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The Sierra Pacific Synod
Weekly E-Newsletter |
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Sierra Pacific Synod
| December 1, 2011
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"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . full of grace and truth." As the President of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, I can both attest to the power of these words and argue with them.
Here we are, on the brink of Christmas. The whole world is busy making something of Christmas that it was never meant to be. John's words get us back on track. They remind us that Christmas is about the incarnation of the very Word of God. God comes and sets up housekeeping with the whole human family. It is an amazing story, and one that most people would never think to write. Most people clamor and climb to get up in the world. In this story, God comes down. Immanuel. This is what we celebrate each Christmas: the Word become flesh.
But John's words don't quite tell the whole story. While it is true that the Word became flesh, it is also true that it does so still. As Phillips Brooks so beautifully writes, "Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in." Jesus is born in us again and again. He comes to us again and again. The Word becomes flesh again and again in us and through us.
We are all tellers of the Christmas story. When grace and truth spill from us to our neighbor, Jesus is born again.
And we want Jesus to be born again. And again. And again. We want a world full of grace and truth, and those who spill it on their neighbors. That is why we do what we do at PLTS. We tell the story and shape and equip our students to tell it some more.
Your gifts to PLTS through Second Mile Giving really help. When you send a gift to PLTS, you help send a storyteller into the world. It's a story worth telling. Thank you for helping to tell it.
Peace,
Rev. Phyllis Anderson, Ph.D.
President
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An Invitation and Request from the Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee
The Youth Committee has spent the past two summers either traveling to Rwanda or sponsoring a delegation of Rwandan youth to come to our Synod. Anyone who took part in or heard about these travels knows what an amazing time we had and how much was learned and shared through our global connection with God. We worked really hard on fundraising for all that we did, but we've fallen just a little bit short. We are offering to travel around to congregations upon request and give a presentation about our trips and to request donations. We not only are doing this to raise the last of our needed funds, but also to educate and enlighten people. We have an amazing partnership with the Lutheran Church of Rwanda and our interactions have and will continue to benefit each other with God's presence. We have youth and adult representatives from the committee from all around the synod who would love to come to your church! We will be raising the money while ALSO educating. Congregations can email Pastor Craig Minich, SPSYC chair, to schedule dates. Also, visit the SPSYC website to learn more about us!
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The St. Olaf Christmas Festival to be Simulcast Near You!
This year's Christmas Festival - the 100th anniversary edition! - will be simulcast in a number of movie theaters on Sunday, December 4, beginning at 12:30 p.m. PST with a preview. The Festival program begins at 1 p.m. For complete information, including local theater locations, ticketing, and a copy of the program, click here. (Please note: the St. Olaf Band will be making a live tour in California in late January and early February; see below.)
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PLTS Appoints New Academic Dean
The Rev. Dr. Alicia Vargas has been appointed as PLTS Academic Dean, effective January 1, 2012. The PLTS community is grateful to the current Dean, The Rev. Dr. Michael Aune, for his years of service.
"It is with a sense of joy and awesome responsibility that I have accepted the position of Academic Dean of PLTS," said Dr. Vargas. "I've loved PLTS since I arrived in 1991. As a student and as a faculty member and administrator, I am proud of PLTS. With the help of God and my dear faculty colleagues, I will strive in my new position to help PLTS strengthen its thoroughly Lutheran theological formation of our next wave of faithful, evangelical and prophetic leaders for church and world in this pluralistic setting of the GTU."
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ELCA Board of Pensions Is Now
Portico Benefit Services
This winter, you will start to see the Board of Pensions going by a new name. They're changing their name to Portico Benefit Services.
"We believe a new name will help people better understand what we do as this church's provider of health, retirement, disability and survivor benefits and related services," said Jeff Thiemann, the organization's new president and CEO as of October 1. He added, "Though our name is changing, our connection to this church remains strong."
Access to ELCA benefits will not be interrupted during this transition. Expect to see the new name appear gradually in communications over the next year, as they use up existing benefits materials.
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Now, I See!
Auhora Gendy lives in a rural village several hours outside of Cairo, Egypt. The community of 30,000 is faced with poverty, with the average daily income coming out to $1.80. That's less than $2 to feed, clothe and shelter your family. Health care is limited and hard to afford. And eye care? It's unheard of.
It is estimated that 90 percent of people who are blind live in developing countries. More than half of these cases are caused by cataracts and other preventable, treatable eye diseases. Blindness has a profound socioeconomic impact in society. Not only is the blind person unable to work, but at least one other family member often has to drop out of school or skip work to care for them.
Like many adults worldwide, Auhora slowly developed cataracts as she aged. With no preventative care or treatment, she eventually went blind. However, last year, Auhora experienced what some might call a "miracle." She got her sight back.
Your gifts to ELCA World Hunger made this possible. Since July 2007 a mobile eye clinic has provided free eye exams, eyeglasses and simple surgeries to prevent and treat blindness in 3,000 patients. In Auhora's case, it was a simple, $270 surgery that restored her sight. "Now, I see," Auhora says with a smile.
Your gifts to ELCA World Hunger support this program and others like it in more than 60 countries around the world.
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Second Mile Giving
for December:
Pacific Lutheran Theological
Seminary
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| Quick Links |  | |
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| SYNOD CALENDAR |
December 10 Synod Council Budget
Workshop, Sacramento Office of
2012
January 5-9 Bishops' Academy
January 6-7, Candidacy Committee
Meeting, PLTS, Berkeley
January 18-19 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ the King Retreat
Center, Citrus Heights
January 27-28 Synod Council,
Sacramento Office of the Bishop
February 19-21 Clergy/AIMs/Diaconal
Ministers and Spouses/Partners
Retreat, Redwood Glen
February 24-26 Elementary Retreat,
Mt. Cross
February 27-28 Retired Clergy/AiMs/
Spouses/Widows/Widowers
Retreat, San Damiano Retreat
Center, Danville, CA
March 1-6 Conference of Bishops
March 10 Rwanda Connections
Committee Annual Meeting,
Sacramento
May 18-20 Synod Assembly,
San Jose Marriott Hotel, San Jose
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
August 12-18 Churchwide Assembly
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 3-8 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
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Class Action Settlement -- Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation In order to obtain payments, review the information and submit the form below:
DOWNLOAD:
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Seminary and University Announce Possible Merger
Pacific Lutheran Theological Semi- nary (Berkeley) and California Lutheran University (Thou- sand Oaks) have announced that they are exploring and assessing a proposed merger that would enhance the educational offerings of each institution. This process of explor- ation was formally endorsed by the governing boards of the university and the seminary at their fall meetings.
You can read the complete press release from PLTS by clicking here.
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WARNER TRUST GRANT APPLICATIONS
Guidelines and an application can be found on the SPS website under "Mission." The deadline for applications is December 15th. You may also e-mail your request.
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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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Contact Information
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Cindi Eckert, Newsletter Administrator Pr. Jim Goldsmith, Synod Communicator
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