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The Sierra Pacific Synod
Weekly E-Newsletter
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Sierra Pacific Synod
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August 16, 2012
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Greetings!
Last month, I spent a few days at Luther Seminary at a course offering called "ReThinking Stewardship." Actually, there were six of us from the Sierra Pacific Synod who joined about 150 others. The method for introducing subjects and filling us up was rapid fire. We heard from many experts on many things, from consumerism to frugality, connecting faith with finances and meaning with money. We listened, mostly, but we also talked and ate and worshiped together. It was provocative, evocative, challenging and, to be perfectly honest, occasionally, boring.
One great speaker was The Rev. Dr. David Lose, a professor at Luther (and our keynote speaker for our upcoming Synod Assembly in Fresno this May .... We're pretty excited!) He was not only an engaging and theologically grounded speaker, he was practical and concrete. After offering an assessment of the situation in our country and culture right now (we're reeling) and the ways we've changed, he offered some suggestions on how congregations might respond. It seemed like good stuff to share as we move into the time in our congregational lives in which we are "thinking stewardship." Perhaps what Dr. Lose suggests will cause us to re-think it, just a bit.
- Congregations can make the intangible tangible. Encourage /invite/plan for the people (not the pastor) to talk about the core values of our life together as Christians: grace, joy, blessing, fellowship, based on how they have experienced those "intangibles" in very clear and concrete ways. Congregants have stories. Let them be told!
- Congregations can tell an alternative story about how God is active and present in our lives. The old story is one of unending growth of finances (e.g. God is good and we are rich). For the alternative story, see Psalm 23 and Philippians 4:6 (hint: God is present and we are grateful).
- Congregations can form a supportive culture. For instance, becoming a congregation that focuses on what it means to have Sabbath rest in a culture that focuses on productive busy-ness. Or what would it look like if we measured Acts of Generosity instead of, and I quote, "butts in pews?" Acts of generosity lead to stories about what it was like to be giving from our blessings - one of my all-time favorite ideas, I must admit.
These are just a few thoughts from one of the presentations on one of the days. You will be hearing more from me and from the Stewardship Discipling Team in the weeks and months to come. We are just getting started! Watch this newsletter for additional ideas, resources and announcements. The spirit is moving and it's pretty exciting! We're not only re-thinking, we're re-forming stewardship .... What a remarkably Lutheran idea!
Peace,
Rev. Nancy Feniuk Nelson,
Bishop's Associate
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Please pray for:
Pastor Newt Kerney (Retired), recovering from an outpatient heart procedure.
Pastor Kerstin (Barnes) Weidmann (St. Mark's, Pleasant Hill), as she anticipates surgery for early stage colon cancer
All who have suffered loss or who are threatened by wildfires
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CELEBRATING RETIRED BELFRY PASTOR DON RANSTROM
Following "Birdies for the Belfry III" on Saturday, September 29, a celebration and appreciation dinner will be held to honor the ministry of Pastor Don Ranstrom. Tickets for the dinner are available - and for the golf tournament, too! For more information or to register, please click here.
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FAITH, YOUTH & IMMIGRATION
A day-long conference for youth and young adults (ages 14-25) is being offered on Sat., Oct. 13th at Mills College in Oakland. The conference will be a unique opportunity for individuals to connect their stories of migration and identity and learn how their spirituality can be an instrument of justice. For more info or to register, please click here.
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100 Wells Challenge: We Did It!
This year, young people of the ELCA set out to raise $250,000 to support the water projects of ELCA World Hunger where they are needed most. Thanks to the generosity of youth across the nation, more than $400,000 has been received in support of this effort to date. Click here to learn more, and be sure to click the link on the left to learn about the 100 Wells Tour concerts with Agape, Rachel Kurtz and Lost and Found.
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Northern California LWR Ingathering
The 5th Annual Northern California Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Ingathering will take place October 1st through 15th at three different locations - Redding, Antioch and Morgan Hill. Your congregation is invited to participate in this gathering of quilts and kits. There's still time to get started if you're new at this! For more information and specific instructions, please click here.
