I
used to think it a bit odd that the bishop would expect me to
drop everything in what is usually the busiest week of the
year - Holy Week - and drive (on my usual day off, to boot) to
a worship service. I wondered, why not hold this service
at a time less constrained by preparations for the Triduum,
Easter Sunday, and "Resurrection Monday?" But then,
sometimes grumbling along the way, I would make the drive,
plop myself down in a pew somewhere near the back of the
Sanctuary (just to see what the view is like from there), nod
a greeting at nearby colleagues and begin my preparations for
worship.
As the processional cross, the
worship leaders and the synod staff entered the sanctuary, and
as the bishop began the rite of confession and forgiveness, it
would come to me why I was there - I needed this time as
follower of Jesus to receive, rather than to dispense, the
means of grace. I needed to hear the words of absolution
spoken by someone else - to me. I needed this just as
surely as I would need, later in the service, to hear the Word
preached and to have the bishop lay hands on me and pronounce
a blessing on my life and ministry. I needed this just
as surely as I needed to receive communion with my called
sisters and brothers, all standing in the same need for God's
grace, forgiveness and peace in the absolute busiest week in
our lives. I needed this just as surely as I would need
to take time, in that same busy week, to have lunch after the
service with those with whom I am privileged to serve in
ministry.
And so now, as bishop, I have the
audacity of hoping that you will hear from me a genuine prayer
that the called leaders of our synod will be present for
either of this year's Chrism Masses, on Monday, April 6, at
Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Rohnert Park, or on
Tuesday, April 7, at Emanuel Lutheran in Modesto. Both
services will begin at 10:30 a.m., and will be followed by
lunch. Thank you to Pr. Newt Kerney and Pr. JoAnn Neal,
who have agreed to serve as Pastors Loci for these
gatherings. Thank you to Pr. Victor Berg-Haglund, who
has agreed to serve as coordinator for worship.
For those of you reading this who are serving as
a called leader, please know that I look forward to seeing you
at either service. For those of you reading this who are
congregational leaders, please encourage your Pastor/Diaconal
Minister/AiM to make the time, in a very busy week, to attend
one of these services.
You may e-mail the synod
office at info@spselca.org to let us (and our hosts for lunch)
know if, and at which of the two locations, you are planning
to attend. It would be most helpful if you would do so
by April 1st (if not today), so adequate preparations for
hospitality can be made. I will sign off with a prayer
and a hope which is a line I see in many of the church
newsletters I read from around the synod. It's how many
of our called leaders sometimes end their monthly epistles -
"See you in church..."
Bp. Mark
Link
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We remember in prayer . . .
Pr. Beate Chun, her husband, Matthew, and family,
grieving the death of Matthew's mother, MoTin Kong.
Joan Grochau, wife of Pr. Bob Grochau
(retired), for healing as she recovers from neck
surgery for melanoma
Pastor Dave and Bev Schroeder, both undergoing
tests for treatment
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RACIAL/ETHNIC MINISTRIES
WORKING GROUP GATHERING
Help launch the Racial/Ethnic Ministries
Working Group. This event will be held at Lutheran
Social Services, 988 Oak Grove Road, Concord, CA from Friday
evening (6-9 pm), March 27, 2009, through
Saturday afternoon (8:30-4:00), March
28th.
Bishop Mark Holmerud, along with clergy
and lay leaders from around the Synod who are passionate about
enhancing the church's ministry to all people, will gather to
help:
- Inaugurate a Synod
Council-mandated working group
- Join one of the three
sub-groups:
1. Cultural
Competence
2.
Anti-Racism
3. Racial/Ethnic
Strategies
Cost: $75.00 Food and
materials will be provided. Scholarship and gas stipends are
available, if needed. For more information, e-mail Synod
Council members Pr. Susan Birkelo or Pr. Sarah Isakson, or call Pr. Susan Birkelo
at (831) 345-6057 to register.
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SYNOD YOUTH
RETREAT
WHEN: March 27-29,
2009 - Fri., 8:00 pm - Sat. 11:30 am
WHERE: Sly Park,
Sacramento
THEME: Superheroes
of Faith: Believers Assemble!
