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The
Sierra Pacific Synod
Weekly
E-Newsletter
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Sierra Pacific Synod,
ELCA February
10, 2011
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Within the last two weeks, I had
the blessing of visiting our congregations on the north coast of
California, behind the so-called "Redwood Curtain." It
was a very hopeful visit, filled with opportunities to see and learn from
these sisters and brothers who are doing ministry in some very creative
ways in remote parts of our synod. The congregations of the Redwood
Conference have heard and answered the call to "exteriorize"
their ministries - to move out into the community from services of
worship which are vitally connected to a call to serve others in Christ's
name
Among other things, these
churches offer community gardens, Head Start programs and nursery
schools, food distribution centers, campus ministries, space for 12 step
programs, family resource centers, committed ecumenical and
inter-religious relationships, community concerts, youth and family
ministries, outreach to the homeless, family fun nights, prayer
ministries, care for those who can no longer care for themselves,
education and learning opportunities for all ages, and vibrant word and
sacrament worship. The communities of Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna,
Ferndale, Ft. Bragg, Gualala and McKinleyville are blessed by these
ministries, as are the members of the congregations who are working
together to host/offer these important witnesses to the grace and love of
Christ we are called to share.
Are these stories unique? I
have no doubt there are similar stories throughout the 195 congregations
and ministries of the Sierra Pacific Synod, and the over 10,000
congregations of the ELCA. Thank you for all the ways you have
heard and answered the call to be what Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson calls
a "Public Church." Speaking of which, Bishop Hanson was
named this week to a special panel of religious leaders to consult with
President Barak Obama on faith based and neighborhood partnerships - you
can read the ELCA News Release at this link. I
wonder what he will have the chance to share and to learn as a part of
this panel. Please remember all those who are called to work in
this effort in your prayers.
From
the Redwood Coast to Washington, D.C.; from Haiti and Pakistan to Africa
and Asia and South America, the ministries of the ELCA are fulfilling the
Great Commission (Matthew 28), the Great Commandment (Matthew 22) and, of
course, Matthew 25:31-46, the theme verses for this year's Synod
Assembly. I pray our commitment to do God's work with our hands
will be the legacy of this time we leave for those who follow us in faith
and heed to call to offer service to others. Blessings to you as we
venture forward in ministry together!
God's
Peace,
Bp.
Mark
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We remember
in prayer...
Pastor LaVinnia Pierson (Holy Trinity, San Carlos),
family and friends, as they mourn the death of her mother
Pastor Keith Miller (Grace, Ukiah), family and
friends, following the death of his sister
Jill Olsen, spouse of Pastor Ray
Olsen (Advent, Citrus Heights), family and friends, as they mourn the
death of Jill's father
We invite you to lift up these ministry partners in
prayer:
Elim Lutheran Church, Petaluma; Our Savior's
Lutheran Church, Quincy; Trinity Lutheran Church, Oakland; Iglesia Luterana
El Buen Pastor, Salinas; Mountain Ranch Lutheran Church, Mountain Ranch
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San
Francisco FREE FARM Gives Away Its Produce
What do you get when you combine
a vacant lot where a church once stood, volunteers from all walks of
life, and a "crazy" idea? More than 2,500 pounds of high
quality vegetables, given away free, "no questions
asked." The Free Farm celebrated its first anniversary in
January.
It was ELCA Pastor Megan Rohrer's
"crazy" idea that got things started. Rohrer, executive
director of Welcome, a "faithful response to poverty" in the
City by the Bay, wanted inner-city residents to have access to affordable
fresh produce. The Free Farm is profiled in a story by the Sacramento
Bee, which you can read by clicking here.
Six
congregations in San Francisco, related to the Sierra Pacific Synod, help
support this ministry: Ebenezer/herchurch, St. Francis, Christ
Church, Sts. Mary and Martha, and First United. To learn more, go
to the Welcome website.
"Lord, When Did We?" (Matt. 25:31-46)
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The
SPS Global Missions Advocacy Team needs your help!