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"Cultural Humility: the Foundation of a Multicultural Church" is an all-day workshop offered on Saturday, Sep. 15, to increase cultural competence through cultural humility, which is the foundation for multicultural growth and/or outreach. Dr. Veronica Neal will be the major presenter at the workshop.
Emanuel Lutheran Church, Modesto, will host the event. There will be a nominal fee to cover the cost of meals, speaker, and materials. For more information or to register please click here.
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Mission Coalition Grant Opportunity
for Evangelism Efforts
Grant guidelines: click here. Questions? Contact Pastor Stephen Carlson by email or by phone at 559-264-5385.
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Second Mile Giving
for August:
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| SYNOD CALENDAR |
2012
August 17-18 Candidacy Committee,
PLTS
August 30 Discipling Team Chairs,
Resurrection, Dublin
September 15 Cultural Humility
Workshop, Emanuel, Modesto
September 22 District B Gathering,
Peace, Grass Valley
September 28-29 Synod Council,
Mercy Center, Burlingame
September 29 Anti-Racism Introduction, Faith, Reno October 4-9 Conference of Bishops, Lutheran Center, Chicago
October 8-9 Council of Deans,
Granlibakken Resort
October 8-9 Rostered Women's
Retreat, Granlibakken Resort
October 9-11 Professional Leaders
Conference, Granlibakken Resort
October 12-14 SPSYC High School
Retreat
October 14 District A Assembly,
Location TBD
October 14 District C Assembly,
Location TBD
October 19-21 Anti-Racism Training,
Mt. Hermon Retreat Center
October 20 Sierra San Joaquin and
Central Valley Conferences
Assembly, Location TBD
October 26-27 Candidacy Committee,
PLTS
October 27 Hunger Network
Workshop, Lutheran Church of
the Incarnation, Davis
November 7-9 FCTE, Denver, CO
November 9-11 SPSYC Middle School
/ Junior High Retreat
November 10 Leaders of Congre-
gations of Color, Location TBD
November 10 District D Assembly,
Location TBD
December 8 Synod Council (tent.) 2013
January 2-7 Bishops' Academy
January 11-12 Candidacy
Committee, PLTS
January 12 Worship for Baptismal
Living Event, Location TBD
January 16-17 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ the King Retreat Center, Citrus Heights
January 19 All Discipling Teams,
Location TBD
January 25-26 Synod Council,
Jesuit Retreat Center, Los Altos
February 22-24 SPSYC 3rd-6th
Grade Retreat
February 28 - March 5 Conference of Bishops
March 4-5 Retired Clergy/AIMS/
Spouses/Widows & Widowers
Retreat
March 9 Rwanda Connections
Committee Annual Meeting,
Sacramento
April 9-11 FCTE, Las Vegas, NV
May 1 Synod Council, Fresno
May 2-4 Synod Assembly, Fresno
August 12-18 Churchwide Assembly
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 3-8 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
2014
January 2-7 Bishops' Academy
February 27 - March 4 Conference
of Bishops
October 2-7 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
2015
March 5-10 Conference of Bishops
October 1-6 Conference of Bishops, Lutheran Center, Chicago
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Upcoming Events - Dates to Hold
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claimed . . . gathered . . . sent
The Sierra Pacific Synod
PO Box 276648, Sacramento, CA 95827-6648
916-756-1665 · 800-275-3522 · 888-789-6434 (Fax)
Office of the Bishop, Sacramento Office of the Bishop, Bay Area Office of the Bishop, Fresno 9985 Folsom Blvd. 500 Airport Blvd., Suite 442 Synod Resource Center Sacramento, CA 95827-1405 Burlingame, CA 94010-1938 2311 E. Shaw Avenue916-756-1665 (Direct) 650-590-0980 (Direct) Fresno, CA 93710-8204 559-345-2725 (Direct) Office Hours
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