We have returned from the ELCA Churchwide
Assembly in Minneapolis, and as you know, the news has
preceded us. And, as is true on so many fronts, the news
we get in the headlines isn't necessarily all the news there
is. Yes, we did indeed adopt a new social
statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" as well as
15 implementing resolutions. Yes, we did indeed vote on
changes to the ministry policies. In all these cases, I
encourage you to read more than what you see in the newspaper,
or blog, or on the scrolling messages on TV. Take the
time to go to the ELCA website and
really read what was passed/adopted by your brothers and
sisters in Christ. Don't trust just an interpretation of
the news, even from a trusted source. Go to the primary
source and see it for yourself.
But then look beyond the splash of headlines
to some of the other decisions made during this week of
fervent activity. We voted to be in full communion with
the United Methodist Church. Find out what exactly that
means by reading the agreement itself. We approved a
strategy to raise $10 million over 3 years for an HIV and AIDS
strategy. We voted to join with the Lutheran Church
-Missouri Synod, Lutheran World Relief and the United Nations
Foundation in the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, designed to
fight malaria, particularly in Africa. We agreed to
study issues related to justice for women. We adopted a
budget.
The greetings brought from around the
world, most notably from the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, General
Secretary of Lutheran World Federation, were
inspirational. I've included the links to both the text
and the video for his address.
Then there were
the sermons ... oh my. What amazing sermons we
heard. You can find them on the ELCA website,
too. I plan to listen to them again because once wasn't
enough. Check them out.
And then take a few
minutes to listen to or read Bishop Hanson's closing
remarks. The links for text/video are also supplied
below. In the midst of listening to "the news" Bp Hanson
called us back to the only place where we can together, ALL of
us, receive the only news that matters: The Good News. We
ended the week where we began: at the foot of the
cross.
God's peace,
Pastor
Nancy Feniuk Nelson
Bishop's Associate
|
|
We remember in prayer . .
.
All
who suffer as a result of natural disasters, especially those
affected by the tornado in Minneapolis and wild fires in
California
|
|
BOOK OF FAITH WORKSHOP
August 29, 2009
10:00
am - 2:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
1225
Hopyard Road
Pleasanton, CA 94556
925-846-6363
Register by e-mail to Diane McGeoch
at dlmcgeoch@juno.com or Karen Woida at karenwoida@yahoo.com by
August 26, 2009. There is no registration fee.
Please bring something for your lunch. Beverages and
some snacks will be provided.
|
 |
|
TREASURE IN CLAY
JARS:
THE RENEWABLE ORGANIZATION
A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
Presented by Kelly Fryer of
A Renewal Enterprise, Inc.
October 15th
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
1111 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA
This workshop will introduce you to the principles and
practices of a Renewable Organization for the sake of helping
your church be who you are and see what you have for the
sake of doing what matters. You will learn seven practices
that will tap into the renewable source of energy that dwells
within your people.
Early bird registration fee of $59.00 includes lunch
and a copy of the brand new workbook "The Renewable
Organization for Faith-Based Groups."
|
|
and
CHRIST-SEMINARY
SEMINEX
CELEBRATION
SEPTEMBER 23,
2009
"BUILDING CULTURES OF
TRUST"
Featuring
DR. MARTIN E.
MARTY
KEYNOTE
SPEAKER
For
more information and to register, go to PLTS
|
|
WORSHIP & MUSIC FORUM
Evangelical Lutheran
Worship: More Freedom and
Flexibility
October 24,
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church
Fresno, CA
To register, go to the Word and Sacrament
website and click on "Events and
Resources."
| |
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
August 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - Trinity,
Pleasanton
September 7 - Synod Office
closed for Labor Day
holiday
September 14-15 Region 2
Consultation - PLTS
September 19 10:00 - 4:00
District B Conferences
Assembly - St. John's,
Sacramento
September 22 LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
September 23 PLTS
Founders' Day with
Martin Marty - Berkeley
September 25-26 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
September 26 Women's
Retreat - Mt. Cross
October 1-6 Conference of
Bishops - Chicago
October 10 10:00 - 4:00
District A Conferences
Assembly - Elim,
Petaluma
October 11 1:00 - 4:00
District C Conferences
Assembly - PLTS
October 1-6 Conference
of Bishops, Chicago
October 19-20 Council of
Deans - Asilomar
October 19-20 Pre-
Conference Professional
Leaders Women's
Retreat - Asilomar
October
20-22 Professional
Leaders
Conference,
Asilomar Conference
Center
October 23-24 Word &
Sacrament Event - ELW
Freedom & Flexibility
Good Shepherd,
Fresno
October 24 10:00 - 3:00
District E Conferences
Assembly - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
October 24 Book of Faith
Conversation - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
November 1 Joint Lutheran /
Roman Catholic Service in
Stockton - 4:00 pm
November 7 10:00 - 3:00
District D Conferences
Assembly - Grace,
Palo Alto
November 7 - Book of Faith
Conversation - Faith, Chico
November 13-14 WELCA
Gathering - Peace,
Grass Valley
November 13-15 Spouses of
Clergy, AiMs & Diaconal
Ministers Retreat - Eagles
Rest, Sonora, CA
November 14 - Book of Faith
Conversation - Christ the
King, Orangevale
2010
January 4-9 Bishops'
Academy, Itasca, IL
January 13-14 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights, CA
January 15-16 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
January 30 - Book of Faith
Conversation, Bethel,
Cupertino
March 1-2 Retired Clergy/
AIMs/Widows-Widowers/
Spouse Retreat - San
Damiano Retreat Center,
Danville, CA
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops -
Chicago
2011
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly - Orlando,
FL
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops
|
PROFESSIONAL
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OCTOBER 20-22
The Professional Leadership Conference
will be held October 20-22 at
Asilomar. A link for registering for the conference
available on the Synod
website.
Please note that online registration is
for conference registration
only. Housing registration must be handled
directly with Asilomar using the form available on
the Synod
website.
|
|
PRE-CONFERENCE PROFESSIONAL LEADERS WOMEN'S
RETREAT
Dates:
Mon., Oct. 19 -Tues., Oct. 20
Cost: $40, exclusive of
housing & meals
Theme: The Enneagram
and Spirituality
Room reservations for this event must be
made directly with Asilomar Conference Center.
To register or for more information, please
contact Katy Grindberg at Pastor Katy.
| |
Sierra
Pacific Synod 