Did you know the Sierra Pacific Synod has a Global
Missions Advocacy Team? The GMAT is
tasked with raising the level of awareness of the SPS's companion synod
relationships and missionaries in The Lutheran Church of El Salvador, The
Lutheran Church of Rwanda and The Lutheran Church of Taiwan.
In 2009 we were honored to have Pastor John
Rutsindintwarne and his wife Robin Strickler from the Lutheran Church of
Rwanda participate in our Synod Assembly. This year, we are
hosting a delegation from El Salvador, led by Bishop Medardo Gomez.
In order for this to happen, we need your help! The
SPS needs assistance to offset the cost of bringing this delegation to
visit our Assembly. YOU can help in the following ways:
- Transportation,
lodging and meal costs before, during and after the Assembly. Congregations
and individuals willing to help can send their financial donations
to the Sierra Pacific Synod office marked "Synod Assembly
2011 El Salvador Delegation."
Sierra Pacific Synod
PO Box 276648
Sacramento, CA
95287-6648
- Congregations
interested in hosting delegation members after the assembly or
willing to help in other ways should contact Ruth Cruddas by email.
- Donations of frequent flyer miles. If you have frequent flier miles to donate
(American Airlines or TACA Airlines are preferred), please contact
Bp. Mark by email, or call the Synod Office at
916-756-1665 as soon as possible.
The GMAT is excited to
welcome the delegation from El Salvador to our 2011 Synod Assembly.
The Assembly will be a great opportunity for people of our synod to
hear about the conditions and concerns of the people of El Salvador, and
the excellent work that is being done here through the Lutheran Church of
El Salvador. We hope to hear from you soon as we complete our plans
to connect with our brothers and sisters from El Salvador. Those
airline miles of yours will really make a difference!
The Global Missions Advocacy Team
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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
25:31-46), 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 Salvadoreña (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 forth-coming about
registration, requests for display tables, resolutions and other
matters. We look forward to seeing you in Burlingame!
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Synod
Staff Wellness Log
Sierra Pacific Synod staff
members have made a commitment to enhance our wellness during 2011.
To that end, we are going to share with one another - and with all of you
- the number of pounds we have lost (or gained), the number of hours we
spend exercising, and the number of hours we spend in spiritual
development. We will provide a report every month like the one
below for January. We hope to be healthier physically, emotionally
and spiritually, and to be more effective in our work on your behalf.
If we are able to encourage others in their own wellness journey, all the
better!
January To Date
Pounds
lost (gained)
16 16
Exercise
hours 20.25 20.25
Spiritual
dev. hours 112 112
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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,
Conversation, St. Luke, Sunnyvale
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 Stewardship Conversation,
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,
March 31 Stewardship Conversa-
tion, Resurrection, Granite Bay
April 1-2 Multicultural Ministry
April 7 Stewardship Conversation,
Cross and Crown, Rohnert Park
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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The
Re-Emerging Multicultural Church
Leaders across our synod are looking for ways to bring
desire and ability together. The Re-Emerging Multicul-tural Church
Con-ference is a great way to help facili-tate that desire. One of
the keynote speakers, Dr. Mark DeYmaz, writes, "Desire without
ability is frustra-ting. Ability without desire is a sad
waste. But, when desire and ability connect
there are powerful results. Many Christian leaders would like to
see their group or organization become more ethnically diverse but few
are having success. Why? In many cases there seems to be a lack of
connection between desire and ability. I can desire
to run a marathon in three hours, but do I have the ability?
Accompishing that lofty goal would require an enor-mous amount of
preparation, disci-pline, and training. The same is true of leaders
desiring to take on the com-plexities and hard work of building and
sustaining multi-ethnic communities." Learn more and register
here.
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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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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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Sierra
Pacific Synod Youth Committee
Elementary
Retreat
Bring your 3rd-6th graders for a great
retreat in Feb. or Mar. at one of two locations. For more info,
costs and registration visit the SPSYC website.
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2011
Retired Clergy / AIMs / Spouses / Widows and Widowers Retreat
Click here for more
information and to register, or contact Mike/Linda Rogers at
559-435-7739, or by email.
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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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