Greetings and God's peace to you. Bishop
Mark has safely returned from Rwanda with remarkable stories
of ministry and mission. His daily "blog", originally
available on his Facebook page, is also being loaded onto our
Synod Website ( www.spselca.org) It is also
exciting to see nominations for/applications of people who are
interested in serving on our Synod Transition Team.
(Again, check out the website to review those documents or
find the application form). Just a few more words of
invitation/clarification:
- We welcome all people
who are members or friends of the Sierra Pacific Synod to
apply.
- You can self-nominate.
- You do not need to work through your pastor or
congregation.
- Only the names received via the application form
can be considered.
- The application date has been extended to
February 6, 2009.
Finally, for those of you who
follow such things: Yes, there will be a Chrism Mass
this year. Actually two. One on Monday, April 6 in
Rohnert Park and Tuesday, April 7 in Modesto.
Details will follow in a later email.
Pastor
Nancy Feniuk Nelson
.Link
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We remember in prayer . . .
Pastor
Roland Grumm (Retired) and his wife, Carolyn, grieving
the death of their daughter, Laura, from a sudden onset
infection.
For all the members of the Sierra Pacific Synod as they
consider the possibility of serving on the transition
team.
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CONGREGATIONS IN TRANSITION
Key:
(1) Seeking an interim
pastor
(2) Forming
a call committee
(3) Developing profile
(4) Preparing
slate of candidates
(5) Interviewing
(6)
Caling
Congregation Interim
Pastor
Aptos, Christ (3) Roy
Blumhorst
Davis,
Incarnation
(2) Stan
Niemi
El Dorado Hills, St. Stephen's (3)
Fremont, Good
Shepherd South Asian
Ministry
(2) Ray
Waespi
Fresno, Hope (5)
Fresno, Immanuel (Easton)
(Associate) (5)
Half Moon Bay, Coastside
(3) L. Andersen
Hollister, Trinity
(1)
Marysville, Faith
(4) Kirk
Shipley
Merced, Shepherd of the Valley (4)
Arlynne Turnquist
Mi-Wuk Village, Mt Calvary
(4)
Eric Yochheim
Oakland, Bethlehem (1)
Orland, First
(2) Bill
Kees
Redding, St. James (3)
Reno, Holy Cross
(6) Larry
Quanbeck
Rio Linda, Calvary
(5) Todd
Eckblad
Sacramento, Our Redeemer (3) Dick
Smith
Sacramento, St. Paul (1)
San Leandro, Epiphany
(3) Lori Eickmann
San Leandro,
St. James (3) Ruth
Lesher
Santa Clara, Our Savior (4)
Turlock, Light of
Christ (3) Frank Starkey
Visalia, Christ (Pastor
of Discipleship)
(5)
.
Link
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Rev. Herbert
Anderson (Retired) -
Transferred
from Rocky Mountain
Rev. Jason
Niemi - to Resurrection, Granite
Bay (Associate)
Rev. John
Ridenour - to Good Shepherd,
Concord
Rev. Todd Wallace - to Lutheran Church of
the Good Shepherd,
Sacramento
Rev. William
Wong - transferred to
Southern Ohio
Synod
Link
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INTERIM PASTORS
GATHERING
The Interim Pastors Gathering has been
rescheduled for Thursday, February 26.
PLACE: Epiphany Lutheran
Church
16248 Carolyn
St.
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 278-5133
TIME: 10:00 am -
2:30 pm
Pastor Nancy Nelson, Bishop's Associate, will present the
Bishop's expectations of interim pastors and interim ministry
in our synod.
Pr. Dale Sollom-Brotherton will provide training on
skills relating to "contracting" ((clarifying mutual
expectations between an interim pastor and
ocngregation).
. Link |
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REQUEST FOR SYNOD ASSEMBLY WORKSHOPS,
PROGRAMS, AND STORIES
The
synod Assembly Planning Committee is issuing the following
requests:
Invitation for Workshop Presentations
The Committee invites proposals for workshop
presentations for the 2009 Synod Assembly to be held May 28-30
in Fresno, CA. Send the proposals by e-mail to Rev.
Rob O'Berg at revrob@tlcfresno.com and
copy to Kathryn Beck at Kathryn@sierrabeck.com by February 18,
2009. Please include an outline of the workshop, name(s)
of the presenter(s) and the goals/objective of the
workshop. Also please provide written information or
have it available on DVD for the Assembly. The workshops
are planned for two sessions of 1-1/4 hours each on Friday,
May 29, from 3:00pm to 4:15pm and 5:00pm to 6:15pm.
Whether workshops will be repeated will depend upon the total
number.
Invitation for 12-Step Programs
The Committee would like to offer an invitation for
12-step programs in addition to AA to be present and have
meetings during the Assembly. Names would be kept
confidential. Please e-mail our Assembly Chaplain, Rev.
Don Romsa, at dromsa@csufresno.edu if you wish to
provide the above.
Stories of You or Your Ministry
The Committee is requesting 3-5 minute DVD's of ministry
partners and of ministries to be shown during the Assembly so
we can share our stories. Please send these to the Synod
office by the end of April.
