Family and friends who are mourning the death of Pastor Virginia "Ginger" Georgulas (retired)

Pastor Barbara Caine (Holy Trinity, Newark), recovering from back surgery  

All who are struggling to recover from severe flooding in the Midwest

Rwanda Delegation Visits the Sierra Pacific Synod

We are honored to welcome a delegation of 12 from Rwanda, who will be traveling around our synod for two weeks in July.  The Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee is excited to host this visit and to reconnect with those delegation members they met last summer when the SPSYC traveled to Rwanda.  (Click here to learn more about that trip.)

If you have already made a contribution to support this visit, thank you!  Funds are still needed - $20,000 - to completely cover the cost of meals and transportation.  Please consider making a gift to this "Faith Active In Love" project by sending a check to Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, 2770 Marin Ave., Berkeley, CA 94708.  Please write "FAIL 2011" in the memo line.  Please also pray that visas will receive final approval and for safe travel.  Questions can be emailed to Erin at PLTS.

Catechumenate Association Meets in Burlingame August 1-3

"If conversion is not central to the initiation process, it becomes a 'head trip,' a solely intellectual process that works well in making informed [Christians], but poorly in making disciples."

Making disciples is on the hearts and minds of the church these days.  One of the ways such formation takes place is through the Catechumenate, a process based on ancient Christian practices.  A wonderful opportunity exists this summer for those who want to learn more or go deeper with the Catechumenate.  Sponsored by the North American Association for the Catechumenate (NAAC), this gathering will take place at the Mercy Center in Burlingame.  The presenter is Dr. Mark Stamm from Perkins School of Theology.  His focus will be "Christian Initiation and the Prayer of the Faithful."  Dr. Stamm will explore the topic by making the connection between intercessory prayer and our baptismal call and vocation to embrace all who suffer, and exercising our hands and feet in concert with our prayers.  At root will be the formational implications of this vision for the catechumenal process.

Designed for both newcomers and inquirers to the Catechumenate and seasoned practitioners, the gathering will offer a variety of workshops including Taking it Back Home; What?  Me a Sponsor?; Appreciating the Ancient Future of the Rites of Initiation; and many more.

For registration and more information see the NAAC website or send an email to Pastor Bryon Hansen, Bethlehem, Auburn.

Violence in Southern Sudan

In early January, the citizens of Southern Sudan voted on a referendum to secede from Sudan and form their own country. The date set for creating this independent state is July 9, 2011.  It was feared early on that violence would occur from the announced results since the government of Sudan rests in the north while most of the natural resources are in the south and would be under the control of Southern Sudan after it seceded...

Fighting has now broken out in the region and humanitarian efforts are being hindered due to the violence.  To learn more and to find out how you can help, please click here.

An AIDS / HIV Resource for Older Adults

The Lutheran AIDS Network (LANET) announces a new free resource guide to educate Lutheran older adults about HIV and AIDS.  Many people are unaware that persons aged 50 and over in the United States account for 16.5% of new HIV diagnoses, 31% of persons living with HIV/AIDS, and 45% of all deaths of persons with AIDS.  Many older adults do not know about this silent epidemic; at least 1 in 5 older adults are unaware of their HIV-positive status.  Older adults living with HIV may feel alone and isolated, especially from their faith communities.

Older adults make up nearly two-thirds of the ELCA's membership base, and the church and church-related activities are great places to reach people with educational messages.  The primary goal of Brokenness to Wholeness: The Silver Edition is to help break the silence of talking about this taboo subject within the church and within the target population.  It is hoped that this resource will help to raise people's level of awareness, decrease stigma and discrimination, and help to create congregations wherepeople can feel open to talking about their HIV-positive statuses.

The curriculum is designed to be used in whole or in part.  While it is divided into four lessons, facilitators are free to choose activities which may be most relevant to their target audience and within their given timeframe.  Possible settings for using the curriculum include small groups, Bible studies and workshops.

The curriculum is available as a FREE download if you click here.  Limited print copies are available and CD-Rom and Kindle editions will also soon be available.  For more information you can contact LANET by email.

Why the Federal Budget Matters:
A Story on Human Dignity and Refugees

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service welcomes refugees and migrants on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LIRS is nationally recognized for its leadership advocating on behalf of refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, immigrants in detention, families fractured by migration, and other vulnerable populations and provides services to migrants through over 60 grassroots legal and social service partners.

In partnership with the federal government and state entities, in fiscal year 2010, LIRS and its national network of refugee resettlement partners resettled over 10,000 refugees to communities across the country.  As Congress and the administration consider federal budget cuts, programs that serve and protect refugees overseas as well as those resettled to the United States are at risk.

Refugees who are welcomed to the United States are able to rebuild their lives make incredible contributions to our communities.  Click here to meet Albert Yousif, a former refugee who owns a cleaning company and employs several other refugees who share his determination to rebuild their lives.  Albert is living proof of the American Dream.

IRS Adjusts 2011 Mileage Reimbursement Rates

The Internal Revenue Service has announced an increase in 2011 mileage reimburse-ment rates -- the rate will increase to 55.5¢ per mile for all business miles driven from July 1 through December 31, 2011.  Please take note of this change if you or your pastor uses the optional standard mileage rates for reimbursement of miles driven on behalf of the congregation.  You can read more about this change by clicking here.

Augsburg Fortress "Little Red Book"

The Augsburg Fortress Little Red Book for 2012 is now available as a free downloadable resource in a variety of formats by clicking here.  Or, if you prefer the traditional "ink on paper" format, you may pre-order one for only $9.95 including shipping.  The printing will be done in the pre-ordered quantity, so if you want one, please place your order by no later than July 31, 2011.  There is a link for the pre-order on the same webpage.

PLTS Job Opportunities

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary has two support staff job openings; click here for more info.

"Brewing Faith" in American Canyon

The American Canyon Eagle recently published an article about Pastors Dave and Arianna Arends, our mission developers in American Canyon, a growing community located between Vallejo and Napa.  You can read the article by clicking here.