Greetings!  

Last week, the largest gathering of adults EVER in the E.L.C.A. took place at the National Lutheran Youth Gathering in New Orleans - nearly 8,000 people.  That's right, I said adults.  The combined total of Youth, Multicultural Youth Leaders, Definitely-Abled Youth Leaders and those afore-mentioned adults was OVER 35,000 people!  When we gathered for worship in the Superdome on Sunday morning, we were the largest worshipping congregation in the United States.  But of all the amazing things that happened during the days we spent in New Orleans last week, two moments, both on Friday, truly stand out for me:

1. Being with over 500 young adults and adult leaders and pastors from our synod on "Practice Discipleship Day" and witnessing the good spirit, the joy and the willingness to serve that was much in evidence (in spite of torrential downpours and wind and thunder and lightning), and
2. The close of our time on Friday night in the Superdome, when we were truly blessed by the song "Hallelujah" (yeah, the one from "Shrek"), but with very powerful words that speak of God's persistent love for us in Jesus.  As the song was finishing, it seemed as if all 35,000 people in the Dome joined together in singing that beautiful chorus.

I drew strength and blessing from these moments, and from seeing pastors and youth workers of our synod's congregations and leaders from the Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee (SPSYC) and Pr. Katy Grindberg of our synod staff working together to lead worship, Bible study, prayer and deep conversation about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.  It was a powerful moment to GET to be the bishop for our synod's ministry and to be invited into this experience to preach and pray and serve.  It was just one of the ways this past week that I believe the vast majority of the youth who attended the gathering will describe it (maybe not now, but at some point) as a "life-changing experience."

My hope and prayer is that the people of this synod will be ready to gather around these young people (and the adults who offered to serve as leaders - THANK YOU!) and hear their stories - stories of what this Gathering meant and continues to mean to them.  Please, be ready to hear the good news of what was said and done in New Orleans by these "orange-shirted" youth who were VERY visible to the many people who are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, people who took many opportunities to express their appreciation to "our" youth with waves and honks of horns and words of thanks.

Please, be ready to listen as the learning and service experiences of these young women and men might spring up into ideas in the coming weeks and months for how our congregations and this synod can continue the work that was begun in our time together at the Gathering.  I pray we will be ready to respond to what I believe is a call from the Holy Spirit to provide tangible ways for the youth of this synod to live out their "kinetic faith" - a faith that yearns to be expressed in movement and vital worship and service to others.

I pray we will make room in our ministries for these young people to take the grace and forgiveness they received in their baptism and which they affirmed at their confirmation "out for a walk" now and again - a walk that would only be made more meaningful by parents and peers and pastors and congregational leaders saying, "Yes, I want to hear how this experience has changed you, and could possibly change me, too."  "Tell me what you heard from Pr. Nadia and Shane and Bp. Hanson and Switchfoot and your friends and in worship and in Ephesians that is telling you this experience didn't end for you when you got off the plane or the train or the bus that brought you home."  "Tell me where you think we can walk together from here." "Oh, and tell me why you think Bp. Mark said that song from 'Shrek' was so amazing..."

Peace,

Bp. Mark

   

   

Responses Still Needed for "Listening for Justice and Mercy: An Asset Inventory of Sierra Pacific Synod Congregations and Ministries"

You are invited to participate in a survey of how congregations, pastors, members, and other expressions of the ELCA participate in ministries of mercy and justice.  This survey will establish a new baseline of information and will be useful for the work of the new Sierra Pacific Synod Justice and Advocacy Discipling Team.  Please identify someone in your ministry or congregation who can gather the information and take a few minutes to fill out this survey.  Click here to fill out the survey.  A $100 prize will be awarded by a random drawing of respondents and donated to the ministry of justice and/or service of the winner's choice.

REQUEST FOR DIGITAL PICTURES

We would still like to receive digital pictures (.jpg files) from all of our congregations.  Please submit two or three pictures for your congregation:  one of the church façade, one of your worship space, and one of an activity you would like to have highlighted.  Please clearly identify the congregation and include a brief description of the activity.  Since the pictures will be publicly displayed outside of your congregation, please be sure that you have permission to share the picture(s).  If any of the pictures include children, please be sure that the parents/guardians know how the pictures will be used.  We plan to display the pictures in the synod offices.

Please submit the pictures as .jpg e-mail attachments.  If you have any questions about this request, please e-mail them, contact the Bay Area Office of the Bishop at 650-590-0980, or contact Linda Lownes, Synod Treasurer, at 916-784-9861.  Thank you!

Mission Coalition Grant Opportunity

for Evangelism Efforts

Grant guidelines:  click here.  Questions?  Contact Pastor Stephen Carlson by email or by phone at 559-264-5385. 

Registration for the Pre-Retirement Seminar is now CLOSED.

Boost Results From Your Offering Envelope Program - Free Webinar   

Join Augsburg Fortress Senior Stewardship Consultant Deneen Mueller as she shares practical tips on increasing financial giving while improving congregational communication.  This free webinar on August 15 at 1:00 p.m. CDT (11:00 a.m. PDT) will provide an overview of the stewardship services and time- saving tools offered by Augsburg Fortress, including the monthly mailing program, mailed communications, and address management services.  Click here to register for the webinar.

Contact Information