although a freewill donation is
invited. Location of the church is 151 E. 16th St.,
Arcata. Contact the church at 707-822-5117 or
e-mail at: lca@lutheranchurcharcata.org.
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GROW OUR
SUBSCRIBERS!
Do
you know someone who should be receiving this
e-newsletter? How about your congregation's Church
Council? Or the Chairpersons of your Ministry
Teams? Sunday School teachers?
We encourage you to add as many
people as you can to our subscriber list. You may click
on the link in our website, www.spselca.org, or e-mail names and e-mail addresses
to: info@spselca.org. Let's double our
subscribers!
Link
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Upcoming Events
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April 6 Chrism Mass
10:30am - Cross & Crown
Lutheran Church,
Rohnert Park
April 7 Chrism Mass
10:30 am - Emanuel
Lutheran Church,
Modesto
April 16-18 Gathering for
Women of Color in
Ministry
Eaglewood Resort &
Spa, Itasca (Chicago) IL
April 21 - 22 Mobility
Conference
April 22
Hein-Fry Lecture -
Pacific
Lutheran
Theological Seminary
April 23 Tri-Synod Campus
Ministry Board
April 24 Professional
Leadership Conference
Committee
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
April 24-25 Candidacy
Committee at PLTS,
Berkeley, CA
April 29 Interim Pastors
Gathering - Bay Area
(Site TBD)
April 30 Interim Pastors
Gathering - Valley Area
(Site TBD) May
27-28 Synod Council
May 28-30 Synod Assembly
Fresno, CA
May 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - At Synod
Assembly, Fresno
June 1 Synod Office Closed
July 10-12 Catechumenate
Training - San Damiano
Retreat Center, Danville
August 17 - 23
Churchwide
Assembly, Minneapolis,
MN
August 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - Trinity,
Pleasanton
September 19 District B
Conferences Assembly
St. John's, Sacramento
September 22 LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
October 10 District A
Conferences Assembly
Cross & Crown, Rohnert
Park
October 11 District C
Conferences Assembly
PLTS
October 1-6 Conference
of Bishops, Chicago
October
20-22 Professional
Leaders
Conference,
Asilomar Conference
Center
October 23-24 Word &
Sacrament Event - ELW
Freedom &
Flexibility
October 24 District E
Conferences Assembly
Fresno
October 24 Book of Faith
Conversation - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
November 7 District D
Conferences Assembly
November 13-14 WELCA
Gathering - Peace,
Grass Valley
2010
January 4-9 Bishops'
Academy, Itasca, IL
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops
2011
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops
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LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INGATHERING IN NO.
CALIFORNIA - CORRECTION
Lutheran World Relief
conducts annual ingatherings of quilts and kits and sends them
to more than 740,000 people in 27 different countries.
Learn more about this by going to: LWR Ingatherings.
Advent Lutheran Church
in Morgan Hill will be hosting another Ingathering this coming
October 23 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and October 24 from 10:00
am to 2:00 pm. Contact Marge Johanson (Key
Leader) for specific information at: Marge
Johanson, or call her at (408) 476-3952
(cell).
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SYNOD ASSEMBLY
REGISTRATION
Letters have gone out to congregations
and clergy under special call with instructions for Synod
Assembly Registration. The links for Assembly and hotel
registration are now on the Synod website.
Please note these
important deadlines:
April 28 - Assembly
Registration fees due
April 29 - A $50 late
fee will be charged. No exceptions. On
site registration will have a $75 late fee
assessed.
May 1 - Hotel reservations
close for our reduced rate
One person should complete the
congregation's registration information form for all Voting
Members. Please have information for all Voting Members
on hand before starting the registration process.
If you have questions, feel free to e-mail the Synod
office at info@spselca.org.
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INVITATION TO PROSPECTIVE
HUMBOLDT STATE STUDENTS
Humbolt State University
"Spring Preview" weekend is April 17-19. Lutheran
students and their families visiting Arcata for the weekend
are invited to worship at Lutheran Church of Arcata, 151 E.
16th Street.
The PATH at LCA is a ministry
to students at both HSU and College of the Redwoods.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 