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It's a busy time for all of us, as we walk through these
last days of Lent, prepare for Holy Week, finish our
taxes and celebrate the arrival of spring, spiritually and
meteriologically!
It's a busy time around the Synod as well.
-- The Transition Team groups are meeting,
thinking, researching and planning. More details
will come to you as available.
-- The Synod Assembly Planning Committee is in high gear as
is the Synod Office Staff, preparing
for the Synod Assembly at the end of May in
Fresno. (Have you registered yet? You know it's
less expensive if you do it now, right?)
-- And then just the regular "stuff" of life that
happens no matter what else is going on -- true no matter
where we live and serve.
In the midst of this busy-ness, I had the opportunity to
attend my first gathering of ELCA Bishops' Assistants
(and Associates ! ). The event , held in
Burlingame, was designed to build or renew relationships,
provide worship, education, conversation, training, and some
fun, and it was done well. From our synod we
welcomed Bp Holmerud, Pr. Lyle Erickson (SF Night
Ministry), Drs. Phyllis Anderson, Jane Strohl and
Alicia Vargas,(PLTS). All were inspiring and
well-received.
Prior to the main event, I also attended a
special training regarding Sexual Misconduct in
the Church, which was a treasure trove of information and
resources on an important and difficult topic for our churches
today. Some of it was review, some of it was new,
all of it mattered. Over the course of the next few
months, I will be writing to share some of what was
offered -- especially in terms of websites and resources
from the ELCA and beyond. For now, I invite you to go to
the ELCA website and check out the Safe Place
resources: http://www.elca.org/safeplace/ This is a
great starting point that will offer information and
guidance for how to make your congregation a safe place.
Look at it now. Bookmark it for later thorough
reading. You owe it to yourself, your congregation and
your children.
Peace,
Pr. Nancy Feniuk Nelson
Bishop's Associate, Sierra Pacific Synod
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We remember in prayer . . .
Pastor Vern Holmes (American, Woodland) and
family, whose granddaughter, Victoria, and son-in-law,
Curtis Manna, were severely injured in an automobile
accident.
The brother of Pastor Kirk Shipley (Interim,
Marysville), as he recovers from neurosurgery
Joan Grochau, wife of Pastor Bob Grochau
(retired), for continued healing as she
recovers from neck surgery for
melanoma.
The community of Oakland and the families involved, as
they grieve the tragic loss of four police
officers;
the family of the one who committed the violence; and all
who seek an end to the cycle of violence in all of our
communities.
The people in the Red River Valley in Eastern North
Dakota and Western Minnesota, as they deal with
flooding.
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LAST DAYS FOR BOARD OF PENSIONS HEALTH
ASSESSMENT 
There are only three days left to take the Board of
Pensions Health Assessment. Don't be the ONE PERSON who
keeps the Synod from reaching its goal! We can save the
Synod $39,000 if enough people take the assessment.
Think of the many places we could use that money in these
difficult economic times.
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SYNOD ASSEMBLY
REGISTRATION
Letters have gone out to congregations
and clergy under special call with instructions for Synod
Assembly Registration. The links for Assembly and hotel
registration are now on the Synod website.
Please note these
important deadlines:
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April 28 - Assembly
Registration fees due
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April 29 - A $50
late fee will be charged. No
exceptions. On site registration will have a
$75 late fee assessed.
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May 1 - Hotel reservations
close for our reduced rate
One person should complete the
congregation's registration information form for all Voting
Members. Please have information for all Voting Members
on hand before starting the registration process.
If you have questions, feel free to e-mail the Synod
office at info@spselca.org.
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CARING FOR THE WHOLE PERSON AND
ENGAGING THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
On May 7, 2009 Epiphany Lutheran &
Episcopal Church, Marina , CA, will hold the first
in a series of seminars previously offered in Southern
California for caregivers, clergy and healthcare providers
through the Center for Spirituality and Aging of Lutheran
Homes of Southern California . These programs of CSA have
proved to be helpful to caregivers and clergy in responding to
the emotional and spiritual needs of older seniors as they
serve or minister to them.
May's seminar, "Spiritual Care Basics", will
explore the principles behind spiritual care giving and its
effect on providing quality care with older adults. The
seminar's presenter will be Donald Koepke, ELCA pastor and
Director Emeritus of California Lutheran Homes' Center for
Spirituality and Aging.
For registration or further information,
contact: The Rev. Joan Anderson, Epiphany Lutheran &
Episcopal Church, 831-384-6323 or by e-mail at epiphanydeacon@sbcglobal.net .
Link
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Upcoming Events
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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 23 Tri-Synod Campus
Ministry Board
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 19 District B
Conferences Assembly
St. John's, Sacramento
September 22 LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
October 10 District A
Conferences Assembly
Cross & Crown, Rohnert
Park
October 11 District C
Conferences Assembly
PLTS
October 1-6 Conference
of Bishops, Chicago
October
20-22 Professional
Leaders
Conference,
Asilomar Conference
Center
October 24 District E
Conferences Assembly
Fresno
October 24 Book of Faith
Conversation - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
November 7 District D
Conferences Assembly
November 13-14 Word &
Sacrament Event -
ELW Freedom &
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 Bishops
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NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MOUNT
CROSS
Mount Cross, our
exciting Bible Camp Ministry, is pleased to announce that
after an in-depth and prayerful search for a new Executive
Director, Craig Oldenburg has accepted the call to serve.
Come to the
Annual Memorial Day work weekend and barbeque and meet him in
person.
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LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INGATHERING IN NO.
CALIFORNIA
Lutheran World Relief
conducts annual ingatherings of quilts and kits and sends them
to more than 740,000 people in 27 different countries.
Learn more about this by going to: LWR Ingatherings.
Advent Lutheran Church in Morgan Hill will be hosting
another Ingathering this coming October 23-24 from 10:00 am to
4:00 pm. Contact March Johanson (Key Leader) for
specific information at: Marge
Johanson, or call her at (408) 476-3952 (cell). Link
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 