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Sierra Pacific Synod
God's work. Our hands.
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Sierra Pacific Synod,
ELCA Dec.
23, 2010
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May
the joy and peace of Christmas be yours, now and always...
The
Staff of
the
Sierra Pacific Synod
The
Rev. Mark W. Holmerud, Bishop
The
Rev. Nancy Feniuk Nelson, Bishop's Associate
The
Rev. Harvey E. Blomberg, Director for Evangelical Mission
The
Rev. James L. Goldsmith, Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Mission
Support
Laureen
Sullivan, Director of Synod Operations
Karen
Idler, Associate in Ministry
Cindi
Eckert, Administrative Assistant
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In 1966, Simon and Garfunkel recorded a version of
"Silent Night" that was, and is, one of the "songs of the
season" for me. The title of the song was actually "7
O'clock News/Silent Night" and starts off with Simon and Garfunkel
singing this carol as one might hear it in a church service. But
out of the background of the music comes the voice of a newscaster
recalling the events of August 3, 1966.
While the duo sings "all is
calm, all is bright," the newscaster's voice, growing ever louder
and soon overshadowing the voices of the song, recounts the events of the
day -- the death of Lenny Bruce by an overdose of drugs, the indictment
of Richard Speck for the murder of nine student nurses in Chicago, the
escalation of the war in Vietnam, a "no" vote on an important
piece of civil rights legislation in the Congress and reaction to a
planned march by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that includes the threat of
National Guard troops being used to stop the march, if necessary.
Just as the newscaster signs off
with "That's the seven o'clock edition of the news. Good
night." Simon and Garfunkel offer the last words of the song,
"Sleep in heavenly peace." 44 years later, this song
holds up. There are events in our day that could, if we allowed
them to, easily drown out the voices of the angels proclaiming the birth
of the Savior of the world. There is darkness that attempts to
block our vision of the light of Christ breaking into our
lives. Yet we believe and trust and proclaim that the living
Word - the Christ - is the light that shines in the darkness, and cannot
be overcome.
It has been left to us to tell
the story of the birth of Jesus again and again as God's gift of
redemption, hope and peace for the world. We are called to
persevere in inviting others into this story even in the face of world
events that some think diminish this good news. We are called to
share the love of God in Christ, given for the sake of the world, in and
through all things, in and through all times. May you be blessed in
your telling and in your hearing the story of the birth of Jesus, once
again.
Peace,
Bp. Mark
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The
Office of the Bishop will be closed on Friday, December 24th, and on
Friday, December 31st, to observe Christmas and New Year's Day
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We remember
in prayer...
Pr. Jose Luis La Torre's (St.
John's, Sacramento) mother, Josefina La Torre, with colon cancer and may
be facing surgery soon (Josefina lives in Peru)
We invite you to lift up these ministry partners
in prayer: Galilee Lutheran Church, Kelseyville; Peace
Lutheran Church, Grass Valley; Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Livermore; St.
Timothy's Lutheran Church, Monterey; Our Redeemer Lutheran Church,
Livingston
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WARNER
TRUST GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Warner Trust supports
congregations in the areas of youth and Christian education. A
grant may be requested for youth projects, schools and pre-schools, and
educational ministries. To apply please submit your request on
letterhead to our Synod Treasurer at PO Box 276648, Sacramento, CA
95827. The dead-line for applications is Dec. 31st. You may
also e-mail your request to info@spselca.org.
Please include:
1.
Name and address of congregation
2. Name,
address, phone or e-mail of
3. Dollar
amount requested
4. Tangible
item(s) for which funds are
5.
Description of the services to be
6. Demographic make-up
of persons to
7. Any
additional comments
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ELCA WORSHIP CONFERENCE
Rocky
Mountain Synod's 2011 Theological Conference will be held Jan. 24-27 in
Boulder, CO. Registration deadline is today; click here for
more information.
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MINISTRY STAFF
SEMINARS
These seminars in late January and early February
are jointly sponsored by the ELCA Vocation and Education unit and
Augsburg College. Visit the Leadership Support
Events website where you
will find additional information. The seminars traditionally fill
up very quickly; call to check availability after Dec. 20.
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Quick
Links
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SYNOD
CALENDAR
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January 5-9 Bishops' Academy
January 13 Assembly Planning
Committee, Office of the Bishop,
January 14-15 Candidacy Committee
January 19-20 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ the King
Retreat
Center, Citrus Heights
January 21-23 JAM Confirmation
January 28-29 Synod Council
February 15 Assembly Planning
Committee, Hyatt, Burlingame
February 20-22 Rostered Leaders,
February 25-27 Elementary
Retreat #1, Mt. Cross
February 28 - March 1
Retired Clergy/Spouse/Lay
Rostered//Widows/Widowers
Retreat
March 3-8 Conference of Bishops
March 12 Rwanda Connections
Committee Annual Mtg., 1-4 p.m.,
708 Lake Front Dr., Sacramento
March 17 Assembly Planning
Committee, Office of the Bishop,
March 25-27 Elementary
Retreat #2, Sly Park
April 1-2 Multicultural Ministry
April 8-9 Candidacy Committee
April 12 Assembly Planning
Committee, Office of the Bishop,
May
12 Synod Council, Hyatt
Regency, Burlingame
May 12 Assembly Planning
Committee, Hyatt Regency,
May 13-15 Synod Assembly,
Hyatt Regency, Burlingame
June 24-25 Synod Council
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 Committee
November 4-6 Hunger Education
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
July 18-22 ELCA Youth Gathering,
New Orleans, LA
October 4-9 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
2013
February 28 - March 5 Conference
of Bishops
October 3-8 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
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BISHOP
ELECTED IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF RWANDA
More than 50 members of the
Lutheran Church of Rwanda assembled Sept. 13-14 at Rwamagana Lutheran
School for their Synod. The Rev. Evariste Mugabo of Kirehe Parish
was elected the second Bishop of the LCR. The Rev. Seburikoko
Celestine was elected as Dean (Asst. Bishop) and The Rev. John
Rutsnditwarane was reelected as LCR General Secretary. Thanks be to
God for these faithful servants!
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ST.
AUGUSTINE LECTURE AT THE BELFRY, DAVIS
The Belfry, the Lutheran
Episcopal Campus Ministry at Davis, will present its 2011 St. Augustine
Lecture on Wed., Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Shane Claiborne, who writes
and speaks extensively about social justice, peacemaking and Jesus, is
the lecturer. The lecture, a gift to the public from The Belfry,
will be held in 194 Young Hall. It promises to be thought-provoking
and enjoyable.
Shane's ministry experience includes working with
Mother Teresa in Calcutta, serving a megachurch near Chicago, visiting
Baghdad as part of a peace mission, and co-founding The Simple Way, a
faith community in inner-city Philadelphia. Shane is a published author
and his website, www.the simpleway.org, describes his work and philosophy.
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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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