FOR WHOM: Youth in
3rd - 6th grades and their adult chaperones
COST:
$125/person
TO REGISTER: Click
on "2008 3rd-6th Grade Youth Event" at www.spsyc.org or call Pastor Craig Minich, Adult Chair, at
510-390-4045
Whether you have one or two youth from
your congregation, or have 20 or 30, this retreat is a great
way for youth from across our vast and diverse synod to gether
together to make new friends, deepen their faith, to laugh,
play and learn, and to worship our Lord.
Link
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VITAL CONGREGATIONS, JUST
COMMUNITIES
The ELCA is hosting a Community-based
Organizing Strategic Summit (CBOSS IV) taking place in the
Chicago area April 18-20. The theme is "Vital Congregations,
Just Communities." The summit will focus on how the strategic
and disciplined implementation of congregation-based
organizing principles can strengthen congregational life and
leadership, exploring best practices from the various
organizing traditions and networks. For more information,
click here.
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Upcoming Events
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March 19-22 ELCA Bishops'
Assistants Gathering in
SF
March 24 Racial & Ethnic
Ministries Task Force -
Synod Office
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
March 25 10::00 - 12:30
Interim Ministry Steering
Committee - Davis
March 27-28 Racial & Ethnic
Ministries Task Force
Gathering - LSS Offices
Concord, CA
March 27-29 Synod
Elementary Youth
Retreat - Sly Park,
Sacramento
March 29 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Transition Team
Ministry Config.
Group -
Site TBD
April 6 Chrism Mass
10:30am - Cross & Crown
Lutheran Church,
Rohnert Park
April 7 Chrism Mass
10:30 am - Emanuel
Lutheran Church,
Modesto
April 16-18 Gathering for
Women of Color in
Ministry
Eaglewood Resort &
Spa, Itasca (Chicago) IL
April 21 - 22 Mobility
Conference
April 22
Hein-Fry Lecture -
Pacific
Lutheran Theological
Seminary
April 24 Professional
Leadership Conference
Committee
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
April 24-25 Candidacy
Committee at PLTS,
Berkeley, CA
April 29 Interim Pastors
Gathering - Bay Area
(Site TBD)
April 30 Interim Pastors
Gathering - Valley Area
(Site TBD) May
27-28 Synod Council
May 28-30 Synod Assembly
Fresno, CA
May 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - At Synod
Assembly, Fresno
June 1 Synod Office Closed
July 10-12 Catechumenate
Training - San Damiano
Retreat Center, Danville
August 17 - 23
Churchwide
Assembly, Minneapolis,
MN
August 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - Trinity,
Pleasanton
September 22 LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
October 1-6 Conference
of Bishops, Chicago
October
20-22 Professional
Leaders
Conference,
Asilomar Conference
Center
October 24 - Two Events:
Book of Faith
Conversation - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
and
ELW Freedom &
Flexibility Event - Fresno
2010
January 4-9 Bishops'
Academy, Itasca, IL
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops
2011
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
September 29 - October 4
Conference of
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A RETREAT FOR
PREACHERS
Before
the Cradle and Beyond the Cross: Studying and Praying
the Gospel of Luke
July
27-31, 2009
San
Francisco Theological Seminary
This annual retreat for
preachers integrates studying the Gospel lectionary texts
(Advent 2009 - Easter 2010) with spiritual formation.
Each day begins and ends with contemplative worship and
includes lectures, discussion, spiritual practices, small
group reflection and sabbath time.
Retreat
leaders include the Rev. Dr. Sam Hamilton-Poore, Director of
the Program in Christian Spirituality at SFTS, and the Rev.
Dr. Herman Waetjen, Emeritus Professor of the New Testament at
SFTS.
Link
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BOARD OF PENSIONS HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
DEADLINE
For those of you
who have not yet taken your Board of Pensions Health
Assessment, please take the time to do so
today. We need many more people to complete the
assessment by March 29th in order to earn our $39,000
savings.
Please take the time
to do so now. Go to the following link for the
assessment portal: Board of
Pensions Link | |
Sierra
Pacific Synod 