If there are any questions about the above, please
contact Kathryn Beck, Committee Chair, at Kathryn@sierrabeck.com.
Link |
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CONFERENCE: IS GOD @
WORK?
Theme: Exploring Your
Working Life
in
Relationship to God
Does your work life feel
separated from your faith life? How does following Jesus
impact our work place? How can our faith make a greater
difference there?
When: Fri., January 30,
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Sat., January 31, 8:00am - 12:00pm
Where: St. Matthew
Lutheran Church
399 Wiget Lane
Walnut Creek, CA
Featuring:
Anne Maclaurin,
Anglican Mission Priest/Executive Leader, St. Thomas'
Philadelphia, Sheffeld, (UK). Her primary calling
is to equip people to join with God to bring transformation to
their workplaes. John &
Helen Bearn, Workplace Coordinators in
Sheffield. John works for the City Council and
Helen is Workplace Ministry Coordinator at St. Thomas'
Philadelphia. Registration: Register
before January 29 on line at St.
Matthew .
Cost:
On line via secure credit card payment:
$29.95 per person - OR
Register on line now and pay at the door:
$35.00 per person
Link |
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THRIVENT POSITION
OPEN
Thrivent has
a career position open to serve the Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans Chapters and congregations in the Secramento and
Northern California / Nevada area.
This is a
full-time salaried position with benefits. In addition,
Thrivent is always looking for potential Financial Associates
throughout the region. For details, go to Thrivent.
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Upcoming Events
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January 30 - Clergy-only AA
Meeting - 12:00 noon
United Lutheran Church
649 Northgate Drive
Manteca, CA
January 31 - LSS Tools for Change
Conference - Our Savior
Lutheran Church, Livermore
February 10-11 - First Call Event
San Juan
Capistrano
February 13 - Professional
Leadership Conference
Planning Committee
February 15-17 - Clergy/AIMS
& Spouses Retreat,
Asilomar
Conference Center
February 26 - Interim Pastors
Gathering - Epiphany
Lutheran Church, San
Leandro
March 2-3 - Retired Pastors,
Spouses, AIMs Retreat -
San Damiano Retreat
Center, Danville, CA
March 19-22 ELCA Bishops'
Assistants Gathering in
SF
March 27-28 Racial & Ethnic
Ministries Task Force
April 21-22 Mobility Conference
April 16-18 - Gathering for Women
of Color in Ministry
Eaglewood Resort and
Spa,
Itasca (Chicago) IL
May 27-28 Synod Council
May 28-30 Synod Assembly
Fresno,
CA
August 17-23 - Churchwide Assembly, Minneapolis, MN
September 22 - LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
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SECOND MILE
GIVING
The Second
Mile Giving Program, as adopted at Synod Assembly in 2007,
continues in the year 2009.
The monthly schedule
for institutions and agencies being supported by our
congregations through this program can be found on our
Synod
Website.
Link
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PLTS
OFFERS
ENDOWMENT
SEMINAR
Pacific
Lutheran Theological Seminary is offering a 4-session course
on the management of endowment funds. Anyone in the Synod is
welcome to attend this 1.5 credit course, which is also
available for audit.
What: A 4-session class
- Managing an Endowment Fund
When: Four Saturday
mornings, February 7, 21, 28 and March 14 - 9:00am - 12:00
noon
Where: PLTS, 2770 Marin
Ave., Berkeley, CA
Cost: $225 per
participant
To
Register: Contact Joel Wudel, Director of
Development, by e-mail at jwudel@plts.edu
Link
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CONCERT AND WORKSHOP AT HOPE, EL
SOBRANTE
Hope
Lutheran Church in El Sobrante is offering two events open to
everyone. Location is Hope Lutheran Church, 2830 May
Road, El Sobrante, CA.
1) Friday, February 6, 7:30 pm.
Concert with local musicians in jazz, rock, folk
and classic styles. Freewill donation to benefit ELCA
Good Gifts for Micro-Loans for Women. Call 510-222-6394
for information. 2)
Saturday, February 7, 10:00am - 3:00 pm.
Introductory workshop on Centering Prayer,
sponsored by Contemplative Outreach, led by Pastor Deborah
Butler. Contact Pr. Butler at 510-222-6394 for more
details.
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NEW LENTEN RESOURCE
FROM AUGSBURG
FORTRESS
Augsburg
Fortress annually offers a Lenten devotion booklet. This
year they have set up a companion website Questions of
Jesus
with preaching/liturgical resources, Sunday and midweek sermon
series, graphics and other materials.
The
series was inspired by Bishop Mark Hanson two years ago, who
said, "someone ought to write a book about the Questions of
Christ. It's the Lutheran way of learning.... We
don't seek simple answers for difficult subject in a complex
world. Jesus taught by asking questions because he wants
us to use our gift of thinking..."
The
Lenten devotion books are discount priced at $1.50
apiece. Check the website (above) for more details.
Link
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Bring
forth the kingdom of mercy,
bring forth the kingdom of
peace;
bring forth the kingdom of
justice,
bring
forth the city of God!
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 