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The
Sierra Pacific Synod
Weekly
E-Newsletter
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Sierra Pacific Synod,
ELCA February
3, 2011
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At Lutheran Social Services of
Northern California (LSS), we work every day with people who have spent
their whole lives in chaos. From childhood homes filled with
poverty and abuse, to adult lifestyles that continue patterns of chaos
with abuse that is now self-inflicted through drug and alcohol use, many
of our clients struggle just to find a safe space to begin to share their
stories. Oftentimes those histories of abuse are now manifest in
serious mental illnesses that may have started with a genetic basis, but
were left unrecognized and untreated for decades. As youth, adults,
families and homeless seniors come into our supportive housing programs
or for money management services, the work of our staff is to begin to
provide relief from the chaos through a firm but compassionate approach.
We help them to maintain safe and secure housing, provide training
in life skills for those who have never had a stable home, connect them
to employment resources and needed physical and mental health care
provide
The work is often daunting but it
is just as often filled with moments of grace and joy. About 18
months ago we began working with a group of seniors who had for many
years been living in a convalescent hospital long beyond the period where
they required that specialized level of care. They had remained in
this institution simply because there was no other supportive living
situation available for them. Moving into their new apartments, in
a building designed for seniors and independent living, was an exciting
but also frightening experience. Many had not cooked for themselves
for years, or done their own laundry or grocery shopping. The early
months were overwhelming for some, but today they are thriving and
becoming active participants in community life. They have moved
from being afraid to turn on a stove, to preparing a dish to bring to a
potluck meal; from feeling isolated and alone, to forming a knitting
group that makes caps for newborns in the intensive care unit at the
nearby hospital. Bright spots! Moments of grace!
At LSS we are your hands and
hearts in these moments of ministry to and with vulnerable people.
Your support makes these programs and services possible. Thank you!
Nancy Nielsen
Deputy Director, LSS San
Francisco
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We remember
in prayer...
Dr. Kathleen Hurty, member of the
Candidacy Committee, recovering from knee surgery
Pastor Philip and Marion Jordan (retired), family
and friends, grieving at the death of their daughter, Beth
Pastor Lynn Freele (retired), hospitalized with a
brain aneurysm
The people of Egypt, and people
everywhere experiencing turmoil and uncertainty
We invite you to lift up these ministry partners in
prayer:
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church,
Orinda; Paradise Lutheran Church,
Paradise; St. Paul Lutheran Church,
Oakland; Messiah Lutheran Church, Redwood City; Mount
Calvary Lutheran Church, Mi-Wuk Village
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Sierra
Pacific Synod Connection to Events in Egypt
Paul Schick, a seminary intern from Wartburg Seminary, was
serving at St. Andrew's United Church in Cairo until the current crisis
in Egypt. Along with his wife, Stephanie, and other ELCA
missionaries and their families, Schick was evacuated. They are all
currently in St. Paul, MN to await developments. The ELCA news
release can be found here.
Paul is the son of Pastor
David and Carla Schick (Immanuel, Los Altos), who were visiting in Egypt
when protests began, but now are safely home.
Thanks be to God for the safety of those who have been
evacuated, and prayers of protection for those still in Egypt.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod Assembly
May
13-15, 2011
Now is the time to start making
plans to attend the 24th Annual Assembly of the Sierra Pacific Synod to
be held at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame, CA, May 13-15. The
theme of the Assembly, "Lord, When Did We?" (based on Matthew
25), will be examined through speakers and experiences. Our keynote
speaker is Mark Allen Powell from Trinity Seminary and the Bible Study
Leader is Carol Jacobson from PLTS. We will be holding up our
sister synod, Iglesia Luterana Salvadoreņa (the Lutheran Church of El
Salvador), and will have the honor of having Bishop Medardo Gomez join
with us and participate in the assembly. Information will be
forthcoming about registration, requests for display tables, resolutions
and other matters. We look forward to seeing you in Burlingame!
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Berkeley
Youth Shelter Receives Recognition
Lutheran Church of the Cross in
Berkeley, and Pastor Sarah Isakson, were recently recognized by Oakland
Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse for their work in providing shelter and
support for homeless youth. You can read Newhouse's column by
clicking here.
The
youth shelter welcomes 18- to 25-year-olds, some 800 of them over the
past eight years. In synch with the church's encouragement to
"be fed, have faith, be free!" the emergency shelter assists a
very vulnerable population, many of whom have "aged out" of
foster care. Dozens of volunteers, 15 Berkeley-area congregations,
and UC Berkeley students provide support in a variety of ways. To
learn more, go to the YEAH! (Youth
Engagement, Advocacy and Housing) website.
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Vote
through Facebook to Give Money!
Visit the LCF on Facebook to support projects like these:
Ending Family
Violence Initiative
- Lutheran Advocates for Safe
Families is a collaboration that aims to end an enduring epidemic of
domestic violence with resources, education and awareness through
congregations.
International
Disaster Response Initiative - This initiative works to help Lutheran World Relief continue its
life-saving work around the world, remaining committed to "forgotten
emergencies" even after media attention fades.
Creation Care
Environmental Initiative - Changing how we live
as people of God in order to respect and care for all of God's creation.
Thank you for helping to spread
joy and change lives!
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2011
Retired Clergy / AIMs / Spouses / Widows and Widowers Retreat
San
Damiano Retreat Center, Danville
Click here for more
information and to register, or contact Mike and Linda Rogers at
559-435-7739, or by email.
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SYNOD
CALENDAR
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February 11-13 "Journey with
Christ" Catechumenate Workshop,
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, San Damiano, Danville
March 3-8 Conference of Bishops
March 11-13 Elementary
Retreat #2, Sly Park
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,
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 2-4 Anti-Racism Training,
Mt. Cross
June 9 Council of Deans, Office
of the Bishop, Sacramento
June 24-25 Synod Council
July 1-5 Western States Youth
Gathering, California Lutheran
University, Thousand Oaks
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
Retreat, Mt. Cross
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
January 16-17 Council of Deans
Retreat, Christ the King
Retreat
Center, Citrus Heights
February 28 - March 5 Conference
of Bishops
October 3-8 Conference of Bishops,
Lutheran Center, Chicago
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TAKE
THE 2011 HEALTH ASSESSMENT!
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Western
States Youth Gathering
Registration is now open for the
2011 Western States Youth Gathering, to be held July 1-5 at California
Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. An early registration
discount is available until March 15. For more information go to
the WSYG website; click
here to register.
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The Re-Emerging Multicultural Church
My
thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
(Isaiah 55:8)
"We are to build the multi-ethnic church
according to God's blueprint. Church planters and reformers will
have to align themselves with God's agenda and abandon their own if they
are to see every nation, tribe, people, and tongue worship God together
as one in and through the local church, on earth as in heaven..."
-- Rev. Dr. Mark DeYmaz
Hear Mark DeYmaz at the Re-Emerging
Multicultural Church conference April 1 & 2. Learn more and
register!
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2011
Statements of Intent
Annual meeting finished? 2011 budget
adopted? Please make sure that your congre-gation's 2011 Statement
of Intent ("pledge" or "benevolence") form is
returned as soon as possible! Click here for a .pdf
version which can be printed, or here for a
"fillable" version; or email Cindi Eckert and she will mail one
to you. Already submitted yours? THANK YOU!
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Sierra
Pacific Synod Youth Committee
Elementary
Retreat
Bring your 3rd-6th graders and join us for a
great retreat in Feb. or Mar. at one of two loca-tions. This
weekend will be filled with lots of activities and an amazing speaker -
Aaron Tidwell! For more information, costs and registration visit
our website.
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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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