MY
HEART IS READY
My heart is ready, Yes! My heart is
ready!
like a desert I am
parched. My soul of sand
soaks up the rain at once
is dry again, and
the inner fount of life
is rank and deadly.
In such abysmal straits,
remind the self
that we are loved, for
all our self-despair;
that Jesus Christ has
sought us out, that care will open up the inner
streams of health.
God's love is real and
God's affection never spent.
So, be watered, tended;
be refreshed, this Lent.
©
The Venerable Harold
Macdonald
"Sonnets to Enhance the Lectionary"
Blessings to you this Lenten Season,
Bp.
Mark and the SPS Staff
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APPLICATION DEADLINE
EXTENDED FOR SYNOD POSITION
In
anticipation of broadening our search for the Director of
Synod Operations, we have extended the closing date for
receipt of applications to March 19, 2010. Information
about the position and process for applying continue to be
available at www.spselca.org.
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We remember in prayer . . .
Pastor Jack Lundin (retired), dealing with
ongoing health issues
Pastor Ruben Escobar, hospitalized with a
recurrence of cancer
Pr. Sharon Lubkeman (Christ, El Cerrito), dealing with
ongoing health issues
Dr. Margaret McLean, Leadership Discipling Team Chair,
recovering from foot surgery
Erin Nielson, wife
of Pastor Warren Nielsen (Christ the King, Fremont),
recovering from spinal surgery
Katherine Adamcik, wife
of (retired) Pastor David Adamcik, recovering from
surgery
Jim Kristoff, father of Pastor Rick
Kristoff (First, Tulare),
recovering
Pastor Gregg Brown (Miracles of Faith,
Oakland), recovering from Bell's
palsy
Pastor Larry Nelson
(retired), recovering from heart surgery
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GLOBAL MISSIONS SCAM
ALERT
Please be aware that people in our synod
are receiving scam e-mails purportedly from our Global
Mission Partners in Rwanda. If you receive any e-mail
requesting emergency or other funds, contact the Synod office
to verify its authenticity before sending any money.
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SYNOD ASSEMBLY
INFORMATION
On-line
registration for the Synod Assembly is now
available on the synod website. The link for
hotel reservations at the Silver Legacy is also
active and on the Synod website. You should enter
"ELCA10" in the group name to get our special rate. Enter your
arrival date and the number of nights you will be staying
and submit.
Please note the following deadlines:
March 1 - Deadline for Resolutions
April 1 - Assembly Handbook,
Agenda &
Bulletin of Reports available
online
April 19 - Registration fees due;
reduced
rate hotel reservations close
May 1 - Deadline for Issues of
Conscience
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SPECIAL
RECOGNITION FOR LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRY AT FRESNO
STATE
On January 15, 2010, at a celebration sponsored by the
City of Fresno, Lutheran Campus Ministry-Fresno was awarded
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award for outstanding work
in providing thousands of university students with
opportunities to make positive changes in the Fresno
community. The award was presented by Fresno May Ashley
Swearengin and included special commendations from the Fresno
City Council and Congressman Jim Costa.
Well done, good and faithful servants!
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BOOK OF FAITH CONVERSATION
EVENT
The Word and Sacrament Team will host a
Book of Faith conversation on Saturday, March 20th,
at Bethel Lutheran Church, Cupertino,
CA. The conversation begins at 10:00 am and
ends at 2:00 pm. There is no cost for the event.
Bring your own lunch. Beverages and light refreshments
will be available.
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BOARD OF PENSIONS HEALTH
ASSESSMENT
If you are a Board of
Pensions member, please take the 2010 Mayo Clinic Health Assessment on the EmbodyHealth web portal. If you take this assessment by
April 30, you will contribute toward the
65% participation our synod needs to receive a 2% discount on
ELCA health contributions for 2010. If we meet the 65%
goal, our synod will save over
$39,000.
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Links |
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ELCA.org
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Upcoming Events
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2010
February 26-28 SPSYC
Elementary Retreat - Mt. Cross
March 1-2 Retired Clergy/
AIMs/Widows-Widowers/
Spouse Retreat - San
Damiano Retreat Center,
Danville, CA
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
March 6 Synod Rwanda
Connection Committee
1:00-4:00 - 708 Lake Front
Drive, Sacramento
March 10 Honoring our
Foremothers - PLTS
March 12-14 Spring Youth
Retreat at PLTS
March 11-13 Anti-Racism
Workshop - Mt. Cross
March 20 Book of Faith Conversation
10:00 am - 2:00 pm (bring lunch)
Bethel, Cupertino
March 22-23 Pre-Retirement
Seminar - San Damiano
Retreat Center, Danville
April 16-18 SPSYC Elementary
Retreat - Sly Park, Sacramento
April 22 Mt. Cross Shalom
Camp Meeting for Pastors/
Youth Directors
10:00 - 2:00 pm
Advent, Citrus Heights
May 5 Synod Council
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
May 27 Council of Deans Meeting
Trinity, Pleasanton
June 25-26 Synod Council
July 11-16 Mt. Cross
Shalom Camp
September 18 District B Fall
Assembly 10:00 - 3:00
Resurrection, Granite Bay
September 24-25 Synod
Council
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops
October 16 District E Fall
Assembly 10:00 - 3:00
Shepherd of the
Valley, Merced
October 17 District C Fall
Assembly 2:00 - 5:00 pm
St. Mark's, San Francisco
October 23 District A Fall
Assembly 10:00 - 3:00
Our Savior's, Lafayette
November 6 District D Fall
Assembly 10:00 - 3:00
Advent, Morgan Hill
2011
January 5-9 Bishop's
Academy
January 19-20 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights, CA
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
May 12 Synod Council
May 13-15 Synod Assembly
Hyatt Regency Airport
Burlingame, CA
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly - Orlando,
FL
September 29 October 4
Conference of Bishops
2012
January 5-9 Bishop's
Academy
January 18-19 Council of Deans
Retreat - Christ the
King
Retreat Center, Citrus
Heights
July 18-22 ELCA Youth Gathering
New Orleans, LA
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NEW LETTER FROM PR. ARDEN
STRASSER
We have
received a new letter from Pastor Arden Strasser, serving as a
missionary in Zambia, Africa. You can read it
by going to the synod
website and clicking on "Mission."
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SYNOD RESOURCE CENTER NEWSLETTER
AVAILABLE
The latest quarterly newsletter from our
Synod Resource Center is now available on the Synod
website. Check it out under "Resources" on the
website.
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SECOND MILE
GIVING
In
the month of February, our Second Mile
Giving recipient is Lutheran Social Services of Northern
California. Please give this important ministry
partner support in your congregation. A bulletin insert
is available on the synod
website. Click on "Second Mile Giving" under Synod
Resources in the left-hand column.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 